About Our Departments
The Division of University Housing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is dedicated to fostering an outstanding workplace for its diverse workforce, which includes about 500 career staff members and over 1,700 student staff members.
The division prioritizes inclusivity, safety, engagement, empowerment, and professional development, creating a supportive environment for all employees. University Housing manages various residential and dining services, including 20 residence halls for nearly 9,000 undergraduate students, three apartment communities for 3,000 graduate students, faculty, and families, as well as several dining venues and summer housing for conference groups and youth camps.
University Housing operates through 7 core departments: Business Services, Dining & Culinary Services, Facilities, Human Resources, Residence Life, Residential Operations, and University Apartments. The division’s efforts align with its mission to support the University of Wisconsin’s educational goals while creating an inviting and enriching environment for residents and staff. This commitment in HR and Business Services extends to employee engagement initiatives, professional development opportunities, and operational efficiency, ensuring staff and students experience the best possible living and working conditions. Every initiative—from student support services to facility management and event organization—is designed to uphold the vision of being “The place where everyone wants to live.”
University Housing Departments
Business Services
The Business Services team oversees budgeting, purchasing, and cashier functions to ensure that University Housing remains financially strong and efficient as a self-funded operation while maintaining reasonable rates for our residents.
Dining & Culinary Services
Dining and Culinary Services has locations in several buildings throughout campus, including dining markets, convenience stores, catering, and coffeehouses. Dining and Culinary Services provides affordable and innovative dining options to residents, guests, and staff.
Facilities
Facilities focuses on housekeeping, mechanical maintenance, long-term infrastructure projects, and planning. In addition to residential living spaces, the residential infrastructure supports many functions and programs requiring many types of spaces, such as classrooms, office space, dining rooms, commercial kitchens, marketplace areas, mechanical support spaces, and large meeting rooms.
Human Resources
Our Human Resources team manages recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee relations for all University Housing staff, including more than 500 full-time staff and over 1,700 student employees, creating an enriching work environment where people can thrive.
Residence Life
Residence Life is part of the Division of University Housing of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a student service, the University residence halls provide quality living and learning environments and programs to nearly 9,000 undergraduate student residents. Residence Life is responsible for the student, staff, and programs that create an inclusive learning environment.
Residential Operations
Residential Operations consists of a variety of administrative departments that support the needs of students, families, staff, and guests. Our teams manage summer conference programs, event planning, meeting spaces, resident contracts and room assignments, desk services, tours, and communication across University Housing.
University Apartments
University Apartments staff provide on-campus housing, programs, and services for our residents, fostering the development of a residential community. The University Apartments staff provides these services to a community of approximately 3,000 residents in 1,247 apartments on 83 acres. University Apartments residents are primarily graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, academic staff, university staff, faculty, and their families. The community is comprised of three distinct neighborhoods, a community center, and a licensed childcare facility called Eagle’s Wing.