Racial Integration and Institutional Change, 1965-1971: A Case Study of UW-Milwaukee’s Human Relations Institute, Center for Afro-American Culture and Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute

Abstract

This historical case study explores the development of the Institute for Human Relations, the Center for Afro-American Culture and the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute. These three university entities demonstrate the evolution of class-and race-based policy development at UW-Milwaukee between 1965 and 1971. There is limited literature regarding the historical development of programs that served to racially integrate UW-Milwaukee. Much of the existing literature was written by former University administrators (Klotsche 1966, 1972, 1985, Cassell, Klotsche and Olsen 1992) and highlights the positive actions taken by the administration. Literature written by non-administrators (J. Rodriguez 2005, M. Rodriguez 2015) focuses on community movements at the city and county level. This thesis provides a critical view of the relationship between public higher education institutions and financial support from federal and private grants. I argue federal financial support was equally important to the narrative of higher education racial integration as student protests, sympathetic administrators, and an urban mission. This case study takes into account the University’s response to federal policy initiatives, as well as the impact student and faculty activism had on the evolution of educational policy development.