UW System has closed multiple two year campuses due to declining enrollments. State budget cuts coupled with declining enrollments mean that the campuses are no longer financially cost-effective to operate.
The impact falls into two key areas.
First is the loss of the university educational program at the campus. The campus was founded on the concept of making a UW education accessible. That included close and convenient access to students residing in the Fox Cities; affordable tuition and fees; ease of admission for full or part-time students who may not meet the academic GPA requirements elsewhere or may no longer be available applicable as in the case of older adult students.
Second is the loss of access to community related resources located at the campus and operated by the university. These community oriented programs include:
The Barlow Planetarium, Weis Earth Science Museum, Children’s Center, and athletic facilities remain operational for now and presumably until the UW completely withdraws from the campus by July 2025
Other facilities including the Communication Arts Center, Alyward Gallery, athletic facilities are no longer open to community groups.
It remains to be decided. The campus property and buildings are jointly owned by Winnebago and Outagamie Counties. Since the UW annouced it was leaving the campus in May 2024, county officials have been working to develop options for the best possible use of the campus. Ultimately as owners of the campus county officials will decide what happens after June 2025.
Those students can apply to any UW campus for admission. If they are admitted they can live on campus, commute, and/or attend classes on line when available.