Editing University of Wisconsin System (section)

== History ==
{{Refimprove-section|date=October 2023}}
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>{{Cite web |date=2003-01-01 |title=University of Wisconsin System Overview |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lfb/informational_papers/january_2003/0036_university_of_wisconsin_system_overview_informational_paper_36.pdf |access-date=2025-03-30 |author=John Stott |language=en}}</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, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] center was upgraded to a full-fledged four-year institution as the [[University of Wisconsin–Green Bay]], while the [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]] and [[Racine, Wisconsin|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, Wisconsin|Somers]], together with 10 freshman-sophomore centers and the statewide [[University of Wisconsin–Extension]].<ref name="History">[http://www.wisconsin.edu/about/history.htm History and Organization of the University of Wisconsin System] {{webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070202182105/http://www.wisconsin.edu/about/history.htm |date=2007-02-02 }}. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.</ref> The total enrollment of the University of Wisconsin system at that time was 69,554. The [[Governing boards of colleges and universities in the United States|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 [[Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin|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, Wisconsin|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, Wisconsin|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 ([[University of Wisconsin–Platteville|Platteville]], [[University of Wisconsin–Whitewater|Whitewater]], [[University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh|Oshkosh]], [[University of Wisconsin–River Falls|River Falls]], [[University of Wisconsin–Stout|Stout]] (in Menomonie), [[University of Wisconsin–Superior|Superior]], [[University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point|Stevens Point]], [[University of Wisconsin–La Crosse|La Crosse]], and [[University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire|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">{{cite web |title=Wisconsin merger plan stokes controversy, but some see upside |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/10/13/wisconsin-merger-plan-stokes-controversy-some-see-upside |access-date=2017-10-21 |website=Inside Higher Ed}}</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">{{Cite news|url= http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2017/10/10/uw-system-propose-merging-two-and-four-year-campuses-cut-costs-raise-graduation-numbers/751622001/|title=UW System will propose merging two- and four-year campuses to cut costs, raise graduation numbers|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=2017-10-21|language=en}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpr.org/uw-regents-approve-merging-system-campuses|title=UW Regents Approve Merging System Campuses|website=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]|date=9 November 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-11-19}}</ref>

=== 2023–present: Branch campus closures ===
{{Main|Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses}}
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, [[Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses|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>{{Cite web |last=Kremer |first=Rich |date=2024-04-25 |title=UW to vacate Richland campus 1 year after college classes ended |url=https://www.wpr.org/news/uw-vacate-richland-campus-college-classes-ended |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=WPR |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kremer |first1=Rich |date=November 22, 2022 |title=In-person classes ended at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1 |url=https://www.wpr.org/uw-platteville-richland-campus-july-1-close-in-person |access-date=November 22, 2022 |work=[[Wisconsin Public Radio]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge |url=https://apnews.com/article/uw-wisconsin-oshkosh-closing-81c25ab9b12226e45758095c20a9897d |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>