About WISE
Welcome to UW-Madison! Are you interested in:
...Meeting other women interested in science, engineering or mathematics?
...Living in an environment supportive of women in mathematics, sciences and engineering?
...Meeting professional women currently working in the mathematics, sciences and engineering?
...Exploring art and culture in the Madison area and beyond with field trips, theater events, and other activities?
Then, WISE is for you! WISE (Women in Science and Engineering [and Math!]) is all of these things, and much, much more! As a member of WISE you will live in Sellery Hall and be part of a program that links your academic work with your living environment. You will live with other students who share your interests and many of the same classes. WISE is open to women from all schools and colleges at the University. It involves academic, social and professional activities designed to create a supportive environment for women interested in the mathematics, sciences and engineering.
WISE At a Glance
- Half of WISE residents list their major as engineering while the other half study biology, chemistry, math, physics and other areas.
- WISE students attend a weekly seminar where they interact with their peers and faculty around intellectually stimulating topics.
- WISE students organize and participate in science and arts events such as cheese making, the science of chocolate, behind the scenes industry tours, and theater and concert performances.
- WISE students travel to nearby cities to experience culture and science. Recent destinations have been Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
- WISE residents meet with area professionals, faculty and staff at workshops, lectures and roundtable dinners.
- WISE students meet with their professors and instructors at the WISE professor Dinner held each semester.
- WISE residents participate in science-oriented community service projects, including teaching computer programming to elementary school kids and participating in science nights at local schools.
Praise
"UW-Madison is especially proud of its residential learning communities. They have become a model for the rest of the country for how to create true "integration" for students' undergraduate education. From our own careful outcome studies and from national research that has studied our programs, we know that learning community students do better in almost every way: they perform better academically; they take on more leadership roles on campus; they become more deeply immersed in projects that impact their communities; they find and develop richer relationships with faculty, staff, and peers; they make healthier decisions; and they feel better about themselves, about others, and about their college experience.
The WISE program is one of our founding residential learning communities and paved the way for much of what works so well across our other programs. Its clear mission-- to challenge and support women to become top-notch scientists and engineers-- is no less important to society today than it was 12 years ago when it was founded. It's a shining example for the rest of campus of how students can enter the university through one of our programs, become transformed through a challenging and supportive academic and social milieu, and emerge as leaders and scholars who make the university, and the world, a better place."
-- Aaron M. Brower, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning
Professor, School of Social Work
As Professor Judith Burstyn, former WISE Faculty Co-Director said in her parting address, "Life is all about making connections." WISE allows you to make connections that help you through your first year and every year in college. Growing as a community from the very first day "WISE is a group of women who are serious about their education and determined to make it at a big university. The feeling of mutual respect between peers that WISE promotes makes finding friends and group study much easier. The chemistry sections for WISE students make not only survival, but also success in the subject, a reasonable goal."
Partners
WISE is sponsored by the following campus communities:
- Division of University Housing
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- College of Engineering faculty
- College of Letters and Sciences faculty
Additional funding is provided by the following:
- UW Alumni employees of Accenture with matching funds provided by Accenture
- The Brittingham Foundation
- Cargill, Inc.
- Numerous individual donors
Contribute to WISE
WISE thanks the many contributors who provide financial support, and invites others to join us in making this program possible. WISE has a variety of programs available for underwriting, including:
- Diversity initiatives
- Scholarships
- Travel grants
- Program innovation fund
- Academic tutors
If you are interested in making a gift to the WISE Residential Program to support one of these initiatives, please contact:
Deb Holt, deb.holt@uwfoundation.wisc.edu, 608-263-0779
Jodi Wickham, jodi.wickham@uwfoundation.wisc.edu, 608-263-2027
WISE Annual Reports
Each year, WISE produces an annual report that summarizes the programs and events held during each school year.
Check out the annual reports from the following years: