Stronger Communities
Wisconsin’s local communities share common challenges, such as addressing economic downturns, achieving affordable health care, improving education, and providing greater access to educational opportunity. The UW is working in stronger partnership with Wisconsin communities to address these challenges and reinvigorate the Wisconsin Idea for the 21st century.
The UW System’s annual impact on Wisconsin’s economy is estimated to be more than $15 billion. That represents a $15 return for every $1 invested in the UW by state taxpayers.
If the university is successful at providing a robust workforce and supporting vibrant industry clusters, stronger communities will follow. However, the public university must also take an active role in the process:
- Statewide reach: UW-Extension, which includes offices in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties as well as public television and radio stations, provides unmatched access for businesses, families, and community members of all ages. In addition, all 26 UW campuses offer outreach programs that provide valuable, affordable learning opportunities tailored to their local communities.
- Campus-community engagement: Faculty and staff across the state provide timely responses to emerging community challenges, especially important in times of economic uncertainty. “Wisconsin Idea Forums” and other public events are bringing together diverse parties to solve complex challenges that directly affect all Wisconsin residents.
- Civic engagement: The university is equipping students with skills that prepare them for civic involvement – such as forums on civil dialogue – enabling them to serve as engaged members in their community in both public and private sectors.
- Commitment to diversity: The UW is continuing its mission to support diversity, close the achievement gap, and provide educational access to all regions of the state.
- Arts and cultural events: UW campuses generate and sponsor arts and cultural events of all kinds, including musical and theatrical performances, visual and fine arts programs, guest speakers, multi-day symposia and festivals, and more. These events – by students and faculty, as well as outside performers and speakers – attract numerous people to campus and surrounding communities, support local businesses, and enrich lives.
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Science, engineering, and innovation: As engines of invention, UW campuses work with local entrepreneurs to speed innovations to market and create jobs across Wisconsin. UW campuses are also “Destinations for Exploration” where Wisconsinites of all ages can come experience science.
UW Sustainable Management alumnus helps American Family Insurance work toward a zero waste future
MADISON, Wis. – Maggie Layden is changing the world one vegetable peel at a time. Maggie is the project leader for the American Family Insurance initiative, “Our Dream of a Zero Waste Future.” By diverting the corporate cafeteria’s pre-consumer food waste from landfills, she is helping the Fortune 500 insurance company move closer to its goal of a zero waste future. A 2012 alumnus, Maggie credits the University of Wisconsin online Sustainable Management degree for her success today. With a strong focus on the intersections between...
read more$10 million UW–Madison-led project will adapt dairying to climate change
MADISON — Agricultural scientists from across the nation are embarking on a new five-year, $10 million, USDA-funded effort to identify dairy production practices that minimize the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and will be more resilient to the effects of a changing climate. The project is led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and involves researchers and extension staff from seven universities, five federal labs of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. U.S. Secretary of...
read moreMaking global connections in the business of water
Business students and faculty members are immersing themselves in water activities as the UW-Whitewater College of Business and Economics expands its focus on the business of water. As Milwaukee positions itself as a world water hub, UW-Whitewater is providing innovative and creative contributions to the growing regional cluster of freshwater businesses. From the new water business minor to the combined science-business degree with a water emphasis, the university is educating the future water workforce. Students are busy with internships in...
read moreA pioneering public-private partnership is a roadmap for nursing’s future
UW-Eau Claire-Ministry Saint Joseph’s celebrate 25th anniversary of nursing partnership EAU CLAIRE — Brian Tessmer is eager to earn his bachelor’s degree in nursing but with a job in Marshfield and wife who teaches in Wisconsin Rapids, the central Wisconsin native has little interest in relocating to attend college. Earning an associate degree from a two-year campus and then pursuing a completion degree at another institution also is not appealing to him. Fortunately for Tessmer and other talented students with strong ties to central...
read moreSociety to benefit from increased popularity of ag degrees at UW-Platteville
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — “I knew that having an agricultural degree would give me the chance to make a difference, whether that is on a local level by helping farmers to grow healthy crops, or a global scale in helping to feed our growing population,” said Laura Kanis of Viroqua, Wis., who will graduate in May from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a degree in soil and crop science. UW-Platteville has seen robust growth in the School of Agriculture in recent years. With approximately 800 students majoring in agricultural degrees,...
read moreStudent takes passion for environment to state Capitol
Menomonie, Wis. — Callie Bernier’s interest in environmental science has taken her from a greenhouse to the statehouse in just four years. Bernier worked in a greenhouse while in high school and loved it. She decided to pursue a career that would allow her to be outdoors and combine her two passions: plants and art. Those passions, along with her academic skills, are taking her places. On Wednesday, April 17, she will be showcasing her interests in a slightly bigger house: the state Capitol in Madison. Bernier is one of eight University of...
read moreUW-Parkside Cyber Security Lab preps info guardians
Every day brings fresh revelations about sophisticated cyber criminals shutting down vast computer networks, hacking computers from half a world away to probe files, and stealing proprietary information. UW-Parkside faculty and students are using dedicated facilities to understand cybercrime and prevent it. Find out how… UW-Parkside educating cyber security sentinels The headlines are global and Dr. Susan Lincke, computer science professor and certified systems information auditor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, knows all too well...
read moreUW-La Crosse alumni prosecute criminal cases statewide to preserve justice
Kevin Potter stands in his office on the eighth floor of the Wisconsin Department of Justice overlooking the capitol. From a shelf filled with UW-La Crosse football memorabilia, he grips a coffee mug with a picture of himself and three other teammates in UW-L jerseys. The picture is from one of the years they won the conference championship under legendary Coach Roger Harring. “You don’t always appreciate some of the things coaches imparted on you, but looking back you realize how smart they were,” says Potter, a 1977 graduate....
read moreBringing the Universe to Wisconsin presents at UW-Platteville
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — Six University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduates returned to campus to present their experience living in Antarctica and working on the $280 million project, Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center for the National Science Foundation. IceCube was primarily a physics collaboration, but required engineering components with constructing the infrastructure, machines and tools used for studying particles within the Antarctic ice. UW-Platteville graduates built equipment such as the hot water drill used to carve...
read morePracticing what we teach
The professor knelt on the brightly carpeted floor to introduce herself to a small child. “My name is Dr. Fox and I’m going to be in your classroom today,” she said. Why is a college professor teaching kindergartners and first-graders? Because she’s “practicing what we teach’’ in an innovative program in the College of Education and Professional Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Education professors regularly advise their students to be ready to step into an unfamiliar classroom and take charge. Now, some of...
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