A group of UW-Platteville instructors exchanged ideas with other Universities of Wisconsin faculty during the system's annual Faculty College retreat this past spring.

The 46th annual retreat, held at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin in May, brought together faculty and academic staff from the state's 13 Universities of Wisconsin institutions. Participants spent four days reflecting on teaching and learning, exchanging ideas and exploring innovative approaches to supporting student success. 

Entitled "Co-Creating Healthy Learning Ecosystems," the retreat featured guest facilitators Dr. Mays Imad from Connecticut College and Dr. Bryan Dewsbury from Florida International University. Their book, The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching, provided the framework for discussions on creating inclusive spaces within education.

Military veterans and service members will have a chance to learn how to start their own businesses through a new UW-Platteville certificate program.

The Veterans to Business Venture Certificate program will guide participants through each phase of launching a viable business venture. The program consists of three courses, each lasting five weeks, facilitated by an instructor and delivered in an asynchronous online format. The first cohort begins Oct. 5.

UW-Platteville's School of Business and Continuing Education Institute built the program in collaboration with the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce (WVCC). The partnership bridges the gap between academic resources and the veteran business community across Wisconsin, providing military veterans and service members with the practical tools and knowledge they need to start and build successful businesses. 

UW-Platteville ranks among the top 50 rural colleges in the nation, according to Washington Monthly magazine's new Best Colleges for Rural America rankings.

The magazine said it worked off a list of more than 1,000 rurally located schools identified by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges' Rural-Serving Postsecondary Institutions project. Washington Monthly winnowed that list down to 225 four-year nonprofit colleges and universities with acceptance rates over 75 percent. The magazine then ranked the top 100 using metrics such as the percentage of students on Pell grants; the annual net price students from median-income and below families pay; median student loan debt; and alumni earnings. 

Thousands of students began fall classes at UW-Platteville on Wednesday, continuing the university's proud 160-year tradition of educating engineers, teachers, agricultural leaders and other professionals. 

Complete enrollment numbers won't be available until later this month, but Chancellor Tammy Evetovich said the students already have re-energized the campus after a quiet summer. 

"There's something about the start of a new academic year," Evetovich said in her video welcome address. "Our campus is filled with new energy, fresh opportunities and the excitement of what's ahead."

UW-Platteville's communications director has been selected to serve on the Wisconsin Women in Government board, where she'll work to strengthen public service and create leadership opportunities for women.

WWIG announced Thursday that UW-Platteville External Relations and Communications Director Melanie Platt-Gibson is among eight women selected to serve on the group's 2026-2027 board. Platt-Gibson has more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications, external relations and partnership development across a diverse range of sectors, including higher education and government.

A UW-Platteville team has captured top honors in horticulture at a premier national agriculture competition for the first time.

A key national officer within the SkillsUSA workforce development organization has decided to transfer to UW-Platteville to complete a mechanical engineering degree, underscoring how the university's distance engineering program continues to attract top talent. 

Emma Schwantes, 21, of Watertown, Wisconsin, graduated from Madison College in 2025 with an associate degree in mechanical design technology. A member of SkillsUSA since high school, she was named the organization's national college/postsecondary treasurer and Joint Executive Council vice chair this summer. 

UW-Platteville senior Leah Coenen has earned a leadership scholarship from one of the Midwest's top consulting firms. 

MSA Professional Services Inc. announced Thursday that Coenen is among four interns awarded the 2026 inaugural Hantzsch School of Leadership scholarship. Each student will receive $2,500. 

Good news for UW-Platteville students and staff as they navigate campus construction this fall: Facilities staff have developed a new interactive online map with real-time project updates.

Users can click on the map to see what projects are underway, completion dates and whether sidewalks, building entrances and parking lots are open. 

Facilities Planner Ciara Miller launched the map in March using software skills she learned while earning her undergraduate degree in geography from UW-Platteville in 2017 and her master's degree in regional and urban planning from UW-Madison. The map is a huge step up from old-school diagrams, she said.

