{"id":28676,"date":"2016-02-03T19:42:17","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T01:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/?p=28676"},"modified":"2016-02-09T09:28:54","modified_gmt":"2016-02-09T15:28:54","slug":"mone-no-changes-to-our-research-mission-at-uwm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/news\/mone-no-changes-to-our-research-mission-at-uwm\/","title":{"rendered":"Mone: \u2018no changes to our research mission at 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chancellor Mark Mone outlined a \u201cpath forward\u201d in challenging budget times during his Spring 2016 Plenary address, emphasizing the importance of research, student success and community engagement to 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

Universities nationwide face increasing competition for students, with fewer teens graduating from high school each year and the rise of for-profit colleges. Wisconsin has seen 1,200 fewer high school graduates each year for the past five years, Mone told faculty members and others Wednesday.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Wisconsin has cut public support for higher education. As a result, three-fourths of Wisconsin college students graduate with debt, owing an average of $31,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe face challenging times, and we\u2019re facing them head on,\u201d Mone said. \u201cAnd we\u2019re going to go even more on offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

He and other university leaders are working with UW System officials and legislators to secure 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s base budget and to fund capital projects, including renovations to bring 500,000 square feet of now-unused space at Northwest Quad up to code.<\/p>\n

But, Mone said, \u201cI can\u2019t talk about budgetary issues without talking about student success and enrollment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enrollment at 51ÁÔÆæ has declined from 31,000 in 2010 to 27,000, reflecting the smaller number of high school graduates. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to stabilize, we\u2019ve got to turn that around,\u201d Mone said.<\/p>\n

51ÁÔÆæ recruiters are focusing on key markets, such as the Chicago area, increasing the number of on-site admissions events at high schools and two-year colleges, and using data to find ways to improve retention and graduation rates. The Chancellor’s Enrollment Management Action Team also is developing a process\u00a0to\u00a0better predict and boost student enrollment.<\/p>\n

But, Mone said, every employee must help make 51ÁÔÆæ a welcoming place for students to thrive.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single person in this room, every single person on our campus \u2013 if you\u2019re in HR, if you\u2019re in maintenance, if you\u2019re in custodial services, if you\u2019re in the police department \u2013 any role on our campus, you play a vitally important role,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The final step is fundraising and development, Mone said. More than $93 million has been raised so far in the university\u2019s campaign, including a significant amount for student scholarships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat it means is that there\u2019s significant belief in and support for 51ÁÔÆæ,\u201d Mone said.<\/p>\n

He highlighted some of the university\u2019s recent achievements, including:<\/p>\n