Knowledge Powers Wisconsin’s Workforce
In an economy driven by knowledge and innovation, the University of Wisconsin System is preparing a stronger workforce to fuel business success.
With enrollment at nearly 180,000 students, UW System institutions offer a rich menu of educational options, including 300 undergraduate degree programs and more than 350 graduate degree programs. These include a growing number of fully online and accelerated degree programs, as well as collaborative degrees tailored to specific industries and emerging workforce needs.
Beginning in January 2014, the first degrees were offered via the UW Flexible Option – a competency-based degree platform designed for adult students who come to college (or back to college) with substantial knowledge and experience.
UW campuses and online degree programs now confer more than 36,000 degrees per year – a 49% increase over the past 35 years. Business, finance, management and related fields remain the most popular areas of study, and more than one-quarter of UW undergraduate degrees are conferred in critical STEM and health-related fields. Over the past 20 years, the number of degrees in STEM disciplines has increased by 50% and in health-related fields by 36%.
The majority of UW degree-holders stay in Wisconsin after graduation. Regardless of where they choose to live, however, UW alumni speak highly of their educational experiences. In fact, 85% of UW graduates say they were “effectively prepared with the knowledge and skills they needed” to succeed in the workplace.
Today’s college students are mobile, and it’s easier than ever for them to begin at one campus and finish at another. More than 16,000 transfer students enrolled somewhere in the UW System during the 2013-14 year, and UW’s Transfer Information System (TIS) offers an interactive online “wizard” to help create seamless educational experiences.
Because employers want college graduates to be adaptable and flexible, every UW degree is built on a set of shared learning goals. In addition to technical knowledge and skills, UW students learn to think critically, write clearly, speak persuasively, and understand and appreciate diversity. They work in teams and bring a sense of informed citizen-ship to their lives – and to their jobs.
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“A big part of my job now is thinking strategically and mapping out plans, mapping out goals and how we’re going to operate. Going to school as a communication major at UW-Green Bay prepared me to use these skills in a real-world setting, and that has been really helpful as I continue to grow professionally.”
-Ryan Hartwig, Content Developer, Green Bay Packers Media Group
“Kohl’s hires UW-Whitewater interns and graduates because they are well-educated and professional. They understand our vision and show a specific interest in working for us.”
-Jamila Hudson, Recruiter, Kohl’s Department Stores
“We have a great relationship with the university; 35 percent of our workers are UW-Eau Claire graduates.”
-Zach Halmstad, Founder, JAMF Software
Alumnus, UW-Eau Claire (music major, computer science minor)
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Educating people for career success is a vital part of UW System’s mission. Our colleges, universities, and extension networks are also working to create stronger businesses – and new jobs – to employ those UW graduates.
Initiatives to bolster regional economies are under way at all UW institutions. A growing partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will help coordinate these statewide activities and leverage the UW System’s education and research assets.
Manufacturing remains a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s economy, and the UW is a strong partner. From supply chain management and e-business to transportation logistics and paper science, our public universities devote more than $50 million to manufacturing research, education, and outreach every year. Another staple industry – agriculture – remains a top UW priority, as evidenced by world-class research and specialized degrees in agricultural business, animal science, biochemistry, genetics, and food science.
Looking toward the future, most new jobs will come from small businesses. To support that growth, UW-Extension’s Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN) works alongside campus-based Small Business Development Centers to help new and established businesses find the expertise they need.
Scientific research at UW campuses is itself a key ingredient to job growth. Academic research and development now represents a $1.1-billion industry in Wisconsin – one that has created over 38,000 jobs all across the state, according to the Wisconsin Technology Council. One tangible example of this success is found at the University Research Park in Madison, where more than 126 companies employ over 3,500 people at an average annual salary of $63,000. Many of those businesses grew out of UW-Madison research, while others were attracted by the climate of uncommon innovation. This model is being replicated at other campus-es, including the Whitewater University Technology Park, which leverages UW-Whitewater’s strengths in information technology and entrepreneurship. Likewise, businesses at the Stout Technology and Business Park in Menomonie capitalize on UW-Stout’s expertise in packaging, plastics, and industrial technology.
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“Strathmore Artist Papers™ benefited from our partnership with UW-Stevens Point. We began with an idea for a new line of artist paper, and within a short amount of time had a fantastic series of new products that are being used by artists throughout the country. It is truly a Wisconsin story as the development and manufacturing were all done by organizations here in Wisconsin, including the RiverPoint Paper which is made right on campus.”
-Matthew P. Meszaros, New Product Development Manager, Strathmore Artist Papers™
“A friend of mine said, ‘go to Colleen Merrill. She makes magic happen.’ Colleen (a business counselor from SBDC, UW-Extension) understood what I was trying to accomplish. She worked up numbers and business concepts, and told us what we should expect. She cut every piece of red tape imaginable. Within a month I had a $90,000 loan to complete the project. I can’t imagine doing all that on my own.”
-Ray Reinders, Owner, Link Computing Solutions, Oshkosh
“The UW Online Sustainable Management degree set me up for success in a career in business, which is something I didn’t expect when I started it. I really learned how to phrase my arguments in a way that makes business sense and achieves the social outcomes I am looking for.”
-Margaret Becker, Facilities Program Analyst, American Family Insurance
Alumna, UW Online Sustainable Management degree program, a collaboration of UW-Extension, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, UW-Superior, UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Parkside
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Communities across Wisconsin share common challenges, working to boost business growth, protect environmental resources, promote public health, and sustain a high quality of life. These communities also share an invaluable resource – the University of Wisconsin System.
By engaging with communities, UW institutions have positive impacts in every corner of the state.
Public radio and television networks deliver information and education throughout the state. Continuing education programs on each of the 26 UW campuses provide lifelong learning and personal enrichment opportunities. Cooperative Extension educators in every county offer programs that serve everyone from families and youth to agricultural producers and Main Street business owners.
Scientific research often reaches far beyond the university laboratory. By applying that knowledge to real-world problems, UW researchers help businesses improve productivity. They help protect clean water and safe food supplies.
Part of the college experience at any UW campus is the opportunity to learn valuable lessons through hands-on work outside the classroom. In fact, 65% of UW seniors report participating in some type of community service. These experiences yield immediate benefits to communities while students are enrolled, and build a foundation for lifelong civic involvement of graduates.
Even before they enter college, Wisconsin’s young people visit campuses to learn about everything from astronomy to zoology. They attend theatrical performances, participate in sports camps, hone their musical skills, and learn from hands-on scientific experiments.
The UW System works with and for communities all around Wisconsin to enrich daily life and bring about positive change.
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A college education is shown to lead to much higher earnings over a lifetime. A more educated workforce also means greater tax revenue, which supports better standards of living. Studies consistently show that higher education is linked to increased civic engagement, from voting to volunteerism, and greater understanding of people from diverse backgrounds and opinions.
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“UW-Parkside, and the entire UW System, is committed to providing affordable and innovative access to quality education and thereby creating economic opportunity for individuals and our communities.”
-Tim Mahone, President, Mahone Strategies
“UW-Platteville is the economic engine that drives the community of Platteville. As our largest employer, UW-Platteville provides access to the arts and culture that we would not otherwise be able to enjoy. The many programs and performances offered through the Center for the Arts also make us a destination for others in the region.”
-Kathy Kopp, Executive Director, Platteville Regional Chamber
“Our family is eager to help UW-Milwaukee create a vibrant research community at Innovation Campus for both the public and private sectors. We value this opportunity to partner with UWM to create jobs for the region through the establishment of new companies and provide unique educational opportunities for students.”
-Lynn Nicholas, President, Nicholas Family Foundation
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University of Wisconsin System
The University of Wisconsin System is one of the largest, most efficient, and most respected systems of higher education in the country. It is an academic, cultural, and economic resource for the entire state, and home to the “Wisconsin Idea”—education for people wherever they live and work.
An Efficient, Comprehensive System
UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee, the state’s largest campuses, offer doctoral and professional programs, as well as undergraduate and graduate degree pro-grams. Eleven comprehensive four-year campuses offer baccalaureate and master’s programs. The 13 UW Colleges offer a freshman-sophomore liberal arts foundation in an affordable, accessible format, and guarantee that students can transfer to any four-year UW campus. In addition, UW-Extension works in partnership with Wisconsin’s 72 counties to provide lifelong learning and applied research to every corner of the state.
The UW System’s administrative overhead costs are less than half of what you’ll find at the average public university in America. That efficiency saves Wisconsin taxpayers and students some $227 million every year, by comparison.
More Graduates, More Degree Programs
The UW System is finding new ways to maintain this efficiency while also boosting productivity. The number of enrolled students and degrees conferred continue to reach record, or near-record, levels. Retention and graduation rates are also climbing, exceeding national averages.
Achievement and access go hand in hand at UW. Each year, about one-third of Wisconsin high school graduates enroll the fol-lowing fall at a UW campus, and about 94 out of every 100 freshman applicants from Wisconsin are admitted to at least one UW institution where they applied.
To meet the needs of working adults, non-traditional students and businesses, a growing number of these degrees are offered in fully online formats, with new “Flexible Option” degrees now under development. An array of collaborative degrees meet emerging workforce needs by lever-aging the existing resources of multiple UW campuses. Partnerships with Wisconsin’s Technical Colleges open up new pathways to a college degree.
A Vision for Wisconsin’s Future
The UW System is expanding scientific re-search that stimulates job creation and business growth. In addition to supporting Wisconsin’s staple industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, our universities are graduating more students in computer science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other high-growth fields.
While UW-Madison is known worldwide for numerous scientific breakthroughs, UW-Milwaukee is expanding its research capacity to develop a highly skilled and diverse workforce in the state’s largest urban area. Similar initiatives to bolster regional economies and build ties with local businesses and communities are under way at other UW System campuses.
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UW System at a glance
Enrollment: About 180,000
Institutions:
- 13 four-year universities
- 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges campuses
- Statewide UW-Extension
Annual Budget: $6.1 billion
State Funding: $1.2 billion
Gifts, Grants and Contracts: $1.5 billion
Economic Impact: $15+ billion annually
Degrees Awarded: 36,000 annually
Learn More: www.wisconsin.edu UWPowersWI.com
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“The demand for nurses is growing, particularly for those with a bachelor of science in nursing. The UW Flexible Option RN to BSN program allows working nurses with busy lives an opportunity to seamlessly move forward in their careers. At the same time, they’re bringing new ideas to their workplace. It’s a win-win.”
-Mary Beth Kingston, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee
“Why does Schneider hire UW-Madison grads? Simply put, they are some of the most intelligent and self-motivated students around. UW does a superior job of preparing their students for the real world and what it takes to deliver value to the organizations they join. We are fortunate as a company to be able to attract and hire individuals of the caliber that graduate from the University of Wisconsin.”
-Todd Jadin, Senior Vice President, Talent Management and Associate Relations, Schneider
