Established in 1973, the West Central Wisconsin Consortium (WCWC) responded to a proposal by the UW Central Administration calling for regional organization of the UW campuses. This consortium of five universities was formed for the purpose of planning, coordinating, and resource sharing to improve efficiency and economy in higher education. Member institutions included the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, La Crosse, River Falls, and Stout, with Superior holding an affiliate membership. WCWC investigated and reviewed proposals for cooperative programs among the member universities, cooperative use of facilities, and the optimal use of existing faculty expertise at the different institutions.