Morgridge Book

The Wisconsin Idea Research, teaching, and service at the UW is influenced by a tradition known as “the Wisconsin Idea,” first articulated by UW–Madison president Charles Van Hise in 1904, when he declared, “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family of the state.” The Wisconsin Idea holds that the boundaries of the university should be the boundaries of the state, and that the research conducted at UW–Madison should be applied to solve problems and improve health, quality of life, the environment, and agriculture for all citizens of the state. The Wisconsin Idea permeates the university’s work and helps forge close working relationships among university faculty and students, and the state’s industries and government. Based in Wisconsin’s populist history, the Wisconsin Idea continues to inspire the work of the faculty, staff, and students who aim to solve real-world problems by working together across disciplines and demographics.