The following are groups on campus and in our surrounding community that provide services and resources which you may find useful. All descriptions are based on information from the respective web sites.
Graduate students designed this guide with the hope that you will find it helpful in navigating your new community. We have also included some useful hints for being a graduate student in Madison. We know that this campus, with over 40,000 students, can be intimidating and overwhelming.
As part of the University Health Services (UHS), Counseling Services provides information, self-guided help, and treatment to students on a variety of personal and professional issues.
Appointments and general information:
(608) 265-5600
Mon | Tue | Thu | Fri » 8:30 am to 5 pm
Wed » 9 am to 5 pm
333 East Campus Mall
The Creating Community web site is part of the university’s effort to create and maintain an open dialogue about diversity-related news, events and resources on the UW-Madison campus.
Dream Bikes is a not-for-profit organization located in the Allied–Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood and offers safe used bicycles for sale to members of the community at an affordable price. Dream Bikes also has put together their Micro-Credit Program which individuals can use to purchase a bike on a payment plan. Dream Bikes wants everyone who dreams of owning a bike, to be able to purchase one.
Madison is lucky to have a farmers’ market going on in some part of the city or surrounding community virtually every day of the week. The largest (and the place to be on a Saturday morning in the summer) is the Dane County Farmers’ Market (DCFM) on the Capitol Square. Over 300 vendors sell the freshest local produce and homemade Wisconsin products at this popular market that runs on Saturdays and Wednesdays. The DCFM runs year-round, though it is at its peak when it is outside during the summer months.
Henry Vilas Zoo is open year-round and has free admission and parking. Grounds open daily at 9:30 a.m., building hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the grounds close at 5 p.m. It is located at 702 S. Randall Avenue and is accessible by public transportation.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Campus Center’s mission is to strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus community for LGBTQ and allied students by eliminating heterosexism, homophobia, and gender identity oppression. The center’s goal is to provide the services and resources necessary to meet the social, emotional, academic, and cultural needs of LGBTQ students.
Madison Children’s Museum (MCM) is the place! MCM offers a unique opportunity to have fun learning along with your child, building memories that last a lifetime. They have hands-on exhibits and programs, designed to inspire lifelong learning through play and celebrating children’s imaginations. The Madison Children’s Museum is located at 100 State Street, near the State Capitol building. That facility will be closing on January 4, 2010 and the Madison Children's Museum will be moving to their new facility at 101 North Hamilton Street, which is scheduled to open in late summer of 2010.
Check out the new real-time arrival estimates and bus locator map information for every stop. View text-based arrival time information or track actual bus locations on Google Maps or Virtual Earth. There’s also a Trip Planner page that will tell you what bus(es) to take to get where you want to go.
The Madison Public Library’s Central Location is on 201 W. Mifflin St. and there are many branch locations around Madison. They offer story times and many other programs and resources for both parents and children. They also have a Spanish language web site and Spanish programs available.
Moms in Madison is a web site dedicated to resources in Madison for parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. There is an events calendar, information about family-friendly dining, parenting classes, things to do in Madison, and more.
The Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) coordinates campus compliance with affirmative action and equal opportunity requirements and serves as an informational resource for schools, colleges, divisions, and committees regarding equity and diversity issues. It is a unit within the Office of the Provost, and serves both the graduate and undergraduate communities of UW-Madison. Whether you just want information or have a specific situation that needs to be addressed, this is the place to start.
The OCCFR promotes the development and implementation of a coordinated child care and family support system on campus. At present, the office coordinates eight early care and education centers that serve campus faculty, staff and students.
The Budget Bicycle Center’s Red Bikes Project loans not-so-new bikes for free. A credit card deposit of $40 is required for a bike and $20 for a U-lock. Both deposits are refunded as soon as you return the equipment, but you can keep it as long as you like from the beginning of spring until November, when the red bikes must be returned for yearly maintenance. Call 608–251–1663 or visit their web site for more information.
SAFE (Safe Arrival For Everyone) Nighttime Services are the University's comprehensive late night transportation system, available to students, faculty, staff and university guests. SAFEwalk Escorts provide walking escorts on campus and beyond; three SAFEride Bus routes provide free transportation starting at 6:30 p.m.; SAFEride Cab provides a limited number of free cab rides in areas outside the walk and bus zones. The site also offers information and tips on measures you can take to protect yourself.
“St. Vinnie’s” thrift stores sell used furniture, clothing and inexpensive household items. They have been a definite staple for students in Madison for decades, with locations on the East side, South side, and West side.
The Teaching Assistants’ Association (AFT Local 3220) is the labor union for TAs and PAs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. All wages, benefits, and other working conditions are negotiated through the union in a contract with the State of Wisconsin.
University Health Services is the health clinic on campus, open to any current UW–Madison student. The team of experienced professionals combine routine health care with specialty clinics that focus on key health concerns, and you can choose to see the same primary care clinician throughout your UW years.
The Women’s Studies Research Center has a list of pertinent women’s organizations on campus, many catering to graduate students and staff. There are also women’s graduate organizations specializing in business, science, sociology, political science, engineering, computer science, curriculum instruction, and history.
