University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

The university was founded as the La Crosse State Normal School in 1909, the eighth of nine state normal schools established in Wisconsin between 1866 and 1916 for the purpose of teacher preparation.[14] Thomas Morris sponsored the bill in the Wisconsin State Senate that led to the university's creation.[15] Initially, the La Crosse State Normal School was authorized to offer two-year programs to prepare students for the teaching profession.[16] Main Hall (now Maurice O. Graff Main Hall),[17] the original building on campus, was constructed the year the school was founded. The La Crosse State Normal School opened its doors later that same year with Fassett A. Cotton as its first president.[18]

Maurice O. Graff Main Hall in 2017

La Crosse State Normal School students began organizing several extra-curricular activities within two years of the school's founding. In 1910, students published the first campus newspaper, The Racquet, which is still published today. The Physical Education Club was formed in 1912, making it the longest continuous organization in the school's history.

The Physical Education Building (now Wittich Hall), the original physical education building, was completed in 1916 after delays due to the start of World War I.[19] This was not the only setback for the school during this period. The school struggled through serious declines in enrollment and funding following World War I and throughout the Great Depression.[20]

In 1926, George M. Snodgrass became the school's third president, replacing Ernest A. Smith, who served for only one year.[18] That same year the school's programs were expanded and authorization was given to award baccalaureate teaching degrees. This led to an institutional name change the following year to La Crosse State Teachers College.[16]

In 1931, the college was divided into separate elementary education, secondary education, and physical education divisions. It was also this year that the homecoming tradition of the "Hanging of the Lantern" began at the south entrance of Maurice O. Graff Main Hall. It was created by English teacher Orris O. White who remarked, "We'll hang the lantern in the old college tower... You won't need to look for the key – the door will be open."[19] The Training School, which had also been referred to as the Campus School and the Model School, moved into its newly constructed building in 1939.[19][21][22] The La Crosse State Teachers College Training School Building was later renamed Morris Hall in honor of Wisconsin politician, Thomas Morris.[23] The Training School provided practice and supervised observation for teacher training candidates.[24] 1973 was the last year of operation for the Training School.[19] Rexford S. Mitchell became the college's fourth president that same year, serving until 1966.[18]

Wittich Hall, the second building built on campus

After the Regents authorized the nine Wisconsin State Teachers Colleges to establish baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts, the college changed its name to Wisconsin State College-La Crosse in 1951.[16] It was also this same year that Wilder Hall became the first campus residence hall.[25] In 1956, the college was authorized to establish graduate programs, which led to the Master of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. A graduate program in physical education was also established at that time.[16] Florence Wing Library, the college's first library, was constructed that same year and began a period of substantial expansion for the college. Over the next 18 years (1956–1974), the college ballooned from 5 buildings to a total of 23 buildings. The college added 11 residence halls, 4 academic buildings, 2 libraries, and 2 student centers during that time.

In 1959, the college celebrated its 50th anniversary, with an enrollment of 1,821 students. That same year presidential candidate John F. Kennedy visited campus and spoke to a packed Graff Main Hall auditorium.[19]

In 1964, the college was designated a university as part of the Wisconsin State University System and was renamed Wisconsin State University-La Crosse.[16] This designation led to the creation of the Colleges of Education, Health-Recreation-Physical Education, and Letters and Sciences. Later, the School of Business Administration was also formed within College of Letters and Sciences.[16] A few years after receiving university designation, the university's fifth president, Samuel G. Gates, began his term in 1966.

Morris Hall, the third building built on campus

The Wisconsin State University System merged with the University of Wisconsin System in 1971, at which time the university adopted its current name and also changed the title for the head of the university from President to Chancellor. Kenneth E. Lindner, who was at the time the university's sixth president, became the university's first chancellor. Lindner, after serving as chancellor from 1971 to 1979, was succeeded by Noel Richards, who served as the university's chancellor until 1991.[18] Lindner Forest, a heavily wooded section in the southern part of campus, was named in honor of former Chancellor Lindner.

