HOME : ABOUT UW-MANITOWOC : CAMPUS HISTORY, MISSION & FACTS

About UW-Manitowoc

Background | Past, Present & Future | Mission | Facts & Figures

Background

The University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc is located on the southeastern edge of Manitowoc surrounded by nature's beauty.  The 40 acre campus is bound by Lake Michigan on the east and by Silver Creek Park, a 78 acre wooded park, on the south.

As one of thirteen freshman/sophomore campuses of the University of Wisconsin Colleges, UW-Manitowoc offers the best of two worlds:  students experience the small classes and personal attention of a private college at a low public university cost.  Because UW-Manitowoc specializes in freshman/sophomore curriculum, transferring is at the heart of our mission; after completing general education classes, and/or earning an Associate's Degree, students can transfer in step to any other university or private college.

Since 1962, UW-Manitowoc has been a valuable resource for our area, serving not only the educational needs of students, but the needs of our community for continuing education, cultural events and expertise in areas ranging from anthropology to zoology.

The community is encouraged to participate in UW-Manitowoc's Continuing Education Courses, College for Kids, Upward Bound, Art Exhibits, campus-community band, chorus and theater.

Past, Present and Future

The University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc is one of 26 campuses of the state-wide University of Wisconsin System.  It is owned by the county of Manitowoc and operated by the State of Wisconsin.  The University of Wisconsin has had a presence in Manitowoc since 1933 when 26 students took a UW English course at the Vocational School on Clark Street.  As the number of classes and students grew, overcrowding prompted the building of the UW-Manitowoc campus on 40 acres along the shore of Lake Michigan.  When the doors opened on Viebahn Street in 1962, the new campus was home to 252 students.

In 1986 Hillside Hall (first named West Hall) was added to the campus, doubling its original size.  Hillside Hall contains a lecture hall (originally a music rehearsal room), computer laboratory, classrooms, faculty offices, a geography/geology lab and a physical education facility.

In 2001, Lakeside hall was built, adding 22,000 square feet to the size of the campus.  A new music rehearsal room, 350-seat theatre, cafeteria and commons area are some of the features of Lakeside Hall.  Renovations to Hillside and Founders halls were made with improvements to distance education classrooms, administrative offices, the bookstore and the art gallery.  A new lecture hall and computerized classroom were also part of the project.

Today, over 640 students are enrolled at UW-Manitowoc, with over 100 classes offered in 25 different areas of study.

Mission

The University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc is a vibrant community of learning which strives to share its resources, both educational and physical, with area residents.  UW-Manitowoc also aims to provide people of all backgrounds a place to build a foundation for a four-year degree, find personal fulfillment, or seek job enhancement.

UW-Manitowoc encourages life-long learning, leadership, service and responsible citizenship through its dedication to:

• Serving the needs of our students and community by providing courses and programs that will encourage initiative, critical thinking, and the exchange of ideas which will lead to successful self-development.
• Maintaining our reputation for excellence in teaching by encouraging scholarly activity including research, scholarship and creativity.
• Fostering a relationship with the community by sharing the professional expertise of the faculty and staff, and by encouraging campus/community interaction through which our students' education and the community's quality of life can be advanced.

UW-Manitowoc is proud to be an integral part of the world renowned University of Wisconsin System.  In continuing the tradition of excellence, UW-Manitowoc offers a full array of quality educational opportunities, the services of top-notch faculty, accessible extra-curricular activities and various programs to enhance the vitality of its learning community.

Facts & Figures

• Enrollment:  Approximately 600 students 
• 76% full-time, 24% part-time
• Average Class Size: 24.6
• Staff:  40 faculty and instructional staff, 18 administrative staff, 14 support staff
• Operating Budget:  $3.1 million
• Over 100 classes offered in 25 different areas
• Tuition:  The UW Colleges have the lowest tuition in the UW System, at approximately $2246 for a semester of full-time study (for Wisconsin residents)
• Accreditation:  The UW Colleges are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission - A commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.