By Tom Ganser

John Chenoweth was the featured speaker at the Whitewater Rotary Club meeting on July 13, 2021, at 841 Brewhouse.  Rotarians were also able to attending the meeting virtually, an alternative now offered to members.

Chenoweth began his new role as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on July 1, following his appointment as Dean of the UWW College of Business and Economics.

Chenoweth provided an update on the enrollment challenges UWW faces resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for students and faculty.

He noted that for many new UWW students, a portion of their senior year in high school and their first year in college was largely conducted online so they have never really experienced traditional campus life.  Chenoweth stressed the continuing importance of understanding what kind of college experience students want, both academically and in terms of campus life.

For many faculty, turning to online education opened the door to gaining experience in new technologies that they now can employ to complement face-to-face classroom instruction and that continues a decade long growth of online instruction.

The enrollment in graduate programs that increased due in part to new opportunities afforded during the pandemic, including working from home, is beginning to normal.

Chenoweth shared the approval of two new UWW programs leading to a bachelor’s degree in cyber security and a master’s degree in marketing.

He also noted searches underway for UW-W Chancellor; deans of the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Business and Economics, and the College of Integrated Studies (UW-Rock County); and the President of the University of Wisconsin System, currently former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson.