University of Wisconsin–Green Bay facts for kids
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| Motto | Ad Scientiam Renovandam (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"To Update Science" |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1965 |
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Parent institution
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University of Wisconsin System |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Budget | $130 million |
| Chancellor | Michael Alexander |
| Students | 9,870 (all four campuses) |
| Undergraduates | 9,278 |
| Postgraduates | 592 |
| Location |
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United States
44°31′48″N 87°55′15″W / 44.53°N 87.92083°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 700 acres (2.8 km2) |
| Other campuses |
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| Newspaper | The Fourth Estate |
| Colors | Green and white |
| Nickname | Phoenix |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | Phlash the Phoenix |
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The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay (often called UW–Green Bay or UWGB) is a public university located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It also has smaller campuses in Marinette, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan.
The university was started in 1965 and is part of the University of Wisconsin System. In Fall 2020, about 8,970 students were enrolled, with most of them being undergraduate students.
Since it began, UW–Green Bay has focused on protecting the environment. Because of this, Newsweek magazine even called it "Eco U" in 1971. The university offers many different types of degrees, from associate (two-year) to bachelor's (four-year) and master's degrees. It also has a special doctoral program called First Nations Ed.D. The school's mascot is the Phoenix, a mythical bird.
Contents
History of UW–Green Bay
By 1958, the University of Wisconsin–Extension had a center in Green Bay. It grew to have 500 students, making it the second-largest of its kind. By 1965, it was the biggest. People in northeastern Wisconsin soon wanted a full four-year university.
In 1963, a committee suggested building a new university in the Fox Valley area. Governor Warren Knowles then proposed that the two-year centers in Green Bay and Kenosha should become four-year universities. The Kenosha center later became the University of Wisconsin–Parkside. The law to create UW–Green Bay was signed on September 2, 1965.
UW–Green Bay officially opened in the fall of 1968. The first classes were held at the Deckner Center, which is now Anne Sullivan Elementary School. The university moved to its current main location in the fall of 1969.
In 2018, the University of Wisconsin System changed how it was organized. Many two-year schools joined with four-year universities. As a result, UW–Green Bay took over the former UW–Marinette, UW–Sheboygan, and UW–Manitowoc branches. These became the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Marinette, Sheboygan, and Manitowoc campuses. In January 2024, the chancellor announced that the Marinette campus would move all its classes online.
Academic Programs
At first, UW–Green Bay had two main groups that managed all its study programs. These were the College of Professional Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2016, the university changed this system. It divided these two groups into four new colleges.
Austin E. Cofrin School of Business
This school is named after Austin E. Cofrin, a kind person who supported the local community. It was created in 2010 after Austin's son, David, gave money to start the program. David Cofrin is also who the campus library is named after. His gift was the largest for an academic program since the university began. The Cofrin School of Business offers majors like accounting, business administration, and international business.
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
This college, often called CAHSS, has the most majors of any of the university's four colleges. It includes all majors related to arts (like music and theater), humanities (like history and literature), and social sciences (like sociology). It also covers communication, economics, and information science programs.
College of Health, Education and Social Welfare
The CHESW college focuses on professional programs. These include education, healthcare management, and social work. It also manages the nursing programs that the university shares with the nearby Bellin College of Nursing.
College of Science, Engineering and Technology
This college, known as CSET, is where all science-related majors are found. It also includes mathematics and the university's Engineering Technology program.
Changes to Study Requirements
Until 2017, students at UW–Green Bay had to complete at least one interdisciplinary major or minor. This rule was meant to give students a broader education. For example, a student studying music or biology also had to take classes in a field like business or computer science. In late 2017, professors suggested removing this rule to make the academic process simpler. This idea was debated but eventually passed.
Popular Majors at UWGB
The university's most popular majors, based on how many degrees are given out, are:
For Undergraduate Students (Bachelor's Degrees):
- Business Administration
- Psychology
- Integrative Leadership Studies (an online program for adult students)
- Human Biology
- Nursing (all different types)
For Graduate Students (Master's and Doctoral Degrees):
- Master of Social Work
- Master of Sustainable Management
Campus Life and Features
The main campus is about 200 acres and is on the northeast side of Green Bay. It looks out over Lake Michigan's Green Bay body of water. A large part of the campus is natural land. The bay is on one side, and the Niagara Escarpment (a long cliff) is on the other.
Circular roads surround the central campus and are the main ways to get around. The Cofrin Memorial Arboretum is a natural area of 290 acres that goes around the campus. It's a great place for outdoor activities, field trips, and research. The Arboretum helps protect Wisconsin's native plants and animals and lets people enjoy nature. It has over six miles of trails open to everyone.
The David A. Cofrin Library is in the middle of campus and is one of the tallest buildings in the Green Bay area. Near the library are all the academic buildings, the University Union (the student center), and the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts.
Most of the student housing buildings are in the northeast part of campus. These include traditional dorms, shared apartments, and newer private apartments. The Richard Mauthe Center is a religious center for the campus. The Kress Events Center and various sports fields are in the southeast part of campus. A university-owned golf course, the Shorewood Golf Course, is on the northern side of campus.
