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Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses

University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland campus, which was closed in 2023

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

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

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]

In 1980, UW–Medford was closed citing enrollment declines.[6]

2018 restructuring

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.[7][8][9] This was intended to prevent the closure of local campuses.[10]

Closures

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.[11] 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.[12][13]

On October 17, 2023 Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman announced that University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Washington County and University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus would be closed at the end of June 2024.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16][17]

Changes to existing campuses

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.[18]

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus will downsize its operations to a single building, giving the other buildings back to the county for other uses.[19]

Reactions and aftermath

"Closure", a 2024 documentary by Wisconsin filmmaker Ken Brosky, examines the closing of the former UW colleges.[20][21]

Communities that saw their local UW branch campus closed are eligible to receive $2 million for redevelopment.[22][23]

The closing of local UW campuses both add another barrier to education for rural students and take away economic activity from rural areas.[24][25]

Many have expressed concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea following the closures of these campuses.[26]

References

  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 (2024-06-07). "UW System internal briefing recommends downsizing remaining branch campuses". Isthmus | Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  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 (2024-01-24). "UW campus closures leave 'bitter' feelings about lost opportunities". The Cap Times. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  7. ^ "UW Regents Approve Merging System Campuses". Wisconsin Public Radio. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  8. ^ Herzog, Karen. "UW campus mergers: 5 things you need to know about the system's transformation". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  9. ^ Seltzer, Rick. "Whittling Down Wisconsin's Colleges". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  10. ^ "Consolidating the University of Wisconsin Colleges". Ithaka S+R. doi:10.18665/sr.315853. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  11. ^ Kremer, Rich (2022-11-22). "In-person classes ending at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1". WPR. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  12. ^ Redman, Henry (2022-12-13). "Community leaders compare decision to kill UW Richland to medieval blood-letting • Wisconsin Examiner". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  13. ^ "1 year after Richland: How a rural Wisconsin community reckons with losing their university". 1 year after Richland: How a rural Wisconsin community reckons with losing their university - The Daily Cardinal. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  14. ^ "University of Wisconsin leaders to close 2 more branch campuses due to declining enrollment". AP News. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  15. ^ Casey, Evan (2024-03-11). "UW-Milwaukee announces closure of Waukesha campus in 2025, citing declining enrollment". WPR. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  16. ^ "UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge". AP News. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  17. ^ Hess, Corrinne; Schulz, Joe (2024-06-13). "UW-Oshkosh Fox Cities latest branch campus to close". WPR. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  18. ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly (January 19, 2024). "UW-Green Bay Marinette ending in-person classes after spring semester". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  19. ^ Gittings, John (2024-08-16). "UW Baraboo campus to downsize from 5 buildings to 1 in effort to stay open". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  20. ^ Luhrssen, David (2024-09-10). "Documentary Filmmaker Explores Threats to the UW System in 'Closure'". Shepherd Express. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  21. ^ "New Documentary Explores Closures at Two-Year UW Campuses". civicmedia.us. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  22. ^ "Communities that lose UW campuses could be given $2M to redevelop the property". WPR. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  23. ^ Staff, Brian Huber-Conley Media (2024-04-02). "Evers signs bill offering grants to counties where UW branches close". Greater Milwaukee Today. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  24. ^ Heimsch, Maddie (2024-09-13). "UW branch campus closures take opportunities from rural students". WMSN. Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  25. ^ Wethal, Kimberly (2024-06-06). "In Wisconsin, college dreams grow dimmer for rural students". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  26. ^ Kremer, Rich (2024-04-25). "UW to vacate Richland campus 1 year after college classes ended". WPR. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closures_of_the_University_of_Wisconsin_branch_campuses