Category: Speeches & Communications

Dear UW-Green Bay Faculty and Staff,

Despite our best attempts to open the Shorewood Golf Course this summer, we will be unable to do so.  As many of you know, Shorewood has been a significant drain on our resources for many years.  Interest has been waning for many years and it is not critical to our primary mission of student success. Fortunately, there are many other excellent public options in Green Bay to play golf.  In the coming months, we will transition the golf course into a student recreation and engagement center to expand our URec offerings, provide meeting spaces for students, relocate and improve our popular community disc golf course, and establish an official point of entry (with parking) to the beautiful Cofrin Arboretum.

I understand that this will be a disappointment to those in the community who have used the Shorewood Golf Course for many years.  As a state institution, we must be good stewards of our funds, and this decision allows us to better support our current and future students.  Our region desperately needs us to grow and provide more graduates to support the growth of the economy in our region.  While what to do with the Shorewood Golf Course has been wrestled with for many years, I believe now is the right time to make this change and continue to build the momentum we have as a university truly on the rise.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Dear Faculty and Staff,

We never enjoy sending email with that kind of subject line, but are doing so to prepare you for a parking fee increase that will go into effect in Fall 2021. The current parking fee at UW-Green Bay has been substantially lower than many of the other University of Wisconsin campuses for several years. This rate increase was originally scheduled for 2020 but deferred due to Covid. Unfortunately, we cannot delay the increase any longer. In addition to these fee adjustments, we are taking steps to recover costs from external parties, including assessing a fee for ticket sales to public events at the Kress Events Center and Weidner Center.

This Fall, parking fees will be:

Permit	Cost
Annual	$200
Semester	$100

To put this in context, below you will find information regarding UW-Green Bay’s approach to parking fees.

Why UW-Green Bay Charges Parking Fees

Under Wisconsin law §36.11, Universities are directed to charge parking fees to cover the cost of construction and maintenance of parking facilities. Parking permit fees fund new lot constructions, the resurfacing and/or filling of cracks in existing lots, painting lines, snow removal, signage, and general upkeep such as debris removal. The fees cover services similar to those covered by municipal taxes, and without them our campus infrastructure would become unusable and unsafe.

Maintaining our Campus for the Future

Parking Operations and Facilities Management work closely together to strategically plan for both the immediate and long-term campus infrastructure needs. We have identified areas of concern and construction payment schedules are such that a significant cash balance is needed in the previous fiscal year in order to initiate a project for the following year. The fee increase reflects our preparations for the following anticipated project costs, which must be completed over the next several years to maintain access to campus.

If the fund balance is not present or sufficient enough to complete work, necessary repair projects are suspended. Deferring projects means they become more costly as the age and condition of the needed work worsens. It is important that we take care our campus for today and into the future.

Permit Renewal

These increases will occur for Fall 2021 when semester permits go on sale.  Those employees eligible for yearly permits through payroll deduction will also be affected by these increases upon their Fall 2021.

Pay By App Option

University Parking has teamed up with ParkMobile, LLC to provide paid parking for our more frequent visitors who have exhausted their 5 free days of visits, but don’t feel the longer Semester or Yearly parking permit is necessary. This partnership provides both a significant increase in ease of obtaining parking rights and also cost savings to these more frequent visitors. ParkMobile is a nationwide provider of parking services, so the App you download will work at thousands of other locations nationwide; not just UW-Green Bay. More information on pay-by-app.

Questions/Comments

University Parking can provide more information and answer any questions about this or other parking services. They can be directed to Parking@uwgb.edu.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Sheryl Van Gruensven
CBO/ Senior Vice Chancellor for Institutional Strategy

Dear UW-Green Bay Students, Faculty, and Staff,

Yesterday, the CDC released new guidelines for people who have been vaccinated.  I urge you to read the guidelines.  While we cannot get into the specifics in this e-mail of what every detail from the guidelines means, attached are proposed changes to University policy that we will work to implement as soon as possible pending any additional guidance from UW System.

Since the pandemic began, we have consistently followed the guidelines of the CDC, state, and local health agencies to keep our campus communities safe. We have also trusted the campus communities to be responsible and always take into account how your actions could potentially impact another person’s health. We will continue in the spirit of the previous two sentences and immediately adopt our policies to reflect the new guidance from the CDC.

I would like to emphasize a few additional points.  First, nobody will ever be prohibited from wearing a mask and any abuse of those who choose to continue to wear a mask will not be tolerated.  Second, if you have any concerns about your safety under the new CDC guidelines, please connect with the Dean of Students for students and supervisors or Human Resources for faculty and staff.  Third, this is clearly an important milestone in the pandemic.  I hope you can find joy in it, but continue to be respectful of the health of those around you.  We are a Phoenix family and all of us have a responsibility to each other.

Finally, thank you.  I can’t say those two words enough.  This University continues to inspire me.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Attachment: Interim Building Hours and Access Policy (COVID-19) Draft

Dear UW-Green Bay Students,

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay continually strives to identify and remove obstacles that prevent our students from being successful in pursuing their educational goals. One such barrier is a provision to support childcare for our students who are also parents. In an effort to address this need, we are immediately launching the Phoenix Childcare Support Program.  Utilizing federal grant funding and financial support from Segregated Student Fees, students who are Pell Grant eligible or have a demonstrated financial need, can apply each semester for a grant to be applied towards the expense of daycare for children aged infant to 12-years old.

