FOND DU LAC, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Fond du Lac campus permanently closed on Friday.

Thousands have continued their higher education and careers since the university first opened its doors in 1968.

Alayne Peterson began teaching at UWO Fond du Lac in 2004. In her 19 years as a professor, Peterson said she’s worn many hats.

“I teach first year writing advanced writing creative writing, nature writing, science fiction literature, and film. A film studies course on the works of Hayao Miyazaki and courses on modernism British literature,” Peterson said.

Peterson has taught at two other UW campuses, Waukesha and Washington County. She said stayed at Fond du Lac for so long because she wanted to work with non-traditional students.

“They might have not gone to college when they finished high school, or they may have started some college and then experienced some kind of difficulties and dropped out. So this place served those students and gave them a place to re-acclimate to an educational setting,” Peterson said.

This is Hannah Gruening’s first time in college. She said she’s excited to move on to the main UW Oshkosh campus but nostalgic about leaving Fond du Lac behind.

“I graduated high school for almost five years before I started my higher education journey and being able to start here as a starting point really brought a significant impact into my life and my future,” Gruening said.

Peterson along with other faculty are transferring to the UW Oshkosh campus. While Peterson said she’s happy to continue as a professor, she said she’s filled with mixed emotions.

“I am lucky to still have a job after this campus closes, but I’m frustrated on behalf of the community. And for the students who are the younger siblings of students that I have now who won’t have the chance to come here.”

A university spokesperson says this coming fall 70% of the current UWO-Fond du Lac campus students will transition to the Oshkosh campus.