In 1989, the university's mascot became the Eagle. UWL men's athletics teams had previously been known as the Indians (1937–1989),[19] Red Raiders, Hurricanes, Racqueteers, and Peds and Maroons. The women's athletic teams were known as the Roonies, derived from the university's school colors of maroon and gray, since the inception of female intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s. They adopted the Eagle mascot a year after it became the university mascot.[26] Since the adoption of the Eagle mascot, the band's mascot has been the Screaming Eagle, having been known as the Marching Chiefs before that.[19] The "Eagle in the L" and caricature, which were both created in 1989, were unveiled just before the fall sports teams took to the field as the Eagles for the first time. They were penned by Dave Christianson, a 1973 arts graduate who created the images after the adoption of the Eagle mascot.[27]

In 1991, Judith Kuipers became UWL's third chancellor, serving until 2000.[18] She was the institution's first and only female leader. In 1992, Kuipers was instrumental in the creation of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium.[19] The consortium, a collaboration of UWL, Viterbo University, Western Technical College, Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, was created to provide cutting-edge medical education, research and training. This led to the creation of the US $27 million Health Science Center in 2000.[28]

Under the university's strategic plan, "Forward Together," the university reorganized into four colleges: the College of Business Administration; the College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation; the College of Science and Allied Health; and the College of Liberal Studies, which housed the School of Arts and Communication and the School of Education.[19] The College of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation underwent a few names changes before eventually merging with the College of Science and Allied Health to form the College of Science and Health in 2006.[29]

The Cleary Alumni & Friends Center[30] along with Murphy Library remodeling projects were completed in 1995.[31] Construction continued on campus, and two years later, the Recreational Eagle Center and the Hoeschler clock tower were also finished.[19] Hoeschler Tower becomes a focal point on campus and the new home for the traditional "Hanging of the Lantern."[32]

Fountain and the eastern side of Maurice O. Graff Main Hall

The turn of the century saw a number of changes at UWL. The Archaeology Building and Laboratories, which was a US $380,000 renovation of the campus's original power plant, had its grand opening that year.[19] A US $9.9 million renovation to Wing Technology Center also was started at that time and was completed in 2001.[33] Another major change was the resignation of Chancellor Kuipers.[18] She was replaced on an interim basis by Douglas Hastad,[19] who was named the university's fourth chancellor and ninth leader by the UW System Board of Regents in 2001.[34]

In the 2001–2002 academic year, the university's athletic teams won four national championships, three NCAA Division III championships (indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and cross country), and one NCGA title (women's gymnastics).[19]

Joe Gow became the fifth chancellor and 10th leader of UW-La Crosse on February 1, 2007.[35] He replaced Douglas Hastad, who left to become president at Carroll College, in Waukesha, Wisconsin.[36] His official inauguration took place on October 19, 2007.[37] Gow often personally e-mails the entire student body to inform them about student accomplishments and upcoming university events. An accomplished guitarist, he performed at the Cartwright Center's "Cellar" restaurant for students after taking over as chancellor.[38]

The university supports cultural events, regional and national conferences, prominent speakers, applied research, health care, professionals with varying expertise, a large workforce, and numerous faculty, staff and student community volunteers.

The percentage of the university's budget that is state funded has declined over the past few years. In 1996, students paid 35% of the cost of their education at UWL and the state the remaining 65%. By 2005, the student share had grown to 51% as the state's shrunk to 49%.[39] The university has felt the strain caused by decreased public funding.[40] The university's centennial campaign and "growth and access" agenda are both aimed at providing the necessary financial resources to deal with the decreased state funding.[39][41]

Centennial Hall

The university's plans for the future revolve around increasing access to UWL for talented students of all backgrounds and expanding student research and academic opportunities. Both the centennial campaign and "growth and access" agenda are major tools meant to lead the university to these goals.[39][41]

Construction for a new academic building, Centennial Hall, began Spring 2009 and the building opened for the Fall 2011 academic year. Built at a cost of $44 million, it houses 44 classrooms, two auditoriums, the Academic Advising Center, Counseling and Testing Center, Multicultural Student Services, Office of International Education, and Student Support Services.[42]

Students in the spring of 2012, overwhelming voted in favor of a new student center, to replace current Cartwright Student Center. Construction for the new student center occurred during the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 academic years, and opened in January 2017. The new student center edifice was designed to emulate Grandad Bluff, a defining feature of La Crosse.[43]

