UW-La Crosse history
The history of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
1905
The University of Wisconsin- La Crosse was founded
Thomas Morris sponsors a bill in the state assembly to locate a normal school in La Crosse. The legislature is convinced, allocates $10,000 to purchase a site.
1908
Main Hall was constructed.
1909
La Crosse Normal School Opens its Doors
Fassett A. Cotton named first president of La Crosse Normal School, which opens its doors for the purpose of training public elementary and secondary school teachers.
1910
The first campus newspaper is published; it's called "The Racquet."
1911
First Yearbook comes out named "The Racquet"
The first yearbook is published and named, "The Racquet," the same name as the student newspaper. The annual will keep that name until 1931 when it changes to "The La Crosse."
1912
The Physical Education Club is formed
it eventually becomes the longest continuous organization in the school's history.
1913
The School of Physical Education is formed
Regents authorize training of teachers in physical education as a specialty
1915
Josephine M. Jones is appointed as the first Dean of Women.
1916
Wittich Hall is completed after construction is interrupted by World War I
1923
La Crosse Normal Celebrates its first Homecoming
They defeated Lawrence University, 14-9.
1925
Ernest A. Smith becomes the second president.
1926
George M. Snodgrass becomes the third president.
1927
La Crosse Normal is renamed the La Crosse State Teachers College
It was then authorized to grant four-year teaching degrees in physical education and secondary education.
1931
Homecoming's "Hanging of the Lantern" tradition begins over the south entrance to Graff Main Hall
It started due to the suggestion of English teacher Orris O. White who said "We'll hang the lantern in the old college tower...You won't need to look for the key - the door will be open."
1937
Students adopt the name "Indians" for athletic teams.
In 1989, the name for men's athletic teams is changed to "Eagles." Women's teams, known as the "Roonies" since the inception of intercollegiate competition in the early 1970s, become the "Eagles" in 1990.
1939
Campus School opens
Students brought sleds, wagons, bicycles, and an old wheelbarrow to move equipment from Main Hall to the new building, later renamed Morris Hall
1939
Rexford S. Mitchell becomes the fourth president.
1942
Expanded academic offerings include a joint physical education and recreation minor.
1944
Women's Self Governing Association forms to regulate all matters pertaining to women students.
1951
Regents authorize granting bachelor's of arts and bachelor's of science degrees in the liberal arts
1951
Wilder Hall becomes the first campus residence hall.
1951
La Crosse State Teachers College becomes Wisconsin State College, La Crosse.
1956
The first master's of science degree is offered.
1957
University's First Library Opens
Students and faculty work "all day and into the evening" Feb. 4 for Operation Booklift, a line carrying books from Graff Main Hall to the university's first library, the Florence Wing Library, named for the school's first librarian.
1958
Reuter Hall opens as the first men's residence hall.
1959
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy speaks to a packed Graff Main Hall Auditorium.
1959
Trowbridge Hall opens as a women's residence hall.
1959
Cartwright Center is constructed as the student center
Additions are added in 1964 and 1984.
1961
First institution-wide general education program takes effect.
1962
White Hall, a residence hall for men, opens.
1963
Baird Hall is constructed as a residence hall for women.
1963
Regents authorized master's degrees in elementary education.
1964
The marching band takes the name Marching Chiefs under the direction of Ralph Wahl
The marching band keeps that name until 1990, when it becomes the “Screaming Eagles” to reflect the name change of athletic teams.
1964
Two more residence halls are constructed
Laux Hall is constructed as a men’s residence hall and Anna Wentz Hall as a women’s residence hall.
1964
The college is designated a state university; its name changes to Wisconsin State University-La Crosse.
The university is then organized into Colleges of Education; Physical Education; and Arts, Letters, and Sciences.
1966
Residence halls - Coate Hall for men, Angell and Drake halls for women - open.
1966
Whitney Center construction is completed.
1966
Samuel G. Gates becomes the fifth president.
1966
Construction completed on Mitchell Hall and Cowley Hall.
