As we enter week two of what can arguably be described as one of the most challenging semesters in UW-Stout’s history, I want to take a moment to re-emphasize my commitment to promoting clear communication through multiple mediums and modes. This was something that we discussed as a campus community pre-pandemic, and university leadership has worked hard to listen to feedback and continue to improve throughout the spring and summer in preparation for fall.
It is also important to recognize that the ever-shifting landscape in which we currently find ourselves requires a multitude of decisions to be made daily, often hourly, and many of the issues involved are time-sensitive and involve privacy considerations. These decisions are made with guidance from outside entities such as the UW System, public health, the CDC, and in consultation with members of the UW-Stout Recovery Planning Team and others as necessary.
We encourage everyone on campus to keep informed by following the COVID-19 website and weekly COVID-19 Campus Connections published every Wednesday. You may also send your COVID-19 related questions to the COVID19Update@uwstout.edu email and we will answer your question directly. You can now track the number of students tested on campus as well as any positive test results via the UW-Stout COVID-19 Testing Dashboard. This page also includes a link to the UW System dashboard and to the Dunn County dashboard.
We will continue to host employee and student forums during fall semester and provide feedback mechanisms as frequently as we can to capture the ideas, vision, and questions of the campus community. There are also several committees being formed to work on major initiatives such as the college reorganization; budget; research; equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts, etc. These are just a few examples of the many committees underway to help us move beyond the current moment and ensure that UW-Stout is well-positioned in the short- and long-term.
At the suggestion of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, the Chancellor’s StoutCloud site will be undergoing some significant updates in the coming weeks, as will other relevant resources, in order to make committee information easily accessible to those interested. More information about this will be forthcoming as soon as it is available.
While I will continue to facilitate open, transparent, and timely communication as possible in all these areas, I also want to emphasize the importance of everyone doing their part to stay informed and to keep others informed. If you are in a leadership role or in a representative role on a committee, please communicate regularly with your stakeholders. If you have questions, concerns, and ideas, please use the established channels to make sure your voice is heard. We all have a role to play in supporting clear communication across campus.
Chancellor Office Hours will begin again next week. Anyone may contact the Chancellor’s Office at chancellor@uwstout.edu to schedule a fifteen-minute meeting from 3 to 4 p.m. on Monday, September 21st or Thursday, September 24th. All meetings will take place via Microsoft Teams.
Thank you all for your continued hard work during very difficult times, and for your unwavering support of our students,
Katherine P. Frank
Chancellor