University Catalogue: 2006-07

The University

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire was founded in 1916 as the Eau Claire State Normal School, occupying a single building on land donated to the state by the city of Eau Claire. The academic history of the institution is reflected in its subsequent changes of name and mission. As a State Teachers College (1927-51) it awarded baccalaureate degrees in education; as one of the Wisconsin State Colleges (1951-64) it added degree programs in liberal arts. The state colleges were granted university status in 1964, and the Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire was organized into the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Education, and Graduate Studies. The School of Nursing was created in 1965 and the School of Business in 1966. With the merger of the two state-supported university systems in 1971, Eau Claire became a member of the University of Wisconsin System, which includes 13 universities, 13 two-year colleges, and UW-Extension. In 2004, an administrative restructuring created four colleges: the College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and the College of Education and Human Sciences. Graduate programs are administered by each of the colleges.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire today is a multipurpose institution, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, and serving regionally as a center for continuing education. The physical plant includes 28 major buildings located on a 333-acre, two-level campus, which embraces Putnam Park on the south bank of the Chippewa River and is connected by a footbridge to the Haas Fine Arts Center and the Human Sciences and Services building on the north bank. The student body numbers approximately 10,500; faculty and academic staff total over 750.

SELECT MISSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE

In addition to the system and core missions, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has the following select mission:

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a comprehensive university whose purpose is to foster the intellectual, personal, social, and cultural development of its students. The University provides an academic environment designed to encourage faculty-student interaction and promote excellence in teaching and learning, scholarly activity, and public service. Its residential setting fosters personal and social development through a rich array of co-curricular activities.

The University's focus is a liberal arts based education across the curriculum in all programs. The University places a special emphasis on experiential learning activities, such as international studies, faculty-student research collaboration, internships, and community service. UW-Eau Claire is the University of Wisconsin System's Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration.

In addition to the University of Wisconsin System Mission and the Core Mission of the University Cluster Institutions, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has the following select statement:

to provide undergraduate education in a broad range of programs, based on a strong general education component emphasizing the liberal arts and sciences, offering degrees in the arts and sciences, allied health fields, business, education, nursing, and other areas that grow clearly from university strengths and meet identifiable regional and state needs;
to provide graduate education, at the master's and specialist levels, in select programs that grow clearly from undergraduate strengths and meet identifiable regional and state needs;
to support and encourage scholarly activities, including research and creative endeavors, that enhance its programs at the associate and baccalaureate level, its selected graduate programs, and its special mission; and
to support the cultural, education, and economic development of the immediate region in a variety of ways, including its outreach and community service programs.

ACADEMIC GOALS

The University seeks to foster the intellectual, personal, cultural, and social development of each student. It strives to provide distinguished instruction in a democratic atmosphere, bringing individual students into close contact with a faculty whose scholarly attainments and concern for teaching are able to instill a love of learning.

The baccalaureate degree at UW-Eau Claire provides students with the knowledge and abilities needed for lifelong learning. In designing the degree, the faculty expect that graduates will have achieved the following goals. The baccalaureate experience shall develop for students an:

understanding of a liberal education.
appreciation of the University as a learning community.
ability to inquire, think, analyze.
ability to write, read, speak, listen.
understanding of numerical data.
historical consciousness.
international and intercultural experience.
understanding of science and scientific methods.
appreciation of the arts.
understanding of values.
understanding of human behavior and human institutions.

The General Education Program, which forms part of all baccalaureate degree curricula, contributes to the breadth of each student's education through its emphasis on the cultural heritage of a free and responsible citizenry and on the development of creative imagination, critical judgment, and skill in the interchange of ideas. Students are afforded opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research and other scholarly and creative projects. UW-Eau Claire is recognized as a Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration.

Upon this foundation the University builds its programs in liberal arts and sciences and in professionally-oriented fields. In keeping with the goals of the baccalaureate degree, each program is designed to impart the specialized knowledge and competencies appropriate to the particular degree, while providing also for a broad overview of the entire area and an appreciation of its relationship to other fields of learning.

ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

The Chancellor of the University is its chief administrative officer, responsible to the University of Wisconsin System for all phases of University activity. In the discharge of these obligations the Chancellor is assisted by other administrators and, in an advisory capacity, by the faculty and students of the University. Members of the faculty have primary responsibility for academic and educational activities; students have primary responsibility for local policies concerning student life, services, and extracurricular activities.

The administrative functions of the University are organized into two areas: Academic Affairs, headed by the Provost/Vice Chancellor, and Business and Student Services, headed by the Vice Chancellor. The following brief overview identifies the major offices which provide direct services to all students; a more complete listing is found under Administrative Organization and Personnel.

Academic Affairs. Each College of the University is headed by a Dean, and each Department by a Chair. Department Chairs are responsible for assigning a faculty adviser to each student who elects a major program in the department and for monitoring the academic progress of all departmental majors. The Deans are responsible for reviewing and approving students' plans for a degree. The offices of Advising, Testing and New Student Orientation, Career Services, and Counseling assist students with academic planning, degree completion, career development, employment preparation, and personal counseling. All students are admitted to the University by the Admissions office. The office of Records and Registration maintains students' academic records. The Office of Student Development and Diversity is responsible for providing supportive services to student activities, student government, and student organizations. Support for the instructional program is provided by the McIntyre Library and Learning and Technology Services. These units provide learning resources and computing and media needs of students, faculty, and academic staff.

Business and Student Services. In cooperation with the Office of Student Development and Diversity, the division of Business and Student Services is responsible for those activities which contribute to the quality of campus life - the Children's Center, Housing and Residence Life, Parking and Transportation, University Police, and University Centers and Programs (Blugold Card office, Bookstore, Food Service, Printing and Duplication, Recreation and Sport Facilities, Service Center, Student Activities and Programs, and Student Organizations Complex). Students are also served by the Financial Aid office and the Business office which disburses all forms of financial aid and collects fee payments.

THE SCHOOL YEAR

Each regular academic semester (fall and spring) consists of approximately seventeen weeks, including days reserved for registration and final examinations.

The Summer Session is offered in two periods. Students may enroll for courses during a three-week period in late May and early June, during which three credits may be taken. Offerings include regular courses adapted to an intensive presentation as well as specially designed courses and study trips. An eight-week period is scheduled in June, July, and August. Although many courses run for the full eight weeks, others are scheduled in shorter blocks of time (two, four, or six weeks) for the convenience of summer students. Offerings include regular courses and special workshops or institutes at undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Winterim Session is offered during a three-week period between the fall and spring semesters. Offerings primarily include regular courses and may include travel seminars and field experiences.

With the exception of certain professional programs, curricula for baccalaureate degrees are designed to be completed by full-time students in eight regular semesters. Many students attend summer sessions in order to graduate earlier or take advantage of special offerings. Others, especially teachers in the area, find in the summer session an opportunity to strengthen professional competencies and to work toward graduate degrees.

The Calendar in this catalogue is supplemented by a more detailed calendar, including official academic deadlines, which is available in the Class Schedule.