UW-La Crosse’s new chancellor, Beeby, kicks off fall semester, makes science center project a priority

Fall classes start until next week at UW-La Crosse and faculty members held a welcome-back ceremony and picnic on campus for students, who have begun moving into the dorms.

The university’s new chancellor, Dr. James Beeby, gave his first start-of-school address to UW-L staff Wednesday morning.

Beeby, a native of Wales, began the new role at UW-L in July.

He said Wednesday that he’s “loving every minute” and working to give thousands of students what they need, “and that changes over time.”

“The students of today are very different from the students of even just 10 years ago,” Beeby told reporters, “so making sure that we are really receptive and open to the needs of our students, that’s really important.”

Beeby added that one project that’s “absolutely critical” to UW-L is to construct Phase II of the Prairie Springs Science Center, which has been held up by the Wisconsin state Legislature for around six years.

Campus planners hope to have that building open within four years, though the price of the project has jumped from around $85 million to $185 million, as of last year.

The first phase of the Prairie Springs project opened in 2018. .

Beeby also said he wants to recruit and retain new faculty.

Beeby declared that UW-L is a popular college choice for area students.

“When you are an institution of choice, when you’re a destination institution, that we are, people will still want to come here,” Beeby said, adding that the campus is in “a really strong place.”

A year ago, former UW-L chancellor Joe Gow announced it would be his last in that post. Gow intended to retire as chancellor, but he was fired instead because of a scandal over pornographic videos posted online that feature him and his wife.

Beeby plans to welcome more important visitors this week.

UW System president Jay Rothman and Gov. Tony Evers are expected to stop in La Crosse and see the university campus before the holiday weekend.