The June 16, 2014 tornado caused $18.6 million in damages to University of Wisconsin-Platteville and UW-Platteville Real Estate Foundation property, according to the final numbers.

An EF-2 tornado ripped through the campus on the night of June 16, damaging five buildings as well as the surrounding area and Memorial Park. The damage, which forced closure of the university on June 17-18, included broken windows, partial roof destruction, bent light towers at the Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium, and downed trees. There were no fatalities or significant injuries that required medical attention on campus.

The heaviest damage, in amount of dollars, was done to the following structures:



• $7.3 million, Bridgeway Commons

• $4.8 million, Rountree Commons

• $1.8 million, Southwest Hall

• $1.8 million, Engineering Hall

• $1.7 million, Pioneer Stadium

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville ceremoniously “re-opened” its campus Friday, just 74 days after an EF-2 tornado significantly damaged five campus buildings, Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium and Memorial Park.

UW System President Dr. Ray Cross joined UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields and Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Mittie N. Den Herder on the back patio of Engineering Hall, whose damaged exterior is still visible.

“It’s unbelievable how quickly you have done this,” said Cross. “I think it speaks to your commitment to serve students. My compliments to you; I hope you are proud of what you have accomplished, those of us in the system are. I hope you realize that today, the rest of the system stands with you, and we, too, are all Pioneers.”

A relationship that started in 1984 continued on Friday as the Chicago Bears donated $50,000 to the Pioneer Relief Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Brian McCaskey, senior director of business development and member of the Chicago Bears board of directors, presented the check on behalf of the organization during an afternoon gathering of more than 150 at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

An EF-2 tornado significantly damaged five university buildings and the stadium, where the Bears practiced for 18 years, from 1984-2001. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of their first training camp in Southwest Wisconsin.

To better reflect how well the University of Wisconsin-Platteville serves its business-related undergraduate and graduate students, the university has officially declared a new School of Business. The designation was approved at the UW System Board of Regents meeting earlier this month.

“It’s beyond the complexity of a department,” said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture. “With two undergraduate programs and four online master’s programs, the term department just didn’t fit. This more accurately reflects what we are doing.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville had an estimated $394 million economic impact in Wisconsin in 2011-12, including $275 million in the southwestern region of the state, according to a new study done by the university and released this week.

“These numbers clearly show the vital role UW-Platteville plays in the state and especially southwest Wisconsin,” said Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We are an economic anchor in this region that has not only been a source of stability in ever-changing times but has continued to grow and strengthen our area. We understand the importance of our role and value what we provide to our students and to our community.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville unveiled an updated and stylized version of Pioneer Pete during the Homecoming Yell volleyball match on Thursday, Oct. 18, giving the university an official mascot for the first time in at least two decades.

“The university is proud to announce this mascot, which embodies the true Pioneer spirit from which our great institution was founded,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “We have combined our Pioneer name with our strong mining history in coming up with a representative mascot. I know our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members will come to take pride in this new Pioneer Pete.”

The city of Platteville was incorporated by John Rountree, a mine owner in the 19th century. The university is a combination of the Platteville Normal School and the Mining Institute.

Nearly 400 people from across the region packed into the standing room only Agriculture Education Pavilion at Pioneer Farm on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus to ask questions of Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, and Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, during a town hall meeting.

“Agriculture is extremely important; it’s a $50 billion industry in Wisconsin. When you add in Iowa and Illinois, it is remarkably important to the future of this country, and to the world,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis J. Shields. “It was fabulous to have the secretaries here today. They are good folks, they know what they’re talking about, and the most impressive thing is how willing they were to listen to questions and be responsive, and talk about the challenges that are in front of us.”