The strategic plan for the University of Wisconsin–Madison identifies five strategic priorities that support a central objective: To sustain and strengthen our position of preeminence in research and higher education. This summary offers a representative sample of how faculty, staff, and students in units across the campus have addressed each priority during the plan's third year.

Promote Research

UW–Madison continued its leadership role among U.S. research universities, ranking third for total research and development expenditures for fiscal year 2002–03. Federal expenditures totaled $422 million; non-federal totaled $162 million. Twenty-one College of Letters and Science faculty members published work that is among the most cited during the past 20 years. Numerous faculty received honors for their work in the areas of language, history, and social issues. Providing the essential foundation for these activities is a sophisticated research library system that continues to make significant strides with electronic accessibility, and facilities, such as the new Biotechnology Center/Genetics building, that provide critical teaching and laboratory space.

Supporting measures: Extramural research support

Advance Learning

UNDERGRADUATE
Incoming undergraduates in fall 2003 represented the best academically qualified class in UW-Madison's history. Demonstrating a commitment to undergraduate education, the College of Letters and Science and the College of Engineering are conducting comprehensive curriculum reviews and proposing revisions. A fourth residence hall satellite office for cross-college advising services opened, and electronic library reserves were integrated into the MyUW portal. At the sixth annual Undergraduate Symposium, nearly 200 students, representing a full range of disciplines, presented their achievements in original research or creative work. Four newly remodeled multimedia classrooms were unveiled in the fall.

GRADUATE
For the second consecutive year, UW–Madison ranked second nationally for PhDs conferred. The Graduate School moved fully to a Web-based applications system, phasing out traditional paper applications, and streamlined instructions to applicants. The professional schools made significant progress: The Medical School revised the first two years of the curriculum, the Law School piloted a survey of the student experience, and the School of Nursing's program expanded to a La Crosse campus. The School of Business enrolled its first students in the newly created Center for Product Management program and prepared to implement a new, focused MBA program. The School of Veterinary Medicine completed planning for a combined DVM/PhD degree program and collaborated with the Medical School to develop a master's degree program in public health.

LIFELONG
As a national leader in lifelong education, UW–Madison offered nearly 2,000 programs for more than 70,000 students during the year through the Division of Continuing Studies. The Summer Sessions program enrolled more than 14,000 students, and 65,000 people participated in other summer programs. Ten degree programs — including master's degrees in engineering, biotechnology, and education — were offered primarily via distance education or during evenings and weekends. The College of Letters and Science, the School of Pharmacy, and the School of Nursing developed new extended programs for nontraditional students.

Supporting measures: Average test scores of new freshmen  |  Average High School Rank of New Freshmen  |  Residential Learning Communities and First-Year Interest Groups  |  Time to degree and graduation rates  | Outreach Enrollments by Student Level

Amplify the Wisconsin Idea

From consulting on broad state programs, such as Healthiest Wisconsin 2010, to the direct delivery of services, such as legal advice for the elderly and programs for dairy producers, the university is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the Wisconsin Idea. Resources for K–12 education include a Web-based program about career choices developed by the School of Education and the Graduate School's Earth Partnership for Schools program. Twenty projects are under way at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences to address environmental management challenges facing state agricultural producers. A new agricultural research station on Madison's west side offers testing services for soil, water, and plants. More than 11,000 youth attended UW–sponsored programs in academics, athletics, and the arts. As part of school tours, 5,775 children visited the Elvehjem Museum of Art, while University Theatre entertained more than 4,000 children with performances around the state. The Wisconsin Film Festival broke a record with 24,000 tickets sold for more than 140 films from 26 countries.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
During the past year, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation filed 270 U.S. patents based on the discoveries of UW–Madison researchers. The college's E-Business Journey program helped to foster collaboration between those who manufacture equipment in Wisconsin and those who supply it. During its first year of operation, the Office of Corporate Relations had contact with executives at more than 600 corporations and commercial entities, and conducted seminars about forming and funding technology-based startup companies.

Supporting measures: WARF Patents and Licensing Activity

Accelerate Internationalization

The American Council on Education has selected UW–Madison as a national model in international studies. The university is ranked first nationally for its eight centers and total dollars granted under Title VI, the federal government's funding program for area and international studies. The campus is ranked sixth nationally for study-abroad programs. Schools and colleges are joining the global community through internship programs, and research and teaching partnerships and exchanges. Through the School of Business, UW is designated as one of 30 centers funded by the federal government to focus on helping American businesses in foreign markets. Numerous campus units worked together to welcome international students and scholars and help them comply with new federal visa regulations.

Supporting measures: Students Studying Abroad

Nurturing Human Resources

STUDENTS
The Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE) program, created to increase campus diversity and identify students with strong academic potential, continues to grow, with nearly 800 students participating in the program's various phases. A new Leadership Certificate Program focuses on leadership skills via academic courses, civic engagement, and learning outside the classroom. The College of Letters and Science, the School of Education, and University Housing partnered to launch a Multicultural Learning Community, which enrolled 54 students during its first year. The Law School has been recognized nationally for successful diversity efforts targeted to students of color and to older and nontraditional students. The College of Engineering has joined an alliance to increase bachelor's degrees awarded to students of color during the next five years.

EMPLOYEES
The Provost's Office offered a variety of programs — ranging from listening sessions to academic leadership workshops to an information project about sexual harassment — to promote workplace civility and excellence through diversity within the campus community. Working with the Provost's Office, the Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute hosted workshops to explore climate issues and the recruitment of diverse applicants for faculty positions. Committees based in the schools and colleges initiated professional development opportunities for academic staff, an awards program recognized five classified staff for outstanding service, and representatives of non-represented classified staff created a professional development grant program.

Supporting measures: Minorities as a Percentage of Faculty and Staff  |  Minority Students as a Percentage of Fall Enrollment  |  Faculty/Staff Participation in Professional Development

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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