SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Universities of Wisconsin play a vital role in the state’s workforce development and the economic strength of its communities.
That was the clear message that came out of a panel discussion, “Superior Edge: Employer Partnerships,” with local business owners and entrepreneurs at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting at UW-Superior.
The panel was convened to explore the practical impact of the second of three promises highlighted in the UWs’ biennial budget request, to build Wisconsin’s workforce and next generation of businesses.
Kim Pearson, an administrator with Essentia Health, emphasized the broad importance of having affordable, good quality, flexible learning environments available within the community, including the ability for people to get degrees that will enable them to get good-paying jobs.
“These are all of the things that we are so blessed to have here with a partnership with the local university,” Pearson said. “I know that if something comes up, I can reach out to any number of people there and I will hear back from them usually within a day.”
Panelists agreed that partnerships with UW-Superior are mutually beneficial to both students and local companies, connecting interns and graduates with workforce opportunities.
“Between our operations and logistics departments, about 40% of those are TNL (UW-Superior Transportation & Logistics) grads. And about 90% of leaders in those departments are TNL grads,” said Chelsea Loining, human resources director with Halvor Lines, a Superior-based trucking company. “Without this program, I don’t know what our group would look like. I think they just bring a lot to the table.”
UW-Superior’s online and lifelong learning opportunities also enable employees to upskill and acquire additional knowledge that advances both their careers and a company’s talent base.
“We consider ourselves a learning organization,” said Bruce Beilfuss, a senior advisor in Engineering for Bretting Manufacturing. He added that the company targets at least 40 hours of additional education per year with UW-Superior providing valuable training opportunities in both technical areas and leadership.
Pearson added that having UW-Superior resources available also helps retain people in the northern communities.
As new options and opportunities become necessary – notably learning about the possibilities and potential of artificial intelligence – the university will also play a vital role for local employers.
“Everyone in the room is trying to figure out the term called AI, and we are no different,” said Beilfuss. “With what’s going to evolve over the next few years, we as an employer are going to need help. University help is going to be most appreciated.”
Board salutes UW-Madison Nobel Prize winner
UW-Madison physics professor Francis Halzen received special recognition from the Board of Regents following the announcement earlier in the week that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Halzen is the principal investigator of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, the world’s largest telescope. The prize was conferred for his contributions to understanding of the astrophysical particles known as neutrinos.
“This achievement reflects the power of research, innovation, and collaboration. It also demonstrates what can happen when universities have the people, infrastructure, and support needed to pursue breakthrough discoveries,” UWs President Renée Wachter said.
UW-Madison interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots said the award is “a historic moment, not just for Professor Halzen or for the department of physics and the field of physics in general – but it’s a reminder of something fundamental to who we are.” He said universities like UW-Madison is a place where “transformative discoveries often begin not with a business plan or a product roadmap, but with a question.”
Wilcots said Professor Halzen and UW-Madison have long believed in the power of curiosity and research, and more specifically research that seeks to expand human understanding of how the world works. He congratulated Halzen for “opening a new window on the universe.”
UW-Superior is “Anchor of the North”
Interim Chancellor Maria Cuzzo opened her host campus presentation by declaring that UW-Superior – “a place of economic strength, natural beauty, and deep community connection situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Superior” – is the Anchor of the North, and a university that always strives to live up to its name.
As the smallest institution in the Universities of Wisconsin, she said its people anticipate change, respond to emerging needs, and position themselves to meet them. “As regional comprehensives, we know our communities. We understand their needs and are uniquely positioned to serve them. We are neighbors, partners, colleagues, and friends. We bring ideas, imagination, and connections that help our communities thrive,” she said.
Cuzzo told Regents that UW-Superior has hit a high point of 3,000-plus in student enrollment for the first time in 35 years. “It represents a 5% increase in enrollment compared to fall 2025. That’s a big deal, especially in light of the headwinds facing higher education nationwide.
She said UW-Superior is guided by strategic priorities that emphasize student success, teaching excellence, undergraduate research and experiential learning and strong community and employer partnerships.