Across Nicolet Drive, there are two university-owned properties: Lambeau Cottage and Communiversity Park. Lambeau Cottage was once owned by Green Bay Packers founder Curly Lambeau. It is now used for university retreats. Communiversity Park is a small park next to Lambeau Cottage with views of the bay.
Campus Facilities
Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
The Weidner Center for the Performing Arts is a large building for shows and performances. It has the Cofrin Family Hall, which can seat 2,000 people. There's also the Fort Howard Hall for smaller concerts and the Jean Weidner Theatre for plays.
David A. Cofrin Library
The Cofrin Library has more than one million items, including books and other resources. Its Special Collections Department keeps historical records of northeastern Wisconsin, family history records, and local business archives. The top floor of the library offers great views of landmarks in the area and houses university administration offices.
Kress Events Center
The Kress Events Center is where the Phoenix sports teams play. It also hosts concerts and other university events. It's a place for workouts, weight training, and intramural sports (sports played by students for fun). The center has a training room, weight rooms, a cardio area, a pool, racquetball courts, a climbing tower, and outdoor fields. It also has a large gym for basketball, volleyball, and indoor tennis.
LeMieux Chapel
The LeMieux Chapel was built by Joseph LeMieux, a stonemason, and his brother-in-law, Fabian LaPlant, a carpenter.
Student Housing
UW–Green Bay has 28 buildings where students can live. These include traditional dorms, apartment-style dorms, and student apartments. About 2,000 students live on campus.
Underground Concourse System
The main campus of UW–Green Bay has a system of underground hallways, often called "tunnels." These tunnels connect eleven of its buildings. The David A. Cofrin Library is at the center of this system. From there, hallways branch out to the Student Services building, the University Union, and seven academic buildings.
This tunnel system helps students, teachers, and staff move around campus easily, especially when the weather is bad. It also makes the campus more accessible for everyone. Buildings not connected by the tunnels include the residence halls, the Kress Center, the Weidner Center, and the Brown County STEM and Innovation Center.
Student Activities
Students can get involved in how the university is run through the Student Government Association. This group has different parts, including an executive branch (like a president), a legislative branch (like a student council), and a judicial branch (a student court).
Sports and Athletics
UW–Green Bay's sports teams are known as "Green Bay." They are part of the NCAA Division I, which is the highest level of college sports. They compete in the Horizon League.
The Green Bay women's basketball team has been very successful. They have won or shared the Horizon League regular-season championship twenty times. The team has also played in the NCAA tournament twenty times and the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) twice.
In 2003, the team was nationally ranked for the first time, reaching as high as #16. In 2011, they made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" in the NCAA tournament, which was a big achievement.
The Green Bay softball team won its first Horizon League tournament championship in 2005. They then went to the national tournament.
The Green Bay Women's Volleyball team won its first Horizon League regular season title and tournament championship in 2018. They went on to play in the NCAA Division I tournament.
Famous Alumni
Many people who attended UW–Green Bay have gone on to do great things.
Sports Stars
- Kathi Bennett, basketball coach
- Tony Bennett, basketball player and coach
- Alec Brown, basketball player
- Logan Vander Velden, basketball player
- Sandy Cohen, basketball player
- Keifer Sykes, basketball player
- Alfonzo McKinnie, basketball player
- Michael Schachtner, basketball player
- Jeff Nordgaard, basketball player
- Julie Wojta, basketball player
- Jessica Lindstrom, basketball player
- Allie LeClaire, basketball player and coach
- Mehryn Kraker, basketball player and coach
- Tosaint Ricketts, soccer player
- Horst Stemke, Olympic athlete
- Rob Davis, assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys
Leaders in Politics and Education
- James R. Charneski, Wisconsin State Representative
- Robert Cowles, Wisconsin State Senator
- Dave Hansen, Wisconsin State Senator
- Frank Lasee, Wisconsin State Senator
- Barbara Lawton, former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin (attended)
- Sharon Metz, Wisconsin State Representative
- Kathleen E. Christensen, social scientist
- Romaine Quinn, Wisconsin State Senator
- Tyler Vorpagel, Wisconsin State Representative
- Ty Bodden, Wisconsin State Representative
Entertainment Personalities
- Nick Mortensen, comedian
- Mike Grell, comic book writer and artist
- Tony Shalhoub, actor (did not graduate)
- Kevin MacLeod, composer and music producer (did not graduate)
Business Leaders
- Mike Jackson, former executive at Supervalu
- Jill Lajdziak, former general manager at Saturn
- Mark King, CEO of Taco Bell and former president & CEO of TaylorMade
Notable Faculty Members
Some well-known people have taught at UW–Green Bay:
- Gregory S. Aldrete, Professor Emeritus of History.
- Herbert J. Grover, Wisconsin educator and politician.
- Harvey J. Kaye, Professor Emeritus of Democracy and Justice Studies.
- Michael Monfils, former Mayor of Green Bay.
- Denise Sweet, Poet Laureate of Wisconsin (2004–2008).
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Wisconsin-Green Bay para niños
