University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland campus, which was closed in 2023
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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. Before these 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 scope of the remaining branch campuses. This may include using fewer buildings or fully vacating the property. This briefing also recommends to move the branch campuses away from awarding associate degrees and that the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) can award such degrees instead.

In 2013, state funding for the UW System was cut alongside a tuition freeze. Five years later, the campuses would be merged with nearby larger UW university campuses in a bid to prevent closure of any campuses. Total enrollment at the branch campuses would drop 50% in the five years following the merger, to 4,803 in fall 2023.

Background

Further information: University of Wisconsin Colleges

Freshman-sophomore campuses were opened across the state following the end of World War II. The campuses were located in areas away from other state universities with enough high school graduates nearby.[1] Specifically, 600 high school graduates in a 20 mile radius was proposed as a bare minimum in an internal UW System committee. The committee also gave stronger requirements to proposed campuses closer than 30 miles to another state university. It was assumed these requirements would allow for each center to have at least 150-200 students, which was considered enough for a two year campus.[1]

All together, 14 campuses were opened across the state in areas under served by other state universities.[1][2] They were intended to further fulfill the Wisconsin Idea, which is a public philosophy that the university should reach all families in the state.[3]

In the mid-2010s the state budget for the university system was cut and a tuition freeze was also imposed.[4] As of 2023, the Universities of Wisconsin are one of the lowest funded public university systems, ranked 43rd nationally.[5][6]

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 merging the remaining centers with nearby larger UW schools as branch campuses. Ultimately, the task force recommended closing just UW Medford and using its saved money to support the rest of the smaller UW centers.[7] As a result, UW–Medford was closed, citing enrollment declines.[8] It had a final enrollment of 90 students.[9]

Tuition freeze and funding cuts

In 2013, Governor Scott Walker enacted a tuition freeze on the UW system. Alongside a tuition freeze, his administration enacted a state funding cut to the university system.[10] While originally only meant for two years, the freeze lasted until 2021.[11] Following the tuition freeze, $300 million of state funding was cut from the UW system budget in 2015.[12] In 2023, the tuition was raised by 5%.[13] The reduced state and tuition funding has led to budget deficits at many UW campuses.[14][4] As a result of the reduced funding, a 10% budget increase was asked by the Universities of Wisconsin in 2024.[15] Its president, Jay Rothman asked for $855 million to be included in the 2025–26 state budget, which he states will allow for all remaining branch campuses to stay open.[16]

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 bachelor's degree-granting campuses of the University of Wisconsin System.[17][18][19] This was intended to prevent the closure of local campuses.[20][21] In 2021, it was proposed by UW System leaders to merge the 2-year UW campuses with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), pointing out that many campuses are next to each other.[22] The last time a merger was considered was in 2015, where it was argued that many other state's community colleges can fulfill both functions.[23] None of these have gone through, with WTCS opposing and pointing out that the missions of the two systems are different.[24] In 2022, the Board of Regents approved the WTCS to award liberal arts degrees.[25][26] 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, this had dropped to 4,803.[27]

Closures

UW–Platteville Richland campus

Melville Hall at the Richland Campus

It was announced on November 22, 2022, that the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Richland branch campus would close on July 1, 2023, due to its declining enrollment, which was 64 in its final year.[28][29] 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.[30][31] In 2023, the UWs stated "that no viable options existed," for the UWs to maintain a presence on the Richland campus.[32]

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.[33][34][35] 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.[36]

UW–Oshkosh branch campuses

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 closed at the end of June 2024.[37] Its enrollment was 243 in its final year.[38] The campus officially ceased instruction on May 17, 2024, with all faculty transferring to the main Oshkosh campus and students given the option to transfer to the main campus or Fox Cities campus.[39]

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.[40][41][42]

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.[43][44] 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."[45] In a projection made by UW Oshkosh, they projected enrollment would be less than 100 students by 2032.[46] Its enrollment in 2024 was 473.[47]

UW–Milwaukee branch campuses

Waukesha campus

Also on October 17, 2023, it was announced that University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee at Washington County would also close at the end of June 2024.[37] The UWM Washington County campus was called "not sustainable" by its chancellor Mark Mone in the announcement of the campus closure.[48][49] Its final enrollment was 285 students.[50]

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.[51] The campus had an enrollment of 672 at the time of the announcement.[52][53] 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."[54] Specifically, chancellor Mone pointed to duplication of programs with Waukesha County Technical College.[55] It would lay off its 32 tenured faculty, made possible by a Scott Walker policy in 2016 that removed guarantees to tenured faculty.[56][57] The Waukesha campus has been scheduled for demolition and is set to become a housing development after it closes in June 2025.[58]

Changes to existing campuses

UW–Green Bay, Marinette campus

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.[59] 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.[60] 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".[60][61] There has been some effort to hand over some unused buildings to the city for its services, but no decision has been made.[62]

UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus

Baraboo Sauk County campus

It was announced on August 15, 2024 that the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus is set to downsize its operations to a single building by fall 2025, giving the other buildings back to the county for other uses.[63] 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.[64][65]

Reactions and aftermath

Closure, a 2024 documentary by Wisconsin filmmaker Ken Brosky, examines the closing of the former UW colleges.[66][67]

In a bill passed in 2024, local communities are eligible to receive $2 million for redevelopment of a closed UW campus.[68] 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.[69]

Critics argue that the closures reduce educational opportunities for rural students while taking away economic activity from rural areas.[70][71] Others have expressed concerns about the future of the Wisconsin Idea following the closures of these campuses.[72]

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.[73]

References

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Further reading

Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closures_of_the_University_of_Wisconsin_branch_campuses
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