UW-River Falls Chancellor Maria Gallo addresses attendees of the university’s Opening Meeting Monday. Wendy Stocker/UWRF photo.
 

UW-River Falls committed to student success despite challenges

UWRF is a 'powerful force for public good' that benefits the region and beyond

Aug. 28, 2023 - The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is committed to improving the world through its ardent commitment to educating students despite challenges facing higher education, Chancellor Maria Gallo told attendees of the university’s Opening Meeting Monday. 

“I want to assure you that UWRF remains unwavering in its commitment to the success of every single student that is a Falcon and to being a community of inclusion, caring, and belonging as stated in our core values, and in our Soaring to New Heights strategic plan,” Gallo told more than 500 employees attending the meeting marking the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year. 

Among struggles UWRF and other UW schools face are budget shortfalls. The Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance cut the UW System budget by $32 million. The 13 four-year UW System universities have a combined structural deficit of about $60 million; that figure at UWRF is about $2.9 million. 

Adding to budget woes, Gallo said, is the fact that the Minnesota Legislature approved the North Star Promise Scholarship, a tuition guarantee program for eligible low-income students that is designed to keep more Minnesota students in that state to attend college. That program will take effect in fall 2024. Last academic year, 43% of UW-River Falls students were from Minnesota. 

Despite those challenges, UW-River Falls has many opportunities, Gallo said. Among them is the $117 million Science and Technology Innovation Center (SciTech). Construction has begun on the facility that is scheduled to open in 2026. That building will provide students with state-of-the-art research opportunities and increased collaboration with businesses, creating direct pipelines for students to employers while bolstering the regional economy.

“UWRF makes a huge difference to individuals, to River Falls, to our state and far beyond,” Gallo said. “We are a powerful force for public good and that is why we garner a great deal of attention and focus. Our mission truly is a noble one and we will carry it out.”

While UWRF faces financial challenges, they are not as severe as those of some other UW System schools, Gallo said. The university is forming a University Budget Advisory Committee that will work to address its budget gap, she said. Adding to good news, the chancellor said, is a trend of larger incoming classes at UWRF. 

“We will successfully work through our challenges and embrace the numerous opportunities that we have to become even better with an eye on an exciting future,” Gallo said. “And I am fully confident that we will get there – we are Falcons. We have educated thousands of students over our nearly 150 years, and we will educate thousands more.”

During the meeting, recipients of the 2023 faculty excellence awards were announced and recognized, along with UW-River Falls employees for their years of service. Award recipients  include: Distinguished Teaching Award, Melanie Ayres; Adviser of the Year, Kevyn Juneau; University Excellence Award in Research, Scholarly and Creative Activities, Jill Coleman Wasik; and, University Excellence Award in Service, James Graham. Other award recipients  recognized included the UW-River Falls Upward Bound Program, which garnered a Board of Regents Diversity Award; and UW-River Falls faculty member Kathleen Hunzer, who received a Regents Academic Staff Excellence Award.