University of Wisconsin System

Last updated
Universities of Wisconsin
Universities of Wisconsin seal.svg
Other names
UW System [1]
University of Wisconsin System (legal name) [2]
Former name
University of Wisconsin System (1974–2023)
Type Public university system
Established1848;176 years ago (1848)
Endowment $738.5 million (2021) [3]
Budget$7.53 billion (2023–24) [4]
President Jay Rothman [5]
Students160,782 [6]
Undergraduates 135,263
Postgraduates 25,519
Location, ,
United States
Campus
  • 13 comprehensive universities
  • 12 branch campuses
Colors Teal and black [7]     
Website www.wisconsin.edu
Universities of Wisconsin wordmark.svg

The Universities of Wisconsin (officially the University of Wisconsin System and sometimes referred to as the UW System) is a university system of public universities 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. [6] [8] The system is headquartered in the state capital of Madison.

Contents

The UW System comprises two major doctoral research universities, eleven other comprehensive universities, and twelve two-year branch campuses.

History

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.

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. [9] 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. [9]

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 UW 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. [9]

2018 restructuring

In October 2017, UW 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. [10] The proposal also included splitting UW-Extension between UW-Madison and UW System administration. UW Colleges Online, which was operating as an additional campus of UW Colleges, would be relocated under UW System administration. Cross announced this proposal without consulting shared governance groups or administrators. System administration argued that the merger would save money. [11] Critics said the merger was being rushed without input from the campuses and that the system was buckling to political pressure from the state. [11] The proposal was approved by the UW Board of Regents in their November 2017 meeting, and implementation began July 1, 2018. [11] [10] [12]

Campuses

Main campuses

University of Wisconsin System
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100km
62miles
Superior
13
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Parkside
12
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River Falls
11
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Platteville
10
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Stout
9
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Stevens Point
8
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Green Bay
7
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Eau Claire
6
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La Crosse
5
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Whitewater
4
Invisible Square.svg
CampusFoundedEnrollment
(Fall 2022) [6]
Endowment
(2021–22)
(millions) [13]
Athletic affiliationAthletic nickname
(Conference)
U.S. News Rank
(Midwest 2024) [14]
Carnegie Classification [15]
UW-Bascom Hall 10-12-2011 066 (6937357125).jpg

Madison

184849,587$4,000.0 NCAA D-I
(FBS)
Badgers
(Big Ten)
35 (national) R1: Doctoral Universities
Very high research activity
UWM Mitchell hall.jpg

Milwaukee

195621,744$262.0NCAA D-I
(non-football)
Panthers
(Horizon)
332 (national)R1: Doctoral Universities
Very high research activity
HarringtonUWOshkosh.jpg

Oshkosh

187112,851$22.0NCAA D-III Titans
(WIAC)
332 (national)Doctoral Universities
Doctoral/Professional Universities
Image Old Main.jpeg

Whitewater

186810,494NCAA D-III Warhawks
(WIAC)
43Master's Universities
Larger Programs
Morris Hall University of Wisconsin-La Crosse near Wing Tech Center Building.jpg

La Crosse

190910,257$45.9NCAA D-III Eagles
(WIAC)
249 (national)Master's Universities
Larger Programs
Eau Claire Wisconsin-UWEC looking northeast.jpg

Eau Claire

191610,064$80.5NCAA D-III Blugolds
(WIAC)
21Master's Universities
Medium Programs
UW-Green Bay Campus Photo.jpg

Green Bay

19658,553NCAA D-I
(non-football)
Phoenix
(Horizon)
60Master's Universities
Medium Programs
UWSP Old Main.jpg

Stevens Point

18947,263NCAA D-III Pointers
(WIAC)
47Master's Universities
Medium Programs
UW Stout MSC.JPG

Stout

18917,226$64.5NCAA D-III Blue Devils
(WIAC)
67Master's Universities
Larger Programs
Ullsvik Hall.jpg

Platteville

18666,246NCAA D-III Pioneers
(WIAC)
67Master's Universities
Larger Programs
2009-0620-UW-RiverFalls-SouthHall.jpg

