What does it mean to be a UW–Madison student when your classroom is online?
For students in UW–Madison’s online engineering master’s programs, earning a degree remotely does not mean missing out on the university experience. Campus Connect invites online engineering graduate students to visit campus, engage with fellow Badger engineers and immerse themselves in the broader College of Engineering community.
Because many students complete their programs from a distance, the annual event offers a chance to step away from the screen and experience UW–Madison firsthand. Campus Connect brings together new and returning students, faculty, staff and alumni to explore campus and Madison, exchange ideas and build relationships that can extend beyond graduate school and into their careers.
Connecting Beyond the Classroom
Online graduate programs provide the flexibility to pursue an advanced degree while balancing careers, families and other responsibilities. At the same time, studying remotely can make it more challenging to develop the sense of belonging that often comes naturally in an on-campus setting.
Campus Connect helps close that distance by giving students an opportunity to engage with the university in ways that go beyond coursework.
“It’s not about getting an online degree. It’s about becoming part of the University of Wisconsin and the great heritage of the College of Engineering,” said Dr. Jim Rink, Program Director for Manufacturing Systems Engineering.
That experience looks different for every student. Some are meeting classmates they’ve collaborated with online for months, while others are introducing themselves to faculty members or advisors in person for the first time. For every attendee, Campus Connect offers a closer look at the people, places and traditions that help define UW–Madison.
For Sumayyah, a new student starting this fall, seeing the places where faculty and staff work adds a new dimension to the online experience.
“I feel like having an opportunity to come to campus, seeing the places [where] everyone works, and just feeling that kind of connection brings another level to your relationship with your school,” she said.
The event also creates space for students to learn from one another. Online engineering students bring a wide range of academic backgrounds, professional expertise and personal experiences to their programs, making each conversation an opportunity to gain insights from perspectives beyond their own field.
Building Relationships That Last
For online students, feeling connected to the university can play an important role in their graduate journey.
“As an online student, it can be very easy to feel separated from your campus and from your community because you are living somewhere else,” said Sumayyah.
Face-to-face interactions can also lead to meaningful personal and professional relationships. Students connect with peers in their own programs while meeting engineers from other disciplines, faculty members and alumni, expanding their networks and gaining new perspectives along the way.
The impact of the event is reflected in the number of students who return year after year. Valya, a returning student who has attended Campus Connect multiple times, continues to value the opportunity to meet classmates in person.
“So far, the highlight of Campus Connect has been meeting other students in my program and being able to see them in person,” she said.
For returning students, Campus Connect offers a chance to reconnect with people and relationships they’ve already begun to develop. For new students, it provides a welcoming introduction to the network they’ll build throughout their time at UW–Madison.
More Than an Online Degree
Campus Connect reflects an important part of the UW–Madison online engineering experience: flexibility and belonging can go hand in hand.
Online graduate programs allow students to advance their education while continuing their careers and managing other responsibilities. Events like Campus Connect complement that flexibility by creating opportunities to build relationships, expand professional networks and engage with the university beyond the virtual classroom.
Whether they are meeting classmates for the first time, reconnecting with friends from previous events, talking with faculty or exploring campus, students leave with a stronger sense of what it means to be part of the College of Engineering.
Campus Connect is more than a visit to Madison. It is a chance to become part of the broader Badger engineering network, strengthen ties to UW–Madison and build relationships that continue long after graduation.
Learn more about Campus Connect here!