University of Wisconsin chancellor Rebecca Blank was selected as the chair of the Big Ten Conference’s Council of Presidents and Chancellors on Wednesday.
Wisconsin’s Rebecca Blank tabbed as Big Ten’s COP/C chair
Wisconsin State Journal
Category: Chancellor
UW-Madison confirms no COVID-19 vaccine mandate this fall and outlines plans for a ‘more typical’ semester
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin-Madison said this week it will not require COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, as a growing minority of campuses across the country, including in the Big Ten, are doing so.
Here’s how Wisconsin defends its AD hiring process against charges it ignored diverse voices
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank solicited feedback from a select number of voices on what qualities and characteristics in the next Badgers athletic director mattered to them. School officials have declined to reveal who was invited to offer input, but it has emerged that Blank held listening sessions with Badgers coaches, some UW players and a group dedicated to equity and diversity in the athletic department.
It’s official: Chris McIntosh promoted to Wisconsin athletic director
Wisconsin State Journal
The UW System Board of Regents on Wednesday morning approved a contract with McIntosh, 44, a former Badgers football player who will be only the third UW athletic director in 32 years.
Sources: Chris McIntosh expected to be named Wisconsin athletic director
Wisconsin State Journal
The University of Wisconsin plans to name its new athletic director Wednesday, with Chancellor Rebecca Blank revealing her pick to replace the retiring Barry Alvarez.
UW says secrecy needed in AD search; open records advocate says there’s ‘no evidence’ to support that
Wisconsin State Journal
UW is more than six weeks into its search for Barry Alvarez’s successor to lead the athletic department, an enterprise with an annual budget of more than $130 million. The school has been silent on whether any lessons from the failed presidential search were learned, but it is operating with a similar degree of secrecy.
Opinion: UW-Madison chancellor and state legislators use digital dodges to hide records from the public
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In March, The Washington Post reported that University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank sought to move a conversation around the COVID-19 pandemic and students returning to campus in the fall to a private portal used by presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities.
Some colleges want faculty to teach more courses, citing budget problems
Washington Post
It was a comment to that effect by Rebecca Blank, the chancellor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, that helped ignite the debate in her state over faculty course loads. Blank started a political firestorm by saying that, when top faculty got job offers from other institutions, she sometimes reduced the number of courses they had to teach as a way to get them to stay.
New Leadership For the Big Ten Universities: The Glass Ceiling Is Cracking
Forbes
With the appointments of Whitten and Wilson, five Big Ten universities will now be headed by women. Joan Gabel is president of the University of Minnesota; Kristina Johnson is president of The Ohio State University; and Rebecca Blank is the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin. Three other Big Ten campus heads are Black: Johnathan Holloway, appointed in 2020 at Rutgers: Darryll Pines named president of the University of Maryland also in 2020; and Robert Jones who became Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2016.
UW-Madison chancellor recognized nationally for economics research
Wisconsin State Journal
The American Economic Association named UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank a distinguished fellow, an honor that just four economists in the country received this year.
‘Dire shape’: UW-Madison pushes for money to replace Humanities Building
Wisconsin State Journal
Crumbling concrete, rusted rebar and falling facades were among the selling points on a campus tour Monday designed to shore up support for the University of Wisconsin System’s more than $1 billion request to repair or replace aging facilities.
Van Hise Hall repair work to begin soon; employees relocated at UW-Madison
Wisconsin State Journal
Gov. Tony Evers ordered emergency repair work to Van Hise Hall after concrete slabs broke off the UW-Madison building earlier this week and an engineering company found the building’s remaining panels “pose an immediate threat to public health, welfare and safety.”
UW chancellor Rebecca Blank understands the importance of hiring a capable replacement for retiring AD Barry Alvarez
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Chancellor Rebecca Blank understands the importance hiring the right person to replace University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez.
“Leadership matters,” Blank told reporters Wednesday after UW officials announced the formation of a nine-member search committee. “And leadership matters for maintaining the culture and the ethos and the quality of programs we have here.
Search committee to replace UW athletic director Barry Alvarez includes Paul Chryst, 8 others
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank has formed a large – and diverse – search committee to find a replacement for outgoing athletic director Barry Alvarez.
