Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program

Many faculty members are part of dual-career couples and the decision to accept a university position often includes the availability of employment for a spouse or partner.

At UW-Madison, we are committed to assisting spouses and partners find employment opportunities on campus, or in the local community, by offering information, networking, career resources, personal assistance, and support.

We work closely with spouses and partners to offer personalized support to navigate the sometimes-complicated issues associated with finding a job in a new community. The Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program does not guarantee employment.

The Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program is a partnership among the Office of the Provost, departments, deans, and the broader campus community.

How to connect to our services

We encourage couples to request a referral to our program through their department or hiring committee chair.

We do understand that prospective faculty may want to keep potential dual-career issues confidential in advance of an offer. We are also available to talk with you about our program and our resources without needing a referral from a department or hiring committee chair.

Resources

UW-Madison Positions

UW-Madison is one of our region’s largest employers. The department or search committee chair of the faculty hire, along with the Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program, may be able to help identify and pursue campus positions. We encourage couples to use the Jobs at UW website to learn about the kinds of positions available on campus as well as to find current position openings. In some circumstances support may also be available through the Strategic Hiring Initiative.

Off-Campus Positions

The Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program is well connected to the local community and works to help spouses and partners network, to identify, and pursue opportunities in our area. In some cases, we refer partners and spouses to an external employment agency to help with employment counseling, advising, and referrals.

Career and Job Search Advising

UW-Madison offers career and job search advising and support for people looking for new opportunities. Services include employment counseling, resume evaluation, skills inventory, and individual advising. Learn More.

Non-Employment Issues

Relocation usually means a lot of change. To make your transition easier, we are also available to offer information about non-employment issues including local schools, childcare, recreational programs, housing information, and cultural organizations. We can offer confidential consultations about any of these issues.

Community Orientation

The Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program may be available to offer a community orientation tour for faculty candidates and their partners when they are in Madison in advance of relocation. Please inquire with Catherine Reiland for more information. (During the pandemic we will not offer in-person tours of campus or the Madison community.)

You can also start your exploration with this list of Madison’s essentials and amenities.