The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated a new milestone in its longtime partnership with Plexus Corp. at last week's naming celebration event and ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the Plexus Women in STEM Center. The new Plexus Women in STEM Center opened last fall and offers a supportive community to help women prosper at both UW-Platteville and in their careers. 

“We’ve had an incredible first year in the new Plexus Women in STEM Center in Sesquicentennial Hall,” said Kim Sargent, senior program manager for the Women in STEM Program. “The Women in STEM Program is honored to partner with Plexus in our mission to recruit and retain more women in the STEM fields.” 

The center is a hub of mentoring, outreach and success programs that engage UW-Platteville students and thousands of students in grades 5-12. 

Connor Trempe likes to understand how things work. It’s a trait that has served him well as a software engineer. He recognizes that each piece of code is vital in ensuring the entire program runs correctly and that the quality of the code directly correlates with the robustness of the software. 

It was that mindset that drew him to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway. Through the pathway, students can earn both their undergraduate and graduate degrees faster by taking some courses simultaneously. By enrolling in the pathway, Trempe said he was able to graduate with two degrees in just five years. 

“Honestly, it was a big time and money saver for me,” Trempe said. “My master's only took me a year and a half, and my undergrad only took me three and a half years. The program really accelerated my growth and performance as a leader, both inside my organization and with my clients.”

On Saturday, Oct.  7, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will welcome the Midwest Choral Artists, an ensemble of musicians from across Central Wisconsin, with a special connection to UW-Platteville. 

The Midwest Choral Artists, now in its fifth season, is made up of 32 members, nearly all of them UW-Platteville alumni, current students and employees. The ensemble is co-directed by Dr. Bob Demaree, director of choral activities at UW-Platteville, and UW-Platteville alumnus Jason Troxel.

Demaree praises the ensemble members’ dedication to singing together, noting that some travel from as far away as Fond du Lac, Milwaukee and La Crosse, Wisconsin. They begin their season in August with a one-day retreat rehearsal in Platteville, followed by five, weekly four-hour rehearsals in Madison to prepare for a concert. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will celebrate Homecoming the week of Oct. 1-7. With the theme “Pete’s Road Trip,” the celebration offers a week of favorite traditions for students and alumni.

The week kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 1 with a student volleyball tournament. Student traditions continue throughout the week, including the banner ceremony on Tuesday, tug of war on Wednesday and house decorations on Thursday. The Yell Night and Homecoming royalty coronation will take place Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. on Bo Ryan Court, Williams Fieldhouse, where the UW-Platteville women’s volleyball team will take on UW-River Falls. 

On Friday at 5 p.m., outstanding alumni will be honored for their achievements during the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony. The event will be held in Velzy Commons, Ullsvik Hall.

This year, as part of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s 45th anniversary of providing distance education, we will be sharing the stories of notable alumni and their work. These features not only celebrate these talented individuals’ achievements, but the distance education they received along the way to help them reach their goals. UW-Platteville is proud to have helped so many students find success and will continue to pioneer distance education excellence heading into the future. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville earned top rankings in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best College lists, released today. UW-Platteville is ranked 14th for Top Public Schools – Regional Universities Midwest and 49th for Best Undergraduate Engineering – Non-Doctorate. 

“This latest recognition reflects our commitment to excellence and our dedication to serving our region as a leading, accessible public institution,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “We are providing our students with exceptional experiential learning opportunities and equipping them with skills and knowledge necessary for jobs of the future. These rankings underscore our collective efforts and achievements that enable us to deliver on our mission.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has hit another milestone in its storied history as a pioneer in distance education. This year marks the 45th year the university has provided high-quality distance education to students across the globe.

UW-Platteville has come a long way since the first distance education program was launched in 1978. At that time, the university offered a single print-based distance degree. Today, UW-Platteville boasts a bevy of online programs, including three associate degrees, nine bachelor's degrees and 10 master's degree programs, as well as 16 undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. 

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville announced its preliminary fall enrollment estimates, which project growth in nearly every area, including an overall enrollment increase for the first time in seven years. 

