Community Engagement Center

Announcement: VITA Tax Clinic

UW-Whitewater’s VITA program will not be offered in 2025. Check back early in 2026 for the latest information on the program. For resources on free or discounted assistance with tax return preparation, visit the IRS website.

Here’s a map showing all VITA sites within 50 miles of Whitewater, and a free Direct File option available to residents of Wisconsin and Illinois.

Vision

Unparalleled resources for successful meetings and events to help move our community forward. Nearly 11,000 sq ft of newly renovated space available for meetings for groups of 2 to >200. See our rooms and make a reservation now!

Mission

The University of Wisconsin‐Whitewater Community Engagement Center’s Mission, in keeping with the Wisconsin Idea manifests the general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom by promoting and coordinating services, learning opportunities, and innovation for communities that are historically underserved. Synonymous with Wisconsin for more than a century, this “Idea” has become the guiding philosophy of university outreach efforts in Wisconsin and throughout the world.

The UW‐Whitewater Community Engagement Center is a one‐of‐a‐kind place, designed to combine great ideas and organizations with the boundless energy of the UW‐Whitewater campus. Every day , in our meeting rooms, hallways, and offices, people build mutually beneficial collaborations and find creative ways to make a difference in our community.

Core Principles

The Community Engagement Center builds on the university’s long history of community involvement and service by working with community partners to:

Support collaborative university‐community partnerships built on trust and reciprocity
Ensure the university is responsive to and positively impacts the surrounding community
Ensure that community engagement remains central to the University’s core academic mission
Serve as a catalyst to create new opportunities for student success