A new report is raising concerns that many students may not be getting taught the history of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, with researchers finding that only a small number of states have laws that encourage or require schools to include 9/11 in instruction or commemorations.
Category: UW-Madison Related
How Madison struck deals to build 212 lower-cost student beds
Two years later, officials say the incentive has added 212 lower-cost beds for University of Wisconsin-Madison students, and by fall next year, a new complex at Broom and West Johnson streets will add another 165 beds. Three more projects in the pipeline could then bring Madison’s total of lower-cost student beds to 645 by fall 2029.
Promega Art Showcase celebrates 30th anniversary
The Promega Art Showcase will celebrate its 30th anniversary by showcasing the work of Midwestern artists during the 14th PhotoMidwest biennial juried exhibition.
The exhibition opens on Sept. 17 at the Promega Biopharmaceutical Technology Center, 5445 E. Cheryl Parkway in Fitchburg.
It is part of the 2026 PhotoMidwest Festival, which will take place at multiple Madison venues including the Pyle Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.
Wisconsin marching band releases statement after passing of Hawkeye band member
After the passing of an Iowa Hawkeye marching band member, the University of Wisconsin marching band released a statement Tuesday.
“The Wisconsin Band is holding the family and friends of Derek Phillips, along with the entire Hawkeye Marching Band community, in our thoughts during this incredibly difficult time,” the band said. “Those of us who have been a part of a marching band know how quickly it becomes more than an ensemble. Through long days, travel, celebrations and shared experiences, relationships grow into a family.”
Controversial economics discussion board back online after outage
Research carried out by Alice Wu, now assistant professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which found that posts about women
Wisconsin marches band marches through Green Bay ahead of Badgers Lambeau matchup against Notre Dame
The excitement for another season of Badgers Football kicked off Saturday afternoon in downtown Green Bay with the “Badger Bash.
Crowds of Bucky fans lined Broadway Street as the 350 member UW-Madison Marching Band and cheer squad were featured in a parade.
Scientists reflect on the health of cities around the world Scientists reflect on the health of cities around the world
The Director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), Jorge Osorio, added that it is important to think about the concept of “One Health (onehealth)”, which involves human health, environmental health, plant health, and animal health.
“At UW-Madison we work on the implementation of one health centers in different parts of the world“…where various disciplines are involved to address global health issues. We need to move forward with topics for the university, but also for industry, improve local capacities, and prepare for future pandemics,” he said.
UW-Madison screening of ‘Ugly Little Monkeys’ sheds light on pioneering U.S. youth mariachi group
A screening of “Ugly Little Monkeys” will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the documentary’s directors look to bring the film to schools with mariachi groups and highlight the group’s origins.
Released in early 2026, “Ugly Little Monkeys” tells the story of “Los Changuitos de Tucson,” the first youth mariachi group in the United States, its original members and the legacy they left behind. The documentary was directed by David Valdez, whose father, Joel, was one of the founders of Los Changuitos, and actor Enrique Castillo. The Madison screening was brought to the city by Oscar Mireles’ Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD).
Thousands of UW-Madison alumni gather for Badger Huddle ahead of season opener
Thousands of Wisconsin Badgers alumni from around the world filled the Resch Expo for the Badger Huddle to kick off the season.
The event is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Alumni Association. Organizers said they want Badgers fans to have a home away from home at Lambeau Field.
Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots said the energy among fans is high.
‘I’m fired up’: Wilcots, Reesor discuss campus future at media roundtable
University of Wisconsin-Madison Interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Lori Reesor discussed federal funding pressure, artificial intelligence and an update to the Wisconsin Exchange at a media roundtable on Bascom Hill August 27.
Wilcots spoke about how federal funding changes, international student visa changes and AI are affecting university operations. He promised an “unrivaled” student experience at UW-Madison with the university’s newly-announced “Forward Together” strategic framework.
8 Reasons you should’ve went to Madison for Kane Brown’s back to school bash
There are plenty of ways to welcome students back to campus. Amazon Music decided to do it with Kane Brown.
On Saturday night, one of country music’s biggest stars took over Library Mall at UW-Madison for “Amazon Music Presents: Off to College”, transforming the heart of campus into a concert venue for a free, student-only show. Before Brown took the stage, the festivities included a back-to-school block party and an opening set from DJ D-Nice, while Brown’s performance was livestreamed to viewers around the world through Amazon’s platforms.