Scramble to vaccinate Wisconsin college students before summer hinges on supply
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank has several times in recent weeks noted her disappointment with the amount of vaccine allocated to University Health Services. Officials have encouraged the campus community to look elsewhere, noting in a Monday social media post that appointments for the week were already full.
How Chancellor Rebecca Blank will find Wisconsin’s next athletic director and the ‘high cost’ of getting it wrong
Wisconsin State Journal
The search for the next University of Wisconsin athletic director officially is underway, and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank made it clear she understands the magnitude of finding the right person to replace Barry Alvarez.
Why the U.S. is rethinking its approach to poverty
PBS
Quoted: Lawmakers in the U.S. have for years debated how to track poverty, and child poverty in particular. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, when the country is caught in a deep recession that has forced families deeper into financial difficulty amid widening inequalities, “it’s not surprising” that politicians have found renewed interest in curbing this hardship, said Rebecca Blank, a macroeconomist who worked on anti-poverty policy for the the Clinton and Obama administrations and now serves as chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Spring commencement to be held in-person at Camp Randall
The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison’s spring 2021 commencement ceremony will be in-person at Camp Randall Stadium instead of the virtual format it has taken the last two semesters due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UW-Madison will host two in-person graduations this summer, but no families will be allowed
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The University of Wisconsin-Madison announced Thursday that it will hold two in-person graduation ceremonies this year, with the caveat that graduates will not be allowed to have guests present.
UW-Madison plans graduates-only commencement ceremony at Camp Randall
Wisconsin State Journal
The university announced Thursday that its traditional stadium ceremony will be held for only graduating students in two ceremonies, one for undergraduates and another for graduate students, both of which will be May 8.
UW-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank apologizes over public records
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized after it was reported that she suggested to other Big Ten leaders that their emails related to the COVID-19 pandemic be moved to a private portal.
UW-Madison chancellor apologizes over public records
NBC-15
Blank issued the apology in a statement Monday, saying, in part, “I regret the language I used in my email exchange with other Big Ten chancellors, which appears as though I intended to use the Big Ten board portal to skirt my public records responsibilities. This was surely not my intention and I apologize for that appearance.
Chancellor Blank apologizes for COVID-19 discussions held on private server
Badger Herald
’I think she was right to apologize, and I welcome the fact that it came swiftly and clearly,’ UW ethics and media law professor says.
Chancellor Blank expresses regret following secretive public records
Daily Cardinal
Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized for her email correspondence with Big Ten leaders last summer that suggested moving communications to the network’s private platform amid COVID-19 discussions for the fall semester. The University of Wisconsin System is reviewing the matter after learning about it last week, according to a spokesperson.
UW-Madison chancellor apologizes for keeping COVID-19 discussions private
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank apologized on Monday for emails she sent last summer suggesting COVID-19 communications between Big Ten leaders be moved to the network’s private portal, an approach one expert on Wisconsin’s public records law called “clearly illegal.”
UW’s Blank, Big Ten leaders draw scrutiny for private correspondence on football plans
The Capital Times
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank was among various Big Ten Conference leaders who aimed to keep conversations about plans for the college football season hidden from public view, opting to use an internal Big Ten portal in lieu of email correspondence, The Washington Post reported Saturday.
Big Ten presidents kept return-to-school, football communications out of public eye
Washington Post
When the presidents and chancellors of the 14 Big Ten universities began discussing the prospects of students returning to their campuses last fall amid the coronavirus pandemic and with football season looming, they weighed many considerations, from public health to financial impact.
Wisconsin launches vaccine registry with just 1 county, more sites to come
Associated Press
In other pandemic-related developments Wednesday: UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said in taped remarks for the Wisconsin Counties Association’s annual Legislative Exchange meeting that a normal fall semester hinges on the pace of vaccinations for faculty, staff and students. She said the university is an authorized vaccinator and hopes to vaccinate all faculty and staff by the end of the spring semester.
Blank, Thompson respond to UW budget news, advocate for UW
The Capital Times
Interim University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson and UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank teamed up Wednesday to address the Wisconsin Counties Association at its annual legislative exchange, responding to the governor’s budget announcement and sharing financial updates.
