The Wisconsin Idea

The Wisconsin Idea asserts that the boundaries of the University are the boundaries of the state.

This idea of a university that serves the needs of the state first surfaced with the U.S. Congress' passage of the 1862 Morrill-Wade Act, which provided for at least one institution in each state that would provide advanced education in agriculture and the mechanical arts. The idea of using teaching and research in these applied sciences for the broader benefit of the people took hold in Wisconsin, and in a 1904 speech, University of Wisconsin President Charles Van Hise declared, "I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family in the state."

Charles McCarthy, himself a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, expanded this vision beyond the university to include knowledge in general, coining the phrase, "The Wisconsin Idea" by writing a 1912 book of that title. He believed that research and knowledge were important in providing practical solutions for the needs of the people and the state, and he promoted the use of university resources to address social and economic issues. Moreover, according to McCarthy’s vision, the Wisconsin Idea specifically called for cooperation between the University and government in order to identify and implement policies for the benefit of the people of the state.

 

Legislative Reference Bureau - 1 East Main St., Suite 200 - P.O. Box 2037 - Madison, WI 53701-2037