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Location: Bradley Residence Hall (one floor) | # of Residents: 67
Types of Rooms: mixed coed floor of double rooms (gender inclusive room options available)
Sponsor: College of Letters and Science | Open to all majors
Additional Fee: $250 (exception request form)
Email: spark@housing.wisc.edu | Instagram: @SparkLearningCommunity
The Spark Learning Community is the perfect place to ignite your UW-Madison journey. Spark residents have access to dynamic presentations by top UW-Madison researchers, small-group activities led by dedicated faculty and peer mentors, and a supportive community to inspire your curiosity and drive. You’ll explore your interests, build your skills, and discover how you can make a difference. All this while living with a tight-knit, cohesive community that shares your passion for learning and making an impact.
With Spark, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how people in different subjects study the world, and you’ll develop a toolkit of personal and professional skills that’ll serve you in college and beyond. You’ll see how ideas turn into solutions to real-world problems, and you’ll be empowered to contribute to the Wisconsin Idea. Join us and ignite your passion for discovery and community engagement!
How to Join
All items must be completed by your due date (May 1 for most admitted students). You can be assigned to any learning/theme community even if you did not preference it.
- Sign your University Residence Halls contract and submit your advance payment in My UW Housing.
- Rank the Spark Learning Community first 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.
- 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.
Seminar
Spark Seminar
Inter LS 158 | 1-credit
The Spark Seminar is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce students to the rich history, diverse perspectives, and community engagement principles that define the Wisconsin Idea. Through a series of modules including faculty presentations, hands-on activities, and small group discussion, students will explore the metaphor of building and sustaining a fire, drawing parallels to their academic and personal journeys at the University of Wisconsin. By the end of the course, students will understand the historical and cultural context of the university, recognize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, develop skills in research and community engagement, and propose Wisconsin Idea projects that leverage their unique strengths and interests. Course emphasis is on building community for new students while leveraging multiple viewpoints and strategies to support creative problem-solving.
Programming
Community Goals
- Help students understand the concept of the Wisconsin Idea and how it applies to real-world issues through multidisciplinary approaches and experiential learning.
- Highlight the work of university researchers and teams who embody the Wisconsin Idea, demonstrating how academic knowledge can address community needs.
- Provide students with opportunities to participate in community-engaged activities, fostering a sense of involvement and practical application of their studies.
- Encourage students to see the connections between their courses and broader societal issues, promoting holistic and interdisciplinary thinking.
Events & Activities
Examples of typical Spark activities include:
- Fall kickoff lunch
- Field trip to Devil’s Lake State Park (Tee Wakącąk)
- Sky lantern celebration
- Spark & s’mores social bonfire
- Field trips to key local sites (Wisconsin State Capitol, Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin’s New History Center coming 2027)
- Field trips to Milwaukee and the Menominee Reservation
- Alumni networking nights
- Public policy workshops
- Presentations by graduate students working on their dissertations
- Small group excursions with Spark Peer Mentors
- Volunteer days
- Community socials
Tom Dubois
Position title: Faculty Director, Spark
Cindy Holzmann
Position title: Residence Life Associate Director
