River Falls State Normal School (1874–1927) River Falls State Teachers College (1927–1951) Wisconsin State College–River Falls (1951–1964) Wisconsin State University-River Falls (1964–1971)
In 2013–2014, UWRF had an enrollment of 6,061 students in more than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs. UWRF is a member of the American Council of Education Internationalization Laboratory and provides several global studies and study abroad programs.[4] The university also hosts the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development.[5]
History
The original Normal Hall (renamed South Hall), as it appeared before it was destroyed by fire in 1897.
The University of Wisconsin–River Falls was founded in 1874 as River Falls State Normal School, one of the state normal schools created to prepare students for teaching careers and to provide better education to the state's frontier regions.[6] In 1927, the school was renamed River Falls State Teachers College, as the state normal schools became "State Teachers Colleges" that incorporated a significant increase in general education offerings and four-year courses of study leading to a Bachelor of Education degree.[7]
After World War II, thousands of returning veterans in Wisconsin under the G.I. Bill needed more college choices for their studies and educational advancement. Because of popular demand, the Regents of the State Teachers College system allowed the teacher training institutions to offer bachelor's degrees in liberal arts and fine arts. In 1951, when the state teachers colleges were organized as "Wisconsin State Colleges",[8] the school name was changed to Wisconsin State College–River Falls, and the school offered a full four-year liberal-arts curriculum. In 1964, it was renamed Wisconsin State University-River Falls when state colleges were all granted university status.[8]
The school became a member of the University of Wisconsin System in 1971 when the former University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin State University system merged. It then became the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.[9]
The average new freshman in Fall 2019 had a 3.43 high school GPA and was ranked in the top 37% of their high school class.[11]
Rankings
In 2018, University of Wisconsin–River Falls was ranked 93rd in Regional Universities in Midwest, 23rd in Top Public Universities and 381st in Business Programs in United States of America.[12] The University of Wisconsin–River Falls is one of four University of Wisconsin System institutions included in The Princeton Review's 2014 list of the "Best in the Midwest."[13] For 2014, U.S. News & World Report ranked UWRF in the top tier for Regional Universities in the Midwest United States.[14]
Sustainability
UWRF has a STARS rating of Gold.[15]UWRF made Princeton Review's 2021 Guide to Green Colleges.[16]UWRF received an A− grade on the 2011 College Sustainability Report Card.[17] The university has created the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development, whose mission is "to support and facilitate the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in becoming one of the premier venues for deliberation and demonstration of sustainable community development principles."[5]
The university also offers club sports for students, including men's volleyball, badminton, paintball, Jiu Jitsu, and rock climbing.[19]
From 1991 to 2009, the Kansas City Chiefs used the university's athletic facilities during their annual summer training camp. The Chiefs moved their training camp to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri in 2010.[20] In 2007, the HBO sports documentary, Hard Knocks, followed the Chiefs throughout their summer training camp at UWRF. The series featured a number of university buildings, including the new student union, Rodli Commons, McMillan Hall, Ramer Field Complex, Hunt Ice Hockey Arena and Laboratory Farm #1.