The University of Wisconsin System campuses that inadvertently scheduled the first day of fall classes on Rosh Hashanah are moving ahead with the same start date despite calls from Jewish leaders and more than a dozen faith groups to change it.
Category: Campus life
Changes likely coming to UW Law School clinics, worrying some students and legal community
The University of Wisconsin Law School may pare back some of its yearlong clinics in a change the school argues could increase student participation but some students fear would threaten the quality of their education and the work they do for clients.
“It has been a long time in the making.” Chris McIntosh excited to see how UW athletes can capitalize on Name, Image and Likeness
Chris McIntosh joked Thursday that his first day as athletic director at the University of Wisconsin came amid a lull in college athletics.
UW-Madison Officials Expect To Reach 80 Percent Campus COVID-19 Vaccination Goal
Officials at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say that even without a vaccine mandate, they expect at least 80 percent of the campus population will be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall.
College Players May Make Money Off Their Fame, Powerful N.C.A.A. Panel Recommends
Noted: Some athletes have already begun making plans to cash in on their renown. Jordan Bohannon, a men’s basketball player at the University of Iowa, has announced plans for an apparel line that will debut on Thursday, and the University of Wisconsin’s starting quarterback, Graham Mertz, posted a video with a personal logo.
As the UW-Madison reopens, the Union Terrace remains capped at 35%
The Terrace is back open to everyone, but capacity is still capped at 35%, or to put in terms of Sunburst chairs, 1,700, out of what Communications Director Shauna Breneman calls “an abundance of caution.”
UW-Madison computer science major grows by more than 800% as tech industry flourishes
In 2011, the computer science major at the University of Wisconsin – Madison had about 200 students. Today, it has more than 2,000. It’s now the largest major on campus, and it’s expected to keep growing.“I used to teach a class which I called a big class, which would have 60 or 70 students in it. Now this fall I’m slated to teach a course that will probably have 350 people in it,” said Department Chair Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau.
Chancellor Blank releases additional details for fall semester, return to campus
UW is aiming for approximately an 80% vaccination rate for students this fall, according to the press release.
UW-Madison computer science major grows by more than 800% as tech industry flourishes
In 2011, the computer science major at the University of Wisconsin – Madison had about 200 students. Today, it has more than 2,000. It’s now the largest major on campus, and it’s expected to keep growing.
UW-Madison refuses to mandate COVID vaccine, ends social distancing, mask mandates
Students, faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will not be required to take a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of returning to campus, according to a recent announcement from the Big Ten university.
UW System sees an increase in applications following a lag in 2020
After enrollment lagged last year due to COVID-19, the University of Wisconsin System has seen a 29% increase in applications for the upcoming academic year, an early indication that students are still willing to invest in college after an uncertain year.
UW-Madison confirms no COVID-19 vaccine mandate this fall and outlines plans for a ‘more typical’ semester
The University of Wisconsin-Madison said this week it will not require COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, as a growing minority of campuses across the country, including in the Big Ten, are doing so.
UW System officials stepping up efforts to reach underrepresented groups
Officials are ramping up efforts to reach minority and other underrepresented high school graduates and get them to enroll at UW System schools.
UW officials ready to welcome back fans to Camp Randall, other campus venues, without restrictions
When University of Wisconsin officials announced in February they were determined to have no restrictions on attendance at Camp Randall Stadium during the 2021 season, they acknowledged they were choosing to be optimistic.
UW Cinematheque returns to in-person screenings with its summer series
After a 16-month hiatus from in-person screenings, UW Cinematheque has announced its summer programming series which begins Wednesday, June 30, marking its return to its screening room at 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave.
UW System Applications Rise Nearly 30 Percent, But National Trends More Mixed
University of Wisconsin System campuses saw a jump in freshman applications for the fall semester, which could be due in part to a recent streamlining of the application process.
Dr. LaVar Charleston Appointed Chief Diversity Officer at University of Wisconsin–Madison
Dr. LaVar Charleston has been appointed University of Wisconsin–Madison’s chief diversity officer, deputy vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, vice provost, and Elzie Higginbottom Director of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement (DDEEA).
Wisconsin Badgers home sporting events expected to be at full capacity
University of Wisconsin officials announced Wednesday that sporting events will have full capacity after being restricted to only players and coaches’ families last season due to COVID-19. Officials also announced key dates regarding ticket sales for football games.
Madison Mini Marathon will be virtual for second consecutive year
Adding to the confusion, the university earlier this month put out new guidance that would now allow for the Mini Marathon to take place in person. But Graves said it’s too late at this point to rework the entire event for an in-person format.
UW-Madison hires internally for next chief diversity officer
LaVar Charleston, whose research focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses, will begin the job Aug. 2. The chief diversity officer, one of a handful of positions reporting directly to Chancellor Rebecca Blank, leads campuswide efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community.
UW-Madison names new Chief Diversity Officer
UW-Madison has named a new Chief Diversity Officer. Dr. LaVar Charleston will begin this new role on August 2, the school announced. “To our students, an important part of my history is that I was once a student twice over right here on this campus,” Dr. Charleston said in a video released by UW. “And I need you to know that I see you, I hear you and I absolutely cannot wait to connect with you,”
LaVar Charleston named University of Wisconsin chief diversity officer
Charleston will serve as the university’s chief diversity officer, also holding the titles of deputy vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, vice provost, and Elzie Higginbottom Director of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement (DDEEA). He will begin on August 2.
Spring graduates swim 3.5 miles across Lake Mendota
With a unicorn floatie in tow and a Sunday to spare in search of a good memory, spring UW-Madison graduates Gleb Tsyganov (‘21) and Daniel Miller (‘21) swam 3.5 miles across Lake Mendota.
Just 21 of 200 study-abroad programs back on at UW-Madison; others still up in the air
UW-Madison student Hannah Joyce has known since high school that she wanted to study abroad. And so when the time came, she found a program in Copenhagen, Denmark, that fit her academic needs, applied for the spring 2021 semester and got in.
UW School of Veterinary Medicine groundbreaking
The UW School of Veterinary Medicine broke ground on a new building.
Stranded overseas, UW-Madison international students scramble to get here in time for classes
After a year of struggling with social isolation and a 13-hour time difference that meant taking classes at 3:30 a.m. in his hometown of Luzhou, China, incoming UW-Madison senior Brian Li is excited to return to campus this fall.
How high school bathrooms put non-binary student on path to UW-Madison student leader
Lampron will take the lessons learned in high school and apply them at UW-Madison, where the incoming senior was elected student government chairperson for the next academic year. The 21-year-old is believed to be the first non-binary individual to hold the position at UW-Madison, and among just a handful of college student leaders nationwide to identify as gender-neutral, according to the American Student Government Association.
There Is No Art Without Culture, No Culture Without Community
Chris Walker is a renowned dancer and the founding Artistic Director of the groundbreaking First Wave hip-hop program at UW-Madison, and was recently appointed director of the Division of Arts. He joins us to talk about the power of art, and what is happening with art and diversity at UW-Madison.
UW-Madison epidemiologist Malia Jones named as Academic Staff Excellence award recipient
The University of Wisconsin-Madison System Board of Regents named epidemiologist Dr. Malia Jones as one of three recipients of the 2021 Academic Staff Excellence Awards. The award, which recognizes staff members and academic programs based on superior performance and creative, personable approaches to education, presents winners with a $7,500 cash prize. It is the highest honor the UW System can bestow upon their academic staff.
The pandemic’s effects on campus sustainability
Campus operations at colleges across the nation have been undeniably different from previous years due to COVID-19, and UW-Madison is no exception. From an environmental and sustainability perspective, one can only wonder what the impacts of the pandemic will have on the environment.
Escape the stress of freshman year in these UW green spaces
Freshman year can be a stressful time. You’re learning to manage a new, often heavier workload, taking care of yourself, and being a (baby) adult. Spending time in nature can be a great way to manage the anxieties that accompany the first year of college. Luckily, the UW-Madison campus provides a number of beautiful green spaces in which students can destress.
