Today is a consequential day for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Southwest Wisconsin, the region and the state. Gov. Scott Walker signed the state’s biennium budget, which includes two capital projects for our campus.
“They include the construction of a $55 million engineering building, Sesquicentennial Hall, and the $23.7 million renovation of Boebel Hall, our STEM facility,” said Dennis J. Shields, chancellor of UW-Platteville. “These projects will be transformative, not just for our campus, but for the Southwest Wisconsin community, the region and for the state’s workforce.”
“We appreciate the tremendous support these projects have received from our local legislators, including from State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), State Rep. Travis Tranel(R-Cuba City) and State Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), as well as Gov. Walker, who was on campus recently voicing his support for the projects,” said Chancellor Shields. “They recognized the state’s workforce needs, our ability to facilitate state goals, and they advocated for us.”
“I also am thankful to our alumni, community, and business friends throughout the state who have generously supported this effort,” he said. “They all have my sincere thank you and the gratefulness of this campus.”
• Nearly 80 percent of our engineering graduates remain in Wisconsin after graduation
• UW-Platteville produces the second-highest number of engineering graduates in the UW System
• UW-Platteville experienced a 40 percent growth in engineering students since 2000
• The new engineering facility is projected to allow us to open our programs to an additional 800 new engineering students and 200 transfer students.
• The Boebel Hall renovation will allow us to engage an additional 300 biology majors.
• The number of biology majors has increased 200 percent since 2000.