WED AM News: UW System president highlights strategies in ‘war for talent’; Interim chancellor named for UW-Parkside

— The head of the UW System says Wisconsin needs to boost enrollment among high school graduates and target residents who didn’t finish college to win the “war for talent.” 

Speaking yesterday during a meeting of the Milwaukee Rotary Club, UW System President Jay Rothman warned members that critical positions in fields like nursing, engineering and data science that go unfilled won’t remain in Wisconsin. 

“We know those jobs aren’t being filled in the state,” he said. “And I’ll tell you this, because I’ve seen it in my corporate life, that to the extent that those jobs aren’t being filled can be moved, they will by necessity be moved out of the state of Wisconsin. And once they move, they’re not coming back.” 

Along with the demographic challenge of the state’s aging population, Rothman also noted Wisconsin’s rate of high school graduates attending universities and technical colleges is the lowest in the Midwest. That puts the state behind Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan, he said. 

“That is a population that we need to tap if we’re going to win the war for talent,” he said. 

Meanwhile, he noted between 600,000 and 800,000 state residents have some level of college credits, but never completed their degree. If just 10 percent of that total could finish their college degree, that means up to 80,000 more Wisconsinites would be able to “achieve more in their career, or provide more to their communities,” he said. 

“We could look at drawing international students into the state, and give them means to stay here,” he said. “We also have opportunities domestically to bring in students from out-of-state, and again, with incentives to have them stay in the state. Those are things we need to look at.” 

Rothman also touted the impact of “groundbreaking” UW research that results in new intellectual property and startup companies, as well as the system’s role in preparing the state’s economy for future trends. 

“We are training people for jobs that do not yet exist, and the great thing about it, a lot of those people will create those new jobs,” he said. 

Watch his full remarks here: https://wiseye.org/2023/04/04/rotary-club-of-milwaukee-uw-system-president-jay-rothman/ 

Rothman will be the guest at a WisPolitics.com luncheon in Madison on June 22. Register now:

https://events.humanitix.com/wispolitics-luncheon-with-uw-president-rothman

— Rothman has named UW-Parkside Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Scott Menke as the university’s interim chancellor.

Menke will replace former UW-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford on June 9 as she leaves the position to serve as chancellor of Indiana University Southeast. Menke has served as vice chancellor for finance and administration since 2018. 

“Chancellor Ford has been a champion for students at UW-Parkside and across the UW System. We will miss her tremendously,” Rothman said in a statement. “I am pleased Scott has agreed to serve as interim chancellor. He will ensure a smooth transition while we find a new leader.”

 Menke said he is fortunate to join the leadership team at UW-Parkside.

“I am both humbled and honored to continue working with the team as interim chancellor,” Menke said. “Under the leadership of Dr. Debbie Ford, the university developed a strong track record of providing students with a transformative educational experience and serving the community.”

See the release:

— UW-Madison is joining a new national network aimed at helping students from rural areas and small towns achieve higher education goals. 

The university yesterday announced its participation in the Small Town and Rural Students College Network, which includes more than a dozen other colleges and universities around the country. 

With $20 million in funding from philanthropist Byron Trott, the network will focus on recruitment and resources to improve accessibility for rural and small-town residents, according to a release. 

Efforts will include establishing new “pathway programs” to boost exposure to academic resources, making more visits to targeted areas by admissions staff, assistance with college applications, navigating scholarships and financial aid, counseling programs and partnerships with various businesses. 

Derek Kindle, the university’s vice provost for enrollment management, says students in rural areas face “unique obstacles” to attending college and are less likely to have access to financial aid workshops or college counselors. 

“Our duty is to engage these students and to partner with other supporters around the state and beyond,” he said. “We are excited to join a network of top institutions committed to addressing and hopefully eliminating these barriers.”

Other participants in the STARS College Network include Yale University, Brown University, The Ohio State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Chicago, the California Institute of Technology and others. 

See more details on the network: https://starscollegenetwork.org/ 

See the university’s release: https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-is-part-of-new-national-effort-to-increase-college-access-for-rural-small-town-students/ 

— Dozens of industry and government organizations in Wisconsin are urging state lawmakers to support legislation creating a $150 million Agriculture Road Improvement Program. 

A total of 31 groups sent a joint letter to all members of the state Legislature to “strongly encourage” them to co-sponsor the legislation creating the program at the state Department of Transportation. They highlight “serious infrastructure challenges” linked to aging roads, weight restrictions, as well as requirements for taking alternative routes or partial load limits, driver shortages and higher fuel prices. 

The groups say the proposed program would “provide much-needed relief” to agricultural users and local governments charged with maintaining these roads. 

“The eligibility to provide funding to repair or replace structures under twenty feet in length (i.e., under the threshold for the use of federal funds) would complement the newly available federal revenue for local bridges and will help speed the modernization of our local transportation networks,” they wrote. 

Virtually all of Wisconsin’s ag organizations have signed onto the letter, including the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, the Dairy Business Association, the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and more. Other supporters include Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, the Wisconsin Counties Association and Wisconsin Towns Association. 

