Mission and History

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide a residential environment in which staff and services promote student development within a comprehensive living experience.

Our Vision

The place where students choose to live

Our Core Values

  • Retention -  Attract and retain residential students by striving to develop meaningful relationships that value and honor the individuality of each person
  • Engagement - Cultivate quality connections between students, peers, mentors, and the University
  • Learning -  Foster individual growth and development by providing a residential environment that values academic success
  • Safety -  Maintain, improve and develop secure residential facilities to meet the needs and expectations of the campus community
  • Empowerment - Encourage and implement feedback resulting in enhanced service(s) to the residential community
  • Mentorship -  Develop and sustain partnerships which promote individual growth and personal improvement of the student

History of Student Housing at UW-Green Bay

The beginning of student housing on campus began with the construction of the Bay Apartments (University Village) beginning in 1970 by Inland Steel Development Corporation, formerly known as Public Facilities Associates, Inc. of Madison Wisconsin. Financing was provided through a loan from a local banking institution. David Carley, of Madison, Wisconsin was a principal investor of Inland Steel and was active in state politics, having run for governor in 1966 and 1978. Former governor Patrick Lucey later appointed him to the UW Board of Regents.

This housing provided nine two-story buildings housing 63 students in each building which contain 17 apartment units, offering two-bedroom, four-student apartments with nine efficiency-style apartments and nine one-bedroom/two-student units.

In 1980, the Bay Apartments were purchased by the State of Wisconsin and UW-Green Bay through HUD (Housing and Urban Development) in 1980.

The Development of Campus Housing

The planning, development, and construction of housing on the UW-Green Bay campus was anything but typical. Building housing required the organization of a non-profit corporation UVHI (University Village Housing Incorporated) in order to secure bonds for construction (approximately $35M), provides the facilities, and is responsible for debt service and insurance expenses. The university is responsible for marketing, contracting, staffing, overall operations, maintaining, and staffing the facilities.

  • 1965: UW Board of Regents Approves a Charter to Establish UW-Green Bay.
  • 1968: The UW regents meet in Green Bay for the first time. A Major discussion centers on dormitory hours for students.
  • 1969: Public Facilities Associates announces plans to build a $7 million student housing complex adjacent to the campus.
  • 1970: Private Development, by Public Facilities Associates (a division of Inland Steel Development Corporation) of nine apartment-style buildings housing 63 students in each building for a total for 567 students.
  • 1971: Grand opening of a coffeehouse in the basement of Building 107 (now 3326). It was named Carley's Place after David Carley, developer of the Bay Apartments.
  • 1979: The "No Vacancy" sign goes up for the first time at the Bay Apartments, as negotiations begin for purchase of the facility by the University.
  • 1980: UW-Green Bay secures federal HUD funding to purchase  the privately owned nine-building apartment complex, apartments buildings numbered 101-109.
  • 1980: Tom Haevers, a counselor at the UW Center-Fox Valley, is appointed the first Director of Housing.
  • 1984: A limited-purpose corporation is founded called University Village Housing Incorporated (UVHI).  A plot of 39 acres is deeded to the corporation by the University of Wisconsin Foundation for the purpose of constructing additional housing on campus.
  • 1984: First UVHI board members are Bob Schaefer, Ed Thompson, Roy Downham, John Robishaw, Donald Long, James Temp, Rodney DeSpirito, Court Condon, and Keith Pamperin.
  • 1985: The first set of ten residence halls, housing 60 students each, are constructed, beginning with Phase I. Consisting of T. Lenfestey, J. Lenfestey, B. Walter, A. Walter Halls.
  • 1987: Construction of the Community Center and Residence Life Office.
  • 1987: Phase II was constructed. Consisting of R.E. Small, C. Vanderperren, R. Warren Halls.
  • 1989: Phase III was constructed. Consisting of D. Long, B. Schaefer, J. Temp Halls.
  • 1994: Roy Downham Hall, a 194-student facility with common student areas such as a study lounge, music practice room, and large programming room, and smaller gathering areas.
  • 1997: John Robishaw Hall, an apartment-style building housing 112 students in 5-student, 4-student, 3-student, and 2-student apartments.
  • 1998: Donald Harden Hall, an apartment-style building with the same design as John Robishaw Hall opens and housing an additional 112 students.
  • 1999: The Residential Education Coordinator positions are created and filled. David Garsow and Kari Jo Grant are the first two Residential Education Coordinators.
  • 2001: The 1984 cooperative agreement is amended to extend another 30 years commencing July 1, 2001, allowing the University sole and exclusive use of the UVHI-owned facilities until 2031 at which time, the University has an exclusive option to purchase the UVHI properties for the amount of the total outstanding mortgage on the properties.
  • 2001: Glen Gray is announced as the new Director of Residence Life beginninig for the Fall semester.
  • 2002-2004: Three additional apartment-style buildings, housing 122 students each offer 4-bedroom/4-student apartments with spacious kitchens, living rooms, and private bathrooms.  These buildings are dedicated in the names of Ed Thompson (2002), Richard Liebl (2003), and Tom Haevers Halls (2004).
  • 2005-2010: A comprehensive capital improvement plan is launched to maintain and enhance aging buildings which included roof, carpeting, siding, flooring, plumbing/bathroom fixtures,  new furniture, and wireless internet access.
  • 2009: A concrete and steel building is constructed to provide housing to 126 students in four bedroom/four student apartments, with central air conditioning, heating, programming facilities, and wireless internet access. The building is named K. Pamperin Hall.
  • UW-Green Bay now houses over 2100 students, over 70% of the freshmen class and 40% of the overall student body.