Mayor's Office

University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank has been a steadfast friend to the City of Madison. Among other things, she and her team at University Health Services worked in partnership with the City to coordinate community response to the historic COVID-19 pandemic, achieving a 96 percent vaccination rate and exemplifying the Wisconsin Idea in action. Today, we thank the Chancellor for her service to the City and the State of Wisconsin and proclaim today, May 11, Rebecca Blank Day in the City of Madison.

MAYORAL PROCLAMATION

Whereas, Chancellor Rebecca Blank has been a steadfast friend to the City of Madison, working in partnership to coordinate community response to the historic COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifying the Wisconsin Idea in action; and

Whereas, the Chancellor has taken a data-driven approach to the pandemic, which resulted in a remarkable 96 percent vaccination rate among students and faculty; and

Whereas, during her nine-year tenure, the UW-Madison has worked in a sustained way to be more diverse and inclusive of all community members; and

Whereas, the Chancellor substantially decreased the graduation gap for low income and underrepresented groups, making the UW-Madison a top 10 public university by graduation rates; and

Whereas, the Chancellor expanded access to the university with Bucky’s Tuition Promise, which has guaranteed that all low-income Wisconsin students who qualify for admission can come here tuition-free; and

Whereas, the percentage of students who leave with ZERO debt – has also grown to just under 60% and class applications have doubled, and

Whereas, the Chancellor spearheaded the All Ways Forward fundraising campaign, raising an astounding $4.2 billion to deepen the scholarship pool, attract and retain top faculty and improve campus infrastructure; and

Whereas, the UW-Madison has expanded its research enterprise and brought in almost $1.5 billion in research awards in 2021 alone; and

Whereas, the Chancellor has brought the UW Extension program and Wisconsin Public TV back to campus with a diversity of programs that serve the public statewide; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, do hereby ask the residents of Madison, Wisconsin, to join me in expressing appreciation for Chancellor Rebecca Blank as she pursues new endeavors.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that I, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, May 11, 2022 as

REBECCA BLANK DAY

in the City of Madison