University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Fox Cities campus in Menasha, April 25, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — University of Wisconsin chancellors are being told to assess the financial viability of the state’s 12 branch campuses.
The directive from the system president comes amid big enrollment declines at nearly all of the two-year schools.
In a letter to University of Wisconsin chancellors, system president, Jay Rothman, is calling for financial assessments of all 2-year campuses.
“My reaction was just we’re constantly looking at how to continually respond in the best way possible to provide education to our region,” said Michael Alexander, Chancellor for UW-Green Bay.
The reason being steep enrollment declines ever since the UW colleges merged with the branch campuses in 2018.
“It’s really expensive compared to a four-year to here. It’s closer to home, it’s overall better,” said Bryan Rodriguez, a first-year student at UW-Oshkosh’s Fox Cities campus.
The UW system is ending classes UW-Platteville’s Richland campus on July 1, following years of enrollment declines.
Rodriguez says after hearing that news, he’s worried UWO’s Fox Cities campus could be next.
“It’s easier to come here and get your feet wet and understand how college works and everything and then go to a four-year, and you can find out if you want to go to school or go do something else,” said Rodriguez.
In the five years since the merger, enrollment across the UW System’s 12 branch campuses has fallen by an average of around 48%.
“We really view this university with four locations or four access points,” said Alexander.
But some branch campuses are beating the odds.
At UW-Green Bay’s Sheboygan campus, total enrollment went from 581 students in the Fall of 2018, to 381 in 2019. The number rose to 440 in Fall 2022.
At UWGB’s Marinette campus, total enrollment in Fall 2018 was 306. In 2019, it dropped to 203. But in Fall 2022, it jumped to 242.
The university’s Manitowoc campus has seen the biggest increase.
With 311 total students enrolled in Fall 2018, to 373 in 2022.
Alexander says there are a lot of things to credit.
“We’ve been I think trying to be really creative about how we’re working with high schools, particularly in the ‘Rising Phoenix’ program to help students while they’re in high school to get an associate’s degree with us while they’re still in high school,” said Alexander.
But it’s a different story for UW-Oshkosh’s branch campuses.
At its Fond du Lac campus, total enrollment went from 579 students in the Fall of 2018, to only 258 in Fall 2022.
At the Fox Cities Campus, enrollment saw an even more dramatic decrease.
Going from 1,629 enrolled students, to just 605 during the same 4-year time period.
UW-Oshkosh provided a statement saying, “We have received the directive and will be evaluating how to proceed. We have nothing further to add at this time.”
Once the UW system has received the assessments, it will convene a meeting of the receiving chancellors for further discussion.
It’s unknown what that timeline will be.
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