Chapter 36

36.31(1) (1) The board shall not, without the approval of the technical college system board, broaden the system’s post-high school training mission to include the preparation of persons for semiprofessional or skilled-trade occupations beyond those offered during the 1972-73 academic year. The technical college system board shall not, without the approval of the board of regents, broaden its system’s collegiate transfer program offerings beyond those in existence during the 1972-73 academic year. In this section, “collegiate transfer program” has the meaning given in s. 38.01 (3).

36.31(2) (2) The technical college system board, in agreement with the board may designate courses other than those covered under sub. (1) as transferable for collegiate credit between the 2 systems.

36.31(2m) (2m) 

36.31(2m)(a) (a) In this subsection:

36.31(2m)(a)1. 1. “Association” means the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

36.31(2m)(a)2. 2. “Core general education courses” means courses generally required for an undergraduate degree that are prerequisite or otherwise in addition to the courses required for an undergraduate degree in a specific course of study.

36.31(2m)(a)3. 3. “Private college” means a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that is a member of the association.

36.31(2m)(a)4. 4. “Program-to-program articulation agreement” means an agreement that articulates how the completion of requirements for a specified program of study at an educational institution transfers toward completion of requirements for a specified program of study at another educational institution.

36.31(2m)(am) (am)

36.31(2m)(am)1. 1. Notwithstanding s. 36.09 (3) (a), the Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall, and the governing boards of tribally controlled colleges in this state and the association, on behalf of private colleges, may, enter into an agreement to promote and support program-to-program articulation agreements that will apply to programs of study specified in the agreements between institutions of the system, technical colleges, and the tribally controlled colleges and private colleges that elect to participate in the agreement. The agreement shall identify and prioritize program-to-program articulation agreements in fields of study that are in high demand or included under program-to-program articulation agreements between institutions and technical colleges that are entered into before November 23, 2019.

36.31(2m)(am)2. 2. No later than April 1, 2021, the Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall jointly submit a report on progress in complying with subd. 1. to the joint committee on finance and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3).

36.31(2m)(b) (b) Notwithstanding s. 36.09 (3) (a), the Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall, and the governing boards of tribally controlled colleges in this state and the association, on behalf of private colleges, may, enter into and implement an agreement that identifies an array of not less than 72 credits of core general education courses and establishes policies for ensuring that, beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, credits for completing the courses are transferable and would satisfy general education requirements at the receiving institution or college, between and within each institution and technical college, and each tribally controlled college and private college that elects to participate in the agreement.

36.31(2m)(c) (c) The Board of Regents and the technical college system board shall ensure that the governing bodies of tribally controlled colleges and the association, on behalf of private colleges, have an opportunity to elect to participate in the agreements specified in pars. (am) and (b).

36.31(4) (4) 

36.31(4)(am) (am) Except as provided in par. (bm), upon receiving from the federal department of defense a student’s official joint services transcript or Community College of the Air Force transcript, the institution or college campus in which the student is enrolled shall do the following:

36.31(4)(am)1. 1. Accept all American Council on Education credit recommendations included in the official joint services transcript and award academic credit to the student in accordance with these recommendations.

36.31(4)(am)2. 2. Accept all credits included in the Community College of the Air Force transcript and award academic credit to the student accordingly.

36.31(4)(bm) (bm) An institution or college campus may not award academic credit to a student under par. (am) for each course for which the student, upon consultation with the institution’s or college campus’s staff, objects to the awarding of credit for that course.

36.31 History History: 1973 c. 335; 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 34; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; 2013 a. 20; 2013 a. 168 s. 21; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 46, 147.

36.32 36.32 Student identification numbers.

36.32(1) (1) In this section, “institution of higher education” means an institution within the system or a private educational institution located in this state that awards a bachelor’s or higher degree or provides a program that is acceptable toward such a degree.

