Brainstorming session set on opportunities, challenges in higher education

A fourth campuswide brainstorming session exploring the opportunities and challenges facing UW–Madison in a recessionary economy will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22.

The session will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the Plenary Room (Room 1310) of Grainger Hall, just off the building’s entrance at the corner of University Avenue and North Park Street.

Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin is inviting all students, faculty and staff to participate in the sessions to share ideas about the role of higher education in today’s struggling economy and beyond.

Three previous sessions, held last month, resulted in dozens of ideas aimed at making the university more efficient and effective, while maintaining its educational and research pre-eminence.

The fourth session was scheduled partly as a convenience to students, who may have missed earlier sessions because of conflicts with final exams, but the entire campus community is encouraged to attend.

The sessions are designed to promote creative thinking about the future of higher education, the role UW–Madison will play and the opportunities and challenges that current economic conditions offer. The sessions are co-sponsored by the University Committee.

To read about many of the ideas that were generated during the December sessions and to participate by adding other ideas and comments visit the forum Web site.