University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman joined students, faculty and staff as well as regional and state leaders Thursday in celebrating a $27 million renovation to UW Oshkosh’s Clow Academic Complex.
A ribbon-cutting and rededication marked completion of remodeling to more than 48,000-square-feet of academic space in the portion of Clow that houses the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) on the Oshkosh campus.
Linda Haling, COEHS dean, kicked off the event by recalling UWO’s long legacy as a leader in teacher education, including its historic significance as home to the first kindergarten in the United States.
Rothman said the renovation project—some 12 years in the making—represented the “rebirth of another vital academic building” in the UW System.
Luiza Nelson
Senior Luiza Nelson, a mother of three from Appleton, said she chose UWO because of its wonderful tradition of excellence in teacher education. The secondary education major said the University has provided her with all the tools she needs as she prepares for a second career.
“The space that you learn in does matter,” Nelson said, as she expressed her gratitude for the renovation on behalf of her COEHS classmates.
Before leading the ribbon-cutting, Leavitt noted that revitalized spaces are critical to UWO’s mission as well as essential “to build community and bring people together for common purposes.”
“We have a duty to make sure students, faculty and staff have quality spaces to teach, learn, research and develop. Resources are forever scarce, but we pushed for this nevertheless, because we need UWO to remain modern, relevant, responsive, distinctive and effective as we march forward for decades to come.”
Learn more:
- Clow Academic Complex rededication photo gallery
- UWO’s Clow Academic Complex renovation provides modern center for teacher education
- UWO Honors College student, mother of three funds education with scholarships
- Study education at UW Oshkosh