University of Wisconsin Press A History of the University of Wisconsin System

Review "A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the UW System's establishment and maturation. It expertly paints the picture of the UW System that is born and evolves from spirited confluences of politics, leadership, values, economics, demographics, priorities, personalities, emotions, truths and exaggerations, and yet more politics."--Noel Tomas Radomski, managing director, Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education"A very original piece of work that not only captures the uniqueness of the UW System and its history but is laced with a literature review of how UW's founding intersects with other system documentaries."--Nancy Zimpher, Rockefeller Institute of Government"Drawing on Brady's own inside knowledge as the system's former general counsel, A History of the University of Wisconsin System offers unique insights into the conflicts and accomplishments of the administrative and political elites who shaped the system."--Chad Alan Goldberg, University of Wisconsin-Madison Product Description A tumultuous 1971 merger that combined all of the state's public colleges and universities into a single entity led to the creation of the University of Wisconsin System. Drawing on decades of previously unpublished sources, Patricia A. Brady details the System's full history from its origin to the present, illuminating complex networks among and within the campuses and an evolving relationship with the state. The UW System serves as a powerful case study for how broad, national trends in higher education take shape on the ground. Brady illustrates the ways culture wars have played out on campuses and the pressures that have mounted as universities have shifted to a student-as-consumer approach. This is the essential, unvarnished story of the unique collection of institutions that serve Wisconsin and the world-and a convincing argument for why recognizing and reinvesting in the System is critically important for the economic and civic future of the state and its citizens. About the Author Patricia A. Brady is a consultant on higher education law issues. She served as chief legal officer for the University of Wisconsin System from 2002 to 2010.