This Self-Study demonstrates that the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee meets the five criteria for reaccreditation established by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges.
UWM has stayed faithful to its mission, articulated almost 50 years ago, to take advantage of the opportunities and fulfill the responsibilities that derive from its location as the population, cultural and economic center of Wisconsin. This mission has been reaffirmed in the 1986 report entitled UWM and the Future of Metropolitan Milwaukee and more recently in the Investment Plan and the Milwaukee Idea documents. Supported by the policies of the UW System, governance of the University is shared among administrators, faculty, staff and students. Shared governance provides a powerful mechanism that ensures that UWM will continue to be faithful to its mission.
One of UWM’s major successes in the last decade was the development of a strategic planning process that started with the 1996 Strategic Plan, and which resulted in the Investing in UWM’s Future document (2000). In combination with the Milwaukee Idea, the Investment Plan led to an infusion of new state funds, to efforts to increase extramural and gift income and to specific plans at the school, college, and division levels. A significant outcome of these planning efforts is the addition of three new Ph.D. programs—the first since 1985. Although state revenue has not kept pace with enrollment increases since 1996, income from tuition, gifts and extramural sources has increased substantially.
UWM is committed to ensuring that students complete programs with knowledge and skills identified as essential by the faculty. All programs have articulated and publicized learning goals and have either implemented or are in the process of implementing assessment procedures. Reviews of undergraduate and graduate programs incorporate student-learning outcomes. Learning outcomes and assessment processes for the general education requirements are currently under faculty review and implementation is anticipated before the end of the 2004-05 academic year. The goal is to incorporate reviews of general education courses into our regular review process.
The campus also recognizes that student achievement of learning outcomes requires effective teaching and ongoing faculty development. The Center for Instructional and Professional Development and the Learning Technology Center indicate an institutional commitment to providing the resources necessary to support faculty and staff in their teaching responsibilities.
UWM has an academic culture that supports discovery, inquiry and creativity by faculty, staff and students. This is evidenced by an array of seminars, colloquia, visiting artists, internal awards supporting faculty research, the Chancellor’s Graduate Student Fellowships, and support for new faculty in the form of reduced teaching loads, summer stipends and startup packages. Most departments provide opportunities for undergraduate research and creative expression and many require a research project as part of the major. Despite significant resource issues, UWM has done well during the past decade in keeping its research momentum going, almost doubling extramural funding between 1994-95 and 2003-04.
UWM takes its responsibility for engagement and service very seriously. Such work has long been part of the institution’s activities but more recently the Milwaukee Idea has provided a broad structure for enabling effective university-community connections and is the umbrella for numerous partnerships. As examples, there are neighborhood health centers sponsored by the School of Nursing and the Milwaukee Partnership Academy collaboration with the Milwaukee Public Schools. The Office of Partnerships and Innovations (headed by a Vice Chancellor) has been created to foster and maintain collaborative civic engagement. New academic programs (such as the Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management) have been formed in direct response to community needs and requests. On a broader front, programs such as Cultures and Communities provide students with flexible options to pursue service learning.
