Report by President Ray Cross to the Board of Regents

The National Science Foundation renewed funding for UW-Stout’s LAKES research experience for undergraduates. Each summer, students from across the country participate in cutting-edge research to discover the root causes of phosphorous pollution.

Fans at the Green Bay Packers home opener saw plenty of purple among the green and gold as the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Marching Band took the field. The 170-member band performed at halftime in front of more than 80,000 people.

Senator Janet Bewley recently toured the environmental chemistry pollution lab at UW-Superior. The senator was even able to see a spectrometer funded by an Enbridge Ecofootprint Grant. The lab is one of the few in the U.S. that studies the chemistry of plastics found in our water sources.

UW-Stevens Point hosted one of the nation’s most successful conservation programs, the 2017 Federal Duck Stamp Contest. This national wildlife art competition is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Arts management student Meghan Wagner curated a special exhibit as part of the contest.

UW-River Falls has opened the new Falcon Center, the largest building project in the school’s history. The new facility helps address classroom capacity, enables the campus to better integrate technology into the curriculum, and expands research opportunities.

Gov. Scott Walker pledged support for two building projects at UW-Platteville. The sesquicentennial engineering building and Boebel Hall renovation project will help the campus educate Wisconsin’s future workforce. The engineering building will provide much-needed lab space to help students move through the education pipeline more quickly.

UW-Parkside opened the SC Johnson Integrated Science Lab in August. It was made possible by state funding and a half-million-dollar gift from SC Johnson. The new lab has state-of-the-art instruments from Shimadzu Corporation to prepare students for tomorrow’s careers in science and health care.

UW-Oshkosh officially launched its Honors College this fall. It is part of the campus’ strategic plan, which enhances research opportunities at the institution. Students are required to engage in high-impact, faculty-mentored research in order to graduate from the Honors College.

UW-Milwaukee researchers have created the first 3-D movie of a virus preparing to infect a cell. The research could fundamentally advance our understanding of how cells work, leading to better treatment for human diseases caused by viruses.

Representatives from 88 businesses visited UW-Madison to learn how to tap into campus resources. Businesses can recruit employees, partner on research, or license products and processes. UW-Madison helps create real-world connections to better prepare students for today’s workforce.

The UW-La Crosse Theatre Arts Department received a Kennedy Center Award for its world premiere of “26 Pebbles” — a play about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. The institution received the award for creating theater that is central to campus conversations nationwide.

UW-Green Bay student James Finley and his family rescued 60 people and 30 pets when Hurricane Harvey flooded their Texas hometown. This included carrying a neighbor reliant on an oxygen tank to a waiting kayak. Finley is part of UWGB’s incoming freshman class of 2017.

UW-Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic Health System have entered into a new collaborative research agreement, enabling researchers to work together on projects and better prepare the next generation of scientists, innovators, and health care providers.

Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television are celebrating 100 years of public broadcasting. The stations are part of UW-Extension and they remain dedicated to groundbreaking educational, cultural, and news content for all Wisconsinites.

The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium High-Powered Rocket Launch Competition was won by UW-Fox Valley. UW Colleges had a strong showing overall, with UW-Washington County placing 4th and UW-Sheboygan placing 5th out of 13 teams. Students demonstrated engineering and design skills by fabricating high-powered rockets.