Campus Connection

In spring address, Beeby shares UWL successes, aspirations

UW-La Crosse Chancellor James Beeby reflected on his first semester as chancellor and outlined priorities for the months ahead Wednesday, Jan. 22, in his opening address for the spring semester.

Among the positive developments Beeby highlighted from the fall:

• The largest first-year class in university history (2,325 students)
• The opening of the A9 Eatery, a specialized dining option for students with food allergies
• The largest gift in school history, from former Vice Chancellor for Administration & Finance Bob Hetzel, supporting athletics and student scholarships
• The 2025 Niche Best Colleges list, which ranked UWL the No. 2 public university in Wisconsin
• The success of UWL’s athletic teams, including the men’s cross-country team winning the NCAA Division III Championship
• And the winter commencement ceremony, where more than 600 new UWL graduates received their degrees.

Beeby also discussed his early efforts to engage with the broader community and strengthen ties with area businesses; in six months, Beeby held meetings with nearly 60 local organizations.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive opinions about this great university — from local businesses to civic organizations to chambers of commerce,” he said. “Everyone talks about what amazing work this university does for the community, for local businesses, for the needs of the community. They want our students to come work for them … because they’re so good and so prepared to be successful.”

Other priorities include garnering support for the completion of the Prairie Springs Science Center and securing more base funding across the Universities of Wisconsin system. The Wisconsin Legislature will take up both issues later this spring.

“We will be very involved in that process, being in Madison, advocating for the university and for Prairie Springs and for all the things that we need to be more successful,” Beeby said. “I am not shy about advocating. I also know that sometimes you have to work extra hard just to move a couple of inches. I’ll be doing that to the best of my ability.”

Beeby also shared that he has enjoyed the opportunity to interact with students, including over meals in UWL’s Whitney Center. Those conversations, paired with the day-today efforts of staff and faculty, have underscored UWL’s reputation as a destination university where student success is the highest priority, Beeby said.

“When I sit with students and ask them what made you decide to come to UWL … I hear the same three things pretty much every time,” he said. “They come here because of our high-quality academics. They also come here because they really like the city and the campus, the feel of the place. And the last thing they say is this campus feels homey. And the reason why it feels homey to them is because of all of you. And I can tell you that really matters and makes a difference. When I have those lunches, I always walk out feeling energized, excited and thankful that we have such a strong campus.”

During Wednesday’s address, leadership from UWL’s five divisions also shared updates.

Academic Affairs

• UWL’s retention rate is the best in the Universities of Wisconsin system outside of UW-Madison, with 86.7% of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. Additionally, 91.6% of sophomores return for their junior year.
• Spring enrollment numbers are strong, showing a 1.6% increase from this time last year.
• More than 230 staff and faculty have completed a certification program, launched in 2021, designed to promote and enhance best practices in academic advising. The program is part of a broader focus on proactive advising, in which advisors aim to support students and remove barriers before they negatively impact students’ experience.

Administration & Finance

• Advocacy is underway for the Universities of Wisconsin’s $855 million state budget request. If approved, that number would bring Wisconsin from 43rd in the country for public university funding up to the national median.
• The transition to Workday for all key systems within finance and human resources continues to be on track for implementation in July. A number of informational and training sessions will be offered during the spring semester.
• The Graff Main Hall HVAC project, the Lowe Center parking ramp project and the University Police Department addition project are all on track for completion. Other projects, including the completion of Prairie Springs and the renovation of Murphy Library, are in the planning stages.

Diversity & Inclusion

• Nevin Heard (assistant vice chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion) and Sarah Jackson (equity and affirmative action officer) have joined the team to support diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
• The division is collaborating with UW System Administration’s Office of Compliance & Risk Management to develop a campus office devoted to civil rights and compliance.
• A new initiative, The Discussion Project, is helping faculty and staff facilitate healthy conversations among students around sensitive or difficult topics.

Student Affairs

• UWL has enrolled 130 new transfer students for the spring semester, exceeding the target of 90 new transfer students.
• UWL is welcoming new international students from all over the globe for the spring semester. They hail from Bangladesh, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Conog, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Korea and Turkey.
• Safety and mental health continue to be a focus, with a new suicide prevention traiing program (Recognize, Respond, Refer) being made available to students, staff and faculty.

Alumni & Friends Foundation

• During the 2024-25 academic year, students will receive $1.6 million in Foundation scholarships. (The deadline for students to apply for scholarships in 2024-25 is Feb. 1.)
• A record-setting $530,000 was raised on One Day for UWL, driven by a significant increase in employee giving. This sum supports nearly 170 departments, programs, teams and clubs across campus.