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Chancellor Wiley at Cookie and Milk event

Among leadership priorities for Chancellor Wiley has been engaging students in university issues.
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Leadership highlights

Throughout his tenure as chancellor, John D. Wiley has helped retain UW-Madison’s place at the pinnacle of public research universities in the world. Under his direction, the university has educated thousands and accomplished notable feats that have influenced lives in Madison, across Wisconsin and around the globe.

Promoting academics and research

UW-Madison ranks as one of the most prolific research universities in the world, placing second among American universities with research expenditures totaling $900 million annually. As dean of the Graduate School and provost, Wiley played a major role in supporting and building the university’s research efforts, leading to monumental scientific discoveries and fueling growth of the state’s economy. Undergraduate research opportunities also are flourishing, making research a campuswide enterprise. Wiley has also emphasized enhanced strategic planning, and taking a long-term view of the academic and educational future of the university.

Achievements include:

Building the campus of the future

Wiley seized a unique opportunity to define UW-Madison for decades to come by creating a master plan to guide campus facilities and infrastructure. The effort will result in a campus that is more functional, livable and sustainable — and that will support the university’s teaching, research and service missions. Projects big and small have already left an indelible mark on the UW-Madison campus.

Achievements include:

Encouraging philanthropy

As the university faced stiff fiscal challenges and declining levels of state support, Wiley recognized the need to diversify the university’s revenues and enthusiastically sought outside funding from a devoted alumni base. In fact, the university, through its foundation, has raised more money during the past six years than during its entire history until that point. That funding has played a critical role in the university’s effort to update buildings and facilities, but Wiley also has pushed for raising funds for need-based scholarships, allowing students from all backgrounds to seek a UW-Madison education.

Achievements include:

Expanding partnerships

Wiley sought collaborations to help carry the university’s vision across the state and world. He has aggressively leveraged the university’s research power into patents and licensing, while also seeking innovative new ways to engage with the state’s business community through the Office of Corporate Relations. Wiley strongly championed the Wisconsin Idea and promoted a new campuswide initiative that is strengthening this important tradition in the 21st century.

Achievements include:

Promoting a vision for student life

In collaboration with the Offices of the Dean of Students, Wiley has supported a vision that connects student life and the academic side of the university. In practice, this unique Wisconsin Experience includes residential-learning communities, undergraduate research and leadership initiatives, service-learning classes, community-based research and study abroad, as well as volunteerism coordinated by the Morgridge Center for Public Service.

Achievements include:

Working toward a diverse and welcoming campus

Students, faculty and staff who reflect the diversity of race, culture, gender and ethnicity that are evident across the nation and the globe breathe fresh life into institutions of higher education. One of the greatest challenges of Wiley’s tenure has been to attract and retain greater numbers of students, faculty and staff of color. Under the guidance of Plan 2008, the university has made important strides in nearly all areas, but more work remains. Wiley has had a related — but no less important — goal to make the campus a welcoming and civil place to live and work.

Achievements include:

Maintaining access, quality and affordability

UW-Madison remains deeply committed to keeping the doors of higher education wide open to residents of the state and beyond. Balancing the competing interests of access, quality, resources and affordability has been among Wiley’s passions throughout his career. He has been a champion of the UW System, in a continuing effort to see state reinvestment in higher education. Wiley has also encouraged students to explore alternatives when starting their college careers, including UW-Madison’s Connections Program, allowing transfer from another UW System institution or a state technical college. Ultimately, such programs will expand currently limited access to UW-Madison and build the number of four-year degree holders in the state.

Achievements include:

Athletic success: on the field, in the classroom

Wiley recognizes the importance of athletics to the university — and the importance of a university education to its student-athletes. Under Wiley’s leadership, Barry Alvarez made the transition from being one of the nation’s most successful football coaches to director of one of the nation’s most successful athletic departments. That transition made it possible to elevate Bret Bielema to head football coach, and today the football Badgers are preparing for their second straight post-season bowl game under his leadership. Men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan, who has led the Badgers to their four most successful seasons, was also hired during Wiley’s tenure. Student-athletes continued to excel in academics, with 182 achieving Academic All-Big Ten status and 15 teams recording record-high grade point averages during 2006-07.

Achievements include: