View source for University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County

{{Short description|Public college in Baraboo, Wisconsin, US}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
| name                   = University of Wisconsin Platteville–Baraboo Sauk County
| latin_name             =
| other_name             = UW Baraboo, Boo U
| former_name            = University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County
| image                  = UW Baraboo 10.jpg
| parent                 = University of Wisconsin-Platteville<ref>{{cite web |title=University of Wisconsin-Platteville |url=https://www.uwplatt.edu/our-campuses |website=University of Wisconsin-Platteville}}</ref>
| established            = 1968
| city                   = [[Baraboo]]
| state                  = [[Wisconsin]]
| country                = [[United States]]
| director               = Matt Fencl
| undergrad              = 178
| chancellor             = Tammy Evetovich<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chancellor and Leadership |url=https://www.uwplatt.edu/chancellor-and-leadership |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=University of Wisconsin–Platteville}}</ref>
| campus                 = Small town
| campus_size            = {{convert|68|acre|ha|0}}
| sporting_affiliations  = [[Wisconsin Collegiate Conference|WCC]]
| nickname               = Fighting Spirits
| website                = {{URL|https://uwplatt.edu/baraboo}}
| logo                   =
}}
The '''University of Wisconsin–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County''' ('''UW-Baraboo''' or '''Boo-U''') is a [[Satellite campus|branch campus]] of the [[University of Wisconsin–Platteville]], located in [[Baraboo, Wisconsin]]. Founded in 1968, it was known as '''University of Wisconsin–Baraboo/Sauk County''' and was a part of the [[University of Wisconsin Colleges]]. It joined UW-Platteville in 2018 as a branch campus following dissolution of the UW-Colleges system. The University offers 5 [[Associate degree|associate degrees]] and 1 [[bachelor's degree]] entirely on campus, while students have the option of changing campuses to Platteville main or online for additional degree programs.
The {{convert|68|acre|ha|0|sing=on}} campus overlooks the [[Baraboo Range|Baraboo bluffs]] and is intersected by the [[Ice Age Trail]]. 6 buildings comprise the campus, including [[Dormitory|student dorms]], a student union, a library, and classroom buildings. The university was originally built with 3 buildings and has expanded over the years, including its most recent building in 2015.
Originally designed for 300 students, the campus saw increasing enrollment through 2000, peaking at 758. Most recently there were 178 undergraduates in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UWSA Trends in Enrollment |url=https://public.tableau.com/shared/XB4GGM9GC?:showVizHome=no |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Tableau Software}}</ref>
==History==
The university opened in the fall of 1968,<ref name=Dewelsophist>Dewel, Bob. "[https://www.baraboopubliclibrary.org/files/local/dewelvol3/05%20the%201970s%20001.pdf '60s, '70s and sophistication too?]" In: "The 1970's"{{sic}} Pages 989 to 1052. Baraboo Public Library. Retrieved on November 22, 2018. CITED: p. 990.</ref> as a freshman-sophomore campus as part of the [[University of Wisconsin Colleges|University of Wisconsin Colleges system]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=UW Baraboo History |url=http://baraboo.uwc.edu/about/overview/history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703103536/http://baraboo.uwc.edu/about/overview/history |archive-date=3 July 2018}}</ref> The university is jointly owned by the UW system, [[Sauk County, Wisconsin|Sauk County]], and [[Baraboo, Wisconsin|City of Baraboo]].<ref name=":0" /> It was originally designed for 300 students.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Baraboo Sauk County History {{!}} UW-Platteville |url=https://www.uwplatt.edu/baraboo/history |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.uwplatt.edu |language=en}}</ref> Circa the mid-to-late 20th century [[West Baraboo, Wisconsin|West Baraboo]] did not financially contribute to UW–Baraboo.<ref name="Dewelsophist" />
Starting in 1974, the university provided college education to prisoners at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Oxford|Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford]]. The program granted 2 year Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and 1-year certificates in Business or Computer Science. The program ended in 2009.<ref name=":2" />
The late 90s saw several expansion projects on campus. With a donation from John and Murrel Lange in 1995, a new student union was built. It included a gymnasium, cafeteria, and student services. In 1996 renovations occurred in all major classroom buildings. The same year, with a donation from the Hill family, a new music center was built including practice rooms and a rehearsal hall.<ref name=":1" />
A dormitory was built in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Getsinger |first=Annie |date=7 April 2014 |title=Ground Breaks on First UW-Baraboo Dorm |url=https://wiscnews.com/news/local/ground-broken-for-first-campus-dorm/article_2bb5f2b4-55b3-5870-b740-710ff149eea5.html |work=Wisconsin State Journal |pages=A3}}</ref>
A new science building was built in 2015, named in honor of former dean Thomas C. Pleger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prinsen |first=Jake |date=2017-10-18 |title=UW-Baraboo to name science building after former dean Thomas Pleger |url=https://wiscnews.com/news/community/baraboonewsrepublic/education/article_89eafe03-eff1-52dc-a956-7e7ff5035874.html |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Wiscnews.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2017 the six tennis courts of Baraboo High were in disrepair because of soil conditions, with two of the courts severely damaged. At that time the district was discussing with UW–Baraboo the possibility of having new tennis courts built on the college property with the district sharing the courts; the college would have eight courts, with the district building four of them.<ref>{{cite web |author=Prinsen, Jake |date=2017-07-25 |title=Baraboo School Board considers building, sharing tennis courts with UW-Baraboo |url=https://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/education/baraboo-school-board-considers-building-sharing-tennis-courts-with-uw/article_ad6bc7cf-5259-5274-a1da-d67d39caa22c.html |access-date=2018-11-15 |publisher=[[Baraboo News Republic]]}}</ref>