Cuzzo added that UW-Superior has deliberately strengthened its approach to program design by looking more deliberately through the lens of career readiness. “All of our majors – all of them – have intentionally embedded professional competencies,” she said. “Professionalism and career preparation are now stated priorities across our entire program array. Our students will be career ready.”
This has prompted another pivot, Cuzzo said. “Rather than asking what programs do we want to offer, we now ask a different question: What challenges are employers in our region and Wisconsin trying to solve? We put workforce needs of Wisconsin as our first priority and design from there.”
Cuzzo also pointed to the distinctive initiatives shaping UW-Superior’s future, including the Sadie Ann education and research vessel, tribal partnership outreach, civil discourse and dialogue efforts, and the development of “hubs of excellence.”
“It’s our people and the culture we’ve built together,” she said. “We are superior by name and innovative by nature… We face no shortages of challenges and uncertainties, but we also see opportunities.”
“Regional comprehensives like UW-Superior are essential to ensuring access to quality education across the state,” Cuzzo said. “The Universities of Wisconsin are strong because each regional comprehensive fulfills a powerful mission with unique expertise and a deep commitment to its students.”
To open Thursday’s meeting, Sky Nation, an Ojibwe drumming group, performed an honor song, a traditional expression of respect and recognition. Cuzzo also read a statement acknowledging and honoring the history of how the university came to be on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe people and recognizing that the land continues to hold both spiritual and cultural significance to the Anishinaabe.
Student Spotlight
To enable Regents to hear directly from students, UW-Superior student Emily Tews, a sophomore from Glenwood City, Wis., double majoring in Multimedia Journalism and a self-designed degree in Media and Cinema Studies, was invited to read a letter to Regents describing how her UW college experience has personally impacted her.
“The community I found at UW-Superior has kept me going, even through hardships. I have learned so much from the people I have met,” Tews said.
“I believe that education is one of the most important things in life. It comes from your own discipline. It cannot be taken away from you. It can show you things you never imagined to be true, and it can introduce you to different perspectives and ways of thinking about the world we live in.”
Tews, the daughter and granddaughter of veterans, said her family worked hard and taught her to do the same. She’s working her way through college and paying for it through financial aid, scholarships and the Wisconsin GI Bill.
“I understand firsthand the important of accessible and affordable education. Without it, I would not have the opportunity to attend college at all,” she said. “Without the support of so many people, including those I have found here at UW-Superior, I would not be where I am today or the person I have become. Thank you all.”
Regent Business Partnership Award presented
In the latest presentation of the Regent Business Partnership Award, which highlights the positive collaboration between UWs and local businesses, the National Bank of Commerce and its partnership with UW-Superior were recognized.
“National Bank of Commerce has made a meaningful impact on UW-Superior’s students and the university through internships, career opportunities for graduates, financial support of key initiatives, and dedicated service on advisory councils,” Regent President Kyle Weatherly said. “Their commitment goes beyond philanthropy. They are helping shape student success, strengthen our institution, and build a brighter future for the communities we serve.”
In accepting the award, CEO Brad Roden said he is proud of the partnership and noted, “The university brings a sense of strength, energy, and vitality not only to Superior but to the greater region.”
Chancellor Cuzzo added, “National Bank of Commerce exemplifies what a true university partner can be.”
Regent President’s Report
In his regular report to the Board, Regent President Weatherly updated Regents on his top three priorities for the year.
First, he offered a status report on two ongoing significant leadership searches. As reported by Regent Vice President Ashok Rai, chair of the presidential search committee, a first round of interviews with potential candidates has now been completed.
Public forums have tentatively been set for Oct. 26 and 27 at UW-Parkside and UW-Madison, respectively. “That’s an opportunity for all of us in this room and our entire state to get to meet our future president candidates … and hear their vision for the state,” Rai said.
The search for the UW-Madison chancellor, meanwhile, is also progressing.
Regent Amy Bogost, chair of that search committee, said interviews are upcoming.
The committee is “working really diligently to come up with the next great chancellor of UW-Madison,” she said. The search expects to come to a decision sometime after the UWs’ presidential search is wrapped up, likely sometime in November.
Second, Weatherly reiterated that the UWs’ biennial budget request has been submitted to the Department of Administration and efforts are ongoing to advocate on its behalf.
