An extensive and varied program of student activities complementing formal education at UW-La Crosse provides opportunity for leadership training, individual participation, group effort, and service to the campus community. Students are encouraged to be active in some phase of this program and to make judicious choices with respect to the areas and extent of participation.
Chapter 36 of the Wisconsin State Statutes states: "The students of each institution or campus shall have the right to organize themselves in a manner they determine and to select their representatives to participate in institutional governance."
To exercise that right, the students have established the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse Student Association. Each student enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a member of the UW-LSA. The student government of that body is divided into three branches: executive, legislative (Student Senate), and judicial. The executive and legislative branches are elected by the members of the UW-LSA each year. The judicial branch is appointed by the executive branch and approved by the legislative.
All student governmental and administrative agencies operate within the limits of authority prescribed by the faculty, the administration of the university, and the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
The Academic Affairs Committee is responsible for providing input on academic issues from the student perspective. This committee promotes the highest standards of academic integrity throughout the entire university community.
The Apportionment Committee
recommends to the chancellor the manner in which funds collected by the
state for support of student activities are to be distributed among
eligible organizations.
The Athletic Committee
is responsible for recommendations to the Apportionment Committee for
funding of activity fees used in support of athletic programs, and for
recommendations to the Student Senate regarding policies affecting the
athletic program.
The Cultural Affairs Committee
is responsible for making recommendations to the Apportionment Committee
regarding distribution of student activity fees used in support of
forensics, theatre, band, jazz band, orchestra, choirs, art gallery, and
multicultural events.
The Legislative Affairs Committee
is responsible for keeping the Student Senate informed of current
legislative issues relating to student interests, recommending official
senate positions on issues, communicating with area legislators, and
encouraging student participation in voting and other events. It
maintains by-laws of the various student senate committees.
The Organizations Committee
is responsible for recommendations to the Student Senate for the
formulation of general policies concerning student organizations, and
for recommendations regarding the distribution of the allocable fees for
programming organizations. It oversees activities of the Campus
Activities Board, Sports and Activities Club Council, Lectures and
Concerts, Intramurals and Recreation, and the organizations grant
program.
The Student Services and Buildings Committee
recommends policy concerning services provided to students by the UW-L
Student Association, which include: Campus Child Center, Financial Aid,
Health Services, Landlord/Tenant Service, Legal Aid, Textbook Rental
Service, Bookstore, and the general policies for the University Centers.
The Panhellenic and Inter-Fraternity Councils
are the governing bodies for the social sororities and fraternities.
The Residence Hall Association Council
formulates general policies for and serves as an administrative and
judiciary agency in the governing of residence halls.
Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition, Whitney Center and the Student Life Center are focal points for student organizations and activities.
Cartwright Center
The Student Activities Office, located on the second floor of Cartwright
Center, is the center of social, recreational, cultural and educational
programming. The office houses a variety of student organizations and
sponsors ongoing leadership development programs. Cartwright Center is a
multipurpose building that offers rooms for student organizations and
meetings. Valhalla, located in the Gunning Addition, is a large
programming space useful for concerts, lectures or receptions in
Cartwright Center.
Dining. Also featured are a conference center and several food service facilities, including Pizza Hut Express. An option of meal transferability is provided by Pizza Hut for the evening meal for students on a contract meal plan. A point meal plan and cash sales are available to off-campus students for use in these areas also.
Recreation. Cartwright Center provides a variety of activity options for all students, from relaxing in the Port O'Call Lounge to shopping in the Bookstore. For those who prefer the outdoors, the Outdoor Connection has equipment rental (canoes, skis, tents, rollerblades, etc.). The La Crosse Room/ Teigen Lanes provides bowling, pool, and video games for student use.
Services. Study areas, television lounges, a TYME instant cash machine, typewriters, copy machines, lockers, ride board, vending machines and a computer laboratory are also available. The UW-L student newspaper, The Racquet, has an office in Cartwright Center.
The focus of Student Activities and Centers is to promote involvement of students on campus and within the community. Involvement is promoted by providing meaningful leadership opportunities for students.
The Graphics Department provides services to students, faculty, and staff. Posters and displays can be created. In addition, items can be laminated and signs and name tags can be made.
The Involvement Center, located in the student organizations room, serves as a resource point for students wishing to become involved. Peer helpers are available to assist students in exploring involvement opportunities.
Also, within the student organizations room is the Diversity Resource Center. The Diversity Resource Center contains information about and for multicultural groups, women, and gay, lesbian, and bisexual students.
Governance. The student centers are governed by student government advisory committees. The Student Services and Buildings Committee provides input on the facilities and the Student Activities Committee provides input on programs. In addition, programs are sponsored by student organizations such as The Campus Activities Board, Lectures and Concerts, and the Sports and Activities Club Council. All administrative staff members of Student Activities and Centers are ex-officio members of the committees and serve as resource persons.
