Bradley Learning Community

Kickstart your college experience at Bradley Learning Community! Students in BLC feel connected as soon as they walk through the door: to BLC residents, staff, prominent faculty, and the UW campus. In Bradley, we believe that deciding your major gets you through college, but finding your passion gets you through life. BLC helps you focus on your education while discovering what’s important to you.

Founded in 1995, BLC is the oldest and most established of our learning communities, offering a robust tradition of students united by lasting connections. Whether you feel like you’re already prepared to navigate college life or want a ready-made community waiting to support you, BLC is here to help you find your place at UW-Madison while enjoying the perks of living the lakeshore life.

BLC 25th Anniversary Retrospective

2021 is the Bradley Learning Community’s 25th anniversary! Celebrate with us, take a peek through the years, and reminisce on all of the memories made since 1996.

Browse the Site

How to Join

Sign your University Residence Halls contract and submit your advance payment in My UW Housing
Select the Multicultural Learning Community as your top choice when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
Prioritize learning communities over residence halls when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
Receive your room assignment

BLC staff provided tremendous support for both my academic and personal goals. I felt truly cared for and I'm so grateful for the friendships I’ve made.
Shanthi C., BLC Resident

Seminar

Bradley Roundtable Seminar
Integrated Liberal Studies 157 | 1-credit

At its core, the BLC is a liberal arts community, and the Bradley Roundtable Seminar gives students a taste of what the College of Letters & Science has to offer, no matter their major. We believe it is important to create connections and take charge of your learning experience as soon as you arrive on campus, easily done in this small class environment. Each section is facilitated by faculty members representing departments from Chemistry to Computer Science to Scandinavian Studies, enabling first-year students to get to know professors outside the lecture hall & discover new experiences beyond the typical classroom environment. Relationships formed in Roundtable lead to study groups, research positions, future roommates, lifelong friendships, and new passions in college and beyond.

Programming

Events

With a strong emphasis on building community & experiential learning, student staff work with residents to create a variety of events tailored to the interests of first-year students. Nestled against beautiful Lake Mendota, BLC residents are able to enhance their education with learning experiences outside the classroom and create social connections with events on & off campus, including:

Hikes in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Trips to Chicago
Bonfires around the Dejope Fire Circle
Skiing & snowboarding
Career exploration & resumé writing sessions
Kayaking on Lake Mendota
De-stressing nights emphasizing mindfulness & self-care

Peer Mentors

BLC connects students to valuable campus resources, beginning with Peer Mentors. These experienced students remember how it feels to be starting a new phase of life in an unfamiliar place. They are there to help new residents navigate college, offer direction and advice, and offer insight on student-life at UW-Madison. They also co-facilitate Bradley Roundtable with Faculty Fellows & help tailor the BLC seminar to the needs of students in their section so each new student benefits from the course in a way that is meaningful to them.