Bradley Learning Community (BLC)

Students in the Bradley Learning Community (BLC) feel connected as soon as they walk through the door: to BLC residents, staff, and prominent faculty. In Bradley, we believe that deciding your major gets you through college, but finding your passion gets you through life. To that end, 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.

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

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

ILS 157: Bradley Roundtable Seminar | 1-credit

Build important connections as soon as you arrive on campus in this small class environment. Each section is facilitated by faculty members representing departments from Biomedical Engineering to Psychology to Scandinavian Studies, enabling first-year students to easily get to know professors outside lectures. 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, student staff work with residents to create a variety of events tailored to the interests of first-year students. Residents can join the Nestled against beautiful Lake Mendota, BLC residents are able to enhance their education with learning experiences outside the classroom, including:

Hikes in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
Bonfires around the Dejope Fire Circle
Pick-up soccer games with faculty
Service projects benefitting the Madison area
De-stressing nights emphasizing mindfulness & self-care

Peer Mentors

BLC connects students to valuable campus resources, beginning with Peer Mentors. These second-year students remember how it feels to be starting a new phase of life in an unfamiliar place. They help new residents adjust to college, offer direction and advice, and provide tips for navigating UW-Madison. They also help Faculty Fellows tailor the BLC seminar to the needs of students in their section so each new student benefits from the course in a unique way.

Bradley Board

The Bradley Board is your hall organization. This group assists in planning events such as trips to Six Flags, IMAX movies, and arranging instructors to teach activities like yoga, dance, or martial arts.