Whitney Center
Dining Services. All students on the contract meal plan eat in
Whitney Center, which utilizes four dining rooms. Whitney Center
includes the Convenience Store, Blimpies Sub Shop, and Chars, a fast food restaurant located in the Alternative. The Alternative also offers a drug and alcohol free environment for dances on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Both Cartwright and Whitney Centers are self-amortizing structures financed by revenue. Student fees, receipts from food services, recreational facilities, the Book-store, and other revenue sources provide funds for construction, loan payments, and operational costs of the buildings.
Student Life Building
This new building, scheduled to open in 1997, includes a track, strength
and conditioning center, aerobics room, martial arts room, four
gymnasiums, Outdoor Connection, and the Child Care Center. The
facility, funded entirely by student fees, is used for intramural
sports, open recreation, and sports and activities
club events
SCHOLARLY, PROFESSIONAL, AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
Sports and Activities Clubs
Social Fraternities
Departmental Organizations
Human Diversity Organizations
Religious and Spiritual Organizations
Service Organizations
Special Interest Organizations
Honor/Recognition Societies
Social Sororities
Programming Committees
Student Government
Lectures and Concerts occur throughout the year. Lecturers, theatre groups, and musicians are brought to the campus for the entertainment and education of students and community members. A student committee arranges for these programs.
Distinguished Lecture Series brings speakers who have gained national prominence through their significant contributions to society. This series is directed by a committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and members of the La Crosse area community.
Campus Activities Board (CAB) provides quality activities and entertainment to the campus community. CAB is made up of a variety of committees including Special Events, Cellar Specialty, Campus Cinema, Action Education, Homecoming and Family Weekend.
A portion of the segregated fee paid by all students is allotted to these programming boards. Students can purchase reduced rate tickets for all events.
The University Theatre presents four major productions every academic year in the Marie Park Toland Theatre in the Center for the Arts. During each "student generation" (each four-to-five-year cycle), the attempt is made to choose plays from every dramatic genre, style, and period. Participation -- as actors, designers, technicians, or front-of-house staff-- is open to all students enrolled in the university, and opportunities to audition or volunteer are regularly announced campus- wide. Opportunities to participate are also available through the student-directed studio plays presented in the Robert Lee Frederick Theatre in Morris Hall. Tickets are held to minimal cost through the support of the Student Apportionment Board. Reservations are suggested for all performances.
UW-L recognizes the educational value of athletic competition and offers a broad program of intercollegiate sports. It is the university’s policy to select and maintain a variety of sports which best serve the interests and needs of the student body. The athletic program demonstrates a commitment to equal opportunity for all university students.
The intercollegiate athletics program sponsors 19 sports and provides opportunities for participation in a comprehensive, unified program for men and women student-athletes. The purpose of the program is to present and develop high ethical standards, good sportsmanship, scholarship, and excellence in physical skills.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is an institutional member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA-Division III) and affiliated with the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (WIAC) for both men’s and women’s sports.
More than 500 undergraduate student-athletes are involved annually in the intercollegiate athletics program. Those who do not possess skill levels necessary for intercollegiate athletics competition, but are interested in physical activity for recreation, may participate in a wide range of intramural offerings and club sports.
Student-athletes are admitted, retained, and provided sports and academic opportunities in accordance with the same standards and procedures utilized for all university students. As a member of the NCAA and WIAC, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse does not grant athletic scholarships. Student-athletes are expected to comply with all affiliate association and conference academic eligibility standards.
An athletic training staff helps prevent and care for injuries. Nationally certified athletic trainers work in close cooperation with the university’s Health Service physicians and physical therapists. Financial support for the payment of athletic injury expenses is primarily through the individual athlete’s family health insurance or through individual responsibility. Physical examinations are required of intercollegiate sports participants. An "athletic injuries and liability waiver agreement" is required for all student-athletes.
The athletics program for both men and women is located within the College of Health, Physical Education and Recreation and administered by the Director of Athletics. Promotion of the intercollegiate athletics program is supported by our sports information office.
A faculty/student Athletics Committee and faculty athletics representatives assist in developing and implementing policy. All operating regulations of the respective association and conference affiliations are followed.
Men’s Sports
Women’s Sports
The Alumni Association exists to encourage the interest of alumni in the university. A wide variety of social, cultural and educational programs bring alumni and friends of the university together. The Association works with academic colleges and programs, regional alumni clubs, corporations and other groups to promote and inform alumni on the programs and services available from UW-L. The Association and its activities are funded primarily from membership dues. The board of directors grants a free first-year membership to new graduates. In addition to the general membership, alumni can join their collegiate constituent club. The UW-L Alumni Association is dedicated to maintaining and building on the relationship among students, classmates and their alma mater.
