University of Wisconsin–Parkside: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside (UW-Parkside or UWP) is a public university located in Somers, Wisconsin. As part of the University of Wisconsin System, it distinguishes itself as one of two universities in the system not named after its city, the other being UW-Stout. UW-Parkside is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II for athletics, with its athletic program branded as the Parkside Rangers.

History and Founding

The history of UW-Parkside began on September 2, 1965, with the approval of Senate Bill 48 by the Wisconsin State Assembly. This bill mandated the creation of new collegiate institutions in northeastern Wisconsin and the Kenosha-Racine area. Governor Warren Knowles signed the bill into law, setting the stage for the university's establishment.

In April 1966, a site-selection committee chose a 690-acre parcel of rolling farmland and woods near Petrifying Springs Park in Kenosha County as the site for the new southeastern University of Wisconsin campus. UW-Madison history professor Irvin Wyllie proposed the name University of Wisconsin-Parkside on April 21, 1966.

Ground was broken for the first two buildings in November 1967. The first building was completed in time for classes in the fall of 1969, and the rest of the campus was finished in 1976 with the opening of the Union. In June 1968, the university's library opened with 70,000 volumes, some of which were stored in a barn on one of the former farms purchased for the university.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside was officially founded in July 1968, taking administrative control of the two-year UW centers in Racine and Kenosha. Classes were initially held at these centers, which were later disbanded. In September 1969, the university accepted its first students, holding classes in Greenquist Hall. Enrollment across the three campus sites was 2,911. In November of the same year, students chose the name "Rangers" for the university's athletics teams.

Key Milestones

May 1970: Official dedication of the new university.
June 1970: The first cohort of 36 students graduated.
April 1971: The first UW-Parkside student government was elected.
October 1971: The State Legislature approved a bill to merge the four-campus University of Wisconsin with the Wisconsin State Universities, creating the University of Wisconsin System.
Summer 1972: UW-Parkside runner Lucien Rosa competed in the Olympic marathon in Munich.
September 1972: The Library/Learning Center and the Physical Education Building opened.
March 1973: Assistant life sciences professor Omar Amin discovered a new species of tiny parasitic worm in the Pike River and named it Acanthocephalus parksidei after the university.
Spring 1976: Gary Cole finished his basketball career with a record 2,262 points and 1,177 rebounds.
January 1980: Six athletes became the inaugural members of the UW-Parkside Hall of Fame.
February 1981: The university established the Biomedical Research Institute.
June 1983: Researcher Ross Gundersen demonstrated that a substance released by developing muscle tissue attracts growing spinal nerves.
September 1985: Chancellor Guskin left UW-Parkside to become president of Antioch University.
December 1987: Professor Chong-maw Chen was named one of six Wisconsin Distinguished Professors by the Board of Regents.
March 1991: University officials initiated an exchange agreement between UW-Parkside and the Georgian Technical University in Tbilisi, Georgia.
April 1991: A human-protein experiment coordinated by Associate Chemistry Professor Z. Richard Korszun launched into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
July 1992: Two UW-Parkside connected race walkers competed in the Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Fall 1992: UW-Parkside history professor Thomas Reeves published A Question of Character: A Life of John F. Kennedy, which became a New York Times Best Seller.
May 1993: The university awarded its first honorary doctor of humane letters degree to poet Gwendolyn Brooks.
May 1994: Chancellor Kaplan left the university to become president of the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
May 1996: UW-Parkside was granted professional accreditation of its School of Business by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Campus and Facilities

The campus of UW-Parkside is located on 700 acres of picturesque natural prairie and woodland. It comprises 15 buildings, including:

Wyllie Hall
Greenquist Hall
Molinaro Hall
Tallent Hall
The Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities ("The Rita")
The Student Center
The Sports & Activity Center
Ranger Hall
University Apartments
Pike River Suites

The campus also features hundreds of acres of restored prairies, mature oak and maple forests, and a meandering creek. The Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities underwent remodeling and expansion in 2012 to become a creative and cultural hub for southeast Wisconsin.

Academics and Programs

UW-Parkside offers more than 30 undergraduate majors and graduate-level degrees in business, applied molecular biology, information systems, and sustainable management. The College of Business, Economics, and Computing prepares students to become business and community leaders and entrepreneurs.

Undergraduate business programs are available in:

Accounting
Finance
General Business
Human Resource Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing

Several undergraduate certificates in areas such as project management and sales are also available. The college also offers in-person and online MBA programs with multiple concentrations and launched five graduate business certificates in 2023. In addition, online undergraduate degree programs in business are currently offered or being launched, and a competency-based online bachelor of science in business administration is offered.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Library and Research

The UW-Parkside Library houses the university archives and the Parkside Area Research Center (ARC). The ARC contains local and regional manuscript collections, including the Vincent F.

The Innovation Corridor includes the Ralph Jaeschke Solutions for Economic Growth Center, App Factory, Makerspace and Small Business Development Center, Sales Center, and Cybersecurity Lab, allowing students to obtain real-world experience within the context of their studies.

Student Life

Living on campus in residence halls, apartments, or suites puts students in the heart of the Parkside community. Residence options include Ranger Hall, University Apartments, and Pike River Suites.

Life beyond the classroom at Parkside offers multiple ways to get involved, gain leadership skills, and make a positive difference. There are over 50 student organizations, clubs, and intramural sports activities.

The Ranger News is the student-run paper, available online and in print. WIPZ (101.5 FM) is the on-campus radio station that broadcasts music, branded as Ranger Radio.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Athletics

UW-Parkside is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Varsity sports for men and women include soccer, basketball, track, golf, and cross country. Men's varsity sports are baseball and wrestling. The athletic program has been branded as the Parkside Rangers since joining the GLIAC in 2018. The university's mascot, depicted by a brown bear in a Parkside jersey, is Ranger Bear.

Leadership and Administration

The university has had six chancellors:

Irvin G. Wyllie (1966-74)
Alan Guskin (1975-85)
Sheila Kaplan (1986-93)
Eleanor J. Smith (1994-97)
John P. Keating (1998-2008)
Deborah L.

Safety and Security

The university prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff. In February, UW-Parkside experienced a swatting incident, where a false report of a serious emergency was made. The campus was shut down, and students were told to evacuate or shelter in place. Authorities identified the threat as a hoax, and the university announced an increased police presence on campus.

tags: #university #of #wisconsin #parkside #information