This report will provide a demographic overview of our current situation, highlight achievements and challenges, and describe many of the student, staff and faculty programs and strategic initiatives that encourage campus access and excellence. It is my hope that this report, and the ensuing dialogue it will generate, will provide a framework for all of us as we consider how to improve on our traditions of excellence and create new standards for success for future generations. I n recent years we have made important progress toward our goal of a more diverse community here at UW-Madison. However, we are not anywhere near where we ought to be in terms of student and workforce diversity. Employers today increasingly seek not only a well-trained workforce, but a workforce that is skilled and knowledgeable in the area of diversity.
Employers value the expertise a diverse workforce provides.
They recognize that diversity makes corporations more competitive by increasing their ability to understand and serve customers in all market segments throughout the world. But when we cannot provide employers with a diverse pool of graduates who are equipped to function in a diverse world of work, recruiters look elsewhere. Given the current demand and recognition of the importance of diversity, this university must continue to strive to make fundamental changes. We also have in place many programs and several new initiatives, described in more detail in the body of this update, that seek to improve the recruitment, retention and graduation of targeted students. This fall we welcomed 79 new Chancellor's and Powers-Knapp scholars, bringing the campuswide total number of students receiving these awards to 245.