Virtual SOAR Required Student Life & Transition Content
To make the most of your virtual SOAR experience, we highly encourage students and their supporters to download the UW Events App to access our complete virtual SOAR program. If you are unable to download the UW Events App, Please explore this page for important information about campus life and resources to navigate the transition to UW–Madison.
Required Student Life & Transition Content
All virtual students are required to participate in the following four areas of student life and transition programming. Please check your email to access Zoom links for live programming.
*Note: The content is separate from advising, you must meet with an advisor to enroll in courses. You will receive an email one week out from your virtual SOAR session about advising.
Small groups
In this small group session, you will meet other incoming Badgers, get your questions answered, and learn about campus resources. More information about when this will happen will be sent to you at your Wisc email.
Content warning: small groups involve discussion surrounding sensitive topics such as drugs, alcohol, and consent.
Q & A panels
During our Orientation Leader (OL) Panel, you and your supporters will have the opportunity to ask our OLs any questions you have about UW–Madison. You can attend one of two panels are offered each day: 9 a.m. CDT. Sessions are one hour long via Zoom and are not recorded. Captioning will be provided via Zoom.
9am Meeting ID: 927 6324 4018
Live presentations
Four live presentations from campus partners will provide critical information for successful transitions to UW–Madison. Presentations will be from 10–10:30 a.m. CDT, via Zoom with one presentation per day. Topics include: involvement, Wiscards, safety, and career support. Please check your Wisc email for link to these sessions.
Resources
Explore the content below to learn more about resources available to help students navigate their transition to UW–Madison. The same content areas are shared with in-person SOAR participants.
Welcome to UW–Madison!
Please engage with the different cards below to learn about campus resources and living in the Badger community.
Academics and Career Support
In addition to academic advising, UW–Madison has a variety of ways that we support students’ academic and career pursuits. This includes 15 learning support centers, first-year seminars, and the many career services offices. To learn more about academics and career support at UW–Madison, visit the links below.
Wellbeing
UW–Madison is committed to supporting students in developing a strong sense of wellbeing. This includes services such as University Health Services (UHS), which aid in mental and physical Health. RecWell, which encourages students to be fit and live well. And finally, the UW Police Department, which promotes and ensures the safety of our campus community.
Involvement
At UW–Madison, involvement takes on a variety of forms, allowing students to develop their sense of belonging in our shared community. Involvement can include student organizations, jobs, research, volunteering, and so much more. Explore the links below to see how you can get involved and make Madison feel more like home.
Living in the Badger Community
Whether you live on or off campus, living in the Badger community is a key aspect of being a UW–Madison student. Below you will find resources about housing, transportation, and the Wiscard (your student ID).
Wisconsin Welcome
At UW–Madison, we do not just do a welcome week; we do an entire welcome month. From move-in to early October, there will be a variety of events catered to new students to foster a sense of belonging to the Badger community. Check out the link below to learn more about Wisconsin Welcome, popular events, and how to download the guide.
International Student Services
International Student Services (ISS) is here to support international students at UW through four key areas: advising, compliance, operations, and global engagement. Learn more about ISS and how they can support your transition to UW–Madison.
Virtual Resource Fair
Associated Students of Madison
The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the official student governance body of UW–Madison, representing the needs of over 50,000 students. ASM holds legal rights to recommend university policies, budgets, and candidates for UW employment.
Career Exploration Center
The Career Exploration Center (CEC) supports undergraduate students who are exploring their major, career, and academic goals. We assist students in gathering information, personal insight, and experiences that aid them wherever they are in their exploration.
DesignLab and Software Training for Students
DesignLab offers free one-on-one digital design tutoring for students, faculty, and staff.
Get help with all of your digital projects, including presentations, posters, videos, audio, websites/blogs, infographics, and more.
Division of the Arts
The Division of the Arts unifies, convenes, catalyzes, encourages engagement in, and advocates on behalf of the arts at UW–Madison.
First-Generation and Limited-Income
First-Generation and Limited-Income (FGLI) Services is a central hub for connection, support, and success for students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from limited-income backgrounds.
First Year Interest Groups
First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) are cohorts of twenty first-year students who share a common academic interest and take (usually) three fall-semester classes together. Each FIG is anchored by a small enrollment seminar that is only open to students in the cohort.
Intercollegiate Athletics
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics provides student-athletes with opportunities to excel and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. In doing so, we endeavor to field competitive teams that display growth, integrity, and accountability.
Language Institute
The Language Institute was founded in 2004 to enable and promote collaboration in research, education, and outreach related to the study of human languages.
