A New Path for Aspiring Teachers: UWM’s Three-Year Degree Proposal
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is exploring an innovative approach to education by proposing a three-year degree program. This initiative aims to reduce student costs while addressing the growing demand for teachers in Wisconsin.
Chancellor Thomas Gibson revealed that discussions are underway with the School of Education to implement this reduced-credit program. Although a specific timeline has not yet been established, Gibson expressed optimism about the program’s potential. “We know there’s a great need not only here in the city, but across the state, to produce more teachers,” Gibson stated in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR). “I feel very optimistic that this is a program that we would be able to deliver and receive significant support for.”
In a significant policy shift, the Board of Regents approved a regulation in March allowing Wisconsin universities to offer degrees requiring only 90 credits, compared to the standard 120-credit four-year degree. This change could save students approximately $10,980, given that an in-state credit hour at UWM costs $366.
Under the preliminary plans for the program, students would spend their fourth year working in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). “We think it’s pretty novel,” Gibson commented. “We understand some of the pressures that MPS is feeling to recruit and attract teachers. So we see this as one way that we can be responsive to their needs.”
This collaboration could help address MPS’s current teacher shortage, as the district began the school year with 60 vacancies. Despite added positions to reduce class sizes, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius highlighted the ongoing challenges, stating, “Our goal is straightforward. Every classroom should have a certified, qualified teacher, caring and competent, who is ready to help students learn and succeed.”
MPS spokesperson Tony Tagliavia expressed gratitude for Gibson’s innovative approach. “The nationwide teacher shortage will require us to continue to embrace innovation and explore options,” Tagliavia wrote to WPR, emphasizing the importance of their partnership with UWM.
If implemented, UWM’s program would align with similar initiatives at other institutions, including UW-Green Bay, which already offers a three-year degree in computer science. Nationwide, around 60 colleges have launched reduced-credit programs, according to College-in-3-Exchange.