See the release: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/wisconsin-farm-bureau-more-than-30-organizations-ask-for-legislative-support-on-lrb-2553-2631 

See the letter: https://wfbf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ARIP-Stakeholder-Support-Memo-04.04.23-Final.pdf 

— The state office of the U.S. Small Business Administration has named 11 companies and organizations in Wisconsin as award winners for this year’s National Small Business Week, which is April 30-May 6. 

Recipients are being recognized for exporting, minority and veterans business advocacy, mentorship, innovation and more. They come from communities across the state, including Superior, Hudson, Pewaukee, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, East Troy, La Crosse, Green Bay and Eau Claire. 

See the full list of award recipients here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/u-s-small-business-administration-wisconsin-2023-national-small-business-week-award-winners-span-the-state-and-its-diversity/ 

<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report …</b></i> 

— Marshfield Clinic Health System and Security Health Plan are now taking grant applications from school districts to implement a mental health screening tool. 

And U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin has signed onto two bills aimed at reducing prescription drug costs. 

<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i> 

Sign up here: http://forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9

#TOP STORIES#

# Milwaukee smart basketball hoop startup raises $11M, plans local public court

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/inno/stories/fundings/2023/04/03/huupe-raises-11m-hoop-startup.html

# After 2 years on bottled water, French Island officials hope to tap into new state and federal action on PFAS

https://www.wpr.org/after-2-years-bottled-water-french-island-campbell-pfas-private-wells

# Q&A: BMO’s Jud Snyder discusses growing role, recent challenges in banking

#TOPICS#

# AGRIBUSINESS 

– Cool and wet spring weather delays planting season for Wisconsin farmers

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=402&yr=2023 

# CONSTRUCTION 

– Wisconsin Masonry Alliance names award-winning projects

– F Street plans multi-family development in downtown West Bend

# ECONOMY 

– The economic benefits of federal spending on Veterans Affairs in Wisconsin

http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=401&yr=2023 

# EDUCATION 

– DPI’s Underly ‘hurt,’ ‘surprised’ at Finance Committee snub

https://captimes.com/news/education/dpis-underly-hurt-surprised-at-finance-committee-snub/article_1bf7ad0d-3980-5caa-b484-e053559264df.html

– Scott Menke named interim chancellor of UW-Parkside

https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/scott-menke-named-interim-chancellor-of-uw-parkside/article_dc1061c6-d2f6-11ed-9841-cbbc0bc46659.html

# ENTERTAINMENT & THE ARTS 

– South Park Street artist vows to ‘keep making art’ after devastating fire

https://captimes.com/news/south-park-street-artist-vows-to-keep-making-art-after-devastating-fire/article_106951b6-6394-536f-a219-a83a1ac93408.html

– Bronzeville Center for the Arts names first executive director and CEO

# ENVIRONMENT 

– Should you build backyard frog homes? Absolutely, says Wisconsin amphibians researcher

https://www.wpr.org/backyard-frog-homes-wisconsin-amphibians-urban-sprawl-conservation

– Ice fishermen rescued from floe in bay of Green Bay off Door County

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-co/news/2023/04/03/ice-fishermen-rescued-from-floe-in-bay-of-green-bay-off-door-county/70077619007/

# FOOD AND BEVERAGE

– Mr Brew’s is leaving, so this Neenah pizza place is moving into the RiverHeath complex

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/companies/buzz/2023/04/04/a-neenah-pizza-place-is-opening-a-second-appleton-location-the-buzz/70074977007/

# LEGAL 

– Community Within the Corridor developers could be prosecuted under DNR emergency order

# MEDIA 

– Quad plant in Lomira to be sole printer for Reader’s Digest under multimillion-dollar deal

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2023/04/04/quad-readers-digest.html

– History Channel’s ‘American Pickers’ is returning to Wisconsin this year

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/04/04/history-channels-american-pickers-is-returning-to-wisconsin-soon/70079000007/

# REAL ESTATE 

– Walker’s Point property sold to firm which develops apartments, hotels

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2023/04/04/walkers-point-property-sold-to-firm-which-develops-apartments-hotels/70079861007/

– City Council approves 1.4 million-square-foot Uline distribution center in Kenosha

https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/city-council-approves-1-4-million-square-foot-uline-distribution-center-in-kenosha/article_e808f294-d2f7-11ed-bb9e-77b9095ac9f2.html

# REGULATION 

– Downtown Tempo Hotel wins Historic Preservation Commission approval

https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2023/04/04/milwaukee-tempo-hotel-wins-historic-preservation-commission-approval/70077510007/

– Core Spaces proposing two more student housing developments

https://captimes.com/news/community/core-spaces-proposing-two-more-student-housing-developments/article_b868c633-7ff6-587b-967d-fdc76478ce14.html

# UTILITIES 

– Wisconsin utilities urge customers to make a plan for the end of the shut off moratorium April 15

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-utilities-customers-plan-end-disconnection-moratorium-april-15

# PRESS RELEASES

<i>See these and other press releases: 

https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>

U.S. Small Business Administration: Wisconsin 2023 National Small Business Week award winners span the state and its diversity

Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: Administrative actions March 2023