The University of System LEGISLATIVE UPDATE January 2, 2009

IN THE NEWS

► December 23 -- Bradley Column: "Investing in UW will help our economy" UW Regent President Mark J. Bradley authored an editorial promoting investment in the UW System as a means for economic recovery. He also advocated that any state or federal stimulus proposal include higher education. Read the column in the Wausau Daily Herald.

► December 23 -- Chancellor Recommendations Made The Board of Regents Special Committee for the UW-Green Bay Chancellor Search has recommended Dr. Thomas K. Harden, President of Clayton State University in Georgia, as the institution’s next chancellor. Several days earlier, another Regent special committee announced its recommendation of Dr. Dean Van Galen, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of West Florida, as the next Chancellor of UW-River Falls. Both recommendations require consideration by the full Board of Regents, which will occur on January 16, 2009.

STATE UPDATE

► December 23 -- 2009-11 State Legislative Calendar Released The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly will kick off the legislative session with an inauguration ceremony in both chambers on Monday, January 5, 2009. The Wheeler Report has posted a printable version of the session schedule.

The following members will be new faces in the 2009-11 legislature: Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) Rep. (D-Superior) Sen. Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) Rep. Sandra Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) Rep. Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls) Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison) Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo) Rep. Keith Ripp (R-Lodi) Rep. Christopher Danou (D-Trempealeau) Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton) Rep. Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire) Rep. Richard Spanbauer (R-Oshkosh) Rep. Daniel Knodl (R-Germantown) Rep. Ted Zigmunt (D-Francis Creek)

► December 30 -- Assembly Committee Memberships Finalized Speaker-elect Mike Sheridan and Republican Leader Jeff Fitzgerald have announced the remaining Assembly committee appointments (see the Democratic and Republican press releases). A complete list of 2009-11 legislative committee appointments is available, courtesy of The Wheeler Report.

The 2009-11 members of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will be as follows: Chair: Rep. Kim Hixson (D-Whitewater) Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) Rep. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) Rep. Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson) Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) Rep. John Townsend (R-Fond du Lac) Rep. David Cullen (D-Milwaukee) Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) Rep. James Soletski (D-Green Bay) Rep. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) Rep. (D-Oshkosh) Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison)

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FEDERAL UPDATE

► January 2 -- Congressional Update The U.S. Senate held a brief pro forma session today before concluding the Senate’s second session of the 110th Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives had previously adjourned on December 10, 2008. Both chambers will convene on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, for the swearing-in of the 111th Congress. For further information on the tentative 2009 Congressional calendar, see the House vote schedule and the Senate schedule of non-legislative periods.

AROUND WISCONSIN

► “Around Wisconsin” features items relating to exciting progress on campus or examples of strong relations with the community and policy makers. Please send items of interest to [email protected].

• UW-Madison: Associate Professor Zhenqiang (Jack) Ma was honored at a White House ceremony with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the nation’s highest honor for scientists at the beginning of their research careers.

• UW-Oshkosh: The College of Education and Human Services’ collaborative teacher preparation program with five UW Colleges (UW-Fox Valley, UW-Fond du Lac, UW-Manitowoc, UW-Marinette and UW-Sheboygan) has selected seven Alternative Careers in Teaching (act!) students to be recipients of Robert Noyce teacher stipends.

• UW-River Falls: The Western Wisconsin Partnership at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has celebrated its 10th anniversary on campus.

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 2009 16 – Special Meeting of the Board of Regents to act on Chancellor recommendations (via teleconference.) February 2009 5-6 – Board of Regents meeting in Madison. TBD – Governor presents 2009-2011 budget proposal to the State Legislature.

March 2009 5 – Board of Regents meeting in Madison. 6 – NSF Regional Grants Conference in Milwaukee, hosted by UW-Milwaukee and the UW System Office of Federal Relations. NSF representatives will present information on the National Science Foundation, the review process, and cross-disciplinary and international programs. There will also be breakout sessions with program officers from the NSF directorates and a session on proposal writing.

April 2009 1-2 – UW Law Days, a symposium on legal issues and new legal developments in areas of interest to university administrators. TBD – UW System Administration hosts Posters in the Rotunda: A Celebration of Undergraduate Research at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

May 2009 7-8 – Board of Regents hosted by UW-Milwaukee.

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QUICK LINKS

WEB RESOURCES

•

o Schedule of Wisconsin Legislative Committee Activity o Senate and Assembly Directories (Check back for updates as office assignments shift)

• UW System Government Relations

• UW System Budget

CONTACTS

State Relations: David Giroux, (608) 262-4464, [email protected] Grant Huber, (608) 262-4463, [email protected] Jessica Tormey, (608) 263-7962, [email protected]

Federal Relations: Kristine Andrews, (608) 263-3362, [email protected]

UW System Institutional Legislative Liaisons

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