Prior to July 1, 2018, UW–Baraboo/Sauk County was one of 13 freshman-sophomore liberal arts transfer campuses of the UW Colleges, and offers a general education associate degree. After beginning their studies at UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County, students transfer to other UW System institutions as well as to colleges and universities throughout the country to complete their [[bachelor's degree]]s. In 2013, the college had an average class size of 22.5 students.<ref>University of Wisconsin Colleges Office of Academic Affairs. ''[https://uwc.edu/sites/uwc.edu/files/imce-uploads/about/_files/factbook_2013-2014.pdf The University of Wisconsin Colleges' Fact Book 2013-2014]''. Madison: University of Wisconsin Colleges, 2014, p. 29.</ref>
On July 1, 2018, the campus formally merged with UW–Platteville, a four-year comprehensive university that is part of the University of Wisconsin System. At that time it received its current name.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-08-24 |title=Baraboo UW campus gets new name |url=https://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/local/baraboo-uw-campus-gets-new-name/article_7d206da8-d136-5912-994a-d12f4d810e15.html |access-date=2018-11-17 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] at the [[Baraboo News Republic]]}}</ref>
==Campus==
The campus opened in 1968 with three buildings–a classroom building, student center, and library.<ref name=":0">{{Cite |title=The University Of Wisconsin Center System Catalog 1970-71 |date=September 1969 |pages=10 |url=https://www.wisconsin.edu/uwc/download/catalogs/1970-71-Catalog.pdf}}</ref> The classroom building, now known as the Aural M. Umhoefer building, includes a large lecture hall alongside several smaller classrooms. It was named after former dean Aural Umhoefer.
The Lange Center houses athletic facilities, including a gymnasium, racquetball courts, fitness center, weight room, dance studio, and locker rooms. It also houses a cafeteria, student services, and an art gallery.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Baraboo Sauk County Campus |url=https://catalog.uwplatt.edu/undergraduate/baraboo-sauk-county-campus/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=University of Wisconsin-Platteville Catalog |language=en}}</ref>
The fine arts building houses an art studio, classroom, and theater. It is adjacent to the James and Kathryn Hill Music Center, which includes a rehearsal hall and music practice rooms.<ref name=":3" />
The T.N. Savides Library is located next to the classroom building. It has been closed since 2024.
The south side of campus is home to tennis courts and a field used for several sports. The campus is also home to the 18 hole Baraboo Lions Disc Golf Course, which was built in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=PDGA |date=2009-09-02 |title=Baraboo Lions Disc Golf Course |url=https://www.pdga.com/course-directory/course/baraboo-lions-disc-golf-course |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Professional Disc Golf Association |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UW Baraboo Disc Golf Course |url=http://baraboo.uwc.edu/campus/athletics-recreation/disc-golf/disc-golf-course |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716160810/http://baraboo.uwc.edu/campus/athletics-recreation/disc-golf/disc-golf-course |archive-date=16 July 2018}}</ref>
The campus is adjacent to [[Baraboo High School]], Jack Young Middle School, and Gordon K. Willson Elementary School. The only passage between the City of Baraboo and UW–Platteville Baraboo Sauk County is through West Baraboo.<ref name="Dewelsophist" />
The [[Ice Age Trail]] runs through the campus. Additionally, there are several other trails open for hiking in the campus woods.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baraboo Sauk County Athletics and Recreation {{!}} UW-Platteville |url=https://www.uwplatt.edu/baraboo/athletics-and-recreation |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=www.uwplatt.edu |language=en}}</ref>
== Athletics ==
[[File:UWBarabooGym.jpg|thumb|The gymnasium, located in the John and Murrel Lange Center building.]]
The university is a member of the [[Wisconsin Collegiate Conference]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About WCC |url=https://www.wccwis.com/page/show/1214436-about-wcc |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Wisconsin Collegiate Conference |language=en-us}}</ref> Since 2020, the university offers both [[Basketball|men's basketball]] and [[Volleyball|woman's volleyball]]. Previously, the university used to offer [[Cross country running|cross country]], [[wrestling]], [[golf]] and [[tennis]].<ref>{{Cite |title=The University Of Wisconsin Center System Catalog 1975-77 |date= |pages= |url=https://www.wisconsin.edu/uwc/download/catalogs/1975-77-Catalog.pdf |access-date=14 February 2025}}</ref>
== Notable alumni ==
* [[Pam Coy]], owner of several Reedsburg businesses<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=Reedsburg woman wins Grocer of Year Award |url=https://www.reedsburgindependent.com/articles/2021/09/02/reedsburg-woman-wins-grocer-year-award |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Reedsburg Independent |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons}}
*[https://uwplatt.edu/baraboo UWP–Baraboo/Sauk County official website]
{{Baraboo, Wisconsin}}{{University of Wisconsin–Platteville}}{{Colleges and universities in Wisconsin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|43.4828|N|89.7621|W|source:wikidata|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Wisconsin-Baraboo Sauk County}}
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Wisconsin|University of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County]]
[[Category:Education in Sauk County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sauk County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Baraboo, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Two-year colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin–Platteville|Baraboo Sauk County]]
[[Category:University of Wisconsin System campuses|Baraboo Sauk County]]