News

Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campus

giffeyt — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campusgiffeyt August 4, 2026

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora

A 91��Ƭ Polytechnic student is applying personal enthusiasm and academic experience to an on-campus summer job designing and creating landscapes that add native plants to the university grounds.

The landscapes will enhance the beauty and sustainability of several campus locations, including the new mural that showcases 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s history on the exterior of the Administration Building, facing Alumni Clock Tower Plaza.

Pollinator-friendly native plants such as showy goldenrod and nodding pink onion have taken root this summer thanks to the green thumb of B.S. biochemistry and molecular biology major Adam Bayerl.

The student-led effort is an example of the university’s polytechnic identity, which emphasizes applied learning and research that brings students out of the classroom and into career-focused experiences.

Student Adam Beyerl plants perennials, including native species, in a bed on the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic campus.

“It’s definitely a passion project,” said Bayerl, a sophomore from Green Bay. “I have a personal vested interest in ecology. While it’s not my major, it’s definitely something my generation should start concerning itself with, considering how much it affects us, our well-being and the future in general.”

The project grew out of Bayerl’s interest in sustainability as well as inspiration from Assistant Professor Cassondra Vernier. In Vernier’s molecular cell biology course, Bayerl analyzed the gut microbiomes of bees, and Vernier suggested he could use the same technique to analyze soil microbiomes around campus. Bayerl learned that native plants improve soil in part by helping microorganisms thrive. Native plants are frequently more drought- and sun-tolerant than nonnative plants and are typically less expensive because they are easier for nurseries to grow.

In addition, Bayerl said, plants native to prairie biomes – which once covered parts of western Wisconsin – are known for their ability to trap carbon and filter environmental pollutants. Ideally, once established, these plants will require less water and labor to maintain.

Groundskeepers plant perennials on campus.

Idea becomes reality

Last spring, Bayerl prepared a proposal to create a native plant garden outside North Hall, where he lived at the time. The idea reached Zenon Smolarek, associate director of Facilities Management, and Nolan Dowd, assistant grounds supervisor, who met with Bayerl.

Associate Director of Facilities Management Zenon Smolarek

“He had a design, and we talked about native plants and drought resistance,” Smolarek said. “He came very well-prepared and was articulate. He really had a great attitude about the whole thing. I was impressed with what Adam had to say.”

Smolarek asked the student if there were other places on campus he had his eye on, while Dowd encouraged him to apply for a summer job as a groundskeeper – which he did.

First, Bayerl was asked to design a garden bed in front of Furlong Gallery by the Applied Arts Building. Then a spot alongside North Hall joined the list. Next came a mulch bed outside Bowman Hall and several spaces near the Administration Building, including beds by the new mural. In all, Bayerl has worked on plantings in eight locations on campus, six of which were entirely or partly composed of native plants.

“It’s quite a lot more than planned,” Bayerl acknowledged with a smile.

“Adam proceeded to design most of our plantings for the summer,” Smolarek said. “We’ve bought over 1,500 plants, and Adam has been primarily planting them along with a couple of the other limited-term employees.”

The projects have allowed Bayerl to step into a leadership role. In addition to typical summer groundskeeping tasks such as digging up mulch beds and sowing grass seed, he has been able to help his landscape ideas come to life by planting native species such as smooth aster, wild ginger and Lady in Red ferns.

Newly planted beds flank a new mural that encompasses 91��Ƭ Polytechnic's 135-year history.

Plantings enhance new mural

On a recent muggy summer morning, Bayerl and other groundskeepers carefully placed scores of plants in beds that flank the new mural on the east side of the Administration Building. The artwork, designed by California muralist Tom Seibert and painted by volunteers in June, was created as part of the communitywide Murals in Menomonie event.

The mural encompasses numerous elements from the institution’s 135-year history, including the logos of both the Stout Institute (1908-55) and Stout State University (1955-64), the contemporary triple-banded “S” logo, and pillars bearing the institution’s enduring values: Honor, Industry, Learning and Skill. A panoramic depiction of campus landmarks is framed by painted archways bearing the phrases “Forward from our founding” and “Forever to our future.”

And when it comes to the future, Bayerl has further dreams for helping native plants flourish across campus.

“I hope to incorporate more natural features, especially with a focus on pollinators – creating habitats for all the animals that you see around campus,” he said.

Smolarek said he admires Bayerl’s work ethic and imagination. “I’m curious what he’s going to think of next,” Smolarek said. “I’m sure the gears are turning, I’m sure he’s picking out other spots, other plants he wants to try. I’m very impressed with him.”

Student Highlights

All Student Highlights News

Biochem student’s sustainable vision takes root through native plantings on campus

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora

Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

Ashley, Cadrex, Apogee among companies benefiting from engineering students’ prototypes

Capstone projects demonstrate mechanical, manufacturing know-how, leadership skills

New historical mural, other areas enhanced by addition of local flora Student Adam Beyerl in planting bed

University Marketing

Students, staff turn community into a canvas during Murals in Menomonie

Muralists from around the U.S. and world join university artists and volunteers for public art event

Search Keywords: native plantssustainabilitymural

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experience

giffeyt — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Miron Construction projects give construction students professional experiencegiffeyt July 22, 2026

Construction majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades

Tom Giffey

Two major ongoing construction projects have provided 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students with exceptional applied learning opportunities without having to leave campus.

This summer, 13 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students are interning with Miron Construction, Co. Inc., general contractor for both the $144.3 million renovation of Heritage Hall and the $31.7 million upgrade of the Recreation Complex. In addition, a recent two-semester master class led by Miron staff members gave students unique access to the Heritage Hall renovation.

“We are proud to maintain a strong relationship with 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, including helping train the next generation of construction professionals through a variety of internships each year,” said Andrew Daniels, senior vice president of the company’s Eau Claire office. “The ongoing work to transform Heritage Hall and the Recreation Complex has created a unique opportunity to foster these applied learning opportunities right on campus.”

This summer, Miron interns from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic are gaining skills in project management, risk management, network security and technology support. Over the past decade, more than 40 91��Ƭ Polytechnic students have interned for Neenah-based Miron, one of the largest construction contractors in the Midwest.

Among this summer’s Miron interns from 91��Ƭ Polytechnic is Tyler Evans of Shawano, who is pursuing a degree in construction management and a minor in construction safety and risk control. As a risk management intern, Evans focuses on maintaining safety both at the Recreation Complex site on campus as well as at Miron projects around western Wisconsin. That means conducting safety walks, performing safety audits and learning the numerous factors on a job site necessary for maintaining safety.

“Safety isn’t just about us being safe and going home and not getting hurt,” said Evans, who will begin his junior year in the fall. “It’s also about how we can do things easier and faster, but also in the right way where we’re all being safe and taking care of ourselves.”

