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).
Property/Real Estate Pages
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 |
|
> $1,000,000 must be enumerated | SBC |
|
Assessable Improvements | ||
$50,000 or greater | SBC |
|
Campus Boundary Changes | BOR |
|
Easements | ||
All easements are to be reviewed by System Office of General Counsel and signed by VP of Administration |
OGC & VP |
|
Exchange | ||
University property valued at $500,000 or less | VP |
|
University property valued > $500,000 or Involves UW-Madison agricultural land |
BOR |
|
The “purchase” portion of all exchanges must be approved by SBC | BOR & SBC |
|
Facility Demolition/Decommissioning | ||
If any of the following criteria are applicable:
|
BOR & SBC |
|
If criteria above not applicable and current value ≥ $150K and < $500K |
CPB & SBC Sec. |
|
If criteria above not applicable and current value < $150K |
|
|
Facility Naming | ||
Buildings or additions |
BOR |
|
Portions of buildings or grounds |
Chancellor |
|
Foundations | ||
Institutional relationships with primary fundraising foundations and other affiliated organizations for capital and real estate projects |
|
|
Gifts, Grants, or Bequests |
||
Is outside of or would alter campus boundary | BOR |
|
Gift, grant, or bequest is > $150K
For a building/structure constructed for the benefit of the UW System or any institution |
BOR & SBC |
|
Lease |
||
Initial term (and renewal term) is < $1,000,000 or less than 5 years |
VP |
|
Initial term (and renewal term or amendment) is > $1,000,000 or greater than 5 years |
BOR |
|
A lease that would permit a privately owned or operated facility to be constructed on state-owned land |
BOR & SBC |
|
A lease for student housing created after July 15, 2015 | BOR & SBC |
|
Sale | ||
Is outside or would alter campus boundary Not previously identified as under-utilized involves UW-Madison agricultural land |
BOR |
|
A state-owned residence hall being sold to another state agency or non-state nonprofit agency for purposes of alternate use | BOR & SBC |
|
Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act (WEPA) | ||
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) |
AVP |
|
Floodplain Compliance |
AVP |
|