UWL’s budget, enrollment remain best in class

UWL's budget, enrollment remain best in class

Despite rising headwinds facing higher education, UW-La Crosse continues to be in a position of strength and sustained success, a new report shows.

The Universities of Wisconsin recently commissioned third-party assessments of the financial health of 12 of its four-year campuses.

This analysis found that UWL is in an advantageous position - owing to a sound budget, stable enrollment and a longstanding reputation for excellence - with opportunities to bolster its position under new leadership.

At a time when many campuses in Wisconsin and across the United States are experiencing budget shortfalls and declining enrollment, UWL is a rare exception.

"UWL has demonstrated careful financial management with long-term consistent results, had stable undergraduate enrollment in a lean academic portfolio, continued to improve upon campus facilities, developed community partnerships in health care and other industries to support its programs, and produced system-leading retention and graduation rates," the report states.

The report advises UWL to sustain this success by defining key processes and procedures, preserving institutional knowledge to neutralize the effects of turnover, and retaining key campus leaders across divisions.

UWL's financial health is due to a range of factors.

Responsible and proactive budget management over many years has allowed UWL to remain ahead of the curve.

High-quality academic offerings, supported by strong community partnerships, have made UWL an attractive place to receive an education.

And stable enrollment has provided UWL a sufficient base of tuition revenue, which the university has in turn spent wisely.

"As I was learning more about UWL this spring, I was struck by the overall health of the university and by the most telling indicators of student success, such as high retention and graduation rates," Chancellor James Beeby says. "UWL is truly an outstanding campus and a university of choice for students. The more time I have spent here, the more I have come to realize that this reputation for excellence is a reflection of our extraordinary people and their commitment to providing students the best possible experience."

In a challenging year under an intense public spotlight, UWL staff and faculty redoubled their efforts to ensure the university and its students would continue to thrive.

The result, illustrated by this year's 10th day enrollment numbers, was more good news for UWL.

This fall semester, the university welcomed its largest first-year class in history (2,325 students), which also drove an increase in overall enrollment from last year.

It's a promising sign that UWL is poised to reach new levels of success under new leadership, and that students and families continue to see the value of a UWL education.

"This success is due to so many people across campus who put in a lot of work over countless hours, going the extra mile day in and day out," Beeby says. "Everyone has a part to play and is deserving of our sincere appreciation. Because of them, we have so much to be proud of and to celebrate."