Jump to content

Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland campus, which was closed in 2023
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
100km
62miles
Medford
14
Rock County
13
Whitewater at Rock County
Marshfield
12
Stevens Point at Marshfield
Wausau
11
Stevens Point at Wausau
Richland
10
Platteville Richland
Baraboo Sauk County
9
Platteville Baraboo Sauk County
Waukesha
8
Milwaukee at Waukesha
Washington County
7
Milwaukee at Washington County
Sheboygan
6
Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus
Marinette
5
Green Bay, Marinette Campus
Manitowoc
4
Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus
Fox Cities
3
Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus
Fond du Lac
2
Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus
Barron County
1
Eau Claire – Barron County
Branch campuses
  • Former campus
  • Online campus

1
Eau Claire – Barron County
2
Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus
3
Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus
4
Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus
5
Green Bay, Marinette Campus
6
Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus
7
Milwaukee at Washington County
8
Milwaukee at Waukesha
9
Platteville Baraboo Sauk County
10
Platteville Richland
11
Stevens Point at Wausau
12
Stevens Point at Marshfield
13
Whitewater at Rock County
14
UW–Medford

Following the closure of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland on July 1, 2023, multiple University of Wisconsin branch campuses have since closed or announced closures.[1] Before these recent closures, the only UW college campus to close was UW–Medford in 1980. As of March 2025, five campuses have closed or announced closure, one campus remains open without in-person classes, and seven campuses remain open across the state.

The UW System, in an internal briefing on September 19, 2023, recommended that its universities "reduce the physical footprints of the remaining eight campuses and negotiate contractual exits where appropriate." This briefing also recommends to move the branch campuses away from awarding associate degrees and that the Wisconsin Technical College System can award such degrees instead.[2]

Background

[edit]
Further information: University of Wisconsin Colleges

The University of Wisconsin Centers were established following the end of World War II. 14 freshman-sophomore campuses were opened across the state, mainly in rural areas far from a larger University of Wisconsin school.[3] They were intended to further fulfill the Wisconsin Idea and to bring higher education to more areas of the state.[4]

1980s and UW–Medford

[edit]

In 1980, a special task force was established to review the programs of several UW centers. It considered closing six centers–Baraboo, Barron, Manitowoc, Marinette, Medford, Richland–and assigning the rest to nearby UW campuses as branch campuses. Ultimately, the task force recommended closing just UW Medford and using its saved dollars to support the rest of the smaller UW centers.[5]

As a result, UW–Medford was closed citing enrollment declines.[6] It had a final enrollment of 90 students.[7]

2018 restructuring

[edit]

The UW Board of Regents voted on November 9, 2017, to proceed with a proposal that merged the physical University of Wisconsin Colleges campuses with seven of the four-year campuses of the University of Wisconsin System.[8][9][10] This was intended to prevent the closure of local campuses.[11]

At times it has been suggested by UW System leaders[12] to merge the 2-year UW campuses with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), most recently in 2021. None of these have gone through, with WTCS opposing and pointing out that the missions of the two systems are different.[13]

Enrollments at branch campuses have been declining as a whole since the restructuring. In fall 2018, total enrollments at branch campuses were 9,741. In fall 2023 they were 4,803.[14]

Closures

[edit]

UW–Platteville Richland campus

[edit]
Melville Hall at the Richland Campus

It was announced on November 22, 2022, that the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland branch campus would be closed on July 1, 2023, due to its declining enrollment, which was 64 in its final year.[15] Initially the plan was to transition the Richland campus to be fully online, but this idea was later scrapped and the campus was fully closed.[16][17] In 2023, the UWs stated "that no viable options existed,” for the UWs to maintain a presence on the Richland campus.[18]

Many point to the decision to remove Richland's recruiter, the move of international students to UW–Platteville, and the numerous budget cuts as the reasons for its closure.[19][20][21] Additionally, UW–Platteville charged both Richland and its Baraboo campus a fee for administrative services, a model not used by most other UW campuses. Many have reported little recruitment for the branch campuses in the community, including UW Platteville refusing money from a private foundation to pay for a dedicated Richland recruiter.[22]

UW–Oshkosh branch campuses

[edit]
Fond du Lac Campus
Fox Cities Campus

On October 17, 2023, Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman announced that the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus would be closed at the end of June 2024.[23] Its enrollment was 243 in its final year.[24]

The Fond du Lac campus is being reused for a variety of county-uses, including law enforcement training and hosting its human services department. Additionally, it has preserved its theatre, gymnasium, and classrooms and offers them available to rent for the community.[25][26][27]

On June 13, 2024, it was announced that the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus would close at the end of the spring 2025 semester.[28][29] UW Oshkosh's chancellor Andrew Leavitt announced this decision, citing lowering student participation rates and the changing state of higher education as the reasons for its closure, calling it a "a difficult but responsible decision."[30] In a projection made by UW Oshkosh, they projected enrollment would be less than 100 students by 2032.[31] Its enrollment in 2024 was 473.[32]

