We support the Wisconsin Idea through our efforts to create and share research across the state and around the world.
Supporting evidence-based policy
Partner with La Follette students
Each year, our students partner with public, nonprofit, and private sector organizations to address real-world challenges. These partnerships provide research and analytic support to organizations and experience for our students
Find an expert
Our faculty members regularly discuss their world-class policy research with the media and policymakers.
Connecting with policymakers
Our school has a long history of collaboration with legislators and policymakers, sharing research to inform decision-making and make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Outreach events
Every year, we convene policy experts to inform and engage the the public.
La Follette Forum
Our annual conference convenes researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to address major policy issues.
Journalist in Residence
We host journalists on campus every semester to meet with students and community leaders and headline public events.
Policymaker in Residence
We invite a distinguished policymaker to campus each year to meet with students and deliver a public presentation.
Paul Offner Lecture Series
Created in 2007, the Paul Offner Lecture Series honors the late Paul Offner, who left a legacy of applying good scholarship to public policy, especially for disadvantaged people.
Family Impact Seminars
Family Impact Seminars convene policymakers to discuss pressing policy issues and how they impact families.
Seminar Series
Every semester, Seminar Series presenters discuss timely policy research from the La Follette School, UW–Madison, and around the world.
Impact areas
La Follette Policy Poll
In 2022, we polled 5,000 Wisconsin residents about the issues that matter to them most and the problems they most want solved. The poll results shed light on both consensus and divisions in the Badger State.
The Wisconsin Idea
One of the longest and deepest traditions surrounding the University of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Idea signifies a general principle: that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Our faculty, students, and staff practice the Wisconsin Idea across the state and around the world by supporting evidence-based policy research and convening conversations.