University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County
The 68-acre (28 ha) campus overlooks the Baraboo bluffs and is intersected by the Ice Age Trail. 6 buildings comprise the campus, including student dorms, a student union, a library, and classroom buildings. The university was originally built with 3 buildings and has expanded over the years, including its most recent building in 2015.
Enrollment at UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County has declined over the years, from a peak of 758 students in 2000 to 216 undergraduates in 2021.
History
The university opened in the fall of 1968. It was originally established as a freshman-sophomore campus as part of the University of Wisconsin Colleges system. The university is jointly owned by the UW system, Sauk County, and City of Baraboo. It was originally designed for 300 students. Circa the mid-to-late 20th century West Baraboo did not financially contribute to UW–Baraboo.
Starting in 1974, the university provided college education to prisoners at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford. The program granted 2 year Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and 1-year certificates in Business or Computer Science. The program ended in 2009.
The late 90s saw several expansion projects on campus. With a donation from John and Murrel Lange in 1995, a new student union was built. It included a gymnasium, cafeteria, and student services. In 1996 renovations occurred in all major classroom buildings. The same year, with a donation from the Hill family, a new music center was built including practice rooms and a rehearsal hall.
A new science building was built in 2015.
In 2017 the six tennis courts of Baraboo High were in disrepair because of soil conditions, with two of the courts severely damaged. At that time the district was discussing with UW–Baraboo the possibility of having new tennis courts built on the college property with the district sharing the courts; the college would have eight courts, with the district building four of them.
Prior to July 1, 2018, UW–Baraboo/Sauk County was one of 13 freshman-sophomore liberal arts transfer campuses of the UW Colleges, and offers a general education associate degree. After beginning their studies at UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County, students transfer to other UW System institutions as well as to colleges and universities throughout the country to complete their bachelor's degrees. In 2013, the college had an average class size of 22.5 students.
On July 1, 2018, the campus formally merged with UW–Platteville, a four-year comprehensive university that is part of the University of Wisconsin System. At that time it received its current name.
Campus
The campus opened in 1968 with three buildings–a classroom building, student center, and library. The classroom building, now known as the Aural M. Umhoefer building, included a large lecture hall alongside several smaller classrooms.
The university is adjacent to Baraboo High School, Jack Young Middle School, and Gordon K. Willson Elementary School. The only passage between the City of Baraboo and UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County is through West Baraboo.
The Lange Center houses athletic facilities, including a gymnasium, racquetball courts, fitness center, weight room, dance studio, and locker rooms. The south side of campus is home to tennis courts and a field used for several sports. The campus is also home to the 18 hole Baraboo Lions Disc Golf Course, which was built in 1996.
The Ice Age Trail runs through the campus. Additionally, there are several other trails open for hiking in the campus woods.
References
- ^ "University of Wisconsin-Platteville". University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
- ^ "Chancellor and Leadership". University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- ^ "UWSA Trends in Enrollment". Tableau Software. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ Dewel, Bob. "'60s, '70s and sophistication too?" In: "The 1970's" [sic] Pages 989 to 1052. Baraboo Public Library. Retrieved on November 22, 2018. CITED: p. 990.
- ^ "UW Baraboo History". Archived from the original on 3 July 2018.
- ^ The University Of Wisconsin Center System Catalog 1970-71 (PDF), September 1969, p. 10
- ^ "Baraboo Sauk County History | UW-Platteville". www.uwplatt.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
- ^ Prinsen, Jake (2017-10-18). "UW-Baraboo to name science building after former dean Thomas Pleger". Wiscnews.com. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
- ^ Prinsen, Jake (2017-07-25). "Baraboo School Board considers building, sharing tennis courts with UW-Baraboo". Baraboo News Republic. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
- ^ University of Wisconsin Colleges Office of Academic Affairs. The University of Wisconsin Colleges' Fact Book 2013-2014. Madison: University of Wisconsin Colleges, 2014, p. 29.
- ^ "Baraboo UW campus gets new name". Associated Press at the Baraboo News Republic. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- ^ Staff, PDGA (2009-09-02). "Baraboo Lions Disc Golf Course". Professional Disc Golf Association. Retrieved 2025-01-31.
- ^ "UW Baraboo Disc Golf Course". Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Baraboo Sauk County Athletics and Recreation | UW-Platteville". www.uwplatt.edu. Retrieved 2025-01-31.