On the first day of business law class at UW-Platteville, instructor Jim Leitl promised his students they would remember his next lesson for the rest of their lives.  

He wrote a simple phrase on the chalkboard: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

Almost 50 years later, alumnus Dave Fritz still remembers.

“What he was saying was, work hard and good things will come,” Fritz said.

That lesson helped shape Fritz into one of the most influential business leaders and philanthropists in southwestern Wisconsin. Now the CEO of TRICOR Insurance and founder of the Potosi Beverage Company, a contract beverage manufacturing company, Fritz and his wife, Lois, are helping create new opportunities for the next generation of UW-Platteville students with a $3 million donation. It’s the second-largest gift in the university’s history, behind only a $10 million donation in 2021.  

The UW-Platteville Dean of Students Office has installed six new Nalox-ZONE boxes on campus, expanding access to naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversal medication also known by the brand name Narcan.

The new boxes build on the university’s 2023 installation of 15 Nalox-ZONE boxes, primarily in residence halls. The new locations focus on academic buildings and other high-traffic areas. The boxes and medication were donated by Wisconsin Voices for Recovery.

Each box contains naloxone, a CPR face mask, naloxone administration instructions and resources for individuals experiencing substance misuse. The boxes are free and available to anyone to use anonymously, including members of the community. 

UW-Platteville has been selected as one of four Universities of Wisconsin campuses to host the 2027 Wisconsin Civics Games regional playoff competition next spring.

Seven UW campuses expressed interest in hosting the playoffs. Organizers announced Tuesday they had chosen UW-Platteville, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and UW-Milwaukee as host schools. 

The competition is expected to draw 60 to 100 high school students to each university in April, setting up a key recruiting opportunity. Preliminary plans allow for welcome presentations from chancellors and faculty, campus tours and admission presentations. Each member of the championship team receives a $2,000 scholarship toward the UW school of their choice.

UW-Platteville's associate athletic director has been named the 2026 Dr. Carol Sue Butts Award winner after leading her department through a challenging leadership transition this winter and continuing to serve as a role model for female athletes and staff. 

As part of UW-Platteville’s commitment to fostering a transformative education, the Provost and Academic Affairs Office provides instructors and academic units with curricular improvement grants that can be used to redesign courses to better meet students' needs; update curriculum; and implement new teaching approaches that better prepare students for the workplace.

The grants provide awardees with funding and supply dollars to ensure that curriculum remains current and relevant. Here's a look at how instructors used the 2025-26 academic year awards:

UW-Platteville's exercise science program has earned a prestigious national accreditation that guarantees students a chance to earn a key strength coaching credential.

The Platteville Summer Arts Festival's production of "Come From Away" set a new attendance record. 

Six performances of the Broadway hit at the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts over the last two weeks of July drew a total of 1,478 people, said Ann Farrelly, the UW-Platteville theatre professor who directed the production. That breaks the old PSAF attendance record of 921 people, set during six performances of "Into the Woods" in 2024, Farrelly said. 

"We are so pleased that this musical resonated with our audiences this summer and that so many people got to experience this remarkable story told by these amazing artists," Farrelly said. "Our mission has always been to provide high-quality, affordable theatre opportunities for our community using the many talented people who are a part of this community."

This will be my last year. I want it bad.

-- Sophia Daugherty

The first of the lasts start Saturday night for UW-Platteville's Sophia Daugherty. 

After seven years of showing off the university's prize pigs on some of the biggest stages in the Midwest and the country, the fifth-year senior agricultural education major will be making her final turns in the competition show ring at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis. She'll be on the road again next week and in September to show at the Iowa State Fair and the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota. After that, all the walking, the feeding, the cleaning will be just a memory as she speeds toward graduation in December. 

From innovation hubs and factory floors to historic landmarks and rural villages, University of Wisconsin-Platteville business students experienced China’s economy, culture and business practices firsthand this summer through a new two-week, noncredit study abroad program.