Tyler Evans, Miron Construction intern and 91��Ƭ Polytechnic construction management major

For Evans, being a risk management intern doesn’t mean sitting in a trailer filling out paperwork. It means getting out on job sites and pitching in alongside the construction crews. “It’s allowing me to gain the knowledge and experience of what people are doing and what they have to do to make their career,” he said.

This summer’s internship, he added, will add a great deal of value to his education: Even if he goes on to become a project manager or a superintendent, the internship will have given him a strong understanding of safety. “The biggest thing about this internship is it’s allowing me to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life,” Evans said.

Miron Construction’s John Younger, project manager for the Recreation Complex renovation, is a 2011 graduate of the B.S. construction management program, as are many of his coworkers. He said his 91��Ƭ Polytechnic education prepared him for his current role, and he sees Evans getting the same experience on the campus job site.

“Tyler’s always asking a lot of questions. He’s trying to get a handle on what we do and why we do it,” Younger said.

On-campus internship leads to full-time job

Every year, the 91��Ƭ Polytechnic Cooperative Education & Internship Program oversees nearly 1,000 co-op and internship experiences. More than one-third of the time, these internships and co-ops lead to job offers – and Miron is no exception.

Consider recent graduate Lucy Krieg of Kaukauna, who received her construction management degree in May and immediately took a job as safety manager for Miron.

Lucy Krieg, safety manager for Miron and recent 91��Ƭ Polytechnic graduate

Krieg’s journey with Miron began at an on-campus career fair, which led to two consecutive summer internships and then a year-long opportunity to work on the Heritage Hall project as an intern.

“Being able to see things both on the construction site and in the classroom and being able to go back and forth between the two was really important to me,” Krieg said. For example, Krieg could experience something new during her internship, then return to the classroom and ask a faculty member about it. This kind of networking with professors and peers helped fortify the construction knowledge she gained on job sites, Krieg said.

“Looking back, I feel like my internship prepared me exactly how I needed going into my career,” she said. “It gave me the skills and the confidence that I need to back up those skills.”

Sawyer Steineke of Kaukauna is another construction management major who is interning with Miron this summer, working on projects in Green Bay, Kaukauna and elsewhere around the state. Steineke said the internship has given him a deeper understanding of the construction business, “Especially when you get in the field with people who’ve been doing this for the past 30 years.”

Steineke expects to bring his internship experience with him when he returns to class in the fall. “When I get to Heavy Construction and certain classes like that, I’ll have the knowledge that I’ve been on a job that was similar to this,” he said.

Sawyer Steineke, Miron Construction intern and 91��Ƭ Polytechnic construction management major

Likewise, the skills he’s gained this summer will follow him into his professional life. “If you speak to a lot of construction management majors, they’ll tell you a lot of the things you’re going to bring with you into your future career are going to be learned through these internships,” he said. “So, Stout allowing us to be able to do something like this and get credit for it is a really cool opportunity.”

Miron helps create year-long construction master class

The Heritage Hall project also created the opportunity for a new course that gave students unique access to the site and the construction experts working on it.

When the Heritage Hall project was in its planning stages, Lecturer James Bunkelman of the operations and management department reached out to Holly Nowak, a senior project manager with Miron, to see if he could arrange a site visit for students. Instead of offering only a tour, Nowak suggested creating a master class that would be built around the Heritage Hall project.

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

Once a quarter during both the fall and spring semesters, students met for a four-hour class, which began with Miron staff members presenting topics which were then explored on the job site so students could see their real-world application.

“This was polytechnic at its finest. You couldn’t define polytechnic any better than how this class ended up,” Bunkelman said. “It can be very challenging for the students to take the academic side of what we’re trying to teach them and put it into perspective. The goal was to use the fact that Heritage Hall couldn’t be any closer or any better suited for that.”

The course turned out better than Bunkelman could have hoped: Because of the size and complexity of the project, Miron is using cutting-edge technology that might not be found at other job sites, giving students a richer experience. For example, students were able to use a virtual reality 3D model to better understand how site planning works as construction managers determine the placement of construction cranes, parking and pedestrian pathways.

Opportunities for student engagement will continue for the coming semesters, as both construction projects are expected to continue into 2028.

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

The long-awaited work on Heritage Hall, which opened in 1973 as the Home Economics Building, began last September. The extensive, clean-slate renovation will double the number of students the building will be able to serve to about 4,000. The project was primarily funded through the 2023-25 state budget, with an additional $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the 91��Ƭ Foundation & Alumni Association.

The Recreation Complex project, which began last spring, will add nearly 12,000 square feet of recreation space and renovate an additional 28,000 square feet at the facility, which was built in 1963. The project is primarily funded through student fees as well as a record-setting $5 million gift from alumnus Dallas Pankowski and his wife, Edye, a Menomonie native.

Construction management majors get up-close experience on multimillion-dollar Heritage Hall, Recreation Complex upgrades Miron Construction Scaffolding Training

University Marketing

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

Recreation Complex Renovation

A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.

Search Keywords: construction managementindustry partnershipscapital projects

Hero Caption: Miron Construction conducts safety training at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic.

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

giffeyt — Fri, 01 May 2026 15:17:16 +0000

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilitiesgiffeyt May 1, 2026

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

Tom Giffey

A $31.7 million renovation of 91��Ƭ’s Recreation Complex will transform the facility and provide more than 39,000 square feet of new and remodeled space for student health, fitness and wellbeing.

Campus leaders, alumni, legislators and students were among those who took part in the official groundbreaking for the project at the campus Sports & Fitness Center on Thursday, April 30.

Chancellor Katherine Frank speaks at the Recreation Complex groundbreaking on April 30.

Chancellor Katherine Frank said the project came about because of a combination of student initiative and donor generosity. Students voted to support this project in 2019 and again in 2022 through student fees, and Dallas and Edye Pankowski donated $5 million to support the project.

“We often talk about 91��Ƭ’s Polytechnic Mission – and at the heart of that mission is student success,” Frank said. “This renovation will support student success by prioritizing student health and wellness through modern, accessible recreation and athletic spaces.”

The transformative project, which is already underway and is expected to be completed by early 2028, will add nearly 12,000 square feet of recreation space and renovate an additional 28,000 square feet at the facility, which was built in 1963. The renovation includes turning a decommissioned pool into a multipurpose gym, relocating the athletic weight room to the current fitness center and then converting the previous weight room into multi-use studios, expanding and upgrading locker rooms, creating a second-floor addition with multi-use courts, and creating a new entrance and atrium to attract and welcome visitors.

The future entrance to 91��Ƭ's Sports & Fitness Center will be named in honor of donors Dallas and Edye Pankowski.

The latter space will be named in honor of the Pankowskis: Dallas, an alum, and Edye, a Menomonie native he met when she worked at 91��Ƭ. Their $5 million gift, the largest in the university’s history, will help students and other community members develop and maintain active lives. The couple said their own dedication to physical activity has allowed them to pursue rigorous adventures around the world, from the glaciers of Greenland to the base camp of Mount Everest.

