Our Priorities
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, since its founding in 1848, has been shaped by an enduring land-grant mission, combining world-class teaching and research with a deep and long-standing commitment to serving the public. The university has also been shaped by its presence along the shores of Lake Mendota, where people have lived and found community for thousands of years.
The strategic framework builds on our history and our sense of place, reflects the voices of our community, and sets our direction for the future.
Deliver unrivaled educational experiences to prepare students for their future
Prepare students from all backgrounds to thrive on campus, in work and life, and as citizens of a dynamic world.
UW–Madison will continue to provide a world-class education that prepares students for meaningful careers and fulfilling lives. We will be a place where students from a multitude of backgrounds find a vast array of opportunities for learning and growth, both in and outside the classroom, as well as robust support for their success across all dimensions. By nurturing the fearless sifting and winnowing of ideas, we will foster a vibrant, pluralistic environment in which students learn to engage respectfully across differences while maintaining a deep sense of community and belonging.
- Deliver transformative and innovative opportunities that combine excellence in teaching, research experiences, and hands-on learning to prepare students for meaningful careers and contributions to society.
- Expand access and affordability, especially for Wisconsin students.
- Foster a campus climate centered on student belonging and well-being, where free expression, viewpoint diversity, and civil dialogue across differences are core parts of a Wisconsin education.
- Connect learners to the wider world through leadership, training, entrepreneurship, and internship opportunities; experiential learning; industry and community partnerships; research; and service locally, nationally, and globally.
Discover, create, and innovate to change lives
Lead in cutting-edge research and push the boundaries of human understanding to address challenges and enrich lives.
UW–Madison’s excellence in research and creative work will continue to make a positive difference in the world. We will be collaborative across the university and in partnership with people and industries across the state and world to pursue solutions to complex problems, serve Wisconsin, contribute to global knowledge, and drive economic development through innovation and discovery, artistic creation, and entrepreneurship.
- Advance ambitious research that inspires and that addresses significant, complex challenges of particular importance to Wisconsin and the world through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased educational opportunities for students.
- Support curiosity-driven discovery, creative expression, and humanistic inquiry as essential to understanding the world, building community, grappling with today’s complex challenges — from artificial intelligence to polarization and sustainability — and imagining better futures.
- Strengthen innovation and economic development through partnerships with industry, entrepreneurs, communities, governments, and campus partners — treating innovation and entrepreneurship as core contributors to how we fulfill the Wisconsin Idea.
- Increase the visibility and accessibility of our research and creative work to facilitate collaboration with partners beyond campus and enhance our impact.
Convene and collaborate for the public good
Deepen and broaden partnerships and co-create solutions that benefit people in Wisconsin and beyond.
The Wisconsin Idea — the principle that what we do at UW–Madison should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of our campus — is one of the longest and deepest traditions in our history. It will continue to guide our work as we grow and strengthen our relationships with partners across the state and far beyond. We will seek new ways to co-create and share knowledge to strengthen communities and improve lives.
- Engage authentically in reciprocal relationships with communities, tribal nations, businesses, nonprofit organizations, government, alumni, and others to fulfill the Wisconsin Idea.
- Contribute to civic health and public trust, equipping ourselves and our communities to engage constructively across differences of identity, background, and viewpoint.
- Build partnerships and engagements that support Wisconsin’s long-term economic vitality and workforce needs, with a focus on innovation for the public good, both within Wisconsin and across the nation and the globe.
- Contribute to a more sustainable future, embedding environmental stewardship into our teaching, research, engagement, and operations while striving to share with and learn from others about these efforts.
Cultivate a culture of excellence to ensure a resilient future
Support and strengthen our foundation — people, culture, and operations — so we can deliver on our mission for generations to come.
UW–Madison will continue to be a workplace in which our dedication to excellence includes a commitment to employee well-being, and where we recognize that pluralism and diversity of viewpoint and background are critical to our success. By providing an employee experience that is second to none and acting as conscientious stewards of resources, we will ensure that our employees and the university can flourish now and well into the future.
- Invest in an outstanding employee experience for faculty and staff, including recruitment, retention, professional development, and leadership opportunities, in a culture that honors both excellence and well-being.
- Modernize and align our systems, processes, and infrastructure to support collaboration, reduce administrative burden, and enable smart, timely decisions.
- Steward our financial, physical, and digital resources responsibly, efficiently, and transparently.
- Align policies, resources, and accountability so that supporting all members of our community and fostering viewpoint diversity are understood as core to our shared success.
