By Rachel Robey
During a landmark year, these were the defining moments and accomplishments that set the tone for 2026.
For the Department of Computer Sciences (CS), 2025 was full of momentous firsts and historic achievements. The articles below represent five of the year’s most talked about stories.
#1: College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence
In December, the UW Board of Regents approved a proposal from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to reorganize the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) into a standalone college.
The vote marked a critical first step toward the creation of a College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence (CAI), building on decades of investment in scholarship, research, and teaching and the university’s strengths in computer, data, library and information sciences, and statistics.
#2: CS thrives in Morgridge Hall, new $267M research facility
In September, CS faculty, staff, and students relocated to Morgridge Hall, a brand-new $267M research and education facility that opened in late August. The move marked the first time that researchers from across CDIS were joined under one roof since the School’s founding in 2019. Already, Morgridge Hall’s residents are finding that the modern, light-filled space is leading to novel collaborations.
More news about Morgridge Hall:
- UW–Madison unveils Morgridge Hall, new home of CS (Wisconsin State Journal)
- Gov. Evers attends the Morgridge Hall Ribbon Cutting (UW News)
- Photo Essay: Explore the first day of class in Morgridge Hall (UW News)
#3: CS students “bend it like Bucky”
Are soccer-playing droids the future of robotics? One research team thinks so. In Professor Josiah Hanna’s lab, soccer-playing robots train with reinforcement learning, a branch of artificial intelligence that mimics one of the ways humans learn.
“Games are one of the first things humans learn to do. They’re where we first develop skills that will serve us for the rest of our lives,” says Hanna. “As we push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, it makes sense to use games as a test bed.”
#4: CS leads in graduate and undergraduate education
Wisconsin’s Computer Sciences graduate program is ranked 7th among public universities and 13th overall (three-way tie) according to the 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools.” Similarly, Computer Sciences was (one again) named a top ten public program for its undergraduate computer science education, coming in at 16th overall and 9th among public universities.
More news about rankings:
- UW–Madison named No. 2 public university in the U.S. (TIME Magazine)
- UW–Madison top 5 in national research rankings, according to National Science Foundation (UW News)
#5: Inside the Midwest’s premier student-run hackathon
In November, MadHacks made its Morgridge Hall debut. For 24 intense hours, “the Midwest’s premier student-run hackathon” drew over 400 participants from across the country — the largest turnout in the event’s history. Fueled by caffeine, creativity, and code, students from across the country came together for “a challenge in teamwork, resilience, creativity, and learning on the fly,” as participant (and CS/Information Science double major) Jenna Hlavac explained.