University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s appearance at a Tuesday shared governance meeting was met with protests against white supremacy as she answered questions regarding the recent rise of an “alt-right” movement on campus.
Category: Chancellor
University of Wisconsin students warn against using criminal records in admissions
Members of UW-Madison’s student government on Friday criticized Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s call for officials to revisit their policy of not asking about applicants’ criminal records.
Students slam Chancellor’s consideration of background checks
Student leaders at UW-Madison slam Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s consideration of criminal background checks in the university application process, as Blank responds to the campus presence of a student with federal, felony convictions for setting fire to African-American churches.
Blank: Tuition cut is ‘peanuts compared to what’s needed’
With Gov. Scott Walker’s biennial budget proposal on the horizon, a fresh group of future Badgers await letters from the financial aid office; funding is also on the university’s mind. UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank spoke candidly to the University Affairs committee Monday about her thoughts regarding state funding and scholarship disbursement.
UW leaders react to Walker tuition cut idea
Walker proposed a tuition cut in his State of the State speech on Tuesday. He did not say how much it would be, but his spokesman Tom Evenson says it will be paid for.
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank calls on state to pay for Scott Walker’s promised tuition cut
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank is calling on state legislators to fully fund a tuition cut Gov. Scott Walker promised in his State of the State address Tuesday.
Complaining of bias on campus, Republicans push for ‘intellectual diversity’ at UW schools
Conservative critics of higher education in Wisconsin have opened a new chapter of their long-running complaints about institutions such as UW-Madison, scrutinizing specific university courses and even a class reading they consider biased or inappropriate.
Hanns Kuttner: A first gentleman
Hanns Kuttner loves “It’s a Small World stories, and last September he shared one with Madison philanthropist Jerry Frautschi.
UW’s Rebecca Blank: We oppose any form of campus carry
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said Tuesday that she opposes any form of legislation that would allow the possession of concealed guns in university buildings.
Transcript: The Badger Herald sits down with Chancellor Rebecca Blank
The Badger Herald sat down with University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank on Dec. 2 to discuss a range of topics including sexual assault, campus diversity, faculty retention and out-of-state enrollment.
UW Chancellor visits Dells, calls for investment
Investment in the University of Wisconsin is paramount for the state’s institutions of higher learning maintain their quality of education, the chancellor of the state’s flagship university told a lunch-time gathering in Wisconsin Dells Tuesday.
Rebecca Blank and Marsha Mailick: Drop in research ranking signals need to reinvest in UW
Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “My wife has cancer, and her treatment isn’t working.” Or, “I need equipment that performs better in my plant and saves me time and money.” “My child has autism, and I need better ways to help him.”
The Latest: UW-Madison chancellor can’t declare sanctuary
University of Wisconsin-Madison officials say Chancellor Rebecca Blank doesn’t have the authority to declare the school a sanctuary for students who entered the country illegally.
UW Chancellors urge lawmakers to restore and boost funding in
Leaders of two U-W System schools, including U-W Oshkosh, hope lawmakers will consider the benefits of increased funding for the system. Last budget cycle, the U-W System had to cut spending by $250-million. U-W-O Chancellor Andrew Leavitt and U-W Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank say they’ve made the cutbacks work. But they say the time has come to look at state funding of higher education as an investment for the state.
Chancellors talk budget woes
UW Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank and UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt met with officials and alumni on Wednesday to discuss the Wisconsin state budget and its role in public higher education.
UW System officials express concerns over upcoming budget
Chancellors within the UW System are expressing concerns over the upcoming budget. They’re asking state legislators for more money after years of seeing cuts.
Lawsuit filed over ex-UW coach Bo Ryan’s affair
A woman who had an extramarital affair with Bo Ryan, the former University of Wisconsin basketball coach who resigned abruptly last December, has filed a federal lawsuit against eight UW-Madison officials alleging defamation and other rights violations.
Woman connected to Bo Ryan files lawsuit against top UW-Madison officials
A woman who was romantically involved with former University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan on Wednesday sued several top university officials, alleging they deprived her of due process, defamed her and invaded her privacy.
Blank signs statement calling for protection of undocumented students
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank added her name to a statement released Monday that calls for U.S. officials to uphold and expand the 2012 immigration policy Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which protects eligible undocumented youth from deportation.
Potrykus: A response to UW student-athletes
The 2016-’17 academic year is my 21st spent in Dane County covering University of Wisconsin athletics.
UW-Madison chancellor apologizes for university’s handling of noose incident
University of Wisconsin-Madison has indefinitely revoked the season tickets of two people involved with a Halloween costume depicting President Barack Obama in a noose during an Oct. 29 football game at Camp Randall, and Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized Monday for the university’s response to the incident.
Blank apologizes for handling of Camp Randall noose incident
At Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized for the University of Wisconsin’s response to an incident involving a someone dressed as President Barack Obama with a noose around his head.
Blank apologizes for university response to noose incident
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank offered an apology Monday for the university’s response to a controversial costume depicting President Barack Obama in a noose worn at an Oct. 29 football game.
UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank discusses budget, campus climate with ASM
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank Wednesday attended an Associated Students of Madison meeting to discuss internal budget affairs and the progress of the pilot campus climate initiative, “Our Wisconsin.”
Blank talks biennial budget, campus climate at Student Council meeting
The biennual budget and campus climate are concerns for many students, and Chancellor Rebecca Blank addressed university administration’s efforts on these issues at Wednesday’s Associated Students of Madison Student Council meeting.
Blank looks to increase out-of-state tuition to help fund faculty
Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s request to increase tuition for out-of-state and professional students has been met with mixed reviews.
Potential tuition increase raises concerns
Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced in a State of the University speech to the UW-Madison Faculty Senate Monday that she is asking the Board of Regents to raise tuition for out-of-state and professional students.
Blank announces aim to raise out-of-state and professional tuition
Chancellor Rebecca Blank gave a State of the University address to the UW-Madison Faculty Senate Monday, which explained how the university will try to increase tuition for out-of-state students and continue to freeze tuition for in-state students.
UW-Madison to seek tuition increases for non-residents, professional students
Out-of-state students and those in UW-Madison’s professional schools could soon see another round of tuition increases after Chancellor Rebecca Blank told faculty Monday she plans to ask the university’s governing board in the coming months to raise prices for those students.
Badgers sports: Chancellor Rebecca Blank urges Athletic Board to balance support, criticism of UW
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a charge Friday to members of the UW Athletic Board to support the school’s sports teams but to be a critical eye on the department’s activities.
Chancellor Blank to launch Community Advisory Committee
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank is poised to begin a committee this fall that will share information with and seek insight from various leaders in the community regarding diversity and inclusion.
UW leaders have set up a multi-pronged plan to give minorities a more inclusive experience on campus
New students will discuss social differences, black students will get their own cultural center and more students will be allowed into ethnic studies courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as part of a multi-faceted plan to give minorities a better experience on campus, university leaders said Wednesday.
Photos of the Week: 8/21/16-8/27/16
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016: Minnesota and Wisconsin university leaders, spouses and mascots enjoy the giant slide at the Minnesota State Fair.
Regent: Wisconsin ‘Has To Get Serious’ About Investing In UW System
A former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin and a member of the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is calling on the state to take a no-nonsense approach to funding the UW System.
UW-Madison’s Rebecca Blank at middle of pack for campus chief executive pay
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank ranked 84th in compensation for top executives at 258 public universities in data compiled by the Chronicle for Higher Education.
Interview with the Chancellor
In an April 22nd interview, Black Voice writers Jordan Gaines and Alexandria Mason sat down the Chancellor Rebecca Blank to ask some of the student bodies most pressing questions. Members of the UW-Madison community sent in questions ranging in topic from the university’s ties to prison labor to recent hate and bias incidents on campus all to ultimately figure out “Becky, what’s good.” A video of the interview and partial transcripts can be found below.
Rebecca Blank: UW committed to improving campus climate
The string of hate and bias incidents that we’ve been responding to reflects a lack of understanding on our campus, but also a set of broader issues facing all of us in a nation that is becoming increasingly diverse.
UW-Madison student leaders have eyes set on improving racial climate on campus
The discussion over race relations and cultural competency continues on UW-Madison campus. Earlier this week the Associated Students of Madison sent a letter to UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank, urging her and other administrators to undergo cultural competency training along with the students they serve.
UW-Madison leaders to get cultural training
University of Wisconsin-Madison’s executives will get cultural training following a semester marked by students’ calls for a more inclusive college experience for minorities.
Blank agrees to cultural competency training for UW administration
After a push from Associate Students of Madison leaders to increase administration cultural competency, Chancellor Rebecca Blank agreed to begin administration training which will address unconscious biases.
UW-Madison alumni call out chancellor, chief for response to racially charged campus incidents
Kaleem Caire wrote an open letter with his wife, Lisa Peyton-Caire, both of whom are alumni of UW-Madison; Caire is the former head of the Urban League of Greater Madison. They said they’ve watched with growing concern the response of campus leaders to racially charged incidents and believe the incidents should be handled much differently.
UW chancellor “upset” over student’s arrest during class
UW-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank says she was upset after she heard that UW police officers entered a classroom to find a suspect in a rash of graffiti cases on campus.
UW-Madison taking action after recent discrimination incidents
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says she is taking action after several recent cases of discrimination on campus.
In an open letter to the UW-Madison community, Blank announced several expanded or accelerated initiatives to which she intends to devote time and resources.
UW–Madison Chancellor Talks Tuition, Diversity And Budget Cuts
As part of our View from the Top conversation series, Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson talks with Rebecca Blank, chancellor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, about the challenges she faces in leading the school.
Blank shares progress, need for improvement surrounding campus diversity
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank detailed data about enrollment, retention and educational outcomes for students of color on campus in a Friday blog post, saying although there is still work to be done, the university has improved its efforts in these areas.
UW talks about ‘moving forward’ in conversations about race, ethnicity
University of Wisconsin administration and students tackled tough questions regarding race and diversity Wednesday in an effort to create a plan that could fuel changes to campus culture.
More than 400 people came together in an open discussion on diversity issues, possible solutions to incidents of hate and bias, increasing retention rates and cultural competency.
“Moving Forward” event fosters campus conversation on race
Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff members took part in the “Moving Forward: Conversations on Racial and Ethnic Diversity” event Wednesday at Gordon Dining and Event Center.
Participants joined the conversation at different themed tables, including “Building Cultural Competency, Awareness and Capacity;” “Hate and Bias Incidents and Conflicts with Free Speech;” and “Admission and Recruitment of Underrepresented Groups.”
UW-Madison spent $8 million to fend off raids on faculty
The University of Wisconsin-Madison spent $8 million the last six months of 2015 fending off attempts to raid some of its most productive and accomplished faculty after international attention over state budget cuts and possible changes to tenure protections created faculty unrest.
Rebecca Blank: Protecting UW-Madison faculty from poaching cost $8 million
University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank said she spent $8 million in six months protecting top faculty from poaching by other universities.
Rebecca Blank: UW-Madison spent at least $8M to retain professors after budget cuts, tenure changes
UW-Madison has spent at least $8 million since last summer to retain top professors after state legislators cut higher education funding and changed faculty tenure policies, Chancellor Rebecca Blank told the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Thursday.
Campus, legislative officials promote education on voter ID changes
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank outlined the university’s efforts to educate students on voter ID information in a Friday blog post.
Blank said in the post that after the 2011 voter ID law was implemented, she and other administrative officials worked with legislators to ensure that students across the UW System could obtain voter ID cards.
Bill would provide amnesty for sexual assault victims
Noted: The bill is supported by Attorney General Brad Schimel and University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who said avoiding citations for victims and their supporters is already policy on campus.
“We have been telling them if you are drinking but helping a friend we will focus on the sexual assault issue and not the drinking issue,” Blank said. “But I think being able to say under the law of Wisconsin this is not just our practice but this is the law does have a certain depth of convincingness to it.”
TRIUMPH Students and Directors Discuss Importance of Improving Milwaukee Public Health System
On the afternoon of Friday, January 17, about 30 people filled the Walnut Way Conservation Corp. (2240 N 17th St) to discuss UW-Madison School of Medicine’s TRIUMPH programand showcase its accomplishments.
Could the American economy tank in 2016?
Thoughts from Chancellor Blank: ‘Best upside risk: Greater consumer spending. Biggest downside risk: Even slower growth in the rest of the world.’
UW officials voice support for Federal Perkins Loan extension
UW System President Ray Cross and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared their support in a joint statement for the two-year extension of the Federal Perkins Loan Program, passed in the U.S. Congress Wednesday.
UW panel OKs free speech resolution
A University of Wisconsin System regents committee has approved a resolution affirming the system’s commitment to free speech.
The regents’ education committee voted unanimously to adopt the resolution Thursday afternoon during a meeting on the UW-Madison campus. Approval would send the resolution on to the full board of regents for consideration on Friday.
Regents committee to vote on freedom of speech resolution
A University of Wisconsin System regents committee is set to consider a resolution affirming the system’s commitment to free speech.
The regents’ education committee is expected to vote on the resolution Thursday afternoon during a meeting on the UW-Madison campus. Approval would send the resolution on to the full board of regents for consideration on Friday.
The resolution comes after UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote a blog post last month saying that no one is entitled to express their beliefs in ways that diminish or devalue others. Blank wrote the post in the wake of protests at the University of Missouri over racial issues.
After UW-Madison chancellor’s email stirred controversy, Regents prepare resolution on free speech
The Regents will take up a proposed resolution reaffirming the board’s commitment to academic freedom and free speech when its education committee meets Thursday in Madison. The move comes weeks after UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sent students and faculty a controversial message about speech, which critics said was contrary to First Amendment principles, and as colleges across the country weigh how to handle sensitive debates on campus.
UW-Madison chancellor discusses challenging year
University of Wisconsin-Madison Rebecca Blank was recently in Washington, D.C., and stopped by the offices of Inside Higher Ed to discuss the challenges of the past year.
She talked about the impact of state disinvestment in higher education, the new tenure policy that’s being developed for UW System campuses, a temporary lifting of the cap on enrollment of out-of-state students, and the racial protests that have swept many campuses, including UW-Madison.
Here’s a link to the 25-minute podcast of the chancellor’s interview with the national higher education publication.
UW-Madison chancellor discusses her eventful, challenging year
UW-Madison chancellor discusses the university’s difficult year, the future of public financing of higher education and racial protests on campuses.