Wisconsin State Universities

The Wisconsin State Universities were a family of public state universities operated by the State of Wisconsin.

History

In 1911 the Wisconsin legislature permitted the addition of two parallel years of post-high school work in art, liberal arts and sciences, pre-law, and pre-medicine to the state's system of normal schools. The broadened curriculum proved popular and soon accounted for over one-third of the normal schools' enrollment. In 1920, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a highly prestigious body, issued a report entitled "The Professional Education of Teachers of American Public Schools", which attacked such programs, arguing that normal schools should not deviate from their purpose as trainers of teachers. When the Milwaukee Normal School persisted with its popular enhanced curriculum, the regents of the Normal School system, the legislature, and the Governor all became involved. MNS President Carroll G. Pearse was forced to resign in 1923, and the regents ordered the discontinuance of non-teacher-education programs. The issue was not settled, though: public pressure for expanded offerings at normal schools continued to grow, and education professionals opinion concluded that traditional two-year curricula in teacher training were inadequate. In 1926, the regents repurposed the Normal Schools as "State Teachers Colleges" offering a stringent four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor of Education degree that incorporated significant general education at all levels. The thousands of returning World War II veterans in Wisconsin needed more college choices for their studies under the G.I. Bill, and popular demand pushed the State Teachers College system Regents to once again allow the teacher training institutions to offer bachelor degrees in liberal arts and fine arts. In 1951 these all became "Wisconsin State Colleges"; then (with the exception of Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee, which had become the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1956) "Wisconsin State Universities" in 1964. What was now the Wisconsin State University system was merged with the University of Wisconsin's four branches in 1971 to create what is known as the University of Wisconsin System: a move intended to enhance University of Wisconsin's prestige and influence, but resisted by some parties concerned with a possible brand dilution.

Former Wisconsin State Universities

* 1866 Platteville Normal School; 1927 Platteville State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College Platteville; 1959 merged with the Wisconsin Institute of Technology to become Wisconsin State College and Institute of Technology; 1966, Wisconsin State University-Platteville; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
* 1868 Whitewater Normal School; 1927, Whitewater Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College-Whitewater; 1964, Wisconsin State University–Whitewater; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
* 1871 Oshkosh State Normal School; 1927, Oshkosh State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College Oshkosh; 1964, Wisconsin State University Oshkosh; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
* 1874 River Falls Normal School; 1927, River Falls State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College–River Falls; 1964, Wisconsin State University–River Falls; 1971, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
* 1885 Milwaukee State Normal School; 1927, Wisconsin State Teacher’s College; 1951, Wisconsin State College; 1956, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
* 1891 Stout Manual Training School; 1908, The Stout Institute (not part of the State Normal School System); 1955, Stout State College (brought under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents of the State Colleges); 1964, Stout State University; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Stout
* 1893 Superior Normal School; 1927, Superior Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College–Superior; 1964, Wisconsin State University–Superior; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Superior
* 1894 Stevens Point Normal School; 1927, Central State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College–Stevens Point; 1964, Wisconsin State University–Stevens Point; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
* 1909 La Crosse Normal School; 1927, LaCrosse State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College–La Crosse; 1964, Wisconsin State University–La Crosse; 1971, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
* 1916 Eau Claire State Normal School; 1927, Eau Claire State Teachers College; 1951, Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire; 1964, Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire; 1971, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

ee also

*University of Wisconsin (former)
*University of Wisconsin System