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00:00:00 - Name Check and Interview Introduction 00:00:39 - Professional Background with UW Colleges and Changes Due to Restructuring

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Partial Transcript: LEH: So what brought you to the UW Colleges and Extension?

Segment Synopsis: Discusses history with UW System working at UW Madison, working at UW Colleges campuses, and movement more senior positions. Talks about changes in strategic vision due to transition in restructuring, and resulting lack of long term visions/goals. Talks about job as changing to everyday management.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Rock County; business administration; long term goals; restructuring; strategic vision

00:04:28 - Goals of Regionalization and Mission of UW Colleges

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Yeah... um... I'm curious I guess did you see, I guess this is sort of a before

Segment Synopsis: Discusses lack of changes in "strategic plan" for UW Colleges due to regionalization, and focus on administration and staffing in regionalization, not on changing the former UW Colleges. Talks about reduction of budget and regionalization as impacting areas not related to the core mission. Discusses impact to administrative workforce, not in instruction/classes related to core mission.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges mission; academic services; programming; regionalization; strategic vision; support services

00:09:22 - Restructuring and the UW Colleges Mission

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Partial Transcript: LEH: So I guess with restructuring could you expand on how that changed?

Segment Synopsis: Talks about central offices coordinating activities prior to restructuring, and change in administration during restructuring to movement as "branch campuses." Discusses change in mission as a result.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges mission; administration; branch campus mission; branch campuses; centralization; restructuring

00:12:12 - Initial Project Planning and Announcement of Restructuring

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Um... yeah, um it's interesting because like looking at some of the materials

Segment Synopsis: Talks about initial lack of discussion before announcement of restructuring, viewpoint of individuals within the System as a "project without a plan," and planning after announcement. Discusses Steering Committee plan, membership in an oversight capacity, and major goals of the committees within the Steering Committee.

Keywords: Steering Committee; project planning; restructuring; staff culture

00:15:57 - Announcement of and Discussion Surrounding Restructuring

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Um, so going back to what you were saying about the rollout of restructuring

Segment Synopsis: Discusses talks of reorganization at regional meeting prior to announcement, lack of knowledge amongst chancellors of UW Colleges and Extension, and interactions with others prior to announcement. Discusses meeting with President of System discussing roll out of restructuring. Talks about lack of prior knowledge and discussion, knowledge of others within the System and not UW Colleges/Extension officials, and feeling surrounding lack of say in decision. Notes that public announcement was a day later.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW System; communications; restructuring; staff; staff culture

00:21:44 - Work with Receiving Institutions and Transfer of Information

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Could you expand on sort of those, that early decision making process and decisions

Segment Synopsis: Talks about pledge to continue working and video conferencing with receiving institutions about history, finances, and other aspects of the functions of the UW Colleges. Talks about knowledge transfer meetings and conferences to convey information; talks about facilities knowledge transfer in relation to this.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges administration; UW Colleges culture; communications; receiving institution; restructuring; staff; transfer of information

00:25:53 - Relationship between UW Colleges Budgets and Local Government Stakeholders

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Could you expand on that, like what were some of the questions that people

Segment Synopsis: Discusses passing capital budget at the state level and the impact on four year universities and facilities/building facilities, versus the influence of local governments at the former UW Colleges. Talks about the differences in the processes at the local level, including annual budget, involvement at the city/county level, and need to build relationships.

Keywords: UW Colleges; branch campus; budget; capital planning; facilities; local government; local government budgets; receiving institution

00:29:09 - Discussion of Planning Process and Transition Process of Restructuring

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Partial Transcript: LEH: I guess that kind of relates to questions of like these relationships

Segment Synopsis: Talks about lack of prior planning and data, timeline of transition as very fast, and long term transition of parts of the project.

Keywords: data; enrollment; planning process; restructuring; timeline

00:34:01 - Discussion of Budget Cuts and Regionalization

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Yeah and its interesting that you say the point about

Segment Synopsis: Discusses downturn in budget and resulting regionalization, executing previous concepts in regionalization, and lack of foresight for restructuring.

