UW-Madison Launches New college of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, first in Over 50 Years
MADISON, WI – In a landmark decision, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the creation of the College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI) during its December meeting on Thursday. This marks the first new college established at UW-madison in over half a century, with the last new division occurring in 1983 with the founding of the School of Veterinary Medicine.
The new college will be formed from the existing School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences (CDIS), which was established in 2019. Beginning in the summer of 2026, CDIS will become an independant entity, separating from the College of Letters and Science where it was initially housed.
The move reflects the rapidly growing demand for computing and data science education at UW-Madison.Since its inception in 2019, CDIS’s data science major has quickly become one of the university’s most popular programs. Enrollment in the computer science major,available since 2015,has more than doubled,surging from over 1,000 students in 2015 to over 3,000 in 2025.
The College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence will be structured around three core units: computer sciences, the Information School, and statistics. UW-Madison intends for the college to foster a human-centered, interdisciplinary approach to these fields.
Beyond academic organization,the university envisions CAI as a central hub for exploring the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence. UW officials state the college will promote AI as a powerful learning tool, emphasizing the importance of its responsible and thoughtful application.
This reorganization, as reported by UW News, signals a important investment in the future of technology and innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
