Potter serves key role on campus planning panel

Kenneth W. Potter (17K JPG)

A campus the size of the University of Wisconsin-Madison is sure to cause a significant impact on its environment. Concerns about environmental impacts are doubly important for a campus that sits between a major Wisconsin lake and the city of Madison.

That's one reason that Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Ken Potter will spend the next four years lending his expertise to the university's Campus Planning Committee. The university's Faculty Senate confirmed his appointment to the committee this past fall.

"It's a very active committee that provides input to the chancellor on all major activities — particularly construction — on campus," Potter said. "It's an interesting committee and it's always good to get faculty input on these things."

Potter views part of his role as making sure the committee considers the environmental effects of campus projects. For instance, new buildings not only affect storm water runoff, but also contribute to increased lighting at night.

But he also doesn't want to limit himself to overseeing just environmental impacts of campus projects. The campus planning committee also monitors the timing of construction, where buildings will go on campus, and how they fit with other nearby buildings, roadways and paths.

"I don't have a big agenda here, but I do think I can help contribute," Potter said. "I'm already getting e-mails from people."

For more information on the Campus Planning Committee, see: http://www.fpm.wisc.edu/capbudg/.