University of Wisconsin System

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The University of Wisconsin System<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is a state public university system in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher-education systems in the country, enrolling more than 160,000 students each year and employing approximately 41,000 faculty and staff statewide.<ref name="Enrollment"/><ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The system is headquartered in the state capital of Madison.

The University of Wisconsin System comprises two major doctoral research universities, eleven other comprehensive universities, and eight two-year branch campuses. At its peak, the system had 14 two-year colleges, of which six have since been shut down. When comparing state and local funding per student given to two-year institutions, Wisconsin ranked 4th in the nation in 2023. This was in contrast to four-year institutions where Wisconsin ranked 42nd. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Template:Refimprove-section The present-day University of Wisconsin System was created on October 11, 1971, by Chapter 100, Laws of 1971, which combined the former University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin State Universities systems into an enlarged University of Wisconsin System. The final legislation passed in May 1974, combining two chapters of the Wisconsin statutes. The merger took effect July 9, 1974.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Former University of Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin was created by the state constitution in 1848, and held its first classes in Madison in 1849.

In 1956, pressed by the growing demand for a large public university that offered graduate programs in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's largest city, Wisconsin lawmakers merged Wisconsin State College of Milwaukee (WSCM) and the University of Wisconsin–Extension's Milwaukee division as the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. The new campus comprised the WSCM campus near the lakefront and the UW extension in downtown Milwaukee.

Starting in the 1940s, freshman-sophomore centers were opened across the state. In 1968, the Green Bay center was upgraded to a full-fledged four-year institution as the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, while the Kenosha and Racine centers were merged as the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. By 1971, the University of Wisconsin system had campuses at Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Kenosha/Somers, together with 10 freshman-sophomore centers and the statewide University of Wisconsin–Extension.<ref name="History">History and Organization of the University of Wisconsin System Template:Webarchive. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.</ref> The total enrollment of the University of Wisconsin system at that time was 69,554. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin system comprise ten members, nine of whom were appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for nine-year terms. The tenth was the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who served ex officio on both the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin State University boards.

Former Wisconsin State Universities

In 1866, the state legislature established a normal school at Platteville—the first of eight teacher-training schools across the state. In 1911, the legislature permitted the normal schools to offer two years of post-high school work in art, liberal arts and sciences, pre-law, and pre-medicine. The broadened curriculum proved popular and soon accounted for over one-third of the normal schools' enrollment. In 1920, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching issued a report on "The Professional Education of Teachers of American Public Schools", which attacked such programs, arguing that normal schools should not deviate from their purpose as trainers of teachers. When the Milwaukee Normal School (MNS) persisted with its popular enhanced curriculum, the regents of the Normal School system, the legislature, and the governor all became involved. MNS President Carroll G. Pearse was forced to resign in 1923, and the regents ordered the discontinuation of non-teacher-education programs. The issue was not settled, though; public pressure for expanded offerings at normal schools continued to grow, and education professionals asserted that traditional two-year curricula in teacher training were inadequate.

In 1926, the regents repurposed the Normal Schools as "State Teachers Colleges", offering a four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Education degree that incorporated significant general education at all levels. The thousands of returning World War II veterans in Wisconsin needed more college choices for their studies under the G.I. Bill, and popular demand pushed the State Teachers College system Regents to once again allow the teacher training institutions to offer bachelor's degrees in liberal arts and fine arts. In 1951 the state teachers colleges were redesignated as "Wisconsin State Colleges," offering a full four-year liberal arts curriculum. In 1955, the Stout Institute in Menomonie, which had been founded as a private engineering school in 1891 and was sold to the state in 1911, was merged into the Wisconsin State Colleges system; it had previously been governed by a separate state board of regents.

The state colleges were all granted university status as "Wisconsin State Universities" in 1964 (with the exception of Wisconsin State College-Milwaukee, which had become part of the University of Wisconsin in 1956).

