With a new academic year on the horizon, returning and incoming students from two-year colleges will play a key role in determining the success of the integration of two-year and four-year institutions during a transition year.
Last fall, UW System President Ray Cross announced plans to merge all 13 two-year UW Colleges with four-year institutions as a key proponent for a deeper UW System restructuring. The extensive changes came into effect on July 1 following approval from the Board of Regents at the end of June.
The Higher Learning Commission reviewed the restructuring plans and approved UW-Madison the rights to oversee a few central UW System entities. Instead of remaining their own body, some of UW Colleges and Extension operations will now be a part of UW-Madison. This includes Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television, which have reunited with the campus after 53 years.
“Transitions are always complicated, but the focus so far has been on the student experience. That is, how do we preserve smooth continuity of programs, services and student aid for students at the two-year campuses,” Chancellor for UW Colleges and Extension Cathy Sandeen said. “I believe we have achieved that.”
The first mention of the plans to restructure surfaced in October after being leaked at a late night meeting between UW System representatives. This is the first major change to the UW System since its creation in 1971, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Upon hearing of restructuring plans, the UW-Madison chapter of the American Association of University Professors compiled several emails, proving that Cross intentionally hid the plans in order to prevent them from being vetoed.
“It is shocking and disheartening that you consider your true partners not to be the shared governance bodies of the University of Wisconsin System or the leaders of the communities we serve, regardless of party affiliation, but rather be politically connected business interests and exclusively Republican legislators,” read the letter.
Among the members that remained uninformed was Sandeen, who said she was not surprised that conversations were happening prior to the official statement, but believed it would have been helpful to be involved in the discussion.
Since then, Sandeen has sustained her support of the restructuring. She trusts that the recent changes will work to combat the “undeniable” downswing of incoming and returning students to the smaller campuses in order to conserve their future in the UW System.
Restructuring is a way to confront declining enrollment and optimize cross-campus relations among two and four-year institutions. This will also make transferring easier for students planning to pursue further education within the UW System.
“I am optimistic about the potential of this new structure to keep student access and student success at the forefront,” Sandeen said in the press release.
The restructuring will also provide feedback for the UW System’s 2020FWD program, which strives to connect communities throughout Wisconsin through UW schools' educational outreach.
“The UW’s two-year campuses are important access points for students all across the state, especially first-generation, low-income and under-served students,” said Heather LaRoi, the UW System interim director of communications. “Restructuring the UW System ensures all campuses remain open and allows us to maintain our commitment to affordable tuition.”
As the colleges begin to integrate with universities, they have the choice to become a branch campus, meaning it’s still physically at another location separate from the university.
For those choosing to merge, like UW-Green Bay-Marinette, they must offer a full curriculum and undergo significant administrative changes within the college.
“One of the things folks are worried about is that there is going to be a change to additional locations and that would be taking away agency curriculum resources for those students and for the campus,” said Katie Kalish, the UW System Faculty Governance representative and associate professor at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County. “I think that there’s general widespread both optimism and concern.”
The restructuring is planned to take place with two phases over the course of two years, completing in time for the 2020-’21 academic year.
