Universities of Wisconsin officials announced Tuesday that UW-Platteville will vacate its Richland County campus on July 1, an unexpected move that local officials say creates a “potential economic crisis” for the county.
“It was very shocking to say the least,” Richland County Administrator Candace Pesch said Wednesday. “We feel as though the county has held up their end of the bargain by creating this campus, creating these buildings, being a partner to the UW system over the years, and we feel as though there is very little concern for the overall impact that it is truly going to have on our county.”
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The decision comes after UW system President Jay Rothman in late 2022 announced the campus would end in-person instruction due to declining enrollment.
After the announcement, UW system officials and local leaders embarked on a monthslong effort to negotiate a plan for the campus’s facilities, which are owned by Richland County, including efforts to reduce UW system’s footprint and presence on campus.
But in a letter sent Tuesday to the Richland County Board of Supervisors, Jeff Buhrandt, vice president of university relations for the Universities of Wisconsin, said UW-Platteville has no other option but to completely vacate the campus by July 1.
“While we are disappointed that we were unable to find a path forward, we also know this change can provide significant new opportunities in Richland County,” Buhrandt wrote in the letter.
Buhrandt said the system will cover the cost of utilities and provide limited custodial support and maintenance for the buildings and grounds through the end of June.
‘Extremely disheartening’
Former Richland County Sup. Linda Gentes, who was the county’s education committee chair, said the decision is “devastating, financially.”
“I don’t know if you realize how many millions of dollars we have put into these buildings,” Gentes said. “It’s extremely disheartening.”
In a statement, Pesch accused UW system of “shirking their responsibilities.”
“Richland County, which had previously relied on the contractual relationship between the parties, is now facing a potential economic crisis due to the Universities’ decision,” Pesch continued. “The County Board of Supervisors will consult further with partners and counsel to determine and evaluate all available options going forward.”
In the letter, Buhrandt pointed to legislation signed last month by Gov. Tony Evers that provides up to $2 million to communities affected by branch campus closures. The law specifically names Richland County as the first in line to receive funds, followed by other counties impacted by closures.
“It is our understanding that Richland County would be eligible for these funds which can be used to redevelop the campus facilities to better serve the community,” Burhandt said, adding that the potential state funds “represents the full consideration of the costs expressed” by county officials.
The bill would have initially required communities to provide a 20% match in local funds in order to secure state funding, but Evers used his partial veto power to remove the provision when he signed it into law.
Lease agreement
Pesch contended that at no time during the crafting of that measure did the Legislature indicate that those grant funds would absolve the UW system of its obligations to counties affected by branch campus closures. The county also still has a 75-year lease agreement with the UW Board of Regents that isn’t set to expire until 2042.
“Our position is the lease remains valid,” said Richland County’s attorney Mike Windle.
UW system spokesperson Mark Pitsch did not say how the latest development impacts the county’s lease, but said in an email the decision to vacate the campus “comes after about two years of discussion with Richland County elected, community, and business leaders without a resolution.”
Pesch said the county is working with a firm to evaluate the condition of all campus buildings, an evaluation that needs to be completed before officials can begin formal agreements with potential partners.
“We don’t know what we don’t know when it comes to the buildings,” Pesch said. “We don’t know how viable they are, what repairs are necessary … so we can’t necessarily make plans for or even advertise them out to anyone if we don’t understand what we’re dealing with and we can’t be transparent about their condition.”
Campus closures
UW-Platteville at Richland kicked off the trend of closing UW system branch campuses in November 2022, due to declining enrollment that left the school with just 60 students that year, a 90% reduction from 2014, when enrollment was 567 students.
The UW system has since announced the closure of its Washington County campus in West Bend and its Fond du Lac campus, while UW-Green Bay decided to end in-person classes at its Marinette campus. Last month, the system announced plans to close UW-Milwaukee at Waukesha in spring 2025, making it the fifth two-year branch campus to close in the last 18 months due to “shifting demographics and budgetary constraints.”
Last week, the Sauk County Board approved $390,000 in funding for UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County in maintenance funding each of the next two years in an effort to keep that campus open.
The funding would cover UW-Platteville’s projected deficit for the Baraboo campus for the 2024-25 school year. It comes a year after university chancellors were told by Rothman to devise a plan for keeping two-year campuses open.
“This gives us a year, year and a half to work out a plan (for the Baraboo campus),” County Board Chair Tim McCumber said.
Southern Wisconsin home listings for people who need a lot of living space
4 Bedroom Home in Verona - $815,000
Custom Built Home in desirable Middleton Schools! Perched upon a 1.49-acre tree-lined lot, you will be welcomed with peace and serenity the moment you arrive! Guests will be greeted in the foyer w/ Brazilian Cherry HW flrs and a grand staircase & catwalk. The formal Dining Rm flows to the gathering space of the home. The kitchen has granite counter tops, walk-in Pantry & an island that opens to the large living room with F/P. Great for entertaining as it flows to the sun room and over sized deck. 4-5 bedrooms and 2 office spaces make working from home easy. Upstairs you'll find an expansive primary bdrm with a custom closet system, Split bedrooms & Jack N Jill Bath. LL features Rec rm, exercise rm, potential 5th bdrm, & walk out. Low township taxes!
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5 Bedroom Home in Middleton - $874,900
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5 Bedroom Home in Verona - $1,100,000
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