What is the role of the public university in a democratic society? When University of Wisconsin president Charles Van Hise declared in 1905 that he would “never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family in the state,” he gave early expression to what we now call the Wisconsin Idea. Van Hise thought that the state university, in partnership with the state government and citizenry, could illuminate Wisconsin’s social problems and contribute to effective solutions that advanced the common good. But what kind of research and education best fit this mission, how can professional expertise be reconciled with popular self-government, and who precisely are the people the university should serve? Bringing students and faculty into conversation with the general public, this course explores the Wisconsin Idea as it has developed since its beginnings, with a focus on what it means today and what it can mean in the future. The course features a public lecture every Tuesday by a series of distinguished guest speakers, and a small, discussion-oriented seminar for students and auditors that meets every Thursday. For more information, please contact Chad Alan Goldberg at cagoldberg@wisc.edu.