University of Wisconsin–Superior


The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public liberal arts university in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants associate, bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees. The university enrolls about 2,500 undergraduates and 200 graduate students.

History

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 the University of Wisconsin System and acquired its present name. 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.

Mission

UW–Superior has been designated as the public liberal arts college in the University of Wisconsin System, and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.

Campus

The university's main campus is at the corner of Belknap Street 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.

Academic buildings

The university manages three field research and education properties:
UW-Superior hosts four regional research centers and has three other research institute affiliations.
Affiliated research institutes:
UW–Superior’s athletic teams, nicknamed the Yellowjackets, are affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III class. Most teams complete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and competed prior to 2015-2016 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 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 in 2002.
Men's sportsWomen's sports
BaseballSoftball
BasketballBasketball
Cross CountryCross Country
Ice HockeyIce Hockey
SoccerSoccer
Track and FieldTrack and Field
GolfGolf
TennisTennis
Volleyball

Media

Radio station

KUWS, the university's radio station, broadcasts with 83,000 watts at 91.3 FM. KUWS is an affiliate of the Wisconsin Public Radio Ideas Network, and also originates its own jazz, alternative rock, and other music programming as well as UW-Superior sports broadcasts. The KUWS studios also serve as the WPR Northern Bureau and provide programming to stations WHSA, WHWA, WSSU, and WUWS.

Student newspaper

The Promethean is the student newspaper for the University of Wisconsin–Superior. It began as The Peptomist, in 1920. Students voted to change the name to Promethean in 1974. The name was changed again at the start of the 2007-2008 academic year, to The 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 to Promethean.

Accreditation

The University of Wisconsin–Superior has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916 and was a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools prior to its dissolution.

Notable alumni