2017 Senate Joint Resolution 114
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and service to higher education of Chancellor Emeritus Charles W. Sorensen.
Whereas, on February 23, 2018, Chancellor Emeritus Charles W. Sorensen passed away in Florida, nearly four years after he retired as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stout; and
Whereas, Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen had a long career in higher education in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin as a faculty member and administrator; and
Whereas, Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen was also a nationally recognized historian, having earned his Ph.D. in history from Michigan State University, where he was recognized in 2002 as an outstanding alumnus; and
Whereas, at the time of his retirement in August 2014, Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen had served the faculty, staff, and students of UW-Stout, as well as the citizens of this state, with distinction as chancellor for 26 years, the longest tenure of any UW-Stout leader; and
Whereas, Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen's persistent leadership and innovative vision were the catalysts for UW-Stout winning the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2001, becoming the first institution of higher education to receive the award, and UW-Stout being designated by the UW System Board of Regents as Wisconsin's Polytechnic university in 2007; and
Whereas, UW-Stout, under Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen's tenure, experienced enrollment growth of 31 percent, to more than 9,000 students, and the number of undergraduate majors offered more than doubled; and
Whereas, UW-Stout's campus was transformed physically under Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen, with additions or renovations to Harvey Hall Theatre, Jarvis Hall Science Wing, Memorial Student Center, Millennium Hall, and the Don and Nona Williams Stadium; and
Whereas, other accomplishments of Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen's administration include the adoption of the eStout laptop program, which provides laptop computers to all undergraduates on campus, and growing the assets of the Stout University Foundation from $2.3 million to $43 million, all the while ensuring that UW-Stout maintained an employment rate for new graduates at or above 97 percent; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the
senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin Legislature salute the decades of service to higher education by Chancellor Emeritus Charles W. Sorensen and his lasting impact on UW-Stout, the city of Menomonie, and western Wisconsin, and express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide a copy of this resolution to Chancellor Emeritus Sorensen's wife, Toni Poll-Sorensen, and his children, Elizabeth Heyboer, Heather Jones, and Jenny Strockis.
