Campus Connection

UWL joins new consortium supporting Midwest's water workforce

UW-La Crosse, a longtime leader in freshwater education, has joined forces with colleges across the Midwest to strengthen the region’s maritime industry. 

The newly formed Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium establishes a network of institutions from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri to support the country’s inland maritime workforce and spur economic growth. 

It is the region’s first formal, long-term collaboration designed to boost the workforce that propels inland commerce. 

“We are proud to support this innovative partnership, which will strengthen our communities while connecting our exceptional graduates with employers who depend on them to build a strong, skilled workforce,” UWL Chancellor James Beeby says. “At UWL, on the banks of the Mississippi River, freshwater education is a core part of our identity. We look forward to sharing the expertise of our students and faculty, as well as the strength of our programs and partnerships, to advance workforce development in these critical industries.”

UWL is uniquely suited, geographically and programmatically, to meet employer needs in inland waterways, ports, logistics and other maritime work. 

Through the years, UWL has embraced its proximity to the Mississippi River, launching a now internationally recognized River Studies Center and offering many strong programs connecting students to careers in freshwater. 

The state-of-the-art Research Vessel Prairie Springs, christened in 2024, has unlocked even more possibilities for research, skill development and community partnerships. One such partner, J.F. Brennan Company, helps to store and maintain the vessel, in addition to consulting with UWL on skill-based projects and curricula. 

Western Technical College, also part of the consortium, provides area students with additional opportunities in advanced manufacturing, diesel and heavy equipment, welding and fabrication, electromechanical systems, robotics and automation, and other related fields.

The launch of the consortium coincides with mounting federal efforts to bolster the United States' maritime industry and workforce infrastructure.  

Leveraging partnerships and expertise, this alliance positions the Midwest as a leader in expanding workforce training, developing career pathways, and aligning programming to meet the current and future needs of employers. 

Meredith Thomsen, dean of Graduate & Extended Learning at UWL, expects the collective knowledge and resources of the participating schools to make a powerful impact. 

"Joining the Corn Belt Ports Consortium creates new ways for UWL to collaborate with other educational institutions that prepare students for freshwater-focused careers,” Thomsen says. “The diverse members of the consortium all bring different types of expertise to the table. I think that will benefit individual students as well as the nation's workforce."