Chancellor Dr. Maria Gallo presented an update on several important projects and new developments at UWRF. First she showed a slide recognizing the school’s Best in the Midwest award. She noted that the school ranks high in social mobility measures, with many students from first generation to attend college families as well as students from lower income families.
A major part of her talk focused on the Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech for short) as a game changer for UWRF. The center will focus on science, engineering, mathematics, physics, and psychology, increasing the emphasis on these fields of study and research. The video Dr. Gallo shared noted that collaboration capability will be designed into the facility.
Dr. Gallo recognized the contributions of people in our meeting as among those vital to securing funding for the facility. She added that this is not about the building itself but about what goes on in the building. The prominent location of SciTech will help to highlight its importance. The building will house biology and biotechnology, chemistry , physics, psychological sciences, and a University Business Collaboration Center.
As departments move to SciTech, renovation to other buildings can occur for agricultural sciences and other academic disciplines. Teaching spaces in SciTech will be designed to fit with current teaching methods. Expectation is that 60% of students will have some course work or other activity in the SciTech building. The collaboration center will enhance interactions with the business community, benefiting students and workforce development.
Maria showed a slide listing collaborating companies, and she showed a timeline of construction, starting with demolition of Hagestad Hall. They doe expect some issues with supply chain constraints as well as effects of inflation. The planners have made some adjustments and allowance for future expansion, e.g. greenhouse originally conceived but that can be added later as funding allows.
In the category of co-curricular updates, Gallo highlighted the establishment of an e-sports team focused on video gaming, which will compete next year*. One expected benefit of e-sports will be to attract and involve more male students. Marching band is also in the plan, as it can be an important activity for many incoming students. Baseball is also under consideration for a future expansion, though Dr. Gallo noted the need to do some surveys to assure Title IX compliance. FNBRF field is a great facility with potential for UWRF use.
Branding focus is ongoing to raise the university's prominence in within WI and to distinguish UWRF from other WI system branches. With MN, where many UWRF students come from, the issue is awareness more than differentiation. The university has brought in a firm to update brand and meet prospective students where they are. Look for billboards promoting UWRF to appear.
*We have contacted a speaker on the subject of e-sports who will present in March.