It’s been a little over a month since the fall semester of 2022 started, but the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) has offered a number of changes to the student population. From the different departments, ranging from the Student Housing to the Administration, there have been several transformations that occurred over the summer and several opportunities to come.
Housing
In terms of changes, UWGB Student Housing has some major changes to greet the return of students. One major and obvious change that affects the students living on campus is the shift from paid laundry to free. Vice Chancellor Dr. Corey King stated, “The reason we did that is because we’re trying to advance our amenities on campus, just like living off campus.” Essentially, it is to add additional benefits that would be available to students that would live off campus.
Another change that occurred in the Fall was the updating of the Wi-Fi, with several halls getting Wi-Fi access points. More halls are receiving these updates as the year continues. There is also has been changes for the Housing student workers. For one, Residential Assistants, or RAs, had a name change to Residential Mentors, otherwise known as RMs. According to King, Housing had increased their compensation for the RMs’ work for the new fall semester. Housing also created a new position called “Hall Managers” for the buildings, allowing more opportunities for students to get involved.
There are many things that are on the horizon for housing. For one, the rumor is true: there is going to be a new building built in Roy Hall’s parking lot with a new parking lot to be built to be next to the new building. Currently, according to King, construction is set in the next 24 to 26 months. This is not to expand housing, however, but to replace the oldest housing buildings, which are the triads. King stated, “So we build new, and we are going to demolish the old.”
Other major changes that are expected to occur in the future are the switch to streaming. According to King, in January 2023, the University will switch from its cable provider for students to a Spectrum subscription, where students will be able to stream from a number of streaming platforms, either from the campus dorms or at home. The cable will still be available to students within the dorms’ lounges. Printers also are being considered to make their appearances in the lounges, with students being able to pay for them with Pass Points. On top of all of that, currently, the food plans are being reviewed and reworked to “…be more aligned with the buildings,” according to King. The contract with the current food provider is set to expire by the end of this year. The University is currently reviewing food provider options for the next 3 to 5 years.
Student Engagement
Phoenix Connect is a new platform that Student Engagement rolled out for Fall 2022 for all the students across all four UW-Green Bay branches. Katherine Lesperance, the Director of Student Engagement, stated, “[Phoenix Connect] … is to help students find ways to connect on campus either through events, student organizations, or department resources.” Essentially, it is a digital database, giving student organizations the ability to broadcast their events easier, update their member’s roster, and being able to maintain a record of their attendance at the event, if they choose to have students swipe with their UWGB ID-cards to “check in” to the event. With the new semester being well underway, Student Engagement is willing to offer training to student organizations that are interested in learning more. Student organizations are also being given new reservation powers for certain locations, such as the Shorewood Center, for either indoor or outdoor events.
Student Engagement is also increasing the number of programs, particularly for Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month and Native American Heritage month. Lesperance mentioned an event, “Noche Latina on Saturday, October 8th,” that one can register to attend online. We also have a little bit of a stronger partnership with Athletics this semester,” Lesperance stated, “So you’ll be seeing them post a bit more about certain events.” One example is the Phoenix Phan Night on October 11th to celebrate the kickoff of the UWGB basketball teams.
Student Engagement is also taking an active approach to trying to give students what they want on campus. “We would love for [students] to come in and let us know what they are interested in doing, what they want to see on campus.”
Administration
Changes have also come to enrollment and academics at the main UWGB campus and its satellites. The college is committed to meeting student demands and helping students achieve their academic goals. This includes new majors and minors and expanded online access, and easier transfers from technical colleges like Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and Fox Valley Technical College.
The newest major is Sociology and Anthropology, and the new minors are Personal Financial Planning and Criminal Justice. The Criminal Justice minor has been “wanted for a long time,” according to Jennifer Jones, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services. Personal Financial Planning is important to prepare students for living on their own. They are excited about the addition of these new majors and minors.
In addition to developing new programs, UWGB has been working to develop a strategic enrollment plan. Jennifer Jones said they are focusing on the students they want to better serve in the 16-county footprint, which encompasses UWGB and its satellite campuses. This includes offering learning opportunities in multiple modalities, from in-person to fully online. They are also focusing on first-generation students, giving them the tools they need to achieve academic success.
In terms of the enrollment at UWGB that has stayed steady and even increased since the pandemic compared to other schools in the University of Wisconsin system, Jennifer Jones attributed it to many factors. “How do you grow an institution? You grow it on all levels,” she said. She cited the efforts the school has made to engage students and its efforts to serve a diverse population of students. UWGB is the first college in the UW system to receive the First-gen Forward designation, meaning that UWGB has committed to improving the experiences of first-generation students.
Students
So, what do students have to say about all of this? Students have noticed and are excited about the changes on campus. A big thing is a return to in-person activities and the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions. “College life feels closer to what it felt like pre-pandemic than it ever has before,” Rowan Voskuli, a senior majoring in Arts Management. She noted students seem more energetic, and there are more students on campus.
Voskuli also noted the new meal options on campus among the changes on campus but did say that the college could always do more. Despite not living in the dorms, Voskuli said, “I feel more in touch with the campus because of the lifting of restrictions and the increased opportunities to be involved with student organizations, events, and even classes without pandemic concerns.”
