The Midwest Climate Collaborative is a network of universities, local governments and other organizations working to develop “a coherent Midwestern response” to climate change through research, public communication and policy.
Category: Campus life
UW-Madison campus divided over return to in-person classes amid omicron surge
UW-Madison provost John Karl Scholz told a faculty committee earlier this month that classrooms have been safe throughout the pandemic. With students returning to Madison regardless of whether classes are in person or online, he said UW leaders and public health experts they consulted with “don’t believe a period of remote instruction would appreciably decrease the predicted spread of Covid in the weeks ahead.”
What will spring semester at UW-Madison look like?
In a panel for employees on Friday, moderated by director of strategic communications Marlena Holden, university leaders answered questions from the public on topics ranging from COVID-19 accommodations to testing policies.
Wisconsin fan who made racist gesture banned from Badgers games
A University of Wisconsin fan who made a racist gesture directed at Asian-American fans during the UW men’s basketball game against Northwestern on Tuesday has been banned from UW athletic events going forward.
UW-Madison launches website with information on search for next chancellor
The website includes details about the timeline of the search, details about the Search and Screen Committee and a brief about the position itself.
Colleges begin requiring COVID vaccinations for fully remote students
The University of Wisconsin — Madison has indicated COVID vaccinations are required for any “student hourly employees” regardless of one’s remote status, and Prince George’s Community College in Maryland confirmed to TND that regardless of learning modality – in-person, hybrid, online – all students and faculty are required to show proof of vaccination.
Tiny Love Stories: ‘Be Grateful We Have Different Last Names’
My father, Henry, from Kauai, Hawaii, and my mother, Thordis, from the West Side of Chicago, met at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, at the popular cafeteria in the student union. My father, just back from Europe, where he served in World War II, came in with his buddies. He saw my mother sitting with her friends. Walking over to her, he said, “Stand up, and if you’re not taller than I am, I’ll take you to a movie.” She stood; she was a half-inch taller. They went to the movie anyway, and that’s how I came to be.
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of The 1619 Project, to speak at UW-Madison
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times Magazine and creator of The 1619 Project that has incensed some conservatives, will speak on the UW-Madison campus next week.
COVID-19 cases spiking at largest UW campuses ahead of spring semester
The three largest University of Wisconsin System campuses are reporting spikes in positive cases of COVID-19 weeks before the start of spring semester classes. While some of the state’s smaller, private colleges push start dates back, UW campuses say they’re starting on time and in-person.
GOP bill setting free speech rules, punishing colleges that violate them moves forward
A bill aimed at punishing colleges and universities for violating free speech and academic freedom rules set by Republicans has passed a legislative committee by a party-line vote. This comes after a GOP author amended the legislation to remove provisions that were potentially unconstitutional.
UW-Madison expecting COVID-19 testing for all students before start of semester
UW-Madison announced Thursday that they are expecting all students who have not had a positive PCR test in the last 90 days to get tested before coming to campus. However, the announcement does not state that students need to report their tests or results.
UW-Madison sends email to students laying out COVID-19 expectations for returning to campus
The university is strongly encouraging all students to get COVID-19 booster vaccines as soon as possible. It also encourages students who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to delay their return to campus, recovering instead at their current location.
Beloit College mandates COVID-19 booster shots while UW-Madison starts collecting booster data
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank told a faculty committee during a Monday meeting that she didn’t know what percentage of the campus community is boosted beyond those who received it at University Health Services. The university will be encouraging students and staff to report if they have been boosted off-campus to get a better picture of booster status across UW-Madison.
What UW-Madison staff want in the next chancellor
Staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison want a chancellor with a diverse background who understands the importance of all those who work on campus, rather than one who values only faculty and students.
University Finances Face a Long Road to Recovery
The pandemic’s negative impact on enrollment was not ubiquitous, however. Enrollments at elite universities, such as Harvard and Stanford, held steady during the height of the pandemic. Several of the more-prestigious state flagship campuses, such as the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, recorded record freshman-class enrollments. Amid the adversity caused by the pandemic, in that sense, the rich simply got richer.
Here’s how many people didn’t use their tickets to Wisconsin football home games in 2021
The results can’t be considered shocking: Ticket usage was down 8% for the season compared to 2019, and three of the seven games were among the 10 smallest crowds since 2006, when data for ticket scans started being tracked.
UW officials extend mask mandate for spring semester
UW-Madison has also plans to provide and distribute free high quality surgical grade masks to students who want them during the spring semester.
UW-Madison mask mandate extended through March 1
UHS also adding more COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
UW extends mask mandate, plans to provide free rapid antigen tests
Coupled with free antigen tests, UW will open one PCR testing site — down from four last semester.
Some private colleges, universities delaying start of spring semester classes, requiring vaccinations amid COVID-19 surge
Some private colleges and universities in Wisconsin are delaying the start of spring semester classes, requiring negative COVID-19 tests or vaccinations and boosters for students and employees amid a rapid surge of new COVID-19 infections. At the same time, the University of Wisconsin System says students “will return on-time and as normal” for classes starting this month.