Keywords: UW Colleges; budget; project planning; regionalization; timeline

00:37:52 - Discussion of Public Announcement of Restructuring and Board of Regents Approval

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Partial Transcript: LEH: That goes into another question about sort of the timeline and communication

Segment Synopsis: Discusses lack of time in making decision to approve regionalization at the Board of Regents, and lack of time between public announcement and approval of restructuring. Contrasts this with previous merger in 1971 that took two years and substantial public debate. Talks about need for approval by accreditors and public hearing in order for an institution's mission to be changed.

Keywords: Board of Regents; UW Colleges; UW Colleges mission; history of UW System; mission; public approval; public hearing process; restructuring; timeline

00:42:56 - Discussion of History of UW System, UW Extension, and Relationship to Current UW System

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Yeah could you expand on that, like do you have any personal thoughts

Segment Synopsis: Talks about standing policy of holding public hearings, and lack of public hearings in restructuring. Talks about UW Extension's history, emphasis on statewide activities and outreach, and emphasis on cooperation. Talks about lack of acknowledgement of the history of the UW Extension and public policies.

Keywords: UW Extension; UW System mission; history of UW Extension; history of UW System; public approval process; public policy

00:47:59 - Discussion of Future of UW Extension and former UW Colleges

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Yeah I was wondering you made a comment of sort of making sure that Extension

Segment Synopsis: Talks about reach of Madison for cooperative extension and confidence in UW Madison. Discusses enrollment and impact of recession on higher education and mission of former UW Colleges in providing options/transfer opportunities. Discusses change in transfer opportunities as a result of restructuring, and challenges of keeping the former Colleges open.

Keywords: UW Colleges mission; UW Extension; UW Madison; budget; cooperative extension; demographics; restructuring; transfer

00:56:33 - Discussion of UW System, Budget, and Potential Changes

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Partial Transcript: LEH: It's, it's interesting too because... I was wondering, do you have any

Segment Synopsis: Discusses low tuition and capabilities for consolidation of "back office" activities.

Keywords: UW System; administration; budget; tuition

00:59:09 - Culture of former UW Colleges and Mission

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Partial Transcript: LEH: I guess this a kind of background, but it's kind of related

Segment Synopsis: Talks about administration as being like a family, emphasis on cooperation and trust, and simplicity of the mission of the UW Colleges around freshman/sophomore students and transfer. Talks about common goal of the former UW Colleges.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges culture; UW Colleges mission; staff; staff culture; transfer mission

01:02:57 - UW Colleges Community Reactions to Restructuring

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Partial Transcript: LEH: Going into communities that people were in... so as sort of restructuring

Segment Synopsis: Talks about lack of consultation with local government leaders and unhappiness, and upset feelings of members of local UW Colleges foundations. Discusses function of foundations boards for former UW Colleges, foundations within the UW Extension, and lack of knowledge of foundations. Talks about fielding calls, advisement to call the President, and negative emotions/exchanges with people. Talks about long term view of restructuring.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges foundations; UW Extension; budget; communications; counties; facilities; local communities; local government

01:10:40 - Discussion of Community Concerns

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Partial Transcript: LEH: So I guess do you recall at all specifically what people's concerns were

Segment Synopsis: Talks about concerns over lack of knowledge, and people's concerns over funding at the former UW College foundations.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Colleges foundations; UW System; community relations; facilities; project planning

01:12:57 - Discussion of Community Understandings to the UW System

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Partial Transcript: LEH: How do you think when you were at the Colleges

Segment Synopsis: Talks about viewpoint of the "ivory tower" of Madison, and lack of knowledge at local level.

Keywords: UW Colleges; UW Madison; UW System; administration; centralization; communications; community relations; higher education

01:16:07 - Final Thoughts

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Partial Transcript: LEH: I guess there are a couple of your questions that are sort of left

Segment Synopsis: Talks about importance of accountability and accomplishments in relation to the goals of restructuring. Talks about need for accountability from the Board of Regents.

Keywords: Board of Regents; UW Colleges; accountability; history of UW System; public discussion; restructuring

01:21:11 - End of May 20th 2020 Interview Session