Exclusive: Chris Evans Was Captain America. Now He Wants to Help Gen Z Reshape US Politics
Talia Joseph, 19, is looking forward to flexing that sort of newfound political muscle. As an incoming freshman this fall at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, she is not only a youth voter but a swing-state voter as well. “People my age realize how much of an impact our vote had in 2020,” she says. “I like Joe Biden, but he’s not perfect. If he makes any policies we don’t approve of, we know we can pressure him.” Joseph, who’s one year older than Thunberg, is active in fundraising and organizing aimed at turning up the heat on the administration in combating climate change.
Wisconsin Republicans approve $1.5 billion for state building projects
A little less than half of the GOP proposal, or nearly $629 million, is earmarked for the University of Wisconsin System. Evers had asked for about $1 billion for UW campuses. Humanities is on track to be demolished by 2030 because the committee approved $88 million for a new academic building that will move many academic departments housed in Humanities to the new facility. A quarter of the cost will be covered through fundraising with the rest supported through state borrowing.
GOP Lawmakers Approve $1.5B For State, UW System Construction Projects
Republican lawmakers on the state Legislature’s budget committee voted Tuesday evening to approve $1.5 billion of Gov. Tony Evers’ $2.4 billion plan for state construction projects, including roughly $629 million of the governor’s $1 billion plan for the University of Wisconsin System.
Wisconsin Republicans agree to $1.5 billion in building projects for UW and other public facilities
Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee agreed Tuesday to spend $1.5 billion over two years for University of Wisconsin buildings and other public facilities.
Signing off: WSUM 91.7 cofounder Dave Black to retire after 26 years
For 26 years, Dave Black’s name has been nearly synonymous with WSUM 91.7. Few can think about the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus radio station without recalling the man who helped create and manage the station since its inception.
Marquette University Requiring Students To Get Vaccinated Against Coronavirus
Marquette University, Wisconsin’s latest private college, will require students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus before attending classes this fall, the Milwaukee school announced Monday.
Bill would prohibit UW System from requiring COVID vaccines, but Thompson says they won’t be mandated
Republicans who control the Legislature want to ban requiring COVID-19 vaccines on University of Wisconsin campuses, but UW System President Tommy Thompson says that won’t be happening anyway.
The pandemic’s effects on campus sustainability
Sustainability is the ability for humans to coexist with the earth in a way that meets both the needs of the present and the future — it’s a way of living that tries to ensure that future generations will be able to safely and healthily inhabit the planet. Malorie Garbe, the Sustainability Coordinator at University Housing and Dining, describes sustainability as having three parts: social, environmental and economic.
Union Terrace summer includes Steely Dane, Don’t Mess with Cupid; here’s the lineup
Terrace season is on with live, outdoor music, films and art activities at the Memorial Union Terrace, just at a reduced capacity.
Wisconsin Universities Plan, Cautiously, For Return To Pre-Pandemic Norms
Schools in the University of Wisconsin System pledged to return to in-person learning next fall. At a meeting of the UW System Board of Regents on Thursday, individual school chancellors gave more details about what that will look like.
5 things to know about new University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh
The Wisconsin Badgers have officially named Chris McIntosh as successor to Barry Alvarez as University of Wisconsin athletic director. Here’s what to know about the new hire.
Free from masks and COVID-19 limits, Dane County resumes most activity
Dane County residents could cast aside their face masks and gather without limits Wednesday after nearly 15 months of COVID-19 restrictions. But experts said that while the pandemic has clearly eased up here and around the country, the threat is not over. “The ‘officially over’ likely will be when the world sees a decline like the U.S. has seen,” said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director for infection control at UW Health. “That isn’t likely anytime soon.”
With Chris McIntosh seen as the favorite, UW will hire Barry Alvarez’s successor as AD on Wednesday
The search for Barry Alvarez’s replacement as the University of Wisconsin’s athletic director is nearly finished.
The UW Board of Regents is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday to approve a contract for Alvarez’s successor.
UW System Bringing Back Summer Youth Programs
As colleges and universities ease restrictions aimed at preventing outbreaks of COVID-19, the University of Wisconsin System has announced it is bringing back pre-college and summer youth programs this summer.