36.32(2) (2) An institution of higher education may assign to each student enrolled in the institution a unique identification number. An institution of higher education shall not assign to any student an identification number that is identical to or incorporates the student’s social security number. This subsection does not prohibit an institution of higher education from requiring a student to disclose his or her social security number, nor from using a student’s social security number if such use is required by a federal or state agency or private organization in order for the institution or the student to participate in a particular program.

36.32 History History: 2003 a. 282 ss. 1 to 3.

36.33 36.33 Agricultural lands.

36.33(1) (1) Legislative intent. The legislature finds and determines that, because of the problems resulting from the development of cities, villages, towns, and counties around certain agricultural lands of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the desirability of consolidating lands used for agricultural instruction, research and extension purposes, the desirability of disposing of agricultural lands no longer needed by the university and the need for land of better quality and of greater quantity for the purpose of improving and expanding agricultural research, it is in the public interest for the board to sell, lease, or exchange, in whole or in part, the agricultural lands and improvements thereon owned by the board and used by the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the purpose of agricultural instruction and research and to purchase or otherwise acquire other agricultural lands or other lands intended to be used by the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the purpose of agricultural instruction and research. The foregoing policy determination is made without reference to or intention of limiting the powers which the board may otherwise have. The purchase or acquisition of lands or interests therein under this subsection is exempt from s. 20.914 (1).

36.33(2) (2) Method of sale or lease; assessments.

36.33(2)(a) (a) The board, in selling or leasing any part of the agricultural lands and improvements thereon under sub. (1), shall sell or lease on the basis of either of the following:

36.33(2)(a)1. 1. Public bids, with the board reserving the right to reject any or all bids in the best interest of the state.

36.33(2)(a)2. 2. Negotiated prices.

36.33(2)(b) (b) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, the lands sold, leased, or exchanged under sub. (1) shall be subject to special assessments for public improvements by cities, villages, and towns, in the same manner and to the same extent as privately owned lands, if the public improvements are of direct and substantial benefit to the lands that have been platted for sale.

36.33(3m) (3m) Exchange. The board may exchange under sub. (1) part or all of any parcel of agricultural land for any other land of approximately equal value if all of the following are satisfied:

36.33(3m)(a) (a) The lands exchanged are of a like kind.

36.33(3m)(b) (b) The board determines that the exchange contributes to the consolidation or completion of a block of land, enhances the conservation of agricultural lands, or is otherwise in the public interest.

36.33(4) (4) Proceeds. The net proceeds from the sale, lease, exchange, purchase, or other acquisition of agricultural lands and improvements under sub. (1) shall be deposited into a nonlapsible fund for the purpose of purchasing additional land under sub. (1) or erecting facilities for research and instruction in animal husbandry, agricultural engineering, and agricultural and life sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Such funds shall become available only upon consent and recommendation of the board and, if used for the erection of facilities, upon authorization by the building commission. Authorization of the building commission is not required to make such funds available for the purchase of land.

36.33 History History: 1973 c. 335; 1977 c. 418; 1983 a. 36 s. 96 (4); 1995 a. 225; 2001 a. 103; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 230.

36.335 36.335 Sale of other land; buildings and structures. If the board sells any real property under its jurisdiction, the board shall credit the net proceeds of the sale to the appropriation account under s. 20.285 (1) (gb) except that if there is any outstanding public debt used to finance the acquisition, construction, or improvement of any property that is sold, the board shall deposit a sufficient amount of the net proceeds from the sale of the property in the bond security and redemption fund under s. 18.09 to repay the principal and pay the interest on the debt, and any premium due upon refunding any of the debt. If the property was acquired, constructed, or improved with federal financial assistance, the board shall pay to the federal government any of the net proceeds required by federal law. If the property was acquired by gift or grant or acquired with gift or grant funds, the board shall adhere to any restriction governing use of the proceeds.

36.335 History History: 2009 a. 28 s. 3407; Stats. 2009 s. 36.335; 2011 a. 32; 2015 a. 230.

36.34 36.34 Minority student programs.

36.34(1) (1) Ben R. Lawton minority undergraduate grant program.

36.34(1)(a) (a) In this subsection “minority undergraduate” means an undergraduate student who:

36.34(1)(a)1. 1. Is a Black American.