Preliminary estimates show increased enrollment in new freshmen at UW-Platteville for the second year in a row, a 30% increase in new freshman enrollment at the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus, as well as an increase in new transfer students on the main campus and in online programs, both of which are up by more than 10%. 

A chance encounter at a printmaking conference and a mutual following on Instagram became a unique opportunity for Jacob Bautista, art lecturer within the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts. 

In March 2022, Bautista met Marco Sanchez, a visual artist and lecturer at the El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas while attending a printmaking conference in Madison, Wisconsin. At the time, Sanchez was putting together a print exchange, but one of the participants dropped out last minute. 

Both familiar with each other’s work on Instagram, Sanchez offered Bautista a spot in the print exchange. 

“A print exchange is where a printmaker will come up with a theme and invite other printmakers to make a print based on that theme, and then everyone who participates gets a portfolio with all the artists’ prints,” said Bautista. 

Imagine a world where you can travel to another country, immerse yourself in its culture and earn college credits simultaneously. At UW-Platteville, this is a reality through the Short-Term Faculty-Led courses. Last academic year, more than 130 students had the opportunity to participate in these programs during the winterim and summer semesters. Under the guidance of UW-Platteville faculty members, students explored places like London, Rome, Ecuador, Thailand, Austria, Spain, Norway, Germany and the Netherlands. An overwhelming amount of the students who took advantage of this opportunity described their experience as “life-changing.”

Winterim 2023

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich celebrated the start of the 2023-24 academic year at the annual faculty and staff convocation on Aug. 31. 

Chancellor Evetovich outlined five goals for the future: 

• Optimize enrollment 
• Implement a fiscal recovery plan and work toward elimination of the structural deficit
• Prioritize wellness on campus in a purposeful and holistic manner 
• Develop a 2031 strategic plan
• Align philanthropy with institutional priorities and identify new revenue-securing opportunities 

Chancellor Evetovich expressed optimism for enrollment of the incoming freshman class and emphasized UW-Platteville’s important role in providing access to education.  

Natalie Isensee's attraction to the military stemmed, in part, from the numerous leadership opportunities it presented. However, her time in service offered her much more than anticipated. Natalie has since utilized her skillset and experiences to give back to her fellow veterans, her community and the university. 

Isensee’s military service began while she was an undergrad at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While there, she joined the Marine Corps Officer Program and later completed the Officer Candidate School. After graduation, she was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a logistics officer, and her passion for serving her country led her to active duty. In 2003, Isensee was deployed to Kuwait, where she played a crucial role in the initial invasion of Iraq. She and her unit crossed the border into Iraq on the very day the war began.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.  

The university’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website at stars.aashe.org/. UW-Platteville has been a member of AASHE since 2014 and has achieved a Silver rating since 2018.

A team of five students from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently competed in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers’ International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition in Peoria, Illinois. The team competed against 18 other teams from across the United States and Canada and took home first place in the Maneuverability category.

According to the ASABE, this annual competition provides a realistic 360-degree workplace experience. Each team is provided only an engine and set of tires and must design and create their tractor, which is then judged by a panel of industry experts for innovation, manufacturability and serviceability, among other factors. The machines also compete in three performance events – tractor pulls, a maneuverability course and a durability course.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville students are helping biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey combat a growing problem in the Great Lakes region – the invasive zebra and quagga mussel, which has caused significant ecological and economic damage in the region since it was first discovered there more than three decades ago. As a Senior Design capstone project, four recently graduated mechanical engineering students  – Logan Budack, Kade Muehlenhaupt, AJ Pomplun and Dorothy Schildt – were tasked with designing and building a submersible, umbrella-like device that can infuse carbon dioxide to kill the zebra and quagga mussels.

Dr. Tim Buttles, director of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Education, was selected to receive an Honorary American FFA Degree. The award is given to those who advance agricultural education and FFA through outstanding personal commitment.

“I enjoy supporting the next generation of leaders and giving back to an organization I gained so much from,” said Buttles. “It’s truly an honor to receive this recognition.”

The Honorary American FFA Degree is an opportunity to recognize those who have gone beyond valuable daily contributions to make an extraordinary long-term difference in the lives of students, inspiring confidence in a new generation of agriculturists.

Buttles will receive the award during the 96th National FFA Convention and Expo, in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Friday, Nov. 3. All recipients will receive a plaque and medal, and their names will be permanently recorded as recipients of the highest FFA honor.

Approximately 40 local engineering and manufacturing firms from in and around Sauk County convened at a listening session Tuesday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County to offer their thoughts and share stories of their local businesses, in order to grow connections between UW-Platteville and Sauk County employer needs.

"As a regional leader in STEM, UW-Platteville is committed to serving industry needs in the region and across the state, and our Baraboo Sauk County campus is critical to succeeding in this mission,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich, who joined in the day’s discussions. “I am encouraged by the number of industry partners we engaged with today, and I am looking forward to building on this momentum.”

Carla Wages, multicultural student advisor in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, is being recognized with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s 2023 Outstanding Woman of Color Award.

“Being nominated for the Outstanding Woman of Color Award is appreciated. I enjoy my work so much, and the fact that I’m getting paid to do it is just a blessing,” said Wages. “I’m very proud of the work I do and the contacts and connections I make with students. The students help make this job so easy and so fulfilling for me.”

In speaking about her position and what she does, Wages exudes passion for her work. She said she hopes to help students get the resources they need when they walk out the door, utilizing a holistic approach, whether it’s mental, physical, financial or just someone to sit down and listen.

Mollie Johnson, a senior psychology major from Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is spending her summer conducting research that examines cognitive, affective and physiological aspects of human behavior, as a participant in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Summer Undergraduate Scholars Program.   

Johnson’s research focuses specifically on interoception – the ability to identify small internal signals a body sends, such as hunger, gastrointestinal cues or a faster heartbeat. In particular, she is exploring interoceptive accuracy – or, how accurate someone is at feeling these signals – and how that plays a role in a person’s response to different social situations.

Seth Reilly, a technical education major and theatre design minor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQIA+ People.

“I never really thought that someone would nominate me for this award and never expected that if they did, I would get it,” said Reilly, a Portage, Wisconsin, native. “I didn’t think much of my role in getting things moving until someone pointed out to me all I’ve done. I was pretty surprised when I got the award.”

The ubiquitous eastern redcedar tree – a native species but one that can encroach on the region’s pastures and prairies – may be seen as a nuisance to some, but actually has a very important story to tell about the region’s climate history. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville are calling on the help of residents of the Driftless Area to identify redcedar tree samples to be included in National Science Foundation research that is studying the long-term history of drought in the region.

David Heimerdinger, assistant professor in agricultural engineering technology and manufacturing technology management at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 Outstanding Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff Academic Advisor Award.

After earning both his Bachelor of Science in agriculture education and Master of Science in industrial technology management with an emphasis in technology education from UW-Platteville, Heimerdinger started his career at the university in 2005.

After teaching in the industrial studies department for 15 years, he joined the School of Agriculture in 2020, splitting his time between agriculture and industrial studies. Over the years, Heimerdinger has advised students from various programs and continues to do so, currently advising construction management, industrial technology management, agribusiness, agricultural education and technology education students.

Professor Gail K. Hoffman in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Health and Human Performance is one of four UW System faculty recipients of the 2023 James R. Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award. The $5,000 award, funded by Alliant Energy, recognizes extraordinary teachers at UW institutions within Alliant’s service area. 

Hoffman’s career began as a coach and assistant coach with multiple NCAA Women’s Volleyball programs and transitioned to full-time teaching when she joined the faculty of UW-Richland in 2000, eventually serving as Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance for the UW Colleges. Her leadership and innovation has continued with UW-Platteville, teaching and developing online, hybrid and face-to-face courses, and expanding department courses with gender and ethnic studies designations. 

Elizabeth Runde, academic program specialist in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 Professional Academic Advisor of the Year Award for exemplifying the best qualities of academic staff advisors.

Hired for a position in the School of Education in 2010, Runde has stayed within the department and is proud to be a part of UW-Platteville, stating it is a positive place to work. In her current role, she hopes to assist in shepherding students through UW-Platteville’s education program so that they can be successful in the surrounding school districts. She strives to be a strong advocate for students while learning new policies and procedures along the way.

