Madison, Wisconsin: University Archives and Records Management Services
Summary
In this 1984 interview, Laura Smail interviews Reuben Lorenz, Vice President and Controller of UW System, about the UW System Merger. Lorenz discusses the discontent with Coordinating Council for Higher Education (CCHE) and the reasons for its failure along with the Business office's involvement with the merger statute. He describes the mistake of limiting salary range for executives and the consequences of that mistake on current attempts to hire for those positions. Lorenz explains the advantages of merger and his belief that UW-Madison is better off because of merger. He also discusses the cost saving measures of merger. Smail asks about the debate over location of System offices and Lorenz talks about the offices in Van Hise along with student demonstrations at the time and the Regents' reactions to the student demonstrations. He describes his work with John Weaver, Leonard Haas, Donald Percy and Donald Smith along with his relationship with the regents. The interview also includes discussions of Lorenz’s work in financing projects in computing starting in 1945 and the people involved in that work. Specific computing topics include the need to establish a central data bank, the failure to computerize student registration, and computer funding controversies. He discusses issues around running dormitories and controversy about funding UW-Milwaukee’s building project. Lorenz and Smail talk about the enrollment funding formula used at various higher education institutions around the country. Lorenz also talks about the competing needs of UW and System before ending the interview with a discussion on WARF’s work with patents at UW-Madison and throughout the University of Wisconsin System.