Two letters from leaders at the University of Wisconsin that express support for Interim Chancellor David Ward to stay through the 2012-13 academic year were made public Tuesday. The letters stress the term extension would help steer the UW campus through economic and structural changes. 
In a letter from members of the UW Faculty Senate to UW System President Kevin Reilly, six professors on the Senate’s executive committee said that besides Ward having proved himself as a leader in his past term as chancellor, UW may undertake some structural changes – including making faculty salaries more competitive, changing the way budgets are planned and finding ways to broaden sources of funding – and will need a leader who will not be departing from campus after 12 months. 

The second letter from Academic Staff Executive Committee Chair Heather Daniels – also addressed to Reilly – reiterated many of the same points, and stressed that a two-year stay would help the university implement the new flexibilities afforded under the Wisconsin state budget, including changes to the UW personnel system and shifts in the administrative structure on campus.