University of Wisconsin System

System of public universities in Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin System

Other names

| UW System[1]
Universities of Wisconsin[2][3]
Type| Public university system
Established| 1848; 177 years ago (1848)
Endowment| $738.5 million (2021)[4]
Budget| $7.53 billion (2023–24)[5]
President| Jay Rothman[6]
Students| 160,782[7]
Undergraduates| 135,263
Postgraduates| 25,519
Location|

Madison

Wisconsin

United States

Campus|

* 13 comprehensive universities
* 12 branch campuses

Colors|
(Navy blue and teal)
Website| wisconsin.edu

The University of Wisconsin System[8][a] is a state public university system 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.[7][9] The system is headquartered in the state capital of Madison.

The University of Wisconsin System comprises two major doctoral research universities, eleven other comprehensive universities, and eight two-year branch campuses. At its peak, the system had 14 two-year colleges, of which six have since been shut down. When comparing state and local funding per student given to two-year institutions, Wisconsin ranked 4th in the nation in 2023. This was in contrast to four-year institutions where Wisconsin ranked 42nd. [10]

## History

[edit]

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|

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.[11]

### Former University of Wisconsin

[edit]

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.[12] 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[12]

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.[12]

### 2018 restructuring

[edit]

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.[13] 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.[14] Critics said the merger was being rushed without input from the campuses and that the system was buckling to political pressure from the state.[14] The proposal was approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in their November 2017 meeting, and implementation began July 1, 2018.[14][13][15]

### 2023–present: Branch campus closures

[edit]

Main article: 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, 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.[16][17][18]

## Campuses

[edit]

### Main campuses

[edit]

100km
62miles

Superior

Parkside

River Falls

Platteville

Stout

Stevens Point

Green Bay

Eau Claire

La Crosse

Whitewater

Oshkosh

Milwaukee

Madison

Main campuses

Madison

Milwaukee

Oshkosh

Whitewater

La Crosse

Eau Claire

Green Bay

Stevens Point

Stout

Platteville

River Falls

Parkside

Superior

Campus  | Founded  | Enrollment
(Fall 2023)[19] | Endowment
(2021–22)
(millions)[20] | Athletic affiliation  | Athletic nickname
(Conference) | U.S. News Rank
(Midwest 2024)[21] | Carnegie Classification[22]

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Madison

| 1848  | 50,335  | $4,000.0 | NCAA D-I
(FBS) | Badgers
(Big Ten) | 35 (national)  | R1: Doctoral Universities
Very high research activity

Milwaukee

| 1956  | 22,703  | $262.0 | NCAA D-I
(non-football) | Panthers
(Horizon) | 332 (national)  | R1: Doctoral Universities
Very high research activity

Oshkosh

| 1871  | 13,778  | $22.0 | NCAA D-III | Titans
(WIAC) | 332 (national)  | Doctoral Universities
Doctoral/Professional Universities

Whitewater

| 1868  | 11,522  |  | NCAA D-III  | Warhawks
(WIAC) | 43  | Master's Universities
Larger Programs

La Crosse

| 1909  | 10,275  | $45.9 | NCAA D-III  | Eagles
(WIAC) | 249 (national)  | Master's Universities
Larger Programs

Eau Claire

| 1916  | 9,949  | $80.5 | NCAA D-III  | Blugolds
(WIAC) | 21  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Green Bay

| 1965  | 10,338  |  | NCAA D-I
(non-football) | Phoenix
(Horizon) | 60  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Stevens Point

| 1894  | 8,184  |  | NCAA D-III  | Pointers
(WIAC) | 47  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Stout

| 1891  | 6,938  | $64.5 | NCAA D-III  | Blue Devils
(WIAC) | 67  | Master's Universities
Larger Programs

Platteville

| 1866  | 6,700  |  | NCAA D-III  | Pioneers
(WIAC) | 67  | Master's Universities
Larger Programs

River Falls

| 1874  | 5,058  |  | NCAA D-III  | Falcons
(WIAC) | 60  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Parkside
(Kenosha)

| 1968  | 4,030  | $5.6 | NCAA D-II | Rangers
(GLIAC) | 103  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

Superior

| 1893  | 2,721  |  | NCAA D-III  | Yellowjackets
(UMAC) | 124  | Master's Universities
Medium Programs

### Branch campuses

[edit]

100km
62miles

Medford

Rock County

Marshfield

Wausau

Richland

Baraboo Sauk County

Waukesha

Washington County

Sheboygan

Marinette

Manitowoc

Fox Cities

Fond du Lac

Barron County

Branch campuses

* Former campus
* Online campus

Eau Claire – Barron County

Oshkosh, Fond du Lac Campus

Oshkosh, Fox Cities Campus

Green Bay, Manitowoc Campus

Green Bay, Marinette Campus

Green Bay, Sheboygan Campus

Milwaukee at Washington County

Milwaukee at Waukesha

Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

Platteville Richland

Stevens Point at Wausau

Stevens Point at Marshfield

Whitewater at Rock County

UW–Medford

#### Current

[edit]

