On Jan. 1, 2001, Chancellor John Wiley took office in 161 Bascom Hall. From his desk, Wiley oversaw a campus construction boom, endured employment scandals, found giant footwear on his doorstep and dealt with a hostile state Legislature - all while loyally observing the university's 25-feet-from-building"" smoking ordinance.
Yet throughout Wiley's seven-year tenure, one feat and one failure stand out among the rest: First, Wiley elevated UW-Madison to its current status as a leading research institution. Second, the university experienced a downturn in state support, leaving UW-Madison in a hostile situation with the Capitol.
Wiley's accomplishments in research deserve ample recognition: In his term as chancellor, UW-Madison raked in nearly 900 million research dollars - a large chunk of which funded stem-cell research. In the face of ethical controversy, Wiley became a champion for the field.
His support allowed laboratory geniuses such as James Thomson to achieve breakthroughs and make headlines. As recently as Nov. 20, UW-Madison blazed through the presses as the nexus of discovery.
Moreover, Wiley pressed for research while maintaining support for the growth of non-research oriented departments. Wiley's first priority for planning and development, as delineated by his 2005 Campus Master Plan, was the expansion and redevelopment of the Arts and Humanities campus. Wiley has made it clear he'll be eager to strike a sledgehammer into Humanities on demolition day, and this dual commitment to research and campus revitalization illustrates his long-term vision for the university.
Unfortunately, three state budgets have failed to provide the university with adequate support, all while generating potent university-state antipathy. UW System Spokesperson David Giroux has expressed optimism regarding the 2007-'09 state budget and its ability to facilitate the UW System's Growth Agenda. Yet at the Dec. 7 UW System Board of Regents meeting, Provost Patrick Farrell suggested a tuition increase that could cost students up to $2,400 each. This number represents the difference between in-state UW System tuition and the mean paid at other Big Ten schools.
The UW System has a pressing need for increased financial aid, and such tuition hikes make university education increasingly cost-prohibitive. Annual tuition increases correlate with growing university-state bitterness. While blame does not solely lie on Wiley's shoulders, he certainly bears some responsibility.
As UW-Madison begins its search for chancellor candidates, it should seek individuals capable of creating a stable situation with the Capitol. They should be outspoken, yet patient and always ready to take on the Stephen Nass' of the world.
The next chancellor who takes office in 161 Bascom Hall should seek to amend relations with the officials at the other end of State Street.
