University of Wisconsin-Madison
EducationWorld July 14 | Institution Profile US
Ranked #41 among national universities and #11 among public varsities by the U.S. News & World Report, University of Wisconsin-Madison offers the whole spectrum of liberal arts and professional programmes Sprawled across a 936-acre campus in Madison city, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M, estb. 1848) is a highly respected teaching-research public university. In its 2014 league table of America’s best colleges, the U.S. News & World Report ranks UW-M #41 among national universities, and #11 among public universities. Internationally too, UW-M is top-ranked at #19 in the annual Academic Ranking of World Universities of the Jiao Tong University, Shanghai while in the QS World University Rankings 2014, it’s ranked #37 worldwide. UW-Madison alumni, faculty, or former faculty have been awarded 19 Nobel and 34 Pulitzer prizes Founded in 1848 through an incorporation Act approved by Wisconsin’s first governor, Nelson Dewey, UW-M’s 20 schools and colleges offer the whole spectrum of liberal arts studies and professional programmes to 43,275 students including 4,000 from abroad. Altogether, the varsity offers more than 132 undergraduate majors, 149 Masters and 120 doctoral programmes. At UW-Madison we make two contributions that are essential to a 21st century economy: we train highly skilled workers, and are the primary engine of development, discovery and innovation in Wisconsin. It’s important that UW-Madison serves students well, preparing the next generation of citizens and workers with the skills they need to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. It’s a top priority to keep the university on the front edge of research and innovation, says Rebecca Blank, chancellor of UW-Madison. Madison. The administrative capital of Wisconsin state, Madison (pop. 233,000) tops many best lists in the US, including best place to live and work, best college sports town, and one of America’s safest cities. Boasting four lakes, the city offers excellent art galleries, a centre for theatre and music, and hosts several sports events ranging from Big Ten competitions to minor league baseball. In a city where bicycles outnumber cars, there are more than 200 miles of biking and hiking trails, 260 parks and 6,000 acres of parkland. In summer, sailboats dot the lakes and picnics abound, while in winter, skating, skiing, and snowboarding are popular activities. State Street, a mile-long pedestrian mall boasting over 35 restaurants and shops, is a popular student hangout. Madison has four distinct seasons ” cool spring, hot and sunny summers, crisp fall days, and freezing winters. Summer temperatures average between 25-32oC while in winter, they can drop to -18oC. Campus facilities. The expansive UW-Madison campus is sited along the shore of Lake Mendota and features several heritage buildings. The hub of campus life is the Memorial Union, a student centre with dining rooms, theatres, lounges, meeting and game rooms, and the Terrace and Rathskellar (a German-style pub). Other prominent landmarks include Bascom Hall (office of the chancellor and vice chancellor), Music Hall, The George L. Mosse Humanities Building, Vane Hise Hall (languages department), Grainger Hall (business school) and Clinical Science Centre (hospital, medical and nursing…