chancellor's annual report
Engaging the Community
Collaboration between UW Oshkosh and the local community is essential for both to reach their potential and thrive. Since 1871, UW Oshkosh has served as an economic engine and anchor to the community, presently contributing more than $410 million to the region annually. But that’s not all—the University also brings value in terms of community- building, human capital and brainpower, markets and market opportunity, knowledge and expertise and regional quality of life. Here is just a sampling of how UW Oshkosh is bringing value to the community:
- During summer 2005, UW Oshkosh’s beach monitoring project involved more than 100 beaches on lakes Michigan and Superior and along lakes in Vilas and Oneida counties. The monitoring is done with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local governments and agencies. Student and faculty researchers also studied what impact a major return of green algae is having on Lake Michigan waters and whether the algae could be making E. coli a poor “indicator” of beach contamination.
- Black History Month at UW Oshkosh, sponsored by the Division of Academic Support, included many events for the general public in February. Photographer Ernest Withers, who documented the civil rights movement, spoke on campus. His photos were exhibited at Reeve Memorial Union.
- UW Oshkosh has become a place of learning for area youth through a multitude of camp and workshop offerings. During 2004-2005, UWO offered everything from sports camps of all kinds to camps for singers, string musicians and future firefighters.
- The Center for Career Development and Employability Training (CCDET) continues to expand outreach and partnerships by securing successful contracts with the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services for the Income Maintenance Training and Technical Assistance and Caregiver Background Check and Abuse Prevention Training Federal Pilot projects; with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for the Workforce Development Training project; with the Fox Valley Workforce Development System for the Workforce Investment Act Younger and Older Youth Employment Training projects; with Winnebago County Department of Human Services for the Truancy Intervention Program; with the Oshkosh Area School District for the Restorative Justice Family Advocate project; with the Wisconsin National and Community Service Board for the AmeriCorps Connects national service project; and collaborating with UW Oshkosh Head Start on the Youth Mentoring Project. Through the quality work of the staff members who fulfill the work of these contracts, UW Oshkosh reaches communities throughout the state of Wisconsin. CCDET staff work in and Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee and Oshkosh.
- Longtime Kimberly-Clark Corp. executive Linda Bartelt was named director of the UW Oshkosh Center for Community Partnerships. Created in 1998, the CCP is a one-stop access point for university and community expertise—“part of the Wisconsin Idea of a university without walls.” It was the first of its kind in the nation.
- In October 2004, UW Oshkosh hosted the fourth annual Earth Charter Community Summit, which included the first “Earth Charter Community Teach-In,” with entertainment, free food, presentations and a performance of original Earth Charter-based songs by the fourth- and fifth-grade choirs of Webster Stanley Elementary School. The summit’s theme was Making Waves in Oshkosh and included presentations and events related to water quality and the use of Wisconsin waters.
- Sessions on the potential for using biodiesel fuel and fresh food from local farmers, a Fox River clean-up, a tree-planting and a presentation by activists on political reform in Wisconsin were just a few of the events held at UW Oshkosh for the third annual Earth Week in April.
- Fox Valley Technical College and UW Oshkosh have formed the Venture Center. The center, to be located in downtown Oshkosh at UW Oshkosh’s Center for Community Partnerships, will provide innovative tools to those thinking about starting new businesses.
- Each year, UW Oshkosh hosts Fall Fest on the Fox, a university-community celebration, which began the year of Richard H. Wells’ inauguration as UW Oshkosh chancellor. Events include a variety of fun activities for the entire family, such as hayrides and a fish fry.
- UW Oshkosh joined with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center of Appleton and the Grand Opera House of Oshkosh to present four works by William Shakespeare in a series called Shakespeare on the Fox.
- UW Oshkosh’s $4.4-million, federal Head Start program received a $13,432-supplement grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the institutionalization of father-involvement activities and to allow two staff members to participate in the National Hispanic Institute.
- In October, speakers, movies and a variety of ethnic cooking demonstrations took place as part of Hispanic Heritage Month at UW Oshkosh. The activities were sponsored by the student organization Hispanic Cultures United and the UW Oshkosh Division of Academic Support.
- Speakers, fairs, a variety show and a party were all part of the 2004 International Education Week in November. The event highlighted the rapid growth of international education at UW Oshkosh.
- The Living Healthy Community Clinic, which has served the uninsured of Winnebago County for 10 years, celebrated the grand opening of its new location at 510 Doctor’s Court in June. UW Oshkosh led the collaborative effort, which included hundreds of thousands of dollars in support from Mercy Health Foundation, Aurora Health Care, ThedaCare and others. The new facility has seven, fully equipped exam rooms, a lab room and teaching space. There are at least 16,000 uninsured in Winnebago County—most from working families.
- The Middle School Science Olympiad, hosted by the UW Oshkosh Office of Science Outreach, brought more than 500 students from 43 Wisconsin middle schools to campus. The events included Naked Egg Drop, Road Scholar, Robo Billiards and Science Crime Busters. UW Oshkosh faculty and students have hosted the annual event since 1988.
- NEW ERA, a consortium of the leaders of the 13 public colleges and universities in northeast Wisconsin, fosters regional partnerships to serve better the educational needs of the 1.2 million people in the region. NEW ERA is a founding member of NEW NORTH, a consortium of collaborative organizations of northeastern Wisconsin chambers of commerce, workforce development boards, economic development professionals and CEOs of major corporations. The vision for NEW NORTH is to be a nationally admired leader for advancing job growth while maintaining a superior quality of life.
- Eleven students and five faculty members from UW Oshkosh were among those showcasing their research at a special event in the Wisconsin State Capitol Rotunda. Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research was held in conjunction with the April meeting of the UW System Board of Regents.
- UW Extension awarded UW Oshkosh $84,556 in July for its Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. The SBDC has received an annual grant from UW Extension for more than 20 years. Budding entrepreneurs or owners of small businesses can tap into the statewide SBDC network through UWO’s Center for Community Partnerships. It provides free, individual counseling on a variety of management topics, including cash flow management, financial analysis, marketing and sales, human resources, business planning and international trade.
- UW Oshkosh students are increasingly reaching out to the community by volunteering their time and talent. Fueled in part by a spring 2005 student survey that said UW Oshkosh students want to volunteer even more, Uni-versity officials expect record levels of civic engagement to continue throughout the school year. That’s partly because the campus received a second-year Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) grant to hire two, full-time staff members who will work out of Reeve Memorial Union to promote and implement student volunteer and civic engagement efforts. UW Oshkosh students already give a lot to the community. A conservative estimate by the University’s Student Affairs Office found that more than 2,000 students volunteered more than 28,000 hours last year. The students also raised more than $32,000 for charities.