Dr. Kim Wilcox was the third candidate for the University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor position to visit campus, emphasizing his experiences at similar institutions and ideas about how to diversify funding sources in meetings Monday.
Wilcox, former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Michigan State University, called it a “personal pleasure” to be considered as the next leader of “one of the nation’s jewels,” not only because of the university’s commitment to academics, but also its accessibility and connections with its students and state.
If chosen as chancellor, Wilcox said he would engage with students formally through student government, but added he would also emphasize informal interactions, such as receptions and lunches.
“That’s a time when I can learn an awful lot about the university from someone else’s eyes,” Wilcox said. “I can learn an awful lot about the nature of student issues.”
He added he would see his role as chancellor as encouraging the creation of a “community of scholars,” while also taking on the special “responsibility and opportunity” to take action on behalf of students that no one else on campus is given the authority to take.
Wilcox emphasized his background at similar institutions, where he said he interacted with similar shared governance structures like the system in place at UW-Madison. He added he was proud to collaborate with faculty to create an academic review program and students to create academic minors during his time at MSU.
“I’ve worked with faculty and students in different institutions to make changes that were right for them and right for the institution,” Wilcox said. “I look forward to doing the same thing here.”
Wilcox also emphasized the importance of “finding ways to maintain and grow the resource base,” by integrating state funding, tuition, philanthropic contributions and private sector partnerships.
“We can’t remain an excellent high quality university without more stable resources,” Wilcox said.
Emily Ten Eyck, a senior and Wisconsin Public Interest Group member, said she wanted to meet Wilcox to hear his thoughts on shared governance, which she believes “empowers students to have control over their college experience.”
Ten Eyck said she respected his desire to work with students to find solutions to issues, something she hasn’t seen from the current administration.
UW-Madison senior Alexandra Stewart said, although she attended the reception for extra credit, she hopes the next chancellor can bring the campus together into a “tight-knit community,” adding she was impressed by Wilcox’s ability to relate to students.
“And he’s 100 percent up for getting his first pair of Badger bibs,” she added.
