In September 2023, Student Affairs established the Badger Dialogues event series to foster communication between campus administrators and students from a variety of backgrounds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Student Affairs administrators facilitated the small-group meetings to encourage open and constructive dialogue intended to deepen the understanding of student experiences of belonging and to gather insights on cultivating a more inclusive campus environment.
From Oct. 3, 2023, to March 13, 2024, Student Affairs hosted 19 sessions with nearly 200 student participants in total. Student Affairs analysis of notes collected from the sessions produced findings in two theme areas: 1) perceptions of belonging and community and 2) ideas for making the campus more inclusive.
Badger Dialogues sessions will continue during the 2024–25 academic year.