In addition to this funding, student parents will have access to support which can help identify other supportive community resources, as well as the opportunity to attend training sessions focused on the further development of strong parenting skills. While I recognize more needs to be done to support our students, I am excited to be able to take this first step.

If you are a parent, thank you for prioritizing education amongst everything you are managing, and if you believe you are eligible, please apply today. Funding is now available.

Best of luck with the remainder of the semester.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Dear UW-Green Bay Students, Faculty and Staff,

Below is the note that I wrote yesterday to Oneida Nation Chairman, Tehassi Hill.

Dear Chairman Hill,

I just heard about the tragedy last night. I have no words, but I wanted you to know that you have my support and that of the entire UW-Green Bay community.

With sympathy,
Mike Alexander

I know our community is hurting and grieving.  As reminder, if you need support for any reason, resources can be found here for students, and here for faculty and staff. Please stay well and continue to care for each other.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Dear UW-Green Bay Faculty, Staff, and Students:

The Derek Chauvin trial verdict affirms that when injustice occurs, there’s a process to ensure that those involved are held accountable. As we respond to recent events, it is important to have spaces where we can share our thoughts and feelings.

This Friday, April 23rd, Kate Burns, Cindy Bailey, Jamie Schramm and myself will be available to have individual conversations with faculty, staff, and students as we continue to work on the challenges we are facing together and finding our way forward:

• UW-Green Bay, Green Bay Campus (Corey King/Kate Burns)
  Outside the Coffee House-University Union, 9:00 a. m. – 11:00 a. m.
• UW-Green Bay, Marinette Campus (Cindy Bailey)
  Main Building Lobby, 10:00 a. m. – 11:00 a. m.
• UW-Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus (Jamie Schramm)
  Outside Student Services Offices, 9:00 a. m. – 10:00 a. m.
• UW-Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus (Jamie Schramm)
  Founder’s Hall Lobby-Outside of Student Services, 1:30 p. m. – 2:30 p. m.

We welcome you to stop by and share in a safe space.  Being champions for equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community is core to our mission. Our community has made great progress in our inclusivity efforts and we recognize the journey continues.

We’re in this together.

Corey A. King
Vice Chancellor for University Inclusivity & Student Affairs

Dear UW-Green Bay Students, Faculty, and Staff,

In preparation for Earth Day next week, I have signed a document committing UW-Green Bay to taking the following steps toward achieving carbon neutrality on our campuses.

1. Within the next two months, we will create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan.
2. Within one year, we will complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and identify near-term opportunities for greenhouse gas reduction.
3. Within two years, we will have a target date for achieving carbon neutrality, interim dates for meeting milestones to achieve our goal, mechanisms and indicators to track our progress, actions to make carbon neutrality part of the educational experiences of all students, and actions to expand research in carbon neutrality.
4. We will make our progress to the goal of carbon neutrality publicly available.

In 1971, Newsweek designated UW-Green Bay as the initial “Eco U.”  We need to continue to earn that name. As a regional comprehensive, it is our mission to solve problems for our region, be a leader in sustainability efforts, and ensure that our communities in Northeast Wisconsin can thrive together in respectful relationship with the natural world for generations to come. I look forward to working with you all towards achieving this goal and thank our Sustainability Committee for moving us down this path.

Best,

Michael Alexander
Chancellor

Greetings Faculty and Staff:

UW-Green Bay is committed to creating an environment that is inclusive and fosters a sense of bellowing.  In advancing this commitment, we recognize that Ramadan is April 12-May 12, 2021. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

Ramadan celebrations often call for UW-Green Bay students to be involved in gatherings and prayers late into the night. It is not usual to be up past midnight for prayers and then up again for 3:30-4 a.m. to eat before dawn.

Many of our UW-Green Bay Muslim students, staff and faculty members may fast—no food or drink (not even water) from dawn until dusk (approximately from 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Central Time)

Students looking for food options during Ramadan can make specific requests from University Dining through the Marketplace, or by ordering online after sunset via the Dining mobile app. For specific questions or requests please contact Registered Dietitian Jolene Dorn dornj@uwgb.edu for assistance.

It is very important to note that Ramadan will parallel with UW-Green Bay finals week. Our UW-Green Bay Muslim students may be hungry, tired, and dehydrated especially if they have a class late in the afternoon and/or an evening course (whether online or in-person).

Ramadan marks the Islamic month of fasting and the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and, so Ramadan moves each year in relation to the solar calendar. Thus, this year Ramadan occurs within the academic school year and will continue to do so for the next twenty years.

Some additional resources about how to better support college students during Ramadan:

• How teachers can support student during Ramadan by Rusal Alrubail
• 9 ways to support students during Ramadan by Kirsten Kelley
• Supporting Your Muslim Students on Campus This Ramadan by NASPA

Thank you for your support of our Muslim students during Ramadan.

Best,

Corey King
Vice Chancellor for Inclusivity and Student Affairs