River Falls

18745,212NCAA D-III Falcons
(WIAC)
60Master's Universities
Medium Programs
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Student Center.jpg

Parkside
(Kenosha)

19683,966$5.6NCAA D-II Rangers
(GLIAC)
103Master's Universities
Medium Programs
Swenson Hall at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.jpg

Superior

18932,703NCAA D-III Yellowjackets
(UMAC)
124Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Branch campuses

University of Wisconsin System
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100km
62miles
Rock County
11
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Marshfield
10
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Wausau
9
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Baraboo Sauk County
8
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Waukesha
7
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Washington County
6
Invisible Square.svg
Sheboygan
5
Invisible Square.svg
Marinette
4
Invisible Square.svg
Manitowoc
3
Invisible Square.svg
Fox Cities
2
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Barron County
1
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Branch campuses
  • Red pog.svg Set to close
  • Gray pog.svg Former campus

1
Eau Claire – Barron County
2
Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus
3
Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus
4
Green Bay, Marinette Campus
5
Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus
6
Milwaukee at Washington County
7
Milwaukee at Waukesha
8
Platteville Baraboo Sauk County
9
Stevens Point at Wausau
10
Stevens Point at Marshfield
11
Whitewater at Rock County

Current

  Set to close

CampusParent
campus
FoundedEnrollment
(Fall 2022) [6]
Athletic nickname
(Conference)
WIMap-doton-Rice Lake.png

Barron County
(Rice Lake)

Eau Claire 1966455Blugolds
UWFoxValleyMall.jpg

Fox Cities
(Menasha)

Oshkosh 1933605Cyclones
(WCC)
UniversityOfWisconsinManitowocEntranceJuly2007.jpg

Manitowoc

Green Bay 1933373Blue Devils
UWGB MarinetteMainBuilding.jpg

Marinette

Green Bay 1935242Buccaneers
UW Sheboygan Main Entrance December 2011.jpg

Sheboygan

Green Bay 1933440Wombats
WIMap-doton-West Bend.png

Washington County
(West Bend)

Milwaukee 1968332Wildcats
University of Wisconsin-Waukesha.jpg

Waukesha

Milwaukee 1966790Panthers
UW Baraboo 04 (Science Building).jpg

Baraboo Sauk County

Platteville 1968179Fighting Spirits
(WCC)
2009-0620-WI016-UWmarathon.jpg

Wausau

Stevens Point 1933404Huskies
(WCC)
UW-Stevens Point at Marshfield.jpg

Marshfield

Stevens Point 1963344Marauders
(WCC)
WIMap-doton-Janesville.png

Rock County
(Janesville)

Whitewater 1966593Rattlers

Former

CampusParent
campus
FoundedClosedFinal
enrollment
Nickname
MelvillHall.jpg

Richland
(Richland Center)

Platteville 1967202360Roadrunners
UW Fond du Lac Main Entrance.JPG

Fond du Lac

Oshkosh 19682024258Falcons
(WCC)

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. [16]

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. [17] 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. [18]

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. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference</span> NCAA Division III athletic conference

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. In women's gymnastics, it competes alongside Division I and II members, as the NCAA sponsors a single championship event open to members of all NCAA divisions. As the name implies, member teams are located in the state of Wisconsin, although there are three associate members from Minnesota and one from Illinois. All full members are part of the University of Wisconsin System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Parkside</span> Public university in Kenosha, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Parkside is a public university in Somers, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has 4,644 students, 161 full-time faculty, and 89 lecturers and part-time faculty. The university offers 33 undergraduate majors and 11 master's degrees in 22 academic departments. UW–Parkside is one of two universities in the UW System not named for the city in which it is located, the other being UW–Stout. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Superior</span> Public university in Superior, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public liberal arts university in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants associate, bachelor's, master's and specialist's degrees. The university enrolls 2,559 undergraduates and 364 graduate students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee</span> Public university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee is a public urban research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest university in the Milwaukee metropolitan area and a member of the University of Wisconsin System. It is also one of the two doctoral degree-granting research universities and the second largest university in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin State University Conference (WSUC) was an American intercollegiate college athletic conference that was formed in July 1913 as the Wisconsin State Normal Conference. All member institutions were located in the State of Wisconsin. The WSUC sponsored competitions and championships in basketball, football, and other sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Platteville</span> Public university in Platteville, Wisconsin, US

