FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac campus will close at the end of the current semester. UW System President Jay Rothman made the announcement last fall, citing low enrollment.
While some students are going to be staying in Fond du Lac, others are transferring to UW-Oshkosh, while others are going somewhere different, all we talked to are making the most of their final days on campus.
“Working really hard to have events on campus and to keep everything kind of alive,” Student Activity Director Matthew Caine said. “So last week we had our farewell Fondy ceremony.”
Caine becomes one of many students to forego another year in Fond du Lac and head straight to the main campus in Oshkosh.
“I’m a little nervous cause it’s a lot bigger you know more people,” William Penn said. “So yeah just trying to use up all the stuff we have here before it’s gone.”
UW-Oshkosh officials say 70% of the students will transition to the main campus. 24% will continue their studies elsewhere.
“Me going off to another great two year school I’m not thinking too much about it but it’s a great campus at the same time so I’m a little bit upset too,” Chandler Batchelor said.
That includes neighboring Moraine Park Technical College, which now offers a partnership with UW-Oshkosh.
“It hit everyone pretty hard. Most of the students and a lot of the faculty,” Jared Knapp said.
Though many have made peace with this reality, it doesn’t make it any less disappointing for those who called Fond Du Lac home.
“Might still live across the street in the apartment buildings and commute to Oshkosh so I’m gonna see the building all the time and it’s just be a constant reminder that it’s no longer around which is gonna suck,” Knapp said.
“I’ve had some of the best teachers ever at this school and I’m really sad to see what they’ve built have to go,” Penn said.
Roughly 240 students were enrolled at the campus as of last fall.
Student leaders have organized other activities for the final week. On Wednesday students can enjoy a free meal. And then Friday is a “memories and memorial” event for the final Fond du Lac class.
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