TheUniversity of Wisconsin–Superior (UW–Superior orUWS) is apublicliberal arts university inSuperior, Wisconsin, United States. UW–Superior grants associate, bachelor's, master's and specialist's degrees. The university enrolls 2,559 undergraduates and 364 graduate students.
Originally named "Superior Normal School", the university was founded by Wisconsin legislators as a school to train teachers in 1893. Superior Normal School's first class graduated in 1897. In 1909, the institution became Wisconsin's first normal school to offer a full-scale training program for the new idea of kindergarten. It also was the first to offer a four-year program for high school teachers beginning in 1923. After authorization to grant bachelor's degrees in education in 1926, the school took on the new name of "Superior State Teachers College". Graduate degrees were authorized in 1947 and first offered in 1950. In 1951 the state board of regents changed the institution's name to "Wisconsin State College–Superior" to better reflect its expanding role. Wisconsin's state colleges eventually were reclassified as universities, resulting in another name change in 1964 to "Wisconsin State University–Superior". In 1971 Superior became part of theUniversity of Wisconsin System and acquired its present name.[1] To respond to cuts in state funding, in 2018 UW-Superior suspended a number of academic programs, claiming the cuts were in order to encourage more students to graduate on time.[2][3]
The university's main campus is at the corner of Belknap Street (U.S. Highway 2) and Catlin Avenue. Its north section is the site of all academic buildings and most residence halls. The south section, at the corner of North 28th Street and Catlin Avenue, contains Hawkes and Ross residence halls, Wessman Arena, and the University Services Center.
Barstow Hall, named for regent Barney Barstow: science programs, Lake Superior Research Institute
Erlanson Hall, named for regent Clarence Erlanson: School of Business and Economics, Transportation and Logistics Research Center
Gates Physical Education Building, named for regent Clough Gates: classrooms and labs, Mortorelli Gymnasium
Holden Fine Arts Center, named for university benefactor Paul Holden: communicating arts, music, and visual arts programs, Wisconsin Public Radio studios, Manion Theatre, Webb Recital Hall
Jim Dan Hill Library, named for the university's fifth president (1931–1964): University Library, Markwood Center for Learning, Innovation, and Collaboration, Area Research Center
Marcovich Wellness Center, named for regent Toby Marcovich: athletics, health and human performance programs, recreation, Thering Field House
Old Main, the oldest building on campus: Chancellor's Office, Provost's Office, Financial Aid Office, Center for Continuing Education, Bursar's (cashier's) Office, Center for Academic Advising, University Relations, Human Resources, Multicultural Center, Office of International Programs, Veteran & Non-Traditional Student Center, Thorpe Langley Auditorium
Swenson Hall, named for university benefactors James and Susan Swenson: social sciences, education, languages, mathematics and computer science, Technology Services, First Nations Center, Student Support Services, Erlenbach Lecture Hall
Wessman Arena, named for regent Siinto Wessman
Yellowjacket Union: Admissions Office, Jacket Book and Supply, Union Cafe, Union Desk Information and Services, Rothwell Opportunity Center and student organization offices.
Montreal Pier Testing Facility, also along the Superior waterfront, conducts invasive species research
Nelson Outdoor Laboratory, 76 acres, on the Lake Superior shoreline within the city of Superior, at the end of Moccasin Mike Road
Superior Small Business Development Center, in the Superior Entrepreneur Center at 1401 Tower Avenue, in partnership with the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center and other regional economic development organizations.[4]
Area Research Center, in Jim Dan Hill Library, collects public, historical, and genealogical records for Douglas and Washburn counties, in partnership with theWisconsin Historical Society
Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve studies the estuarine environment of the St. Louis River and the south shore of Lake Superior, in partnership withUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Extension andNOAA
Lake Superior Research Institute conducts original and applied research within the Lake Superior basin and beyond in Wisconsin
Transportation and Logistics Research Center studies regional transportation issues
Affiliated research institutes:
Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute is a shipping research consortium of UW-Superior and theUniversity of Minnesota-Duluth
Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute has its Lake Superior regional office at the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve
UW–Superior's athletic teams, nicknamed the Yellowjackets, are affiliated with the NCAA's Division III class. Most teams compete in theUpper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) and competed prior to 2015–2016 in theWisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). Men's and women's ice hockey teams continue to compete in the WIAC. The men's hockey team won the NAIA national championship in 1976 and the NCAA Division III national championship in2002.
The university currently fields 17 varsity teams competing in the UMAC, they are baseball, basketball (men's/women's), cross country (m/w), golf (m/w), ice hockey (m/w), soccer (m/w), softball, tennis (m/w), track and field (m/w), and volleyball (w).
Apart from the varsity sports, Wisconsin–Superior also has ice hockey and soccer club sports.
KUWS, the university's radio station, broadcasts with 83,000 watts at 91.3 FM. KUWS is an affiliate of theWisconsin Public Radio Music Network, and also originates its own jazz, alternative rock, and other music programming as well as UW-Superior sports broadcasts. The KUWS studios in the Holden Fine Arts Center also serve as the WPR Northern Bureau and provide programming to stationsWHSA,WHWA,WSSU(FM), andWUWS.
The Promethean is the student newspaper for the University of Wisconsin–Superior. It began asThe Peptomist, in 1920. Students voted to change the name toPromethean in 1974. The name was changed again at the start of the 2007–2008 academic year, toThe Stinger. In fall 2009, it became primarily an online newspaper, publishing a print magazine compilation at the end of each term. In 2013, the newspaper returned to print, publishing bi-weekly. In 2015, the name returned toPromethean.[6]
