A Time for Boldness: A Story of Institutional Change

A Time for Boldness presents the story of how an urban research university is redefining what it means to be an engaged university. Through a challenging process that involved both campus and community, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has launched major initiatives and set a new direction for faculty, students, and staff.

This book is a report from those most involved in this process about what such broad-based change requires and what it can produce. It examines the how, why, and what—what happened, what worked (and what didn't), and what was learned about change in higher education.

Using a wide range of sources—quotations from the authors, newspaper clippings, essays by participants, interviews, first-person reflections by key leadership, as well as narration—this book tells a rich story of institutional change.

Contents include:
• Milwaukee’s university
• From The Wisconsin Idea to The Milwaukee Idea
• Capturing people’s attention
• Behind the scenes at The Milwaukee Idea
• The affinity group process
• The action team process
• The evaluation and negotiation process
• The community perspective
• Launching The Milwaukee Idea
• Into new territory
• Ten early lessons for change

The experiences of "The Milwaukee Idea" can provide knowledge useful to other institutions and change leaders who are interested in community-university engagement.

Nancy L. Zimpher is former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and now serves as president of the University of Cincinnati. Stephen L. Percy is director of the Center for Urban Initiatives and Research and chancellor’s deputy for The Milwaukee Idea at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Mary Jane Brukardt is associate to the provost at Eastern Washington University and a writer and consultant to higher education.