Message from the Dean

A major attraction when I joined the Wisconsin School of Business was the legendary passion and commitment of Wisconsin alumni. That passion convinced me that we could build and expand partnerships to advance the school. But I will freely admit that I underestimated both how critical and, more important, how substantial, that alumni support would become.

For more than a century, the State of Wisconsin provided generous public support to build one of the top universities in the world, a remarkable accomplishment for a state our size. Unfortunately, the state is no longer able to provide support at a rate that keeps pace with the growth in costs in the booming higher-education industry. Obligations for health care, K-12 education and other non-discretionary items—and a manufacturing economy facing the headwinds of globalization—have reduced the state’s discretionary resources.

Our school could either hope for a change in external conditions or take greater control of our future. We made a conscious choice to build a new financial partnership that relies on expanded programs for working professionals, tuition differentials that reflect the rising value of our degrees and alumni support to help fund the price of excellence. This partnership is reflected in a virtuous cycle of investment and progress.

We began by focusing on improving the quality of our full-time Wisconsin MBA. In 2002, our faculty committed to building a unique MBA program based on career specializations. Shortly thereafter, generous gifts from Ab and Nancy Nicholas and Signe Ostby and Scott Cook funded specializations in Applied Corporate Finance and Brand Management. In 2004, The Grainger Foundation invested $20 million in the lead gift for a facility that will provide a better experience for all of our students. As a result of the efforts of faculty, staff, alumni and students, we are seeing not only an enhanced reputation for the MBA program but substantially higher student satisfaction. This past year, 99% of our graduating MBA students made a gift at graduation. That’s a powerful statement from the individuals closest to the program.

Fueled by the improved reputation of our full-time program, enrollment in our Enterprise MBA programs for working professionals has grown by almost 30% this past year. The increase in revenue has provided resources to make key investments in faculty and staff who support these and other important programs.

The partnership doesn’t end there. In response to progress being made by our school, the campus chose to invest an additional 10% in our budget during a tight fiscal environment in 2005. And, this past year, our undergraduate students showed their commitment to quality by overwhelmingly endorsing the first undergraduate tuition differential on the campus, enabling us to improve the quality and scope of our undergraduate program.

Inspired by the investments made by our students and the progress in our programs, this broad partnership reached new heights on October 27, 2007. In what is already viewed as one of the greatest acts of philanthropy in higher education, 13 alumni and friends came together as the Wisconsin Naming Partnership to provide a transformational gift —$85 million to fund program excellence and preserve the name of the Wisconsin School of Business for 20 years. We cannot wait to tell you about the impacts of this gift in next year’s report.

The partners’ naming gift opens up a new set of possibilities for our ability to influence society. It is also a reminder that this school belongs to all of us. Whatever the state of public finances, our school can be as great as we want it to be. If we all do our part, the virtuous cycle of the Wisconsin School of Business and the impact our graduates have on the world will continue for years to come.

On Wisconsin,

Michael Knetter

Dean, Wisconsin School of Business