Paving the way for graduates: UW-Stout top story highlights of 2024

From new academic programs supporting workforce development in Wisconsin and the Midwest to new university centers focused on innovations in AI and sustainability, strengthening relationships with industry partners and the community, and celebrating student research and athletic victories, UW-Stout – Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University – is paving the way for graduates entering their careers.

These accomplishments and recognitions are just some of the universities Stout Story highlights as it looks back at 2024.

Best for students and staff

UW-Stout graduates are in demand, with 99% employed soon after earning their degree, receiving a record average starting salary of $58,000, the best among higher education institutions in west-central Wisconsin.

Money Magazine named UW-Stout one of two public Best Colleges in Wisconsin, as well as one of the 45 Best in the Midwest, for its focus on affordability and student outcomes.

“Being one of the best colleges reinforces the value of UW-Stout to prospective students, whether they are high school graduates, adults returning to elevate their career success or businesses seeking to upskill their workforce,” said Chancellor Katherine Frank. “We’re focused on continuing to ensure the upward mobility of our graduates and their contributions to the workforce.”

The university also received an Excellence & Innovation Stewards of Place award from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, a Top Talent Initiative award from Momentum West, and was recognized as a gold-level Family Friendly Workplace for its strong support of the needs of workers and their families and high level of family-related benefits.

Honoring and empowering veterans

For veterans and active military students, UW-Stout was named a 2024 Best for Vets College, one of 304 in the country, ranking first among public universities or colleges in Wisconsin.

UW-Stout also received a gold designation as a Military Friendly® School for 2024-25 for its efforts in creating sustainable and meaningful education paths for members of the military community. It also was designated a Military Spouse Friendly School. This was the 16th year the university was named a Military Friendly School.

UW-Stout currently has 198 military and veteran students, with 366 spouses and children using educational benefits. The university’s most recent First Destination report stated that 100% of veteran graduates were employed within six months of graduation.

Sustainability in action

For its collaboration and commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency in multiple campuswide initiatives in the last two decades, UW-Stout was named a national Green Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Education.

It also received the Energy Efficiency Excellence Award from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program. UW-Stout was the only Wisconsin university to be recognized with these awards in 2024.

USDA Under Secretary Alexis Taylor and Wisconsin Agriculture Secretary Randy Romanski explored sustainable packaging and AI innovations underway at UW-Stout, including research led by packaging Program Director Min DeGruson and food science and technology Professor Pranabendu Mitra, as well as collaborative work on sustainable packaging for cheese.

Top-awarded programs

CEOWorld magazine ranked UW-Stout No. 9 in the world for best hospitality and hotel management schools. UW-Stout has consistently been among the leaders in the rankings over the past seven years, with partnerships with industry leaders, such as Forbes Travel Guide, Destination Kohler and other top resorts and hotels creating student opportunities.

The Princeton Review listed the Bachelor of Fine Arts in game design and development-art and Master of Fine Arts in design-game design focus as the best in Wisconsin and Minnesota, top five in the Midwest and, for public colleges, top 10 in the nation. The School of Art and Design is the largest in the Upper Midwest with approximately 1,300 students.

The U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy awarded UW-Stout a 12-month, $124,555 federal grant to create ACCESS — the AI-Powered Cloud CMMC and Education Support System – to help businesses guard against cybersecurity threats. 

New degree programs in science, art and sustainability

While updating engineering and plastics labs, and with the renovation of Heritage Hall soon to be underway in spring 2025, five new degree programs began in fall 2024, approved by the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

“I am proud of UW-Stout faculty and staff who are working hard to continue to adapt and expand UW-Stout’s polytechnic offerings to meet student needs and the needs of the workforce,” said Provost Glendalí Rodríguez, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.

• Bachelor's degrees in biology, chemistry and physics were built on the foundations of concentrations that were offered for years within the applied science program.
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration students will emulate industry practices and emerging trends, building skills in drawing, painting, printmaking, comics and more.
• The online master’s in design, entrepreneurship and sustainability aligns with industry demand. Jobs requiring “green skills” are growing by 8% a year.

New university centers

The Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence is a new resource for small and midsize manufacturers in Wisconsin and Minnesota in their quest for growth and success. CAM-AI, partnering with the university’s Manufacturing Outreach Center, delivers comprehensive, proven solutions through consulting, training and workforce development.

Faculty and students at the Center for Sustainable Communities, supported by a Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin grant, work to identify opportunities for research, service learning, outreach, community involvement and student experiences that strengthen environmental, social and economic sustainability in rural areas.

The indoor Pat Kell Golf Center provides the women’s and men’s golf team members and students majoring in golf enterprise management with a new, high-tech practice and learning hub on campus. The center is the first of many expected changes at the Recreation Complex, where a renovation supported by students is UW-Stout’s next major capital project awaiting state approval.

Faculty research and advances in AI

Professors are helping to advance artificial intelligence research across various fields of study, including developing customized, energy-efficient, low-cost technology for precision agriculture to meet the needs of Wisconsin farmers.

Engineering Professor Yuan Xing is studying AI related to the packaging of fruit. With his system, an automated guided vehicle in a warehouse would bring fruit to a vision sensor, an AI algorithm would determine freshness, and the vehicle would then separate the good fruit for packaging.

Engineering Professor Anne Schmitz is conducting sustainable manufacturing research on mesostructures, or 3D-printed internal lattices that absorb energy and reduce material use. Her research uses AI to fine-tune mesostructure design for maximum energy absorption and lighter, more efficient products.

Marriage and family therapy Assistant Professor Heather Hessel received the Carl Whitaker Award from the Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in December for advancing AI integration with therapy.

Community kids’ collaborations

STEM and art and design students joined in collaborative projects for and with community children. Students in the Design for Industry course joined kindergartners from St. Paul’s School of Menomonie for a toy design project using AI rapid prototyping. Their toy ideas ranged from vehicles to a magic spell-casting kit, animals, dolls, action figures and more.

Animation and game design students met with 4K students from the university’s Child and Family Study Center for a Creature Collaboration, to bring their characters to life using 3D software.

The Women in Construction student organization and Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers built 25 twin beds to help meet the needs of children in the community.

It’s more than a package

Stout Packaging Association student members hosted Pack Jam 2024, an annual three-day conference in April, when students from packaging universities and colleges in the U.S. and Canada connected with professionals to showcase the impact of the global industry. 

Fall 2024 Inspiring Graduates Ethan Myers and Lukas David worked with video production student Zach Hoffmire to reimagine the Pringles potato crisps tube. Their innovative tube design won first place in an international competition sponsored by Kellanova, a division of Kellogg’s. They received a congressional certificate from Rep. Derrick Van Orden. 

UW-Stout is one of only a few schools in the U.S. and the only school in the Universities of Wisconsin that offers a B.S. in packaging.

Blue Devil athletes excelling

After winning the WIAC championship, the women’s basketball team made the NCAA DIII championship, its first appearance in the national tournament since 2007. UW-Stout entered nationals with a 21-7 record and made the Sweet 16 semifinals.

Women’s gymnastics placed fifth in the nation in March at the NCGA DIII championship with a score of 191.650, its second-highest score in team history. The team set a program record at nationals on the balance beam with 47.800, and four teammates earned individual All-American honors. 

The nationally ranked esports team won the state championship in May and qualified for two national tournaments in April. The team is excited about a new $1 million arena this fall, funded by the UW-Stout Foundation and Alumni Association.