A Community That Rose Together
UW-Green Bay exists because the people of this region demanded it. Leaders like John “Jake” Rose, Rudy Small and countless community members fought for a university in Northeastern Wisconsin—not just for their own generation, but for all who would come after. Their legacy lives on in every Phoenix who studies, teaches and works here today.
As we celebrate 60 years, we honor that spirit of resilience and invite you to rise with us into the next chapter of UW-Green Bay’s story.
"The new campus will be strongly innovative and experimental... The key figure will be the student in [their] role as learner. [They], rather than the professor, will have the initiative and primary responsibility in the learning process. This implies independent study, self-pacing, credit by examination, open-stack libraries, and the widespread use of electronic teaching devices, which will be available day and night. By handling many routine training and information-imparting tasks, teaching machines will free professors for more meaningful intellectual contacts with students in lectures, laboratories, and formal and informal discussions."
September 1969
Key Milestones
On September 2, 1965, UW-Green Bay was born from a bold community vision. Sixty years later, that spark has grown into a university that serves thousands of students across multiple campuses—and a legacy of daring innovation in education.
Late 1940s-1960s
UW Center-Green Bay's two-year campus, dubbed “Cardboard Tech,” was housed in a World War II ordnance building near East High School. By the 1959-60 academic year, 345 students jammed the classrooms, and enrollment had soared by 40 percent over the previous year.
1965
On September 2, 1965, Wisconsin Gov. Warren Knowles signed Senate Bill 48, creating the new four-year university.
1968
The first classes were held at the university's Deckner Center location.
1969
UW-Green Bay moved to its permanent home on the bay shore at the Shorewood site — land secured through extraordinary local leadership and community generosity.
Want to know more?
Check out Betty D. Brown's University of Wisconsin Green Bay: From the Beginning.
UWGB in Photos
See University history captured in photographs.
A small portion of the vast UW-Green Bay History photograph collection available in digital format. Explore university history and evolution via photos that document the campus selection site, construction of buildings, student life, academic activities, political activities, commencement ceremonies and other campus traditions.
Explore History
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Love history? Follow UW-Green Bay Archives on social media for the latest news, event updates and a regular dose of fascinating facts, exciting collection finds and throwback photos. Scratch that history itch!
Want More?
UW-Green Bay history is extensive and our holdings are vast. Contact UW-Green Bay Archives for assistance.