UW-Madison to host community listening sessions for chancellor search
The university announced on Thursday upcoming dates for a series of listening sessions that will take place throughout January, hosted by a 21-person search committee of Regent members, community representatives, administrators, students and faculty.
UW community invited to listening sessions for chancellor search
The committee leading the search for the new University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor is holding listening sessions for the UW-Madison community this month.
UW-Madison’s Gloria Ladson-Billings ranked No. 2 in national Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings
UW–Madison professor emerita and Madison365 contributor Gloria Ladson-Billings is the nation’s second-most influential scholar in education, according to the annual Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, which spotlight top education scholars across the nation “who move ideas from academic journals into the national conversation,” according to an announcement from the School of Education.
The Wisconsin men’s basketball game Thursday against George Mason has been canceled because of COVID-19 issues at UW
The latest COVID-19 wave has hit the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball program.
UW officials announced that the Badgers’ game set for Thursday night against George Mason has been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests in the UW program.
Wisconsin’s athletic director tests positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to travel for the Badgers’ bowl game
University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not travel to Las Vegas for UW’s bowl game.
McIntosh must quarantine for 10 days.
“I would encourage everyone to follow the advice of medical professionals and get vaccinated, boosted, tested and wear a mask,” McIntosh said. “Those mitigation measures may not keep us from contracting COVID, but there’s a good chance they will keep us from having a severe outcome.”
Several UW football players and staffers affected by latest COVID-19 wave on UW campus
The latest COVID-19 wave that is sweeping across the University of Wisconsin campus has affected the UW football team.
Multiple sources close to the program told the Journal Sentinel Saturday both players and staffers tested positive in recent days and that the Badgers would be short-handed when they face Arizona State Thursday in the Las Vegas Bowl.
UW students on front lines of COVID-19 pandemic could be eligible for new tuition incentive
About 1,000 University of Wisconsin students working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible for a new tuition incentive.
Limited COVID-19 testing scrambles holiday plans for some UW-Madison students
After a fall semester that appears free from the major COVID-19 outbreaks and testing problems associated with last school year, complaints are dropping in the final days before winter break begins. Students find themselves frustrated, scrambling to secure an elusive COVID-19 test during an already stressful time and amid a rise in campus cases.
Committee hopes to pick new UW-Madison chancellor by May
The leader of a committee searching for a new chancellor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison says she wants to pick someone by May.
Where are the Native histories of UW-Madison?
We hear from a graduate student working to learn, and tell, stories of indigenous people who attended and worked at UW-Madison — stories that have so far been missing from the university archives.
State Legislative Audit Bureau report finds federal aid to the UW System offset COVID-related losses
The state Legislative Audit Bureau released its annual financial audit of the University of Wisconsin System Tuesday.
Wisconsin’s 48 Most Influential Black Leaders, Part 1
Noted: Marisa Moseley is in her first season as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin. She came to Madison from Boston University, where she was head coach for two seasons. She led the Terriers to their first winning season in five years and was named Patriot League Coach of the Year. Moseley was an assistant coach for nine years under Coach Gino Auriemma at the University of Connecticut, a national women’s basketball powerhouse, following assistant coaching stints at Denver and Minnesota. She played for Boston University from 2000-2004.
NCAA champion Badgers volleyball players celebrate with their fans
The celebration that began on the floor of Nationwide Arena on Saturday night following the longest match in NCAA tournament history, picked up late Sunday afternoon when the team landed in Madison.
UW Madison holds first in-person ceremony for winter graduates since 2019
UW Madison marked the graduation of more than 1,000 students at the Kohl Center Sunday.
1,800 Badgers graduate at UW’s winter commencement
More than 1,800 doctoral, professional, master’s, and bachelor’s students earned degree inside the Kohl Center on Sunday at UW-Madison’s Winter 2021 Commencement.
UW-Madison Winter Carnival to return in-person
Lady Liberty will be gracing Lake Mendota once again this February.
UW-Madison winter Class of 2021 celebrates after years of resilience amid pandemic
UW-Madison student speaker Jai Khanna reflected on the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic as he looked out across a sea of faces, masked under their graduation caps, during the university’s first commencement that allowed friends and families of graduates to attend in person since December 2019.
CNN correspondent Manu Raju addresses UW Madison winter graduates
An exciting weekend for UW Madison continued with in-person Winter Commencement Sunday. CNN’s chief congressional correspondent and former NBC15 intern Manu Raju addressed 1,200 graduates and their families on the importance of taking risks.
2021 winter commencement opens doors to family, friends for first time since 2019
University of Wisconsin graduates gathered Dec. 19 decked out in caps and gowns to celebrate the first in-person commencement with family and friends since 2019.
Winter graduations could be super-spreader events
The University of Wisconsin at Madison is also requiring all attendees to wear masks at the Kohl Center arena on Sunday. At Arizona State University, which hosts 24 separate convocation events throughout the week, masks are required for indoor ceremonies and strongly recommended for the commencement inside Sun Devil Stadium.