“We know that Stout has world-class laboratories to complement their ‘learn by doing’ philosophy,” Dallas Pankowski said. “This updated remodeling and addition to the gym facility will take a just adequate building and make it an outstanding facility. Stout is a school committed to progress.”

Dallas Pankowski, a 91��Ƭ alum who, with his wife, Edye, donated $5 million toward the project, speaks at the groundbreaking event.

91��Ƭ Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel said he is among the numerous 91��Ƭ alumni who benefited from using the Sports and Fitness Center for fitness, recreation, stress relief and to form connections with other students. However, over the years, it became clear that the building needed significant upgrades.

“Over time, the building’s infrastructure, layout, and capacity have struggled to keep pace with student demand, modern standards, and evolving expectations for recreation and wellness,” Utpadel said. “This renovation directly addresses those challenges.”

State Rep. Clint Moses, a 91��Ƭ psychology alum who now represents the Menomonie area in the state Legislature, said the remodeled facility will enhance 91��Ƭ’s reputation for the next generation of Blue Devils. “This is going to be state-of-the-art and on par with – if not better than – the other institutions in our UW system,” Moses said. “We need to attract these students here to create the jobs and fill the jobs Wisconsin needs.”

The project will benefit not only the thousands of community members who come through the facility’s doors annually for sporting events and youth programs but also 91��Ƭ student athletes.

91��Ƭ students Maraya Wiltrout, at podium, and Ian Bryant, left, spoke about the impact the project will have on the campus.

“From an athletics perspective, this project is incredibly exciting,” said junior Maraya Wiltrout, a member of both the Stout Student Association and the women’s basketball team. “Our athletic facilities play a huge role in how we train, prepare, and come together as teams – and what we’re breaking ground on today is a major step forward for 91��Ƭ Athletics.”

Fellow 91��Ƭ junior Ian Bryant, who works as an orientation and first-year specialist as well as a campus tour guide, said the renovated facility will benefit all students’ physical and mental wellbeing.

“I often tell prospective students and their families that one of the best things you can see on a campus tour is construction – and luckily we have a lot of it,” Bryant said. “It shows that this institution is growing, it is visible proof that we are investing back into our students, and it means those students will soon have brand-new, state-of-the-art spaces to call their own. What we are seeing here at 91��Ƭ is exactly that kind of investment.”

Director of Athletics and Recreation Erin Sullivan credit student leaders, the campus planning team and retired Director of Athletics and Recreation Duey Naatz with creating the momentum that allowed the project to reach this point.

“This project has involved a long journey, and it is incredibly rewarding to finally gather here for the official groundbreaking,” she said. “This renovation will transform this space into something truly special for our campus community.”

This design rendering shows the interior of the addition to 91��Ƭ's Sports & Fitness Center.

Wisconsin-based Miron Construction will serve as the project’s general contractor. Andrew Daniels, senior vice president of the company’s Eau Claire office, said the project is part of a long, meaningful partnership with 91��Ƭ: Miron is also general contractor for the ongoing renovation of Heritage Hall, which began last fall, and served the same role for the 2016 renovation of Harvey Hall. Such projects create applied learning opportunities for 91��Ƭ students who intern with Miron Construction.

“With our teams on campus every day supporting the Heritage Hall and Recreation Complex projects, we are proud to partner with 91��Ƭ to provide authentic, real-world experiences for students in construction management and safety and risk control,” Daniels said. “These active jobsites offer students firsthand exposure to jobsite conditions, safety coordination and the practical realities of project delivery.”

Just before 20 campus and community representatives donned hard hats and ceremonially turned over shovelfuls of soil, Chancellor Frank offered thanks for the collective effort that is bringing the project from drawing board to reality.

“The end result will be a renovated building that reflects a commitment to health and wellbeing in support of our campus and broader community,” she said.

Sports & Recreation Complex

All Sports & Recreation Complex News

Stout breaks ground on transformative $32M project to enhance athletics, fitness facilities

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift

Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majors

Women’s and men’s golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech playing and learning hub at 91��Ƭ.

Student association recommends $25.5 million rec renovation, addition

The Stout Student Association recently approved a resolution recommending adding recreational space to the university Sports and Recreation Complex that will in

Renovation, addition funded in part by record-breaking alumni gift Shovels full of soil are turned at Rec Complex groundbreaking

University Marketing

Recreation Complex Renovation

A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.

Pankowskis’ record $5M gift provides major boost to Recreation Complex renovation

The upcoming Recreation Complex renovation at 91��Ƭ has received a major boost with a gift of $5 million — the largest in university history.

Search Keywords: renovationsports and recreationalumni

Hero Caption: 91��Ƭ and community officials, students, alumni and other dignitaries take part in an official groundbreaking for the Recreation Complex renovation on April 30.

Erin Sullivan

Full Name: Erin Sullivan

Job Title: Director of Athletics & Recreation

Include in Directory: Yes

Department: Athletics

Education:

Web Production

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

$7.4M lab renovation enhances space for cutting-edge equipment, learning

giffeyt — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

$7.4M lab renovation enhances space for cutting-edge equipment, learninggiffeyt October 14, 2025

Changes to Jarvis Tech labs boost engineering, construction programs

Tom Giffey

The final phase of a $7.4 million renovation project has brought crucial upgrades to two of 91��Ƭ’s biggest and busiest labs.

The revamp of the Construction Lab, the Woods Lab and adjacent portions of Jarvis Hall Technology Wing was completed over the summer, with the labs fully upgraded by the beginning of the fall semester.

Among the most visible changes are the addition of new windows and large overhead doors that open onto the well-traveled hallway between the labs, a frequent route for students and visitors alike passing through the connected Jarvis Science, Jarvis Tech, Micheels and the Applied Arts buildings.

“The Jarvis Tech renovations will significantly improve the functioning of some of the largest labs on the campus through upgrades in the HVAC system, increased visibility and access to the labs through the addition of roll-up doors and more efficient use of valuable space through reconfiguring lab layouts,” said Daniel Freedman, dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.

$7.4M labs renovation project sheds light on mechanical, plastics engineering

Two large engineering labs and one of the busiest building corridors at 91��Ƭ have fresh, new looks this fall with students back on camp

Phase 1 of the project was completed during the summer of 2024, and encompassed about 17,000 square feet of Jarvis Tech, including the Plastics Engineering Lab and the Engineering Technology Research and Development Lab. The recently completed Phase 2 included nearly 25,000 square feet. The two-phase project was funded as part of the 2021-23 state capital budget.

As Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, 91��Ƭ emphasizes applied learning and provides three times more labs than classrooms. In many cases, as with the newly renovated labs, classroom and lab space are next to each other so that lectures and hands-on applications are seamlessly intertwined.

Chad Schlough, project manager for Facilities Management, said one of the major components of the latest renovation was replacing two air handling units, creating more efficiency and adding greater control. A new dust-collection system and three new exhaust fans in the Construction Lab, which is used extensively by students in the B.S. construction management program, also will improve air quality and environmental safety.

