Board of Regents approves UWO academic restructuring, renovation of Polk Library

OSHKOSH – UWO has been given the go-ahead.

The University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents is endorsing the Oshkosh campus’ academic restructuring proposal that will see the university consolidate its four colleges into three to save around $1.75 million annually.

Chancellor Andy Leavitt made the announcement via news release Aug. 22 after the Board of Regents endorsed the academic plan and the $137.5 million renovation of UWO’s Polk Library.

“A team of faculty and staff have worked incredibly hard on developing the new structure that offers an even better educational experience for students while achieving considerable savings outside the classroom,” wrote UWO Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Ed Martini in the release.

“We appreciate the support of the Regents Education Committee and full board, which now propel us toward implementing the plan and fully realizing what we call ‘UWO 2.0.’”

Under the previous structure, UWO had four primary colleges — College of Business, College of Education and Human Services, College of Letters and Science, and College of Nursing.

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But faculty voted on a new model in April that will see those schools consolidated into the College of Business, Arts and Communication; the College of Public Affairs and Education; and the College of Nursing, Health Professionals and STEM.

The academic restructuring comes as part of phase two of UWO’s Institutional Realignment Plan, geared toward eliminating what was once a $15 million deficit at the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

That figure was reduced to $3 million after UWO laid off 140 staff members and accepted another 76 voluntary retirements .

A previous audit from Deloitte said “the future of the institution was at risk” without those “significant and immediate changes” as UWO deals with declining enrollment, lower retention numbers and the almost exhausted GPO reserves.

In light of this, the Board of Regents still greenlit the renovation of Polk Library as one of the major projects in the 2025-27 state biennial capital budget requests.

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According to the release, the library’s redevelopment will see the modernizing of the building's 1967 wing through the demolishing and reconstruction of the north wing.

The project is also intended to address the library’s water penetration issues and mechanical systems while providing a complex to house print collections and local and state archives.

“The Polk Learning Commons plan reminds us that as libraries transform in shape and usage, they remain the beating heart of any university — havens for learning, collaboration and research,” Leavitt said.

“We’re ready to work with state officials in the months ahead and make the case for this much-needed investment in UWO.”

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Board of Regents approves UWO academic restructuring, renovation of Polk Library