Ellie Zimmermann, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville from Lakeville, Minnesota, is spending the summer conducting research to explore the connections between community garden space and the perceptions of health and well-being and food security in the local community.

Jane Kuhl, assistant in the departments of psychology and foreign languages at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 University Staff Award of Excellence. The award recognizes staff members who provide essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, and initiative and creativity.

“To be nominated by my department chairs because they recognize and appreciate the work I do is a real honor.” said Kuhl, who said she was honored and surprised when she found out she was being recognized with this award. “UW-Platteville is filled with knowledgeable, hardworking people that go out of their way to be helpful. There are so many people I work with on campus that are deserving of this award.”

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich is being honored with the 2023 Dr. Carol Sue Butts Woman of the Year Award, which recognizes female employees and students who make a difference in the lives of others in the campus community.

Chancellor Evetovich joined UW-Platteville as provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs in 2020, immediately helping to navigate the university through the global pandemic and ensure the well-being and educational needs of students and faculty were prioritized. In 2022, she was named interim chancellor. After serving in that role for 10 months, she was appointed the 15th, and first female, chancellor of UW-Platteville on April 25, 2023. Upon becoming chancellor, she made it a priority to broaden her cabinet and promote a strong shared governance presence in it. She is frequently praised for her engagement across campus and empowerment of others.

The Department of Performing and Visual Arts and the Platteville Summer Arts Festival present the musical “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.” From the award-winning composer Dave Malloy comes an electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s 1869 novel “War and Peace.” Following a critically-acclaimed premiere at Ars Nova in New York City, a subsequent Off-Broadway transfer and an acclaimed run on Broadway, this award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling. The production runs July 28, 29, Aug. 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and July 30 and Aug. 6 at 2 p.m. in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently awarded five faculty research fellowships to help increase dairy-related research capacity through the Dairy Innovation Hub initiative. Known as the Dairy Industry Impact Innovation Faculty Fellowships, or “DI3 faculty fellowships,” the selected faculty members will tackle research projects in the Hub’s four priority areas; stewarding land and water resources; enriching human health and nutrition; ensuring animal health and welfare; and growing farm business and communities.

Funded through a $7.8 million per year investment by the state of Wisconsin, the Hub harnesses research and development at UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls campuses to keep Wisconsin’s $45.6 billion dairy community at the global forefront in producing nutritious dairy foods in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable manner. Since its launch in 2019, the Hub has funded more than 160 projects across the three campuses.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich announced that Christopher Patton has been appointed Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services at UW-Platteville. His appointment begins on Aug. 14.

Patton will bring extensive leadership experience to UW-Platteville, having served in a variety of roles at the Wisconsin Department of Administration and Epic Systems. He is currently deputy secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Administration. He had previously served as administration operations director at Epic Systems and policy director for Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle.

Dr. Kristopher Wright, professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being recognized with the 2023 Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award. Created by Provost Emeritus Dr. Mittie Nimocks Den Herder, the Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award honors and recognizes outstanding faculty at UW-Platteville who teach effectively, teach the value of diversity, teach the ability to argue sensitive issues with competence and civility, create opportunities for students to engage in high-impact practices and teach the importance of a liberal arts education.

Wright said he was incredibly honored yet humbled when he found out he was being recognized with the award.

For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation celebrates a record year of donations, raising $8.7 million during the 2023 fiscal year, which ended June 30.

“This banner year for fundraising is a testament to our history of excellence and the unwavering support of our alumni, friends, faculty and staff and their belief in our university’s mission,” said UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy Evetovich. “This support is nothing short of transformative, and it guarantees that, together, we can continue to uphold our university’s traditions of excellence and access.”

The UW-Platteville Foundation received more than 7,500 gifts during the fiscal year. This year’s fundraising total is a $1.1 million increase over last year’s record.

The Harry and Laura Nohr Gallery is honoring the gallery’s namesake, Harry Nohr, by hosting an envelope design challenge. Artists of all ages and abilities are welcome to create a design on an envelope and mail it to Harry Nohr at the gallery by July 7.

