UW Board of Regents approves UW–Madison proposal to create College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence

A proposal from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to reorganize the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) into a standalone college was approved today by the UW Board of Regents at its December meeting at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. 

This vote marks a critical step toward the creation of a College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI), building on decades of investment in scholarship, research and teaching and the university’s strengths in computer, data, library and information sciences and statistics. The proposal grew out of the continuing success of CDIS, which was created within the College of Letters & Science (L&S) in 2019.  

With the authority granted today by the Regents to UW–Madison to form a new college, which would be the first at the university in many decades, the next several months will involve engaging university governance and a broad cross-campus consultation process to shape and hone further aspects of its creation.  

An official announcement of the new college is anticipated to come later this spring and the operating start of the new college is expected to be July 1, 2026. 

“We greatly appreciate the Regents’ support for this important vision for UW–Madison and we are excited by this important step toward making this new college a reality. This will be about more than simply building a new academic unit,” says Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin. “We will be shaping a future where UW–Madison leads in innovation while advancing knowledge for the common good. We want to prepare UW–Madison students for a world where computing and technology intersect with every profession and discipline, from patient care to teaching, biomedical research to the humanities.” 

The reorganization would involve CDIS’s three units: Computer Sciences, the Information School and Statistics. 

“Our expectation is that this college will further strengthen our excellence in these critical disciplines, and that it will also deeply engage both internally and across campus with AI as a transformative and disruptive force, considering it as a technological tool with vast problem-solving potential while also confronting its significant moral and ethical implications,” Chancellor Mnookin adds.  

A college to meet the moment 

In 2018, then-Chancellor Rebecca Blank charged the UW–Madison Working Group on Computing, made up of 12 alumni and individuals from campus and industry, to advise campus leaders and others on opportunities to increase educational offerings for students, improve the profile and research output of faculty and prepare students for the workforce. 

The resulting report, Wisconsin in the Information Age, led to the creation of CDIS in 2019. 

“Our vision, when we formed CDIS, was to create a school whose transformative power lies at the intersection between computing and data sciences and the arts, sciences, humanities and the social sciences, and whose experts help us derive meaning and develop policies around computing and data to change the world for the better,” says L&S Dean and astronomy professor Eric Wilcots. “This next step is another milestone in the fulfillment of that vision. The new college, as proposed, will allow UW to extend that deeply collaborative vision across campus, from the arts to medicine.” 

Reorganizing CDIS into a new college would help amplify the work already being done within its constituent units, from the Center for the History of Print and Digital Culture to the People and Robots Laboratory, while also better positioning it to serve as a dedicated hub for partnership, resources, research and educational opportunities for the rest of campus.

In recent years, enrollment in CDIS programs has significantly increased. In 2015, for example, 1,043 students were enrolled as computer science majors. In fall 2025, that number climbed to more than 3,000. In 2019, UW–Madison launched a data science major, which this fall boasts more than 1,700 enrolled students and is one of the fastest-growing majors on campus. And the information science major, launched in 2022, already enrolls 500 students. 

Computer sciences professor Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, who has led CDIS since last year, credits L&S with the success CDIS has achieved since its formation and says it will be important that CAI carry forward the same values, including intellectual curiosity, interdisciplinarity, a human-centered focus, access for undergraduates across the university (not just those majoring in CDIS disciplines) and serving as a catalyst for impactful cross-campus partnerships. 

“Artificial intelligence and computing are transforming every discipline, from veterinary medicine to political science, and we see the formation of a college as an important step toward serving as a campuswide resource while also meeting the needs of our students and the state of Wisconsin,” says Arpaci-Dusseau. “The future workforce will be defined by those who can integrate computing and AI fluently into every discipline.” 

Every major industry in the state, from agriculture to manufacturing and health care, is expected to be shaped by AI in the coming decade. The new college will help inform how society benefits from AI and reckons with its challenges and provide talent pipelines, research partnerships and statewide outreach to help Wisconsin lead in transformation.  

In fact, the 2019 report, which perhaps could not have predicted the meteoric rise of AI just around the corner, concluded that “computing is moving so fast that any campus entity in charge of computing would need a tremendous amount of flexibility and nimbleness to create new programs and initiatives quickly … A college has the most flexibility to create new research and educational programs.” 

The process 

UW–Madison has not launched a new academic division since 1983, when the School of Veterinary Medicine opened and admitted its first students.  

In 2023, the university commissioned a task force that was made up of national experts in the fields of computing, data and information sciences, recommended creating a new college, led by a dean, built upon the success of CDIS. Approval from the Board of Regents to move forward is a significant milestone in a multiyear, collaborative process to build it. 

