The University of Wisconsin-Parkside will use the inauguration of a new chancellor as an opportunity to also celebrate the school’s ideals.

Deborah Ford will be officially installed as the school’s chancellor at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Student Center Cinema. Ford was hired this summer and has been working since Aug. 3.

Dave Buchanan, director of public relations for the university, said the inauguration is meant to accommodate a few different schedules and needs.

“It was a matter of convenience for people who could come to the ceremony and coordinating with (University of Wisconsin System president) Kevin Reilly,” Buchanan said. “And Chancellor Ford wanted to get settled in a little bit prior to the installation ceremony being held. This is what made the best sense of the calendar for everyone.”

Ford also wanted to turn attention to Parkside during the week of her inauguration, Buchanan said.

“The chancellor wanted to celebrate some of the things that we have done in the past year and that we have done historically,” Buchanan said. “She didn’t just want this week about her; she wanted it to be about the university.”

Events surrounding the inauguration:

— “A Celebration of Student Success,” noon today in Main Place of Wyllie Hall. Ford will discuss student success and the role of mentors and then lead student groups to the Student Center for a panel discussion at 12:30 p.m. The panel, comprised of Parkside graduates, will discuss factors that contributed to career success.

— Student and faculty research will be showcased in the main concourse of the Student Center all day Wednesday. A panel discussion begins at noon in the center’s ballroom regarding academic excellence. The discussion will feature several members of the school’s faculty.

— “A Celebration of Community Engagement” begins at 8:30 a.m. Thursday with the presentation of community-based learning awards at the Student Center. Programs regarding entrepreneurship, engagement through professional development, environmental initiatives, volunteering, sustainability and non-profit marketing will be held throughout the day at the center.

— Ford’s inauguration begins at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the cinema at the Student Center. The ceremony also will be shown live in the center’s ballroom.

— The week of events closes with the UW-Parkside 40th Anniversary Gala, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday in the grand ballroom of the Student Center. The community work of Fran Jaeschke, Rita Tallent Picken and Harriet Wyllie will be honored.

“Doing this sort of thing takes a lot of effort, but the effort is worth it,” Buchanan said. “The students here do a lot of work, and we want to celebrate that effort.”