UW System praises Gov. Evers proposed budgets
The Daily Cardinal
The University of Wisconsin System leadership praised Gov. Tony Evers 2021-2023 budget proposed last week, as it nearly doubled the already-ambitious initial request to help UW pull out of its financial deficit.
Facing ‘financial disaster’ from COVID-19, UW System pushes for borrowing ability
Wisconsin State Journal
COVID-19 has caused the “biggest financial disaster” the university has ever seen, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. Through federal stimulus money, furloughs, pay cuts for leadership, travel restrictions and targeted budget cuts to different units, Blank said she’s optimistic the financial gap can be resolved over the next two years. But she also renewed her case for giving the university borrowing authority.
Careful approach to Badgers athletics during COVID-19 pandemic ‘way we should be behaving,’ UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says
Wisconsin State Journal
In her yearly address Friday to the UW Athletic Board that also touched on budget issues and pending NCAA legislation, Blank said the Badgers have been “more hesitant to jump in if we think there are any risks than some other teams.”
UW-Madison asks for patience as new COVID-19 testing program comes with learning curve
Wisconsin State Journal
In one of the first campus-wide emails of the new year, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank shared some new, slightly odd wisdom for the semester ahead: “Pool your drool.”
Can universities manufacture a post-industrial future for the Midwest?
Times Higher Education
Rebecca Blank, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, says that Madison’s thriving industries, such as biotechnology, software and gaming, are “areas that are basically all very much rooted in both the students who graduate from here and the faculty and the research work that we do here”.
UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank: Up to 70,000 tests per week will help protect our campus and community
Wisconsin State Journal
As we prepare to resume classes, we’re going to continue doing our part to curb the spread of the virus. We learned from experience that a high degree of testing, followed by quickly isolating and quarantining those who test positive or were exposed, is key to limiting that spread.
UW-Madison’s fall reopening: A story of success, failure or simply survival?
Wisconsin State Journal
When COVID-19 cases skyrocketed in early September, Chancellor Rebecca Blank knew she had to try something. So on Sept. 9, the fifth day of classes, when the university reported 404 infections of the nearly 5,300 it would accumulate by the end of the semester, she announced a two-week lockdown for two large dorms and a campus-wide pause on face-to-face instruction. “A lot of people thought that we would never recover from that,” she said in an interview on Friday, the final day of the semester. “More than one person has come up to me and said, ‘I thought we’d never get back to in-person classes. I thought you’d have to send everyone home.’ And, you know, we did recover from that.”
UW-Madison Chancellor Expects COVID-19 Restrictions To Remain For Spring Semester
Wisconsin Public Radio
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says students enrolling for the spring semester should expect continued restrictions on social gatherings and a mix of in-person and online classes due to COVID-19.
UW Black student journalists frustrated, disappointed after meeting with Blank
The Capital Times
Following an interview with Chancellor Rebecca Blank last month, Black student journalists published a piece expressing dissatisfaction with her response to the concerns of Black students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
UW-Madison will continue furloughs into 2021 as lost revenue, increased costs hit $320 million
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In another sign that the pandemic is causing major constraints on college budgets, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank has announced that the campus would continue with employee furloughs.
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank: The changes we’ve made are working to combat virus
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Video: In a livestream to alumni, UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank talks about how the changes they’ve made at the school have helped lower the number of positive Covid-19 tests on campus.
In speech to UW faculty, Blank reveals high graduation, hiring numbers, anticipates tough budget
The Capital Times
The University of Wisconsin-Madison hired a record number of faculty and graduated a record number of students in the last academic year, Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Monday.
Chancellor Rebecca Blank discusses school year so far, hopes for rest of semester in virtual meeting
Badger Herald
Blank said economic losses from COVID-19 pandemic have put UW in ’the worst situation that anyone has seen.’
Cap Times Idea Fest: Rebecca Blank says UW is already proving skeptics wrong
The Capital Times
Despite working longer hours than she ever has as the University of Wisconsin-Madison reduced its COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, Chancellor Rebecca Blank said her to-do list for the fall semester is far from finished.
UW-Madison to gradually lift campus lockdown, resume in-person classes with changes
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank says the campus will begin to reopen Saturday following a two-week lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19 among undergraduate students.
UW-Madison lifts quarantine of residence halls
WKOW-TV 27
UW-Madison lifted the quarantine on two of its residence halls following the rapid spread of COVID-19 among students.