Math Learning Center
The Math Learning Center is a great place for students to get help with their mathematics course content. The space is welcoming, and the staff is here to provide you with mathematics support to help you to succeed!
McBurney Disability Resource Center
The McBurney Disability Resource Center ensures equal access to education for all students through academic and classroom accommodations.
Mead Witter School of Music
The Mead Witter School of Music offers flexible programs with innovative and global approaches to music study. Our teaching, research, and performances reflect UW–Madison’s progressive history of creating change through innovation and exploration.
Multicultural Student Center
The Multicultural Student Center (MSC) provides support, advocacy, and co-curricular experiences that center, affirm, and celebrate the varied and intersectional experiences of all UW students.
Office of Inclusion Education
A part of Student Affairs, the Office of Inclusion Education seeks to create a place where all Badgers feel like they belong. We offer a broad array of learning opportunities for students that contribute to their Wisconsin Experience.
Office of Student Assistance and Support
The Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) assists students with a variety of concerns by working directly with them and connecting them to appropriate resources on campus.
Office of Student Financial Aid
The Office of Student Financial Aid assists students in a variety of ways to help fund their academics. From appointments to help with the FAFSA to basic needs support, the Office of Financial Aid helps students navigate and understand their educational costs.
Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability serves as a campus-wide resource for sustainability. By facilitating sustainability education and partnering with campus units to improve operations and resource stewardship, the office represents the realization of a shared vision for a sustainable campus.
Parent and Family Program
The Parent and Family Program (PFP) launched in 2007 as part of an institutional priority to improve and centralize communications with parents and families of UW–Madison students.
RCC
Serving Dane County since 1973, the RCC (formerly the Rape Crisis Center) is a non-profit organization that provides services to survivors (and their support people) of all forms of sexual violence, including recent sexual assault, past sexual assault, incest (past or present), sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation.
Air Force ROTC
Detachment 925 is an Air Force ROTC program that covers the campuses of UW-Madison, UW-Whitewater, Edgewood, Madison Area Technical College, and Maranatha Baptist University. Proud of high standards of professionalism and a well-developed cadet-run corps, Detachment 925 is one of the more distinguished detachments in the nation.
Army ROTC
Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum. During classes and field training, you will learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and how to conduct missions as an Officer in the Army.
Naval ROTC
Since 1948, the University of Wisconsin NROTC has been commissioning bright, competent officers into the fleet.
In addition to providing a college education, NROTC gives young adults all the tools they need and more to lead and succeed in the Armed Forces and civilian sector.
Summer Term
From the university’s most in-demand courses to advanced topics, Summer Term combines flexibility with academic rigor. Sessions are 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 8 weeks long. You’ll cover the same material as you would during a traditional semester, but everything moves faster. It’s a quick but manageable pace.
Transfer Transition Program
The Transfer Transition Program (TTP) is here for you. Our goal is to get to know you better, to help you get connected at UW-Madison, and to make sure you get the information and assistance you need to make your transition as easy as possible.
University Book Store
Since 1894, the University Book Store has been a cornerstone of support for the UW–Madison and the surrounding community. The store has remained dedicated to serving students, alumni, and Badger fans with pride, purpose, and an enduring connection to campus life.
Wisconsin Union
Since 1928, when the doors to Memorial Union opened, the Wisconsin Union has served as the living room of the UW–Madison campus. The Union connects students, faculty, staff, members, and visitors through shared cultural, social, and recreational events and experiences.
Q & A Panel FAQs
We recommend you visit it.wisc.edu for more information.
There are a variety of ways to make friends and build community. Some common ways include:
- Student organizations
- Badger Volunteers
- Wisconsin Welcome
- Student jobs
- Residence Halls
- Intramural and club sports
Between move-in and classes starting, there are hundreds of events for new students to meet other new students. This is called Wisconsin Welcome and lasts the first five weeks of the semester. Some favorite events include Convocation and the W Project. Learn more about Wisconsin Welcome.
Balancing courses and extracurricular activities can definitely be complex, yet there are many strategies our students have used to manage their time.
Many find that being more involved helps with their time management because it prevents them from procrastinating.
Having an origination system can also be helpful. This can include a physical planner or utilizing a digital calendar, such as Google Calendar.
Some common items include:
- Slippers
- Playing Cards
- First Aid items
- Umbrella
- Winter boots/rain boots
- Batteries
Something that many of our students have stated that they wish they would have known is that it takes time to make friends and build community. Many of our students have stated that they did not make their strongest friendships till the end of their first or second year.
There are a few intercity buses that bring students to Chicago, the Twin Cities, and Milwaukee. For more information about intercity buses, check out the Transportation Services website.