Quick Facts

About CPS Students

  • CPS has about 2,350 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate and continuing students enrolled.
  • Of new CPS freshmen, 34% were in the top 10% of their high school class.
  • The average GPA of incoming CPS freshmen is 3.44; the average ACT score is 22.1.
  • In 2008, 165 CPS students received academic scholarships totaling $148,000. Our Military Science department awarded an additional $106,500 in scholarships to student-cadets; $80,000 in monthly stipends to 38 cadets; and $22,800 for books and supplies.
  • Most CPS students are from Wisconsin, Minnesota and other midwestern states. However, we have students currently enrolled from states as far away as Washington, Georgia and Florida. We also have students who have come quite a distance to learn with us, including from countries such as British Honduras, Chile, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Peru and Saudi Arabia.
  • Many of our students learn about other cultures through UWSP study abroad opportunities. During the 2008-2009 school year 84 CPS students traveled abroad. One in five CPS students will study abroad at sometime during their college careers.
  • CPS students pass national qualifying exams for their professions at scores well above the national average. Clinical Lab Science students are passing at 95% compared to 70% nationally; including one student who scored highest in the nation. Communicative Disorders students are at 95-100% vs. 75% nationally, and Dietetics students pass at 98% vs. 84%. Athletic Training students passed at 90% last year.
  • Ninety-four percent of the graduates in the class of 2008 were either hired in positions within their field or went on to graduate or professional schools. Fifteen percent pursued graduate or other advanced degrees immediately upon graduation.
  • CPS has 17 student professional organizations with over 800 active members. In November of 2008 our chapter of Kappa Delta Pi won its second "National Achieving Excellence Award." The UWSP chapter is one of only 22 chapters (of 567 worldwide) to receive the award.

About Academic Programs in CPS

  • CPS consists of eight academic units, which house 12 different undergraduate majors, 14 minors, and six graduate programs.
    • Business & Economics (BSE) offers bachelor's degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Economics.
    • School of Health Care Professions (HCP) offers bachelor's degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science with an emphasis in Medical Technology, Cytotechnology, and Histotechnology. CLS also prepares students for pre-professional programs in Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
    • Communicative Disorders (COMD) offers bachelor's degreesin Communicative Disorders, master's degrees in Speech and Language Pathology and a Clinical Doctorate in Audiology.
    • School of Education (SOE) offers bachelor's degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Exceptional Education. SOE also offers minors in Early Childhood Special Education and Exceptional Educational Needs as wells as master's degrees in Education. SOE also provides the required education coursework for all UWSP teacher certification programs.
    • Interior Architecture (IA) offers bachelor's degrees in Interior Architecture.
    • Health, Exercise Science and Athletics offers bachelor's degrees in Physical Education and Athletic Training and minors in Health Education, Coaching, Adventure Education and Strength & Conditioning. HESA also offers teacher certification in Adapted Physical Education.
    • Health Promotion & Human Development offers bachelor's degrees in Dietetics, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Health Promotion/Wellness. In addition, HPHD also offers minors in Child & Family Studies, Nutritional Sciences and Strength and Conditioning, and master's degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Human & Community Resources.
    • Military Science offers a minor in Military Science.
  • The clinical doctorate in Audiology (AUD) is offered in collaboration with UW-Madison and is the first doctoral degree offered by a Wisconsin state university college.
  • Most CPS programs are accredited by national accrediting bodies, including the American Dietetics Association, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association, the Foundation of Interior Design Education Research, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science.
  • CPS has been recognized as well above the national norm in the areas of active and collaborative learning by the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE).
  • Students in CPS gain professional competence through active and collaborative learning experiences in one or more of our teaching-learning laboratories, fieldwork, or service learning courses. Last year CPS students participated in more than 100 community-based practical experiences.

About CPS Staff

  • Currently, CPS employs 72 faculty, 57 academic staff and 17 classified staff. In addition, CPS employs 15 graduate students through graduate assistantships and another 195 undergraduate students who hold part-time positions within the college.
  • Of CPS faculty, 100% hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree.
  • CPS faculty presented or posted 190 papers at professional conferences in 2008.
  • CPS faculty are heavily involved in their professions and hold active membership in 173 professional organizations and leadership positions within 29 of those.
  • Ninety-eight percent of faculty members have completed the College Teaching Partners program, an initiative designed to facilitate teacher growth and development.

UWSP Athletics are Part of CPS

  • Every year over 40,000 fans enjoy a UWSP athletic event.
  • We offer 18 varsity intercollegiate sports, featuring 10 women's and 8 men's teams.
  • In 2008-09 UWSP teams finished with a 144-63-9 record, with 8 teams winning conference championship and 12 teams participating in NCAA Tournaments.
  • For the past 11 straight years UWSP has finished in the top 25 of the NACDA Director's Cup, which recognizes overall athletic achievement within all 433 NCAA Division III programs.
  • Pointer teams have won 136 conference championships and nine NCAA National Championships. In addition, 40 individual UWSP athletes have won NCAA National Championships.
  • Thirty seven Pointer student-athletes have been named Academic All-Americans including 34 in the past nine seasons.