“Even though Nohr Gallery doesn’t necessarily have public visiting hours over the summer, there are still ways to stay engaged with us,” said Cameren Hill, Nohr Gallery manager.

Participants of the Harry Nohr Envelope Design Challenge are tasked to use an envelope as their canvas to create a work of art. The envelope’s final design may include anything appropriate to the university environment, but it is preferred that submissions incorporate themes related to the outdoors, animals or conservation.

Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville health and human performance students, Trevor Wilkinson and Hannah Fliss, recently presented their research through poster presentations at the National American College of Sports Medicine Conference in Denver, Colorado.

Both Wilkinson and Fliss agreed that presenting at the conference was an incredible experience.

“As an undergraduate, this conference provided immense opportunities for personal and professional growth,” said Fliss, from Mosinee, Wisconsin. “Through this presentation, I met experts in the health and wellness field that listened to my research and also provided incredible feedback.”

“It was a real eye-opener to see where our majors could lead us,” added Wilkinson, from Edgerton, Wisconsin. “Events like this really get you excited and motivated to tackle more projects and share them with people.”

Dr. Ian MacKenzie, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, is being honored with the 2023 Early Career Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence.

“I feel incredibly grateful and honored to receive this award,” said MacKenzie, who has been at UW-Platteville since 2019. “All of my achievements have been built upon the many gifts and blessings I have received from others, and this award is a direct result of the nurture and support that has been poured into me over the years. I am grateful for my loving wife, Sarah, who greatly supports my teaching and for all the teachers, colleagues, friends and students that have helped me grow and develop in my teaching.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team announces Director of Football Operations Kearstin Schweitzer has been selected to participate in the 2023 Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Throughout my career in football, I've worn many different hats for the programs I've coached in. There's really not much that I haven't done yet in a football office." Schweitzer said. "I think that diverse background gives me a lot of experience in this field and helped me prepare to get this fellowship."

Schweitzer, who coaches receivers and manages and coordinates all football-related logistics for the Pioneers, is just one of two fellows selected by the Steelers. She will work with the team over 10 days in late July and early August.

Sarah Strange, senior lecturer in performing and visual arts at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and costume director and designer, was selected for the 2023 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program. She is one of two UW-Platteville faculty members selected for the UW System program this year.

“It means so much to me to be selected as a teaching fellow and to have my work in the classroom and the costume studio acknowledged,” said Strange, who started teaching at UW-Platteville in the fall of 2013. “At UW-Platteville, a portion of my teaching load is dedicated to the design and creation of costumes for the theatre program’s productions. I have the great joy of serving as a teacher and an artist.”

The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America has made the largest grant commitment in its history, pledging $1 million towards the building of the Dairy Pilot Plant and Training Center at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneer Farm.

Members of the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America board of trustees presented the ceremonial check to UW-Platteville Chancellor Dr. Tammy K. Evetovich at Pioneer Farm Monday afternoon.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville installed 15 Nalox-ZONE boxes across campus, containing naloxone, also known as Narcan, a lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The boxes were donated by the organization Wisconsin Voices for Recovery.

“While our data demonstrates that we have been fortunate there has not been a prevalence of opioid usage at UW-Platteville, the problems of opioid misuse and fentanyl accidental overdoses have affected communities and college campuses across the country,” said Kate Demerse, UW-Platteville dean of students. “Because UW-Platteville is committed to the health and safety of our campus community, we are making naloxone available for any person in need, either in an emergency situation or in advance as a precaution against future overdose.”

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville was honored on June 6 for its ongoing commitment to sustainability by Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable resources program. Representatives presented UW-Platteville Chancellor Tammy Evetovich with the 2023 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award, recognizing the university for taking extraordinary steps to work with both Focus on Energy and Alliant Energy to reduce energy waste and consumption on campus.

“It’s no small task to undertake this and make it a priority,” said Chancellor Evetovich, thanking the UW-Platteville facilities team. “This is something we prioritize and it is something that is important to us.”

Chancellor Evetovich went on to mention two projects that exemplify the university’s commitment to sustainability: Sesquicentennial Hall – soon to be the university’s first LEED-certified building – and the solar array.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville's newest master's program saw its inaugural class of graduates cross the stage this spring. But even before the first notes of pomp and circumstance played, many Master of Science in Sport Administration students had already realized career success. In fact, graduates Jourden Kachel and Craig Stout were called up to the big leagues before they even had their diplomas in hand.

