Business
UW-L Chancellor Beeby gives first-ever spring semester remarks, promotes 5-year plan now in the works

The UW-La Crosse chancellor is doing some long-range planning.
Dr. James Beeby told UW-L faculty and staff about the idea Wednesday, during an event to kick off the spring semester.
“In the next few weeks, we are launching a process to create a five-year plan,” Beeby said. “We will take this calendar year to write and develop the plan, with a goal to having a final plan in place by December.”
Beeby, starting his first spring semester in La Crosse, having come to the university last July, is ready to form an executive committee to put together that long-range plan.
Meanwhile, the chancellor pledged again to work on getting the state to help complete phase 2 of the Prairie Springs Science Center.
The first building of the project opened seven years ago, but the second building has been stalled by Republicans in Madison, and the cost of construction over that time has increased by over $100 million.

Beeby also told administrators and instructors that the quality of education, the city and the campus atmosphere continue to make UW-L a popular destination for students.
“They come here because of our high quality academics, and excellent academic programs,” he said. “That’s what interests them.
“They also come here because they really like the city and the campus, the feel of the place. They say this, and nearly all of them said it the same way. This campus feels homey.”
Beeby says 86 percent of UW-L first-year students come back for a second year, and 92 percent of second-year students stay for a third year, as well.
