2025 was an extraordinary year at the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences! We celebrated historic achievements, inspired students through both learning and a little fun, and strengthened connections with alumni, partners, and the broader community. Explore our favorite moments from the past year in pictures below—just a glimpse of everything that made 2025 unforgettable at CDIS.
December: UW–Madison’s First New College in 40+ Years
A proposal from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to reorganize the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) into a standalone college was approved by the UW Board of Regents at its December meeting at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. This vote marks a critical step toward the creation of a College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI), building on decades of investment in scholarship, research and teaching and the university’s strengths in computer, data, library and information sciences and statistics.
November: Studying Smarter at the Long Night Against Procrastination
Morgridge Hall hosted the inaugural Long Night Against Procrastination, a study event to prepare students for finals, while supporting students’ academic and mental well-being with snacks, self-care breaks and even cuddly therapy dogs.
October: Top Employers Share Their Advice
During the CDIS Career Fair, participating employers, including tech giants and local startups, shared their advice on how students can land internships and jobs.
September: Morgridge Hall Opens Its Doors
The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences marked the opening of its new home, Morgridge Hall, with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony. Hundreds of alumni, donors, and friends gathered for the occasion, including John and Tashia Morgridge, for whom the building is named.
August: Morgridge Hall Reaches the Finish Line
Construction of Morgridge Hall was completed, marking a historic milestone as the most sustainable academic building on campus and the largest privately funded building in its history. Following completion, faculty and staff began occupying and preparing the space for the first cohort of students to learn in the building.
July: Art Comes to Life in Morgridge Hall
Art installation began in Morgridge Hall, featuring Amanda McCavour’s works Ode to a Prairie and Prairie Plant Studies. Several iSchool students supported the installation process.
June: Students Design a Morgridge Hall Keepsake
The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences launched its an inaugural sticker competition, inviting students from across campus to submit their sticker design to honor the opening of Morgridge Hall.
May: Celebrating the Class of 2025
Hundreds to students graduated from the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. Our newest alumni included a student passionate about teaching computer science to high school girls in order to break down perceived barriers, one of the organizers behind the largest hackathon in the Midwest, the president of the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board, a data analyst behind Wisconsin Volleyball, and more.
April: Students Reimagine Healthcare Solutions
In early April, students convened in Union South to compete in a “reverse pitch,” a competition in which participants pitch their best solutions to a previously identified problem. Hosted by the N+1 Institute and UW’s longtime collaborator GE HealthCare, April’s reverse pitch tasked students with improving the global accessibility and reliability of healthcare monitoring technology.
March: Capstone Projects Take on Real-World Challenges
Through the Computer Sciences Capstone course, students tackled real-world challenges and impressing industry leaders from Google, GE HealthCare, Capital One, and more.
February: UW’s Top Double Major
Data Science and Computer Science are not only UW’s two most popular majors, they were also named the hottest major pairing. In the 2023-24 academic year, 201 graduates received degrees in both fields — more than twice as many as any other double major.
January: New Leadership for CDIS
Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, the Grace Wahba and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Computer Sciences, assumed leadership of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences.