University of Wisconsin–Madison

Chancellor’s Office Initiatives

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is dedicated to pushing boundaries to new levels of excellence through initiatives designed to accelerate advancements in education, research, and discovery on campus and beyond.

The Wisconsin Exchange

The Wisconsin Exchange: Pluralism in Practice initiative aims to help students, faculty, and staff engage, live, and lead in a polarized world. It connects existing campus programs and cultivates new opportunities to make constructive conversation a visible and integral part of everyday life at UW–Madison.

Large group seated at tables in a spacious hall, engaged in discussion.
A red W crest banner positioned in front of Bascom Hall set among green leaves.

Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE)

The Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) initiative is designed to help address significant, complex challenges of particular importance to Wisconsin and the world. Through strategic investments in people, resources, and educational opportunities, RISE builds on the university’s strengths. RISE focus areas include human-centered AI, environmental sustainability, and health research to improve human healthspan.

Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub

Expanding upon a long campus legacy of innovation, the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub is working to translate ideas into opportunities for entrepreneurial students, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty by creating a founder-first ecosystem to develop talent and help launch entrepreneurial careers.

Aerial view of Madison, Wisconsin, showing the State Capitol centered on the isthmus between two lakes, with surrounding buildings in sunlight.
Student wearing a backpack, baseball hat, and shorts walks among lush green rows of growing tomato plants.

Environmental Sustainability

Guided by five goals, the university is advancing its research and education missions while making campus a living laboratory for environmental sustainability practices. The cross-campus initiative is the most comprehensive environmental sustainability initiative in UW–Madison’s history.