When Interim Chancellor Carol Sue Butts retires this summer, she will miss a lot of things, but above all, she will miss the walks.

Photograph by Anthony Bauer


Carol Sue Butts will retire as Interim Chancellor this summer after serving as an administrator on campus for 12 years.

Butts has spent 12 years on the UW-Platteville campus as an administrator, and during that time nothing has relaxed her like a stroll through the campus during the changing of the seasons. She first came to UW-P in 1998 to serve as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs under Chancellor David Markee, a man that inspired her with his positive attitude and enthusiasm. She had five other job offers, but knew right away that her path led to Platteville.

“I liked the small class sizes, the faculty and staff interaction and I was very pleased there were not big lecture halls,” Butts said. “The campus did not have a publish-or-perish mind set, it is student centered and that is very meaningful.”

In her 12 years on campus, Butts said she had many good experiences, but two moments make her the most proud.

“I really enjoyed my time as provost first and foremost,” Butts said. “I made wonderful connections with the faculty, staff and students here; they are excellent people to work with.”

Butts said the other experience that she was proud of was moving UW-P toward being an outcomes-based university and redefining the campus’s objectives. She said that being an outcomes-based university means that there is a reason for everything that the campus does. Butts said whether it is knowing the objectives of a major or a minor, knowing what a student should walk away from a club knowing, or knowing the purpose of the Karrmann Library, being accountable is critical to growth and development of the campus as a whole.

“Improving accountability across the campus was a huge passion of mine when I came to [UW-P] 12 years ago,” Butts said. “It is a multi-year process, but we have made great strides in approving accountability of the campus.”

Butts established various awards for campus faculty and staff while she was provost, including: the Academic Staff Award for Excellence, Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, Award for Excellence in Service Learning and the UW-P Woman of the Year Award. She has also been very active in obtaining and promoting positive working conditions for women at UW-P and across the nation. When she first came to UW-P, only 24 percent of faculty members were women, but as of 2010, that number had increased to 32 percent. Butts served for eight years on the council for Wisconsin Women in Higher Education Leadership, and served two years as its state president.

Butts said what kept her at UW-P for 12 years was the comforting environment. She said there is warmth and a caring attitude to be found around every corner.

“We have great people here,” Butts said. “We are focused and know who we are as a campus, and we do not try to be everything to everybody.
The commitment of faculty and staff to students is exceptional. The university is focused, we know what we are doing, and it is all for the students.”

Butts held the position of provost until August of 2009 when Markee retired and she was asked to fill his shoes until a new chancellor was appointed. There were rumors that Butts would seek the position permanently, but just three months after Markee stepped down, Butts announced that she would also be retiring, as soon as the university picked its new chancellor. With the UW System recommending Dennis Shields succeed Butts this July, that day is on the horizon, but Butts has a few more walks she would like to take before she rides into the sunset.

“I am giving the new chancellor a gift, but he will not realize it right away when he takes office,” Butts said. “I am giving him a campus that is well run and full of honest and hardworking students. It truly is a gift.”

Butts said that she loves the people and UW-P as a whole, but there are other people she loves that she needs to spend more time with.

“I will miss UW-P, but it is rare that people can retire while in good health, and I want to take advantage of that,” Butts said. “I have grandchildren who miss their grandmother, and I can’t wait to spend more time with them.”

The Rountree Ensemble is playing a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, in honor of Butts.

“I was very honored when I heard the Rountree Ensemble was dedicating a concert to me,” Butts said. “I love the Rountree Ensemble. I cannot thank the faculty and staff enough for making my stay here truly wonderful.”