The 15-day experience, held June 15-29, brought UW-Platteville students and faculty to Beijing, Wuhan, Enshi and Shanghai through a partnership with South-Central Minzu University. The trip was part of the Young Envoys Scholarship program, a China Ministry of Education initiative designed to foster youth exchange between China and the United States and Europe.

The UW‑Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association has announced a transformational $1 million estate gift from the late Delores L. Brown, a devoted educator and proud alumna whose lifelong commitment to teaching and service will continue through full‑time scholarships for students majoring in education at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.

Brown, who passed away on March 29, 2026, at age 93. She graduated in 1954 from the Platteville State Teachers College, which merged with the Wisconsin Institute of Technology in 1959 to become the institution that would later be known as UW-Platteville. 

UW-Platteville junior Jakob Scheckel took runner-up honors in a soil judging contest in China earlier this summer.

Scheckel, a soil and crop science major from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, earned a spot on the U.S. team that competed in the 5th International Soil Judging Contest held near the cities of Nanjing and Zhenjiang in China's eastern Jiangsu province from June 3-7. The event is held every four years in association with the World Congress of Soil Science and was organized by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) and the Soil Science Society of China. 

Government and business leaders in Dubuque, Iowa, are honoring UW-Platteville as part of their annual Community of Colleges Week next month.

The City Council and the Greater Dubuque Development Corp. issued a proclamation during a meeting July 20 declaring Aug. 3-7 as Community of Colleges Week. The proclamation expressed appreciation for 10 institutions in southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa, including UW-Platteville and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.

Students who live and learn in the region enrich neighborhoods, strengthen the talent pipeline and help shape the community’s future, the proclamation said. 

A UW-Platteville English instructor who specializes in pre-1800 British literature has co-edited a new anthology tracing the origins of the horror genre to 16th-century English theater. 

Civil War veterans. Sports betting. Bovine fertility.

UW-Platteville's 2026 Summer Undergraduate Scholars walked family, friends and mentors through a breadth of research in capstone presentations Monday in the Markee Pioneer Student Center, showcasing how they spent the last eight weeks honing skills they'll need to excel in graduate school and beyond. 

"In a time when it's easy to reach for feelings like despair and cynicism, these students fill me with nothing but hope and pride," Dr. Hannah Korell, an assistant English professor who doubles as UW-Platteville's undergraduate research coordinator, said as she introduced the scholars. 

UW-Platteville is overhauling the transfer process for two-year engineering students in Illinois, a move that will ease the path to a bachelor's degree and open up career opportunities for graduates.

Until now, officials within UW-Platteville's College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science have had to review transfer students' applications one-by-one to determine if credits already earned might count toward a degree here. 

Beginning this fall, EMS will implement a new approach for handling transfer applications from students who have earned an Associates of Engineering Science degree from an Illinois Community College institution. Under new policy, the vast majority of courses taken that would transfer within the Illinois system will automatically equate to credit at UW-Platteville.

The UW-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts is partnering with the Platteville Summer Arts Festival to bring the hit Broadway musical "Come From Away" to campus.

The Tony Award-winning production is based on the true story of how an airport in Gander, Newfoundland, took in 38 planes and almost 7,000 passengers diverted from their destinations on the day of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Six performances are set for July 24, 25, 31, and Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and July 26 and Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UW-Platteville campus. The production is recommended for general audiences, although there are a few instances of strong language. 

UW-Platteville Head Football Coach Ryan Munz's guiding principle is both counterintuitive and simple: Leaders let others lead. 

That was the cornerstone of the keynote speech Munz delivered Thursday to a rapt audience at a Sauk County Institute of Leadership luncheon in Lake Delton. The organization, sponsored in part by the University of Wisconsin-Extension, offers leadership workshops throughout the year. Thursday's agenda: figure out how Munz and his staff transformed the Pioneers into a national contender in two years.

UW-Platteville is proud to announce a generous gift from alumni Arlen Ewers ’62 and Jelayne Ewers ‘62, who have established the Arlen and Jelayne Ewers Scholarship to support students pursuing degrees in education.

