Low enrollment leads UW-Platteville Richland to eliminate face-to-face classes next fall

The University of Wisconsin System's smallest campus next fall will no longer offer face-to-face instruction to students, with UW's top leader citing low enrollment and financial pressures making the sustainability of the campus' traditional education model "untenable."

UW-Platteville Richland Center isn't closing, at least for now. UW System President Jay Rothman directed interim UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich on Tuesday to develop a plan related to the "ongoing presence at and mission of" the campus, such as offering enrichment courses, online reskilling or upskilling courses for adult learners.

Rothman's letter asks Evetovich to offer reasonable arrangements for Richland Center's students to transfer next fall to UW-Platteville's main campus or the Baraboo campus. The plan should also cover the campus's faculty and staff. The school's directory lists 25 employees, though some may have responsibilities on other campuses, too.

Richland Center's major shift will come five years after the 13 small UW campuses merged with some of the larger universities as a way to improve the transfer process, create administrative efficiencies and avoid campus closures. UW-Platteville, for example, absorbed UW-Richland Center and UW-Baraboo as branch campuses.

Richland Center had about 225 students at the time of the 2018 restructuring. Enrollment nosedived to an all-time low of 60 degree-seeking students this fall. At its enrollment peak in 2014, the campus located between La Crosse and Madison had about 580 students, UW data show.

Rothman told Evetovich that the decision was "not an easy one" but he "concluded that the status quo is no longer available." He asked her to submit the transition plan by Jan. 15.

Other branch campuses have struggled to shore up enrollment, though to a lesser extent than Richland Center. Rising costs, repeated budget cuts and a tuition freeze for more than a decade are among the challenges UW faces in keeping these small campuses open.

The news comes in the middle of a search for the next chancellor of UW-Platteville. The southwestern Wisconsin campus has faced its own enrollment challenges, falling from about 8,700 students a decade ago to roughly 6,500 this fall. The university's Baraboo campus has the second-lowest enrollment among the branch campuses, with estimates showing 176 students enrolled this fall.

UW-Platteville officials declined to be interviewed, sending a statement confirming that face-to-face classes would end in Richland Center on July 1.

"We understand this is a difficult decision, and we know this situation creates uncertainty," the statement said. "The university is committed to making the transition as positive as possible for our students, faculty and staff."

Rothman was not available for an interview Tuesday, UW System spokesperson Mark Pitsch said.

The state pays the salaries of faculty and staff while Richland County owns the campus' buildings and land.

Richland County administrator Clinton Langreck said he couldn't speculate on the financial ramifications of UW's decision. He is working with UW and the County Board to understand how Rothman's order will affect building usage and higher education options. Asked if he supported UW's decision, he said "right or wrong, it’s not for me to say" and his job is to figure out what this will mean for the future of the community.

Richland County Board Chairperson Marty Brewer said UW informed the board about plans to reduce the campus footprint roughly a month ago. He said the board would look at all options, including selling the land and buildings.

With Richland County declining in population and Southwest Technical College doing a "great job" enrolling students, Brewer said the situation for UW-Richland Center felt like a "losing battle" and "inevitable."

Chuck Cornett, who leads the Faculty Senate at UW-Platteville, called the decision "heartbreaking" but said he understood it from a fiscal standpoint. He said many individuals worked to come up with alternatives to no avail. He supports continuing to offer classes in a different format to continue to provide access to higher education in the Driftless region.

"This wasn’t some glib, callous, out-of-the-blue type of decision," he said. "There were literally thousands of hours by dozens if not hundreds of individuals trying to find a way to right the ship there."

Richland Center Mayor Todd Coppernoll took classes on the campus in the 1980s. He counted at least 10 family members who have also enrolled at UW-Richland Center. For many in the community, the campus was a place "filled with beginnings." It's where friendships were fostered. It's where romances blossomed. It's where careers started.

As enrollment dropped lower year after year, and staff positions were eliminated, Coppernoll said he could see the writing on the wall. He said most of the financial impact has already been absorbed at this point.

But it didn't really make Tuesday's news any easier to stomach. Coppernoll said Evetovich gave him a few hours' heads-up, which he appreciated. He said he politely thanked her, hung up and sobbed.

"It's a big deal," he said. "It's a heavy loss. There will be a lot of tears in our community over this."

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: University of Wisconsin Platteville Richland Center to axe in-person classes