Posted 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016
Nick Nicklaus to retire after nearly 20 years as director of Residence Life
Nick Nicklaus has different plans for the upcoming Labor Day weekend. For the first time in nearly 20 years, he won’t be hauling boxes into UWL residence halls.
“Will I miss move-in day? No, not at all,” says the Director of Residence Life.
Nicklaus is retiring at the end of June after 19 years in the position at UWL. He started in January 1997, following Dick Koehler who held the same position for about 30 years.
He’s looking forward to time with his family, golfing, traveling and “maybe even sleeping in until 6:30.”
Since taking over, Nicklaus has seen several changes. Three residence halls have been razed and three new ones have been built. More than 3,500 students live on campus each school year, with 98-percent of the student body living on campus at some point during their college career.
“No one comes to UWL to live in our residence halls, but they do,” says Nicklaus. “Our research shows because they lived on campus, they’re able to transition to college life easier and better.”
Nick Nicklaus carries the mace at a Spring 2016 Commencement ceremony. He is retiring this summer.[/caption]
One of Nicklaus’ biggest feelings of pride doesn’t come from the residence hall experience. “Each year we put 10-15 students in the college student affairs field,” he says. “Those individuals are now working on other campuses and they are able to because of the environment we helped create here. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
Nicklaus’s name will carry on with a scholarship being established through the UWL Foundation. Money has been raised through student groups and donations. “I’m honored and humbled,” he says. He is working with his family and the foundation to determine how the scholarship will be awarded.
An on-campus celebration of Nicklaus’s service and commitment will be held Friday, June 24, from 2-4 p.m. in Eagle Hall classrooms.
“I’m not one to make legacies”
[caption id="attachment_46279" align="alignright" width="300"] Nick Nicklaus carries the mace at a Spring 2016 Commencement ceremony. He is retiring this summer.[/caption]
One of Nicklaus’ biggest feelings of pride doesn’t come from the residence hall experience. “Each year we put 10-15 students in the college student affairs field,” he says. “Those individuals are now working on other campuses and they are able to because of the environment we helped create here. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
Nicklaus’s name will carry on with a scholarship being established through the UWL Foundation. Money has been raised through student groups and donations. “I’m honored and humbled,” he says. He is working with his family and the foundation to determine how the scholarship will be awarded.
An on-campus celebration of Nicklaus’s service and commitment will be held Friday, June 24, from 2-4 p.m. in Eagle Hall classrooms.