UW-Madison expects to provide 2% wage increase to 2021-2023 pay plan employees
The 2% increase is anticipated to take effect Jan. 2, 2022. The state’s legislative Joint Committee on Employment Relations (JCOER) still needs to formally approve the pay plan increases and effective date.
UW-Madison pauses worker vaccine mandate, cites federal court ruling
The University of Wisconsin – Madison is putting its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for workers on hold right now, after a federal court last week blocked President Joe Biden’s Administration from enforcing a mandate for employees of federal contractors.
UW winter commencement set for this weekend
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s winter commencement ceremony is set to be held in-person on Sunday morning at the Kohl Center.
UW winter commencement set for this weekend
The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s winter commencement ceremony is set to be held in-person on Sunday morning at the Kohl Center.
Re-Wear It hosts final clothing swap of semester
Re-Wear It, a new student organization that promotes conscious consumerism and sustainable fashion, had their final clothing swap of the semester Friday. Students and campus community members are invited to bring clothing items they no longer want to swap out for new items at Re-Wear It’s events.
Marshall Scholars For 2022 Selected
Lydia Nyachieo, a University of Wisconsin student, serves as an editor and staff writer for The Wisconsin International Review. She won UW’s Newman Family Scholarship, given to the most promising undergraduates studying global affairs
UW senior Lydia Nyachieo name Marshall Scholar for graduate study in the UK
adison East alumni and UW-Madison senior Lydia Nyachieo is the winner of a prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which gives high achieving U.S. students the opportunity to study at the graduate level at any university in the United Kingdom. The UW announced on Monday that she is among the 41 winners selected from nearly 1,000 applicants from public and private colleges and universities across the United States.
East High graduate and UW-Madison student selected for prestigious Marshall Scholarship
UW-Madison student Lydia Nyachieo applied to study abroad in the spring 2021 semester. COVID-19, of course, canceled those plans.
The Wisconsin volleyball team sweeps Minnesota to advance to its third straight Final Four
The University of Minnesota football team may have laid claim to Paul Bunyan’s Axe two weeks ago, but the University of Wisconsin women’s volleyball team came to the rematch wielding a broom.
For the third straight year, the Badgers are headed to the NCAA Final Four in volleyball after sweeping past the Golden Gophers, 25-18, 26-24, 25-22, Saturday night before an electric crowd at the UW Field House. Wisconsin will meet No. 1-ranked and undefeated Louisville in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday.
Food used to flout UW mask mandate — Stephen D. Morton
Letter to the editor: But some fans use a large bag of popcorn or a large drink that is very slowly consumed as an excuse to not wear the mask at all during the entire contest. I feel this is not in the spirit of the mask requirement.
‘I’ve just been in awe’: UW basketball player Chris Vogt helps raise thousands for his ravaged hometown
When Wisconsin center Chris Vogt heard news that his hometown had been decimated by a tornado Friday, he knew he had to do something to help out.
Viral TikTok provokes concern about mold in UW-Madison residence hall
Some students living on campus had their worst fears confirmed on Tuesday after first-year University of Wisconsin-Madison student Elise Poos posted a viral TikTok of mold growth on a do-it-yourself mold test kit she placed in her Sellery Residence Hall dorm room.
UW updates academic standing policy for student transcripts
Addition of ’Good Academic Standing’ will reduce need for requesting additional documents for scholarship, employment applications, UW says.
ASM discusses raising student employees’ minimum wage, allocates funds to host Association of Big Ten Students
Many representatives feel it is necessary to advocate for increase in student wages to $15 an hour.
UW offers wide variety of free mental health resources to students
Free mental health services from UHS a ‘huge help,’ UW sophomore says.
UW college admissions to not require standardized testing for next two years, panel decides
Standardized testing raises accessibility, equity concerns.
‘Something out of communist Russia’: Sen. Chris Kapenga fights raises of less than 2% for state unions
Noted: The union represents trade workers at University of Wisconsin campuses, prisons and other state facilities. In many cases, they make about $41 an hour, according to state records.
As with trade workers around the country, they are paid a lower wage as apprentices. They all make the same wage once they complete their apprenticeships and become journeymen.
Kathy Thompson worked for 20 years as a steamfitter for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She recently started working for the private sector because the pay was much better, she said.
Republican bill would punish universities, technical colleges for free speech violations
Quoted: Jeff Buhrandt, UW System vice president for the Office of University Relations, pointed out to the committee that state universities have always strived to promote free speech and diversity of thought on campus.
“Our current policy recognizes that each institution has a solemn responsibility not only to promote lively and fearless exploration, deliberation and debate of ideas, but also to protect those freedoms when others attempt to restrict them,” said Buhrandt.
Developer proposes 12-story housing project near Kohl Center
In another sign of Madison’s insatiable housing market, a developer is proposing a 12-story project with 363 apartments and rooftop pool directly across the Southwest Commuter Path and railroad tracks from the Kohl Center.
Madison City Council OKs Downtown project with some beds for low-income students
The Madison City Council signed off Tuesday on a large luxury student housing project fronting the 300 block of State Street, which would reserve more than 100 beds for low-income UW-Madison students, after a petition that would have made it more difficult to pass failed to gain enough valid signatures.