Faced with enrollment declines, 51ΑΤΖζ embarks on new ways to ensure student success in Waukesha
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced today that its 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha campus will close after the Spring 2025 semester in response to a directive from the Universities of Wisconsin. This also means closing the College of General Studies and ending its associate degree offerings at that time. Declining enrollment, shifting demographics and budgetary constraints led 51ΑΤΖζ to re-evaluate the best pathway for delivering higher education in Waukesha County.
As part of this transition, 51ΑΤΖζ and Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) jointly announced plans to develop the 51ΑΤΖζ University Center at WCTC. The University Center model ensures that students in Waukesha County can obtain a high-quality associate degree from WCTC at a low cost and then seamlessly continue a four-year degree with 51ΑΤΖζ. It also allows 51ΑΤΖζ to continue offering affordable higher education in Waukesha County through bachelorβs degree completion and graduate-level offerings.
β51ΑΤΖζβs highest priority is student success,β 51ΑΤΖζ Chancellor Mark Mone said. βAs student demands change, universities must change. The 51ΑΤΖζ University Center at WCTC allows us to put the student first and ensure a stronger future for 51ΑΤΖζ.β
βThe innovative action taken today by 51ΑΤΖζ and WCTC is what is best for Waukesha County,β Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow said. βIt provides certainty for planning purposes and creates a consistent pathway to access higher education for our residents. I am optimistic for the future of higher education in Waukesha County.β
51ΑΤΖζ and WCTC will work collaboratively to support current and prospective students in identifying options that best meet their goals. In January 2024, 51ΑΤΖζ announced transfer agreements with four regional technical colleges, including WCTC. Students with associate degrees interested in continuing their degree at 51ΑΤΖζ no longer need to fill out a lengthy application.
Closing the 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha campus will impact more than 100 employees, including faculty. During the transition, WCTC will seek to hire 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha employees as enrollment grows.
51ΑΤΖζ University Center at WCTC
The joint announcement of the 51ΑΤΖζ University Center at WCTC offers an opportunity to reshape the future of higher education in the M7 region. 51ΑΤΖζ and WCTC have had a longstanding relationship of more than 20 years. The 51ΑΤΖζ University Center at WCTC will allow students to transition seamlessly between associate and bachelorβs degrees. It will also allow for graduate degree opportunities.
βWe are committed to supporting 51ΑΤΖζ and the Waukesha community through this transition,β said WCTC President Rich Barnhouse. βWe look forward to delivering on that commitment and building a new model of high-quality education with 51ΑΤΖζ. Chancellor Mone is a strong partner and I value his leadership and collaboration on shaping the future of higher education in Wisconsin.β
51ΑΤΖζ will support student transitions to WCTC over the next 16 months. As enrollment grows at WCTC and the University Center, WCTC will seek to hire 51ΑΤΖζ employees.
Declines in enrollment and funding
Enrollment declines at 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha mirror declines at two-year colleges throughout the nation. The Waukesha campus, which operated independently from 51ΑΤΖζ as the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha until 2018, experienced a total enrollment decline of more than 65% from 2014 to 2023. With expanded associate degree offerings available at WCTC since January 2023, there simply are not enough students to sustain a separate two-year campus in Waukesha, so it makes sense to adapt by consolidating and collaborating on educational offerings.
After the UW System-mandated merger of 51ΑΤΖζ and UW-Waukesha in 2018,Β 51ΑΤΖζ continued investing in the Waukesha campus and expanded to offer bachelorβs degree options in nursing, psychology andΒ business. These efforts sought to attract new prospective students, but new bachelorβs programs are insufficient to mitigate the 10-year loss in associate degree students.
As state funding shrinks, many institutions like 51ΑΤΖζ are more reliant on tuition dollars. As fewer traditional college-aged students choose to pursue degrees, universities in Wisconsin and across the country face unprecedented financial pressures. As such, they must make difficult choices to move forward from unsustainable operations.
Impacts on 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha employees
As directed by Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman, the closure of the 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha campus will require layoffs of staff and faculty, including tenured faculty. 51ΑΤΖζ will work closely with all involved to support employee transitions.
βTodayβs announcement will also directly impact more than 100 employees at our Waukesha campus,β 51ΑΤΖζ Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrew Daire said. βWe are committed to working with our employees through this transition and identifying every possible opportunity for employment. Our team members at Waukesha are dedicated to educating and supporting students. We make this announcement with a deep understanding of the loss it will create for our colleagues.β
51ΑΤΖζ will support employees over the next 16 months to provide additional support and resources. As enrollment growth allows, 51ΑΤΖζ and WCTC are committed to working together to employ as many 51ΑΤΖζ at Waukesha faculty and staff as possible.
Media availability
Chancellor Mone, President Barnhouse and County Executive Farrow will hold a news conference on 51ΑΤΖζβs main campus at 2 p.m. Monday, March 11, at the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, 2100 E. 51ΑΤΖζ. Contact media-services-team@uwm.edu if you would like to attend.