At a time of unprecedented demand for news, information, and entertainment content, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Communication program is uniquely positioned for growth.

Two years ago, the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences set out to revitalize the student media infrastructure and create a vibrant hub where students will develop skills in radio, television, internet broadcasting, podcasting, gaming, social media, entertainment and journalism that is suited for not only our contemporary moment, but also positioned for quick adaptation in an environment of rapid technological and platform change.

Starting this school year, students will begin using the new $5.7 million Technology, Engineering, Arts and Media (TEAM) Laboratories — formerly Information Sciences (IS). The 13,300-square-foot space is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms and labs with advanced instrumentation. TEAM houses space for student-run media and entertainment facilities, including a radio station, TV studio, newsroom and games and interactive media. Four engineering labs are included in the suite — an electrical engineering lab, electronic circuits lab, electrical machines lab and senior design lab, as well as a physics lab.

“Not only will the opportunities provided by this facility grow enrollment in our Communication and other programs, but they allow us to fulfill our role in providing a pipeline of students with the media-based skills required for what I like to call ‘the age of content’,” said Chuck Rybak, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

“If you had been in this space any time before 2022, it used to look like a Cold War movie set. What we have now is a facility that is open, inviting, and visible, and where students can see others at work and get excited about, and interested in, the work that is being done.”

It’s no accident that the space is shared between the Richard J. Resch School of Engineering’s new Electrical Engineering degree program and Communications. “We see this facility as the perfect meeting and collaboration space for students from various disciplines from across the University,” Rybak said.

A $5 million gift from Resch, the founder of Green Bay furniture company KI, in 2018 created the School of Engineering. The University launched a four-year mechanical engineering degree program then and added an electrical engineering degree program in fall 2021.

The addition of the engineering program was backed by the Greater Green Bay Chamber’s Economic Development Strategic Plan, said John Katers, dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

“Our electrical engineering program is unique in this part of the state,” he said. “There are electrical engineering tech programs here, but this is a four-year bachelor’s degree.”

Within TEAM Labs, several individuals and organizations have been recognized for their support of programming, including:

• The Village Cos. — Electrical Machines Lab (Rm. 1047)
• Arnold Broadcast Studio, a gift by Sinclair Broadcast Group (Rm. 1050)
• Frank Wood Media Newsroom, a gift by the Press Times and Multi Media Channels (Rm. 1060)
• Circle Packaging Machinery, Inc. — Electronics Lab (Rm.1063)
• Dahlin Family Community Collaboration Space, in memory of Bernie Dahlin (Rm. 1068)
• Pieper Automation — Senior Design Lab (Rm. 1071)

Giving and partnership opportunities remain in the renovated TEAM Lab spaces.

Team Laboratories is a vibrant, future-looking media complex that will not only equip students with the skills they need to find jobs and succeed in the current media and engineering ecosystem, but also be a magnet that attracts future students to the energy and excitement it generates. Visibility and connection are the goals of all communication: We intend to achieve that by not only making our physical spaces more accessible and visible to the campus community, but also by creating important content and partnerships that reach and connect far beyond our campus borders.

For more information, contact:

Jacob Depas (for engineering related support)
Joy Wick (for media related support)

 

Related articles/videos:

• Renovated TV studios named in honor of ’75 alumnus Harvey Arnold  (from uwgb.edu)
• Newsroom named in honor of late Frank Wood, publisher Green Bay News Chronicle (from uwgb.edu)
• Gary Mach Excellence in Media Fund supports future media leaders (from uwgb.edu)
• Media Center (from Communications Department “Comm Voice” blog)
• Finding and Educating Young Engineers (From NAB Pilot, National Association of Broadcasters, blog post)
• UWGB dedicates its new media newsroom (VIDEO from WLUK TV Fox 11)
• UWGB’s new studio named for Sinclair broadcast engineer Harvey Arnold (VIDEO from WLUK TV Fox 11)