Over the coming months, university leaders, faculty and staff will engage in transition planning and begin the search for the inaugural dean of CAI. Reorganization will include the formation of a steering committee and other structures intended to help drive the success of a new college. This includes consultation with key stakeholders across campus and beyond. 

Initially, the new college would draw primarily on resources transferred from CDIS’s current operating budget within the College of Letters & Science, including pulling from existing administrative structures. It will also secure private corporate and individual philanthropic support, a significant amount of which is expected to be announced in early 2026. The college will take a lean start-up approach, limiting the need for new positions, following best practices for financial responsibility. 

“As we look to build a College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, we are really looking to build a future that belongs to all of us: preparing our students, strengthening our research, serving our state and fulfilling the Wisconsin Idea in the digital age,” says interim Provost John Zumbrunnen. “The role of the new college would be to not only become a central hub for AI and computing expertise, but also to be a gathering place for scholars and students from a variety of disciplines to explore the opportunities and the challenges new technology like AI poses for all of us. It represents a natural evolution for a university known for connecting ideas across disciplines and turning discovery into impact.” 

A newly launched website for the envisioned College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence is expected to serve as a primary source of information for CAI. Visit the site to learn more and explore the future of the new college. 

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District featured in Business View Magazine

We are excited to announce that the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District has been recently featured in Business View Magazine.

The Feature is based on an interview between Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue and Business View Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Karen Surca as part of our series covering economic growth and best city practices.

Business View Magazine is a global leader in multi‐platform Business to Business profiles, news and opinion with over 840,000 executive subscribers across North America. To learn more and view a current issue, please visit our website at www.businessviewmagazine.com.

Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District | Business View Magazine

Application Window Open for MMSD’s Early College Academies

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is now accepting applications for its Early College Academies, a set of tuition-free dual-enrollment programs offered in partnership with Madison College that allow students to earn high school and college credit at the same time. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 29.

“These pathways are designed to meet students where they are and help them see what’s possible,” Mary Jankovich, MMSD executive director of career, community and college readiness said. “When students participate in Early College Academies, they gain confidence, earn valuable credits and build a strong foundation for whatever they choose next.”

The academies provide students hands-on experience, industry-relevant coursework and a head start on postsecondary education. Each academy includes dedicated support, small cohorts and real-world learning opportunities tied to high-demand career areas.

“Young people in the Early College Academies prove what is possible when they are given access, support, and the chance to earn college credit tuition-free,” said Tina Ahedo, Madison College Vice President of Student Success Pathways. “Their accomplishments inspire us, and we’re eager to see even more students step into these programs and build on this growing legacy of success.”

Since their inception in 2018, the Early College Academies have welcomed more than 700 MMSD students, helping them graduate with not only the lived experience of having taken part in college-level coursework in an actual college environment, but also with credits that they have been able to apply toward their post-secondary careers.

All academies operate on a cohort model; virtual information sessions will be held on Dec. 10 and Jan. 15.

• STEM Academy: Open to students who apply in their sophomore year for enrollment during their junior and senior years. The academy focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and gives students access to lab-based coursework and college-level STEM experiences.
  
• Education Academy: Open to students who apply in their junior year for their senior-year participation. Students explore careers in education, gain early teaching experience and complete coursework that supports future studies in the field.
  
• Networking and Cybersecurity Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. This academy introduces students to IT systems, security fundamentals and hands-on technical skills aligned with a fast-growing sector.
  
• Biotechnology Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. Students participate in lab-based biotechnology coursework and explore pathways in biomedical research, lab sciences and related careers.
  
• Running Start – Personalized Academy: Open to students applying in their junior year. Running Start allows students to enroll full-time at Madison College during their senior year and earn up to a full year of transferable college credit.

“Early College Academies provide students with the opportunity to engage in college-level learning, develop essential real-world skills and begin mapping their paths toward high-demand careers—all before they graduate from high school,” said Schauna Rasmussen, Madison College Dean of Early College and Workforce Strategy. “This opportunity is exactly the kind of access and momentum we want for every learner who aspires to lead a fulfilled life.”

For more information on Early College Academies, including application links and details about upcoming information sessions, visit MMSD’s Early College Opportunities webpage.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Read(y) to Wear designer outfits now on display at Dane County Regional Airport

A display of 20 unique creations from each year of Read(y) to Wear, Madison Reading Project’s preeminent paper fashion design competition supporting local literacy, is now enlivening Dane County Regional Airport’s Art Court.

Until mid-June, the detailed and handmade paper clothing designed by local teams of individuals, students, businesses, artists, and nonprofits is showcased for viewing for all travelers and visitors to the airport. The designs highlight some of the best creativity from the eight years the local nonprofit has produced the annual fashion design show.

