UW-Green Bay Marinette Campus. PC: Fox 11 Online
MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Classes taught exclusively in-person at UW-Green Bay’s branch campus in Marinette will end on Friday when the 2024 spring semester wraps up.
Those who wish to attend the Marinette location will still be able to get college experience.
During the past fall semester, only 11 classes at UWGB Marinette were taught purely in-person.
“We’ll work with area businesses and others to provide education and non-credit work primarily. It’ll be a lifelong learning institute to work with the retiree population up in Marinette. We’ll still offer classes up there that are point-to-point classes. In other words, where the class will originate in Marinette, or another one of our campuses, but students can take the class in Marinette,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander.
UW-Green Bay also maintains it wants to prioritize the Herbert L. Williams Theatre.
“We know that in Marinette, one of the really important cultural resources up there is that theatre,” added Alexander.
But much appears up in the air regarding the buildings on campus, which are owned by Marinette County. The county is working with U-W Green Bay on renegotiating the lease for the property.
County Board Chair John Guarisco says they are still fielding ideas on what to do with the property. The City of Marinette could be part of that solution.
Mayor Steve Genisot says the city has expressed some interest in taking on one or two of the buildings.
“Which could be some city services that could include city hall possibly, maybe police department, maybe not. And then maybe senior services, so we’re looking at options,” said Genisot.
Mayor Genisot adds the city is interested in acquiring Runnoe Park, which is part of the campus. However, the county is hesitant right now on turning over just portions of the entire property.
“Our concern was that you, like anything else, you have some very desirable real estate and very desirable portions of it, and some that is less than desirable, so maybe it all should be transferred as one,” said Guarisco.
Leaders stress no decision has been made.
Right now, UW-Green Bay plans on keeping classrooms with streaming capabilities active for courses taught at Marinette come the 2024 fall semester.
A special Marinette County Board meeting has been called for May 21 to discuss the future of the campus.
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