“With the elections coming up, most elected officials are focused elsewhere. However, our three (biennial budget) promises are more relevant than ever,” Weatherly said.
Third, in response to Weatherly’s intention for the Board to lead the way in modeling continuous learning, experimentation, and improvement, Board Secretary Megan Wasley reported that her office is pulling together comparative data on committee structures in other systems of higher education. She expects there may be opportunities to discuss the findings at the December board meeting.
UWs President’s Report
Renée Wachter, who stepped away from her position as Chancellor of UW-Superior to serve as the interim UWs President, noted her pleasure to be back at her home campus and reconnect with the people and places so dear to her. “Home sweet home,” she said. And noting the many innovations she’d already noticed, she added, “I love what you’ve done with the place.”
In a brief governmental relations update, she reiterated that most legislators at both the state and federal levels are currently on recess until after the November elections, but “through ongoing meetings, communications, and advocacy, we continue to raise awareness on both regulatory and legislative matters of importance to each of our universities.”
Supporting budget advocacy efforts and the impact the UWs have on supporting Wisconsin business, Wachter highlighted UW-Madison’s Division of Extension’s recent Field Days, which brought together dairy farmers, consultants, and agricultural service providers in the Eau Claire, Brillion, and Monroe areas to focus on the use of high-oleic soybeans in dairy feed.
“These weren’t classroom presentations,” Wachter said. “Participants heard from university and industry experts, learned directly from dairy producers already using these soybeans, and went onto farms to see firsthand how they are stored, roasted, handled, and fed.”
She reported that 172 people registered for the field days events, with 95 percent of participants indicating they had learned something they intend to use in making decisions for their farm or in advising other farms.
“In a state where dairy remains such an important part of our economy and our identity, that is exactly the kind of connection between our universities and Wisconsin communities that we want to continue strengthening,” Wachter said.
Finally, Wachter showed a brief video highlighting the fourth round of the UWs’ “Shout-out” campaign now underway, with a video crew planning to visit all 13 universities this fall to give students an opportunity to offer a “shout-out” to a faculty or staff member who has made a real difference in their college experience.
“This is just a reminder of one of the ways we are telling the story of the people who make the UWs what we are. We literally couldn’t do it without our fabulous faculty and staff,” she said.
The next round of Shout-out videos will start appearing in spring.
Regents welcome new colleague
Board members welcomed a new colleague at the meeting, nontraditional student Regent Delani Dow. Dow, who was appointed today by Gov. Tony Evers to a two-year term, is an Elementary Education major at UW-River Falls with an interest in special education. She was raised in Eugene, Oregon, and now lives in Western Wisconsin.
“I am very honored to be in this role and very excited to get to work with all of you,” Dow said.
Dow works as a home health aide for BrightStar Care and Accra Homecare. She is a student mentor and senator for the UW-River Falls Disability Resource Center. Earlier this year, Dow was also a top three finisher in the UW-River Falls 11th Spark Tank! Innovation Challenge for her plan to develop educational materials for parents to prevent self-harm among youth.
Late UW colleague recognized by Board
In closing, the Regents recognized Bob Hetzel, the long-time chief business officer at UW-La Crosse, passed away in August after a fight with an aggressive and debilitating disease called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA).
Weatherly noted that Hetzel is widely considered one of the best CBOs the UWs have ever had, setting UW-La Crosse up for success for years to come.
The Regents offered condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and others who knew him.
