![\"A](\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2019\/06\/mone300x200-20190606_MD_IMC-265-300x200.jpg\")
The collaborative focuses on what Mone called \u201c10 grand challenges\u201d in freshwater studies, including agricultural water management, Great Lakes restoration, as well water business and finance.<\/p>\n
The degree program would cover multiple disciplines and give students the flexibility to focus their studies while also creating rigorous core requirements. Researchers would collaborate from across the system. System institutions would lead an effort to make Wisconsin a training destination.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great opportunity for this system to lead in a global talent issue,\u201d UW-Green Bay Chancellor Gary Miller said in formally presenting the initiative with Mone and UW-Superior Chancellor Renee Wachter.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin borders the Mississippi River, the longest river in North America, as well as two of the five Great Lakes, which is the largest freshwater system on the planet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at the sheer number of water-focused, scientific assets in this state, it truly is unprecedented,\u201d Wachter said. Working together across the system means that \u201cwe can make real progress on real solutions much faster than we can operating by ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regents passed a non-binding resolution expressing support to the Wisconsin Legislature for the Freshwater Collaborative, which would require $27.6 million in ongoing state support phased in over three budget cycles. By 2025, the collaborative will include 1,000 new undergraduate students studying water science; 400 new graduate research students; 100 new faculty, researchers and water professionals; and a total of 650 new jobs.<\/p>\n
Mone stresses need for investment in UWM<\/h3>\n
In another presentation, Mone told regents that funding UWM\u2019s proposed budget will help fill the university\u2019s most critical needs, including retaining faculty and supporting capital improvements, at a time when the institution was \u201cdoing a tremendous amount with fewer resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mone said re-investment would help the university address the needs of southeastern Wisconsin and the rest of the state. Describing UWM as at a crossroads, the chancellor showed regents fresh evidence of a commitment to creating collaborative solutions to help address issues in areas including health care, entrepreneurship, workforce development and narrowing achievement gaps in education.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have and we feel \u2013 it\u2019s in our DNA \u2013 a unique mission, and it\u2019s about a commitment to serve,\u201d Mone said.<\/p>\n
Further investment in UWM amounted to an investment for the state in a university with a dual mission to provide access to education and produce top-flight research, Mone said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so grateful for your support \u2013 unanimous support \u2013 you\u2019ve provided for our budget, for our needs,\u201d he told regents. \u201cWe need to be persistent \u2026 we need to continue through the entire budget cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mone, whose presentation was interrupted for five minutes by an errant fire alarm, received a standing ovation from regents before taking questions.<\/p>\n
Need for renovation<\/h3>\n
Robin Van Harpen, UWM\u2019s vice chancellor for business and administrative affairs, told regents that the university was husbanding its resources well, but that capital investment was crucial.<\/p>\n
Enrollment in STEM fields at UWM has grown 30% over the past 10 years as jobs in the field expand, Van Harpen told members of the Capital Planning Committee. That increase and the continued growth in enrollments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics make UWM\u2019s long-range plan to replace and renovate four STEM buildings in the southwest corner of campus vitally important, she said.<\/p>\n
A key priority is the Chemistry Building, the top major project request in the UW System for 2019-21. Among other concerns is that the building does not meet the modern code for wet labs. Chemistry is particularly important because it supports so many science and health majors at UWM, including engineering nursing, health sciences and biosciences, Van Harpen said.<\/p>\n
UWM\u2019s careful management of its finances is paying off in the reallocation of funds to several strategic priorities, despite declines in revenue and enrollment and a tuition freeze, Van Harpen told members of the Business and Finance Committee. \u00a0Her presentation outlined ways the university has improved its budgeting model and the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.<\/p>\n
One result of these efforts is an increase in money available for student success, enrollment support and financial aid. A major philanthropic campaign focused on scholarships has also contributed to student financial aid.<\/p>\n
Another result of the reallocation of funds is a renewed focus on improving faculty compensation and retaining highly marketable faculty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin would be a one-of-a-kind effort that will focus on Wisconsin\u2019s water issues while helping to fill a global and regional need for more workers in what is expected to be a growing field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40008,"featured_media":72233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174],"tags":[],"section":[122,126],"display_categories":[115,116],"related-coverage":[],"uwmnews-feed":[167,152],"class_list":["post-72228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","section-campus-community","section-campus-news","display_categories-top-story-secondary","display_categories-top-story-section","uwmnews-feed-alumni-association","uwmnews-feed-freshwater-sciences"],"yoast_head":"\n