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Cancellation decisions for fall international programming to be made on a rolling basis

As the 2019-2020 academic year ends, students are already looking ahead toward the fall semester. This is especially true of those who are planning to spend the semester abroad. The International Division is in the process of making decisions about program cancellations on a rolling basis to allow for the most up-to-date assessment of conditions. …

Spring commencement 2020: A virtual party heard round the world

Camp Randall wasn’t in the cards for commencement this spring, but University of Wisconsin–Madison graduates did get “Camp Patterson” — bestselling author James Patterson’s kitchen, impressively festooned with all manner of Bucky paraphernalia.  “And I thought my dad had a lot of Badger stuff!” marveled graduate Amelia Gonzales, a Patterson super-fan who had been eagerly …

Lessons from Kathmandu

Inside a restaurant at the foothills of the Himalayas, Elizabeth Sumiec danced to music with her new friends and her host family. A few days prior, those same people had been strangers, and she knew little about the place they lived. In the short time in between, Sumiec bonded with her Nepalese host family without …

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!

On behalf of the entire International Division, it is my pleasure to congratulate you on your graduation from UW–Madison! You are graduating with something that is crucial to succeeding in today’s world—a global perspective. Whether you plan to work domestically or focus your talents across international borders, your capacity to understand and appreciate cultures, languages, …

Supporting individuals impacted by bias during the COVID-19 pandemic

Dear UW–Madison Students, Faculty, and Staff, The past months have been incredibly challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic has created ruptures within communities—through the need to physically distance, the death of loved ones, and a rise in xenophobic and discriminatory incidents during this time. Regretfully, UW–Madison and the surrounding community have not been insulated from such occurrences, …

Congratulations to graduating international students!

To our international Badgers in the Class of 2020, I want to offer my congratulations to all of you on this significant milestone. It has been a long journey, and I hope that when you reflect back on the challenges and successes that you have encountered along the way, you find yourselves ready and eager …

Message from Dean Podestá on spring and summer international programs

As we come to the end of another semester and look toward the summer, I want to express my sympathies and appreciation for those of you who had to abruptly change your plans for the spring and summer semesters in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. I know this is not the semester you wanted. It …

WISLI to offer virtual language instruction in summer 2020

The Wisconsin Intensive Summer Language Institutes (WISLI) will offer virtual language instruction in summer 2020. The announcement comes as the University of Wisconsin–Madison made the decision that face-to-face instruction will not be offered on campus in consideration of the safety of participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a significant shift for WISLI, but familiar …

A message to our partners

The COVID-19 pandemic has created incredible challenges for higher education institutions around the world, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison has not been immune to those challenges. However, as we deal with the impact that this crisis has had on the lives of our students and colleagues, our thoughts are also on our partners around the …

Message from Dean Podestá on summer 2020 international programming

In consideration of the health and safety of UW–Madison students, Guido Podestá, vice provost and dean of the International Division, has instructed that all IAP study abroad programs and IIP international internships planned for summer 2020 be cancelled. This includes programs offered in collaboration with CALS, WSB, and CoE, as well as Wisconsin in Washington. …