Scholarships Also Available for New Master’s and Continuing Bachelor’s and Master’s Students

MADISON, Wis., July 22, 2020—The University of Wisconsin Sustainable Management bachelor's and master's degree programs are now accepting applications for “We are the Future of Sustainability” scholarships for the Fall 2020 semester. Awards up to $2,640 are available for new bachelor’s students and $500 for new master’s students. Scholarships are also available to continuing bachelor’s and master’s students.

Since launching the scholarship program in 2011, UW Sustainable Management has awarded nearly $1,000,000 to students to assist incoming and continuing sustainability degree-seeking students pay for their education and advance the positive impact of sustainability across the world.

“The program has completely transformed my career path,” said Patrick Ritchie, graduate and scholarship recipient of the UW Sustainable Management bachelor’s program. “My understanding of sustainability prior to taking these courses was limited and very narrow. The knowledge and experience gained through working on sustainability projects both academically and professionally has positioned me to be useful to just about any business or organization that is aiming to be more sustainable.”

To be considered for a scholarship, students must be admitted to the UW Sustainable Management Bachelor or Master of Science program and submit a personal essay describing how a sustainability degree will benefit their career or life goals. The scholarship application deadline is September 8, 2020.

The bachelor's program offers students with an associate degree, or approximately 60 college credits, a path to earning their bachelor’s degree. It was the first online program of its kind in the United States, launched in 2009, and is now one of more than two dozen flexible, online degrees and certificates offered in collaboration between UW Extended Campus and UW System campuses. A Master of Science in Sustainable Management was added in 2014 and was the first master’s program offered through UW Extended Campus.

“UW Extended Campus programs are designed for working adults and professionally-oriented students,” said Aaron Brower, Executive Director of UW Extended Campus. “What I love about these programs is that they meet students where they are—they engage students in a type of learning that fully connects their lives to the world.”

The Sustainable Management curriculum, developed with the advice of business and community leaders, including Ford Motor Company, SC Johnson, Johnson Controls, Kohl’s, American Family Insurance, Kohler, City of Madison, the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, and Wisconsin Microfinance, is intended to empower the 21st century workforce with the sustainability principles and skills necessary to effectively mitigate risks and leverage key drivers for more resilient stakeholder-oriented business.

“This scholarship offers students the opportunity to jump start their journey in the program. Our graduates have gone on to become changemakers across a diverse range of sectors, industries, and positions,” said Amanda Goetsch, Program Manager for UW Sustainable Management. “As we venture forth together in the world, employees with a comprehensive and systemic understanding of sustainability principles will be essential with regard to risk mitigation, workforce development, supply chain strength, diversity and equity, and other areas, to create a more resilient and just future for all.”

Both the Bachelor and Master of Science programs are designed to meet the needs of adult students from diverse backgrounds who are seeking advanced education and need the flexibility an online program offers. Students with a variety of work, education, and life experience have found success in the program and are making a difference in the world today.

Prospective students seeking more information about the UW Sustainable Management program and “We are the Future of Sustainability” scholarships are encouraged to visit the website, sustain.wisconsin.edu, call 1-877-895-3276, or email [email protected].

About UW Extended Campus

The University of Wisconsin is one of the largest and most widely respected public higher education systems in the country. UW Extended Campus (www.ce.uwex.edu) partners with all UW System campuses to offer online degrees and certificates, as well as continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities. Through UW Extended Campus, people of Wisconsin and beyond can access university resources and engage in online learning, wherever they live and work—fulfilling the promise of the “Wisconsin Idea”.

The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 170,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, preparing graduates to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and to make Wisconsin a better place to live. More than 80 percent of UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.