In other business, the Regents:
- Recognized UW-Superior for hosting the October 2026 Board meeting, with Regent Ed Manydeeds reading a resolution of appreciation;
- Approved four reappointments to the Oversight and Advisory Committee of the Wisconsin Partnership Program. Reappointments included Anjon Audhya, Ph.D., and Amy Kind, M.D., Ph.D., as representatives of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and Aaron Perry and Sue Smith as public members;
- In the Education Committee, heard a host UW-Superior presentation on “Initiatives and Collaboration for Student Success” given by Interim Provost Nick Danz and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Harry Anderson. The presenters gave an overview of UW-Superior’s coordinated efforts to improve student success, and celebrated that the university reached 50-year highs in retention, persistence, and graduation in 2025;
- In the Education Committee, heard a first reading of proposed revisions to RPD 4-16, “Criteria for Approval of Wisconsin Technical College System Liberal Arts and Pre-Professional Transfer Programs.” The proposed revisions would restore the statutory term “Collegiate Transfer Programs” in the policy and update the title to include the term, incorporate reference to Regent Policy Document 4-23 on Core General Education Requirements, remove reference to rescinded SYS 115, correct statutory references regarding WTCS districts authorized to offer associate of arts and associate of science degrees, align the policy with SYS 110, and eliminate duplicative language. A second reading and vote will occur at a future meeting;
- In the Education Committee, heard an update by Senior Vice President Johannes Britz on progress toward implementation of SYS policies that support the implementation of RPD 4-23, “Core General Education Requirements” and RPD 20-25, “Teaching Workload.” Key updates include: the Core General Education Requirements Transfer Project continues to advance through vendor-based solutions and UW resources, with campus demonstrations and stakeholder feedback informing the technical work. The CGER Steering Committee held its first meeting to review the project’s scope and timeline and will meet quarterly, or as needed, to recommend decisions on significant changes to the timeline, budget, or scope. Its next meeting is scheduled for January. For teaching workload, the Teaching Workload Operations Workgroup completed Appendix B, which provides guidance for data collection and reporting. Following review by Provosts, shared governance representatives, and other stakeholders, UW Administration leadership approved the updated interim SYS 200-03, including the finalized Appendix B, and the policy was published on August 31. Support for university implementation remains ongoing;
- In the Business & Finance Committee, heard a UW-Superior presentation from Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Jeff Kahler regarding the university’s approach to collaborative decision-making, where problems are brought to campus departments and governance groups for potential solutions, with the results of final decisions evaluated and measured. Kahler also highlighted the importance of the UW’s state budget request, which would enable UW-Superior to strengthen its student services, expand healthcare access, elevate its water research capabilities, and develop new credentials to deliver workforce talent and professional development in the Northern Wisconsin region;
- In the Business & Finance Committee, received the 2026 Q2 investment report from the UW Office of Trust Funds. As of June 30, assets in the Long Term Fund and Income Cash Fund totaled over $754 million, an increase to the portfolio of 8.9%, performing in-line with its benchmark. Assets in the Intermediate Term Fund totaled nearly $816 million after returning 3.1% for the quarter, and 7.0% for the fiscal year;
- Approved a revised version of an agreement approved in August between UW-Stout Polytechnic and Veritas Education. Corrections were made to update terms mistakenly carried over from the previous vendor. The revised contract also reflects a lower per-capita fee that the university will pay for these international student recruitment services;
- Approved UW-River Fall’s request for authority to construct the UW-River Falls Active Learning Classroom project in North Hall using about $6.2 million of General Fund Supported Borrowing. The project will renovate 4,318 square feet of underutilized space and adjacent offices to create a 108-seat active learning classroom that supports contemporary teaching methods. North Hall, which was constructed in 1914 and is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, will retain its historic character while being adapted for modern instructional use. Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2027, with completion anticipated in May 2028. This investment helps UW-River Falls make better use of existing campus space while providing a flexible, technology-rich learning environment for students;
- Approved UW-Whitewater’s request for authority to construct the $2.188 million Wells Hall Roof Replacement project, funded with $2.013 million Program Revenue Supported Borrowing and $175,000 cash. The project will replace approximately 28,000 square feet of roofing on Wells Hall East and West, including new insulation, roof drains, skylights, doors, flashings, and related components;
- Approved UW-Platteville’s request for authority to construct the $14.999 million Karrmann Student Access Center project, funded through General Fund Supported Borrowing. The project will renovate portions of the five-story Karrmann Library to create a combined Library and Student Success Center, bringing together student-facing academic support services that are currently spread across campus. By creating a central location for key student services, the project supports student recruitment, retention, and success while repositioning existing campus space to better meet current needs;
