Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, UW-Stout, will be in the state spotlight Thursday and Friday, March 30-31, including shining a light on student applied research and innovation.
The UW System Board of Regents will hold its monthly business meeting at UW-Stout’s Memorial Student Center, providing President Jay Rothman, board members and other state officials a chance to learn more about the university’s mission and latest developments. The agenda and a virtual meeting link can be found at the UW System Regents website.
Two highlights of the meetings will be a presentation by Chancellor Katherine Frank, “Fueling the Workforce through the Polytechnic Advantage” and panel discussion at 1 p.m. on Thursday in the Great Hall of the student center; and a student Polytechnic Showcase from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. that evening in Applied Arts, Jarvis Hall and Micheels Hall.
“This is a unique opportunity for Stout to highlight the distinctness of our polytechnic mission, our dedication to student success, our commitment to business and industry collaboration, and the critical role that our university plays in the region and state,” Frank said.
The Regents visit each UW System campus about once every five years.
Frank will speak on UW-Stout’s polytechnic tenets of applied learning and research, career focus, and business and industry collaboration. In UW-Stout’s new First Destination report, 99.4% of graduates report finding employment within six months of graduating.
Her presentation also will address how the university supports Wisconsin’s workforce needs with career-focused programs, but that increased funding is needed to remain a national polytechnic leader. Also, she will highlight how the UW System-supported renovation of Heritage Hall is critical to supporting numerous workforce-driven programs.
Frank will transition from her presentation into leading the panel discussion with five business and industry experts, including four alumni. They will speak to UW-Stout's polytechnic advantage in producing graduates prepared to help address workforce needs.
Following that panel will be a second panel discussion on the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the value of intercollegiate athletics, featuring Commissioner Danielle Harris, UW-Stout Athletic Director Duey Naatz, UW-Stout alumni and current student athletes.
Student Polytechnic Showcase
The student Polytechnic Showcase will feature research, innovation and creative work by approximately 50 UW-Stout students and their faculty advisers. Academic areas represented include science, engineering and math; human and social sciences; art, design and graphics; business and management; and information, technology and communications.
All UW-Stout undergraduate and graduate programs have an experiential learning component, such as an applied research, co-op, internship or field experience.
Interactive tours of UW-Stout, including engineering and construction labs, will be available during the showcase.
In addition Thursday, five UW-Stout administrators will present at three committee meetings: business and finance, education, and capital planning and budget. They include Glendalí Rodríguez, provost; Erik Guenard, vice chancellor of Business, Finance and Administrative Services; Sandi Scott, dean of students; Justin Utpadel, Facilities Management director; and Kristi Krimpelbein, head of staff.
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