Graff Main Hall is the oldest building on campus built in 1909 and contains the chancellor's office, a 787-seat auditorium, classrooms, the departments of Philosophy, Psychology and Modern Languages, and other administrative and student services offices. It was designated a historic site by the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1984 and is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Main Hall/La Crosse State Normal School.[47]

Built in 1916, the original physical education building housed faculty and staff offices, gymnasiums, a track, multipurpose and meeting rooms, a strength training center, a therapeutic/rehabilitation swimming pool, the Musculoskeletal Research Center, and the Special Populations Exercise Program. The building has been renovated for use in the preparation of special/adapted physical education teachers and therapeutic recreation specialists. Administrative, faculty, staff, and graduate assistant offices for the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation are located in Wittich Hall. The building is also the primary practice site for the Women's Intercollegiate Athletics Gymnastics team. Wittich Hall, the Physical Education Building of the La Crosse State Normal School, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 as the Physical Education Building/La Crosse State Normal School.[47] In Fall 2020, Wittich Hall was re-opened as the home of the College of Business Administration.

Eugene W. Murphy Library

Morris Hall (1939, 1966, remodeled 1996) first opened in January 1940 as the La Crosse State Teachers College Training School Building. Today, Morris Hall houses the instructional and administrative facilities for the School of Education, including the Department of Educational Studies, the Master of Education-Professional Development Program (ME-PD), the Learning Communities Programs, the Office of Student Teaching and Internships, the Office of Continuing Education and Extension, and the Frederick Theater. Morris Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places.[47]

Murphy Library (1969, remodeled 1995), is centrally located on campus. It was named for Eugene W. Murphy in recognition of his 22 years of service to UWL and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.[48] At the time of its construction, the library cost US $2.5 million to construct.[19] As of 2007, Murphy Library had a total of 691,282 books, bound periodicals, and government documents.[49] The library also offers electronic resources, such as journals and databases. In 2006, the library opened Murphy's Mug Café, which is managed by the campus dining services.[50]

The Health Science Center, completed in 2000

Built in 2000, the $27 million Health Science Center was a project of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium.[28] The building includes laboratory facilities for the medical laboratory science, nuclear medicine technology, occupational and physical therapy, physician assistant, and radiation therapy programs. Biology and microbiology research laboratories are also available for medical research. Laboratories and classrooms, including distance education classrooms, are shared by all educational programs at the center. A student health center, including a physical therapy clinic, is located on the main floor and serves UWL and neighboring Western Technical College students.

The Cleary Alumni and Friends Center was built in 1995 by the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Foundation and donated to the university. Members of both the university and the greater La Crosse community meet and take advantage of the conference center, smaller conference rooms, and large banquet hall. The Cleary Center houses the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Foundation offices and the Alumni and University Relations advancement offices.

Built in 2011, Centennial Hall was the first academic building to be open on campus since 1974.[51] It is located in the center of campus and holds 46 classrooms, including two 250-seat auditoriums, various academic and student advising departments, and a Starbucks coffee outlet. A large, open entryway in the building opens up to the Hall of Nations. The room houses flags from 44 countries, representing the diversity of UWL's international students. Centennial Hall also houses a counseling and testing center and offices for communications, environmental studies, philosophy, and women's and gender studies.

Considered LEED gold certified, Centennial Hall features a solar roof proving heated water for the entire building. The building's U-shape design also provides 90% of the building natural light.[52]

Wimberly Hall, home to the English, political science/public administration, CBA, and finance offices

Completed in 1974 and originally called "North Hall", in 2000 this building was named for former professor and Dean of the College of Arts, Letters and Sciences, W. Carl Wimberly.[53][54] The building has classrooms, three auditoriums, and the offices of the College of Business Administration, the accounting, archeology, sociology, economics, English, ethnic and racial studies, finance, history, management, marketing, political science and public administration departments, and the Small Business Development Center.[53]

The newest academic building on campus, the Prairie Springs Science Center was completed in 2018 at a cost of $84 million.[55] The 189,000 square foot building contains 36 instructional labs and 23 research labs that support the university's biology, biochemistry, chemistry, earth science, geography, microbiology, and physics programs. A $2 million endowment, the largest single gift in UW-L history, was donated by Carolyn and Jay Scott in support of the new science building.[56]

Completed in January 2017, UWL's new student union is three stories and just over 204,000 square feet. It includes offices for the Student Association, Student Senate, Pride Center, and the COVE, which encompasses all student organizations.[57] It also houses an auditorium on the second floor, the University Bookstore, Textbook Rental Services, meeting rooms, a cafeteria, a theater, and a game room.