Rural Wisconsin counties struggle to attract large-animal vets
There are just over 30 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and only one in Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine. The program admits 100 students per year, and the college says it has trained more than half of the practicing veterinarians in the state.
Desire paths: distracting or something deeper?
According to Aaron Williams, University of Wisconsin-Madison’s campus planner, we form desire paths out of time efficiency, experience and resistance. There’s a certain allure to human-made trails, especially if you already see other students using them. It’s not too dissimilar from why we jaywalk so frequently: We have somewhere to be, and if that means breaking out of conventions a bit, so be it.
UW-Madison applications more than doubled in a decade. Here’s why.
Year after year, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has touted a record number of applicants seeking spots in its incoming class.
Applications have steadily increased since 2009, and the number of new freshman applicants has more than doubled in the past decade from over 32,000 in 2016 to nearly 74,000 last school year, according to the latest university figures.
Wisconsin Welcome underway, features iconic “W” Project, opportunities for engagement
Wisconsin Welcome, an annual multiweek celebration welcoming the incoming freshman class and transfer students, is underway at the University of Wisconsin, according to the UW Office of Student Transition and Family Engagement.
The celebration began Sunday with the Sunburst Festival at Union South, which offered free food samples from its restaurants, a silent disco, several indoor and outdoor games, live music and more for students to check out, according to the Wisconsin Union.
UW-Madison students, records detail investigation of professor
About a year before a renowned University of Wisconsin-Madison professor resigned and took a new job in Arizona, an investigation found he had sexual relationships with two students and engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct with one of them, and that he made derogatory, sexist and disparaging comments about members of his department.
Career and mental health services are readily available for all UW students to use
The University of Wisconsin offers several resources through segregated fees paid in students’ tuition, such as career services, advising, University Health Services mental health services and more, according to UW segregated fees.
Records: UW-Madison professor engaged in sex with students, exploited ‘power imbalance’
A prominent UW-Madison professor engaged in sexual activity with students and crossed professional boundaries, according to newly released records of a university investigation that ended in a settlement and his resignation.
College a family affair for two sets of UW-Madison triplets
It’s not uncommon for multiple generations of a family to attend the same university. It’s rarer when six siblings all attend at once.
Tim and Stacey Cavanagh raised their two sets of triplets, born 19 months apart, in a chaotic, loving home in Chicago. Last year, they saw two of their first three sons, Ryan and Charlie, off at FIJI house, where they spent their freshman year. On Saturday, the family returned with the second set of triplets, TJ, Kiley and Kate, loaded into a U-Haul, all bound for Badgerhood.
Eric Perreault selected to be Morgridge Institute for Research’s next CEO
The Morgridge Institute for Research announced that Eric Perreault, a Northwestern University biomedical engineering professor and research executive, was selected as their third chief executive officer Tuesday, according to the Morgridge Institute.
UW-Madison police disciplined an officer over student interactions. The investigation raises more questions.
Wisconsin Watch first reported in July 2025 on allegations that UWPD Officer Diego Lema Hernandez had initiated late-night texting conversations, asked female students on coffee dates while on duty and relayed confidential police information to help students avoid consequences for underage drinking.
Tips don’t go directly to UW-Madison’s food servers. What happens to the money?
UW-Madison student employees at the Wisconsin Union are challenging a tipping system they say misleads customers who think that when they order food and drinks, any tips go directly to their servers.
Future Friends Campus Series to bring Mt. Joy concert, music wellness events to UW campus
Music wellness organization Two Bridge announced Tuesday their music and mental health-focused events that will take place on UW’s campus this fall, including a student concert from Mt. Joy, according to a Reuters press release.
The events are in partnership with Future Friends Campus Series, a nationwide expansion of the mental wellness programming, according to the release. Future Friends similarly brought artist Alex Warren to UW in 2025, according to the release.
Wisconsin squares off against other Big Ten schools in “We Give Blood” competition
he Wisconsin Badgers are facing off against the rest of the Big Ten in a competition that helps save lives, rather than add points to a scoreboard.
The competition is called “We Give Blood” and it comes at a time when the need is dire, as the American Red Cross has declared its second-ever national blood crisis.
Now through Dec. 4, students, alumni and Badger fans can donate blood and credit the Big 10 school of their choice.
The winning school receives a $1 million grant from the health care company, Abbott.
UW system’s new majors include AI, aerospace engineering
Artificial intelligence and sports management are just a few of the new major offerings across the Universities of Wisconsin that students can enroll in this fall.
Classes for the 2026-27 academic year kick off at all but two of the UW system’s13 schools this week. Some students will be part of the inaugural classes in new majors, such as UW-Madison’s public policy undergraduate major, or UW-Green Bay’s reduced-credit computer science degree, which students will complete in under four years.
UW-Madison, Milwaukee see sharp drops in international student enrollment
Applications and enrollment of international students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Milwaukee are down significantly for 2026, the schools said in court filings, as the Trump administration makes it harder to study in the U.S. and stay in the country after college for work.
As older farmers retire, new ones find they can’t afford to buy in
D’Angelo, a UW-Madison graduate, has known since childhood he wanted to grow food for people and to do it on land he owned. He enjoyed working on his parents’ Christmas tree farm while growing up in New Jersey. But his parents, who never owned their own land, lost the farm when the landowner sold the property.
UW-Madison welcomes new students with W Project celebration
UW-Madison welcomed new first-year and transfer students to Camp Randall Stadium on Monday for the W Project celebration.
Students joined Bucky Badger and Interim Chancellor Eric M. Wilcots for campus traditions, a Fifth Quarter celebration and a recreation of the annual “W” photo.
The event also featured giveaways and an opportunity for students to learn Badger gameday traditions.
UW–Madison move-in begins as students and families arrive on campus
UW–Madison welcomed students and their families to campus Saturday as fall move-in began at the University’s residence halls.
Families arrived from Wisconsin and other states to help students move into their rooms before the start of the new academic year. Among those arriving was Chris Olhoff from Chicago, who was moving his son, Henry, into campus housing.
Olhoff said the move-in experience into Witte had gone well so far.
Wisconsin poised to be next nuclear fusion hotspot
Wisconsin, best known for its cheese curds, beer, bratwurst and dairy, is in the midst of building out a new industry: nuclear fusion.
College a family affair for two sets of UW-Madison triplets
Tim and Stacey Cavanagh raised their two sets of triplets, born 19 months apart, in a chaotic, loving home in Chicago. Last year, they saw two of their first three sons, Ryan and Charlie, off at FIJI house, where they spent their freshman year. On Saturday, the family returned with the second set of triplets, TJ, Kiley and Kate, loaded into a U-Haul, all bound for Badgerhood.
Abbott and Big Ten host third annual ‘We Give Blood’ drive
The third annual Abbott and Big Ten “We Give Blood’ drive competition is underway, with Wisconsin entering this year as the defending champion.
Last year, UW Madison won a $1 million grant from Abbott after bringing in 15,476 donations.
‘Tips’ at UW-Madison’s Memorial Union don’t boost worker paychecks
Customers who use a credit or debit card to buy food at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Union are prompted to leave a tip. They can select a specific amount or skip adding extra money.
8 UW-Madison professors share their favorite reads from summer
The dog days of summer are over and many University of Wisconsin-Madison professors spent them reading books that provided both temporary escapes and insights into their lives.
Deliberation Dinners returns for fourth consecutive year
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Deliberation Dinners returns for its fourth consecutive year, giving 375 undergraduates with diverse perspectives the opportunity to deliberate on controversial political issues over six moderated meals throughout the academic year.
The discussions aim to maintain a respectful and collaborative environment and promote civil dialogue among undergraduates.
UW-Madison students begin moving into residence halls
This weekend marks the beginning of a new school year at UW-Madison as students begin moving into the residence halls.
Nine-thousand new and returning students will be moving into on-campus housing starting Saturday until Monday.
University Housing is warning drivers heading downtown may experience delays, especially near campus resident halls, as there will be heightened traffic and lane closures.
UW-Madison move-in brings 9,000 students to campus
University of Wisconsin-Madison students will begin moving into residence halls this weekend, bringing an estimated 9,000 students to campus and prompting traffic changes near the southeast side of campus.