1967
Sanford Hall for men and Hutchison Hall for women open as residence halls.
1969
New Eugene W. Murphy Library was constructed
More than 60 staff and students move the university library to the new $2.5 million
1971
The School of Business is initially created under the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences.
1971
Kenneth E. Lindner becomes the sixth president and then the first chancellor
Because of the merger, the position is converted to chancellor
1971
Through a merger, the university becomes part of the University of Wisconsin System
The name changes to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
1972
The first "Campus Previews" are held for recruiting purposes
Today they are known as "Campus Close-Ups,"
1972
First annual minority studies conference is held.
1972
Laux and Drake Halls become the first co-ed residence halls.
1972
Mitchell Hall adds a track, pool, dance studios, human performance lab, offices, tennis courts, and handball courts.
1973
Last year of operation for the Campus School as it is renamed Thomas Morris Hall
It becomes the center of the elementary and secondary education programs
1974
The "Nearly Naked Mile" tradition is born
More than 1,500 students gathered in "the pit" between Angell and Hutchison Halls see a group of people run by in nothing but sweat socks and tennies, a "Streaking" fad in spring.
1974
Construction is completed on the Fine Arts Building
Later it is renamed the Center for the Arts, and North Hall, later named Wimberly Hall.
1975
UW-L Student Association forms to succeed the Campus Controls Council.
1977
The women's studies program is initiated.
1977
Master's degree programs are added in health education, cardiac rehabilitation, and recreation.
1979
Noel R. Richards becomes the second chancellor, the institution's seventh leader.
1980
The School of Business and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation are reorganized into individual colleges.
1981
The American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business accredits the College of Business Administration.
1981
Campus acreage enlarges.
with land additions to the north in the marsh
1984
UW-L celebrates 75 years
A variety of activities were held, including an outdoor pageant recreating opening ceremonies of the Normal School. Enrollment is 9,109.
1985
All Residence Halls go Coed
Reuter Hall, the last traditional all-male residence hall on campus, goes coed when the fall semester begins.
1988
The university purchases Veterans Memorial Stadium from the city for $1.00.
1991
Campus Construction approved
The State Building Commission approves Murphy Library addition, a student life building, and the Cleary Alumni and Friends Center.
1991
Judith L. Kuipers becomes chancellor
She is the institution's eighth leader and first woman at the helm.
1992
The university becomes one of the founding members of the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium
A collaboration with Viterbo College, Western Wisconsin Technical College, Franciscan Skemp Healthcare and Gundersen Lutheran to provide medical education, research and training.
1994
UWL's first World Wide Web site goes online.
1994
Chancellor Kuipers' strategic plan, "Forward Together," is instituted
The university reorganizes colleges and departments into the College of Business Administration, College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, College of Science and Allied Health, College of Liberal Studies, School of Arts and Communication, School of Education, and Graduate Studies.
1995
The Cleary Alumni & Friends Center, and the Murphy Library addition and remodeling projects are finished.
1997
Main Hall is renamed
It is now Maurice O. Graff Main Hall, honoring the long-time retired vice chancellor.
1997
The Hoeschler clock tower is finished
It becomes the new home for the traditional hanging of the lantern during Homecoming.
1997
The Recreational Eagle Center is completed
1998
Ground breaks on $27 million dollar Health Science Center
A building funded through state and local funding via the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium.
2000
The name of North Hall is changed to W. Carl Wimberly Hall
Honoring the longest-serving academic vice chancellor in the UW System who served the campus from 1953-1992
2000
The La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium opens its doors.
2000
Grand opening of the Archaeology Building and Laboratories
This was a $380,000 renovation of the campus' original power plant.
2000
Provost Douglas Hastad is appointed interim chancellor.
2001
University athletic teams earn four national championships
NCAA III indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, and cross country, and the women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Association title.
2001
Former Provost Douglas N. Hastad is named the university’s ninth leader
2002
For the first time, grades are available exclusively on the university’s Web site or by telephone.
