Statewide outreach trip becomes annual campaign
  Green Bay area students check out some bugs during the “UW-Madison On the Road” events at Neville Public Museum. Photos: Jeff Miller
|
| If you want to be part of the On The Road program, or share ideas about possible additions, please contact Jeffrey Wendorf, 262-9645; jwendorf@facstaff.wisc.edu. |
The university is updating its public service tradition by taking its show on the road.
A series of event-filled visits to Wisconsin cities dubbed “UW-Madison On The Road,” first created for UW–Madison’s 150th anniversary celebration, is becoming a regular part of the university’s outreach campaign. Built around the central road-show theme are a variety of events, including museum programs for school children, visits with legislators and presentations for alumni, business and civic leaders.
“On The Road events were very well-received by state citizens during the sesquicentennial,” says Jeffrey Wendorf, senior director of programs and outreach for the Wisconsin Alumni Association. “The momentum is definitely there to make this an annual event.”
Last academic year, On The Road took dozens of UW–Madison faculty, staff and students to the following cities: Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau, Racine-Kenosha, Eau Claire, Appleton-Oshkosh and Woodruff-Minocqua. Most of those sites will be revisited again in 1999-2000.
On The Road is sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office, WAA and the UW Foundation. The goal of the program is to create partnerships in the target cities and establish a continuing dialogue with state residents about the future of the university.
A visit to Green Bay the week of Nov. 15 featured eight curriculum enrichment programs for area teachers and a special event at the Neville Public Museum. The Neville event, which featured hands-on exhibits and talks by a dozen UW–Madison presenters, was attended by more than 900 people throughout the day.
Wendorf says that a similar menu of events will be held at future stops. Coming up in 2000 is Milwaukee from Feb. 21-25; central Wisconsin from March 27-31; the Fox Valley from April 1-8; and the Chippewa Valley from May 1-4.
“It’s turned out to be a creative way to update the Wisconsin Idea,” Wendorf says. The effort has given the university a highly visible presence in the participating cities and a chance to build new partnerships with alumni, civic and business groups across the state.