'I'm a little frustrated': UWM Washington County students react to branch campus closing
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Students at a UW-Milwaukee branch campus set to close next year say they are worried about suddenly having to transfer schools.
"The professors didn't know. We told our professor at the end of class, and he was shocked," Sukiana Gilmesiter said.
Gilmesiter is a nursing student at UW-Milwaukee Washington County. She tells CBS 58 she got an email explaining her campus would close by June of 2024 in the middle of class. Gilmesiter said she knew she would have to transfer to another campus to finish her degree eventually, but she was not prepared for it to happen so soon as she just started one month ago.
"Now that campus is closing, I'm a little frustrated because now I have to figure out Waukesha or Milwaukee, which is a 45-minute drive, and I'm a mother of two. I don't know what I am going to do because they have soccer practice and school, and I have to pick them up," she said.
"Now I have to make a plan within six months, eight months, whatever it is. It's terrifying because I don't know what I'm going to do. Right now, I get out 10 minutes before I have to be at my son's school. If I'm 45 minutes away, how am I going to get my son from school?"
UW Systems President Jay Rothmann announced Tuesday a slew of changes to three branch campuses, citing declining enrollment. UW Milwaukee-Washington County and UW Platteville-Richland will close, and UW Oshkosh-Fond Du Lac will end in-person instruction.
"So, I think what you're seeing at the two-year branch campuses is we have to react to market forces, and the market is telling us that the offerings we're making today are not what prospective students are looking for," Rothman said.
Rothman insisted the changes are about the student experience, which he says is lacking at branch campuses due to low enrollment, not money. UW-Milwaukee said Tuesday their Washington County campus has seen a 55% drop in enrollment since 2018, but for many students, it is a cost-effective way to get an education.
"It just sucks. I live so close, so it was really convenient to have the campus right here," UW-Milwaukee Washington County student Jacob Claeys said. "It's just shocking. They have to break the news somehow. There's not really any way without it being like a shocking thing."
There are also concerns about tuition as the branch campuses are typically cheaper, but Rothman addressed those questions when announcing the changes.
"What we have done in the past is we have kept tuition the same that they would've paid at the branch campus for a period of time," he said.
In an email sent to UW-Milwaukee Washington County students, Chancellor Mark Mone explained the changes.
"Following a directive from the Universities of Wisconsin, UWM will close the UWM at Washington County campus, with a goal of completing the process by June 30, 2024. UWM at Waukesha will remain open to serve students seeking an associate degree or one of its new bachelor’s degree offerings. We will continue to work with Waukesha County Technical College and other partners in the region to strengthen options for students and meet the region's demands," the email read.
Mone went on to explain the university will help students transfer to a bachelor's degree program at a school of their choice and that they are working with Moraine Park Technical College to determine ways to continue higher education in Washington County in the future.
After receiving the email, Caleys said he felt confident the university would assist students during this transition.
"They were very clear about that. They're going to help us with figuring the process out. They're not just hanging us out to dry or anything like that," he said.
As to what will happen with the buildings, Rothman explained several options are on the table as the campuses have conversations with county leaders.
He said those conversations involve utilizing the existing campuses or other possible locations in a range of ways, including offering four-year and graduate degree options, upskilling and reskilling opportunities for the existing workforce, expanding dual enrollment, or opening navigation centers for high school and nontraditional students seeking guidance on their university journey.
"We will maintain a small presence there, as a period of time, as we continue to work with the counties to decide the best step forward relative to that, but it will not be in-person learning," Rothman said.
County Executive Josh Schoemann issued the following statement regarding the closure of the UW-Milwaukee at Washington County branch campus:
“As a past school board president in Washington County, I understand the difficulties of making tough decisions that affect a community and its students. One thing I learned from navigating such difficulties is that it is essential to keep schools focused on students. I remain wholly committed to keeping students first as we work through this transition, fighting to keep higher education opportunities in our community for the students of today and the future.”
Information about the changes happening at UW-Milwaukee Washington County is available here.