Creating Change Across Wisconsin

UniverCity Alliance connects Wisconsin local governments with university resources to support community-identified goals. At the same time, students receive high-impact learning experiences and learn about local government.

95% of UniverCity Alliance community partners believe our programs benefit the community.

An infographic illustrating the following information:
From 2016-25, UniverCity Alliance has facilitated 453 projects, engaged 2,992 students, and partnered with nine other educational institutions.

The infographic displays a map with pins of the locations of partner communities. UniverCity has worked with 18 counties and 20 cities, villages, towns, and groups.

“You know when you’re in the field that the research is changing, but when you’re working with people in their lives, you don’t always have the time to take that into a 40-hour week. This was really an opportunity to partner with folks who are in a position to do that research and use it to benefit not just my employees, not just the people that we’re working with, but the entire county.”

Bob Gibson, AODA supervisor for Green County

Instructors working with UniverCity Alliance report the following benefits:

The experience helps students apply course concepts to real problems.
The community-based projects increase student engagement with the material.
UniverCity Alliance provides meaningful, community-driven projects to courses.
UnivercCity Alliance staff provide support in scoping and framing assignments.
UniverCity Alliance connects intstrutors across campus departments with shared community goals.

100% of instructors partnering with UniverCity Alliance reported that the experience adds value to their teaching.

Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology Associate Professor Jessica Hua speaks at the UCA Celebration. Jessica stands at a podium with a UniverCity Alliance banner behind her. — Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology Associate Professor Jessica Hua speaks at a UniverCity Alliance Celebration. Photo credit: Hedi Rudd

“Adding a community partner to this class provides a unique opportunity for the students to experience how the skills and information we discuss in the class can be operationalized in a museum setting.”

–Liz Leith, Senior Curator of Anthropology

A group of students gathers around a sign in Shebogyan County that spells out "Sheboygan" in block letters and also reads "Malibur of the Midwest." The group is standing outside, and the sky is a bright blue. Lake Michigan is visible in the background. One participant has his arms outstretched. — Professor Doug McLeod’s Journalism 445 students traveled to Sheboygan County to research strategic communications projects related to the county’s foster care program. Photo by Sophie Woolridge.

Applying classroom knowledge to community solutions

In evaluation surveys between 2020-25, students agreed that their participation in a UniverCity Alliance project helped them engage more fully with the coursework, aided in their learning, and improved their ability to analyze complex problems.

87% of students report applying their learning in ways that enhanced their engagement in coursework.

Supporting career readiness

Most students shared that the program improved their sense of career readiness, enriched their portfolios, and motivated them to pursue related scholarship in the future.

74% of students surveyed believe the UniverCity Alliance experience supports their future careers.

A student shares information about his poster with an attendee at a poster session. — Holden Knapp talks to Christine Baumel. (Paul L. Newby, II /UW-Madison Wisconsin School of Business)

“We learned a lot about the inner workings of local government through the strategic planning process. We also experienced the dedication of county staff who lay the groundwork for a better future in their communities.”

Zach Gerras, second-year student in the graduate urban and regional planning program