Contact and Parking Information

Office & Training Location and Parking

Our office is now located on the second floor of Grainger Hall (975 University Ave.), above the front entrance. Our office is on the side of the building closest to N. Park St and University Ave. View the thumbnail version at right, or see a wayfinding map of Grainger Hall here. The majority of our in-person classes in Grainger Hall take place in Room 3180 (third floor, closest to the parking elevators), but always make sure to check the Today in Grainger screens and/or our bright-colored hallway signs for confirmation.

Our classes are held in Grainger Hall (975 University Avenue) located on the corner of Park Street and University Avenue.  There is underground parking (Lot 7) at Grainger Hall off of Brooks St., as well as street parking. Brooks St. is located one block west of  Park. There will be signs in the elevator on “In Grainger Today” bulletin as well as bright pink signs on the floor of the class to direct you.

Parking Information (Planning ahead)

Parking is available directly through Transportation Services if ordered 2 weeks prior to your class in Lot 7.

To arrange for parking please contact Transportation Services directly. Call: 608-263-6667 or https://transportation.wisc.edu/visitor-parking/ 

Parking Information (Day of)

Please give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to find parking on campus due to downtown construction to get to Grainger Hall. Pay-as-you-go parking is also available in Grainger Hall (Lot 7) and a few nearby lots on a first-come, first-served basis. Please pull a ticket as you arrive, and visit the cashier station or pay-on-foot station to pay for your parking prior to exiting the lot. Lot 7 is below Grainger Hall with the entrance on Brooks St. between University Avenue and Johnson street. Other parking lots within walking distance to Grainger Hall are:

• In Grainger Hall, Lot 7, 325 N. Brooks St. (very limited in the morning after 8:00 am)
• Lot 46, located at Lake & Johnson St, 301 N. Lake St.
• State Street Garage, City of Madison, 415 N. Lake St. – ENTRANCE CLOSED. The State Street Campus Garage is currently under construction; however the Frances Street entrance at 430 N Frances St. of this garage is still available with limited availability. For more information about this construction, click here.

• University Square Parking, 324 N Lake St. (Private lot parking; check prices)

• View visitor parking lot maps
• View available spaces by lot.

Visitor Parking Rates

• Daytime parking rates for the 2024-25 school year:
  • $1 per 30 min – first 3 hours
    $1 per hour thereafter
    $15 session maximum
• Evening parking rates (starting at 4:30 pm):
  • $1 per hour
  • $5 evening maximum

For the most updated visitor parking information, visit the Visitor Parking information on the Transportation Services website.

Transportation Services Special Events occasionally manages Lot 7 during athletic games and other campus events. Please refer to their Events Calendar and check to see if Lot 7 is listed as an impacted lot. If so, Special Events will accept cash payments on the day of the event (permits range from $5-$15).

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@wsb.wisc.edu to request accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Live Virtual Classes

Q: What is a live virtual class? Webinar?

“Live, virtual” courses are classes you join as they’re happening – in real time – from anywhere that you can access the internet. These courses will take place at a designated time and date via Zoom. Through this platform, you will still be able to see the instructor, hear the information, ask questions, and participate with your fellow classmates when it makes sense with the content.

1. Webinars are shorter presentations from a content expert on a topic. These are around an hour in length and allow time for questions at the end. Given their length, webinars focus on a narrow topic or a broad overview of a subject, and they have limited interactive elements.
2. Live, virtual courses dive deeper into topic (often between two hours and a full day in length) and have a format that more closely mirrors an in-person class. This often includes breakout room discussions, worksheets, polls, or other discussions.

In-Person Classes

Q: What if I can’t attend a class on the date it is scheduled?

A: We hold some of our courses twice a year. If you can’t make a class, it may be available at another time.  If you register for a series and can’t make all of the classes, we can work with you to attend the class you miss at another time or suggest another class that has similar content.

Q: Can you bring one of your training sessions to our office?

A: We offer the option to have onsite classes at your location for groups of 10 or more (this option is usually not cost effective for groups smaller than ten). If you are interested in hosting an onsite training, please complete this form so we can get back to you on class information and pricing.

Q: Is lunch included in the class?

A: Most of the classes do not include lunch (unless specified). Coffee and tea are included in the morning. The Capital Café is located on the first floor of Grainger Hall for lunch and dinner. They serve sandwiches, soup, salad and a variety of snacks. There are also several restaurant options within 2-3 blocks of Grainger Hall.

Q: What if I need to cancel a class I am registered for?

A: If you need to cancel your paid registration, you can call our registration office at 608-262-2451. If you cancel at least 24 hours before the class starts, there is a $25 cancellation fee. If you do not attend and do not cancel before the class, you are will be charged for the full class fee. If you have an emergency, please call and let us know and we can work with you to transfer you to the next session or a different class.

Q: Do I need to pay at time of registration?

A: You are required to pay for your classes at time of registration. You must have either a credit card or valid UW-Madison funding string to be able to register. For questions related to payment, call 608-262-2451.

Q: How can I request accommodations for a disability?

A: Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@wsb.wisc.edu to request accommodations or to ask general questions about the office or programming.