The number of new international students at colleges and universities across the country fell 17%, according to the nonprofit Institute of International Education’s annual report released Monday from data collected from 825 U.S. higher education institutions, including UW-Madison.
November 24, 2025
Top Stories
Research
What are NAD+ supplements good for? We asked the experts.
“When it comes to skin health and appearance, the data is pretty limited,” says Dr. Apple Bodemer, an integrative dermatologist at UW Health, and professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Higher Education/System
Wisconsin asks for approval of extension with apparel provider that adds NIL funding
The University of Wisconsin is seeking approval for an extension of its agreement with Under Armour to be the Badgers’ official apparel supplier.
The Board of Regents scheduled an 8 a.m. special meeting Tuesday to consider a seven-year extension through 2033 that carries a three-year option through 2036.
‘Separating us makes us weaker’: Students decry UW-Madison’s DEI cuts
Students have criticized the changes, though. Members of the university’s student governing body say they are concerned about “the lack of clarity and transparency from university administration about the future of DEI at UW-Madison.”
Campus life
Question for longtime Wisconsin football season ticket buyers: Will they renew for 2026?
Wisconsin football season ticket buyers now face the same decision as they’ve had every other season: Renew for next season or give up their seats. It has been 33 years, however, since consecutive losing seasons has been a factor in the discussion.
22 people ejected, 20 citations issued at Saturday’s Wisconsin footballl game
UW-Madison police issued 20 citations at Saturday’s game against Illinois.
Citations included six for underage alcohol, four for throwing hard objects and two for trespassing. UW students accounted for nine of the 20 citations.
State news
Invasive tree-killing pest ‘highly likely’ to show up in Wisconsin, expert says
The insects have killed millions of trees in the eastern U.S. and threaten 80 million eastern hemlock trees in Wisconsin. A single egg sac may contain as many as 300 eggs. Hundreds of thousands of the insects can feed on the trees with their needle-like mouth parts, said PJ Liesch, an entomologist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension.
“It’s a whole bunch of them ganging up on the trees,” Liesch said. “Together, that combined feeding damage over time causes those hemlock trees to decline and ultimately die.”
Here’s why Wisconsin Republican lawmakers pass bills they know Gov. Tony Evers will veto
Barry Burden, director of the Elections Research Center and political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said political messaging votes can have impacts on elections, especially in what will be some of the close Senate races in 2026.
“It’s kind of a messaging opportunity, not really a policymaking opportunity. It’s also maybe a way for Republicans to let off some steam,” Burden said.
Experts say recent elections in blue areas bode well for Democrats but Trump coalition holding firm
“It’s another sign Democrats have the edge in general going into 2026,” Barry Burden, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor and director of the university’s Elections Research Center, said about the election outcomes.
Community
A first look at The Center for Black Excellence and Culture
Leaders at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are excited about the Center, Gee said. The chancellor and provost recently toured the building.
He said the Center is developing partnerships with six university departments and that UW leaders “believe we can help sell the university as a place for students, researchers and faculty.” “I love that, but the other piece is if we connect (with) Milwaukee, Beloit, Racine, and we unite those Black communities so that we set agendas together, we dream together, we celebrate together.”
UW research examines AI’s role in journalism
Tomas Dodds, journalism professor and founder of the Public Media Tech Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, hopes to help local journalists understand the implications of AI in the newsroom by providing a variety of resources, such as training sessions and workshops.
“In the newsroom, you don’t know how your colleagues are using AI,” Dodds said, adding that the Public Media Tech Lab would facilitate discussions in the newsroom where coworkers could disclose how they use it and create AI usage policies from these discussions.
Kids are expensive. Do they have to be?
Families across the country are asking that same question when it comes to childcare, as the yearly costs for daycare are becoming comparable to a year’s rent in many places. How did childcare become so expensive, and how might everyone benefit if the government provided more support to parents? Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Jessica Calarco, and Senior Fellow at the Think Tank Capita Elliot Haspel are here to help Brittany find out.
Business/Technology
How much will Thanksgiving dinner cost in Wisconsin in 2025?
It’s more uncertain this year somewhat because of the government shutdown but also because of some other factors moving around in some of these markets,” said Jeff Hadachek, assistant professor of agriculture and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Generally, I anticipate prices will be higher, but the question is: ‘How much higher?’”