UW–Milwuakee branch campuses

[edit]
Waukesha campus

Also on October 17, 2023, it was announced that University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Washington County would be closed at the end of June 2024.[23] The UWM Washington County campus was called "not sustainable" by its chancellor Mark Mone in the announcement of the campus closure.[33][34] Its final enrollment was 285 students.[35]

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Waukesha branch campus announced on March 11, 2024, that it would close at the end of the spring 2025 semester.[36] The campus had an enrollment of 672 at the time of the announcement.[37][38] Following its closure, UW Milwaukee closed its College of General Studies, a college that supported the academic departments of its branch campuses. Its chancellor called the branch campus program "no longer cost effective."[39] It would lay off its 32 tenured faculty, made possible by a Scott Walker policy in 2016 that removed guarantees to tenured faculty.[40][41]

The Waukesha campus is scheduled for demolition and will become a housing development after it closes in June 2025.[42]

Changes to existing campuses

[edit]

UW–Green Bay, Marinette campus

[edit]
Marinette campus

The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Marinette Campus announced on January 19, 2024, that it was ending in-person classes at the end of June 2024.[43] Its final in-person enrollment was 213 students. UW–Green Bay chancellor Michael Alexander explained that the campus would be kept open, but with classes streamed in from other UW–Green Bay campuses. He also explained that some classes may continue to be taught in Marinette, but they would also be streamed to other campuses.[44]

Its theatre will still be maintained and UW–Green Bay will expand on its programming that it offers. UW–Green Bay explains they will still keep an educational presence on the campus, including both credit and non-credit offerings. Chancellor Alexander has stated that Marinette "will not close".[44][45] There has been some effort to hand over some unused buildings to the city for its services, but no decision has been made.[46]

UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus

[edit]
Baraboo Sauk County campus

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus will downsize its operations to a single building by fall 2025, giving the other buildings back to the county for other uses, it announced on August 15, 2024.[47] In early 2024, the county has agreed to cover all maintenance costs going forward, including approving $390,000 for 2025 and 2026 in additional funding.[48][49]

Reactions and aftermath

[edit]

"Closure", a 2024 documentary by Wisconsin filmmaker Ken Brosky, examines the closing of the former UW colleges.[50][51]

In a bill passed in 2024, local communities are eligible to receive $2 million for redevelopment of a closed UW campus.[52] This program is managed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, and per the law Richland is entitled to receive money first before other grants can be awarded.[53]

Critics argue that the closures reduce educational opportunities for rural students while taking away economic activity from rural areas.[54][55] Others have expressed concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea following the closures of these campuses.[56]