Both labs also received new paint, while in the Woods Lab worn-out parquet flooring made way for polished concrete. Other nearby rooms — including the Construction Conference Room — received upgrades such as new flooring, ceilings and paint.

Students collaborate in the newly renovated Woods Lab.

Other elements of the project included:

The completion of a sprinkler system that now encompasses the entire first floor of Jarvis Tech.

Upgrades to the fire alarm notification system.

Renovations to existing restrooms and the addition of a single-occupant restroom.

The addition of a secure store area for surveying equipment used in site engineering classes.

“This renovation is another step forward for 91��Ƭ’s applied learning environment,” said Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel. “The upgrades not only enhance safety and functionality but also increase the visibility and adaptability of our instructional spaces.”

New hallway windows, like these at the Plastics Engineering Lab, have been added to multiple labs in Jarvis Hall Technology Wing in the past two years.

The renovations also created space for two new pieces of state-of-the-art machinery purchased through other funding sources. A newly renovated room will house a $1 million Amatrol Smart Factory Enterprise system donated by the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation. This fully integrated automated manufacturing system includes a manufacturing line composed of processes such as inventory control, inspection, sorting, assembly, testing, CNC machining and storage, all linked by ethernet or wireless communications. The system is designed to showcase how all these technologies are integrated in a modern production system and to educate students in how to build and maintain such systems.

Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation donation transforms labs with advanced manufacturing equipment

Machinery for automated manufacturing, 3D printing and more will impact thousands of students’ polytechnic experiences

This equipment, which will be installed in a room adjacent to the Woods Lab, was made possible by a $3.1 million donation from the Ronald and Joyce Wanek Foundation, which was announced in August. The Foundation was established by Ronald Wanek, founder and chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC, and his wife, Joyce. Their son, Todd Wanek, is a 1988 91��Ƭ alum and president and CEO of the company.  

Similarly, the renovation made space in the Construction Lab for a 3D concrete printer that will be installed later this academic year. That device was purchased through a $647,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. announced last spring for 91��Ƭ’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence (CAM-AI).

Labs & Studios

All Labs & Studios News

Cadaver Lab trains future medical professionals through STEAM camps, high school programs

Students get hands-on access to specimens through 91��Ƭ Polytechnic’s unique on-campus lab

Students compete to revolutionize restaurant industry in 48 hours

Make48 returns to 91��Ƭ Polytechnic with regional hospitality competition.

$7.4M lab renovation enhances space for cutting-edge equipment, learning

Changes to Jarvis Tech labs boost engineering, construction programs

Changes to Jarvis Tech labs boost engineering, construction programs Two students in Wood Lab

University Marketing

Hero Caption: Students work in the Woods Lab inside Jarvis Hall Technology Wing, one of two recently remodeled labs in the building.

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

giffeyt — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 17:00:00 +0000

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation giffeyt September 10, 2025

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

Tom Giffey

With ceremonial shovels full of dirt, leaders from University of Wisconsin-Stout, the regional business community and the state of Wisconsin celebrated the start of a three-year, $144.3 million renovation project that will transform the half-century-old Heritage Hall into a cutting-edge educational hub to help meet Wisconsin’s workforce needs.

The project, which began in August and is expected to be completed by fall 2028, will double the number of students Heritage Hall can serve through an extensive, clean-slate renovation.

“Today, we celebrate more than the groundbreaking of a building – we celebrate the power of partnership and perseverance. The renovation of Heritage Hall is a direct reflection of our mission as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University: to provide career-focused, applied learning and research, and industry collaboration that meets the evolving needs of the state’s workforce and communities,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said at the ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Chancellor Katherine Frank spoke at the Heritage Hall groundbreaking.

“For more than 50 years, Heritage Hall, originally known as the Home Economics building, has served as a launchpad for thousands of 91��Ƭ graduates – teachers, counselors, police officers, food scientists, hospitality leaders, and more – who have gone on to strengthen Wisconsin’s economy and enrich our communities,” Frank continued. “With approximately 60% of our graduates remaining in-state and a near-perfect employment rate, 91��Ƭ places students into Wisconsin’s workforce at a higher rate than any other technical college or university. But the building’s true value lies in the lives it will shape and the challenges it will help solve – from childcare and education to mental health, manufacturing, and tourism.”

Among those whose lives and careers have already been shaped by 91��Ƭ is state Rep. Clint Moses, a 91��Ƭ psychology alum who now represents the Menomonie area in the state Legislature. In that role, Moses was a strong advocate for funding the project in the state budget.

“I’d like to thank the chancellor and her team for doing an excellent job showing why it’s important that we support 91��Ƭ and the type of students that this institution puts out,” Moses said. “From hotel, restaurant, and tourism to golf management, all of these create the jobs we need for Wisconsin.”

State Rep. Clint Moses of Menomonie spoke at the Heritage Hall groundbreaking.

Another proud 91��Ƭ alum is Ashley DeMuth, CEO for the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce, who called the project an affirmation of a shared commitment to improving the workforce and the community.

“Heritage Hall truly is more than a building. It’s a bridge between campus and community. It’s an investment in the next generation of professionals in education, hospitality, mental health, manufacturing, health care, tourism, nutrition and more,” DeMuth said. “This is where applied learning meets real-world needs. From the Child and Family Study Center to the programs training our future teachers, counselors, and wellness leaders, Heritage Hall has long been at the heart of 91��Ƭ’s mission. The Chamber and our investors across all industries are proud to support this vision.”

Before the renovation began, Heritage Hall served more than 2,000 students in 29 undergraduate and graduate programs annually. Once it reopens, this number is expected to grow to more than 4,000 students each year.

The three-year project will involve demolishing the interior partitions of the building to create maximum flexibility for new spaces. An independent feasibility study conducted in 2020 found that while the building is structurally sound, most of its systems are either obsolete and difficult to repair or near the end of their life. The renovation will completely replace the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; replace the roof, windows and entrances; create code-compliant and accessible restrooms; and more.

“The renovation of Heritage Hall represents a bold step forward for 91��Ƭ,” Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel said. “This four-story facility will be completely revitalized with modern infrastructure, including solar panels and enhanced daylighting to support sustainability and wellness. Accessibility will be significantly improved, with accessible entrances on three floors.”

Representatives from the campus, community and state took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking.

The renovation will also directly benefit the community at large, noted Provost Glendalí Rodríguez. “Heritage Hall is not only physically central to the university’s footprint; along the north it is a key community connection and entrance,” Rodríguez said. “With the renovation, the university’s Clinical Services Center, which serves members of the community, will be more easily accessible and celebrated.”

Rodríguez went on to outline the plethora of programs that will be housed within the remodeled building, noting that many of them produce graduates who can fill jobs in economic sectors projected to grow in Wisconsin in the near future, including tourism, mental health, education and child care.

