On January 28, 2026, UW-Milwaukee announced it would merge its Multicultural Centers and the Centers for Advocacy and Engagement (CASE) into a single center by the end of 2027, without meaningful consultation with students or staff, and in violation of Wisconsin Statute 36.09(5).

"The students of each institution or campus, subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor, and the faculty, shall have primary responsibility for advising the chancellor regarding the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests. Students in consultation with the chancellor and subject to the final confirmation of the board shall have the responsibility for the disposition of those student fees which constitute substantial support for campus student activities.”

Despite overwhelming opposition, UWM continues to move forward with this plan. 

This consolidation will include eight centers:

• ​The Roberto Hernandez Center
• The Black Student Cultural Center
• The Southeast Asian American Student Center
• The LGBTQ+ Resource Center
• The Military and Veterans Resource Center
• The Women’s Resource Center
• The First Generation+ Resource Center
• The Off-Campus Resource Center

​These centers were created to address clear inequities on campus and support marginalized students. Many students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee rely on these spaces for community, guidance, safety, support, and resources. They are essential for developing a sense of belonging on campus and supporting students beyond academic pursuits. For many students, their involvement and feeling of community are tied to these centers, benefiting them academically, professionally, and personally. Consolidating these centers will erase their unique missions and communities and undermine the diversity that UWM claims as one of its greatest strengths.

​We are the Student Identity Preservation (SIP) coalition at UW-Milwaukee, a group of students opposing the consolidation of these cultural and identity spaces. Show your support by signing our online petition and joining us at the Save Our Centers Block Party on April 30th, from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at Spaights Plaza outside the UW-Milwaukee Student Union. 

​Further support can be demonstrated by contacting: 

Wisconsin Board of Regents
1860 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Dr. 
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-2324
board@wisconsin.edu

UW-Milwaukee Chancellor
Chapman Hall 202 
2310 E. Hartford Ave. 
P.O. Box 413 
Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 229-4331
Contact Form: https://uwm.edu/chancellor/contact/ 

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Kelly Haag
Chapman Hall 132
(414) 229-4038
kajohnso@uwm.edu 

Vice Chancellor for Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity
Chia Youyee Vang 
Chapman Hall 118 
(414) 229-1101
vangcy@uwm.edu 

​

In this petition, we demand that the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee administration:

1. ​Uphold UWM’s guiding values, especially “diversity in all of its definitions, including who we are, how we think, and what we do,” and “transparent and inclusive decision making.”
2. Reverse the decision to consolidate the Multicultural Centers and CASE Centers, allowing everyone to remain in their current spaces.
3. Prioritize supporting these centers so they can continue their vital work assisting students. 
4. Publicly state and commit to rejecting future efforts to weaken identity-based resources that support marginalized students at UWM.
5. Call on the Wisconsin Board of Regents to restore student governance authority over policies affecting student services, as required by Wisconsin Statute 36.09(5). "The students of each institution or campus, subject to the responsibilities and powers of the board, the president, the chancellor, and the faculty, shall have primary responsibility for advising the chancellor regarding the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests."

​To further support this cause, attend the Save Our Centers Block Party on April 30th from 12 to 2 at UW-Milwaukee Union Spaights Plaza, featuring speakers including Wisconsin Representative and gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong.