UW-Eau Claire, founded in 1916, is a comprehensive public university in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, set along the Chippewa River in the heart of western Wisconsin. With about 11,000 students, UWEC is known for its nursing, business, education, and arts programs and has one of the strongest undergraduate research cultures in the UW System. The campus blends classic Wisconsin collegiate architecture with modern facilities and a strong sense of community among its residential students.