UW Colleges News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2009
University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension 2008 Annual Report Focuses on Returns on Investments to Stakeholders
MADISON, WIS. — Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin residents benefited from the work of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and University of Wisconsin-Extension last year, thanks to investments by the state of Wisconsin, all 72 Wisconsin counties and dozens of public and private partners.
The dividends accruing from programming offered by these two statewide institutions are the focus of the recently released joint UW Colleges and UW-Extension 2008 annual report titled Creating Returns on Investments.
The complete annual report can be viewed online at the UW Colleges and UW-Extension Web site: www.uwex.uwc.edu/publications; click on "2008 Annual Report." Individual print copies may be ordered at no charge by calling (608) 262-3253, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
UW Colleges and UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson said, "This report offers an overview of how UW-Extension and UW Colleges prudently invested their resources during the past year to continue to provide maximum access to educational resources to Wisconsin's children, youth and adults.
"One investment that I am confident will yield ample financial returns for individuals, businesses and the state is the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents investment in our mission of expanding access to higher education."
Wilson explained, "The board froze UW Colleges tuition for the 2007-08 academic year at 2006 rates. The result was the largest enrollment of students in the history of UW Colleges. Simultaneously, the UW Colleges retained its reputation as the most affordable entry point to the University of Wisconsin."
In academic year 2007-08, more than 13,000 students were enrolled in the 13 UW Colleges campuses located throughout the state and UW Colleges Online.
Other UW Colleges and UW-Extension contributions to a strong Wisconsin during fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008) included:
- UW-Extension's Cooperative Extension, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio stepped forward during the spring 2008 floods to help families, farmers and small businesses get back on their feet. Flood damage to homes, businesses, cropland and infrastructure was so severe and widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared 30 Wisconsin counties disaster areas.
- 4-H, a unit of UW-Extension Cooperative Extension, supported the children and families of deployed U.S. Military personnel through the Operation Military Kids program.
- In support of the University of Wisconsin's goal of increasing the number of bachelor's degree holders in Wisconsin, the UW Colleges and UW-Extension's Division of Continuing Education, Outreach and E-Learning reached out to adults statewide with information about how to start or continue their college education.
UW Colleges and UW-Extension provide continuing education opportunities, both college credit and noncredit, to Wisconsin's children, youth and adults. Programs are delivered through the 26 University of Wisconsin campuses, 72 county offices and the statewide networks of Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television.
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