The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater (UW–Whitewater) is a

public university A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universi ...

Whitewater, Wisconsin Whitewater is a city located in Walworth and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. As of the ...

. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System. Student enrollment in the 2014–2015 academic year was more than 12,000. The university offers 47 undergraduate majors and 13 graduate programs. 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

On April 21, 1868, the school was named 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 earnestness–almost a severe earnestness,–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 its name was changed to Whitewater Teachers College. With the addition of the liberal arts programs in 1951 it became Wisconsin State College–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 Wisconsin–Whitewater since then. The university briefly gained national attention in 2018 when Chancellor Beverly Kopper's husband was investigated for allegedly sexually harassing university employees. The chancellor resigned during the investigation amidst allegations that she had ignored the alleged harassment. On May 23, 2019, the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment of Dwight C. Watson as the 17th Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, following the recommendation made by a selection committee. Watson resigned from the position in 2021 citing health concerns.

Campus

The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater encompasses 400 acres in southeastern Wisconsin. The iconic landmark of the university's campus, Old Main, was destroyed by 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 called 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.

Academics

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program provides students the opportunity to participate in academic activities, such as field trips and honors courses, and to graduate with University Honors.

Undergraduate Research Program

Students participating in the Undergraduate Research Program receive a grant and work with a faculty mentor on a project that the student designs. Most departments on campus have students and faculty mentors who participate in undergraduate research projects.

Research Apprenticeship Program

The Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) provides a paid opportunity to assist faculty and staff with their research. This opportunity is open to freshman and sophomore students, transfer students, returning nontraditional students, and international exchange students.

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 Beta Alpha Psi () is an international honor society for accounting, finance and information systems students attending universities accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the European Quality Improvement System ...

, the Accounting Department, and the IRS; and maintains updated listings on the WSG website for community housing.

Student life

The University of Wisconsin–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.

UWW-TV

UWW-TV is the university's student-run television channel. It provides news, sports, educational and original programming produced entirely by University of Wisconsin–Whitewater students. UWW-TV is part of the campus cable line-up and is located on channel 100.1 in high definition. It is also available around the city of

Whitewater Whitewater forms in a rapid context, in particular, when a river's gradient changes enough to generate so much turbulence that air is trapped within the water. This forms an unstable current that froths, making the water appear opaque and ...

Spectrum A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors ...

cable channel 989.

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.

WSUW 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 Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

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.

North American Interfraternity Conference The North American Interfraternity Conference (or NIC; formerly known as the National Interfraternity Conference) is an association of intercollegiate men's social fraternities that was formally organized in 1910, although it began at a meeting ...

* Alpha Sigma Phi *

Delta Chi Delta Chi () is an international Greek letter collegiate social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890, at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 30, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership soc ...

Lambda Chi Alpha Lambda Chi Alpha (), commonly known as Lambda Chi, is a college fraternity in North America which was founded at Boston University in 1909. It is one of the largest social fraternities in North America, with more than 300,000 lifetime members a ...

* Sigma Tau Gamma

Nationally recognized fraternities

Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta (), commonly known as Phi Delt, is an international secret and social fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, along with Beta Theta Pi and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. ...

Tau Kappa Epsilon Tau Kappa Epsilon (), commonly known as or Teke, is a social college fraternities and sororities, fraternity founded on January 10, 1899, at Illinois Wesleyan University. The organization has chapters throughout the United States and Canada, maki ...

Professional fraternity

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...

Local

*Alpha Sigma (1898) *Phi Chi Epsilon

National Panhellenic Conference The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is an umbrella organization for 26 (inter)national women's sororities throughout the United States and Canada. Each member group is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter society of college women and alum ...

* Alpha Gamma Delta * Delta Zeta * Sigma Sigma Sigma

National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations

Gamma Alpha Omega Gamma Alpha Omega () is a Latina-founded Greek letter intercollegiate sorority, established in 1993 on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The sorority has 28 collegiate chapters and 13 alumnae chapters. History Gamma Alpha ...

Lambda Alpha Upsilon Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. ( or LAU, also known as Condors) is a Latino oriented Greek letter intercollegiate fraternity A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal ...

* Zeta Sigma Chi

National Pan-Hellenic Council The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative umbrella council composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities also referred to as Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). The NPHC was formed as a permanent ...

Alpha Kappa Alpha Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. () is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen s ...

Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. () is the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity. It was initially a literary and social studies club organized in the 1905–1906 school year at Cornell University but later evolved in ...

Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emph ...

Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. () is a historically African American fraternity. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never restricted membership on the basis of color, cree ...

Omega Psi Phi Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. () is a historically African-American fraternity. The fraternity was founded on November 17, 1911, by three Howard University juniors Edgar Amos Love, Oscar James Cooper and Frank Coleman, and their faculty a ...

Phi Beta Sigma Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. () is a List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young Afr ...

Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority, international collegiate, and non-profit community service organization that was founded on November 12, 1922, by seven educators on the Irvington campus (1875– ...

Zeta Phi Beta Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority. In 1920, five women from Howard University envisioned a sorority that would raise the consciousness of their people, encourage the highest standards of scholastic ach ...

Athletics

UW–Whitewater is a member of

NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that choose not to offer athletic scholarships to their ...

for athletics. It is a part of the

Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is a college athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. In women's gymnastics, it competes alongside Division I and II members, as the NCAA sponsors a single champions ...

(WIAC). The university's athletics teams are nicknamed the ''Warhawks'' and are represented by the colors purple and white. In the 2013–14 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.

Notable people

Alumni

Bidal Aguero Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...

–

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political activist and newspaper publisher in

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; received master's degree in music in 1974 * Earl Arms – journalist; Host of Milwaukee PBS’ ''Black Nouveau'' * Merton W. Baker – U.S. Air Force Major General *

John Belushi John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known for being one of the seven original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). Throughout his c ...

– actor and ''

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'' comedian (attended) * Matt Blanchard - Former NFL Quarterback * Gene Brabender – MLB player for

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and Seattle Pilots/Milwaukee Brewers * Walter B. Calvert – Wisconsin State Representative * James R. Charneski – Wisconsin State Representative * Robert L. Clark – Wisconsin State Representative * Craig Coshun – pre-game host and reporter for

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. * Mel J. Cyrak – Wisconsin State Representative * Marc C. Duff – Wisconsin State Representative * Vilnis Ezerins – former football player for

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* Edward Grassman – Wisconsin State Representative * Eva Kinney Griffith – journalist, temperance activist, novelist, newspaper editor, journal publisher * B. Gunar Gruenke – president of Conrad Schmitt Studios * Kenn Hoekstra – game developer and producer at Pi Studios * Isabella Hofmann – actress (attended) *

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– Wisconsin State Senator * G. Erle Ingram – Wisconsin State Senator *

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– football coach for

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and

Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...

Arthur J. Jones Arthur Joseph Jones (born January 1, 1948) is an American neo-Nazi, Holocaust denier and perennial candidate. After running unopposed in the primary election, he was the Republican candidate for Illinois's 3rd congressional district in the No ...

– politician * Neal Kedzie – State Senator * Dave Kraayeveld – NFL player * Ken Kratz (born 1960-61) - lawyer, former district attorney of

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; law license was suspended for four months after sexting scandal * Jake Kumerow – NFL wide receiver for the

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- football head coach, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, University of Buffalo,

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* Bill Lobenstein – former football player for

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* Thomas A. Loftus – Ambassador to Norway 1993-97; former speaker of State Assembly * Barbara Lorman – Wisconsin State Senator * John T. Manske – Wisconsin State Representative * Max Maxfield –

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...

state auditor (1999–2007), Secretary of State (2007–15) * Quinn Meinerz football player for the Denver Broncos * Grant R. Mulder – U.S. Air Force Major General *

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– Wisconsin State Senator *

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– U.S. Congressman *

Reince Priebus Reinhold Richard Priebus ( ; born March 18, 1972) is an American lawyer and politician who served as White House Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, until July 31, 2017. He also served as the chairman of the Republ ...

– Former Chairman of

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and former White House Chief of Staff * Randall J. Radtke – Wisconsin State Representative * A. J. Raebel – football player for

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and

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* Stuart Rindy – former football player for

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– TV's video professor *

Pete Schmitt Pete Schmitt (born October 14, 1984) is a former American football fullback. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Wisconsin–Whitewater. Early years Schmitt attended high ...

– former football player for

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* Derek Stanley – former football player for St. Louis Rams *

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– founder and CEO of health care consulting company Studer Group, co-owner of

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– assistant coach for

, 2010 interim head coach * Matt Turk – NFL punter *

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– Speaker of Wisconsin State Assembly * Joan Wade – Wisconsin State Representative * Bob Wickman – baseball player for

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* Dwight A. York – Wisconsin State Representative *

Kay Lertsittichai Kay Lertsittichai ( th, เค เลิศสิทธิชัย; also known under the pseudonym Kayavine, born 12 December 1996) is a Thai YouTuber and actor. He began making YouTube videos in 2016 and has more than one million subscribers ...

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vlogger, actor

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 Warren Seymour Johnson (November 6, 1847 – December 5, 1911) was an American college professor who was frustrated by his inability to regulate individual classroom temperatures. His multi-zone pneumatic control system solved the problem. 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 Johnson Controls International is an American Irish-domiciled multinational conglomerate headquartered in Cork, Ireland, that produces fire, HVAC, and security equipment for buildings. As of mid-2019, it employed 105,000 people in around 2,00 ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

Education in Walworth County, Wisconsin Educational institutions established in 1868 Buildings and structures in Walworth County, Wisconsin Tourist attractions in Walworth County, Wisconsin 1868 establishments in Wisconsin Whitewater, Wisconsin