Students and families headed downtown in the coming days should expect increased traffic, crowds and students moving furniture as the university’s fall move-in begins.
The university will close some roads on the southeast side of campus and convert Park and Lake streets to one-way traffic to accommodate move-in activity.
The best college town or city for students in every US state
Madison blends student life at the flagship university with a state capital setting, offering students lake views, bike paths, farmers markets, and a lively downtown lined with bars and eateries.
AmFam Championship returning to University Ridge Golf Course in 2027
he American Family Insurance Championship will stay in Madison through 2030 and return to University Ridge Golf Course next year.
American Family Insurance and PGA TOUR Champions agreed to extend the tournament, which has raised nearly $22 million for charity since 2016, according to a press release. The 2027 competition is scheduled for June 11-13 at University Ridge, where the championship first started.
Big Ten blood drive kicks off at UW-Madison
All 18 Big Ten schools are competing to collect the most blood donations through a competition called “We Give Blood.” Wisconsin collected more than 15,000 donations last year to finish first
UW-Madison seeks public input in search for next chancellor
The committee leading the search for a new UW-Madison chancellor is holding a public input session next month to hear feedback on what the university’s leader should bring to the table.
UW-Madison’s new chancellor will succeed Jennifer Mnookin, who left the university in May after nearly four years to lead Columbia University. Eric Wilcots, dean of UW-Madison’s College of Letters and Science, is serving as interim chancellor.
University of Wisconsin bomber, a ghost for 56 years, still eludes FBI
There was a hint of autumn in Madison, Wisconsin before sun-up on Monday Aug. 24, 1970.
The temperature was only 49 degrees, and for those who happened to be awake at 3:30 a.m., there was unexpected cool relief from the dog days of summer.
But it was about to get hot on the University of Wisconsin campus. Searing hot.
The flame on a fuse was quietly burning down to one ton of explosive ANFO, hidden in the back of a Ford Econoline van that had been carefully parked right outside of Sterling Hall, a large university classroom building.
AmFam Championship returning to University Ridge Golf Course in 2027
The American Family Insurance Championship is returning to its original home next year.
The 2027 iteration of the tournament will be played at University Ridge Golf Course from June 11-13, tournament organizers announced Wednesday. The unique scramble format will also return.
Organizers also announced that the tournament agreed to terms with PGA TOUR Champions to keep the event in Madison through 2030. Steve Stricker will continue as player-host.
$27M WARF investment to aid quantum research at UW–Madison
A $27 million investment from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation will advance four high-impact research initiatives at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the university announced Tuesday.
The investment comes as federal agencies and industry partners increase investments in these strategically important fields.
WARF said it will help UW–Madison strengthen its research leadership, diversify its funding portfolio and pursue new technologies and startup companies.
Opinion | Amid our numerous existential crises, the garden is a refuge
My favorite tomato is the Wisconsin 55, as much for the memories they stir as the taste they imbue. They’re a hybrid developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1940s, and are said to thrive in Wisconsin’s sometimes moist summers, which I’ve found to be sort of true.
Kane Brown to perform livestreamed student-only concert at UW-Madison
Country singer Kane Brown is performing at UW-Madison’s campus next month for a student-only concert, the Wisconsin Union announced Monday.
The Sept. 5 block party and concert at the Library Mall is free for UW-Madison students and comes at the close of the first week of classes. The first day of the 2026-27 academic year is Sept. 2.
UW AI dean says universities should be ‘counterbalance’ to industry
The founding dean of UW-Madison’s new College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence sees universities as a “counterbalance” to industry in the AI field, ensuring the technology benefits society.
Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, who led the effort to recently launch the university’s first new college in more than 40 years, discussed his vision for its role during a recent UW Now webinar hosted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association.
Student impact on Madison community
Summer does not turn downtown Madison into a ghost town, but it does reshape the city.
With fewer UW-Madison students on campus and no Badgers football games, the area is more relaxed. It is also easier to find a seat at a restaurant or bar.
Sam Haegele, a bartender and manager at Vintage Spirits & Grill on University Avenue, said the business sees a significant demographic shift.
