Established in 1962, the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) strives to study, promote and research cooperative action as a means of meeting the economic and social needs of people.

As a member of the Cooperative Education Alliance, a partnership between the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, the Minnesota Association of Cooperatives and UW Extension, the Center organizes various extension/outreach programs directed at all aspects of cooperative business principles, organizing cooperatives, cooperative financing, cooperative structure, cooperative management, leadership and governance, and related topics for both agricultural and consumer cooperatives. The Center also conducts applied and theoretical research on a variety of cooperative issues. As a result, UWCC faculty and staff are involved in numerous multi- state and multi-disciplinary research projects.

One of the oldest cooperative centers in the country, the Center is an inter-disciplinary unit combining the resources of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Center activities are conducted through partnerships with UW-Extension agents, UW faculty, state cooperative councils and others.