University of Wisconsin System

This article is about the system of public universities in Wisconsin. For other uses, see University of Wisconsin (disambiguation).
University of Wisconsin System
Type Public university system
Established 1848 (1848)
President Raymond W. Cross
Students 182,000
Location Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Campus 13 universities
13 two-year colleges
UW–Extension
Colors Red and gray[1]
         
Website www.wisconsin.edu

The University of Wisconsin System is a university system of public universities in the state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher education systems in the country, enrolling more than 182,000 students each year and employing more than 32,000 faculty and staff statewide.[2] The University of Wisconsin System comprises two doctoral research universities, eleven comprehensive universities, thirteen freshman-sophomore colleges, and the statewide University of Wisconsin–Extension.

History

The present-day University of Wisconsin System was created on October 11, 1971, by Chapter 100, Laws of 1971, which combined the former Chapter 36 (former University of Wisconsin) and Chapter 37 (former Wisconsin State Universities) to create a new Chapter 36 (University of Wisconsin System) of the Wisconsin Statutes.[3]

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 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 consisted of both 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, forerunner of the present-day University of Wisconsin Colleges. 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 consisted of campuses at Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay and Kenosha/Somers, along with 10 freshman-sophomore centers and the statewide University of Wisconsin Extension.[3] 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 consisted of 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.

In 1971, Wisconsin lawmakers passed a law to merge the University of Wisconsin system with the Wisconsin State Universities system to create today's University of Wisconsin System. These two higher education systems were brought under a single board of regents.

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 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. The state colleges were all granted university status as "Wisconsin State Universities" in 1964 (with the exception of Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee, which became 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, Superior, Stevens Point, La Crosse, 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.

The University of Wisconsin System

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 (now 13) freshman-sophomore centers (now 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 is 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.[3]

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-term position 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.[3]

Research universities

University of Wisconsin–Madison

There are two research universities in the University of Wisconsin System that grant doctoral degrees: the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.

UW–Madison

Founded in 1848, University of Wisconsin–Madison is the largest university in the state, and the flagship of the UW System, with a total enrollment of over 41,000 students, of whom approximately 30,000 are undergraduates.[4]

UW–Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, which traces its history back to 1885, is the second largest university in Wisconsin. With an enrollment of over 30,000 students, it enrolls more Wisconsin-born students than any other institution in the UW-system.

Comprehensive universities

There are eleven comprehensive universities in the University of Wisconsin System that grant baccalaureate and master's degrees:

The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse began offering a doctorate in 2007; the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire did so starting in 2010, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh did so starting in 2012, as well as the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.

UW Colleges & UW–Extension

University of Wisconsin Colleges is an institution of the University of Wisconsin System that grants associate degrees at 13 two-year campuses located throughout the state. Many of the credits earned at the UW Colleges can be transferred to other colleges and universities. The UW Colleges also grant associate degrees through an online program. The UW–Extension operates extension courses statewide through offices in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties.

UW Colleges and UW-Extension have shared a common administration since 2005, though they have separate provosts and identities.

Controversy

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.[5]

In 2006 and 2009 the students at the Milwaukee campus voted on whether the school should change its name to something that didn't 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.[6] However, since 2004 the UWM athletic department has dropped the UW prefix and simply refers 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. Other UW system programs are commonly referred to by just the city name as they all play in the same conference, the WIAC, making the 'UW' redundant. The exception is UW-Parkside, who plays in the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference and is commonly simply called "Parkside".

Notable alumni

Notable alumni from their respective campus:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brand Colors | Digital Communication". Wisconsin.edu. 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  2. ↑ About UW System. Retrieved on 2011-11-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 History and Organization of the University of Wisconsin System. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
  4. ↑ The University of Wisconsin System Student Statistics, Fall 2007-08 Headcount Enrollment by Level and Resident Status
  5. ↑ J. Martin Klotsche, The University of Wisconsin–-Milwaukee: An Urban University, pp. 1-40
  6. ↑ Meg Jones. referendum "UWM students rebuff change: New names such as Wisconsin State University fail in referendum", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 30, 2006.

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