A Hopeful Spring

Dear Faculty and Staff,
A blanket of fresh snow has ushered in our spring semester along with a sense of hope. Welcome one and all to an emergent spring that brings the promise of positive changes.

I highly encourage you to view my State of the University talk, which provides extensive details including responses to a broad range of questions.

The Pandemic
Facing the most severe public health emergency in a century, UWM and you stood up to make a difference and save lives. We’ve conducted significant COVID-19 testing since the start of the fall semester with roughly 27,000 tests for students and employees at our three campuses. Routine testing will continue this semester. When Wisconsin’s COIVD-19 cases spiked later in the fall, we provided a vital service to our communities, administering nearly 34,000 tests to community members in our three counties.

UWM and UW System institutions are individually working with local partners on vaccination sites. UWM is in discussions right now with potential partners, subject to available vaccines and staffing resources. In the meantime, members of the campus community are urged to monitor eligibility categories and availability of vaccines from open vaccination sites. I strongly encourage all faculty, staff and students to be vaccinated as soon as availability and eligibility allow. Vaccinations combined with our continued Panthers Protect Panthers diligence will dramatically increase our chance of having a ‘normal’ fall this year.

You and UWM Matter
As I discussed at yesterday’s State of the University meeting, UWM and its people matter more than ever. Yes, we are facing financial and other challenges brought on by the pandemic and dramatic changes in higher education. We are also the solution. Our faculty, instructors and researchers educate 25,000 students each year. More than 5,000 graduate annually to fill important roles in our society. More than 80% of our graduates stay in Wisconsin for their first 10 years after graduation. And, they make a remarkable difference by tackling healthcare and environmental issues, addressing social and racial inequalities, solving problems and filling the talent pipeline. You are a significant part of the solution to Wisconsin’s needs and your experiences and stories are important to share.

Our Paths Forward (2030)
UWM matters in many ways for student, community and regional success. We have made our mark but can do even more to have greater impact. To do so, we must boldly assert our place, transform to meet significant environmental and student changes, and seek additional resources to enable greater success for this region — workforce, families and employers.

You’ve seen the earlier Think Tank 2030 plans and recommendations and in the next week the Provost and I will receive the 2030 implementation plan. We will follow up next month with more specificity and actions to be advanced. The recommendations will shape our future for the next decade.

Thanks to your care, dedication and hard work, we are ahead of the game in many ways. Yes, the future will present challenges but we have an arsenal of talented people who can take on the changes needed to thrive in a forever-changed world.

I look forward to collaborating with you and wish you all the best for this new semester and spring of hope. As always, I will continue to provide updates and will share information about upcoming town halls.

Best regards,
Mark A. Mone, PhD
Chancellor