Property

This site is dedicated to property and real estate topics and resources, including links to various presentations, reports, request documentation, and information relative to each biennium. Property acquisition and disposal, granting of easements, leasing property, demolition of facilities, naming facilities, municipal assessable improvements, campus boundary changes, instructional guides and reference materials are organized and located here.

The University of Wisconsin System owns more than 18,000 acres of land, of which approximately 4,700 acres are devoted to the campuses of the thirteen university institutions. The remaining acreage is used for experimental agriculture stations and agricultural land, arboretums, natural and conservancy areas, extension activities, and other university uses.

For University of Wisconsin Colleges, the property is owned by the communities in which the campuses are located and operated by the Board of Regents. Wis. Stat. §36.11(b) grants to the Board of Regents (BOR) the ability to purchase and sell property. Consequently, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System holds the title and deed to all land holdings. The Capital Planning and Budget Committee of the Board of Regents makes recommendations to the board for land transactions that the board is required to approve. In addition, since the University of Wisconsin is a state agency, certain property transactions are also subject to policies, procedures, and approval of the State Building Commission (SBC).

UW-Green Bay Property
UW-La Crosse Property
UW-Milwaukee Property
UW-Madison Property (West)

Required Approvals

AVP = Associate Vice President for Capital Planning and Budget    BOR = Board of Regents    DOA = Department of Administration
OGC = Office of General Counsel     SBC = State Building Commission     VP = Vice President for Administration

Subject

Authority

Notes

Real Property
Acquisition

Is outside of or would alter campus boundary

Involves UW-Madison agricultural land

 BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s. 36.33, Wis. Stats.
  • SBC Policy: VIII., D,
 > $1,000,000 must be enumerated SBC
  • 2017 WI Act 237
  • s. 20.924(1)(a), Wis. Stats.
Assessable Improvements
$50,000 or greater SBC
  • s. 66.0703(6), Wis. Stats.
  • s. 66.0705(2), Wis. Stats.
Campus Boundary Changes BOR
  •  BOR Policy: 13-2
 Easements
All easements are to be reviewed by System Office of General Counsel and signed by VP of Administration  

OGC & VP
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
Exchange
University property valued at $500,000 or less VP
  • BOR Policy: 13-2

University property valued > $500,000 or

Involves UW-Madison agricultural land

 BOR
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s. 36.33 Wis. Stats.
The “purchase” portion of all exchanges must be approved by SBC BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • SBC Policy:  VIII., D.
  • BOR adjusts campus boundary after transaction is complete
Facility Demolition/Decommissioning
If any of the following criteria are applicable:

  • demolition cost > $100K
  • demolition includes BTF funding
  • current value > $500K
  • building is historic
 BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 19-5
  • SBC Policy: Chapter IX, F.
  • s. 44.40, Wis. Stats. (Historical buildings only)

If criteria above not applicable and current value ≥ $150K and < $500K

  

CPB & SBC Sec.
  • BOR Policy: 19-5
  • SBC Policy: Chapter IX, F.
If criteria above not applicable and current value < $150K
Facility Naming

Buildings or additions

 BOR
  • BOR Policy: 19-14

Portions of buildings or grounds

 Chancellor
  • BOR Policy: 19-14
Foundations
Institutional relationships with primary fundraising foundations and other affiliated organizations for capital and real estate projects
  • UW System Administrative Policy 362
Gifts, Grants, or Bequests
Is outside of or would alter campus boundary BOR
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
Gift, grant, or bequest is > $150K

For a building/structure constructed for the benefit of the UW System or any institution

  

BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • SBC Policy: II., L., M.
  • s. 13.48(2)(b)1m, Wis. Stats.
Lease
Initial term (and renewal term) is < $1,000,000 or less than 5 years  

VP
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s. 36.11(1)(b), Wis. Stats.
Initial term (and renewal term or amendment) is > $1,000,000 or greater than 5 years  

BOR
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
A lease that would permit a privately owned or operated facility to be constructed on state-owned land  

BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s. 13.48(12), Wis. Stats.
A lease for student housing created after July 15, 2015 BOR & SBC
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s. 16.84(5), Wis. Stats.
Sale

Is outside or would alter campus boundary

Not previously identified as under-utilized

involves UW-Madison agricultural land

  BOR
  • BOR Policy: 13-2
  • s.13.48(14)(d), Wis. Stats.
  • s. 36.33, Wis. Stats.
 A state-owned residence hall being sold to another state agency or non-state nonprofit agency for purposes of alternate use  BOR & SBC
  • SBC approval under s. 36.11(1)(e), Wis. Stats.
Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA)
 

 

 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

  

 

 

AVP
  • BOR Policy: 16-1
  • SBC Policy: Chapter VIII., E.
  • The document Implementation of the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act Within the UW System can be obtained in the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Regents.
  • Environmental audit results of land acquisitions to be reported to the SBC.
 

 

 

Floodplain Compliance

  

 

 

AVP
  • BOR Policy: 16-1
  • SBC Policy: Chapter VIII., E.
  • The document Implementation of the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act Within the UW System can be obtained in the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Regents.
  • Environmental audit results of land acquisitions to be reported to the SBC.