A new school year always brings new faces to the UW-Milwaukee campus; however, this year, there is an even more notable fresh face with Dr. Thomas Gibson entering his freshman year as chancellor of the university.
Chancellor Gibson was appointed earlier this year, and he is interested in seeing students succeed in every aspect of UWM, including academics, athletics, research, employment and community involvement.
As a student-focused chancellor, Gibson made it a priority to share his first official interview in office with the student newspaper.
In his first couple of months as chancellor, he has ensured a physical presence on campus.
I have personally run into Chancellor Gibson at the Panther Tailgate before a Women’s Soccer game.
Another time, I was working as an Orientation and Transition Leader, giving a campus tour to incoming students, when the chancellor was walking to his car.
The new chancellor made sure to stop and ask where we were heading before wishing the new students the best of luck with the semester.
For each interaction, the new chancellor took time to talk with me or other students, which has shown an initiative to build relationships with the student population.
Not only has the chancellor interacted with students impromptu, but he has also appeared to speak at this year’s class photo in Spaights Plaza and spent a couple of hours helping with move-in at Sandburg Hall.
As a first-generation college student, Gibson experienced firsthand the transformative impact of higher education on his life, which led him to develop a passion for guiding students toward academic success.
“I really get energized by meeting new people, hearing their stories, and really understanding how the institution has impacted their lives,” Chancellor Gibson said.
Chancellor Gibson isn’t getting lost in the past, and he is looking toward the future with a hyper-focus on expanding educational access, supporting students’ retention, developing partnerships with industry and enabling quality academic research.
Budget and Graduation Rates at UWM
UW-Stevens Point, Gibson’s previous university, had an eight-million-dollar structural deficit and low campus morale from years of facing budgetary challenges.
In his time at Stevens Point, he increased enrollment and secured philanthropic gifts from industry partners to help turn around some of the difficulties the university experienced.
UWM finds itself with similar budget cuts and pressures, along with low campus morale, but on a much larger scale than Stevens Point.
Campus and community engagement will be among the chancellor’s priorities as he shifts from promoting student success on this much larger scale.
“What I learned during that time [at Stevens Point], is if you invest the time to listen intently, be visible and seek opportunities to understand and support in a way that truly embraces this notion of being an advocate for faculty and staff, it can certainly help to change the tenor on campus,” Chancellor Gibson said, “So, I am seeking to utilize some of those same skills and experiences to help me navigate UWM, come this fall.”
UWM is a university with less competitive admission requirements, making it more accessible comparatively, and many students make it their second choice or back-up plan.
Therefore, the institution is a viable option for underprivileged students, and as a benefit to the university that brings in more tuition dollars.
“As an institution, we are a Steward of Place,” Chancellor Gibson said. “We have an obligation to serve the communities in which we reside, and part of that service is ensuring that there is access to higher education for each and all who believe that they would benefit from a UW education.”
As part of that obligation, Chancellor Gibson says UWM is interested in helping businesses meet talent development needs, as well as helping Wisconsin meet its educational attainment goals.
“So, by providing broad-based access [to higher education], we are simply delivering on our mission,” Chancellor Gibson said.
There is a concern that the combination of a large influx of students and budget cuts could overwhelm UWM and lead to a lack of necessary resources or staff available to support students.
“I aim to always center student success,” Chancellor Gibson said. “Our budget will always prioritize student success to ensure that students have access to courses that can help them complete their degrees, as well as the appropriate wrap-around academic support services to support their persistence.”
UWM has an overall six-year graduation rate of 46 percent, according to the Education Trust College results database.
Black students are the demographic with the lowest rate at 24 percent.
In comparison, UW-Madison has an overall six-year graduation rate of 88 percent, with most of its student demographics having 80 percent or higher.
Chancellor Gibson made sure to highlight that UWM’s four-year and six-year rates have improved over the past ten years, but acknowledged they are not near where the university thinks they should be.
The university is actively working on pursuing strategies that will help improve students’ success rate by appointing a Chief Student Success Officer and creating a strategic enrollment plan.