As of 1971, the Wisconsin State Universities comprised nine public universities (Platteville, Whitewater, Oshkosh, River Falls, Stout (in Menomonie), Superior, Stevens Point, La Crosse, and Eau Claire) and four freshman-sophomore branch campuses, with a total enrollment of 64,148. The board was made up of 14 members, 13 of whom were appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate for five-year terms. The 14th was the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Merger

The University of Wisconsin system merged with the Wisconsin State University system in 1971 to create today's University of Wisconsin System. The 1971 merger law approved by the State Senate combined the two higher education systems in Wisconsin under a single Board of Regents, creating a system with 13 universities, 14 freshman-sophomore centers (as University of Wisconsin Colleges), and a statewide extension with offices in all 72 counties. Each university is named "University of Wisconsin–" followed by the location or name. Each two-year college was named "University of Wisconsin–" followed by the city and/or county in which it is located. The move, intended to enhance the University of Wisconsin's prestige and influence, was resisted by some parties concerned with a possible brand dilution.<ref name="History" />

The Board of the University of Wisconsin System includes 18 members, 16 of whom are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. Of these 16 members, 14 serve staggered, seven-year terms. The remaining two are two-year positions filled by current University of Wisconsin System students. The two ex officio members are the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the president or a designee of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.<ref name="History" />

2018 restructuring

In October 2017, University of Wisconsin System president Ray Cross publicly proposed restructuring the University of Wisconsin System to bring the UW Colleges under the control of their nearest comprehensive university, creating regional two-year campuses within the system.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The proposal also included splitting UW–Extension between University of Wisconsin–Madison and University of Wisconsin System administration. University of Wisconsin Colleges Online, which was operating as an additional campus of University of Wisconsin Colleges, would be relocated under University of Wisconsin System administration. Cross announced this proposal without consulting shared governance groups or administrators. System administration argued that the merger would save money.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> Critics said the merger was being rushed without input from the campuses and that the system was buckling to political pressure from the state.<ref name=":1" /> The proposal was approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in their November 2017 meeting, and implementation began July 1, 2018.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2023–present: Branch campus closures

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 2023, University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland shut down, marking the first time a University of Wisconsin campus has closed since University of Wisconsin–Medford in 1980. Following this closure, four other University of Wisconsin branch campuses have closed. Additionally, one campus has gone entirely online and another has stopped using several of its campus buildings. Many have expressed concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea following these closures.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Campuses

Main campuses

Campus	Founded	Enrollment Template:Small<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Endowment Template:Small Template:Small<ref>As of June 30, 2021. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Athletic affiliation	Athletic nickname (Conference)	U.S. News Rank (Midwest 2024)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Carnegie Classification<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
File:UW-Bascom Hall 10-12-2011 066 (6937357125).jpg Madison	1848	50,335	Template:Nts	NCAA D-I (FBS)	Badgers (Big Ten)	35 (national)	R1: Doctoral Universities Very high research activity
File:UWM Mitchell hall.jpg Milwaukee	1956	22,703	Template:Nts	NCAA D-I (non-football)	Panthers (Horizon)	332 (national)	R1: Doctoral Universities Very high research activity
File:HarringtonUWOshkosh.jpg Oshkosh	1871	13,778	Template:Nts	NCAA D-III	Titans (WIAC)	332 (national)	Doctoral Universities Doctoral/Professional Universities
File:Image Old Main.jpeg Whitewater	1868	11,522		NCAA D-III	Warhawks (WIAC)	43	Master's Universities Larger Programs
File:Morris Hall University of Wisconsin-La Crosse near Wing Tech Center Building.jpg La Crosse	1909	10,275	Template:Nts	NCAA D-III	Eagles (WIAC)	249 (national)	Master's Universities Larger Programs
File:Eau Claire Wisconsin-UWEC looking northeast.jpg Eau Claire	1916	9,949	Template:Nts	NCAA D-III	Blugolds (WIAC)	21	Master's Universities Medium Programs
File:UW-Green Bay Campus Photo.jpg Green Bay	1965	10,338		NCAA D-I (non-football)	Phoenix (Horizon)	60	Master's Universities Medium Programs
File:UWSP Old Main.jpg Stevens Point	1894	8,184		NCAA D-III	Pointers (WIAC)	47	Master's Universities Medium Programs
File:UW Stout MSC.JPG Stout	1891	6,938	Template:Nts	NCAA D-III	Blue Devils (WIAC)	67	Master's Universities Larger Programs
File:Ullsvik Hall.jpg Platteville	1866	6,700		NCAA D-III	Pioneers (WIAC)	67	Master's Universities Larger Programs
File:2009-0620-UW-RiverFalls-SouthHall.jpg River Falls	1874	5,058		NCAA D-III	Falcons (WIAC)	60	Master's Universities Medium Programs
File:University of Wisconsin-Parkside Student Center.jpg Parkside Template:Small	1968	4,030	Template:Nts	NCAA D-II	Rangers (GLIAC)	103	Master's Universities Medium Programs
File:Swenson Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.jpg Superior	1893	2,721		NCAA D-III	Yellowjackets (UMAC)	124	Master's Universities Medium Programs