Cartwright Hall (1959 with additions in 1965 and 1985), is the former student union. It was home to the University Bookstore, Textbook Rental Services, TV and reading lounges, a computer lab, student organization offices and resources, the Involvement Center, Pride Center, and meeting rooms. Currently, it houses offices for instructors.

Mitchell Hall (1965) is a recreational, teaching, research, and service facility located adjacent to outdoor practice fields, soccer fields, and Veterans Memorial Stadium. Facilities include a swimming pool, basketball courts, wrestling room, dance studio, racquetball courts, and a 3,800-square-foot (350 m²) strength and conditioning center. The field house located in Mitchell Hall has a 4-lane 200-meter polyurethane track, long and triple jump pit, pole vault boxes, nets for tennis, badminton, volleyball, golf, softball/baseball hitting, and a climbing wall.

The Recreational Eagle Center (“The Rec”), built in 1997, houses Intramural and Student Recreational Sports. The building includes a field house, a 200-meter elevated running track with warm-up areas, a strength and conditioning center, a climbing gym, a child care center, TV lounges, locker rooms/shower rooms, and various multi-purpose activity rooms. The Rec Eagle Center regularly hosts campus activities, such as Rectoberfest and the 5K Turkey Trot Run/Walk. Attached to the Rec Eagle Center is a child care center that serves the children of students and faculty.

On July 2, 2015 then President Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of 2,400 at The Rec.[58] President Obama was joined by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, U.S. Representative Ron Kind, and other local leaders.

Opened on October 1, 2018, a two-level 35,000 square foot expansion included an enlarged strength training space, multipurpose recreation room, and other related support spaces.[59] A solar roof on top of the building was included in the project and provides electricity for a significant portion of the building's energy usage.[60]

Looking down on the campus from Grandad Bluff

Left to right: Cowley Science Building, Eugene W. Murphy Library, Drake Hall, Health and Science Center, Recreational Eagle Center, Wimberly Hall, and the U. In the top left is the skyline of downtown La Crosse.

The university is organized into three colleges and a school: the College of Business Administration; the College of Science and Health; the College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities; and a School of Education.

The College of Business Administration (CBA) is professionally accredited by AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).[68] It provides undergraduate programs,[69] along with a consortial graduate program in business administration.[70]

There are a wide variety of undergraduate[71] and two graduate degree programs[72] that comprise the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities (CASSH).

The College of Science and Health (CSH) accounts for just over half of UWL's total enrollment.[73] The 11 departments[74] of the college offer 47 undergraduate[75] and 14 graduate degree programs.[75] In addition to a degree 14 pre-professional programs[75] are offered. The Athletic Training, Chemistry, Clinical Laboratory Science, Medical Dosimetry, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Radiation Therapy, Recreation Management, Public Health and Therapeutic Recreation programs are all fully accredited.[76]

The college also offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree which was ranked #39 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.[77] The doctoral offering is a 34-month program with roughly 45 students.[78][79]

School of Education

The School of Education contains teacher education programs housed in a variety of departments and colleges across the university. Teacher education programs are reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI).

