St. Norbert College, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay announce partnership allowing students to attend both schools

This story has been updated with additional information about courses offered through the partnership and comments from leaders at UWGB and St. Norbert.

GREEN BAY — St. Norbert College and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are partnering to allow students in specific programs to study at both institutions.

The two schools are calling it a "a first-of-its-kind partnership in the region," allowing students to take courses at the other institution that aren't offered at their home school.

More: St. Norbert College students stage walkout, protesting recent cuts

"By not trying to duplicate, which is exceedingly expensive — we can't be all things to all people — but through collaboration rather through competing, we can be effective stewards of student, family and community resources," said St. Norbert College President Laurie Joyner.

As early as next fall, St. Norbert students will be able to take classes at UWGB in German, Russian, Arabic, Oneida and engineering. St. Norbert students can also participate in an accelerated master's degree program where they spend three years earning their bachelor's at St. Norbert and then two years earning their master's at UWGB.

Those master's degrees will be available in athletic training, nutrition and integrated health, sport and exercise psychology, and eventually, supply chain management.

Students at UWGB can take classes at St. Norbert in French, economics and the school's new engineering physics major. In November, the university announced it was considering cuts to six majors and minors as it prepares for the future of higher education. One of those majors was economics.

Through this partnership, UWGB students can still earn an economics major by taking courses at St. Norbert. The partnership has been in the works for years, but headwinds facing higher education has accelerated the timeline, UWGB Chancellor Michael Alexander said.

"There's two choices right now in higher education," Alexander said. "You can adapt or you can face the consequences of not adapting, and I think both our institutions would rather adapt."

Students who are enrolled at St. Norbert who take courses at UWGB will pay the same tuition as they would if they were taking classes at their home campus. The same goes for UWGB students.

This comes after St. Norbert announced 12 new academic programs Monday as the college reorganizes its degrees in the face of financial shortcomings. Some of those new degrees include robotics, finance, marketing and supply chain management.

In March, St. Norbert laid off 12 faculty members as the institution shores up a $5 million deficit projected for fiscal year 2025. The college announced 41 layoffs last fall. College spokesperson Mike Counter has said that number was actually 35 positions.

UWGB also announced layoffs last fall, cutting nine non-faculty positions.

Danielle DuClos is a Report for America corps member who covers K-12 education for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at dduclos@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @danielle_duclos. You can directly support her work with a tax-deductible donation at GreenBayPressGazette.com/RFA or by check made out to The GroundTruth Project with subject line Report for America Green Bay Press Gazette Campaign. Address: The GroundTruth Project, Lockbox Services, 9450 SW Gemini Drive, PMB 46837, Beaverton, Oregon 97008-7105.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: St. Norbert College, UWGB will allow students to attend both schools