In 1904, past UW President Charles Van Hise proclaimed that he would “never be content until the beneficient influence of the University reaches every family in the state.”
His vision became the Wisconsin Idea, a philosophy that has guided UW-Madison’s outreach efforts for more than 100 years. The Wisconsin Idea has expanded along with the university: In a globalized world, it is important for outreach to encompass national and international communities, while preserving the tradition of university involvement in local Wisconsin communities.
Illumination is proud to highlight some of the outreach projects developed and implemented by UW-Madison undergraduates in a variety of locations and situations. These students are fulfilling Van Hise’s mandate to make a difference with the skills provided by their UW-Madison education.
For more information and examples of the Wisconsin Idea in action, please visit here.
