Campus Connection

Completing Prairie Springs would transform science education at UWL

Support is building for a project that promises to transform science education and workforce development at UW-La Crosse. 

The Prairie Springs Science Center completion project is once again up for consideration by the Wisconsin Legislature, with a decision expected this summer. Prairie Springs is the top capital project not just for UWL but for the entire Universities of Wisconsin system. The reasons for this are compelling. 

The first half of Prairie Springs was completed in 2018, but the building remains unfinished as students and faculty continue to use the outdated Cowley Hall, which was constructed in 1965 and falls short of many modern-day accessibility standards. 

By demolishing Cowley and completing Prairie Springs, UWL students and faculty would gain access to 30 state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, ranging from 25 to 150 seats — facilities that are necessary for the type of hands-on learning that prepares students for successful careers.

New majors in high-demand fields such as data science, engineering physics, environmental sciences and food science show how UWL is adapting to evolving workforce needs. 

Notably, nearly half of UWL’s 10,000 students are pursuing degrees and careers in the sciences. These graduates are vital to Wisconsin’s future, as 87% continue to live and work in the Badger State after graduation. 

“To produce top-tier graduates who will go on to successful careers, it is imperative to have top-tier facilities,” Chancellor James Beeby says. “We hear from so many of our partners that we need more skilled health care workers, more excellent scientists, more imaginative innovators. The completion of the Prairie Springs Science Center is a critical piece of that puzzle.” 

Business partners like Kwik Trip, Mayo Clinic Health System, Emplify Health by Gundersen, Trane Technologies, J.F. Brennan and many others invest in UWL for targeted curriculum, research, internships and workforce development.  

Leaders from these organizations have voiced strong support for the completion of Prairie Springs, noting its potentially transformative impact. 

"The Prairie Springs Science Center is more than just a building; it's a catalyst for health care innovation and workforce development in our region,” says Dr. Richard Helmers, regional vice president for Northwest and Southwest Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic Health System. “As an organization that has worked closely with UWL, Mayo Clinic Health System recognizes the critical role this project plays in nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals."  

Adds Joe Zoellner, president of the La Crosse Area Development Corporation Board of Directors: "LADCO believes that funding the Prairie Springs Science Center Completion Project is crucial to growing the science-based economy of the La Crosse area and in helping our businesses and industries find the talented workers they need now and in the future." 

Alumni and friends interested in supporting the completion of the Prairie Springs Science Center are encouraged to contact their state representatives. 

Learn more about plans to complete the Prairie Springs Science Center.