October 5, 2026

Academic structure: what it is and why it matters 
If you have ever worked with enrollment data, degree reports, or academic program information, you have relied on the academic structure to provide you with high-quality data—even though you may not have realized it.  

The academic structure connects schools and colleges, departments, programs, degrees, and courses, helping UW–Madison organize information and make sense of institutional data.

Learn how the academic structure works, how it is governed, and why it is such an important foundation for reporting and analysis.

Continue learning about UW–Madison's academic structure. 

How can a data steward help you?

The answer goes beyond requesting access.

Discover how data stewards support data quality, policy compliance, new initiatives, and responsible data use across UW–Madison.

Find out more about the role of data stewards. 

Recapping September's Badger Data Network

Our September Badger Data Network gathering was our largest-attended meeting to date!

We discussed updates about the federal legislative landscape and shared baseline metrics to monitor the university's new budget model.

Read more details.

Join us at October's Badger Data Network meeting
Julie Laundrie, Public Records Custodian, and Sarah Grimm, University Records and Compliance Manager, will answer your questions and share information about public records, including requests, and records management.  If you are able, take a few minutes to review Introduction to Records Management.

All are welcome to attend the Badger Data Network. 

Meeting details
Date: October 21, 2026 
Time: 10 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Via Zoom  
Zoom passcode: WeLoveData
Add meeting to your calendar

Bucky's Data Viz Challenge: Highlight your visualization skills!
Are you a data storyteller eager to showcase your skills to the campus community? Are you a student looking for a fun way to highlight your data viz skills? Are you a researcher using new and innovative ways to communicate your research?

Bucky's Data Viz Challenge provides a platform for UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff to showcase their creative data visualization skills. 
Black basket ball background with Bucky Badger making a 'W' with his hands.
Check out the details for our student contest (this year's data set features women's NCAA basketball) and faculty and staff competition. We are currently accepting entries. All entries must be received by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. 

New this year! We are offering two student workshops to help create an entry. 
  • Dig into the Data for Bucky's Data Viz Challenge. 
  • Crafting a Compelling Data Story for Bucky's Data Viz Challenge.
Data, Academic Planning & Institutional Research (DAPIR)
 
 
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dapir@provost.wisc.edu
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