Branch campuses

Current

Template:Color box Set to close

Campus	Parent campus	Founded	Enrollment Template:Small<ref name=Enrollment />	Athletic nickname (Conference)
File:WIMap-doton-Rice Lake.png Barron County Template:Small	Eau Claire	1966	455	Blugolds
File:UWFoxValleyMall.jpg Fox Cities Template:Small	Oshkosh	1933	605	Cyclones (WCC)
File:UniversityOfWisconsinManitowocEntranceJuly2007.jpg Manitowoc	Green Bay	1933	373	Blue Devils
File:UWGB MarinetteMainBuilding.jpg Marinette	Green Bay	1935	242	Buccaneers
File:UW Sheboygan Main Entrance December 2011.jpg Sheboygan	Green Bay	1933	440	Wombats
File:University of Wisconsin–Waukesha.jpg Waukesha	Milwaukee	1966	790	Panthers
File:UW Baraboo 04 (Science Building).jpg Baraboo Sauk County	Platteville	1968	179	Fighting Spirits (WCC)
File:2009-0620-WI016-UWmarathon.jpg Wausau	Stevens Point	1933	404	Huskies (WCC)
File:UW-Stevens Point at Marshfield.jpg Marshfield	Stevens Point	1963	344	Marauders (WCC)
File:WIMap-doton-Janesville.png Rock County Template:Small	Whitewater	1966	593	Rattlers

Former

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Campus	Parent campus	Founded	Closed	Final enrollment	Nickname
File:MelvillHall.jpg Richland Template:Small	Platteville	1967	2023	60	Roadrunners
File:UW Fond du Lac Main Entrance.JPG Fond du Lac	Oshkosh	1968	2024	258	Falcons (WCC)
File:WIMap-doton-West Bend.png Washington County Template:Small	Milwaukee	1968	2024		Wildcats
File:WIMap-doton-Medford.png Medford	Stevens Point	1968	1980	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	(WCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Branding

Since the 1971 union of the universities and colleges under the University of Wisconsin System name, there has been a controversy over the arrangement. The name "University of Wisconsin" is often used to refer to the Madison campus, which has made it difficult for other institutions to make names for themselves. Conversely, many who are connected to UW–Madison have claimed that having so many institutions share the "University of Wisconsin" title has caused a form of brand dilution.<ref>Klotsche, J. Martin. The University of Wisconsin–-Milwaukee: An Urban University, pp. 1–40.</ref>

In 2006 and 2009, the students at UW–Milwaukee (UWM) voted on whether the school should change its name to something that did not carry the UW name (such as Wisconsin State University or University of Milwaukee). In both cases, a plurality of students voted to retain the name "University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee," but over 50% were in favor of a different name.<ref>Jones, Meg. Referendum "UWM students rebuff change: New names such as Wisconsin State University fail in referendum" Template:Webarchive, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 30, 2006.</ref> Since 2004, the UWM athletic department has simply referred to the school's athletic teams as the Milwaukee Panthers. UW–Green Bay has since done the same and are officially the Green Bay Phoenix. Most other UW system programs are commonly referred to by just the city name as they all play in the same conference, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC), making the "UW" redundant. The exceptions are UW–Parkside, who plays in the Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and is most often referred to as simply "Parkside", and UW-Superior, who plays most athletics in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, who go by UWS or Wisconsin–Superior.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In October 2023, system president Jay Rothman announced that the system would be rebranded as "Universities of Wisconsin", adopting a new logo and color scheme. The legal name of the system would remain unchanged.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of state and territorial universities in the United States
• University of Wisconsin Credit Union
• Wisconsin Technical College System

External links

• Template:Oweb