Campus  | Parent
campus  | Founded  | Enrollment
(Fall 2022)[7] | Athletic nickname
(Conference)

|
|
|
|

Barron County
(Rice Lake)

| Eau Claire | 1966  | 455  | Blugolds

Manitowoc

| Green Bay | 1933  | 373  | Blue Devils

Sheboygan

| Green Bay | 1933  | 440  | Wombats

Baraboo Sauk County

| Platteville | 1968  | 179  | Fighting Spirits
(WCC)

Wausau

| Stevens Point | 1933  | 404  | Huskies
(WCC)

Marshfield

| Stevens Point | 1963  | 344  | Marauders
(WCC)

Rock County
(Janesville)

| Whitewater | 1966  | 593  | Rattlers

#### Former

[edit]

Main article: Closures of the University of Wisconsin branch campuses

Campus  | Parent
campus  | Founded  | Closed  | Final
enrollment  | Nickname

|
|
|
|
|

Fox Cities
(Menasha)

| Oshkosh | 1933  | 2025  |  | Cyclones
(WCC)

Marinette

| Green Bay | 1935  | 2025  |  | Buccaneers

Waukesha

| Milwaukee | 1966  | 2025  |  | Panthers

Richland
(Richland Center)

| Platteville | 1967  | 2023  | 60  | Roadrunners

Fond du Lac

| Oshkosh | 1968  | 2024  | 258  | Falcons
(WCC)

Washington County
(West Bend)

| Milwaukee | 1968  | 2024  |  | Wildcats

Medford

| Stevens Point | 1968  | 1980  | 90[23] | (WCC)[24]

## Branding

[edit]

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.[25]

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.[26] 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.[27]

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.[28]

## See also

[edit]

* List of state and territorial universities in the United States
* University of Wisconsin Credit Union
* Wisconsin Technical College System

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Since 2023, the system has marketed itself as "Universities of Wisconsin", while leaving its legal name as University of Wisconsin System.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Goldbeck, Madison; Carter, Dylan Hunter; Mackar, Mariam (December 28, 2023). "UW-La Crosse chancellor fired over pornography scandal considering litigation". WTMJ-TV. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
2. ^ Prouty, Aly (October 10, 2023). "UW System gets a rebrand as the Universities of Wisconsin". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
3. ^ "Rothman unveils new Universities of Wisconsin identity to represent 13 universities" (Press release). University of Wisconsin System. October 10, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2025. "the University of Wisconsin System will remain the official legal name of the state's public universities."
4. ^ As of June 30, 2021. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2021 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY20 to FY21 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
5. ^ Kosirowski, Ken (August 24, 2023). "UW System Board of Regents approves operating budget amid some campus deficits". WKBT-TV. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
6. ^ "UW System President". UW System. May 31, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
7. ^ a b c "Enrollments". University of Wisconsin System. June 30, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
8. ^ "2009-11 285 UWS Executive Budget: University of Wisconsin System" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Department of Administration. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
9. ^ "Faculty & Staff". Universities of Wisconsin. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
10. ^ "State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) Report". State Higher Education Finance. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
11. ^ John Stott (January 1, 2003). "University of Wisconsin System Overview" (PDF). Retrieved March 30, 2025.
12. ^ a b c History and Organization of the University of Wisconsin System Archived 2007-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2007-02-18.
13. ^ a b "Wisconsin merger plan stokes controversy, but some see upside". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
14. ^ a b c "UW System will propose merging two- and four-year campuses to cut costs, raise graduation numbers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
15. ^ "UW Regents Approve Merging System Campuses". Wisconsin Public Radio. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
16. ^ Kremer, Rich (April 25, 2024). "UW to vacate Richland campus 1 year after college classes ended". WPR. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
17. ^ Kremer, Rich (November 22, 2022). "In-person classes ended at UW-Platteville Richland campus July 1". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
18. ^ "UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge". AP News. June 13, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
19. ^ "Enrollments". Education Reports & Statistics. June 30, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
20. ^ As of June 30, 2021. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY21 to FY22". National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund Institute. 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
21. ^ "Best Regional Universities Midwest Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
22. ^ "Wisconsin Institutions". Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
23. ^ Meyerhofer, Kelly (February 28, 2020). "18 months into UW merger, small, rural campuses still struggling to find students". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
24. ^ "Medford Center, University of Wisconsin Catalog 1972 - 1974" (PDF).
25. ^ Klotsche, J. Martin. The University of Wisconsin–-Milwaukee: An Urban University, pp. 1–40.
26. ^ Jones, Meg. Referendum "UWM students rebuff change: New names such as Wisconsin State University fail in referendum" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 30, 2006.
27. ^ "University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics - Official Athletics Website". University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics.
28. ^ Wethal, Kimberly (October 11, 2023). "'UW System' no more; Wisconsin is rebranding its collection of 13 universities". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved October 17, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

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English Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Portal:University of Wisconsin

* Official website

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University of Wisconsin System

Universities|

* Eau Claire
* Green Bay
* La Crosse
* Madison
* Milwaukee
* Oshkosh
* Parkside
* Platteville
* River Falls
* Stevens Point
* Stout
* Superior
* Whitewater

Branch campuses|

* Baraboo/Sauk County
* Barron County
* Manitowoc
* Marinette
* Marshfield
* Rock County
* Sheboygan
* Wausau

Closed campuses|

* Richland
* Washington County
* Fond du Lac
* Waukesha
* Fox Cities

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