WHITEWATER — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will receive almost $78.5 million for a renovation project at Winther Hall.
Winther Hall houses the UW-Whitewater College of Education and Professional Studies.
A statement released by the university on Wednesday said that the renovations will be “sweeping and game-changing†for the education program, resolving space and building infrastructure deficiencies, improving instructional and departmental spaces and increasing technology capabilities.
Chancellor Corey King thanked legislators for the funding in the statement, saying that the university can meet an “increasingly critical workforce need.â€
“There is a nationwide shortage of professional educators and teachers, especially in rural areas. UW-Whitewater proudly licenses more teachers than any other university or college in Wisconsin. This project gives us room to grow. It is an investment in WisconsinÃÛèÖÊÓƵ future,†King said in the statement.
In August, the Wisconsin Policy Forum reported that the number of teachers working on a license with stipulations — or an emergency license — was 3,197 in 2021-22. That number, which represents individuals teaching in classrooms without being fully prepared or fully licensesd to teach in the areas they were hired to teach in Wisconsin, has tripled since 2012-13.
“New graduates are needed in every education field. UW-Whitewater prepares students for a full breadth of careers in preschool through post-secondary education fields,†said John Chenoweth, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, in the statement. He added that includes school counseling, psychology and social work. He also said it includes qualifications to be school and district administrators, higher education professionals and early childhood leaders.
Winther Hall was built in 1969. Funding will allow for the hallÃÛèÖÊÓƵ roof and elevators to be replaced, as well as more than 200 windows. New exterior windows will be selectively installed to bring in natural light into areas of the building that haven’t been used for instruction or where “daylighting standards are not currently met,†according to the statement.
Classrooms, lecture halls and instructional labs will be reconfigured and expanded to accommodate “modern instructional technology and flexible furnishings,†according to the statement. Also, the hallÃÛèÖÊÓƵ heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, as well as mechanical, electrical, telecommunications and plumbing distribution networks will be replaced and reconfigured as necessary to accommodate the new floor plan layouts.
Neighboring Heide Hall was built in 1965. Renovations there include a new roof and new elevators, windows and doors.
An addition will be built onto both Heide Hall and Winther Hall for accessible bathrooms, “in keeping with UW-WhitewaterÃÛèÖÊÓƵ priority mission to provide exceptional services for students with disabilities,†according to the statement.
Architects started preliminary design in January. Construction is expected to start in late 2025 on Heide Hall before switching to Winther Hall. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2028 for both buildings.
The College of Education and Professional Studies now graduates about 800 people per year.
