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UW names interim dean of continuing education

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After months of unfruitful searching, the University of Wisconsin named an interim vice provost for lifelong learning and dean of the Division of Continuing Studies Monday.

UW-Extension Provost and Vice Chancellor Marv Van Kekerix was hired under a provisional one-to two-year contract until UW hires a permanent candidate for the position.

"I was aware of the fact that the search was ongoing, and when it became clear that the Madison campus was not going to be able to come to an agreement with their top candidate, I was approached by the chancellor, and then Provost Farrell, on whether I would be interested in accepting this position on an interim basis," Van Kekerix said.

UW Provost Pat Farrell said the DCS' responsibilities require an individual who has experience in nontraditional learning and what challenges those students compared to regular students who attend class on one of the UW campuses.

As an interim dean, Van Kekerix will work with DCS faculty and staff to develop plans for the division's next five years in order to make UW-Madison faculty and staff more widely available to nontraditional students of all ages. He will also be responsible for managing the relationship between UW-Extension and the UW campus, specifically UW-Madison.

"[The job] includes knowing what the students are like and having a good idea on how to best educate them," Farrell said.

After completing his duty, Van Kekerix will most likely retire. He has worked in the UW system since 1993, first at UW-Stevens Point and then at UW-Extension.

"[Returning] is really not an interest of mine," he said. "Essentially what I was interested in doing was taking it on for a shorter period of time."

Farrell said the original candidate for the position decided to stay where he currently is employed.

Having Van Kekerix in place would allow the provost and Chancellor John Wiley to look for a candidate with a looser deadline. Farrell and Wiley expect to begin looking for a permanent candidate in 2008.

Van Kekerix's salary will be $180,000 and he is expected to begin his contract on Feb. 1, 2008.