At UW-Green Bay, we are proud to serve out our mission and vision to be a university that fearlessly meets challenges, solves problems, embraces diversity, cares about our region and provides access to education for all who want it. We believe learning never stops and we work towards equitable access for all. So, what do we mean when we say “UW-Green Bay is open access”? It means giving every student the chance to change their life for the better with advanced education. It means we want to provide education for all who seek it. No matter where they start. No matter where they have been. No matter where they want to go.
We have a path forward for every student, along with support systems to help guide them along their higher education journey. Whether a student is looking to complete a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, an accelerated path, a certificate program or a master’s degree, we will support students towards a successful future. We are not making college itself easier by being open access; we are making the path TO college easier and helping all students see themselves as “college-material”, whatever that may mean to them.
Our mission reflects who UW-Green Bay is designed to serve. “The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is dedicated to the idea of an educated person as one who is guided by the love of learning, committed to inquiry, creativity and scholarship through interdisciplinary and disciplinary approaches to defining and solving problems, and who is an active citizen providing service to the community.” We know support is going to look different for all students; those who have struggled in high school versus those who are high academic achievers and fit the traditional definition of “college-ready”. At UW-Green Bay, we value individuality and we understand that everyone has different needs and requires varying types of support.
We want all students to engage with their professors, seek out opportunities for classroom and community involvement, complete internships and research, and take advantage of any other opportunities that are presented to them. At UW-Green Bay, students are challenged to be the best version of themselves both in and out of the classroom, and we take pride in knowing our graduates have a 99% post-graduate success rate into jobs and/or graduate school.
At the same time, we recognize students who struggled prior to enrolling in college may need extra support. This could be with tutoring services, academic coaching, utilizing our academic advisors to help determine which classes fit their strengths, or getting connected with other academic and support resources; like in our Gateway to Phoenix Success Program. We fully commit to teaching all who desire an education at any age and with any background. UW-Green Bay provides an engaged student experience and these students’ path to success may involve additional intentional check-ins and support resources along the way.
We pride ourselves in our ability to meet each student’s unique needs, and believe that our ability to support all students in their academic journey is what makes for a better learning environment and better outcomes after graduation.