University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and the School of medicine and Public Health share one of the most picturesque campuses in the country­-and also one of the most respected. The UW campus, with its 3,000 faculty, 42,000 students and more than 326,000 living alumni, is the largest graduate school and the fourth largest university in the country. It is one of only a few public universities to receive a 'five star' ranking (Fiske Guide to Colleges). In addition to being one of the best, it is also one of the most diverse schools, with the fifth largest population of international students in the country. This creates an outstanding environment for interaction and collaboration among faculty and schools and sharing of resources. Indeed, UW's leadership has placed great emphasis on cross-fertilization and breaking down traditional departmental mineshafts. It also adheres to the 'Wisconsin Idea,' that UW is a resource for all the people of the state, not just its matriculated students.

The UW has been a pioneer in the technology revolution. The transistor and the integrated circuit were invented here; the nation's first campus computing laboratory was an outgrowth of the UW's pioneering computing work. In keeping with its tradition of broad vision beyond the ivory tower, UW originated the concept of university intellectual property management in 1925. Its technology transfer activities have provided start-up funding for more than 80 companies and is currently making large investments in biotechnology on campus. These efforts are funded by income from past scientific successes, by state investment and by the most successful private development program in a public university in the US. The UW is the nation's third largest recipient of overall research and development funding, and the eighth largest recipient of federal R&D dollars in the country.

The UW has a strong tradition of social activism, including playing a critical role in implementing the nation's first income tax, unemployment compensation and the Social Security Act of 1935. UW boasts more Peace Corps volunteers than any other University, and was the founding location of NOW (National Organization for Women).

The UW also provides a substantial recreational environment, which balances scholarly achievement. The Memorial Union (a.k.a. the University Division of Social Education) provides sports facilities for all members of the University community, including the third largest university sailing club in the nation, and has recorded such milestones as being the first campus union to serve beer after the prohibition (1933).