The endowed scholarship will provide financial assistance to undergraduate students majoring in education, helping to prepare the next generation of teachers and educational leaders. The gift reflects the couple’s deep commitment to empowering future educators and strengthening communities through access to quality education.

The scholarship will provide $1,000 for students from southwestern Wisconsin, focusing largely on students from Richland Center and surrounding communities. The scholarship will be available to freshmen, continuing students and transfer students.

The University of Wisconsin–Platteville Pioneer Racing Formula SAE team recently hosted students from the Sao Carlos School of Engineering at the University of Sao Paulo (EESC-USP), one of the top-performing Formula SAE teams in the world, in a unique international collaboration leading up to the 2026 Formula SAE Michigan competition.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation and Alumni Association is proud to announce it raised more than $10.6 million in philanthropic support over the 2026 fiscal year, one of the largest dollar amounts in the organization’s history. 

“This year of fundraising is a credit to the unwavering support of our alumni, students, friends, faculty and staff,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “As the higher educational climate continues to change, their generous gifts expand access to education, help create pathways for student access, strengthen innovative academic programs and create opportunities that will have a lasting impact on our campus and the communities our graduates serve. Together, we can continue to uphold the Pioneer tradition of excellence.”

Sean McCarthy joined the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's metal casting club hoping to gain extra experience he could parlay into a manufacturing job. He got it, and then some. 

McCarthy was part of the five-member Pour'n Pioneers club team that produced a replica of one of George Washington's swords that was so strong and historically accurate that it earned the club a second-place finish in the 2025 Cast in Steel competition, beating out dozens of other schools from around the country. The team's performance will be featured in a new You Tube series documenting the 2025 competition. The series debuts Thursday evening on the Cast in Steel channel, with the Pour'n Pioneers set to star in Episode 3 on July 23. 

Seventeen University of Wisconsin-Platteville civil and environmental engineering students traveled more than 1,000 miles across three states in late May as part of a five-day field trip focused on regional infrastructure and the social, environmental and economic impacts of infrastructure projects.

Led by Dr. Christina Curras and Dr. Michael Penn, professors of civil and environmental engineering, the trip was funded by the National Science Foundation S-STEM grant, “Socio-cultural Place Awareness for Civil and Environmental Scholars,” or SPACES. The $1.5 million grant supports two cohorts of 12 scholars through scholarships and activities designed to develop community-minded, socially responsible civil and environmental engineers.

Students in the National Agri-Marketing Association Club at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s School of Agriculture recently competed in the National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Student Marketing Competition in St. Louis, presenting a marketing plan for HerdWave, a proposed ultrasonic device designed to attach to cattle collars and repel flies and other pests.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education Associate Professor Edina Haslauer recently attended Faculty College at Elkhart Lake where she participated in the 2026-27 University of Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars program. Haslauer is this year’s Teaching Scholar from UW-Platteville. Through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) program, UW faculty and academic staff collaborated on effective evidence-based teaching to improve student learning. Haslauer’s research focuses on how to effectively prepare future educators to work with diverse student populations, specifically multilingual and emergent bilingual students.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science proudly announces that Dr. Xiaoguang Ma, associate professor, of electrical and computer engineering, has been selected as the 2025-2026 recipient of the EMS Excellence in Teaching Award. This distinguished honor recognizes Dr. Ma’s exceptional effectiveness in the classroom, unwavering dedication to student success, and nationally recognized innovations in engineering education.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science proudly announces that Dr. Joseph Wu, professor, chemistry, has been selected as the 2025-2026 recipient of the EMS Excellence in Research and Scholarly Activity Award. This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Wu’s sustained record of innovation, impactful scholarly contributions, and dedication to advancing undergraduate research.

