Dear UW–Madison alumni and friends,
Welcome to the first edition of Notes from the Chancellor, a roughly every-other-month chance for me to share a few thoughts and a behind-the-scenes peek at some of what I’m working on and thinking about here on Bascom Hill.
Homecoming Festivities
It was a true delight to connect with so many of you over Homecoming weekend and be part of our 80,000-person Badger cheering squad at Camp Randall on Saturday.
I grant that the football score was not the highlight of the weekend. But the spirit of community was nonetheless out in full force, from the happy crowds lining the streets for our annual parade to the gorgeous fireworks over Lake Mendota.
Bringing the Wisconsin Idea to Life
Our 175th anniversary celebration has come to an end, and just when we’d all learned to say demisemiseptcentennial! If you appreciated the linguistic challenge, stay tuned for the quasquibicentennial celebration in 2073.
I’ll continue to travel around Wisconsin to hear about what alums, community members, industry leaders, and legislators think we are doing well and where we might have room for improvement.
I stopped this month in Green County to see the work of UW-trained master cheesemakers and got to try the fragrant (!) Limburger cheese sandwich at Baumgartner’s. (Cheese-centric travel is a definite perk of my job, though candidly, I won’t be rushing back for the super-pungent Limburger.)
On a trip to the Northwoods, I visited with UW scientists at two of our 12 research stations and learned more about our innovative research to protect our precious lakes (there are 2,500 of them in the vicinity of the research station!) and how we work to support the management and sustainable use of Wisconsin’s forests. I was lucky enough to time my visit with stunning fall foliage, and seeing our impact on the state and the opportunities these projects create for both undergraduates and graduate students is quite inspiring.
I also learned, while wading into a cranberry marsh (and, fortunately, not falling in), about how our research on disease resistance, new hybrids, and much more helps support the farmers who make Wisconsin the number-one cranberry producer in the nation — food for thought as we prepare so many delicious cranberry-themed recipes this fall! Take a look at more examples of the Wisconsin Idea in action in every one of the state’s 72 counties by visiting the Wisconsin Idea Database.
Commitment to Excellence in Badger Athletics
You may have seen the news earlier this month of a legal settlement that will, if finalized, give teams like ours the possibility of sharing revenues with some of our student athletes. We are in a moment of considerable — even transformative — change in intercollegiate athletics, but our fundamental commitment to both athletic and scholarly excellence will remain steadfast.
A New Approach to Institutional Statements
You may have heard that university leaders have been increasingly called upon to make statements and take positions on a range of situations, including about national and global issues. I’ve come to believe that this practice is not a good idea. Statements risk oversimplifying complex subjects and pull our institution out of its appropriate “lane” of supporting extraordinary education and research. In addition, doing so risks crowding out other points of view and potentially chilling the robust exchange of ideas — the sifting and winnowing — that’s so critical to our mission.
At the start of this school year, we announced a new policy on institutional statements. I believe this commitment to institutional restraint will, in fact, make space for more of the dialogue and debate that have characterized our intellectual community since our founding.
To be clear, there are times when the university’s voice (or my or another leader’s voice on behalf of the university) is necessary — for example, on issues directly affecting our operation or mission. And, of course, we encourage our researchers, instructors, and students to continue to share their expertise and views publicly — that’s what both academic freedom and freedom of speech are about.
Band Together
Finally, have you seen our new television ads running in Wisconsin and nationally during Big Ten broadcasts? You might just recognize a former classmate in one of them. You can read more here about the role they play in our statewide outreach strategy. The first ad is called “Band Together” and features UW Marching Band alumni and our wonderful band director, Corey Pompey.
On, Wisconsin!
Jennifer L. Mnookin
Chancellor
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Chancellor’s Choice
- Ahead of Veterans Day, I want to express my gratitude to the thousands of Badgers who’ve served our country and protected our freedoms — especially those on our Gold Star Honor Roll, who made the ultimate sacrifice.
- Our outstanding UW School of Nursing is celebrating its 100th birthday this year. Join the centennial celebration livestream on November 8 to learn from nursing faculty about the leading-edge work happening there.
- Did you know UW–Madison is home to the country’s oldest university glassblowing program? The Chazen Museum’s exhibition “Look What Harvey Did: Harvey K. Littleton’s Legacy in the Simona and Jerome Chazen Studio Glass Collection” celebrates this legacy through May 1, 2025. If you can’t make it in person, dive into the Meet Me at the Chazen podcast for fascinating discussions of exhibitions, events, and works of art.