Newsletter

In the June 3, 2023 issue

Introduction
Board Updates
Relevant articles
Upcoming events
Closing
University update

Introduction

Greetings from the Advancement Team in the Cleary Center!

Board Updates

Highlights

- Advocacy Update: Prairie Springs Science Center II
  1. Rothman visit
    1. New UW System President Jay Rothman and his executive team visited campus to hear why Prairie Springs Science Center II is so important and to tour Cowley and Prairie Springs I.
    2. During the visit, Dr. Paul Mueller, Mayo’s regional vice president, stressed the importance of the project for workforce development and shared the impressive partnerships that Mayo has developed with UW-L.
- The UW-L team made a strong impression, and our project will retain its high rankings among all the projects submitted in the UW System.
1. UW rankings
  1. Prairie Springs Science Center II is ranked as the sixth overall project priority and second Major Project priority behind only the $300M UW-Madison Engineering building project.
  2. In addition, the name of the Prairie Springs project has been changed to the Prairie Springs Science Center Completion/Cowley Hall Demolition project. This is part of the UW System strategy to convey the need to finish our science building project.
2. Second video features Brennan partnership
  1. We’ve now released our second video, featuring the dynamic partnership between J.F. Brennan Co. and UW-L’s River Studies Center.
  2. As you’ll see, it shows how effectively UW-L has developed a partnership with a world-class company that focuses on everything from research and curriculum to internships and employment.
- It’s the sort of partnership that demonstrates that investing in STEM education at UW-La Crosse is a great investment for workforce and environmental needs.
1. LINK TO VIDEO TO BE ADDED
1. Cowley/Prairie Springs tours
  1. We hosted Rep. Tony Kurtz, a member of the Joint Finance Committee, for a tour and received solid encouragement.
  2. We’ll be hosting executives from Mathy Company and we’re working on setting up tours with additional legislators and the new leadership of the UW Board of Regents.
2. Endorsements
  1. The Prairie Springs project will receive the endorsement of the 7 Rivers Alliance. We’ll be seeking endorsements from LADCO and the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce in the next few weeks.
  2. With each group, we’re stressing the strong need for STEM-related workforce development. In addition to endorsements, we’re seeking help with contacting legislators and testifying at public hearings.
- The search for the 2022-2023 UWL Philanthropy Fellowship positions has ended successfully. Two students were selected to fill the Advancement Services and Donor Relations & Stewardship roles.
- Marlee Simpson will be working in the Advancement Services seat. She has specialized experience in data research and analysis working as a research assistant for Dr. Mary Hamman in the Economics department and displayed excellent communications skills during the interview process. Her goals including attending law school and working with businesses to enhance sustainability. She will be a sophomore next year, but on track to graduate early.
  - From: Cedarburg, WI
  - Major: International Business | Minors: Sustainable Business and French
- Amy Degner will be taking on Donor Relations & Stewardship. As one of the first cohorts of students chosen for the Integrated Core Program within the CBA in partnership with Kwik Trip, Amy displays exceptional skills in building deliverables from scratch and leadership. Her interview revealed impressive creative thinking skills and she is not afraid of hard work. She has found a love for communications and marketing recently and is excited to learn more in this position as she looks to possibilities in her future.
  - From: Kenosha, WI
  - Major: Marketing | Minor: Communications
- Update on Assessments
  1. Advancement Services Assessment: The Philanthropy & Community Engagement Committee is helping the staff go through the evolution of building a culture of philanthropy and improving donor relations – two keys in the report’s assessment. We hope to develop more ideas to help us grow in both areas. In addition, they will begin a review of our key policies such as the Gift Acceptance Policy.
  2. Capacity Analysis: The first round of data has been developed and shared with staff. The team just finished a review of those top prospects identified according to the wealth screening. The recommendations are going back to the consultant and we expect to receive the first draft of her report by September 1.
- Optimizing Alignment Update (conversations between Foundation & Alumni Association boards):
  1. May 10, 2022. Biweekly meeting: Greg, Janie, and Ron discussed the questions raised by the AAEC and decided to develop a document to address the questions and to provide context to “set the stage” for the AA Board meeting on May 21. The document is titled UWLF-UWLAA: Optimizing Alignment.
  2. May 11, 2022. Bill Colclough (UWLF Finance Committee Chair), Sandy Jensen (UWLAA Finance Committee Chair), Janie Morgan, and Greg Reichert met to discuss possible UWLF-UWLAA alignment optimization and the ways the respective budgets/finances might come into play.
  3. A key element of that document is The Guiding Principle: Trusting in the core principle of One University One Mission, the UWL Foundation and the UWL Alumni Association seek to optimize the alignment of UWL’s friend-making, fundraising enterprise to parallel the aspirational success of the University. We will honor the past and recognize and embrace the future together as one staff with one combined purpose of advancing the University.
  4. May 16, 2022. The FDN and AA leadership teams met and offered recommendations/revisions to UWLF-UWLAA: Optimizing Alignment document and recommended it be sent asap to the full AA Board prior to its May 21 meeting.
  5. May 17, 2022.Janie, Greg, and Ron had a zoom meeting scheduled with the Vice President of Engagement and a Senior Director of Development of the Montana State University Alumni Foundation. The purpose of that meeting is to learn how their Engagement Team was created, how it operates as a team, how it engages with their Development/Leadership Giving Team, etc.
  6. May 21, 2022. Full Alumni Association Board Meeting. The main agenda item of this meeting was to discuss and to give guidance to the leadership teams of the UWLAA and UWLF regarding work to optimize alignment of the “friend-making, fundraising enterprise” of the University. This discussion began with Dan Saftig joining virtually giving a presentation with the following items: (1) Getting ready for a UWL Comprehensive Campaign, (2) The 3-legged stool of university advancement, (3) Trends—development and alumni relations, (4) Six examples of university advancement programs, (5) My recommendation for UWL.
  7. A substantial discussion of thoughtful, diverse questions and comments ensued. Unanimous agreement emerged from that discussion to move forward with the following recommendation: “Alumni Association Board makes the recommendation to continue planning, having discussions, and building an action plan to optimize alignment.”
  8. May 31, 2022. Biweekly meeting: Janie, Greg, and Ron discussed next steps leading from the AA Board meeting. They decided to hold an “All Advancement Team Forum” on June 22 to provide staff within the friend-making, fundraising enterprise with an opportunity to learn more about possible optimized alignment structure(s) that resulted collectively from assessments and recommendations of consultants (mainly Karen Green and Dan Saftig at this point), what has been learned from conversations with the Montana State University Alumni Foundation, discussions that have occurred within and between the UWLF and UWAA leadership teams, and other discussions of the possibilities/opportunities of optimizing alignment. Staff are encouraged to ask questions and offer input (anonymously or known) before and during the forum.
  9. June 8, 2022. Janie and Greg met with the University Communications (UComm) team to provide a high-level update to that part of the team. Outside of the leadership of UComm, no one was aware of the “optimizing alignment” discussions to date. The staff was given advance notice that their help with things such as web sites, branding, and campus and external communications would be needed as progress continues in the discussions.
  10. June 22, 2022. An All-Advancement Team Forum was held (hosted by Janie, Ron & Greg) as described in the May 31 entry above; many thoughtful questions were asked and answered. The goal is to make sure the entire division is hearing the same message.
  11. Other work continues:
    1. Review of Foundation budget for 2022 and beyond
    2. Sequence of Events draft developed to outline next steps in the process
- New position descriptions being drafted with help from UWL Human Resources department
- Community Engagement
  1. The 2021-2022 Community Engaged Learning pilot program was a success. The UWL Foundation provided $500 (one-time) grants to faculty who helped pilot the program during the last academic year. Here's a look at the pilot program by-the-numbers:
    1. 19 course sections received a CEL designation
    2. 316 students enrolled in the courses participated in experiential learning
- 36 community partners (business, non-profit and civic)
1. 85% (approx.) were within La Crosse County
1. The Community Engagement Office is now accepting Community Engaged Learning proposals for the spring 2023 semester.
2. Communication with the Ho-Chunk Nation in Black River Falls is ongoing as UWL prepares to rename the Center for the Arts in a dedication ceremony on October 3, 2022, after Truman T. Lowe, UWL alumnus and acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist.
3. Lisa Klein presented on "Connecting Community Engagement to Careers" at the Connect Wisconsin Conference at UW-Oshkosh on June 7, 2022.

Upcoming Board meeting

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 19 for our next Board meeting at 2:00 p.m. and the joint social with location to be determined.

Upcoming Committee meetings

Governance: Friday, July 22 at 3pm
Finance: Wednesday, July 27 at 3pm
Investment: Friday, July 29 at 1:30pm
Executive: Friday, August 5 at 3pm
*Committee members are welcome to join in person or remotely for meetings