2003
TALON becomes available
Students register for spring semester 2004 classes for the first time using TALON, an online system that replaces touch-tone phone registration and offers a variety of other services.
2004
Senior Andrew Rock, from Stratford, Wis., becomes the university’s first student-athlete to compete in the Summer Olympics
2004
The College of Education, Exercise Science, Health and Recreation is the new name of the College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Teacher Education.
2005
Grades begin to be submitted electronically
The click of a mouse replaced No. 2 pencils when faculty were required to submit final grades using a user-friendly Web site instead of paper forms.
2005
New Residence Hall construction
Reuter Hall is demolished and work on a new $22.3 million residence hall begins. Trowbridge Hall, the last traditional all-female residence hall, goes coed when fall classes begin.
2006
Joe Gow is named the university’s 10th leader.
2008
Construction on new Stadium begins
Construction of $16.6 million Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex begins.
2009
University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Facebook Page launches!
2009
Enrollment soars!
Enrollment passes the 10,000 mark with fall headcount reaching 10,009
2009
The university celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2011
Grand openings are held for Centennial Hall, a new academic building, and Eagle Hall, a new residence hall.
2012
Two major fires on campus. The university hosts the 27th National Conference on Undergraduate Research.
A basement fire in Drake Hall on Jan. 27 that closed the residence hall through the spring semester, and Wittich Hall on June 16, another basement fire that closed the second oldest academic building for more than a month.
2013
Accolades abound.
The Biology Department receives the 2013 UW System Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award. The College of Business Administration is reaccredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International and earns the Council for Higher Education Accreditation Award for Outstanding Institutional Practice in Student Learning Outcomes — the first Wisconsin college and only the second business school nationally to be honored. The UW System College Readiness Math MOOC — a Massive Open Online Course developed by UWL faculty and staff — wins the 2013 Desire2Excel award, a national honor for collaboration. UWL receives the 2013 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
2014
Record Enrollment. Physics program nationally ranked.
The university reaches record enrollment in fall with 10,558 undergraduate and graduate students. The American Institute of Physics ranks UWL No. 2 in the nation for the number of physics degrees it awards annually among bachelor’s degree granting programs from 2010-12. For the second year in a row, UW-L received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine
2015
Presidential visit. State professors of the year..
President Barack Obama speaks to a large crowd during a speech in the Recreational Eagle Center July 2. He’s the first sitting president to visit. UWL Biology Professor Roger Haro receives the 2015 Wisconsin Professor of the Year Award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, marking the fourth time in the past five years UWL faculty have taken the honor — 2014: Biology Professor Scott Cooper, 2013: History Professor Victor Macías-González, and 2011: History Professor Greg Wegner. The UW System Board of Regents recognizes UWL’s Mathematics Department with the UW System 2015 Regents Teaching Excellence Award. The American Physical Society names UWL No. 1 in awarding physics degrees among bachelor’s degree granting programs in the country.
2016
University reaccredited. Business, physician assistant programs do well in national testing.
The Higher Learning Commission reaccredits the university. College of Business Administration students have the highest first-time pass rate in the nation on the Certified Public Accountant exam among undergraduate-only programs with more than 60 exam candidates. UWL’s physician assistant program has a 100-percent pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence speaks during a campaign rally in Cartwright Center Aug. 11.
2017
Student Union opens. Wrestling nationals held here.
A new $55 million student union welcomes students returning to campus for the spring semester in January. The building later earns LEED Gold Certification. UWL’s biochemistry major receives national accreditation. The university hosts the 2017 NCAA III Wrestling Championships at the La Crosse Center.
2018
The university receives its largest single gift ever.
$2 million is donated from the Paul Fleckenstein Charitable Trust to transform how science is taught on campus.
2018
UWL hosts the 2018 NCAA III Women's and Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
2018
Fall enrollment reaches a new record: 10,569.
2018
The $82 million Prairie Springs Science Center opens for the fall semester.
Dedication ceremony held Nov. 15.