UW System to Restructure UW Colleges and UW-Extension to Expand Access to Higher Education

UW System President Ray Cross announces he will propose merging UW Colleges with four-year UW institutions as part of a broader restructuring of UW Colleges and UW-Extension.  There are currently 13 two-year UW Colleges campuses located statewide.  Under his proposal, Cross will propose integrating UW Colleges campuses into UW four-year institutions, effective July 1, 2018.  Cross will also propose assigning divisions within UW-Extension to UW-Madison and UW System Administration.  The restructuring proposal will come before the Board of Regents in November seeking approval to proceed with implementation planning.

“Change often produces uncertainty, but we cannot be afraid to pursue needed reforms.  We must restructure these two organizations given the state’s demographic challenges, budgetary constraints, and the need for closer alignment between research and practice,” said President Cross.  “We want to leverage the strength of our four-year institutions at a time when overall enrollments at UW Colleges are declining.  Our goal is to expand access and provide more educational opportunities for more students, while ensuring our faculty are appropriately organized and supported.  We are committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for students, faculty, and staff.”

“The dramatic demographic declines in this state are undeniable and we have been working hard to ensure the future viability and sustainability of our small campuses. I am optimistic about the potential of this new structure to keep student access and student success at the forefront,” said Cathy Sandeen, Chancellor for UW Colleges and Extension.  “Our team has been enacting major change and transformation efforts for the past three years so we’re well positioned to help lead a smooth transition upon Board approval. Our goal is to ensure the successful future for these campuses because we need more doors open wider to more people in this state than ever before.”

Restructuring Objectives

• Maintaining and expanding access to higher education by offering more general education and upper-level courses at the integrated branch campuses
• Identify and reduce barriers to transferring credits within the UW System
• Maintain affordability by continuing current tuition levels at the branch campuses post-merger for general education courses
• Further standardize and regionalize administrative operations and services to more efficiently use resources
• Leverage resources and shared talent at our institutions to get more students into and through the educational pipeline, better aligning the university to meet Wisconsin’s projected workforce needs

The proposed restructuring will allow the UW System to better address current and projected enrollment and financial challenges at the two-year institutions, while maintaining the important UW presence in local communities.  Business and community leaders stressed the important economic and cultural role UW institutions play in their regions when providing feedback for the UW System’s 2020FWD strategic framework.

Demographic trends indicate that current enrollment challenges are not likely to significantly improve in coming years.

“By 2040, nearly 95% of total population growth in Wisconsin will be age 65 and older, while those of working age 18-64 will increase a mere 0.4%.  Our labor force growth will be flat, while the demand for an educated labor force is growing exponentially,” said Cross.  “We must plan for the future now and be increasingly bold in our efforts to get more students through the educational pipeline to help meet Wisconsin’s needs. We must do this by improving access to higher education and keeping it affordable for students and families.”

This proposal will help avoid closing any UW Colleges’ campus while maintaining a university presence in these Wisconsin communities. UW Colleges Online will move to UW System Administration under the Continuing Education, Outreach and E-learning (CEOEL) umbrella.

UW-Extension

Under the proposed plan, UW-Extension Cooperative Extension (including Wisconsin 4-H) and the UW-Extension Conference Centers, would be moved to the state’s land grant institution, UW-Madison. The integration of Cooperative Extension and Conference Centers with the state’s land-grant institution is consistent with the practice in other states, including Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.  It will also provide more opportunities to connect the important practical work of extension agents with the research enterprise at UW-Madison.

Other divisions of UW-Extension would be integrated within UW System Administration to continue their statewide role:

• Division of Business and Entrepreneurship (DBE)
• Broadcasting and Media Innovations (BAMI) including Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio
• Continuing Education, Outreach and E-learning (CEOEL) including UW Flexible Option

Map of Proposed UW Colleges and UW-Extension Restructuring (October 2017) pdf