36.34(1)(a)2. 2. Is an American Indian.

36.34(1)(a)3. 3. Is a Hispanic, as defined in s. 16.287 (1) (d).

36.34(1)(a)4. 4. Is a person who is admitted to the United States after December 31, 1975, and who either is a former citizen of Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia or whose ancestor was or is a citizen of Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia.

36.34(1)(b) (b) The board shall establish a grant program for minority undergraduates enrolled in the system. The board shall designate all grants under this subsection as Lawton grants. The board may not make a grant under this subsection to a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the person provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).

36.34 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27 ss. 666g, 666i, 670 to 673, 675; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 404; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 25, 254; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32.

36.35 36.35 Misconduct; campus security.

36.35(1) (1) Power to suspend; rules. The board may delegate the power to suspend or expel students for misconduct or other cause prescribed by the board. Subject to sub. (4), the board shall promulgate rules under ch. 227 governing student conduct and procedures for the administration of violations.

36.35(2) (2) Authority to restrict presence of persons on campus. The chancellor of each institution or the chief security officer thereof during a period of immediate danger or disruption may designate periods of time during which the campus and designated buildings and facilities connected therewith are off limits to all persons who are not faculty, academic staff, employees, students or any other personnel authorized by the above named officials. Any person violating such order shall be subject to the penalties provided by law for criminal trespass.

36.35(3) (3) Requiring permission for presence on campus. Any person who is convicted of any crime involving danger to property or persons as a result of conduct by that person which obstructs or seriously impairs activities run or authorized by an institution and who, as a result of such conduct, is in a state of suspension or expulsion from the institution, and who enters property of that institution without permission of the chancellor of the institution or the chancellor’s designee within 2 years, may for each such offense be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

36.35(4) (4) Underage alcohol violations. The board or an institution or college campus may not impose any of the following disciplinary sanctions against a student for the student’s violation of s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), if the student is exempt under s. 125.07 (5) from issuance of a citation for, or conviction of, the violation:

36.35(4)(a) (a) Removal from a course in progress.

36.35(4)(b) (b) Enrollment restrictions on a course or program.

36.35(4)(c) (c) Suspension or expulsion.

36.35(4)(d) (d) Exclusion from student housing.

36.35 History History: 1973 c. 335; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (1); 1991 a. 316; 2015 a. 279.

36.35 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. UWS 14 and 17, Wis. adm. code.

36.36 36.36 Grants for study abroad. The board may award a grant of up to $2,000 to a resident undergraduate student to assist in paying the costs associated with the student’s study abroad if the student satisfies all of the following criteria:

36.36(1) (1) The student demonstrates financial need for the grant, as determined by the board.

36.36(2) (2) The student is enrolled full-time in the system in the semester preceding the student’s study abroad.

36.36(3) (3) The student is enrolled in a program leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree.

36.36 History History: 1999 a. 9, 152; 2011 a. 32.

36.37 36.37 Downer Woods and buildings preservation.

36.37(1) (1) Statement of purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote the permanent conservation and enhancement, by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, of the area known as Downer Woods; to designate and protect, as a permanent conservancy area, at least 10 acres of the woods; and to permit limited modification, in a manner consistent with the aforesaid purposes, of that portion of the woods whose present character as park and woodland lends itself to utilization, by the university and the surrounding community, as essential recreational and aesthetic corridors.

36.37(2) (2) Legislative findings. The legislature finds it in the public interest to recognize and foster the principle of environmental quality in the area known as Downer Woods by preserving it as a conservancy area and protecting it, consistent with sub. (4), from encroachment or disparate uses. The woods is the sole remaining natural area remaining on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and as such, its preservation and enhancement is consistent with the university’s recognition of its need to protect and enhance its own physical environment, and to serve the pressing human need of its faculty, students and staff, as well as the greater Milwaukee community, to live and work in an urban environment which respects those portions of unspoiled nature which yet exist. The woods is a unique asset; it provides visual relief to the concentrated building pattern surrounding it, complements the urban landscape and affords aesthetically and psychologically attractive places for people to congregate and relax. In addition, the woods serves as a refuge for wildlife and vegetation, and is, therefore, an important educational, scientific and ecological resource to the university and the community. Its presence imparts priceless recreational and aesthetic values.

