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Campus plan recommends keeping core academic buildings, returning others to county for management
Summary
Michael Compton presented a draft proposal that outlines potential reconfiguration of the UW Platteville Richland campus footprint, recommending that core academic and office buildings remain leased to the UW System while other buildings and grounds be considered for return to the county or transfer to other managers.
Michael Compton presented a draft proposal that outlines potential reconfiguration of the UW Platteville Richland campus footprint, recommending that core academic and office buildings remain leased to the UW System while other buildings and grounds be considered for return to the county or transfer to other managing entities.
Compton said the campus currently comprises eight main buildings (Classroom Building, Melville Hall, East Hall, Physical Education Building, Science Building, Wallace Student Center with Coppertop Theater, and Miller Memorial Library, plus a storage building) and additional grounds including wooded acreage and approximately 28 acres of tillable farmland. His proposal identifies the Classroom Building, Melville Hall and Science Building as the three essential buildings to retain for academic programming and offices.
Why it matters: the proposal would change which entities manage parts of campus facilities, affecting academic scheduling, community use, campus services (book/textbook center, tutoring), and local economic relationships. Compton cited earlier packet material and an economic-impact report included in committee materials that identified a $7,000,000 annual direct economic impact associated with campus activity when enrollment levels were higher.
Key points in the presentation: Compton said Melville Hall should remain in the campus lease; East Hall could be returned for county use if needed and he suggested that extension offices could be relocated within Melville Hall. The Physical Education Building (gymnasium and shop) and Wallace Student Center (including the Coppertop Theater and the food service area) were flagged as facilities that could be managed by other entities if such arrangements increased campus vibrancy and public use. Compton said the storage building and some grounds could remain with the UW System, but the wooded acreage and tillable land are negotiable and could be removed from the lease.
Compton also told the committee that the campus has not located a copy of a farmland rental agreement and that staff would continue searching for documentation or speak with the tenant directly. He said faculty and staff had been given the proposal for review and additional discussion would continue; the committee agreed to have more detailed deliberations in a closed session later in the meeting because bargaining and negotiations may be involved.
Next steps: the committee moved to closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(e) to deliberate or negotiate the purchase, sale or transfer of public property; Compton and two staff members were asked to remain for the closed-session presentation and follow-up discussion.
