First-Year Progress Report
Priority: Provide an exemplary undergraduate experience
Achievements related to undergraduate education demonstrate a clear commitment to learning inside and outside of the classroom, and to providing experiences on campus and around the world. For example, International Studies reports an increase in study-abroad sites and participation, and a new office now coordinates international internships. The Morgridge Center for Public Service, which offers students ways to experience public service, service learning, and community-based research, is poised to move to new levels. With a focus on sustainability, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences has developed the first of three new campus residential learning communities, building UW–Madison’s solid legacy in this arena.
To allow more time for students to pursue internships and other leadership activities, the Wisconsin School of Business is implementing sophomore admission. The School of Nursing is one of only 15 nursing programs in the country chosen to participate in an initiative to create teaching-learning strategies related to patient safety and quality of care. Curriculum changes include a new major in environmental studies developed in a partnership between the College of Letters & Science and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and curriculum updates at the College of Engineering that address technology advances and globalization. The School of Social Work now offers a part-time master’s program in social work, serving working adults and others who cannot be full-time students.
Maintaining a longstanding contribution, the Division of Continuing Studies is offering innovative credit and non-credit learning opportunities for undergraduates and nontraditional students, such as the Odyssey Project, which provides credit courses in the humanities for adults facing economic barriers to higher education; and the Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health Certificate Program and the Mental Health and Older Adults Certificate Program, both non-credit postgraduate specialized training opportunities for mental health professionals.
Cross-campus initiatives include the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates (MIU), designed to improve undergraduate education and increase affordability, and continued evolution of the Wisconsin Experience.
Through two rounds of funding, MIU is — or soon will be — supporting more than 50 new faculty, more than 25 new instructional staff, and more than 60 new teaching assistants. MIU funding is also being used to develop a more effective approach to introductory biology courses that will impact more than 7,000 students, and a coordinated, campuswide approach to academic, career, and pre-professional advising.
In addition, funding is being used to double First-Year Interest Groups, and to grow residential learning communities, which are sponsored by University Housing in partnership with academic units.
The Great People Scholarship campaign is raising funds for need-based financial aid.
The Wisconsin Experience defines the unique aspects of a UW–Madison education, based on the university’s history to the state through collaboration and problem-solving, and high-impact educational practices. All programs and new courses are now reviewed using a Wisconsin Experience framework.
A Common Scholarship website and a new online Course Guide now provide easy access to information for prospective and current students, their families, advisors, departments, faculty, and instructional staff.
Supporting charts
Note: If you are unable to read the charts below, please contact the Office of Quality Improvement. Staff there will help explain the content of any chart in this progress report.