36.37(3) (3) Definitions. In this section, “Downer Woods” or “the woods” means those parcels of wood, parkland and buildings comprising more than 21.4337 acres located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and divided into 5 separate and distinct categories, which categories shall define the proper and permissible uses of the parcels, as follows:

36.37(3)(a) (a) Permanent conservation area, consisting of 11.101 acres, which is to be physically defined by means of fencing or other suitable means.

36.37(3)(b) (b) Permanently reserved woodland, consisting of 3.018 acres.

36.37(3)(c) (c) Park and woodland areas, consisting of 4.686 acres, which may be subject to limited modification, such as landscaping, but which are to be protected from disparate uses and encroachment.

36.37(3)(d) (d) The buildings and grounds of the former Downer college with any reconstruction or renovation which may be authorized by the board.

36.37(3)(e) (e) Park and woodland areas, consisting of 2.6287 acres, which may be subject to limited modifications, such as landscaping and utility lines.

36.37(4) (4) Downer Woods conservation.

36.37(4)(a) (a) That portion of Downer Woods designated a permanent conservation area is to be forever protected from encroachment or disparate uses, and its boundaries are to be defined and protected by fencing or other suitable means. The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station, shall prepare and implement a Downer Woods natural area management and restoration plan to ensure that the conservation area is managed properly as a natural area.

36.37(4)(b) (b) That portion of Downer Woods designated as permanently reserved woodland shall be set aside exclusively for purposes of community enhancement and relaxation, and any disparate uses to or encroachments upon such land is prohibited except for the purpose of constructing an addition and providing service to Sandburg Hall, which may not exceed 0.75 acres. The board shall grant a temporary easement sufficient to facilitate the construction of the addition, and whenever necessary to facilitate the maintenance of Sandburg Hall, conditioned upon the ecological restoration of the area within the easement.

36.37(4)(c) (c) Those portions of Downer Woods designated as park and woodland areas under sub. (3) (c) and (e) may be used by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as recreational and aesthetic corridors. Any modifications made to such portions of the woods under sub. (3) (c) and (e) may not significantly alter the present character of such land, and any disparate uses to or encroachments upon such land are prohibited.

36.37(4)(d) (d) The buildings of the former Downer college shall be preserved and no portion thereof may be razed without prior approval of the building commission.

36.37 History History: 1973 c. 335; 1975 c. 386; 1997 a. 226.

36.40 36.40 Use of animals for research purposes. The board shall adopt criteria for researchers to follow regarding humane treatment of animals for scientific research purposes.

36.40 History History: 1983 a. 27.

36.43 36.43 Accommodation of religious beliefs. The board shall promulgate rules providing for the reasonable accommodation of a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to all examinations and other academic requirements. The rules shall include all of the following:

36.43(1) (1) Written and timely notification of all students and instructors of the rules and complaint process.

36.43(2) (2) A means by which a student can conveniently and confidentially notify an instructor of potential conflicts.

36.43(3) (3) A means by which a student is permitted to make up an examination or academic requirement at another time or by an alternative means without any prejudicial effect.

36.43(4) (4) A procedure for handling and resolving complaints within each institution.

36.43 History History: 1991 a. 227; 1997 a. 237.

36.43 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. UWS 22, Wis. adm. code.

36.44 36.44 License plate scholarship programs. The board shall establish a scholarship program at each of the institutions specified in s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 35. to 47. The program at each institution shall be funded by the fees collected under s. 341.14 (6r) (b) 4. for that institution and the scholarships shall be awarded by the chancellor of each institution according to criteria developed by the chancellor.

36.44 History History: 1989 a. 31; 2015 a. 55.

36.45 36.45 Research funding.