PLATTEVILLE, Wis. —The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has enhanced its partnership with UW-Fox Valley with the grand opening of a building dedicated to engineering in Menasha, Wis. The two institutions collaborate on the UW-Platteville/UW Colleges Collaborative Engineering Program. With the support of Winnebago and Calumet counties, UW-Platteville and UW-Fox Valley have been able to expand the UW-Platteville and UW-Colleges engineering program at UW-Fox Valley.
There are currently 185 students within the four-year combined UW-Fox Valley (first and second year) and UW-Platteville (third and fourth year) program working toward their UW-Platteville engineering degree.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, career opportunities for engineers are expected to increase from through 2012. “National projections show the need for engineers,” said Dr. Bill Hudson, dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science at UW-Platteville. “It is critical for us to grow our engineering programs.”
Of those 185 students, 63 are enrolled as UW-Platteville students; 42 in the mechanical engineering program and 21 in the electrical engineering program.
Current employment rate for the graduates is 94 percent. “Industry leaders in the Fox Valley are extremely pleased with the quality of engineering graduates they have access to thanks to our partnership with UW-Fox Valley,” said Hudson.
With the first class of five graduates in December 2005, the Fox Valley campus has had 58 graduates thus far; 56 mechanical and two electrical. Of those graduates, all of them have remained in the Fox Valley.
Winnebago and Calumet counties purchased the building in 2008, and following renovation, opened it to enhance engineering education this fall. The building, which now includes 19,907 square feet, was originally constructed in 1970.
Included in the facility are classrooms, equipment, study space, collaborative team space and technology connecting the students and faculty to multiple locations. Three UW-Platteville faculty members, Mike Zampaloni, mechanical engineering; Bob Bettendorf, electrical engineering and Tuba Bayraktar, mechanical engineering, teach at the UW-Fox Valley campus. “Students love the attention they receive from our faculty members,” said Hudson.
Since July 1, 2002 UW-Fox Valley and UW-Platteville have officially been offering the opportunity for Fox Cities’ residents to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, with the first collaborative classes starting on Sept. 1, 2002. The electrical engineering program was added in 2006.
Initially, the plan was to cater to non-traditional students. The interest from both traditional and non-traditional students has grown, resulting in a need to expand the engineering facility. The expansion in this facility represents an important milestone in providing needed engineering talent in the Fox Valley that could not have occurred without cooperation and collaboration of all parties involved.
Contact: Dr. Bill Hudson, dean, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, (608) 342-1561, hudsonw@uwplatt.edu and Dr. Lisa Riedle, associate dean, College of EMS, (608) 342-1686, riedle@uwplatt.edu
Written by: Dan Wackershauser, UW-Platteville University Information and Communications, (608) 342-1194, wackersd@uwplatt.edu