The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point marked the beginning of his fourth fall semester on campus Wednesday with an address welcoming faculty and staff to the 1999-2000 academic year.
Chancellor Tom George addressed "Inquiry, Discovery and Training" in his address at the Jenkins Theatre of the Fine Arts Center. The event was followed with a picnic at the Specht Memorial Forum (Sundial).
In addition to emphasizing recent campus achievements, the chancellor chose "broadening the university's financial base" as the main focus of his message. This is the third major initiative that has been addressed since George came to UW-SP in 1996. Other priorities during his tenure have included "technology-enhanced learning" and "faculty-led improvement."
George began by commending the UW-SP Foundation for gains in raising money and strengthening its infrastructure. Between 1997 and 1999, annual unrestricted gifts to the foundation have increased from $90,000 to more than $160,000. During the same period, annual gifts from foundation board members, faculty, staff and retired individuals have tripled.
Pledges have grown nearly tenfold to more than $200,000 this year. The foundation has added two new board members, expanded its committee structure, developed operating plans for annual and capital giving, integrated alumni and development databases and designed an endowment stewardship system.
This year the College of Natural Resources hired its first development officer and soon the other colleges will follow suit. The foundation and the colleges are working together to strengthen their endowment resources in order to have a steady stream of income year-in and year-out.
Campus wide, UW-SP's fall enrollment remains on target at 8,550 students including 40 high school valedictorians who are members of the new freshman class. This is a record number of valedictorians in one class at UW-SP and is nearly double last year's number.
In addition, the chancellor welcomed new members of the faculty and staff and commended faculty authors, researchers and grant recipients, including the College of Natural Resources, which has garnered $2.15 million from the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education in order to enhance technology in the college.
George praised the new online catalog system shared by the UW-SP Library and the Portage County Library. This is the first such online venture between a UW System library and a public library.
He also expressed appreciation to the State Building Commission for approval of the plans to renovate and expand the Fine Arts Center.