Chancellor Wells addresses the State Assembly after receiving a resolution of commendation on March 18.

On March 18, the Wisconsin State Assembly approved Assembly Joint Resolution 103, sponsored by Rep. Gordon Hintz, of Oshkosh, “commending and congratulating Chancellor Richard H. Wells for his contributions to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the state of Wisconsin.” Wisconsin State Senate Joint Resolution 103 also passed. 

Wells, who will retire in late August after 14 years of service as UW Oshkosh chancellor, offered the following remarks in receiving the commendation: 

 

“Speaker Vos, Representative Hintz, Representative Schraa, members of the Assembly and guests,

I share my deep gratitude for the recognition you give me and the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh today. It is truly an honor.

We are emerging from a period of historic change and challenge in the state and nation. It has been a rough but rewarding ride for all of us.

I deeply appreciate your partnership to help keep UW Oshkosh and all of our institutions, colleges and Extension thriving and growing.

With our state’s support, I can say that UW Oshkosh has truly become a public-centric institution. Our growth during the last 14 years is remarkable, despite economic odds.

However excellent we are, we are not yet great. We need your continued collaboration to address three big challenges.

Chancellor Wells with (clockwise) Rep. Kaufert, Sen. Gudex, Rep. Schraa, Rep, Hintz

Together, we must close student achievement gaps. We need particular concentration on the success of first generation students and students of color.

Together, we must provide an ever-better education at a more affordable, subsidized price for our students.

And, together, we must make faculty and staff compensation competitiveness a higher priority.

This work will be very difficult. But difficult never stopped Wisconsin from doing the right thing by and for its people.

In closing, my wife Christie and I thank the many outstanding Wisconsin teachers who provided the educations our two children received. We also applaud our state’s outstanding social services professionals who have helped provide a high quality of life to members of our extended family.

The people of Wisconsin are the best. We are grateful to count ourselves among them.

Again, I thank you.”

 

Learn more:

• Wells to retire after leading 14 years of historic growth at UW Oshkosh