The bulk of funding for the project came from the state of Wisconsin through the 2023-25 state budget. The project also received $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the Stout University Foundation. In terms of dollar value, it is the largest project in the university’s history.

Miron Construction is the general contractor for the project.

“We’re excited to build a space that reflects the future of learning: flexible, interdisciplinary, sustainable and safe,” Daniels said. “And we’re even more excited to know that the students who will walk these halls – some of whom may one day join our team – will be learning in an environment designed to help them thrive.”

The renovation will allow Heritage Hall to serve Blue Devil students well into the future, said Noah Rosenberger, president of the Stout Student Association, who said he knows the building well as a hotel, restaurant and tourism management major.

“To me, the biggest takeaway from today is that this project shows how much the university, alumni and community believe in us as students,” said Rosenberger, of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. “They are investing in spaces where we learn, grow, connect and live the polytechnic spirit. I can’t wait for the day I walk back into Heritage Hall as an alumnus and see it completely reimagined. Not just new walls and classrooms, but the energy it’s going to bring to campus.”

Construction Livestreams

Never miss a minute of the Heritage Hall Renovation project. Watch the construction progress of 91��Ƭ's newest academic capital project live in real time!

Heritage Hall

All Heritage Hall News

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate 91��Ƭ's Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce Banners at Heritage Hall groundbreaking

University Marketing

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF HERITAGE HALL

Search Keywords: Heritage HallRenovationWorkforce development

Hero Caption: Ground was officially broken for the $144 million Heritage Hall renovation project on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025.

Chancellor's Office

Learn about the Chancellor's Office, who we are, and what we do.

The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership to the university in fulfilling its Mission, Goals and Strategic Initiatives. The office is the primary contact with the University of Wisconsin System, the Board of Regents, local and state government leaders, business and industry and is active in developing and maintaining close relationships with alumni and donors.

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Katherine P. Frank became the eighth chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stout, after a distinguished career.

Meet the Chancellor

Chancellor's Office Staff

Browse a directory of the Chancellor's Office Staff.

Meet Our Staff

Meet 91��Ƭ's Leaders

Learn about the senior leadership on our campus.

Meet Our Leadership

Fact Book

Learn about our enrollment, faculty, and more in the 91��Ƭ fact book.

Learn More

Chancellor

Search Keywords: chancellor's officechancellor

Include in Directory: On

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majors

polingj — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:06:58 +0000

Fit to a tee: New Pat Kell Golf Center perfect match for Blue Devil teams, golf management majorspolingj October 11, 2024

Gift that created facility with state-of-the-art simulators, indoor putting and chipping green honors longtime golfer, family

Women’s and men’s golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech practice and learning hub at 91��Ƭ — the indoor Pat Kell Golf Center.

The center, in the Recreation Complex, has two state-of-the-art monitors that provide instant swing and ball data paired with two golf course simulators for year-round practice. In an adjoining room is a putting green, about 35 feet by 12 feet, and chipping area with artificial turf.

Recently, members of the Kell family joined Mike Kell to dedicate the center, built in two former racquetball courts. Mike’s gift in honor of his wife, Pat Kell, who died in 2021, made it possible.

Mike Kell’s gift in honor of his wife led to the creation of the Pat Kell Golf Center. / 91��Ƭ

Pat Kell joins her dad for a golf outing in 1958 in Madison, where she grew up. / Contributed photo

“She would be thrilled, tickled pink about this whole complex,” Mike Kell said.

The idea grew out of Pat’s lifelong love for golf and the multiple benefits that could be realized at 91��Ƭ. Along with players receiving instant swing feedback — such as ball speed, spin rate, distance — they can practice indoors during winter months and play simulated rounds of golf on holes projected onto a giant screen, a version of the game that has grown in popularity across the country as technology has advanced.

GEM majors, trained to take on management positions at top golf facilities, can use the center as a lab to learn about swing instruction, club fitting, event management and more.

In addition, the center will be available to the general student body, faculty, staff and the community to reserve.

“There are a lot of things we can do that we couldn’t do before,” said Andrew Delong, men’s team coach and GEM program director.

A member of the 91��Ƭ men’s golf team uses one of the two golf simulators at the center. / 91��Ƭ

He noted that Blue Devil golfers by the nature of their sport didn’t have a locker room — until now. “It’s such a great opportunity for our kids to experience the highest level of technology.”

The facility includes player lockers and a social area with a TV and couch.

Men’s golf team member Andrew Bauer was on hand for the dedication and was practicing his chipping and putting with other men’s and women’s team members. “This will allow us to improve our games and gain an edge. It looks like a Division I facility,” Bauer said after personally thanking Mike Kell.

Bauer is a sophomore from Chippewa Falls majoring in business administration.

Members of the 91��Ƭ women’s golf team practice on the putting green. / 91��Ƭ

The women’s team recently took second place in the conference tournament, led by first-year player Julia Imai, who won the individual title by seven shots. Imai, from Brookline, Mass., is majoring in food science and technology.

Blue Devil Coach Sophia Connett, who also attend the Kell Center dedication, was named WIAC coach of the year.

Athletics Director Duey Naatz called the center a “top tier” facility and told Kell family members at the dedication that the university was “thrilled you chose to honor Pat in this way.”

Mike Kell is the son of Paul Kell, who founded Kell Container in Chippewa Falls. In 2004, Kell Container was purchased by Great Northern Corp. Kell Container and GNC have a long history of collaborating with 91��Ƭ and its academic programs.

Mike Kell tries a putt at the center in the Recreation Complex. / 91��Ƭ

Multiple Kell family members are alumni, including most recently Charlie Pierce, a 2023 graduate and grandson of Mike and Pat. Charlie graduated in packaging and works for GNC.

“The Kell family appreciates 91��Ƭ and always will,” Mike Kell said. “Stout made this happen.”

The gift was coordinated through the 91��Ƭ Foundation and Alumni Association.

The Pat Kell Golf Center is the first of many expected changes at the Recreation Complex, where a renovation supported by students is 91��Ƭ’s next major capital project awaiting state approval.

###

Women’s and men’s golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management have a new, high-tech playing and learning hub at 91��Ƭ. Kell Center simulator

University Marketing

Andrew Delong

Full Name: Andrew Delong

Job Title: Lecturer / Associate Director, Athletics

Include in Directory: Yes

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Operations & Management Department

Program

All Degree Programs

B.S. Golf Enterprise Management

Education:

CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Celebration of South Hall renovation, latest facility improvement, planned Oct. 12

polingj — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:11:11 +0000

Celebration of South Hall renovation, latest facility improvement, planned Oct. 12polingj October 6, 2023

Future university building projects include Recreation Complex addition, Heritage Hall renovation

An open house to celebrate the latest facility upgrade at 91��Ƭ, the renovation of South Hall, is planned Thursday, Oct. 12.

The event, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., will begin with a dedication in the new courtyard, on the north side of the building, followed by self-guided tours of the student residence hall.

