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Campus mission and history
UW-Green
Bay is distinctive within the University of Wisconsin System for its innovative
academic plan characterized by problem-focused, interdisciplinary learning.
This mission was set forth at the institution's founding in 1965. An in-depth
look at the University's mission
and history
can be found online.
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It
was a very good year
In
1965, Frank Sinatra won a Grammy Award for best record
and in Green Bay its title rang true: “It Was
a Very Good Year.” The hometown Packers won the
first of their unprecedented three straight world championships
and on Sept. 1, Gov. Warren Knowles authorized campus
construction by signing legislation to create a new,
four-year university. The 1965 Room in the University
Union is named for the year in which UW-Green Bay was
founded.
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An
above-par site
An
18-hole golf course once occupied part of the site that is UW-Green Bay.
When the land overlooking the lower bay was donated to the state and developed
for the opening of the University in the late 1960s, nine holes were retained.
They make up the existing, campus-operated Shorewood Golf Course. |
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Officially,
first classes in ’68
UW-Green
Bay offered its first classes as a four-year, bachelor’s-degree
granting institution in fall 1968. Previously, dating
back to the late 1940s, the University of Wisconsin
had operated only a two-year, freshman-and-sophomore
center in Green Bay.
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Lombardi
liked soccer
UW-Green
Bay plays soccer as its primary fall sport primarily
on the advice of the late Vince Lombardi. The legendary
Packers coach was an athletics adviser to Chancellor
Edward Weidner in the late 1960s when the new university
was charting its athletics future. Lombardi advised
against college football because of the relatively
high cost and the likelihood that the university
team would be overshadowed by the Packers.
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The
Phoenix
UW-Green
Bay acquired its singular nickname, the Phoenix,
as a result of a student ballot in 1970. According
to mythology, upon reaching a great age, the Phoenix
is consumed in flame and reborn from the ashes. The
evolution of the University created with the consolidation
and expansion of two-year UW centers that previously
served the region helped inspire the selection of
the Phoenix as the University's symbol and mascot.
Legend has it that “Fighting Tomatoes”
was a close second in the balloting.
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A
rare bird
UW-Green
Bay, for many years, was the only NCAA Division I
sports program — and one of the few at any
level — to claim "The Phoenix" as
its athletics mascot. The mythical bird was also
adopted several years ago as the emblem of Elon College
in North Carolina.
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Tunnel
city
The
concourse system – known to students as “the tunnels”
– offers comfort, convenience and shelter from the elements. There
was an academic reason to connect major buildings, as well; planners said
the design tied in with the interconnected, interdisciplinary academic
plan that brings students and faculty together. |
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The
Weidner Center
The
University’s 2,000-seat Weidner Center, regarded as one of the Midwest’s
top performing arts venues, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2003. The
grand opening on Jan. 15, 1993, was marked by a community gala hosted
by opera legend Beverly Sills. |
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Greatest
upsets
A
win by the UW-Green Bay men’s basketball team
in 1994 is still regarded by many observers as one
of the great upsets in NCAA tournament play. The
Phoenix pulled out an opening-round win over the
California Bears led by future NBA stars Jason Kidd
and Lamond Murray. A decade later, the women also
made waves in the NCAA Tournament and ranked as high
as 16 in the nation. Since then, an expectation for
greatness continues. By 2007, the women had made
their ninth appearance in the 'Big Dance,' and this
time advanced to the second round with a win over
New Mexico. In men’s soccer, UW-Green Bay’s
proud tradition includes a 1-0 win in 1973 over a
St. Louis University team then ranked No. 1 in the
nation. In fall of 2007, the men beat regionally
ranked Ohio State, 1-0 in overtime, and had one of
their fastest starts in the history of the program. |
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