In 2024, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater chancellor Corey King announced the school's commitment to keeping its Rock County branch campus open despite nearby campus closures.[57]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Kremer, Rich (November 22, 2022). "In-person classes ended at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Beran, Liam (June 7, 2024). "UW System internal briefing recommends downsizing remaining branch campuses". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  3. ^ Bower, Jerry L. "5. The Center System is Created: The Sixties". The University of Wisconsin Colleges, 1919-1997.
  4. ^ "The University of Wisconsin Center System 1971-1972 Catalog" (PDF).
  5. ^ Bower, Jerry L. "8. The Scope of the University is Reduced: 1979-1982". The University of Wisconsin Colleges, 1919-1997.
  6. ^ Huynh, Kayla (January 24, 2024). "UW campus closures leave 'bitter' feelings about lost opportunities". The Cap Times. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  7. ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly (March 8, 2020). "Despite merger, some UW campuses struggle to find students". Lake Geneva News. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "UW Regents Approve Merging System Campuses". Wisconsin Public Radio. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  9. ^ Herzog, Karen. "UW campus mergers: 5 things you need to know about the system's transformation". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Seltzer, Rick. "Whittling Down Wisconsin's Colleges". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  11. ^ "Consolidating the University of Wisconsin Colleges". Ithaka S+R. doi:10.18665/sr.315853. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  12. ^ Kremer, Rich. "Merge UW System and Technical Colleges?". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  13. ^ "UW System looking at consolidation between UW branch campuses, technical colleges". kenoshanews.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Rothman, Jay (October 2023). "Branch Campus Briefing" (PDF).
  15. ^ Kremer, Rich (November 22, 2022). "In-person classes ending at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1". WPR. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "University of Wisconsin Platteville Richland Center to axe in-person classes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  17. ^ "UW System Closing Richland Campus, Just 60 Students Enrolled". Wisconsin Right Now. November 28, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  18. ^ "UW plans to vacate UW-Platteville's Richland campus". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  19. ^ Redman, Henry (December 13, 2022). "Community leaders compare decision to kill UW Richland to medieval blood-letting • Wisconsin Examiner". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  20. ^ "1 year after Richland: How a rural Wisconsin community reckons with losing their university". The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  21. ^ "Dale Schultz: UW campus in Richland Center was starved to death". Wisconsin State Journal. July 11, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  22. ^ "UW-Richland advocates blame UW-Platteville for enrollment problems". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 21, 2022. Archived from the original on December 21, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "University of Wisconsin leaders to close 2 more branch campuses due to declining enrollment". AP News. October 17, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  24. ^ Lemke, Daphne. "UWO Fond du Lac students making most of campus before closure: 'We're not just a number, we actually do stuff here.'". The Reporter. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  25. ^ "Former UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac campus a revenue generator". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. March 8, 2025. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  26. ^ "A 'new county complex': without students, former UWO-FDL campus will take on fresh uses this fall". WGBA NBC 26 in Green Bay. August 9, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  27. ^ Meyer, Brady (June 18, 2024). "Fond du Lac County executive lays out plans to revamp two-year UW campus after closure". WLUK. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  28. ^ "UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge". AP News. June 13, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  29. ^ Hess, Corrinne; Schulz, Joe (June 13, 2024). "UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities latest branch campus to close". WPR. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  30. ^ "UW Oshkosh announces closure of Fox Cities campus by end of June 2025". WGBA NBC 26 in Green Bay. June 13, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  31. ^ Hurley, Scott; Mertins, Andrew (June 13, 2024). "UW-Oshkosh closing Fox Cities campus, future of planetarium and museum in question". WLUK. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  32. ^ Cavalli, Samantha (June 13, 2024). "UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge". wbay.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  33. ^ "UWM announces plans to close Washington County campus, expand partnership with Moraine Park Technical College". UWM REPORT. October 17, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  34. ^ Spoto, Cara (October 17, 2023). "UWM-Washington County campus to close by June". BizTimes - Milwaukee Business News. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  35. ^ "Enrollments". Education Reports & Statistics. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  36. ^ Casey, Evan (March 11, 2024). "UW-Milwaukee announces closure of Waukesha campus in 2025, citing declining enrollment". WPR. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  37. ^ "Shock, dismay at UW-Waukesha after UW-System orders campus to close after spring 2025 semester". WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  38. ^ Huynh, Kayla (March 11, 2024). "Fifth UW campus will close as Waukesha branch faces 2025 shutdown". The Cap Times. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  39. ^ Staff, Grayson Sewell-Conley Media (August 24, 2024). "Board of Regents OKs faculty layoffs amid closure of 2-year UWM campuses". Greater Milwaukee Today. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  40. ^ "32 tenured UW-Milwaukee professors to be laid off". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  41. ^ Weinberg, Justin (August 26, 2024). "Wisconsin Campus Closure Approved; Philosophers & Others To Lose Jobs - Daily Nous". dailynous.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  42. ^ "UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha reimagined as residential development". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. December 11, 2024. Archived from the original on December 11, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  43. ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly (January 19, 2024). "UW-Green Bay Marinette ending in-person classes after spring semester". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  44. ^ a b Krumholz, Ben (January 19, 2024). "UWGB to suspend in-person classes at Marinette campus after spring semester". WLUK. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  45. ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly. "UW-Green Bay ended in-person classes at Marinette campus. What's happening there?". Green Bay Press-Gazette. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  46. ^ Mertins, Andrew (May 9, 2024). "As spring semester ends, Marinette leaders weighing future of UW-Green Bay branch campus". WLUK. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  47. ^ Gittings, John (August 16, 2024). "UW Baraboo campus to downsize from 5 buildings to 1 in effort to stay open". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  48. ^ Gittings, John (April 18, 2024). "Sauk County approves $390K over next two years for UW Baraboo campus". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  49. ^ Gittings, John (April 13, 2024). "Sauk County to consider covering UW-Baraboo deficit, explores sole ownership of campus". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved March 9, 2025.
  50. ^ Luhrssen, David (September 10, 2024). "Documentary Filmmaker Explores Threats to the UW System in 'Closure'". Shepherd Express. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  51. ^ "New Documentary Explores Closures at Two-Year UW Campuses". civicmedia.us. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  52. ^ "Communities that lose UW campuses could be given $2M to redevelop the property". WPR. January 10, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  53. ^ Huber-Conley, Brian (April 2, 2024). "Evers signs bill offering grants to counties where UW branches close". Greater Milwaukee Today. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  54. ^ Heimsch, Maddie (September 13, 2024). "UW branch campus closures take opportunities from rural students". WMSN. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  55. ^ Wethal, Kimberly (June 6, 2024). "In Wisconsin, college dreams grow dimmer for rural students". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  56. ^ Kremer, Rich (April 25, 2024). "UW to vacate Richland campus 1 year after college classes ended". WPR. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  57. ^ "UW-Whitewater at Rock County to remain open despite another UW campus closure". GazetteXtra. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2025.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://ergngevd.top/w/index.php?title=Closures_of_the_University_of_Wisconsin_branch_campuses&oldid=1279685947"