Public Access to Campus

Buildings and hours

UW–Porter Falls is a public university, and its grounds are open to the public. Inside, the rule is simple:

• Open to the public: lobbies, corridors and public spaces in all 14 buildings, weekdays 7 a.m.–6 p.m. This includes Founders Union, Halvorsen Library, the Welcome Center, the Furlong Gallery and the Forge Recreation Center front desk.
• Card access only: residence halls at all times; classrooms and labs during class or when locked; most buildings after 6 p.m. and on weekends, except during a public event.
• By appointment: the university archives (Halvorsen Library Level 4), research labs, and the University Farm barns outside open-farm Saturdays.

Sitting in on a lecture you are not enrolled in is up to the instructor. Ask first. If you want to take a course properly, see Non-degree and guest students.

Halvorsen Library

Any Wesconsin resident 16 or older can get a free community borrower card at the Level 1 service desk with a photo ID that shows a current address.

• Borrow up to 10 books at a time for three weeks, with one renewal.
• Use the four guest computers on Level 1 with a two-hour daily login. Printing is 10¢ a page on a guest print card.
• Most research databases are available on campus only, because the vendor licenses are for students and faculty. Off-campus database access is not included, and neither is interlibrary loan. For both, the Porter Falls Public Library is your friend.
• The silent reading room on Level 4 is open to everyone. It is quiet, and the students mean it.

Graduates have separate privileges; see library access for alumni.

Forge Recreation Center

Community members can buy a membership to the pool, track, courts, climbing wall and weight floor. Students come first: community and alumni members may not use the weight floor or courts weekdays 3:30–7:00 p.m. during the fall and spring terms.

Sign up at the front desk with a photo ID. Details are on Rec Center access, and canoes and snowshoes are at the outdoor rental center.

Parking and Wi-Fi

Parking. Your license plate is your permit, and enforcement reads plates. For a short visit, use the Founders Ramp ($1.50 an hour, $9 maximum) or a meter, and pay by card, coin or the ParkPorter app. For a full day, buy a $7 daily visitor permit online, which is valid in any general lot. Evenings after 4:30 p.m. and weekends are free in general lots, but not in the Founders Ramp on event nights. Details are on Visitor parking and winter parking rules. The winter rules matter from November through March.

Wi-Fi. Join UWPorterFalls-Guest and register with an email address or a mobile number. Access lasts 24 hours and is filtered and rate-limited, but it is fine for email and video calls. Event organizers can request a bulk code; see Guest Wi-Fi.

Rules that apply to everyone

• Smoke-free and vape-free everywhere on university property, including parking lots and the farm. See Smoke-free campus.
• Pets are welcome outdoors on a leash, and you clean up after them. They are not allowed inside buildings. Service animals may go anywhere.
• Drones need written permission from Campus Safety, and they are never allowed over Millwright Stadium on game days.
• Children under 14 need an adult with them in buildings, unless they are in a supervised program like STEM Saturdays.
• Photography for personal use is fine outdoors. Commercial shoots need a facilities permit.
• Solicitation and leafleting by outside groups happen at the designated tables in Founders Union, booked through the event office.

Campus Safety is in Millwright Hall 105. For an emergency, dial 911 from any phone.