About Us

The Information School at UW-Madison is focused on education and research that expands society’s understanding of the role of information in all aspects of science, nature and humanity.

With a commitment to exceptional education, we offer several degrees including a BA/BS in Information Science, MA in Library and Information Studies, and MS and PhD in Information. We also offer professionals a UE/UX capstone program as well an extensive continuing education series for information professionals across the country.

Our faculty engage in research, scholarly inquiry, and outreach at the intersection of people, information and data, and computing technologies. We are committed to educating students and pursuing work that adds to the collective knowledge, productivity and innovation, and to the well-being of people, communities, and society.

We are proud to be a founding department of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences.

What's an iSchool?

Our mission is to:

Educate responsible leaders, critical thinkers, and creative innovators in the information professions who are adept in the creation, retrieval, use, and curation of information in all its forms, who are able to provide access to and understanding of information for all those who need or seek it, and who contribute to individual and collective knowledge, productivity, and well-being.
Create and disseminate research about past, present, and future information users and uses, the processes and technologies vital for information management and use, and the economies, cultures, and policies that affect information and access to it.
Contribute to the development of the faculties of information schools through a doctoral program built on interdisciplinary research and teaching excellence; and provide useful service to information professionals, the people of Wisconsin, and all information users.

Education & Teaching

Continue to grow faculty and staff teaching excellence.
Expand educational programming in areas of high student demand, while maintaining the broad-based strength of our educational enterprise.
Expand access to a UW–Madison education, leveraging new modes of delivery to engage with students throughout their lives.
Strengthen educational outcomes, career development, and the college experience for all students.
Ensure the continued vitality, competitiveness, and strength of our graduate and professional programs.

Research & Scholarship

Provide a modern research support structure that fosters innovation, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and drives discovery on future research challenges.
Continue to grow faculty and staff research excellence.
Grow UW–Madison’s research enterprise and expand its global impact, supporting the scholarship of faculty, staff, and students.

Wisconsin Idea

Engage with the community to provide positive social, cultural, and economic impact in Wisconsin and beyond.
Promote social entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development in Wisconsin and beyond.
Share the benefits of a world-class teaching and research university throughout Wisconsin and beyond our borders.

Vibrant Campus Community

Provide an inclusive, safe, healthy, and enriching environment for learning and working that promotes wellness among students and employees.
Enhance the holistic development of students by combining learning in and out of the classroom that is steeped in the values of the iSchool and the University of Wisconsin.
Enhance diversity among our students, faculty, and staff and build upon our strong commitment to diversity to create a welcoming, empowered, and inclusive community.
Expand and deepen relationships with key partners and stakeholders critical to our success and maintain our commitment to shared governance.

Organizational Excellence

Practice sustainability principles in the stewardship of campus resources, recognizing our environmental responsibility to people and the planet.
Build upon and further support our high-quality and committed workforce that advances our mission and reflects our values.
Strengthen financial sustainability of the iSchool, while maintaining a commitment to iSchool values.

The iSchool is a founding department of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS). CDIS is connecting technology with humanity by linking science with society and by bridging information with people, all while collaborating throughout campus and beyond to solve human challenges across Wisconsin and the world.

Learn More About CDIS

Learn More About Our New CDIS Building

The Wisconsin Idea at UW-Madison signifies a simple principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. At the iSchool, the Wisconsin Idea is embedded in all aspects of our department from teaching and research, to our community engagement. We are commitment to service beyond campus and engaging in work that benefits all citizens of the state, the country, and even the world.

Learn More About the Wisconsin Idea

Land Acknowledgement Statement

The iSchool at the University of Wisconsin–Madison occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land, a place their nation has called Teejop (day-JOPE) since time immemorial. In an 1832 treaty, the Ho-Chunk were forced to cede this territory. Decades of ethnic cleansing followed when both the federal and state government repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, sought to forcibly remove the Ho-Chunk from Wisconsin.

We acknowledge the circumstances that led to the forced removal of the Ho-Chunk people, and honor their legacy of resistance and resilience. This history of colonization informs our work and vision for a collaborative future. We recognize and respect the inherent sovereignty of the Ho-Chunk Nation and the other 11 Native Nations within the boundaries of the state of Wisconsin.