The UW System Board of Regents met Thursday to assess the progress of its strategic planning efforts for growth in Wisconsin a year after implementing them.
Board President Mark Bradley said it is important to monitor progress after approving the action steps needed to keep momentum behind the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin.""
Rebecca Martin, UW System senior vice president for academic affairs, explained the need for a Growth Agenda with a universal vision to produce and attract more college graduates, support more well-paying jobs and strengthen communities where citizens and employers alike will thrive.
""I think we've made real progress,"" UW System President Kevin Reilly said.
The growth of people, jobs and communities are initiatives ingrained into the Wisconsin Growth Agenda.
According to Martin, the first action step involves creating shared learning goals for all UW baccalaureate graduates. It includes critical and creative thinking skills, effective communication skills, inter-cultural knowledge and social and environmental responsibility.
""[This goal] was very well received ... The faculty got together from around the system ... for the first time ever. [It is a] great example of the progress,"" Reilly said.
The second action step instated by the Growth Agenda is the creation of student-engagement portfolios. It focuses on out-of-classroom learning and aims to show a breadth of experiences to potential employers and graduate schools.
Several action steps attended to the agenda's goal of a strengthened community. New programs underway seek to integrate diversity within the university and enlist undergraduates to serve as mentors for K-12 students to enrich the students' college preparation.
Martin said the last action step, increasing private need-based financial aid to supplement state and federal assistance to students, is demonstrating tremendous progress.
A $1.75 million donation made by John and Tashia Morgridge gave nearly 2,000 students need-based financial-aid assistance in the fall 2008 semester. Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corp., UW Credit Union and UW-Madison's ""Great People, Great Place"" initiative also donated a combined $44.8 million.
The UW System Board of Regents will meet again Friday at 9 a.m. to hear reports from various regent committees. The board will continue its evaluation of the Growth Agenda in upcoming meetings.
