“If we invest both boldly and wisely … the work that we are doing together and the investments we are making together will be honored as we honor the work and investments of those who preceded us.”
– Chancellor Carlos Santiago

In his Plenary Address last week, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago stressed a platform of three components that would bring in a total of $300 million over the next six to eight years.

In the address, “Investing in Our Vision: Strategies for UWM’s Future,” Santiago said that UWM will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the fall. Santiago used his address to look ahead 50 years, to the year 2056, and question where UWM as a campus would be at that time.

In his speech, Santiago said that there are three components for increasing funding at UWM and that those three components have to work in unison.

Those three components — a comprehensive campaign, the Research Growth Initiative and, a combination of federal, state and private resources — would provide a total of $300 million over the next six to eight years.

The comprehensive campaign is led by UWM alumni who are now Milwaukee business leaders who will seek contributions to fund endowed professorships; scholarships; research facilities, equipment and staff; capital projects; instructional innovation and artistic endeavors.

Santiago said the quiet phase of the campaign, which has been guided by the UWM Foundation Board of Directors, has raised $45 million of the $100 million goal. The quiet campaign has been underway for the past two years, he said.

Santiago said the campaign is “Milwaukee’s commitment to UWM’s future.”

The second part of the platform, the Research Growth Initiative, a program that aims to expand the university’s research enterprise by investing in proposals by UWM faculty and staff, allows those faculty and staff members to apply for initial funding, which is awarded by the university.

“The RGI has generated an unprecedented burst of entrepreneurial creativity on campus,” Santiago said.

Santiago said the last component of the platform is a combination of federal, state and private resources.

“If we make strategic choices, conduct our business in an efficient and flexible manner, and demonstrate that we are good stewards of public and private resources, I am confident that new investments will come,” Santiago said.

Santiago tried to look ahead to see how the decisions made today will affect UWM in the years to come.

“If we do this right, if we invest both boldly and wisely, then when the chancellor of this major research university addresses his or her faculty, staff and students 50 years from today, the work that we are doing together and the investments we are making together will be honored as we honor the work and investments of those who preceded us,” Santiago said.

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