This foremost objective of the university's strategic plan evolved from an extensive reaccreditation process. The strategic plan, articulated in 2001, identified five strategic priorities that support the objective.

All members of the campus community, as well as many partners in the university's extended community, contribute to advancing the strategic plan.

This document includes a representative sample of progress made toward achieving each priority during the past year.

Promote Research

UW-Madison received $561 million in extramural gift and grant awards for research from Aug. 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002. On a national level, we are first among public U.S. universities and second among all universities for research expenditures. Since 1997-98, non-federal research awards have increased at an average rate of 5 percent per year, and federal research awards have increased 17 percent on average. Recent grants and awards highlight research leadership in areas as diverse as stem cells, poverty research, and religious studies. Creative arts have been advanced through a series of interdisciplinary residencies. Research and learning activities have been enhanced through the addition of nearly 4 million square feet in buildings constructed since 1990.

Supporting measures: Extramural research support

Advance Learning

UNDERGRADUATE
New and expanded programs, such as Pathways to Excellence and the annual Undergraduate Symposium, are strengthening opportunities and rewards for undergraduate research and creativity. Expansion of Residential Learning Communities and the launch of First-Year Interest Groups are linking student life and learning, and offering students a chance to interact with faculty beginning with their first days on campus. The Morgridge Center for Public Service and the Undergraduate Wisconsin Idea Fellowship encourage learning through community service.

GRADUATE
UW-Madison confers about 700 doctoral degrees annually, which places us among the top three institutions nationally. Partnerships between the Graduate School and individual schools and colleges have increased opportunities for certificates and for cooperation with international partners. New programs continue to enhance recruitment and retention of graduate students of color. Professional development through participation in national programs has strengthened the traditional PhD programs. Improved services for graduate and postdoctoral students include clarification of benefits, links to professional development opportunities and other campus services, and an interactive tracking system. Potential students now receive improved services online with a new "Why UW-Madison" Web site.

LIFELONG
Enrollment in credit outreach classes increased by 15 percent, with 7,223 students attending 175 courses. Evening and weekend programs offered 130 courses, with student enrollments of 25,525 for a total of 63,077 student credit hours. Nearly 5,000 nontraditional learners, with an average age of 36, requested educational advising and counseling services. A Wisconsin Alumni Lifelong Learning program has begun.

Supporting measures: Students in residential learning communities  |  Average test scores of freshmen  |  Average freshmen class rank  |  Time to degree and graduation rates

Amplify the Wisconsin Idea

A $21 million Wisconsin Idea Endowment, created with a gift from the estate of Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin, will promote and strengthen connections between UW-Madison and the community through service learning, campus-community partnerships, and public service. In its first year, a community outreach office located at Villager Mall began a partnership with the South Madison community by providing neighborhood-based courses, service-learning projects, and free tax services for 2,000 residents. Continuing as a national leader in the preparation of teachers, UW-Madison recently expanded the network of model schools involved in intensive preparation programs. The university also is leading national efforts to improve teaching and learning in math and science for students from kindergarten through graduate school. In partnership with UW-Extension, state agencies, industry, and other campuses, UW-Madison is addressing challenges facing the state, ranging from environmental and social issues, to chronic wasting disease, to youth development. Campus performing arts units hosted some 500 presentations, with a total of 250,000 tickets sold, as well as dozens of non-ticketed and free events.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
The Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations worked toward improving the effectiveness of the university-business relations programs and services. The number of patent disclosures has increased more than 40 percent during the last five years, with an average of more 80 patents awarded annually. As of 2001, there were 218 start-up or spin-off companies with close ties to UW-Madison, accounting for $1 billion in gross annual revenues and employing 6,700 people. Of those companies, 114 were created specifically to commercialize technologies derived from research at UW-Madison. The University Research Park now houses 107 companies - many of which maintain connections to the university - that employ 4,000 people.

Supporting measures: Patents registered  |  University Research Park business and employees  |  UW-Madison arts

Accelerate Internationalization

More than 1,300 degree-seeking students (undergraduate and graduate) engaged in study-abroad programs during 2001-02. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, major forums were held on Islam, U.S. foreign policy, economic aid and development, immigration and civil rights, the role of the media, and domestic and food security. In addition, we reviewed safety policies for study abroad. A residential International Learning Community opened, and high school students, teachers, and counselors attended the first World Languages Day. A new research initiative was launched to address International Environmental Affairs and Global Security. A cross-college international initiative was established in health sciences. Collaboration with the University Research Park, University Industry Relations, and WARF is under way to extend international opportunities.

Supporting measures: Study abroad participation

Human Resources

STUDENTS
A variety of cross-campus enhancements to the first-year experience include an increase to 13 First-Year Interest Groups in 2002. The number of undergraduates of color attending UW-Madison increased through collaborative and pipeline efforts with the entry of the first freshman cohorts of 24 students in the PEOPLE program and 18 students in the Posse program. Improved student services include the launch of a Web portal, My UW-Madison, for enhanced access to technology, an online application process to streamline admissions decisions and communications, improved appointment scheduling at University Health Services, and automated Web-based services, including financial aid, student accounts and billing.

FACULTY AND STAFF
The provost initiated a Campus Climate Networking Group to foster an improved campus climate. Education and information sessions were held across campus for faculty and staff to address issues of diversity and sexual harassment. A national grant was received for advancing faculty gender diversity in sciences and engineering. A salary equity policy was developed and new strategic hiring approaches helped support the hiring of minority faculty, women in science, and dual-career couples. An annual campuswide forum advances Plan 2008 diversity efforts by sharing best practices. This year, more than 50 campus units presented their efforts to improve services and climate. Nearly 4,000 faculty and staff participated in campus-sponsored professional development events in 2001-02, up from 2,168 in 2000-01.

Supporting measures: Enrollment of ethnic minorities  |  Professional development participation

This report and corresponding data is also available for download in PDF format.

For more information about the Strategic Plan, contact the Office of Quality Improvement, quality@oqi.wisc.edu, 262-6843.

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