UW-Madison officials’ sense of relief Thursday was almost palpable at the official groundbreaking for the new engineering building.
UW-Madison finally breaks ground on hard-won engineering building
Wisconsin State Journal
April 18, 2025
Top Stories
Research
Trump administration’s science cuts come for NSF funding
Scientific American
Anthony Gitter, a computational biologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, had a grant about using deep learning for protein modelling flagged by the Cruz report. It contained a single sentence about offering summer research opportunities to underrepresented minorities as part of the broader impact statement. The Cruz report “plays into the narrative that universities are these elitist places that harbour out-of-touch academics that are no longer doing science,” he says. “But it’s out of touch with the data.”
Higher Education/System
UW system students will pay hundreds more in housing, campus fees next year
Wisconsin State Journal
Universities of Wisconsin students will pay a couple of hundred dollars more, on average, to live, eat and use campus services and activities next year.
Northland College in Wisconsin prepares to sell campus assets
Wisconsin Public Radio
Northland College’s board has hired an appraiser as it seeks to sell the Ashland campus and other real estate once the college closes this spring.
Academic unions rally against Trump, demand action from UW-Madison leaders
WORT FM
More than 250 people gathered on campus to rally against the Trump administration and demand action from UW-Madison higher-ups. The local unions representing university faculty, academic staff, and graduate students organized the demonstration, joining countless others today across the country as part of the National Day of Action for Higher Ed.
Higher education leaders ask lawmakers for state funding as federal cuts loom
Wisconsin Examiner
Federal funding cuts and national culture war politics cast a long shadow over a state legislative committee hearing Thursday as Wisconsin’s higher education leaders asked lawmakers for additional investments in the next state budget — warning that disinvestment by the state could damage public universities’, private nonprofit schools’ and technical colleges’ ability to serve students and the state.
Faculty call on UW-Madison to help fight Trump’s attacks, support international students
The Daily Cardinal
Over 100 faculty members, teaching assistants and activists rallied Thursday on Library Mall to oppose the Trump administration’s attacks on higher education, demanding the University of Wisconsin-Madison provide support for international students facing visa terminations and join other Big Ten universities to pool money for a shared defense fund.
Evers, campus leaders break ground on UW-Madison engineering building after years of political conflict
Wisconsin Public Radio
Campus leaders and Gov. Tony Evers broke ground Thursday on a new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, after long delays and a protracted political funding battle.
‘This is not a drill’: UW-Madison scholars warn of long-term, unprecedented threats to higher education
The Daily Cardinal
A panel of University of Wisconsin-Madison professors and academic experts discussed the significant challenges facing higher education Wednesday in the wake of the Trump administration’s sweeping budget cuts, emphasizing the critical role of federal funding in public health and scientific advancements.
UW-Madison’s chief diversity officer position remains unfilled, but similar job created
Wisconsin Public Radio
With the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs under fire and its chief diversity officer position vacant, the university has created a new position: special advisor to the chancellor and provost.
What to know about a University of Wisconsin student’s legal fight over visa termination
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
There have been at least 58 visa terminations at Wisconsin colleges and universities as of April 17. The terminations include current students as well as alumni who were legally working on their student visas after graduation through a program called Optional Practical Training.
Officials at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee said they did not believe the terminations at their schools were related to free speech or protests. Some other students nationally have been targeted for their participation in pro-Palestinian protests last year.
Campus life
In the 608: Wisconsin Football Spring Showcase Saturday
Channel 3000
The Wisconsin Football Spring Showcase, presented by UW Credit Union, is set for Saturday, April 19 at Camp Randall Stadium. The open practice event will provide a preview of the 2025 season and a chance for fans to meet the team.
Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay to deliver spring 2025 commencement address
The Daily Cardinal
Jason Gay, a 1992 University of Wisconsin-Madison alum and acclaimed sports and culture columnist for the Wall Street Journal, will return to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony.
Arts & Humanities
Lake Country School band program in jeopardy, but larger issue is future of district
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“If we miss that window, where’s Arrowhead going to get their future band students? Where’s the University of Wisconsin going to get their marching band kids if all the band programs in this area collapse?” Vernon said.
Health
China’s restrictions on rare earths could hurt U.S. health care
The Washington Post
If changes in the global gadolinium market make it harder to source the fluid, “patient care will suffer,” said Thomas Grist, a professor of radiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “It’s a very important agent to enhance contrastfor MRI,” he added, explaining there are no direct alternatives.
UW Experts in the News
With federal funding on the line, school leaders weigh Trump DEI order
NPR
“I have never seen anything like it during my 40 years of work in this field,” says Julie Underwood, former School of Education dean at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and an expert in civil rights and education law.
Underwood says that, normally, if a district or state were in violation of civil rights laws, they would have a chance to prove their case.
“They would have due process. You’d have to go through the procedures that are set out in the statute and regulations in order to cut those federal funds,” she explains.