Chapter Leaders

Chapter Website Update

Our new websites are launching soon! In preparation, we would like to include a short “about us section” for each Varsity and Bascom chapter website. Please send your chapter representative a short description (450 characters or less) about your chapter and scholarship by December 15.

All recognized chapters will have a contact listed on the WAA website. In order for your information to be listed, please submit your board roster by the end of the year if you have not done so yet.

Game Watch Update

With the recent announcement of Badger football starting at the end of October, many chapters have reached out inquiring about game watches. We believe it’s important to stay vigilant regarding the health and safety of our alumni and communities. WFAA, including the chapter network, will continue connecting with alumni and friends in a virtual-only format until at least January 2021; this will include chapter-sponsored game watch events.

If your chapter plans to host a virtual game watch event this season, please submit an event request above to provide an event description and links. For all games, virtual game watch requests are due no later than 12 p.m. CST on the Monday before the game.

Scholarship Timeline

It is hard to believe, but we are just months away from a new scholarship season. Here is the timeline for your reference:

• January 1: Deadline to deposit money into scholarship funds
• February 15–March 15: Chapter Scholarship Committee to review applicant data
• March 16: Deadline to submit awardees and alternates to WAA via online form
• March 16–21: Notify awardees and alternates
• May 1: Commitment Day!

Athletics Update

It’s official! The Badgers’ season opener against Illinois kicked off Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. — right after Badger Leaders Conference. While there will be no fans at Camp Randall this fall, we have plenty of ways for alumni to keep their Badger spirits high from the safety and comfort of home. Share these opportunities with your chapter region on social media:

BADGER HUDDLE® Armchair Pregame — Promote this spirited video series, presented by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, to help your local alumni fill that Motion W–sized void in their hearts while keeping a safe and healthy distance. Episodes will arrive in the weeks following Homecoming.

Bucky Boards — Wish you could be at Camp Randall to show the team your support? With a Bucky Board fan cutout, you can still show your Badger pride (and your smiling face) inside the stadium.

Bucky’s Kids Club — Are your alumni looking for ways to keep their kids connected to the Badgers this fall? Tell them about the revamped Bucky’s Kids Club, featuring activity packets and fun events for families to enjoy together.

Virtual Events

We have been so impressed with the creativity of chapters around the world as they create virtual events to engage area alumni. In an effort to share these ideas and concepts, we have created a best practices document based on past virtual events. If your chapter hosts a virtual event, please expect a brief survey from your chapter representative to share details about your event. Thank you all for your ongoing enthusiasm, creativity, and engagement during these challenging times.

WFAA Update

The Wisconsin Alumni Association is hard at work planning virtual opportunities to connect in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our organization will work to offer delightful diversions and important information to our alumni and friends in innovative new ways — while not meeting in person through the end of the year.

The UW Now Livestream events have been covering the timeliest subjects in the COVID-19 era with UW-specific expertise and exploring our favorite Badger traditions . We’re also creating ways to connect our alumni to campus with virtual backgrounds, and take you for a walk down memory lane with new online Badger Scrapbooks. You can catch up on the news of the week with a new #UWWeekinReview on Instagram, and we’ve got plenty more programming in the works.

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about these virtual opportunities, reach out to your chapter representative.