News releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/1/03
CONTACT: Patrick Strickler, (608) 262-9406; pstrickler@wisc.edu

NOTE TO EDITORS: To download a high-resolution image of Charles Hoslet, please visit http://www.news.wisc.edu/newsphotos/hoslet.html

UW-MADISON ANNOUNCES NEW OFFICE OF CORPORATE RELATIONS

MADISON - The University of Wisconsin-Madison is launching a new initiative "to better serve the increasingly complex needs of the business community and help build a stronger Wisconsin economy in the 21st century," according to Chancellor John D. Wiley.

Wiley announced today (May 1) the formation of a new Office of Corporate Relations under the leadership of Charles Hoslet as managing director. Hoslet, who has been senior special assistant to the chancellor for state-government relations for six years, will continue to report directly to Wiley. The new office will become effective July 1.

Management of the state-relations function will remain in the Office of the Chancellor, under the direction of Casey Nagy, executive assistant to the chancellor, Wiley says.

Wiley says the new structure will save the university approximately $240,000 annually, which will be realized primarily through the elimination of four positions in the office of University-Industry Relations (UIR), which is being phased out as part of the new initiative.

Creation of the office "as a new front door to the university" was recommended by the Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations. The task force was first convened in July 2002 to advise Wiley on ways for UW-Madison to better meet the needs of businesses that look to the university for help in solving their problems and challenges. The group was composed of university leaders and senior executives from the Wisconsin business sector. (See attached fact sheet and statements from two members of the task force.)

"As we listened to business leaders around the state, the one consistent theme was the need for a very visible office that they could go to for assistance," says Mark Bugher, director of University Research Park and chair of the task force. "We think an Office of Corporate Relations, linked directly to the Office of the Chancellor, will provide the type of visibility and outreach that Wisconsin businesses want and need."

"The task force has served up a well-researched report and set of recommendations, consistent with the forward-thinking nature of this university and our mission of service to all those who look to us for research and knowledge," Wiley says.

"Our goal is to better serve the increasingly complex needs of the business community and help build a stronger Wisconsin economy in the 21st century," he adds. "The fact that we have been able to make this happen in a way that makes full use of our available resources and expertise on this campus, with a significant savings in taxpayer dollars, demonstrates our commitment to finding new and better ways to do business."

Among its recommendations was the dismantling of UIR, which was created in 1963 as part of the university's Graduate School. The task force concluded that UIR had ceased to be effective as the university's "front door" to the business community and was "based on an organizational framework that has not adapted to meet the changing campus and business needs."

One of the positions being phased out in the new structure is that of UIR director, which has been filled since 1994 by Steven C. Price.

"UIR, under the dedicated leadership of Steve Price, has done everything we originally asked of it, and has done it well," Wiley says. "As the task force itself concluded, however, the UIR model was no longer the best or most efficient way to manage our relationships with the business community."

Wiley adds that the functions UIR has provided in the past, such as equity review checks, managing intellectual property and running its grant programs will continue to be performed by the Graduate School or by the individual schools and colleges.

Hoslet, who holds a law degree from UW-Madison and an undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee, has served in the Office of the Chancellor since 1997 as director of state government relations.

Wiley says he selected Hoslet to lead the new initiative "because of his insights into effective relationship management and his commitment to building better and new bridges between the university and the business community."

Hoslet, who worked closely with the Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations, says his top priority is to reach out to those in the business community of Wisconsin and learn more about their needs.

"We will then determine more specifically how we at UW-Madison, at times in conjunction with other UW campuses around the state, can help meet those needs," Hoslet says. "Doing so is important to the future of the state, and frankly to the future of the university as well. It's an exciting challenge, and I'm looking forward to getting started."

The report of the Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations is available online at http://www.chancellor.wisc.edu/businessrelations.html
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- Patrick Strickler, (608) 262-9406, pstrickler@wisc.edu

FACT SHEET
OFFICE OF CORPORATE RELATIONS

* The Office of Corporate Relations is the result of a nearly yearlong study by the Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations, composed of university leaders and senior executives from the Wisconsin business sector.

* Names of task force members appear at the end of task force report: http://www.chancellor.wisc.edu/businessrelations.html

* The university's goal, as articulated by the task force, is:
"To create and strengthen mutually beneficial relationships between the private sector and the university, with special emphasis on technology transfer, continuing education and providing well-educated students and graduates."

* The Office of Corporate Relations, with Charles Hoslet as managing director, becomes effective July 1, 2003, with a three-person staff, including an associate director and one support person.

* As part of the new initiative, the office of University-Industry Relations (UIR) is being phased out, resulting in a savings of approximately $240,000 in general purpose revenue (state tax dollars).

* UIR was originally created in 1963 as part of the university's Graduate School. The decision to phase out UIR is based on the fact that its operating model has not kept pace with the changing needs and expectations of the business community.

* Also as part of the new initiative, the university's Technology Transfer Council will become part of the Office of Corporate Relations, and those staff members who have served as associate directors of UIR will return to their full-time positions in their schools and colleges.

* The functions that UIR provided in the past, such as equity review checks, managing intellectual property disclosures and running grant programs, will continue to be performed by the Graduate School or by individual schools and colleges as appropriate.

* Hoslet has been with the Office of the Chancellor since 1997, with responsibility for directing the university's state government relations. He holds an undergraduate degree from Marquette University in Milwaukee and a law degree from UW-Madison.

* Management of the university's state relations function will remain in the Office of the Chancellor, under the direction of Casey Nagy, executive assistant to the chancellor. Hoslet's current position as director of state government relations is not being filled at this time.
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STATEMENTS FROM TASK FORCE MEMBERS

Laurie Benson
President and CEO, Inacom Information Systems
Member, Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations

"The University of Wisconsin-Madison has a strong tradition of partnering with businesses. Now, with the creation of the Office of Corporate Relations, there will be a single point of contact for all businesses in order to accelerate the scale and scope of the partnership between Wisconsin businesses and the university.

"This strategy is very well thought out, and comes at a time when we all need to work together to build a stronger economy in Wisconsin. The beauty of this plan is that it addresses immediate needs, while at the same time positions both the university and statewide businesses for long-term success."

Tom Hefty
Currently, Of Counsel, Reinhart, Boerner, and Van Deuren
Past President, Competitive Wisconsin
Retired CEO, Cobalt Corporation
Member, Chancellor's Task Force on University-Business Relations

"This report reflects a renewed commitment to the Wisconsin Idea and a recognition that a close relationship between UW-Madison and the business community is important for job growth, stronger economic development, and higher incomes for Wisconsin residents - all of which contribute to a positive state budget outcome.

"Maintaining a strong university and revitalizing the Wisconsin economy are the most important tasks ahead for everyone with a stake in the future of this great state.

"The task force work showed a clear need for changes in the relationship between UW-Madison and the business community, and the chancellor has moved quickly to implement the recommendations for improvement."
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