The Prospectus

The Opportunity

UW–Madison is looking for an experienced and forward-thinking leader to:

Advance the University’s Tradition of World-Class Teaching and Research

The University of Wisconsin–Madison, the flagship campus of the Universities of Wisconsin system, is recognized internationally for its rigorous academics, ground-breaking research, and steadfast commitment to public service. Since its founding as a land-grant university in 1848, UW–Madison has been at the forefront of education, innovation, and discovery.

UW–Madison is a leader in higher education and research in Wisconsin, the nation, and the world. The university provides a learning environment in which faculty, staff, and students discover, examine critically, preserve, and transmit the knowledge, wisdom, and values that will help ensure the survival of this and future generations and improve the quality of life for all. The university helps students to develop an understanding and appreciation for the complex cultural and physical worlds in which they live, to prepare for future careers, and to expand their understanding of themselves and their capabilities. The Chancellor must create a campus environment in which students, staff, and faculty can learn and grow.

The Chancellor provides leadership to the university as a vehicle for research and discovery, supporting the fearless sifting and winnowing of our world-class research enterprise and the dissemination of knowledge in its many forms. The Chancellor must understand how the higher education environment is evolving and is responsible for setting an entrepreneurial vision for the university that will enhance UW–Madison’s research enterprise, expand its global impact, and support the scholarship of faculty, staff, and students. The Chancellor is also tasked with ensuring the continued vitality, competitiveness, and strength of our graduate and professional programs.

UW–Madison provides access to a world-class, affordable educational experience with a priority on Wisconsin high school graduates. The Chancellor should also have a vision of how to leverage new modes of delivery to engage with learners throughout their lives.

Envision and Communicate a Plan for Maintaining UW–Madison’s Outreach Mission to Improve Lives in Wisconsin and Beyond

One of the most cherished commitments at UW–Madison is its belief in the Wisconsin Idea, developed over more than a century ago. The Wisconsin Idea signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. This university serves the state in multiple ways, and the Chancellor is a state and national champion of the Wisconsin Idea and its ramifications beyond the walls of the university.

The university is strongly affiliated with its academic health system: UW Health, a $3.8 billion integrated health system whose university hospital, community hospitals, health plan, and clinics serve the state of Wisconsin as well as neighboring populations. The Chancellor serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of UW Hospital and Clinics.

As the leader of the state’s flagship university, the Chancellor partners with the community and the state to extend and apply UW–Madison’s research, education, and practice-based knowledge to foster learning and support innovation and prosperity throughout Wisconsin. The Chancellor partners with state and local government, business, and community leaders in this pursuit. The Chancellor engages with the community to provide positive social, cultural, and economic impact, and promotes entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in Wisconsin and the world.

Advance the Goals of Inclusive Excellence and Pluralism on the UW–Madison Campus

Pluralism is a key component of a UW–Madison education and experience. The Chancellor is responsible for helping define what it means to be part of UW–Madison, and fosters a culture of inclusive excellence in a world of diverse identities, backgrounds, and viewpoints.

The university launched the Wisconsin Exchange in 2025 to enhance viewpoint diversity, promote vigorous discourse and debate, and reinforce a campus culture of civil dialogue where different perspectives are expected and respected.

In 2026, the university launched a new strategic framework that was developed in close consultation with many members of the UW–Madison community. This framework articulates a set of community commitments — grounded in respect for human dignity and the mission of a leading research university — designed to allow everyone to participate, grow, and contribute to advancing the Wisconsin Idea. The next Chancellor will respect and have a commitment to working with individuals with differing views to further the Wisconsin Idea and champion a university where all can thrive.

Expand and Strengthen a High-Performing Organization

UW–Madison endeavors to continuously improve in its operations and the services it provides to students, faculty, and staff. This includes strengthening our historically strong financial performance by growing revenues and controlling costs. It also means providing high-quality administrative services and developing new and innovative ways to invest in our strategic priorities, while maintaining a commitment to the highest ethical standards. As a campus, UW–Madison is committed to practicing sustainability principles in the stewardship of campus resources by recognizing our environmental responsibility to people and the planet.

The next Chancellor must build upon and support our high-quality and committed faculty and staff in ways that advance the mission and reflect the university’s values.

Collaborate Effectively through Shared Governance

Shared governance is an important aspect of life at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with the right to participate in institutional governance codified in Wisconsin Statute. Shared governance provides representation to faculty, staff, and students who advise and participate in developing and updating university policies. 

The next Chancellor must build upon and support the university’s high-quality and committed faculty and staff in ways that advance the mission and reflect the university’s values. The Chancellor is a regular participant in shared governance meetings, and the successful candidate must be fully committed to and supportive of shared governance, which includes academic staff, university staff, faculty, and student groups.

Engage and Communicate the Value of the University to External Stakeholders

The Chancellor is the primary spokesperson for UW–Madison and must constantly speak to the value of the university to multiple stakeholders.

This means working closely with elected political leaders at the federal, state, and local levels. The Chancellor must advocate for policies that strengthen the university and explain and defend the university to those who criticize it.

The university’s 504,000 living alumni serve as another key stakeholder group. The Chancellor meets with alumni groups across the state and around the country, as well as in other countries. Fundraising among alumni and friends is an increasingly important source of revenue for the university and the Chancellor plays a leadership role in this activity, particularly among the university’s most generous friends and supporters.

Collaborate with Affiliated Organizations

The Chancellor represents the university and its interests as part of its long-term partnerships with several affiliated organizations, including UW Health, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association, and University Research Park.

The university is strongly affiliated with its highly rated academic health system, UW Health, a $6.3 billion integrated health system that includes a university hospital, community hospitals, a health plan, and clinics that serve the state of Wisconsin and populations in neighboring states. The Chancellor serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of UW Health.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) serves as an independent, affiliated organization that handles university technology transfer as well as licensing and commercialization of university-generated intellectual property. WARF translates university research into real-world benefit and makes important financial contributions to UW–Madison through an annual gift that supports university research and talent development. The Chancellor serves as a member of the WARF Board of Trustees.

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the official fundraising and gift-receiving organization for UW–Madison. Established in 1945, the Foundation was created and is governed by a board of UW–Madison alumni and donors. The Foundation is the university’s development and financial partner.

University Research Park (URP), an internationally recognized research and technology park located in Madison, supports UW–Madison’s mission by creating space for technology, research, science, and education to flourish. The Chancellor serves as the permanent president of URP’s Advisory Board.

Statutory Responsibilities

As executive head of UW–Madison, the Chancellor is vested with the statutory responsibility of administering Board of Regents policies under the coordinating direction of the President of the Universities of Wisconsin and is accountable and reports to the President and the Board on the operation of the institution. Per statute and in alignment with Board policy, the Chancellor, in consultation with the Chancellor’s leadership team and the faculty, is responsible for designing curricula and setting degree requirements; determining academic standards and establishing grading systems; defining and administering institutional standards for faculty peer evaluation and screening candidates for appointment, promotion, and tenure; recommending individual merit increases; administering associated auxiliary services; administering all funds, from whatever source, allocated, generated, or intended for use by the institution; and presiding over UW–Madison’s separate statutory authority to administer university human resources programs for faculty and staff.