When I had the honor of sharing a few words with 200 spring graduates gathered at our SJMC commencement celebration in May, I focused on a few things I believe this school helps its students build. One of them was grit. I said, “Your mettle has been tested in the fires of 202 fact errors, 345 case books, Curb magazine proof day, thesis defenses and prelims. You want to do the work.”
I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot lately as we are facing the fiscal challenges bedeviling all of higher education today. We have to draw on our special brand of grit to deal with the loss of revenue from cuts to federal research grants and financial aid, drops in international student enrollment, and economic unpredictability while ensuring we are vigilant in staying true to our missions.
We are currently figuring out how to implement a 5% cut to our budget for faculty, staff and graduate student assistants without damaging the inspiring teaching and groundbreaking research that makes you proud to be an SJMC Badger. I will not pretend it is easy, but I can say in all truthfulness that I believe we will be successful thanks to the combination of our longstanding fiscal responsibility, dedication to core values and that all-important scrappiness.
The number one question I get from alumni is, “How are students doing?” I love that about you. You care about the people here now and whether they’re getting the outstanding experience they deserve. I assure you that we try every day to help our graduate and undergraduate students forge experiences and understanding that will last forever despite any headwinds we face.
On, Wisconsin!
Kathleen Bartzen Culver
Director, School of Journalism and Mass Communication