Dear UWM Colleagues,
As we begin a new semester and welcome the new year, we continue to build on our commitment to students’ academic success. We know a sense of belonging improves retention and graduation. In that spirit, we are changing how we deliver student services, with a focus on helping students complete their degree.
By the Fall 2026 semester, UWM will be opening a new comprehensive student center in the Student Union. Driven by the pillars of our 2030 plan, discussions for a new student center began more than a year ago. The new center will unify several existing services and spaces into one welcoming hub and be a place where all students can access support and build meaningful connections.
Research shows that students who feel connected to their university graduate at significantly higher rates. We expect these changes to result in more students staying at UWM and earning their degree. Student retention through increased student engagement and integrated support services are key strategies of UWM’s Strategic Enrollment Management Plan.
The center will also be the hub for our community network to connect to UWM and support our students both on campus and throughout the greater Milwaukee area.
The new UWM center will bring together the missions and staff expertise of the Black Student Cultural Center, First-Generation+ Resource Center, LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Military and Veterans Resource Center, Off-Campus Resource Center, Roberto Hernández Center, Southeast Asian American Student Center and Women’s Resource Center. All existing student center staff will be retained as part of this reorganization.
The organizational model will evolve, but our commitment to individualized support, intercultural education and celebration, and student advocacy remains unwavering. UWM welcomes students from all backgrounds and viewpoints, and the new center reflects this inclusive approach as a one-stop destination for all.
The center will be part of the Division of Student Affairs and work closely with divisional partners. This transition will begin in spring of 2026 and will be completed in time for the beginning of the Fall 2026 semester.
There will be multiple design input sessions where students, staff and faculty can contribute ideas and feedback on the center’s name and design. Watch for those details soon in an upcoming faculty/staff newsletter.
We look forward to you joining us in this process.
Sincerely,
Kelly Haag
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Chia Youyee Vang
Vice Chancellor for Community Empowerment and Institutional Inclusivity
