Read this message in:
As we celebrate the start of summer in Madison, I want to thank you and recognize your contributions during the past academic year. Thank you for all you do to Keep Wisconsin On.
This year brought many successes and reasons for celebration. All year, UW–Madison has recognized our 175th anniversary with events on campus and across the state. Following lengthy discussions with the state legislature in the fall, we reached a resolution that keeps many critical priorities for UW-Madison and the Universities of Wisconsin on track. These include pay plan, a new College of Engineering building, and a change to the Minnesota – Wisconsin tuition reciprocity bringing millions of dollars in tuition back to the Universities of Wisconsin institutions.
There is a lot to be proud of within the Finance and Administrative units, as well. Not only are many of you involved in the priorities listed above, but you also improved the daily lives of UW–Madison students and employees. Some examples of your contributions include:
- Hosting and attending festivities celebrating 175 years the world-changing impact of UW’s groundbreaking discoveries and fields of study, life-saving medical advances, barrier-breaking social movements, and more
- Making sure all UW–Madison employees receive their approved pay plan
- Keeping campus facilities clean and operational so students and employees have comfortable and inviting places to learn, work, live, and play
- Participating in professional development opportunities, such as the Principles of Supervision and Management, and then using what you’ve learned to make improvements in your daily work
- Bettering campus financial practices to generate an additional $1 million annually that can be reinvested in the teaching, research, and public service mission
- Renovating, designing and constructing research labs (45 lab projects were completed, 40 are in the design and construction phase, and another 50 are planned as future projects)
- Creating a 5-acre farm to grow food for dining halls
- Preparing campus for the transition to Workday in July 2025
- UWPD and partners methodically plan and prepare to help ensure attendee’s safety and security at athletic events on campus
- Replacing outdated biological safety cabinets (equipment used in research laboratories to protect researchers, the environment, and products from pathogens) to eliminate risks and save energy
- Researching opportunities to incorporate artificial intelligence in our daily work, contributing to a forward-thinking university
- Supporting the university’s first Earth Fest event, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability
- Installing in campus facilities to improve safety across campus
- Providing ongoing support for the construction of Morgridge Hall, the new state-of-the-art School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences building
These are just some of the highlights from the past year, and reflecting on what we have achieved together makes me proud to do this work with you all. Thank you for the role you played in these achievements and the many other ways you make UW–Madison better.
It is also essential to acknowledge the unique challenges and complexities that have marked the last year. Global events, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the war in Ukraine, have caused a great deal of fear, grief, and hurt for members of the campus community. As a university, we are committed to supporting you and ensuring you and your families have access to important resources. The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) offers free and confidential counseling and consultation to UW–Madison faculty, staff, graduate student employees, significant others, and family members. I encourage you to connect with an EAO counselor if you are interested in this kind of support. I am committed to working with you and others across the university to build a community where all students and employees feel like they belong.
As we move into the summer months, I encourage you to reflect on and celebrate all we have accomplished together. I am grateful for your dedication to this work, and I look forward to continuing to learn from you and working together to build an even stronger UW–Madison.
On, Wisconsin!
Rob Cramer