Dr. Wu’s research program stands at the forefront of sustainable materials, green chemistry, and analytical sensing, with an emphasis on translating scientific discovery into real-world solutions. His work has led to more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in respected scientific journals, contributing to the growing visibility and reputation of UW–Platteville in the broader research community.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has announced the naming of the new Swalve Golf Suite in recognition of a gift from Jeff and Tara Swalve. The facility will provide student-athletes on the Pioneer women’s golf team with an indoor training and practice space that supports year-round development and competitive excellence.

The Swalve Golf Suite will offer a dedicated space for golfers to practice, analyze performance and build their skills regardless of weather conditions. The project reflects the Swalve family’s commitment to supporting student-athletes and investing in the future of Pioneer athletics.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science proudly announces that Dr. Christina Curras, professor, civil and environmental engineering, has been selected as the 2025–2026 recipient of the EMS Excellence in Advising Award. This prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Curras’ exceptional commitment to student success, her transformative advising practices, and her lasting impact on students and colleagues.

With 26 years of advising experience, Dr. Curras has guided hundreds of students through their academic journeys. Her philosophy – rooted in preparation, listening, care, and thoughtful questioning – empowers students to make informed decisions while fostering independence and confidence.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science proudly announces that Dr Mohammad Rabbani, professor of chemistry, has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the 2025–2026 EMS Excellence in Service Award. This recognition honors Dr Rabbani’s exceptional and sustained contributions to students, faculty, the institution, and the broader community through leadership, collaboration, and impactful service.

Throughout his career at UW-Platteville, Dr Rabbani has demonstrated a deep commitment to service as a foundational element of his professional mission. His work spans student mentorship, departmental leadership, college governance, university initiatives, and community engagement, reflecting a holistic and far-reaching impact.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced that its Department of Criminal Justice and Forensic Investigation has earned accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), a body of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). The accreditation covers all three emphases of the Forensic Investigation major: Crime Scene Investigation, Medicolegal Death Investigation and Laboratory. UW-Platteville is among a very small number of forensic science programs nationwide to hold this accreditation.

The first-ever Pioneer Legacy Gala: Off to the Races, hosted by the UW-Platteville Foundation & Alumni Association, brought together alumni, donors and friends of the university for an unforgettable evening celebrating Pioneer pride and student success.

Held with a festive Kentucky Derby theme, the event welcomed approximately 140 guests for an evening filled with energy, generosity and community spirit. Attendees enjoyed derby-inspired décor and activities including betting on classic horse races, a silent auction, live auction and wine and whiskey pulls, all in support of the Pioneer Scholarship Fund.

By the end of the evening, the inaugural gala raised an impressive $102,740 to support scholarships for UW-Platteville students.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated 1,037 degree candidates during its 216th commencement, held across three ceremonies on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Bo Ryan Court in Williams Fieldhouse. Chancellor Tammy K. Evetovich congratulated graduates, highlighting their achievement that reflects hard work, perseverance and commitment. “Take time to reflect on how far you have come,” she urged. “Remember, growth happens when we stretch ourselves, embrace new challenges and step into the unknown.”

Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate graduates from the College of Liberal Arts and Education, the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture throughout the day.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced Sonja Passant as the Associate Director of Platteville Analytics and Institutional Reporting Services (PAIRS). Passant will assume her new role on Monday, May 18.

In this capacity, Passant will help lead PAIRS’ analytic and reporting services that support university strategic planning, decision-making and resource allocation. PAIRS’ data-driven insights have been instrumental in shaping enrollment strategies and enhancing student outcomes at UW-Platteville, directly aligning with the university’s mission to promote academic excellence and student success. As Associate Director, Passant aims to further optimize reporting processes and cultivate a university-wide culture of data-informed decision-making.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will honor approximately 1,037 graduates during its 216th commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The ceremonies will be held throughout the day at Bo Ryan Court in Williams Fieldhouse. 

The celebration will begin with the College of Liberal Arts and Education commencement ceremony from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. It will celebrate graduates whose academic journeys span the humanities, social sciences and education. Degree candidates from LAE, as well as master’s and associate degree candidates, will be recognized. 

