University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Motto:	Excellence: Our Measure, Our Motto, Our Goal
Established:	1916
Type:	State university
Endowment:	$26,000,000
Chancellor:	Brian Levin-Stankevich
Faculty:	479
Staff:	1,150
Students:	10,549
Undergraduates:	10,346[1]
Postgraduates:	543[2]
Location:	Eau Claire, WI, USA
Campus:	Urban, 333 acres (1.3 km²)
Colors:	Navy & Old Gold
Mascot:	Blugold
Website:	www.uwec.edu

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (also known as UW-Eau Claire or UWEC) is a public university located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. The university is categorized as a postbaccalaureate comprehensive institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees, along with other educational certificates.

The University sits along the banks of the Chippewa River in the Chippewa Valley. The campus consists of 28 major buildings spanning 333 acres (1.3 km²). The school's annual enrollment is more than 10,000.

The University is affiliated with the NCAA's Division III sports program as well as the WIAC Intercollegiate Conference. The mascot is the "Eau Claire Blugold".

[edit] History

The University was founded in 1916 as the Eau Claire State Normal School, offering one-, two- and three-year teachers' courses and a principals' course. In 1927, the name of the school was changed to the Eau Claire State Teachers College and the school began offering a bachelor's degree program. The campus was also altered to accommodate a 300-man detachment from the Army Air Corps.

In 1951, the Wisconsin Board of Regents authorized the school to offer bachelor of arts and science degrees in liberal arts; subsequently, the name of the school was changed to the Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire. In 1964 the Board of Regents gave university standing to the state colleges, and the institution at Eau Claire was renamed Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire. Finally, in 1971 the name of the institution was changed to the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire following the merger of the Wisconsin State University System and the University of Wisconsin System.

[edit] Campus facts

Information presumed current as of December 2007^{[update] [3]}

• Location: Eau Claire, Wisconsin; city pop. 64,000, metro. pop. 151,000
• Campus: 28 major buildings, 333 acres (1.35 km²) and one river
• Walk across campus: About 15 min.

• Student population: 10,549
  • Undergraduate students: 10,096
  • Graduate students: 497
  • Multicultural students: 613
  • Students studying abroad: 484

Schofield Hall, which contains most of the administrative offices.

A view of UWEC looking northeast toward Hibbard Humanities Hall, over the top of Schofield Hall. In the foreground is the "Old Library", now part of the McIntyre Library, UWEC's central library.

A classroom in the Cargill Collaboration Center

• Faculty and staff: 1,150
  • Full-time faculty: 408 (246 men; 162 women)
  • Part-time faculty: 71 (23 men; 48 women)
  • Total faculty with Ph.D. or other terminal degree: 78%
  • Multicultural faculty members: 35
  • Faculty with tenure: 58%
• Faculty-student ratio: 1-to-20
• Computer-to-student ratio: 1-to-9
• Average men-to-women ratio: 2-to-3
• ACT composite average: 23.9
• Average class size: 29
• Student organizations: 219
• Seal: Council oak tree

[edit] Academics

[edit] Colleges

• College of Business
• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Education and Human Sciences
• College of Nursing and Health Sciences

[edit] Graduate programs

• Business Administration (MBA)
• Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS)
• Education--Special Education (MSE)
• English (MA)
• History (MA)
• Nursing (MSN)
• Professional Development (ME)
• School Psychology (Ed.S.)
• Teaching Elementary Education (MST)
• Teaching English (MST)
• Teaching History (MAT)
• Teaching History (MST)
• Teaching History/Social Science (MST)
• Teaching Reading (MS)

[edit] National recognition

The 2008 edition of U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" ranked UW-Eau Claire 5th among regional public universities in the Midwest and 26th among all private and public institutions in the Midwest.^[4]

Information presumed current as of December 2007^{[update] [5]}

UW-Eau Claire is among the top producers of 2007-08 U.S. Fulbright Fellows.

UW-Eau Claire student is a recipient of the National Ford Fellowship Scholarship.

UW-Eau Claire is featured in The Princeton Review's 2008 editions of America's Best Value Colleges and Best Midwestern Colleges.

Comparing measures of quality against cost, UW-Eau Claire ranks as the 65th best value in American public higher education, according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine.

Service-learning
UW-Eau Claire was among the 141 public and private colleges, universities and professional schools named in the first President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for General Community Service.

[edit] Accreditation

UW-Eau Claire is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Various agencies also fully accredit specific programs, and UW-Eau Claire is affiliated with a number of organizations. See list.

[edit] Departments

History
The history department at UW-Eau Claire received the UW System Regents Teaching Excellence Award for Academic Departments and Programs in recognition of its exceptional commitment to teaching and learning.