“Student success at Stout depends on what happens both inside and outside of the classroom, lab or studio, and this project allows students to live in an updated, dynamic and engaging environment,” Chancellor Katherine Frank said.

Family members help students move their belongings into South Hall at the start of the semester this fall. / 91��Ƭ

The $22.5 million refresh of the building includes updated restrooms and showers, room makeovers with new furnishings, new lounge and kitchen spaces, the latest technology, sustainability features, an elevator, and a new central entryway and courtyard facing the campus mall.

“This project has been a true collaboration and a joy to be a part of,” said Adam Ludwig, director of University Housing. “From student input on design and furniture selection to Stout student interns and alums on the general contracting team – this is a building by the students and for the students that is designed to meet their needs for many years to come.”

Construction majors Noah Gansluckner and Tommy Quinn were part of the Market & Johnson building crew. Alum Ryan Wichmann, 2010, was overall project manager, and Chad Schlough, 1997, was an HVAC manager for a subcontractor.

Students moved into the hall, which has 356 beds, in late August and early September for the start of fall classes.

A lounge space with natural light features a study table in South Hall. / 91��Ƭ

A new feature in the courtyard is an art space. The School of Art and Design and University Housing plan to unveil a new piece of student art annually at the site beginning in 2024, Ludwig said.

Justin Utpadel, 91��Ƭ director of Facilities Management, said the goal of the project was to “create spaces that foster relationship building, integrate sustainability and provide for an improved experience that supports student success.”

South Hall, built in 1967, is at the northeast corner of Broadway Street and 13th Avenue E. The project was approved by the State Building Commission in 2021. Construction began in May 2022.

The rain site for the South Hall event is Merle M. Price Commons, north of South Hall.

An updated kitchen for student use is part of the renovated South Hall. / 91��Ƭ

Rec Complex, Heritage Hall projects on the horizon

The next project on 91��Ƭ’s radar is a $30.5 million upgrade to the Recreation Complex, featuring an addition and new atrium on the west side of the Sports and Fitness Center building. If approved by the state, construction could begin in 2026 and finish in 2027.

Last summer, 91��Ƭ received full funding approval in the 2023-25 state budget for the $139 million renovation of Heritage Hall, an academic building. Bidding for construction will begin in fall 2024.

The Heritage project includes demolition of the oldest portion of the Vocational Rehabilitation Building, the university’s original library built in 1954.

Also last summer, the university’s largest solar photovoltaic array to date was installed at Jarvis Hall Technology Wing, part of a multibuilding solar and energy efficiency project.

FOCUS 2030 Plan & Initiatives

Other recent facilities improvements

South Hall is the third recent residence hall renovation. McCalmont Hall reopened in 2014 and North Hall in 2019. Similar to those projects, silver metal cladding was added to portions of South Hall’s brick exterior.

Renovations of other residence halls on south campus are in the university’s capital plan. 91��Ƭ is developing a University Long Range Plan, an extension of its FOCUS2030 strategic plan.

Previously, renovations were completed on two north campus residence halls, Hovlid in 2010 and Fleming in 2012.

Other recent building renovations on campus have included Harvey Hall, Merle M. Price Commons and Bowman Hall, including the Clock Tower.

###

An open house to celebrate the latest facility upgrade at 91��Ƭ, the renovation of South Hall, is planned Thursday, Oct. 12. South Hall exterior

University Marketing

Recreation Complex Renovation

A new renovated recreation complex to improve the student experience with expanded, improved fitness and recreation space.

Hero Caption: 91��Ƭ will celebrate the renovation of South Hall with a dedication and open house on Thursday, Oct. 12.

Adam Ludwig

Full Name: Adam Ludwig

Job Title: Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Department: University Housing

Education:

Housing

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate 91��Ƭ's Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

goersab — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 19:45:28 +0000

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate 91��Ƭ's Heritage Hall funding, workforce impactgoersab July 11, 2023

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Abbey Goers

State representatives Clint Moses and Rob Summerfield on July 11 joined University of Wisconsin-Stout Chancellor Katherine Frank, Provost Glendalí Rodríguez and Senior Facilities Officer Justin Utpadel for a news conference outside of Heritage Hall to celebrate state funding for the hall’s renovation.

Funding for Heritage Hall, which opened 50 years ago, was approved for $139 million. The renovation project will directly address Wisconsin's workforce needs in hospitality and tourism, mental health and wellness, child care and education, food science, disability and rehabilitation services.

Moses, a 91��Ƭ psychology alum, thanked the members of the Joint Finance Committee, who saw the value in the renovation project and ensured its addition in the State’s 2023-25 budget.

State representatives Clint Moses and Rob Summerfield, both 91��Ƭ alums, speak to the university's uniqueness as a polytechnic. / 91��Ƭ

“91��Ƭ has always produced the type of workers that Wisconsin needs. I always say that 91��Ƭ was polytechnic before polytechnic was even a thing. Stout has always had a tradition of teaching the skills that we need in our workforce,” Moses said, noting that his father is a 91��Ƭ industrial arts alum who taught in the Chippewa Valley.

“This expansion of Heritage Hall will more than double the capacity of students that will be coming through this particular building, and I hope that it will continue to attract the very best students to our region and to our state. 91��Ƭ also has a great record of job placement and retention of workers within our state of Wisconsin,” Moses added.

Nearly 60% of 91��Ƭ graduates remain in Wisconsin, and the employment rate of recent graduates is 99.4%, based on a new First Destination report.

Summerfield, a 91��Ƭ business administration alum, believes the university is “one of the most unique campuses in the nation” in its ability to transform the state’s workforce and in the importance of graduates coming out of Heritage Hall to regional, state and national companies.

Chancellor Katherine Frank speaks to the readiness of Stout graduates as they enter Wisconsin’s workforce. / 91��Ƭ

Chancellor Frank expressed her gratefulness to the Legislature and governor for the investment and for recognizing that “Heritage Hall and a polytechnic education that emphasizes career-focused, applied learning in collaboration with business and industry partners is part of the solution to lead Wisconsin forward.

“We place students in the Wisconsin workforce better than any other higher education institution in the state. And thanks to your efforts and those of our alumni, statewide industry and business partners, community advocates and university employees and students, now future Stout students and others will learn and collaborate in a state-of-the-art building that will amplify our impact on our state’s economy,” she said.

“This renovation couldn’t be more critical than it is today. Wisconsin faces immediate workforce challenges, from child care and education, to mental health and manufacturing, to housing and tourism. And we are projected to need even more dedicated, skilled Wisconsinites in the decade to come,” Frank added. “This renovated building, the applied research and learning it will inspire, the community resources it will provide and the business and industry partners it will support will allow Stout as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University to provide solutions to these challenges – challenges that impact our economy and communities.

“The return on investment is easy to calculate and the value is very, very clear. It is our mission at 91��Ƭ, Wisconsin’s only polytechnic university, to continue to prepare the generations to come to help create an even better Wisconsin,” Frank said.

