Blank’s Slate

Climate change is an existential threat to our state, our country, and the global community. As weather changes, storms become more intense, and the resilience and health of our ecosystem deteriorates, we are all affected…. Read More

As the world knows at this point, Barry Alvarez has announced that he will retire in June, stepping down from the Athletic Director position he has filled so spectacularly for the last 17 years. To… Read More

As I walk around campus and my neighborhood, I see hopeful signs that winter is finally ending. Snow piles are almost gone, lake ice has melted, and crocuses have sprouted in neighbors’ lawns. Similarly, while… Read More

In a difficult year, it’s always helpful to share the good things that are happening. One example is UW-Madison’s ranking as the #1 producer of Peace Corps volunteers in 2020, for the fourth year in… Read More

At our semi-annual Leadership Summit in February, I asked our deans, directors, and department chairs to work in small groups to answer several questions related to how we move forward from the past year to… Read More

I’ve written in this space before about the ongoing importance of recruiting and retaining students, faculty and staff of color. The past year has brought into sharp focus that society is confronting two crises: the… Read More

The following post was jointly written by Chancellor Blank and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Karl Scholz.  UW-Madison has been a residential university since its founding. Most undergraduate students move to Madison or… Read More

As part of her annual address to the Board of Regents, Chancellor Blank addressed the many challenges faced by the university due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the ways staff, faculty and students are… Read More

In conversations with alumni, students, community members and others, I am frequently asked what a typical day for a Chancellor looks like. I’m never quite sure how much they really want to know. For those… Read More

The following post was jointly written by Chancellor Blank and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Karl Scholz.  Welcome to 2021. Both of us are happy to see the end of 2020. The holiday… Read More