The University was founded in 1916 as the Eau Claire State Normal School, offering one,
two and three year teachers' courses and a principals' course. In 1927, the name of the
school was changed to the Eau Claire State Teachers College and the school began offering a bachelors program. The campus was
also altered to accommodate a 300-man detachment from the Army Air
Corps.In 1951, the Wisconsin Board of Regents authorized the school to offer bachelor or arts and science degrees
in liberal arts. The name of the school was changed to the Wisconsin State
College at Eau Claire. In 1964, the Board of Regents gave university standing to the state
colleges, and the institution at Eau Claire was renamed Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire. Finally, in 1971 the name of the institution was changed to the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire following the merger of
the Wisconsin State University System and the University of Wisconsin System.