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BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM

Resolution of appreciation

Katharine C. Lyall

WHEREAS, Katharine C. Lyall has served with unparalleled commitment as the fifth president, and the first female president, of the University of Wisconsin System since 1991; and

WHEREAS, she worked tirelessly to ensure that the UW System could provide quality teaching and learning experiences for the university’s more than 160,000 students; and

WHEREAS, Lyall helped revitalize the 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges, improving access and outreach services for Wisconsin citizens     and nontraditional students in all corners of the state; and

WHEREAS, President Lyall strengthened the UW System’s relationship with the state’s technical colleges, paving the way for an improved state economy by increasing the number of baccalaureate degree holders in Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Katharine founded Wisconsin’s statewide PK-16 council, and with the leaders of the state’s technical colleges, private colleges and universities and K-12 schools, worked to develop seamless educational opportunities for all Wisconsin citizens; and

WHEREAS, she instituted the UW System’s first annual "accountability report," an important way for the university to share information about its status and progress, including measures such as rates of access, graduation and retention; and

WHEREAS, President Lyall led the inception of the UW System’s Plan 2008, that has achieved a more diverse student, faculty, and staff population and helps ensure access and opportunity for all students, regardless of background; and

WHEREAS, she elevated the national stature of the UW System and its 26 campuses, that now attract nearly $800 million in grants and contracts each year and in the last 13 years, have received more than $7 billion in support from alumni and friends; and

WHEREAS, Lyall helped create WiSys, which affords all UW campuses the benefits and opportunities of transferring university research to the marketplace; and

WHEREAS, she distinguished her tenure by working with Regent leadership to co-chair four statewide Wisconsin Economic Summits, that led to regional economic initiatives, university solutions for improving Wisconsin’s economy, and laid the groundwork for Governor Doyle’s “Grow Wisconsin” program; and

WHEREAS, President Lyall championed the UW System as a vital economic  engine, generating $9.5 billion and more than 29,000 graduates for the benefit of Wisconsin’s economy each year; and

WHEREAS, Katharine Lyall contributed her economic expertise for the betterment of the state as a member of numerous task forces and councils, including Governor Doyle’s Economic Growth Council, Governor Thompson’s Blue Ribbon Commission on 21st Century Jobs, Forward Wisconsin, and Competitive Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, even as she performed the duties of president, Lyall continued her commitment to students, teaching economics to undergraduates as a professor of economics at UW-Madison; and

WHEREAS, President Lyall was instrumental in the leadership and direction of every UW campus, having hired more than 50 chancellors and worked with 52 members of the Board of Regents during her tenure; and

WHEREAS, the UW System has and will continue to benefit from Lyall’s remarkable service, one of the longest and most productive presidencies in the history of the UW System; and

WHEREAS, Katharine Lyall is the embodiment of the Wisconsin Idea— a dedicated, talented, honest, accomplished, and productive public servant who, for almost 13 years, selflessly gave her time and energy to lead this UW System into a new era;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents highly commends President Katharine C. Lyall for her accomplished tenure  and distinguished service to the citizens of Wisconsin and to the institutions of the UW System; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon her retirement, the UW Board of Regents confers upon Katharine C. Lyall the title of President Emeritus; and wishes her every success in future endeavors.

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Return to Regents news summary for Aug. 19, 2004