The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science commencement ceremony will be held from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. It recognizes students pursuing studies in fields that drive innovation, discovery and problem-solving across STEM disciplines.

School of Education Professor Dr. Leigh Monhardt recently received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the College of Liberal Arts and Education. “Since joining UW–Platteville in 2007, Dr. Monhardt has made a tremendous and lasting impact on the lives of students, colleagues, and local school districts through his commitment to exceptional teaching and the preparation of preservice teachers,” said Dr. Lindsay Hollingsworth, a fellow professor in the School of Education who nominated Dr. Monhardt for the award.

This spring marks a milestone achievement for the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh as Sienna Isaacson will be the first graduate of the nursing pathway 3+1 dual bachelor’s degree program. This accelerated nursing program allows students to complete their Bachelor of Science in biology at UW-Platteville and their Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) from UW-Oshkosh in four years. Students who enter this intensive healthcare program study three years of science coursework and preparatory curriculum at UW-Platteville before attending one year with UW-Oshkosh’s hybrid accelerated nursing program. Often, students find a supportive foundation for their education on the UW-Platteville campus. Through advising, scientific preparation, and connections between campuses, students are prepared as they make a seamless transition from their undergraduate studies through the BSN program.

Elementary education students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education recently traveled to Bayfield, Wisconsin, to see firsthand what community-based learning and culturally responsive teaching looks like. “As an immersive experience, the students participate in all facets of the school day, including staff and team meetings, all day teaching, and after school responsibilities,” said UW-Platteville Professor Lindsay Hollingsworth, a co-coordinator of the practicum who traveled with the student group. “They get a true experience of what ‘a day in the life of a teacher’ looks like.”

Genghis Khan (born Temujin, 1162-1227) was a world-famous conqueror. His armies captured vast expanses of territory, reaching as far as Korea in the east and Germany in the west. He and his sons unified different civilizations in Eurasia, creating a common sphere for trade, intellectual exchange, and postal communication. And one of his coins ended up in Wisconsin.

To explore the famous coin of Genghis Khan and various other treasures from Central Asia, seven UW-Platteville students travelled to the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison on April 16, 2026. The field trip was organized by Prof. Andrey Ivanov, as a part of his HIST 4130 Central Asia class. The visit to the Chazen Museum was graciously organized by Mieke Miller, Chazen’s academic coordinator, who made the artefacts available to the class.

Two members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Health and Human Performance have in the past month won prestigious national and regional awards.

Carrie Neefe, a senior Health and Human Performance major with an emphasis in Physical Education Teaching, has become the third UW-Platteville student to win the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America Major of the Year Award. This is a national honor that recognizes exemplary undergraduate students for achievement in both academics and service in the fields of health, physical education, recreation, and dance. Neefe comes to UW-Platteville from Viola, Wisconsin and is currently student teaching at Westby High School. After graduating in May, she will go on to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade physical and health education at Webb Middle School in the Reedsburg Area School District.

Thousands of dedicated middle and high school student musicians from Wisconsin and contiguous states are preparing for Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Solo & Ensemble Festivals. UW-Platteville will host this event on Saturday, April 25, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. It will be open to the public and free of charge.

“The WSMA State Music Festival is an enriching experience for all participants, both performers and their supporters,” said Matt Gregg, Festival Manager for UW-Platteville. “It is also an opportunity for our music program to showcase our facilities and emphasize how much we value and support the efforts of our school music colleagues, their students and their families.”

As rural areas struggle to draw young people to their communities or keep young people from leaving rural hometowns, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville is making it a priority to connect students with rural job opportunities. To further these efforts, the School of Education hosted its 4th Annual Rural Education Conference and Job Fair on April 15th in Velzy Commons at Ullsvik Hall.  

“The goal of the Rural Education Conference and Job Fair is to provide students with a professional conference right here at UW-Platteville. Each year, we highlight the benefits of rural living and teaching. We connect students with local school districts who have jobs in education,” said event coordinator Lindsay Hollingsworth, Associate Director of the School of Education and professor at UW-Platteville.