My remarks will touch on five major themes: town/gown relationships, regional collaborations and partnerships, UWSP's economic impact on Central Wisconsin, the proposed UW System Board of Regents' 2005-07 budget request, area chamber and business support on behalf of the proposed budget, and a brief reminder of UWSP's main focus - student success. 

UWSP's town/gown relationships have been quite good since the university was founded in 1894.  They include the campus' ongoing interactions with area businesses, government, chambers of commerce and other private and public institutions. The diligence of UWSP, combined with regional media and private sector interests, make UWSP a key academic, economic and cultural player in Central Wisconsin. 

Regional collaborations have been a key priority for the campus for the past decade and that priority will be enhanced under my leadership.  Whether it be partnering with other area higher education institutions from Marshfield to Marinette, or the Wisconsin Learning Center in the Portage County Business Park, or agreements with private sector institutions such as the Noel Group in Stevens Point, Marshfield Clinic, Stora Enso in Wisconsin Rapids, or Greenheck Fans in Wausau, UWSP is committed to the area's economic fortune as well as its quality of life.  

The university continues to be the second largest employer in Stevens Point.  UWSP's 1,000 employees and a payroll of $56,000,000 (excluding fringe benefits) make an enormous economic impact on the region, in the purchasing of goods and services, as well as housing.  Approximately 8,700 students, pour dollars into area restaurants, retail stores, and gas stations. Based on a recent System-wide study of the university's total economic impact on its neighbors, analysts conservatively estimate that UWSP adds approximately $300 million annually in financial assets alone to the regional economy.  The economic contribution to Wisconsin by University of Wisconsin System campuses, including UWSP, is at least $9.5 billion annually.  If the UW System were listed among the Fortune 500 list, it would rank 350th.  

My reason for focusing on the positive economic impact of UWSP is to encourage our area business supporters, large and small, as well as our area elected officials and area chambers of commerce to weigh in with area legislators and Governor Doyle in support of the UW System Board of Regents 2005-07 biennial budget proposal.  

The stakes are higher than in the past as UWSP and other UW System campuses have already absorbed well over $150 million in base budget cuts over the past few years.  Since the early 1990s, UWSP alone has absorbed over $6 million in state budget cuts.  

UWSP's core mission will forever focus on student success and the surest way to accomplish that goal is by giving our graduates the ability to think critically, communicate well, and to compete in a global economy.  UWSP and all other UW System campuses will continue to be among the most important generators of economic growth and opportunities as the state places a greater emphasis on information and technology.