Master Plan unveiled

Published: October 27, 2014

Updated at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 29

When University of Wisconsin-Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford opened the faculty, staff and student 2014 Master Plan Presentation Monday morning in the Student Center Cinema, she asked those in attendance to think back 20 years.

"We didn't have the Internet like we have it today," Ford said. "We certainly didn't carry around mini-computers and smartphones. Think about how many changes have occurred. So putting together a master plan is really our best speculation about what the future needs will be for our campus community."

2014 Master Plan summary

WRJN AM-1400 news podcast

The 2014 Master Plan, Ford said, takes into account the needs of our students today and well into the future. "Many students will never set foot on our campus, but they will be graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside," Ford said. "I'm excited about how this master plan builds on what we have been able to do here, and provides for a quality learning environment for everybody with a particular focus around our students."

In addition to the formal presentation, an afternoon open house gave faculty, staff, students and the community the opportunity to ask questions of the Master Plan Core Team and representatives from agencies that assisted with development of the plan.

Architects' rendering of Main Place as part of the master plan; read more on the Wyllie Hall design

Mid-Main-down-2_RailingUpdate

Final Piece of the Planning Process

The 2014 Master Plan is the final piece of the integrated planning process at Parkside, Ford said. Other planning elements include the strategic plan; academic plan; technology road map; and the strategic enrollment management plan. The current master plan is the third in the history of the university.

Jon Hoffman, associate planner with design consultant SmithGroupJJR, described the university as a "start from scratch" university. The 1969 Master Plan, Hoffman said, provided for up to 25,000 students to be on campus. Just a few years after the university was founded, it was incorporated into the new University of Wisconsin System along with nine former Wisconsin State University comprehensive institutions. With that incorporation, came a major change in the projected enrollment for the campus.

The 2006 Master Plan was the first update to the original plan, and looked at the role of Parkside within the UW System. Hoffman described the 2006 plan as a "rousing success." From that plan came the Student Center, Pike River Suites, the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities, and the enhanced roadway system to access campus.

The guiding principles of the 2014 Master Plan:

Future-forward campus
Increase the variety of learning environments
Enhance inclusiveness and student focus
Improve facility function and efficiency
Further enhance and balance campus sustainability

Distance Learning

One important change is anticipated in the area of distance learning. While the need for the university as a learning environment and gathering place will likely continue well into the future, a key area of enrollment growth is seen from students who access their education via the Internet.

Distance learning opportunities are increasing, Hoffman said. University officials see total enrollment growing by approximately 40 percent in the next two decades, with more than 1,000 new distance learners. On-campus learners will account for about 17 percent of the growth. "We have, right now, enough space to accommodate our current academic needs and the increased student enrollment we expect to come online," Hoffman said. "As we expand distance learning, there will be a need to provide office space for new instructional staff."

Prairies and Woodlands Preserved

Another important aspect of the 2014 Master Plan is the preservation of restored prairie and old-growth forest identified as areas of permanent preservation. The UW-Parkside campus encompasses more than 700 acres. Authors of the plan identified permanent preservation areas, those areas that may be considered for development in the future, and near-term change areas.

Framework Plan Key:

Dark Green

Areas for permanent preservation, highest quality environmental areas: flood plain, wetlands, old-growth forest, restored prairies and other spaces that have significant building restrictions because of their importance as environmental resources. The 2014 Master Plan recognizes these areas and suggests that they be permanently preserved.

Light Green

Open spaces, varying levels of quality and it is expected that the university is not going to need them for a building site or infrastructure use for the next 20 years. Beyond 20 years, they may be needed as expansion spaces.

Yellow

These areas around existing buildings is where more immediate change is likely and would be welcome.