University of Wisconsin System

The University of Wisconsin System (often abbreviated to UW System and currently rebranding to Universities of Wisconsin) is a university system of public universities in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher-education systems in the country, enrolling more than 167,000 students each year and employing approximately 39,000 faculty and staff statewide. The system is headquartered in the state capital of Madison, Wisconsin. The UW System comprises two major doctoral research universities, eleven other comprehensive universities, and thirteen branch campuses. History The present-day University of Wisconsin System was created on October 11, 1971, by Chapter 100, Laws of 1971, which combined the former University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin State Universities systems into an enlarged University of Wisconsin System. The final legislation passed in May 1974, combining two chapters of the Wisconsin statutes. The merger took effect July 9, 1974.