- Approved UW-Madison’s request for authority to execute a ground lease with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station near Stratford. The facility will be constructed and owned by USDA and jointly occupied and managed by USDA and UW-Madison at no cost to the university. Marshfield station is located in one of Wisconsin’s most concentrated dairy production regions and supports long-standing cooperative research between UW-Madison and the federal government. The lease term is 20 years with two additional 10-year renewal options, and occupancy is anticipated in spring 2028;
- Approved UW-Madison’s request for authority to execute a ground lease with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for construction of a new 30,000-square-foot Plant Germplasm Research Facility at the West Madison Agricultural Research Station. The project will strengthen Wisconsin’s agricultural research partnership with USDA and support plant breeding, genetics, and genomics research that serves farmers and agricultural industries across the country. The facility is also planned to house the U.S. Potato Genebank, one of the largest collections of wild potato species in the world and the nation’s only potato genetic resource conservation facility. Occupancy is anticipated in spring 2030;
- Approved UW-Madison’s request for authority to enter into ground leases with Wisconsin Power and Light for the potential construction of up to two privately owned wind turbines at the Marshfield Agricultural Research Station near Stratford. The project would be part of Alliant Energy’s proposed Hub City Wind Farm and would require no capital investment from UW-Madison. Wisconsin Power and Light would be responsible for the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning of the turbines. Marshfield station has supported agricultural research since 1912 and is home to one of the nation’s premier dairy heifer research facilities. The proposed leases would allow renewable energy development while maintaining the station’s research mission and agricultural operations. UW-Madison would receive lease revenue, including an upfront payment, annual feasibility payments, and ongoing generation-phase rent if turbines are constructed;
- Approved UW-Superior’s request for authority to accept ownership of approximately 1,035 linear feet of sanitary sewer infrastructure that serves only university facilities and is located entirely on campus property. The transfer was initiated by the City of Superior and would place responsibility for this campus-serving utility with the university that relies on it. A key factor behind the transfer is that part of the sewer system runs beneath UW-Superior’s recently constructed athletics track, including a maintenance access manhole. By transferring ownership, the utility can instead be maintained under campus standards while avoiding unnecessary impacts to university facilities;
- Approved UW-Madison’s request for authority to increase the scope and budget of the Engineering Drive Utilities and Repair project by $40 million, bringing the total project budget to $113.1 million. The additional funding would come from the existing Central Plant and Utility Distribution categorical enumeration, which was previously approved for utility infrastructure projects across the UWs. Funds are being released from that broader systemwide program and redirected to this project so UW-Madison can address urgent utility needs that were identified after a chilled water pipe failure and follow-up inspections. The expanded scope includes replacing deteriorated chilled water piping and steam distribution infrastructure near the Charter Street Heating Plant, as well as providing temporary cooling systems needed to keep campus operations running during construction.
- As part of the previous item, Regents also approved UW-Madison’s requests for authority to increase the budget of the East Chilling Plant project by about $3.3 million, bringing the total project cost to $10.7 million. Like the Madison project, these funds come from the existing Central Plant and Utility Distribution program to address higher-than-expected construction bids and updated cost estimates while preserving the project’s original scope. The project will replace a non-functioning chiller that is more than 25 years old, install new cooling towers, pumps, piping, controls, and electrical equipment, and modernize the plant with a more efficient variable-speed pumping system. These upgrades will improve reliability, reduce maintenance concerns, and increase cooling capacity for campus facilities;
- In the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee, heard a summary of audit progress for the Fiscal Year 2027 Audit Plan;
- In the Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee, heard a report from the Office of Internal Audit on two reports: Budgetary Controls at UW-Madison and the Research Administration Management Portal (RAMP);
- Approved revisions to RPD 20-19, “UW System Background Check Policy,” to expand the definition of Vulnerable Populations under Position of Trust to include incarcerated students, and to standardize the criminal background check process by clarifying the required databases and adding a required global sanctions check for all applicants for employment, current employees, and volunteers; and
- Held a second reading and approved revisions to RPD 20-22, “Code of Ethics,” to align the definition of “immediate family member” and conflict of interest for university staff and extend access to institutional ethics committees to university staff and make consistent the standards for a conflict of interest for university staff with the description in Wisconsin Administrative Code for faculty, academic staff, and limited employees who are not State Public Officials.
The meeting of the Board of Regents for the Universities of Wisconsin will continue in closed session at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026, at UW-Superior.