Embedded within various residence halls, our learning and theme communities are residential spaces that bring together students around a specific focus and help make a large university feel smaller and more intimate. You’ll foster connections, find special events, and get plugged into campus in these unique programs designed to welcome and support you.
Note: we do our best to place students in the communities they rank in their preferences, however, we often see a large number of students preferencing the same buildings. Because of this, it is possible for students to be placed in any hall or community on campus, even if they did not rank or prioritize it in their preferences.
Learning Communities
Learning Communities offer exclusive classes and faculty/staff mentorship. In these communities, co-sponsored by UW-Madison Schools and Colleges, faculty, staff, and residents are brought together around a specific focus.
Theme Communities
Theme communities bring together students with shared interests that will foster engagement and learning around a theme without the academic elements of Learning Communities. In these communities, residents foster belonging through shared experiences in the residence halls throughout the academic year.
How to Join a Learning or Theme Community
All items must be completed by your due date (May 1 for most admitted students). You can be assigned to any room type in any of our residence halls or learning/theme communities even if you did not preference it.
- Sign your University Residence Halls contract and submit your advance payment in My UW Housing.
- Rank the learning/theme communities you’re interested in when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing.
- Prioritize learning/theme communities over residence halls when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing.
- Complete and submit any required applications/agreements for communities you preferenced in My UW Housing.
- Indicate if you want a random or preferred roommate in My UW Housing, and create/join a roommate group if you have a preferred roommate(s). Make sure all preferred roommates have matching preferences.
Note: learning community fees cover some of the costs of the additional services, programs, and staff that are made available to you while living in the community. Fees may be waived in cases of exceptional financial need by submitting a request for a fee waiver.
BioHouse
Bond with other budding scientists! Nurture your passion for the study of living things, whether it’s plants, animals, health, microbiology, evolution, food genetics, or anything biological.
Business Connect
Designed for first-year direct admits to the Wisconsin School of Business, this community provides you opportunities for mentorship, involvement, and resources in the School of Business.
Chadbourne
By fostering connections with faculty, students, and campus, Chadbourne Residential College (CRC) offers a perfect combination of academics and social life to explore a liberal arts education in the heart of campus.
GreenHouse
GreenHouse is all about living sustainably. With a greenhouse on-site, teaching kitchen, vegetable farm, workshops, community meals, and special events, you’ll develop life-long skills.
International
Become a world citizen with friends from across the globe. Explore international cultures, take a class with a global focus, and immerse yourself in language by joining a language community.
Multicultural
A safe and welcoming space where you can gain an expanded worldview and build solidarity by engaging in themes of multiculturalism, social justice, inclusion, race, and identity.
Open House
In this inclusive community for all, you’ll find and create an environment of awareness, respect, and advocacy for all sexual and gender identities along with LGBTQIA+ students and allies.
Spark
Learn how UW–Madison is inspired to create solutions to needs within a community and understand how those community partners use campus innovations to benefit their people, culture, and places. Spark will get you involved in real projects here in Wisconsin.
StartUp
Develop the capabilities, confidence, and connections to launch your own venture. Explore majors, meet alumni entrepreneurs, and participate in innovation contests while making friends who share a passion for creativity and discovery.
The Studio
Collaboration fuels creativity in this artistic laboratory with students from all majors who share your passion for the arts. Get access to to creative spaces, resources, and connections that will allow you to find your creative voice in this artistic community.
WISE
A welcoming environment for students interested in women’s contributions in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. WISE’s mission is to cultivate engagement in STEM for all and to expose students to important contributions women have and continue to make in STEM.
Why Join a Learning Community?
- Exclusive special events, for-credit seminars, and activities built around your interests
- Co-sponsored by UW-Madison Schools and Colleges
- Open to students of any major — focus on your major or explore subjects to find your path
- Past residents report a high degree of satisfaction with their living experience and the support they received in exploring academic and career interests
- Additional staff to help residents succeed:
- Faculty Directors: professors that provide leadership, discussion, and networking outside classes and office hours
- Program Manager: professional staff who oversee communities, plan events, and assist with career advising and academic support
- Learning Community Program Assistants: students who previously lived in a learning community who provide education, recreation, and support to new residents
- Peer Mentors: students who previously lived in a learning community who provide education and support to new residents in specific learning community seminars
- Your level of involvement is completely up to you
Seminars
Enrolling in a learning community seminar is a great way to become more involved with your community. Every learning community offers a seminar that only residents in that community are able to take. The seminar is related to the topic the learning community focuses on, so participating is a great way to learn more about that topic while taking a class with friends you’ve made in your community. Students easily connect with faculty, the university, and community leaders in these mostly 1-credit seminars that easily fit into course schedules.
Class Sections
To view class sections and courses reserved specifically for your residence hall or learning community, visit our residence hall class sections page.
Participation Level
Each learning community has different expectations. All encourage participation in seminars so you can make the most of your experience as a member of that learning community. Regardless of which type of participation level is asked of you, seminars introduce you to your neighbors, facilitate conversations on the topic area, and are an easy and rewarding way to earn academic credit within your residence hall. We strongly encourage you to enroll in the seminar in order to make the most of your experience, but it is not required. If you have more questions, you should talk with your academic advisor.
Theme Communities
In addition to our residence hall spaces and learning communities, UW-Madison University Housing’s theme communities offer residents an opportunity to be their authentic selves without the academic elements of learning communities.
Essence
Essence welcomes all students who are interested in learning about the Black diaspora and impacted peoples through events, dialogue, and community-building. This community fosters a sense of belonging on campus through shared interest and engagement. The goal of Essence is to learn about traditions and culture in a respectful residential setting.
NDGNS
NDGNS offers all students an opportunity to learn about Indigenous voices and experiences with a focus on building community and relationships.
Gender Inclusive
Options intended to meet the needs of transgender, gender non-conforming, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ students and allies to select a housing assignment that is inclusive, safe, and comfortable.
Pathway
For students admitted to Bucky’s Pell Pathway and BANNER scholarship programs, Pathway builds community and relationships, including co-curricular support to help you succeed.
Why Join a Theme Community?
- Exclusive special events and activities built around community purposes
- Students are brought together to be a part of a smaller, more connected community
- Dedicated staff supportive of communities
- Access to campus and community resources
- Open to students of any major
Donations
Donations to University Housing learning and theme communities can be made through the University of Wisconsin Foundation at the link below. To ensure that your donation is processed correctly, follow these instructions:
- In the Designation drop-down menu select Other – detailed below
- In the large text box labeled, “If you would like to further restrict your gift…” you must type the following text:
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- Fund #12906942
- The name of the learning or theme community you wish to donate to