More than 4,000 students will pass through the newly renovated Heritage Hall each year. / 91��Ƭ

Utpadel, a 91��Ƭ construction alum, announced that the final design of the renovation will be ready within a year and bidding for construction will be held in fall of 2024. “It will save taxpayers more than $10 million a year in projected inflation costs that would have been incurred by further delays,” he said.

Rodríguez noted that more than 2,000 91��Ƭ students from 29 undergraduate and graduate programs pass through Heritage Hall each year. The renovation will double the number of students served each year to more than 4,000.

The university’s Child and Family Study Center, Disability Services, Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute and Counseling Center, which provide applied learning experiences to students and offer free services to community members and students, will also move to Heritage Hall.

The project has received $13.5 million in private funding from university supporters, industry partners and alumni made through the Stout University Foundation.

Heritage Hall

All Heritage Hall News

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate 91��Ƭ's Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines Representative Clint Moses speaking

University Marketing

Chancellor's Office

Learn about the Chancellor's Office, who we are, and what we do.

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Katherine P. Frank became the eighth chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stout, after a distinguished career.

Meet the Chancellor

Chancellor's Office Staff

Browse a directory of the Chancellor's Office Staff.

Meet Our Staff

Meet 91��Ƭ's Leaders

Learn about the senior leadership on our campus.

Meet Our Leadership

Fact Book

Learn about our enrollment, faculty, and more in the 91��Ƭ fact book.

Learn More

Chancellor

Search Keywords: chancellor's officechancellor

Include in Directory: On

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

hugginsm — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 14:25:44 +0000

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Fundinghugginsm June 2, 2023

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Learn More About the Project

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank issued the following statement in reaction to the Joint Finance Committee’s approval of funding for 91��Ƭ’s Heritage Hall:

"Yesterday evening, the Joint Finance Committee voted to approve funding for the Heritage Hall Renovation Project. 91��Ƭ, the City of Menomonie, Dunn County and our statewide business and industry partners welcome this exciting development. We appreciate the Committee’s support and recognition of 91��Ƭ’s critical contributions to Wisconsin.

In my conversations with business and industry partners throughout our state, I have heard significant concerns voiced about childcare, mental health, manufacturing and other issues impacting local economies. Heritage Hall is part of the solution.

Degree programs housed in Heritage produce career-ready teachers, school and clinical mental health counselors, police officers, food scientists, property managers and directors of hotels, restaurants and tourism, who before graduation, provide direct services to our state. Stout graduates are the backbone of Wisconsin communities, large and small.

State funding will rejuvenate the 50-year-old Heritage Hall into a state-of-the-art learning facility. It will double the number of students served each year to more than 4,000. And it will save the State and Wisconsin’s taxpayers more than $10M a year in projected inflation costs incurred by further building delays.

We will continue to stress the importance of this project to the Assembly, the Senate and to the Governor through the remaining steps of the budget process, but I want to repeat my sincere gratitude to members of the Joint Finance Committee for investing in 91��Ƭ’s impact on Wisconsin’s high-need workforce areas now and into the future."

Learn more about the Heritage Hall Renovation Project at the link below.

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

Heritage Hall

All Heritage Hall News

‘Power of Partnership’: 91��Ƭ celebrates groundbreaking for $144M Heritage Hall renovation

Chancellor, lawmakers, community and campus leaders join to highlight project that will boost Wisconsin workforce

Wisconsin representatives Moses, Summerfield celebrate 91��Ƭ's Heritage Hall funding, workforce impact

Project addresses workforce needs by producing dedicated, skilled graduates across multiple disciplines

Chancellor's Statement on Heritage Hall Funding

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee.

Chancellor Katherine Frank issues a statement following funding approval of Heritage Hall by the Joint Finance Committee. heritage-render-2023.jpg

University Communications

Chancellor's Office

Learn about the Chancellor's Office, who we are, and what we do.

Chancellor Katherine P. Frank

Katherine P. Frank became the eighth chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stout, after a distinguished career.

Meet the Chancellor

Chancellor's Office Staff

Browse a directory of the Chancellor's Office Staff.

Meet Our Staff

Meet 91��Ƭ's Leaders

Learn about the senior leadership on our campus.

Meet Our Leadership

Fact Book

Learn about our enrollment, faculty, and more in the 91��Ƭ fact book.

Learn More

Chancellor

Search Keywords: chancellor's officechancellor

Include in Directory: On

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Renovate now: State industry, business leaders tell legislators Heritage Hall project is vital, long overdue

polingj — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 15:56:46 +0000

Renovate now: State industry, business leaders tell legislators Heritage Hall project is vital, long overduepolingj April 27, 2023

Plan to update 1973 building needs state funding, would support students, state workforce needs

Two clear messages regarding 91��Ƭ were sent by Chancellor Katherine Frank and business and industry leaders to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee during its statewide budget hearings in April: Renovation of Heritage Hall is needed to support Wisconsin’s workforce needs, and it’s needed now.

The 50-year-old academic building needs classroom, lab and mechanical updates throughout, according to testimony from more than two dozen people, to continue serving the needs of and driving innovation in the state. If funding is included in the budget, the programs based in Heritage Hall could produce 5,000 graduates over the next decade to boost the state’s economy in critical areas.

“In my conversations with industry partners throughout Wisconsin, I have heard concerns voiced about child care, mental health and other issues impacting local economies. Heritage Hall is part of the solution,” Frank said.

A renovated Heritage Hall at 91��Ƭ would feature new entrances on both sides of the building along with updated classrooms, labs and mechanical systems. / 91��Ƭ

Renovation is long overdue. “It will transform Heritage Hall into a state-of-the-art learning facility that addresses high-need workforce areas. Cross-sector connections mean that programs housed in the building will help to support the workforce challenges of other sectors, like those impacting manufacturing,” she said.

Speakers from a variety of industries echoed Frank’s comments while advocating for the project and reinforcing 91��Ƭ’s impact throughout the state.

Jason Manke, director of corporate recruitment at Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells, said the need for leaders in the hospitality industry continues to grow and 91��Ƭ’s hospitality and tourism program, a national leader, and a renovated Heritage Hall will help address “the critical need for qualified, local hospitality leaders.” Hospitality and tourism is a $12 billion a year industry in Wisconsin.

Katie Feuerholm, an education consultant, speaks on behalf of the 91��Ƭ Heritage Hall project at the Joint Finance Committee hearing in Eau Claire. / WisconsinEye

Ruben Nilsson is director of operations for Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, which has a new facility in Menomonie. “The presence of 91��Ƭ was one of the deciding factors in locating this facility in Menomonie to address our current and future workforce needs.” The university provides graduates who address company needs in food science, manufacturing, nutrition, and tourism and hospitality — programs that are based in Heritage Hall. The cooperative hopes to build on the tradition of the dairy industry working with the UW System by “deepening ties with 91��Ƭ, its alumni and faculty.”