Teresa Miller, assistant director and counselor in University Counseling Services at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was selected for the 2023 Academic Staff Award of Excellence.

“It’s exciting to be recognized for my efforts, and I was excited that my supervisor thought well enough of me to nominate me in the first place,” said Miller, who was nominated by Deirdre Dalsing, director of University Counseling Services at UW-Platteville.

Miller, who has been with University Counseling Services since 2013, graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in sociology and a minor in psychology and then earned her master’s in social work from the University of Chicago. A first-generation college student, she is a licensed clinical social worker with experience treating mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD and trauma.

Sub-Zero Group, Inc., manufacturer of leading luxury kitchen appliance brands Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, continues to show its dedication to engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a $100,000 gift to support the new Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Engineering Instrumentation Lab in Sesquicentennial Hall.

COVID-19 Protocols for 2023-24

Since the onset of COVID in 2020, we have been requiring the statement "Plans are subject to change, based on health and safety measures that may be in place at the time of the event" on all of our posters, postcards, event announcements, etc. Since the CDC has officially ended the pandemic/emergency status for COVID, that statement is no longer required for the 2023-24 academic year. Thanks for helping with the adherence to that requirement during the last two-plus years.

Testing

Most pharmacies have tests available. In addition, free tests can be requested online at https://www.covid.gov/tests.

Face coverings 

A team of University of Wisconsin-Platteville construction management students recently traveled to Kissimmee, Florida, for the 2023 Construction Management Competition at the Associated Builders and Contractors Convention. UW-Platteville’s team, Keen Action Construction, tested their construction project leadership skills by completing the same construction management project as 21 other teams and placed fifth overall.

Dr. Ganapathy “Gana” Natarajan, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was selected for the 2023-2024 Wisconsin Teaching Fellows and Scholars Program. He is one of two UW-Platteville faculty members selected for the UW System program this year.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s collaborative Master of Physician Assistant Studies program officially launched this week with an inaugural cohort of 10 students. The UW-Madison wisPACT@UW-Platteville program allows UW-Platteville students to earn a degree through UW-Madison’s nationally-recognized Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, while remaining on the UW-Platteville campus to complete the coursework.

The students will be learning in the newly renovated space on the first floor of Ullrich Hall, which includes a neuroscience lab, clinical exam room suite and dedicated lecture room with streaming video capabilities.

When David Ward enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in the 1970s, then called Wisconsin State University-Platteville, he had no way of knowing how much attending the university would impact his life. Now, 47 years after graduating from UW-Platteville, Ward has shown a long-time commitment to the university in a number of ways throughout the years, including teaching, creating a scholarship and most recently, adding an estate gift to his plans.

“There are three things, outside family, that made me who I am,” said Ward. “Being born and raised on a farm, which taught me hard work; growing up in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, a supportive community that especially supports its youth; and majoring in agriculture at UW-Platteville.”

“Perspective” is a word that was mentioned frequently when students of Dr. Caryn Stanley’s Quality Management course reflected on their spring capstone project. Every year, Stanley, associate professor in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Business, pairs teams of students with a local business client for a semester-long project where the students evaluate and propose process improvements. This year, student teams were paired with clients in Honduras, giving them the unique opportunity to help under-resourced entrepreneurs, while navigating a different language and culture.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville celebrated its 210th commencement on May 13, recognizing more than 970 spring and summer degree candidates in three separate ceremonies. Chancellor Tammy Evetovich presided over the ceremonies for the first time as permanent chancellor.

“We are so proud of your accomplishments and dedication on your journey to where you are today,” Chancellor Evetovich told the candidates. “Today is all about you, and we are honored to celebrate with you.”

The day began with the College of Business, Industry, Life Science and Agriculture ceremony, which honored 305 candidates. This was followed by the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science ceremony, which recognized 300 candidates. The final ceremony celebrated 231 College of Liberal Arts and Education candidates, as well as 36 associate degree and 107 master’s degree candidates.