The Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning leads UW–Madison’s educational enterprise through his work with Deans and Directors, programs, departments and units, and faculty, staff and students.

Dr. Christopher Olsen has been on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1995, after completing a post-doctoral fellowship here from 1992 to 1995. Along with maintaining an active research program from 1995-2011 devoted to influenza viruses, he has always had strong interests in teaching excellence, curriculum development and assessment, and interdisciplinary education; he was tenured in 2001 based on excellence in teaching, and promoted to professor in 2004.

Chris has published more than 65 refereed research and education journal articles, as well as numerous proceedings and book chapters. From November 2006 through August 2012, he served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine. During this tenure he led the development of a comprehensive outcomes assessment process for the DVM degree program; oversaw a broad-ranging curriculum review of the program; reformulated new student orientation activities; directed development and evaluation of a clinical competencies assessment program; led development of the dual DVM-MPH and DVM-Certificate in Global Health programs and the Food Animal Veterinary Medical Scholars admissions program; implemented a lecture capture system for courses in the DVM curriculum; and, provided administrative guidance in development of multiple academic and student affairs policies. In 2009-10 he completed the Joseph F. Kauffman Administrative Development Program, was a Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Academic Leadership Program Fellow in 2010-11, and is currently serving as an alternate member to the Institute of Medicine’s Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education. Chris is the recipient of several faculty honors, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, election to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Teaching Academy, and the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Walter F. Renk Distinguished Professor Award. 

CURRENT PRIORITIES

Educational Innovation is a coordinated effort to create a sustained campus environment by improving our capacities and generating new revenue in order to maintain and enhance student learning and preserve research excellence. Educational Innovations will take place all across campus, within and across programs, departments, colleges and centers, and will be supported by new and streamlined policies and practices. Educational Innovation empowers faculty and staff to be the agents of change for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

The Madison Initiative for Undergraduates allocated $40,000,000 for projects that improve access and enhance undergraduate student learning. Projects ranged from curricular innovations, to the creation of e-learning classrooms, to a transformed system to provide academic advising.

Each year our staff puts on an amazing symposium for campus educators and learners. On May 23 & 24, 2012, we put on an exciting program of workshops, presentations and learning circles, that focused on the theme: Stretching Our Boundaries, Reaching All Students. The 2013 Teaching and Learning Symposium will be held at Union South.

The Teaching and Learning Excellence website is the interactive resource for all educators to share teaching issues, solutions, and see what others on campus are doing. Read about best practices, best solutions, and connect with other faculty who might be facing the same challenges you are.

The Wisconsin Experience describes what's unique about getting a degree from UW–Madison. It's based on the idea that, together, we create and apply learning inside and outside the classroom to make the world a better place. UW–Madison produces graduates who are creative problem solvers, able to integrate empirical analysis and passion, seek out and create new knowledge and technologies, adapt to new situations, and engage as world citizens.

Go Big Read has thousands of people reading, talking and sharing their reactions and opinions. That’s the idea: to engage students, faculty, staff and the entire community in a vibrant, academically driven experience. This open-ended, lively discussion is a platform for the exploration of important issues, from a range of perspectives. Join the conversation, read the book and bring your thoughts to the table.

Undergraduate learning experience

"Cultivating Excellence: UW–Madison's Challenging Undergraduate Academic Experience," a speech (PDF) and presentation (PowerPoint) to the UW Board of Regents Education Committee, December 2005.

Annual Undergraduate Symposium
General Education
Undergraduate Departments and Programs

Academic enrichment programs

Learning communities
Undergraduate research opportunities
Service learning
Pathways to Excellence
Division of International Studies

Grants and awards
Honors and scholars programs
Technology and computing

Graduate/professional learning experience

The Graduate School
Technology and computing
Teaching and Learning Excellence at UW–Madison
My Professional Development web portal

Faculty and staff teaching and learning

Center for the First-Year Experience
Annual Teaching & Learning Symposium  May 23 & 24, 2012
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Task Force Report  June 22, 2006
My Professional Development web portal
Advising resources
Teaching and Learning Excellence at UW–Madison
Council on Academic Advising

Related university resources

Colleges and schools
ComETS: Community of Educational Technology Support at UW–Madison
Division of Information Technology
Office of Human Resource Development
UW System Office of Professional and Instructional Development (OPID)