The Student Loan Association for Students of Platteville State Teachers College was formed in December 1948. With assets of about $16,000, the Association incorporated to loan money to students with financial need. Loans were made to students for tuition, fees, and on occasion, living expenses. From 1949 to 1964, scores of students received loans that ranged from $25 to $200, and above.
The loans had a significant and far-reaching impact on student life. Many students could now afford tuition and thus were able to graduate thanks to the visionary administrators and faculty who created the Student Loan Association.
In 1964, 16 years after its incorporation, the Student Loan Association’s name was changed to Wisconsin State University–Platteville Foundation to reflect the inclusion of scholarships as well as loans.
Today the foundation is known as the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Foundation Inc., so named after the creation of the UW System in 1972. With increased assets, the Foundation no longer provides student loans but instead offers and administers scholarships which are vital to our students by funding a portion of tuition for almost 12.5% of students.
From 2006 to 2007, the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Foundation granted scholarships to 783 students, for a total of $465,000. Contributions by alumni and friends of the university help to sustain this important mission of the Foundation.
Another important mission of the UW-Platteville Foundation is to raise funds for the professional development of faculty and staff. Educational programs, conferences, and training help faculty and staff remain on the cutting edge of their areas of expertise. The Foundation, through the use of the phonathon and letter appeals, annually raises donations for the College of BILSA (Business, Industry, Life Sciences and Agriculture), the College of LAE (Liberal Arts and Education, and the College of EMS (Engineering, Math and Science).
"The UW–Platteville Foundation, Inc. exists exclusively for the benefit of the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Its specific role is to provide supplemental funds to aid UW–Platteville in fulfilling its mission successfully. The Foundation is involved in fund raising, fund management, and fund disbursement."