14 Excerpts from Commencement Speeches Without the Word C*vid
André De ShieldsMr. De Shields is an actor, director and choreographer. He was the keynote speaker at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
State Street development plans to offer affordable rents in a new way
With its $100 million proposal for the 300 block of State Street, Core Spaces, a real estate development firm specializing in apartment buildings near college campuses, is talking about affordable student housing in a new way. But the model it’s using has some wondering who will benefit, and how.
Paddling rentals start up again at Wisconsin Union’s Outdoor UW
Those interested in kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding can make a reservation online to take on Lake Mendota, the Union announced on Facebook last week.
UW campus changes COVID-19 restrictions for events, face coverings, outdoor physical distancing
Fully vaccinated people no longer required to wear face coverings in most indoor spaces on campus starting June 2.
Kickoff times are set for five Wisconsin football games, including an 11 a.m. opener
University of Wisconsin officials on Thursday announced kickoff times for five of the Badgers’ 12 regular-season games, including the season opener against Penn State.
UW-Madison to rescind mask guidance for fully vaccinated people starting June 2
Starting Wednesday, the University of Wisconsin-Madison will no longer require fully vaccinated people to wear masks at most indoor places on campus.
UW-Madison announces masks not required for fully vaccinated people on campus
As more and more Wisconsinites complete their vaccine schedules, the University of Wisconsin has relaxed its vaccine rules.
UW Madison to lift most indoor mask policies for fully vaccinated people June 2
The university released updates to its COVID-19 policies, noting guidance for event capacity, face masks and outdoor physical distancing were all changing. UW Madison noted it is making these changes based on evidence that shows COVID-19 vaccines are effective in protecting people from COVID-19. These changes will also be in line with when Public Health Madison & Dane County’s health order is set to expire.
Outdoor UW watersport rentals start next week
Starting May 31, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards will be available for rental from Outdoor UW, the Wisconsin Union’s outdoor recreation arm. Reservations can be made online, by email or by phone at 608-262-1630.
The UW-Odyssey Project shines a light on George Floyd’s death
The director of the program told 27 News, Floyd’s murder underscored what The Odyssey Project stands for. “To shine a light on the kind of history that’s not always in the history books, to encourage members of our community who are often marginalized, to find their voices and use them and to push forward for change,” explained Emily Auerbach, Odyssey Project co-founder and co-director.
UW-Madison taps deputy lawyer to lead university’s legal office
Nancy Lynch is expected to take over as chief legal officer on Aug. 1, according to a Monday announcement from UW-Madison. She succeeds Raymond Taffora, who has been the university’s vice chancellor for legal affairs since 2013.
‘I’m Here. I Made It’: UW Students Reflect On A Year Of COVID-19 On Campus
The last of the University of Wisconsin’s spring graduates will get their diplomas this weekend, capping off a year of unprecedented disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a sudden shift to online classes and heavy social restrictions aimed at preventing outbreaks, some students say they’ve felt trapped watching screens in their rooms — and for those returning next fall, they hope campus will feel more normal.
‘Mere luck’: Scientists reflect on fall COVID-19 surge on UW campus – say situation could have been much worse
“It was kind of surprising to see, because there was everything – the situation was just kind of right for it to go wrong,” said Gage Moreno, a graduate student at UW whose research contributed to the study. “I think there was just a big element of luck. It’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what went right in terms of why it didn’t spread over into the community.”
No masks required for vaccinated people in state buildings starting June 1
UW-Madison continues to require masks while indoors, while riding a campus bus and when in a university vehicle with at least one other person. An announcement on an updated mask policy is expected next week, university spokesperson John Lucas said.
New renderings show updated plans for Camp Randall Stadium renovations
The renovation of Camp Randall Stadium’s south end zone seating is underway. The University of Wisconsin athletic department confirmed in a statement Wednesday that the $77 million project to transform rows of bleacher seating into indoor club spaces, small loge boxes and rows of chairback seating is expected to be ready for the 2022 season.