Regents’ budget plan freezes UW-Madison state tuition, adds millions
The University of Wisconsin-Madison would receive an additional $260 million in state funding, and in-state students would experience a tuition freeze if state lawmakers greenlight the UW system’s budget plans for the next two years.
How New Visa Limits Are Already Affecting Colleges
“After careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the program and not proceed with my plan to study in the United States,” one student who had committed to the University of Wisconsin–Madison wrote to the institution, per the court document. “A significant factor in my decision was the recently published DHS final rule … after weighing these circumstances carefully, I do not feel that I can proceed with my studies in the United States as originally planned and I won’t come to United States this academic year.”
‘Next huge obstacle in education’ is AI. How are teachers approaching it?
“It’s impossible to say there’s one cohesive feeling,” said Joel Coyne, a business and marketing teacher at Sun Prairie School District and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Teachers are going to have to reevaluate what are we teaching, how are we teaching and how we are assessing the learning.”
Kenosha Blood Drive Events Support UW-Madison in Big Ten Competition
Kenosha residents have three upcoming chances to donate blood and help the University of Wisconsin–Madison defend its title in the Abbott and Big Ten Conference We Give Blood Drive competition — and each city-sponsored drive comes with a free UW hat and a Culver’s coupon for a pint of custard.
UW Cinematheque returns after canceled summer film screenings
The UW Cinematheque returns with regular free showings for its fall series starting Thursday, Aug. 27, after its summer screenings were canceled due to campus cooling problems.
Data shows UW-Madison admission rate by county, high school
Have you ever wondered which Wisconsin high school has the highest success rate at getting into the state flagship? Or how many students from your alma mater apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison?
In an effort to be more transparent, UW-Madison has published this data. Covering the state’s high school graduating class in 2024-25, the dashboard shows how many public high school students graduated from each school, how many of the graduates applied to UW-Madison, how many were admitted and how many enrolled.
UW-Madison prioritizes artificial intelligence in alumni address
Interim chancellor Eric Wilcots and founding dean of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s new College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI) Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau presented a measured view of artificial intelligence in higher education at a Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) virtual panel on August 18.
Wilcots and Arpaci-Dusseau both said students should be AI competent when they graduate, but that UW-Madison needs to handle AI’s pervasiveness in college life: cracking down on take-home assessments while navigating emptier classrooms and a “silent spring” on Piazza, a popular classroom forum and social networking tool, as students increasingly turn to chatbots.
How much UW-Madison could get in UW system’s $730M budget request
The University of Wisconsin-Madison would receive an additional $260 million in state funding, and in-state students would experience a tuition freeze if state lawmakers greenlight the UW system’s budget plans for the next two years.
Prominent UW-Madison professor agrees to resign after investigation
prominent UW-Madison professor and expert in artificial intelligence has resigned after an investigation found he violated a university policy on consensual relationships.
Life Sciences Communication professor Dietram Scheufele also failed in his faculty responsibilities, including maintaining honesty and integrity, university spokesperson Gillian Drummond said. His departure, part of a settlement agreement, follows an investigation completed in September 2025 into complaints filed by three female students, including accusations of sexual harassment and hostile and intimidating behavior. His last day was Aug. 15.
UW Regents back tuition freeze, UW-Madison’s new dorm
The UW Board of Regents approved the Universities of Wisconsin’s operating and capital budget requests Thursday, which include plans to freeze tuition for two years, raze a prominent UW-Madison building and get the campus its first new dorm in more than a decade.
10 things every new UW–Madison student should know
I first arrived at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2022 to help my sister move into her dorm room on the fifth floor of Witte Hall. It wasn’t until a couple years later that I finally got to experience UW–Madison as a student myself.
Even after what felt like hundreds of orientations, somehow, almost everyone I knew remained, completely and utterly — disoriented. But I was luckier than the rest, because I had my sister around to show me the ropes. Without her I’d likely still be lost on the fourth floor of the humanities building.
UW-Madison ranks fifth among top US party schools in new list
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of the country’s top party schools, according to a new USA TODAY ranking.
With college football season about to begin, USA TODAY ranked the top party schools across the United States by averaging the results of seven different online lists, including Niche.com and The Wall Street Journal.
UW-Madison ranked fifth, just ahead of West Virginia and just behind Georgia.