The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire began in 1916 as the Eau Claire State Normal School. It was primarily a school for teachers offering two-year degrees in Elementary Education, three-year degrees in Secondary Education, and a principal’s degree. The school consisted of one building, which is currently known as Schofield Hall, named after the first president of the school, Harvey A. Schofield.

In 1927, the name of the school changed to Eau Claire State Teachers College, and a four-year Bachelor of Education degree was added. After a successful accreditation process by the American Association of Teachers Colleges, the college was able to add a Bachelor of Science in Education as well. William Davies became the second president of the Teachers College, and he directed many opportunities for future growth.

In 1951, the name of the school changed again to Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire, and with it several new degree programs came along including a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in the liberal arts field. Four new buildings were added including a campus laboratory school, the little theatre, an education building and a field house, followed closely behind by Katherine Thomas Hall and Katherine Putnam Hall. After President Davies passed away, Leonard C. Haas became our next president.

Another name change took place under President Haas’s tenure, and the school became known as the Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire in 1964. Three new schools were formed at this point including the Arts and Sciences, Education, and Graduate Studies programs. The School of Nursing was formed in 1965, and School of Business in 1966. Seven residence halls, and two food and recreational centers (Crest Commons and Hilltop Center), and McPhee Physical Education Center (1969) were built, creating an upper campus for student life and activities. On lower campus, W.R. Davies University Center (built in 1959) was added onto, L.E. Phillips Science Hall was built (1964) and expanded (1968-1969), Schneider Social Science Hall was occupied in 1967, School of Nursing (1969) and the Fine Arts Building (1970) were built, and McIntyre Library expanded with a six-story addition (1971).

In 1971, the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire was born. Richard Hibbard became our interim chancellor during this time period, for a brief time. The new academic building Hibbard Humanities Hall was built and opened in 1974 and named after Chancellor Hibbard. Following Mr. Hibbard, M. Emily Hannah was Chancellor (1981-1984), and Larry Schnack (1984-1998). Many more buildings were updated and expanded during this time period, and the Allied Health and Clinical Services Building was also completed in 1982.

In 1998, Donald Mash became the sixth chancellor, and he oversaw the building of the new Chancellors Hall. Chancellor Mash was also responsible for a large fundraising campaign at the university. Vicki Lord Larson was the next interim chancellor in 2006. Brian Levin-Stankevich became the seventh chancellor from 2006-2012, and James C. Schmidt became chancellor in 2013.