‐
Stevens   Point   Journal
Bernie   Patterson,   University   of   Wisconsin ‐ Stevens   Point   chancellor  ‐
November   27,   2015
“Let   us   think   of   education   as   the   means   of   developing   our   greatest   abilities,   because   in   each   of   us   there   is   a   private   hope   and   dream   which,   fulfilled,   can   be   translated   into   benefit   for   everyone   and   greater   strength   for   our   nation.”
This   quote   from   John   F.
Kennedy  ‐  assassinated   42   years   ago   this   week
‐  captures   the   essence   of   the   public   good   that   results   from   education.
Education   certainly   benefits   each   individual   student,   from   primary   school   through   college   or   technical   training.
In   so   doing,   it   also   benefits   the   public   good.
Consider,   for   instance,   someone   who   studies   to   be   a   medical   doctor   or   nurse.
Teachers,   social   workers   and   counselors,   too,   are   a   few   career   paths   that   make   our   families,   our   communities   and   country   stronger.
Education   helps   build   the   workforce   and   enhance   the   economy.
Through   broad   education,   students   learn   how   to   communicate   effectively,   collaborate   in   a   team,   think   critically,   solve   complex   problems,   understand   budgets   and   analyze   large   amounts   of   data.
Those   skills   are   in   demand   everywhere.
Surely,   they   are   qualifications   for   chief   executive   officers,   community   leaders   and   elected   officials.
Wisconsin’s   earliest   leaders   recognized   the   need   for   education   to   advance   the   public   good,   eventually    establishing   the   University   of   Wisconsin   System.
It   embodied   the   Wisconsin   Idea:   Research   and   knowledge   of   the   university   system   would   help   solve   problems   and   improve   health   and   quality   of   life   of   all   state   citizens.
First   articulated   in   1904,   the   Wisconsin   Idea   continues   to   be   embraced   at   UW ‐ Stevens   Point   and   the   UW
System.
It   was   the   topic   of   a   forum   on   campus   Nov.
19.
It   is   embedded   in   A   Partnership   for   Thriving
Communities,   UW ‐ Stevens   Point’s   strategic   plan.
It   provides   our   framework   to   be   more   relevant   to   community   needs   and   more   responsive   to   community   problems.
I   was   thinking   about   this   when   UW ‐ Stevens   Point   received   an   invitation   to   sign   an   action   statement   from
Campus   Compact.
Thirty   years   ago,   Campus   Compact   was   founded   to   ensure   colleges   and   universities   would   actively   contribute   to   the   health   and   sustainability   of   our   democracy.
In   the   mid ‐ 1980s,   some   higher   education   leaders   were   concerned   that,   with   pressures   toward   personal   acquisition   and   advancement,   students   were   not   learning   to   think,   speak   and   act   in   service   of   the   public   good.
They   resolved   to   reclaim   higher   education’s   historic   mission   of   preparing   the   next   generation   to   achieve   public   goals   and   solve   public   problems.
Among   the   results   are   civic   engagement   centers;   community   engagement   in   campus   strategic   plans;   and   innovative   partnerships   in   positive   educational,   health,   environmental   and   economic   outcomes   for   communities.

The   Campus   Compact   network   recognizes   work   remains.
Few   believe   our   democracy   is   as   healthy   as   it   should   be.
The   polarization   of   political   discourse   and   increase   in   economic   inequality   are   among   today’s   challenges.
For   a   thriving   and   sustainable   democracy,   we   renew   dedication   to   these   goals.
We:
 Empower   our   students,   faculty,   staff   and   community   partners partnerships   toward   a   just,   equitable   and   sustainable   future.
to   create   mutually   respectful
 Prepare    students   for   lives   of   engaged   citizenship, act   and   lead    pursuing   the   public   good.
with   motivation   and   capacity   to   deliberate,
 Embrace   our   responsibilities   to   contribute   to   the   health   and   strength economically,   socially,   environmentally,   educationally   and   politically.
of   our   communities—
 Harness   the   capacity   of   our   institutions—through   research, challenge   prevailing   social   and   economic   inequalities.
teaching   and   partnerships   —to
 Foster   an   environment   that   affirms   the   public   purposes expectations   for   the   campus   community   to   achieve.
of   higher   education,   setting   high
Each   campus   commits   to   creating   a   Campus   Civic   Action   Plan.
I   have   asked   our   Strategic   Planning
Committee   to   lead    in   developing   UW ‐ Stevens   Point’s   action   plan.
We   will   share   it,   as   well   as   our   progress,   publicly.
If   you   have   suggestions   for   how   we   can   better   serve   the   public   good,   please   email
Academic.Affairs.Office@uwsp.edu.
Bernie   Patterson   is   the   chancellor   of   the   University   of   Wisconsin ‐ Stevens   Point.