Paula Panczenko and Andreé Valley curated the exhibit. Travelers, fashion, and art lovers can get a sneak peek at what’s in store at the 2026 event. “This nonprofit has blown me away at every level,” says Panczenko. “This fundraiser is not just a show using fabrics, every costume must be made of 90% paper. The results are breathtaking and unbelievably imaginative!” 

“The hours of design and fabrication time to make wearable paper fashion are not overlooked,” says Rowan Childs, the nonprofit’s co-executive director and founder. “Not only does it need to look good, but it needs to hold together while the model wears it all night, walking the stage and strutting on the catwalk. The airport display allows many more people to see unique, local creativity and learn about our nonprofit work and mission.” 

With a nod to the reality TV show “Project Runway,” Read(y) to Wear incorporates original designs made from all kinds of paper materials, conforming to a literacy theme. The 2025 theme was Legend and Fairy Tales; the 2026 theme will be announced in January. The volunteer hours for the nonprofit show are donated to Madison Reading Project through a team’s design time and the day of the event, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind fundraiser. 

“This year, we had a sell-out crowd of more than 500 attend Read(y) to Wear,” Childs adds. “The 2026 fashion show/literacy fundraiser is June 11 at The Sylvee. We appreciate the spirit and enthusiasm of our contestants as this wonderful event couldn’t happen without them.”

“In early spring, design sign-ups begin,” Childs adds. “Anyone can put a design team together and join the competition. At showtime, each team competes in front of the audience and a panel of local celebrity judges, who vote to select the winners. All proceeds go to Madison Reading Project to further our mission of providing free books to area kids and literacy support.”

Since 2014, Madison Reading Project has worked with children, families, and educators and  engaged annually with more than 250 area partners, connecting the community with free, new books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers. With multiple programs in order to reach many children, families, and educators, the nonprofit has given more than 885,000 books to communities across greater Dane County and in working with Dolly Parton Imagination Library program an additional 155,000 per year since 2022.

 More info at madisonreadingproject.com/readytowear2025

MMSD Partners with UW Women’s Basketball for Annual Education Day

MADISON, Wis.—Hundreds of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) students will fill the Kohl Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10, as part of the University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s basketball team’s annual Education Day, with the Badgers taking on the University of San Diego Toreros at 11 a.m.

Education Day invites district and other local schools to attend a regular-season game during the school day, offering students an opportunity to experience a collegiate sporting event while engaging in fun, school-focused activities. UW Athletics and MMSD maintain a medium-intensity partnership that supports the district’s eight full-service Community Schools (Hawthorne, John F. Kennedy, Lake View, Aldo Leopold, Mendota, Orchard Ridge, Carl Sandburg, and Lori Mann Carey elementary schools), whose participation is prioritized for this event. 

UW will provide attendees with educational activity packets, LED batons and interactive in-game experiences, including a Teacher Shootout during halftime.

This year’s game builds on the excitement of past Education Day events, which have drawn crowds of nearly 6,000 students from across the region. MMSD schools have used the event to support student engagement, community building and real-world learning beyond the classroom.

“Education Day is a wonderful chance for our students to see learning come to life in a new setting,” said Cindy Green, MMSD assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “It highlights the connection between athletics and academics, helps students feel part of our broader community and shows how powerful partnerships can be in expanding student opportunity..”

Sonia Spencer, MMSD senior strategic partnerships coordinator, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to student success.

“Our students benefit tremendously when organizations across Madison come together on their behalf,” Spencer said. “UW Athletics has created an event that is not only joyful, inclusive and inspiring, but also directly connects athletics with our literacy initiatives.”

“Wisconsin Athletics is thrilled to welcome students to the Kohl Center for Education Day—a unique opportunity to learn and experience the excitement of Badger women’s basketball,” said Marija Pientka, senior associate athletic director for sports administration/senior woman administrator (SWA). “We are proud of our partnership with MMSD that makes it possible to turn a school day into an inspiring, hands-on experience.”

The event underscores the district’s continued focus on building partnerships that connect students with meaningful experiences across Madison.

Tickets are available to the general public at UW Athletics’ official ticket website. Organizations interested in partnering with MMSD are encouraged to visit the district’s website for more information.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

About Wisconsin Athletics

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides student-athletes opportunities to excel, and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. Through its commitment to education, broad-based opportunity and competitive excellence across its 23 Division 1 sport programs, UW Athletics is elevating the lives of our student-athletes, each other and people in the university community. For further information, visit:  http://UWBadgers.com