On October 11, 2017, University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross announced a proposal to join the UW College campuses with the university system. The plan calls for the UW-Marinette, UW-Manitowoc and UW-Sheboygan college campuses to be connected with UW-Green Bay. The Board of Regents approved this proposal at its November 9, 2017 meeting. UW-Green Bay has begun working with these three campuses to plan and implement the realignment with an effective date of July 1, 2018.

As announced in Chancellor Miller’s memo on October 13, 2017, Project Coastal will be guided by several principles:

• UW-Green Bay will become a four-campus university. The University will operate under a single vision and mission.
• Innovation will energize our work and the innovation space includes all four campuses.
• Creating opportunities for student access and success is essential.
• Faculty and staff welfare and support are essential.
• During the transition and beyond we will work with:
  • Transparency.
  • High levels of participation.
  • Engagement of shared governance.
• High levels of community engagement at all locations will be sought.