University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point - History

History

UWSP opened its doors in 1894 as Stevens Point Normal School after securing land and funding from the city of Stevens Point and the county. In addition to teacher preparation, "domestic science" (home economics) and conservation education were offered; the latter formed the basis for the College of Natural Resources, nationally recognized for undergraduate and graduate training in natural resources.

In 1927 Stevens Point Normal School became Central State Teachers College and began offering four-year teaching degrees. When post-World War II enrollment became less centered on teacher training and more focused on liberal arts education, the Wisconsin State Legislature intervened, elevating the school to a Wisconsin State College with the authority to grant bachelor's degrees in liberal arts.

Ever larger numbers of students in the 1950s and 1960s led to construction on campus throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. It was during this period, in 1964, that the college became a Wisconsin State University and began offering graduate degrees. Again in the 1970s the school's name changed from WSU-SP to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point after the two state university systems merged. UWSP has graduated over 70,000 students since opening its doors. Over 40,000 of these alumni live in Wisconsin.

Lee S. Dreyfus became Chancellor in 1974 before going on to become the state of Wisconsin's 40th Governor. Governor Dreyfus was inaugurated on the lawn in front of Old Main on the UWSP campus in 1979.

In 2007 a Sustainability Task Force was created to help achieve the future goal of a carbon neutral campus. In 2009, Chancellor Linda Bunnell resigned after a student vote of no-confidence. The vote was called, in part due to an automobile accident she failed to report and allegations of drunk driving.

The campus played host to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League for their first training camp in 1995. It was part of what was known as the Cheese League, a collection of teams that hold training camp in Wisconsin. Beginning in 1996, the Jaguars have held their training camp in Jacksonville.