But the university needs state investment to maintain the leading-edge facilities that produce innovative, industry-ready graduates for which it’s known.

“Employers want students to graduate ready. 91��Ƭ needs facilities that are ready for the future to make this happen so it can continue to supply the economy and workforce for another 50 years,” testified Katie Feuerholm, a Wisconsin education consultant in career and technical education. She stressed the importance of appropriate space to reflect “the state-of-the-art instruction that the polytechnic university 91��Ƭ is known for.”

Christian Gausman, of OEM Fabricators in Baldwin, advocates for the Heritage Hall project at the Eau Claire hearing. / WisconsinEye

Other speakers who advocated for the Heritage Hall project at the hearings included:

Christian Gausman, director of Strategic Initiatives at OEM Fabricators of Baldwin, cited the importance of the child care profession in helping workers fill their shifts at the manufacturing company. 91��Ƭ has an early childhood education program at Heritage Hall. Many OEM leaders are 91��Ƭ graduates. “We’ve found 91��Ƭ to be a great partner,” Gausman said while urging the Legislature to support the renovation of an aging building.
Angela Yudes, senior learning performance specialist at Andersen, toured Heritage Hall recently and saw firsthand some of its deficiencies. “As an employer, it’s very important for our employees to have child care services in our area and for our employees to access mental health care. If we’re going to be asking students to be developing into these fields, they deserve to have a better building to do that in.”
Ashley DeMuth, Menomonie Chamber of Commerce CEO who traveled to Minocqua to address the Joint Finance Committee again after speaking in Wisconsin Dells, said, “This isn’t just about academics. It’s about building on the future talent pipeline and retaining students. Funding this project is an investment with a return that will be defined for years.”
Krystal Westphal, executive director of Let’s Minocqua Visitor Bureau & Chamber of Commerce, shared DeMuth’s perspective and spoke to the impact of 91��Ƭ graduates in her region.
Jane Busch, human resources at Andersen in Menomonie, said 91��Ƭ’s clinical services center and child care resources are used by many employees. “The quality of employees and people Stout provides is unmatched. It’s amazing to have this university right in our back yard.”

Several of those who testified are alumni. Faculty, staff and students also testified in support of the project.

The Heritage Hall renovation has been sought by 91��Ƭ since 2007. As the student spaces and infrastructure in the building have aged, the UW System has named the project No. 1 on its list for academic building projects in the Chippewa Valley.

Heritage Hall Renovation

This project creates a new, unified home for workforce-critical degree programs in the College of Art & Human Sciences and more.

However, final approval is needed by way of the 2023-25 state budget or project completion would be delayed several more years, until 2031. The building will be shovel ready by May 2024. Planning and design for the renovation is nearly 50% complete. The cost of the project is estimated at $139 million but is increasing by about $10 million a year.

Along with early child care education, programs in Heritage provide career-ready graduates in various teacher education fields; school counseling and clinical mental health counseling; marriage and family therapy; hospitality and tourism; real estate property management; food science; and dietetics.

Demand for 91��Ƭ graduates continues to grow. The employment rate of recent graduates has risen to 99.4% and remains the highest in the UW System, based on a new First Destination report. Nearly 60% of those hired work in Wisconsin.

Ashley DeMuth, of the Menomonie Chamber of Commerce, speaks at the hearing in Wisconsin Dells. / WisconsinEye

Additional support for Heritage

In addition to testimony at the budget hearings, numerous letters supporting the project were written to Joint Finance Committee members supporting the project.

Private gifts through Stout University Foundation to support academic programs at Heritage Hall have risen to $13.5 million, including a recent $1 million gift for the real estate property management program from Weidner Apartment Homes.

"91��Ƭ has a long history of preparing graduates who contribute to Rockwell Automation’s success, helping Wisconsin lead the way in industrial automation innovation,” said Michael Cook, director of Global Academic Enablement, Rockwell Automation. “Our ability to attract a skilled workforce includes having access to resources that improve the lives of our employees such as quality child care, education and professional development opportunities. We strongly support the 91��Ƭ Heritage Hall Renovation Project and urge the state to fund this project.”

At the recent UW System Board of Regents meeting held at 91��Ƭ, a panel of professionals discussed the importance of programs at Heritage Hall.

One of them was Toni Simonson, executive director of Western Wisconsin Behavioral Health Division for Hospital Sisters Health System/Prevea Health. She said that the clinical mental health counseling program is helping address a major shortage of mental health providers in the state.

“Stout’s approach to preparing students is spot-on. It’s not just the training but the applied learning piece of it and the experience Stout students get. They practice what is taught. It’s exactly what our community needs,” Simonson said.

The last major academic building renovation at 91��Ƭ was Harvey Hall in 2015. The last new building on campus was Sorensen Hall (formerly Millennium Hall) in 2000. 

###

Two clear messages regarding 91��Ƭ were sent to the state Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee at budget hearings: Renovate Heritage Hall and renovate now. Heritage rendering

University Marketing

Stepping up: Alumni-based gifts support students, leadership, Heritage Hall renovation

Although the university catchphrase Stout Proud wasn't coined 60 years ago, three alumni from that era are showing their pride with major donations.

Search Keywords: Heritage HallJoint Finance Committee

Hero Caption: The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee holds a state budget hearing in Wisconsin Dells. / WisconsinEye

Katherine P. Frank

Katherine P. Frank became the eighth chancellor of University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic in March 2020, after a distinguished career as an administrator and faculty member.

During her time at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, Chancellor Frank has led efforts to codify and amplify the university’s distinct mission as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University in Board of Regents’ policy documents and a formal university name change, the first throughout the Universities of Wisconsin since 1971. The university has celebrated a balanced budget, enrollment gains, major capital investments, increase in research expenditures, and fundraising successes under Chancellor Frank’s leadership.

Chancellor Frank serves in leadership roles for several national boards and councils, including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Alliance for Innovation and Transformation. She is actively engaged throughout the state, region, and local community through her work with such organizations as the Wisconsin Technology Council, Momentum West, the Menomonie Area Chamber and Visitor Center, and the Greater Menomonie Development Corporation.

Before her appointment at 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, Chancellor Frank served in administrative and faculty roles at Central Washington University, Northern Kentucky University, Indiana University East, and Colorado State University-Pueblo.

Chancellor Frank, the first female leader of 91��Ƭ Polytechnic, grew up in Colorado and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. She has master’s and doctorate degrees in English from the University of Washington, Seattle. Frank’s research interests include Romantic and Victorian English literature, rhetoric and composition, the scholarship of teaching, and academic leadership.

Full Name: Katherine P. Frank

Job Title: Chancellor

Include in Directory: Yes

Department: Chancellor's Office

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. English

University: University of Washington

Degree: M.A. English

University: University of Washington

Degree: B.A. English

University: Bates College

Chancellor

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No