University of Wisconsin–Platteville is a public university in Platteville, Wisconsin. Part of the University of Wisconsin System, it offers bachelor's and master's degrees. The university has three colleges that serve over 8,000 students on-campus and an additional 3,000 students through its five distance education programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point</span> Public university in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is a public university in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Established in 1894, it is part of the University of Wisconsin System. UW-Stevens Point grants associate, baccalaureate, and master's degrees, as well as doctoral degrees in audiology, educational sustainability, and physical therapy. The 406-acre (164 ha) main campus includes the 280-acre (113 ha) Schmeeckle Reserve, 15 academic buildings, and 13 residence halls. UWSP also has two branch campuses located in Wausau and Marshfield.

The University of Wisconsin Colleges was a unit of the University of Wisconsin System composed of 13 local two-year campuses and one online campus. These campuses offered a liberal arts, transfer-parallel curriculum. The unit was established in 1971 and was dissolved on June 30, 2018.

The University of Wisconsin–Extension (UW–Extension) was the outreach arm of the University of Wisconsin System. It provided statewide access to university system's resources and research to Wisconsin residents of all ages. Fulfilling the promise of the Wisconsin Idea, UW–Extension extended the boundaries of the university to the boundaries of the state through its four divisions of Cooperative Extension, Continuing and Online Education, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Public Broadcasting. It was created as a division of UW–Madison in 1907, and took its new form in 1965 as an autonomous unit. The abolition of UW-Extension as a separate entity was begun July 1, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland</span> Two-year college in Richland Center, Wisconsin, US, 1967-2023

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland was a two-year campus of the University of Wisconsin System located in Richland Center, Wisconsin, United States. The college was a satellite campus of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. The college's last semester ended in May of 2023.

Wisconsin State College of Milwaukee was a predecessor institution of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

The history of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee dates back to 1885, when the Milwaukee State Normal School opened for classes at 18th and Wells in downtown Milwaukee.

University of Wisconsin may refer to:

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee School of Education is an academic division of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. It offers five undergraduate major, five master's, and 12 doctoral programs. It also offers the only four-year interpreter training degree in Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County</span> Public college in Baraboo, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County is a branch campus of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, located in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Founded in 1968, it was known as University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County and was a part of the University of Wisconsin Colleges. It joined UW-Platteville in 2018 as a branch campus following dissolution of the UW-Colleges system. The University offers 5 associate degrees and 1 bachelor's degree entirely on campus, while students have the option of changing campuses to Platteville main or online for additional degree programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Marshfield</span> Satellite campus of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, USA

The University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point at Marshfield, is a satellite campus of the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point located in Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA.

College football at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee traces its lineage back to 1899. The original varsity program was terminated following the 1974 season. Club football was introduced at Milwaukee in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin–Madison</span> Public university in Madison, Wisconsin, US

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public land-grant research university in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. It was founded in 1848 when Wisconsin achieved statehood and is both the official state university of Wisconsin and the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. The 933-acre (378 ha) main campus is located on the shores of Lake Mendota and includes four National Historic Landmarks. The university also owns and operates the 1,200-acre (486 ha) University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the main campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wisconsin Sustainable Management</span> Advertorial summary of a degree on offer

The Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Management is an online interdisciplinary sustainable management bachelor's degree program. A joint effort between the University of Wisconsin–Extension and four of the University of Wisconsin campuses, UW–Parkside, UW–River Falls, UW–Stout, and UW–Superior, the program began enrolling students for the fall 2009 semester.

References

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  10. 1 2 "Wisconsin merger plan stokes controversy, but some see upside". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  11. 1 2 3 "UW System will propose merging two- and four-year campuses to cut costs, raise graduation numbers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Retrieved 2017-10-21.
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