Report from the chair

Erhard F. Joeres (43K JPG)

With this issue of the Conduit our department marks a milestone in its history. We are for the first time reaching out to our alumni and friends with a capital campaign to secure a strong future for our department.

As we move into the new economy of the 21st century, our state, like all others, must adjust to new social and economic realities. And so, too, there have been changes in the social contract between the university and the citizens of our state. Where not too many years ago the state legislature was able to draw on tax revenues to provide 40 percent of the university's base budget, this funding has shrunk to 25 percent. I don't anticipate that the state support will increase again. On the contrary, due to current economic woes, significant budget cuts are looming.

Why, then, are we so optimistic and undaunted about the future of this department and this great university? Because we continue to have wonderful students and a vibrant program. Recent faculty hires have brought a new dynamism to our teaching, research and service. We continue to be recognized as a nationally leading department whose students bring much credit to their alma mater. Our funded research activity has tripled in the last five years. Service activities that are examples of the Wisconsin Idea ("the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state, nation, and world") are extensive — from faculty contributing to solving environmental and infrastructure problems, to our students helping Habitat for Humanity.

Initial efforts to reach out to our community of graduates and friends have already yielded great benefits to our program. For example, we've seen growth in undergraduate scholarships, increased support for our named professorships, and an increase in special program gifts to enhance student and faculty opportunities. Let me elaborate: Last fall we were able to award scholarships of varying amounts to approximately 20 percent of our undergraduates.

As you will read elsewhere in the Conduit, our development efforts to create three professorships named after distinguished emeritus professors Charles Salmon, Paul Wolf and C.K. Wang are progressing commendably. Through a generous gift from alumnus Arthur Hawnn (BS, MS and PhD from this department) we will be able to create the Dr. Arthur F. Hawnn Professorship in Transportation Engineering, as well as a separate Peterson, Rader, and Hawnn Professorship to rotate among groups in the department. These professorships are either awarded to present faculty to provide resources in support of their work, or, if funded at a sufficient level, to fund new positions.

Selected highlights in the life of our department include: The hiring of two assistant professors, Trina McMahon in environmental biotechnology and David Noyce in transportation engineering; The first place finish of our student ASCE Chapter teams in both the regional steel bridge and concrete canoe competitions held in April; The 5th annual student-run construction club banquet to recognize leaders in the construction industry. The event, held in Madison at the Monona Terrace Convention, drew 450 guests.

In addition, we've received a very special gift from alumnus Roy Weston, to be shared jointly with our department and the Institute for Environmental Studies, to launch a new Center for Environmental Sustainability.

We are saddened by the recent death of our emeritus colleague Paul Wolf. See our tribute to Paul's wonderful career here.

We are delighted that about one-third of the class of 1952 visited the department for its 50th reunion. And we hope that many of you will be able to be in Madison on Monday, June 24, at a department-sponsored tailgate picnic near the old Red Gym so we can watch the national concrete canoe competition races in Lake Mendota as part of the 150th anniversary of the American Society of Civil Engineers national meeting of student chapters, which will be hosted by our CEE students. You will receive a separate announcement of this event shortly.

Erhard F. Joeres
2205 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1691

Tel: 608/262-3542
Fax: 608/262-5199
E-mail: russell@engr.wisc.edu