It’s a new academic year at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh—and with the start of school come many changes and new initiatives.
Chancellor Andrew Leavitt begins his first full academic year as the institution’s leader as students begin the first day of classes Wednesday, Sept. 9. Leavitt’s installation ceremony will be held Friday, Sept. 18.
The University’s latest enrollment projections show a headcount of 14,343—a total down by 1.4 percent this academic year. While UW Oshkosh’s final, official enrollment numbers won’t be available until January, a relatively flat year in student headcount is anticipated.
UW Oshkosh’s overall enrollment numbers are holding nearly steady, in part, due to strong enrollment in the successful pre-college-credit Cooperative Academic Partnership Program (CAPP), which includes an enrollment of about 3,200 students—these students earn concurrent high school and college credits from their off-campus high school classrooms. CAPP at UW Oshkosh has propelled more than 40,000 high school students into higher education since it began more than 30 years ago.
“UW Oshkosh is raising the educational attainment level of the Fox Valley region and Wisconsin. We are incredibly proud of the work we do with our campus and CAPP students,” Leavitt said.
On campus this fall, there is a 5 percent increase in the population of students of color, which is important to the overall campus culture and diversity efforts at UW Oshkosh, Leavitt said.
“Moving forward, we are strengthening our campus student population through revamped recruitment and student success efforts,” Leavitt said.
Traditional undergraduate enrollment headcount projections show a 5.2 percent decrease this fall, and the University is focused on a variety of large-scale technology initiatives to support new recruitment and retention efforts. An increase in marketing efforts and enhanced use of scholarships for recruitment of students are also underway.
In an effort to grow interest in UW Oshkosh and increase enrollment, the institution’s first Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management has been hired. Brandon Miller is charged with overseeing recruitment, retention and persistence efforts and chairs the institution’s Enrollment Management Team.
Miller came to UW Oshkosh from Ellucian, a provider of higher education software, services and analytics. There, he led student success services focusing on strategic services for student success. Miller also previously served as division director for enrollment management and retention at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, where he served as the chief enrollment management and retention officer.
University initiatives, events make for busy back-to-school season
While students were back on campus and in classrooms Sept. 9, the University held its annual Opening Day Convocation event Sept. 8 to formally welcome faculty and staff back to campus. It is the 144th academic year at UW Oshkosh.
Several faculty and staff members were recognized with teaching and service awards at the ceremony.
Along with the chancellor, Provost Lane Earns addressed faculty and staff during the convocation. Earns is currently leading the institution’s strategic planning process as well as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reaccreditation process—a process that reoccurs every 10 years.
The strategic planning process is scheduled to take place through the end of 2015; feedback and engagement on the forward-looking plan that will shape the future of UW Oshkosh from both the campus and greater communities are forthcoming.
Opening Day continued with college level meetings, the annual Taste of Oshkosh event and the afternoon Opening Day Run/Walk.
This academic year, UW Oshkosh’s general education program—the University Studies Program—began its third year and is now fully implemented at UW Oshkosh. The program is UW Oshkosh’s innovative way of delivering general education. It’s made up of Explore courses that encourage students to “try on” many different disciplines, and special Quest courses that introduce them to campus life, college expectations and community engagement.
Outside the classroom, the UW Oshkosh Titans will host their first home football game Sept. 12 against Finlandia University at 1 p.m. at Titan Stadium. The game is designated as a Clash’s Kids and Faculty and Staff Day. Children younger than 18 and faculty and staff (with ID) are admitted to the game free. Prior to the game, the first League of Titans Spirit Tent will be up and running.
In mid-September, an installation ceremony will be held for Leavitt at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture Museum, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, at 2 p.m. on Sept. 18.
The installation ceremony is derived from historic academic tradition and formally recognizes the change in leadership at the institution’s highest level. Leavitt’s installation will include a formal ceremony, which will include UW System President Ray Cross, state and local university officials, as well as regional dignitaries, and campus and greater community members. Leavitt will share his vision for the future of the region’s largest public university during the event. Celebratory activities are planned following the Friday ceremony.
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