Chemistry
UW-Eau Claire is a national leader among comprehensive universities in the number of chemistry graduates earning Ph.D.s. Chemistry is just one of many innovative degree programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Music
From choral, orchestral and wind repertoire to jazz and musical theater, UW-Eau Claire's music and theater arts program is one of the best in the country. Jazz Ensemble I, five-time winner of Down Beat magazine's "Best College Big Band" award, is just one example of the musical talent at UW-Eau Claire.

College of Business
UW-Eau Claire ranks near the top 25 percent nationwide in the number of accounting students who pass the CPA exam the first time. This "advantage" is a reflection of the strength of all of the College of Business programs.

Nursing
UW-Eau Claire is the only public university in northwestern and northcentral Wisconsin that offers a baccalaureate nursing degree. The nationally recognized program in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates more than 100 students a year, many of whom receive multiple job offers.

Education
The Milken National Educator Award won by James Doucette, a UW-Eau Claire education graduate, exemplifies our College of Education and Human Sciences’ respected status in the area.

Wisconsin Youth Sports Program
Formally the National Youth Sports Program, WYSP at UW-Eau Claire is a free summer camp for economically deprived kids and is a top program in the country. One unique feature of WYSP at UW-Eau Claire is the Senior Program, a component designed specifically to meet the changing needs of our thirteen to sixteen year old participants. The WYSP (NYSP) program has received the Silvio O.Conte Award of Excellence three times - 2004, 1998, 1991.

Forensics
UW-Eau Claire has a nationally recognized forensics program, winning the state tournament for 15 consecutive years and placing seventh at the 2007 national tournament.

Study Abroad
UW-Eau Claire ranks 14th nationally among all master's-level schools in the number of students who study abroad, according to the 2007 Open Doors Report of the Institute for International Education. The 2007 Open Doors Report indicates that 484 UW-Eau Claire students studied abroad during the 2005-06 academic year, up from the previous year when 440 students participated in a study abroad program.

[edit] Athletics

The mascot is the "Eau Claire Blugold", a name coined to reflect the school colors (navy blue and old gold). Previous mascot and athletic team names include the Normals, the Normalites (because UWEC was founded as Eau Claire State Normal School), the Blue and Gold Warriors, the Blue and Gold Gridirons, the Zornmen (in honor of Willis L. "Bill" Zorn, basketball and football coach from 1928-1968), the Golden Tornadoes, the Zornadoes, the Golden Zornadoes, the Blue and Gold Squad, the Bluegold Squad, and the Bluegolds. There is no evidence in the Periscope yearbooks of a bulldog mascot prior to 1940.^[6] Further research may uncover some evidence of the reported "Eau Claire Bulldogs," an anagram of Blugolds. The actual meaning of the mascot has been debated for some time.^[7]

Sports clubs

• Baseball club
• Bowling club
• Cheer and stunt team
• Dance team
• Dodgeball club
• Hobnailers
• Hwa Rang Do/Tae Soo Do
• Men's lacrosse
• Men's rugby
• Men's soccer
• Men's ultimate
• Men's volleyball
• Water ski team
• Women's ultimate

[edit] Athletic facilities

• W. L. Zorn Arena[3]

[edit] Marching band

The UW-Eau Claire Blugold Marching Band has recently become the largest D3 college marching band and remains one of the most active marching bands in the midwest. Under the direction of Randy Dickerson the BMB has grown from 68 members to 230 members in just 8 years. In 2008-2009 the BMB will perform in multiple exhibitions as well as at the Lincoln Way Exhibition in Chicago. One of the season highlights was their performance at the halftime show of the September 8th Packers-Vikings Monday Night Football game.

[edit] Notable alumni

• David Domine, bestselling author and cookbook writer (Class of 1989)
• Mark Green, U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania, former U.S. Congressman (Class of 1983)
• Alex Hicks, Former NHL hockey player for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the San Jose Sharks, and the Florida Panthers.
• Brian "Kato" Kaelin, of O.J. Simpson trial fame; (did not graduate)
• Claire B. Lang, host of "Dialed In" on XM Satellite Radio's NASCAR Channel (Class of 1976)
• John Menard, Jr., founder of Menards (Class of 1963)
• Gustavo R. Paz-Pujalt, scientist and inventor
• Laila Robins, stage and film actor (Class of 1981)
• Mae Schunk, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
• Justin Vernon, lead singer of Bon Iver

Shane Hernesman, Sports doctor for Washington Nationals

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• UW–Eau Claire Website
• UW–Eau Claire Athletics

Coordinates: 44°47′56″N 91°29′58″W / 44.798950°N 91.499346°W / 44.798950; -91.499346