CPS Values

  • CPS is committed to shared opportunities, continuous improvement, a focus on teaching, and the practice of sound ethics/values within its respective professional fields.
  • Both students and faculty alike are enriched by collaborative professional efforts. We develop and foster valuable practicum opportunities and internship sites for our students and our faculty work with their professional colleagues in reflective practice.
  • We view change as a productive means for growth and stay attuned to new needs both within our fields of study and community.
  • CPS focuses attention on the teaching process by making a conscious effort to wisely spend time and resources in order to highlight and ensure its meaningful practice. We also support the value of scholarship and service.

CPS of Note

  • The College of Professional Studies was established in 1970.
  • The College of Professional Studies School of Health Care Professions was built in 1971. Currently, four campus School of Health Care Professions house the eight academic units that make up CPS (College of Professional Studies School of Health Care Professions, Health Enhancement Center, Science School of Health Care Professions, and Student Services School of Health Care Professions).
  • CPS has had only two deans. The first was Art Fritschel, and the second is our current Dean Dr. Joan North. Joan is the longest acting dean in college history (24 years).
  • CPS has 28 classrooms that can seat 1050 students at any given time. The largest classroom is CPS 116, which has 120 seats. All classrooms are updated with the latest in technology, including Elmos. What is an Elmo? An Elmo is a device that can project crystal clear, full-color images from any source onto a screen the size of a wall.
  • More than 250 computers are available in CPS, and all CPS School of Health Care Professions have wireless internet capabilities. Laptops are a mandatory technology for Interior Architecture students who learn using the latest in professional design software.
  • Many CPS students learn "at a distance" through Internet and ETV courses. This year, 25 different instructors will teach more than 170 courses in this way.
  • CPS houses the two oldest UWSP academic programs. The School of Education has its origins in the early Education Degrees that were awarded in 1894 during the founding days of UWSP (then called Stevens Point Normal School). Current degrees in Dietetics, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Interior Architecture had their roots in the Domestic Sciences program, which started back in 1902. The Domestic Science program also has the distinction of being the first in Wisconsin and among the first in the US.

Distinguished Alumni

  • Arnold L. Gesell (Elementary Education '00) Psychologist, pediatrician, author and pioneer in the field of child development.
  • John A. List, Ph.D. (Economics '92) Professor of Economics, University of Chicago, and Senior Economist for the President's Council of Economic Advisors.
  • Clint C. Kriewaldt (Interior Architecture '08) A member of the Super Bowl XL world championship Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Frank L. Klement (Elementary Education '35) Civil War historian, author and professor emeritus at Marquette University.
  • Laura M. Nelson, M.D. (Medical Technology '87) Medical Director, Marshfield Clinic Northern Division.
  • Herbert J. Grover (Elementary Education '67) Former state school superintendent; also a former University of Wisconsin System regent.
  • Edward J. Okray (Elementary Education '32) An officer in the Okray Produce Co., and a pioneer of the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.
  • Jeffrey T. Polzer, Ph.D. (Business Administration '88) Professor of Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior Unit at Harvard Business School.
  • Michael W. Sullivan, M.D. (Medical Technology '78) Obstetrics and Gynecology, Associate Medical Consultant, Nebraska.
  • Benjamin W. Wong (Business Administration '73) Chairman and President, New Asia Bank, Chicago.
  • Wendy M. Kohrt, Ph.D. (Health Education/Physical Education '77) Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine at University of Colorado, Health Sciences Center.
  • Kathleen J. Hempel (Business Administration '72) Former Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, Fort Howard Paper.
  • Jeffrey M. Wrase (Business Administration/Economics '79) Chief Economist, Senate Republicans.
  • Shawn Granger-McBride (Communicative Disorders - BS '72, MS '73) President and CEO, Magic Seasoning Blends, Inc.
  • William J. Lyons (Interior Architecture '95) Associate Principal, Perkins & Will design firm.
  • CPS students with prominence in athletics include professional basketball All-Star and former Milwaukee Bucks and former Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter ('93); starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals Major League baseball team Jordan Zimmermann; Health Promotion graduate Jeff Justman ('96) who leads expeditions to many of the world's tallest peaks, including Mount Everest; and Jim Lombardo (Communicative Disorders - BS '70, MS '71) creator of the NFL player-coach communication system and appointed Audiological Consultant to the NFL.

*Data was taken from the following sources: UWSP Records and Registration, UWSP Admissions, UWSP Career Services, UWSP International Programs, UWSP News Services, UWSP Sports Information Office, CPS Dean's Office, CPS Annual Reports, and the UWSP Academic Affairs Office.