MyUW Forward Project
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UW–Madison is taking MyUW to the next level in 2026 with a more intuitive, accessible and personalized experience tailored to your specific roles and interests.
The MyUW Forward Project will deliver an updated, easy-to-use interface with new features tailored to you—whether you’re an applicant exploring the university, a student accessing course materials, an instructor managing classes, staff navigating university resources or an advisor supporting students.
This project will migrate MyUW to Salesforce Experience Cloud—preserving the features you’re used to while unlocking opportunities for new innovations, faster development and better personalization.
Building on the same technology that powers UW–Madison Profile, the new MyUW will ensure that the platform continues to serve as your personalized gateway to the right information, applications and resources, while also laying the foundation for new innovations and features.
What this change means for you
Students & employees
A new-and-improved experience with modern design that works seamlessly on your computer, phone or tablet.
See personalized content that matters most to your role and interests first, with enhanced accessibility features.
Departments & units
Better search and discoverability so your community can find the news, events and resources they need.
Expanded notifications options to keep your audience informed with regular updates.
Smooth transition to the new platform with expert support to update your existing processes if needed.
University’s mission
Supporting student success through better access to university services.
Improved accessibility that meets compliance standards and university values.
Effective use of university resources that unlocks new ways of learning and working.
Get involved
We ❤️ MyUW, and we want to make this an inclusive process to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the UW community.
Join the project email list to stay in the loop about the project and opportunities to test the new platform and share feedback.
Project timeline
| July 2024 to June 2025 | Set up project team, define roles, create shared vision, establish tools and processes, research legacy functionality, build component library, scope minimum viable product |
| July 2025 to January 2026 | Build core functionality, develop standard tiles, stakeholder feedback sessions, design new features |
| January 2026 to May 2026 | Refine search and layout features, internal quality assurance testing, accessibility evaluation |
| June 2026 to August 2026 | Conduct invite-only testing, implement feedback-based improvements, conduct end-to-end testing |
| September 2026 to November 2026 | Update KnowledgeBase documentation, train Help Desk staff, coordinate partner transitions for new platform processes, launch university-wide communications and listening sessions |
| November 2026 to May 2027 | Phased rollout of new MyUW experience availability for select user groups, gather user feedback for rapid improvements, complete application migrations |
| Summer 2027 | Launch new MyUW experience for all users, continue development based on user feedback, begin to sunset previous platform infrastructure |
Frequently asked questions
What is the MyUW Forward Project?
We’re moving MyUW from its current uPortal platform to Salesforce Experience Cloud, the same framework that powers the UW–Madison Profile service. This update will create a more reliable, user-friendly experience and position our technology to grow with the university’s needs.
Why are we making this change?
MyUW runs on legacy technology that’s becoming difficult to maintain. By moving to a modern platform, we can deliver new features faster, improve accessibility and create better user experiences while reducing technical debt.
Will all current MyUW features be available in the new version?
Our goal is to migrate all high-value functions based on usage data and user feedback. We also plan to improve some existing features, taking advantage of new opportunities presented by the Salesforce platform. We will gather input throughout development to prioritize what matters most to users.
Will I still be able to customize my layout?
Yes. The new platform will include enhanced customization options, including the ability to add and remove tiles, adjust their order and personalize your experience based on your role and interests.
Will my bookmarks and saved settings transfer over?
We’re investigating ways to import some legacy layout preferences, but the new platform may have different customization options. We’ll provide clear guidance about recreating your preferred setup as we get closer to launch.
Will the new platform work on mobile devices?
Yes, absolutely. The new platform includes a mobile-responsive design that works across all devices, providing a better mobile experience than the current system.
Will the new MyUW be accessible?
Accessibility is a top priority. Salesforce Experience Cloud is committed to WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, which aligns with the university’s digital accessibility policy and federal requirements. We will conduct thorough accessibility testing with support from the Center for User Experience.
I manage content in MyUW for my unit. What do I need to know?
We will schedule meetings with all MyUW content owners to discuss the transition process. The new platform may have different content management processes, and we want to ensure a smooth transition for your specific needs.
Will my unit still own our MyUW tiles?
Yes. Units will continue to own and manage their MyUW content. The new platform uses a consultative service model where you work with the MyUW Team to refine your content using available options and best practices. While the interface for managing content may change, the collaborative relationship between your unit and the MyUW Team will remain the same.
What support will you offer staff for the new system?
We will offer robust documentation for employees in university units that manage content in MyUW to ensure a seamless transition when the new MyUW launches. This will include new KnowledgeBase articles and Help Desk coordination to support staff during the transition. Our goal is for this process to be as smooth and intuitive as possible for our MyUW partners.
Can I suggest new MyUW features or updates?
Yes, we’d love to hear your ideas. Fill out our suggestions form to request a new MyUW feature or application. Please only use the form to share your ideas for new features or updates you’d like to see to the service, not for minor changes like copy edits.
What are the benefits of Salesforce Experience Cloud?
The platform offers faster development of new features through low-code/no-code tools, better integration capabilities with university systems, enhanced security through enterprise-grade platform capabilities, easier translation to multiple languages, and support for emerging technologies like AI and automated workflows.
Is Salesforce already used elsewhere at UW–Madison?
Yes. Undergraduate Admissions, the Division of Continuing Studies and the UW Profile service all use Salesforce. This gives us confidence that the platform’s capabilities will fit the university’s needs.
How will this affect system integrations?
The new platform will maintain connections to existing university systems while potentially offering improved integration capabilities. We’re building on proven integration patterns established through the UW Profile service implementation.
How do I get help using MyUW?
You can find answers to many MyUW questions in the MyUW Help KnowledgeBase library.
For general support using MyUW or to report an accessibility or usability barrier, please contact the DoIT Help Desk.
Read our MyUW Accessibility Statement for more information about our commitment to digital accessibility.
A vital resource since 2001
MyUW has served as a crucial hub for digital life at the university since 2001, when the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) pioneered online access to university services by launching the original “My UW–Madison.” The pilot took off, and by 2002, DoIT expanded access to all students and employees.
MyUW transformed how Badgers accessed educational resources at the university. When web enrollment launched in fall 2002, students could finally abandon the frustrating touch-tone telephone system. Over the following 2 decades, MyUW continually evolved—adding mobile apps in 2010, undergoing a complete responsive redesign in 2015, and most recently integrating Workday and enhanced Canvas features—all while serving over 150,000 users with more than 20 million annual logins.
What began as a bold step into a new digital realm has now become the standard in higher education worldwide.
The MyUW Forward Project will lay the foundation for innovations that will define the next generation of digital experiences at UW–Madison.
Meet the team
Project sponsors
- Elizabeth Simcock, AIS Associate Director, DoIT Web Platforms and Services
- Joe Tarter, Director of DoIT Application Infrastructure Services
Core team
- April Ebacher, IT Manager
- Collin Krause, Engineer
- Amanda Meyers, MyUW Service Operations Coordinator
- Paulina Nogal, Engineer
- Scott Reeser, Technical Lead and Engineer
- Beth Richardson, Project Lead and Engineer
- Elisabeth Trenta, User Experience Architect