The University of Wisconsinâ€"Whitewater, also known as UWâ€"Whitewater, is a four-year, co-educational, residential college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Part of the University of Wisconsin System, it is is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Student enrollment in the 2014â€"2015 academic year was more than 12,000. The university offers 47 undergraduate majors and 13 graduate programs, with over 1,000 courses available to students. Approximately 1,400 faculty and staff are employed by the university, and the student body consists of individuals from about 40 states and 30 countries.
History
The school was dedicated on April 21, 1868, as Whitewater Normal School and graduated its first class of teachers in June, 1870. Albert Salisbury, writing in 1893, remarked: "The young men and women who gathered into this school in those early years found here a new and stimulating atmosphere. The spirit of earnestnessâ€"almost a severe earnestness,â€"pervaded the place; and the high ideals of its administration were contagious in a remarkable degree." Salisbury wrote of a unique tradition of the school known as "Students' Day." One day during the term faculty would, unannounced, be entirely absent from the school. Once students recognized that the day must be "Students' Day", they would elect a President and Faculty from amongst themselves who would take up the regular duties of the day. The annual catalogue stated the purpose of "Students' Day" as the following: "The object of thus putting the institution under the care of the students is to test their moral culture, their executive ability, and their devotion to their work."
In 1927, the school received authority to grant baccalaureate degrees in education and the name was changed to Whitewater Teachers College. With the addition of liberal arts programs in 1951 it became Wisconsin State Collegeâ€"Whitewater, and was later designated a Wisconsin State University in 1964. In 1971, after the merger of the former University of Wisconsin and the former Wisconsin State Universities, the school became part of the University of Wisconsin System and has had the name of University of Wisconsinâ€"Whitewater since then.
Campus
The University of Wisconsinâ€"Whitewater encompasses 400 acres in southeastern Wisconsin. The iconic landmark of the university's campus, Old Main, burned down in a fire on February 7, 1970. The school's oldest building, it was the only one that had been part of the original campus. The east wing of Old Main, now Hyer Hall, is all that remains of the building. It houses many of the university's administrative offices, in addition to classrooms and lecture halls. After the fire that destroyed Old Main the building's carillon bell was removed and installed in front of the Alumni Center. Now an electronic carillon bell rings regularly throughout the day.
The James R. Conner University Center occupies the heart of campus. The "UC" contains a bowling alley, an art gallery, a stage for live music, a coffee shop, and several dining options. Young Auditorium, the largest performing arts venue on campus, hosts dance, music, theatre, comedy, and other university events. The UW-Whitewater Nature Preserve is located in the northeast corner of campus and consists of 110 acres of various ecosystems such as woodlands, wetlands, and prairie. In addition to serving as an outdoor classroom and laboratory the preserve includes recreational trails for running, hiking, cross-country skiing, or biking.
Student government
Whitewater Student Government (WSG) is the students' governing body. It consists of a senate, a president, a vice president and an executive board. WSG has the primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests according to Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5).
The organization also provides services to students on campus. It hosts an adopt-a-lot service, where students and organizations can adopt a campus parking lot to clean; provides legal advice through an attorney; offers free income tax assistance to students and community members as part of a joint effort between Student Government, Beta Alpha Psi, the Accounting Department, and the IRS; and maintains updated listings on the WSG website for community housing.
Extracurricular activities
The University of Wisconsinâ€"Whitewater has over 170 recognized student clubs and organizations.
The Royal Purple
The Royal Purple is the university's independent student newspaper. It has been in publication since 1901.
Jitters Coffee Lounge
Jitters is a student-run coffee house located on the first floor of Wells East Residence Hall.
Ceramics Guild
The Ceramics Guild hosts an annual December/fall semester ceramics sale, often in collaboration with the alloy metalsmithing group. A tradition established in 1977, the sale contributes financially to the UW-Whitewater ceramics program, allowing visiting artists to lecture. To date, over 60 visiting artists have conducted workshops in studio ceramics.
91.7 The Edge
The Edge is the campus's student-run radio station broadcasting out of Andersen Library, where they have been broadcasting since 1966. The station broadcasts local news and sports and plays music ranging from jazz and hip-hop to alternative and metal.
Greek System
Fraternities and sororities are involved with annual philanthropy and community service projects, homecoming week activities, socials (also known as exchanges) between other Greek organizations or general student organizations, scholarship opportunities for members, and professional networking skills and opportunities.
Athletics
UWâ€"Whitewater is a member of NCAA Division III for athletics. It is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The university's athletics teams are nicknamed the Warhawks and are represented by the colors purple and white.
In the 2013â€"2014 academic year the Warhawks made collegiate sport history by winning the men's football, basketball, and baseball championships. UW-Whitewater is the first school in NCAA history in any division to experience such a three-sport sweep in the same academic year.
One of UW-Whitewater's programs for students with disabilities, Cornerstones for Success, provides athletes with disabilities the opportunity to share their experiences in sports and everyday life with students from across the Midwest. UW-Whitewater also has wheelchair basketball programs for men and women; both teams have won national championships.
Academic Programs
University Honors Program
Undergraduate Research Program
Students in the program will receive a grant and work with a faculty mentor to complete a research project of their own design. Interested students have to submit a proposal which will be reviewed and either approved or denied a grant. Undergraduate research experience is not only for science majors or those going on to graduate school. At UW-Whitewater, students and faculty/staff mentors from most undergraduate departments participate in undergraduate research projects, including but not limited to art, music, and computer sciences.
Research Apprenticeship Program
The Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) provides eligible students with a paid research opportunity to assist faculty/staff mentors with their research agenda. This opportunity is open for first-and second-year students at UWW, transfer students with a maximum of 72 transferred credits, or returning non-traditional students. International exchange students are also eligible to participate in RAP.
Notable people
Alumni
Faculty
- Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin, founder of the Journal of Geology
- Brian Coppola, noted chemist
- Andrea Nye, Professor Emerita of the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.
- Alison Townsend, poet
- Warren S. Johnson, professor of natural science; Johnson invented the first automatic multi-zone temperature control system and went on to establish Johnson Electric Service Company (now known as Johnson Controls).
References
Further reading
- Bohi, M. Janette. A History of Wisconsin State University, Whitewater, 1868â€"1968. Whitewater, Wis.: Whitewater State University Foundation, 1967.
External links
- Official website