UW-Whitewater’s annual State of the University address was held March 17, with key updates on the university’s budget and profits and recognition for staff and students.

One of the hot topics mentioned by Chancellor Corey A. King during the event was academic freedom. He went on to describe the importance of instructors being able to choose their own instructional material, evaluate student performances based on certain academic criteria, and perhaps most importantly, design their own courses.

By ensuring this academic freedom, UW-W keeps a strong and tightly-knit community. This community would not be made possible without the contributions of every staff member and instructor. These faculty members received recognition for their hard work through awards and additional compensation.

“By using additional funding made possible by Act 15, and using university funds, we were able to raise most of the faculty salaries to the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources median for the first time,” King said.

King described how funds previously set aside for additional faculty compensation will now be reallocated for additional gains for other employees, with the consultation of the shared governance compensation committees for academic and university staff to recommend where these funds should be allocated.

Additionally, King shared that due to the focus on increasing and retaining enrollment, the budget structural deficit has been completely eliminated and the university is operating with a positive cash flow.

There were also a plethora of awards handed out, including countless winners for the 2026 Diversity and Inclusivity Awards. King described these winners as “amazing people doing amazing things.”

The original Strategic Plan timeline of 2023-28 has been extended to 2030 to allow extra time for the completion of the final six for complex acts in Act 15.

Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Robin Fox elaborated on some of the completed tasks.

One is the establishment of a University Compensation and Benefits committee.

“Compensation has been a focus,” Fox said. “We are in a good space right now but we can’t take our eyes off of that or we will be in a tricky spot.”

The University Compensation and Benefits Committee essentially looks at the wages of faculty to determine if there are any issues, and look at changes in benefits that might impact university staff.

“The actions related to transfer pathways have seen significant work in helping students take courses in high school, or maybe go to our technical college, and then come to either the Rock County campus or the main campus,” Fox said.

In the athletics field, an exciting development arose with the announcement of a new logo for Warhawk Athletics. Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ryan Callahan described the meaning behind the new and exciting logo.

“It brings forth the strength and devotion that define Warhawk athletics. It feels competitive, it feels confident and most importantly it feels like us,” Callahan said.

The logo will begin to be incorporated later in the year.

As the State of the University address came to a close, it was made clear that UW-W is in a very healthy state in every possible way.