“Student success is an area in which I’ve had significant success and some expertise in, so you should trust that I will be hyper-focused on helping to move the needle in that area,” Chancellor Gibson said. “If we admit students to our institution, we have an obligation to support their success through their educational journey.”
The median debt of students who complete their degree at UWM is $23,948, according to the Education Trust College results database.
Comparatively speaking, Chancellor Gibson mentioned that UWM’s tuition rate is significantly lower than neighboring states.
“But it’s not lost on me that for many students, our tuition still proves to be a challenge in their college-going opportunities,” Chancellor Gibson said.
The chancellor says he will prioritize attracting additional resources through scholarships to help UWM students complete their degrees.
Political Impact on UWM
Back in May 2024, UWM students gathered in encampments on campus to protest the university’s connections with Israel.
Later in the year, around the time of election season, former Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center to speak with business students, which sparked more protests about the Israeli-Palestine Conflict.
UWM remains a politically active campus with a student body interested in enacting legislative change, which includes past conflicts and negotiations with the previous chancellor.
Chancellor Gibson welcomes debate and says that college campuses must remain a space where the tenets of the First Amendment are upheld to encourage the exchange of various ideas, which provide a unique learning opportunity.
“I will be a supporter of expressive activity that aligns with state law, as well as our institutional policies,” Chancellor Gibson said. “A college campus is a microcosm of society, and UWM is not immune to the various issues that get debated in our society.”
More than 1,250 international students are attending UWM, according to Fall 2024 International Student Data.
International students make several contributions to campus life and academics, from teaching to research.
The Trump administration has deployed ICE to several campuses around the nation and pursued international students, which may bring concern to the student population here at UWM.
Chancellor Gibson wanted to make an important distinction about the UWM Police Department and the number of different law enforcement agencies with which they work.
“I think it’s important to know that as a Police Department, we do not have any agreements or any relationship with ICE,” Chancellor Gibson said. “Our Police Department will certainly operate under the law, but we have no direct involvement in ICE activities.”
Another cutback that has arisen from the Trump administration is on DEI initiatives. UWM is a university that touts its diversity and accessibility for all students.
The new chancellor plans to lean into UWM’s institutional values of respect, inclusion and belonging to ensure that the campus community remains a place for every student to learn.
“We want all members of our university community to thrive in their various pursuits,” Chancellor Gibson said. “So, that’s where I will be placing my emphasis and ensuring that UWM continues to be a place where each and all could feel proud of.”
Artificial Intelligence and Research at UWM
UWM has a three-part mission of conducting research, offering accessible higher education and promoting community engagement.
As a research-driven university, Chancellor Gibson will have the challenge of continuing to foster impressive research while navigating cutbacks in funding for college research.
The university is an R1 research institution with noted successful contributions in several areas and varieties of research.
“While there are some changes within federal funding agencies, there are new funding opportunities. Think AI, for example. We have, and we will continue to work with our faculty colleagues to be prepared to be competitive and take advantage of these new research grants that are becoming available,” Chancellor Gibson said.
In June, UWM and Microsoft unveiled an AI Co-Innovation Lab, the first of its kind, which will enable students to work in collaboration with businesses on AI-driven projects.
AI will continue to impact institutions across the globe, and Chancellor Gibson is interested in pursuing ethical efforts that leverage AI as a tool to efficiently help complete work.
“AI is constantly evolving, so we will need to continue to keep pace with its various evolutions and ensure that we’re leveraging it in a way that aligns with our values as well as institutional mission,” Chancellor Gibson said.
The Greater Milwaukee Community
Chancellor Gibson is excited to explore the community and further grow the roots that UWM has already established in the greater Milwaukee area.
UWM is an anchor in the community, and the new chancellor views it as his privilege to serve and collaborate with the City of Milwaukee.
As a Steward of Place, the chancellor again views it as an obligation to enhance the quality of life in the Milwaukee community through fostering partnerships between the campus, students, citizens, businesses and local communities.
“I often like to say that the city of Milwaukee is our extended campus, so we need to be working in ways to ensure that our extended campus is equally as vibrant,” Chancellor Gibson said.