River Studies Center

Small Business Development Center

La Crosse Exercise and Health Program

Tourism Research Institute

Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center

La Crosse Institute for Movement Science

La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium

Institute for Social Justice

Center for Grief & Death Education

Center on Disability Health & Adapted Physical Education

UW–La Crosse partners with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in a program that allows students to complete three years of study at UWL before transferring to the partnership university for two years to complete the science or engineering portion of a dual degree.[80]

In 2014 U.S. News & World Report ranked UWL #26 among the Midwest regional public universities offering bachelor's and master's degrees.[81] In 2012 a Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance report placed La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire among the most selective schools in the UW System, behind UW –Madison.[82] In 2014 Kiplinger's Personal Finance, ranked the university fourth on its list of the "25 Best College Values Under $30,000 a Year".[83] In 2007, the Princeton Review named UW-La Crosse one of America's "Best Midwestern Colleges" and an "America's Best Value College".[84] Men's Health magazine ranked UWL the 10th fittest campus in the country in 2005[85] and 12th fittest in 2006.[86]

In 2006, the school was named one of the nation's top 100 LGBT-friendly universities by The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students.[87] The rankings were determined by examining institutional policies, commitment and support, academic life, housing, student life, counseling and health services, campus safety, and recruitment and retention efforts.

In 2009, UWL received the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Award for its international student recruiting and programs.[81]

As of 2020, UWL was ranked as the 2nd best public university in Wisconsin by stateuniversity.com.[12]

Student artwork on display at the University Art Gallery

The Racquet Press is UWL's student news source.[91] The paper, which began in 1910, contains student-produced articles about campus, community, state, and national events. The Racquet Press is composed of five major sections: news, sports, letters to the editor, photo series, and humans of UWL. The majority of The Racquet Press' budget is contributed via student fees or from advertising. In 2013, The Racquet Press was ranked #32 in the nation and #1 in Wisconsin in the Top 100 College Newspapers for Journalism Students.[92]

The Second Supper is a satirical newspaper published by students and is recognized by the student government.[93] The Second Supper is published weekly from its headquarters in downtown La Crosse, serving western Wisconsin through the cities of La Crosse and Eau Claire.

The Catalyst is a student-produced and edited publication of student-submitted collection of original essays, short stories, and poetry. Each edition has a different theme. The Catalyst intends to provide a channel for creative intellectual inquiry in order to provoke campus and community discussion.[94]

The university's school colors are maroon and gray. The university mascot, which was adopted in 1989, is the Eagle. UWL men's athletics teams had previously been known as the Indians (1937–1989),[19] Red Raiders, Hurricanes, Racqueteers, and Peds and Maroons. The women's athletic teams were known as the Roonies, derived from the university's school colors of maroon and gray, since the inception of female intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s until November 1990 when they also adopted the Eagle mascot.[26] Since the adoption of the Eagle mascot, the band's mascot has been the Screaming Eagle, having previously been known as the Marching Chiefs.[19]

UW-La Crosse's athletic teams sport an "Eagle in the L" and caricature, which was created in 1989, when the sports teams took to the field as the Eagles for the first time. It was created by Dave Christianson, a 1973 art major graduate who penned the images after the UWL men's teams adopted the Eagle mascot. Women's teams started sporting the Eagles moniker in November 1990. The UWL Eagle mascot was named "Colbert" in a vote by students during the 2008–2009 school year.[27][95] On October 10, 2012, Colbert was retired, and a new similar looking mascot was introduced, named Stryker.[96]

Memorial Gazebo

The Hanging of the Lantern tradition dates back to 1913 when UWL students hung small lanterns in house windows near campus. In 1931, longtime faculty member Orris O. White began a tradition of hanging one large lantern in the Maurice O. Graff Main Hall tower, above the building's south entrance. The act welcomed alumni who had returned home. "We'll hang the lantern in the old college tower over the south door. You won't need to look for the key—the door will be open," declared White.

Since 1931, a lantern has hung each Homecoming. It hung on the south side of Graff Main Hall until 1997 when it was moved to the Hoeschler Tower in the center of campus. The tower's lantern hangs year-round and is lit every evening at dusk.

The Lighting of the "L" tradition began after a 1935 college prank. Bored on a foggy day, F. Clark Carnes and Bernie Brown hiked up Miller's Bluff, north of Grandad Bluff. They gathered and piled brush in the shape of a 30-foot (9.1 m) by 15-foot (4.6 m) "L", started it on fire, and slipped down the bluff toward campus before police could locate them. When Brown and Carnes reached Veterans Memorial Stadium, the fog lifted and allowed the crowd to see the "L". In recent years, the "L" has been lit by electricity and shines from Grandad Bluff.