We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.
Solidarity Statement and Action Plan
In June 2020, we put forth a Statement of Solidarity after the murder of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless other Black individuals. We are dedicated to taking meaningful action and will provide biannual updates of steps taken by our office to fulfill our Statement of Solidarity and Commitment to Diversity.
Solidarity Statement
Campus Liaisons Initiative
The Campus Liaisons Initiative aims to foster strong relationships with campus partners that provide support services to various student populations in order to better serve those students through intentional information-sharing and meaningful collaboration. The goals of this initiative are to:
- Work to better understand the needs of these student populations and how study abroad intersects with these needs
- Identify and work to address possible barriers keeping these student populations from engaging with study abroad
- Present study abroad as a possibility directly to these student populations
- Work together to create and expand events and resources, such as the Identity Resources, for particular student populations
- Build a professional network across campus to allow more holistic assistance for these student populations
How It Works
Participating units are assigned a designated liaison within the UW-Madison study abroad team. Your liaison shares regular study abroad updates and events, collaborates to develop relevant resources and events for the partner unit’s students, and is available to answer study abroad-related questions.
Past collaborations have included the development and expansion of our Identity Resources, study abroad presentations tailored to specific student groups, tabling at student welcome events, drop-in advising hours held at partner units’ offices, study abroad student panel events, and more!
Current Partners
- Athletics
- Business Emerging Leaders (BEL) Program
- Center for Academic Excellence (CAE)
- Center for Educational Opportunity (CeO)
- Diversity Affairs Office, College of Engineering
- First Wave
- Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC)
- International Student Services
- McBurney Resource Center
- Mercile J. Lee Scholars Program
- Multicultural Student Center
- Posse Program
- Precollege Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence (PEOPLE)
- Veterans Affairs
Interested in joining the Campus Liaisons Initiative, or unsure who your assigned study abroad liaison is? Reach out to Susan Lochner Atkinson to inquire.