I was recently asked on twitter what a restructuring of the UW system would look like. I did not have an immediate answer (and still lack specifics), but I wanted to start by articulating some values. I find it helpful to articulate broad values as a first step toward creating specific policies. Failure to do that results in confused policies that will conflict with one another. So what should be the dominant values in a restructured UW system?
- The Wisconsin Idea. This is an easy one because it already defined as the idea “that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.” I like this because it clearly states that part of our jobs as faculty and administrators in a public system is to be outward facing. It also precludes us from existing solely for job training.
- Academic Excellence. If we are putting out a sub-par product for our customers, what is the point of our existence?
- Specialization. It is ok for some universities to have strengths and offerings that others do not have. It is ok for there to be multiple paths to tenure. It is ok to have research and teaching expectations that are individualized.
- Adequate Financial Support. I know, adequate is a loaded term, but any of us in the system right now can tell you what adequate does not look like. Adequate support also ensures tuition remains affordable for students.
- Adequate Flexibility. This is both an external issue, i.e. a question of state mandates, as well as an internal issue, i.e. the nature of the university bureaucracy. To be more efficient and effective universities and departments need the freedom to make our own decisions as well as the freedom to innovate.
- Equitable Financial Support. This refers to some of the inequities in support between campuses. For example, there are two R1 Universities in Wisconsin but only one that gets treated that way. I also think some of this is reflected in philanthropic support, I wish there was more thoughtful discussion about how resources can be distributed in ways that strengthen the system as a whole.
- More Utilization of Campus Resources. What do I mean by that? Well, this too is a two-way street. Faculty have so much to offer the state in terms of having a practical positive impact on government and industry, yet we are underutilized. At the same time, we need to be aggressive about making our abilities and willingness to contribute known.
- Talent Generation. We want to graduate well-rounded students that are assets to Wisconsin.
- Collaboration over Competition. In tough financial times every UW system school had the same plan: Increase enrollments. We cannot all not be successful. More collaboration between campuses, more cooperate diploma programs, less duplication, and more willingness to view each other as assets as opposed to competitors is needed. What do I mean by less duplication? I look at it this way, why have two underfunded struggling programs at two geographically close campuses when we can have one well-funded cooperative program active on both?
I do not have a monopoly on good ideas, and I am sure I am missing things, but I hope others are thinking about this too. We have a challenging situation in the UW system, but we also have so much talent, and so many great things going on. I think we can leverage the good stuff to proactively address the challenges.
mikeinoshkosh 