The University of Wisconsin system Board of Regents Thursday approved UW-Madison’s proposal to reorganize the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a standalone college.
The vote took place at the board’s December meeting at UW-Whitewater. It authorizes the university to commence formal planning for UW-Madison’s first new college in over 40 years, the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence.
The college’s academic structure will be finalized through the course of several months of governance review and broad campus consultation, with regent approval. UW-Madison will form a steering committee and launch a search for the college’s inaugural dean.
The reorganization looks to join CDIS’ three academic units: Computer Sciences, the Information School and Statistics.
The college will initially draw from CDIS’ existing operating budget and administrative services. Additional philanthropic support is expected early next year.
The new college is expected to officially launch on July 1, 2026.
“Artificial intelligence and computing are transforming every discipline, from veterinary medicine to political science,” said Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, the director of CDIS, in a statement.
He had previously discussed the university’s consideration of a new college focused on AI at a July Wisconsin Technology Council luncheon.
“We see the formation of a college as an important step toward serving as a campuswide resource while also meeting the needs of our students and the state of Wisconsin,” Arpaci said in the news release. “The future workforce will be defined by those who can integrate computing and AI fluently into every discipline.”
