Students open new doors to learning on first day of class
A little morning rain couldn’t stop the thousands of Badgers making their way to dining halls, lecture halls and labs across the University of Wisconsin–Madison for the first day of class. For many students and faculty, today was their very first first day.
Students in particular enjoyed the natural light and organic architecture of Morgridge Hall, the new home to the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences, completed this summer.
Badgers start the day off with breakfast. First-year undergraduate Mariama Barry smiles at her messy waffle at Gordon Avenue Market on the first day of the fall semester. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–MadisonFirst-year student Nick Zylstra picks up his breakfast from fellow undergraduate Jenna Abu-Zahra. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–MadisonBefore heading to class, recent transfer student Miguel Borrero fits in a workout at the Nicholas Recreation Center. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–MadisonRolla Al Hanaya (left), a fourth-year data science major from Saudi Arabia, walks down University Avenue on her way to Van Vleck Hall with Eman Saegh, a first-year student studying chemical engineering. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonBadgers didn’t let a little rain stop them on their way to class. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–MadisonStudents walk into Morgridge Hall — named for UW alumni John and Tashia Morgridge — the new home of the UW School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. This state-of-the-art building, which opened just weeks ago in August 2025, is a place where high-tech learning, research and collaboration come together under one roof. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–MadisonBorrero takes in the natural light and organic architecture of Morgridge Hall as he makes his way to class. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–MadisonTeaching faculty Cassy Leeport kicks off the semester with graduate students in her class Tribal Libraries, Archives and Museums. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–MadisonAlka Lakadia (left), a third-year computer science and data science student from India, and Hanaya (right) listen to an Intro to Big Data Systems lecture. Lakadia says that she knew from middle school that she wanted to study in the U.S. and came to UW because of the highly ranked computer sciences program. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–MadisonA graduate course in computer sciences meets in the lower classroom space of the new Morgridge Hall. Photo: Bryce Richter / UW–MadisonAmidst the bustle of the school day, students take time to pause. Photo: Althea Dotzour / UW–MadisonAnd then they crack the books (and laptops) to buckle down for the semester ahead. Photo: Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison
Shane Hoffman will become the first graduate of a UW School of Medicine and Public Health program that reduces the time it takes to train doctors interested in serving rural parts of the state.