UW to end quarantine at Witte, Sellery residence halls, plans return to in-person classes
The Capital Times
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is slowly phasing back to in-person classes and activities after two weeks of online learning and quarantines in two residence halls.
UW-Madison lifts dorm quarantine, will resume some in-person classes
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison lifted quarantine orders for two of its largest dorms on Wednesday and will soon phase in some face-to-face classes, the first easing of restrictions since COVID-19 cases spiked on campus about two weeks ago.
‘It’s long past time to stop arguing.’ UW-Madison, Dane County officials at odds over fall plans
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank each think the other should do more to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Madison.
‘It’s long past time to stop arguing’: UW-Madison chancellor releases statement on COVID-19 enforcement in off-campus areas
Channel 3000
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a statement Monday regarding COVID-19 at the university and in off-campus areas throughout Madison.
Chancellor, County Executive trade criticisms over COVID response
The Daily Cardinal
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued yet another statement on Monday in response to one from Dane County officials asking that the university take responsibility for rising positive cases.
Tensions arise between UW, local government over rising COVID-19 cases
Badger Herald
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi recently released statements on UW’s decision to hold in-person classes this semester.
UW leader: County needs to stop wishing students were gone
Associated Press
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s chancellor on Monday pushed back against repeated calls from Dane County’s top leaders to close the campus to slow COVID-19, saying he needs to stop wishing students were gone and crack down on off-campus gatherings.
UW-Madison fires back at Dane County for proposing online classes, sending students home
Wisconsin State Journal
Tensions between UW-Madison and the community at large escalated on Monday when Chancellor Rebecca Blank called on Dane County’s top leader to stop criticizing the university’s reopening plan and instead address the county’s increased COVID-19 caseload together.
Two leaders urge colleges to encourage student voting
Inside Higher Ed
Chancellor Blank and Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow: If you are leading a college or university right now — or if you are making the academic year possible as a member of the faculty or staff at any one of our nation’s institutions of higher education — asking something more of your students in the midst of a global pandemic may seem impractical. But one assignment cannot wait. We urge you to encourage your students to register to vote, to become informed of the issues and the candidates, and to cast a ballot
Big Ten announces plan to start the 2020 football season the weekend of Oct. 23-24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
As expected, Big Ten officials are determined to play football this fall.
The league announced Wednesday morning the 2020 season is scheduled to begin the weekend of Oct. 23-24.
Big Ten Reverses Course and Will Bring Football Back in Late October
WSJ
As late as Tuesday morning, University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank said that uncertainty over cardiac complications had driven the August decision to nix fall football, and could still lead the Big Ten to sit out.
“Until we have answers to that, we’re going to keep our season postponed,” she testified before the U.S. Senate’s health committee.
Senator: Allowing college athletes NIL pay is ‘huge mistake’
The Washington Post
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank and Utah State athletic director John Hartwell were among those who testified along with Ramogi Huma, a former UCLA football player and advocate for college athlete rights, and Ohio State director of track and field Karen Dennis.
UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank speaks to Senate about name, image, likeness law
Wisconsin State Journal
University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank asked legislators Tuesday to provide the framework for athletes to earn money for their name, image and likeness.
‘We’re Not Running Sports to Primarily Make Money’: NIL Hearing to Put Collegiate Revenues in Spotlight
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated obtained the 1,700-word testimony that Blank submitted ahead of a hearing Tuesday on name, image and likeness before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. While she agrees that NIL reform is needed, Blank plans to tell senators that an unchecked athlete-compensation model could adversely impact Olympic sports and that athletes are already given a “generous package” of benefits that includes thousands of dollars in education, unlimited meals, state-of-the-art medical care and other on-campus resources—many of which normal students do not receive, she notes in the testimony. According to her written testimony, a full scholarship package at Wisconsin is nearly $87,000 for out-of-state students and more than $59,000 for those in state.
UW Chancellor defends Smart Restart, addresses community COVID-19 concerns
Badger Herald
Chancellor Rebecca Blank and other university administrators addressed their COVID-19 campus response concerns in a virtual meeting — Blank said the University of Wisconsin stands by their decision to reopen campus despite rising cases and community push back.