AUDIT POLICY

Students may audit courses with the consent of the department chair and the instructor offering the course.  No change from audit to credit will be permitted after the first week of classes.  No change from credit to audit will be permitted after the first half of the semester.  No credit will be granted for any course that is audited.  An "AS" (satisfactory) or "AU" (unsatisfactory) grading system is used for auditors.  An audited course may be repeated for credit in another semester or term. Appropriate fees are to be paid for the audited course. Wisconsin residents age 60 and older may audit courses free of tuition. See fee information at http://www.uwlax.edu/cashiers/.

 

 

CREDIT LOAD

The maximum credit load for a semester is 18 credits (16 for graduate students). Credit loads greater than 18 will not be permitted unless:

1.     Written approval is obtained in advance from the dean of the school or college where you are enrolled, and

2.     at least a 3.25 GPA has been achieved, or

3.     this is the final semester before graduation.

Override forms for this purpose are available in the college deans' offices and are required at the time of registration.  Please bring the signed form to the Office of Records and Registration, 117 Graff Main Hall.

 

 

 

DISCRETIONARY DROPS BY INSTRUCTOR

Students enrolled in any course are expected to attend from the first day or to notify the instructor or the Office of Student Life, that attendance is not possible. A student who fails to attend the first two class sessions or provide proper notification may be dropped from the course at the discretion of the instructor. DROPPING A COURSE IS STILL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT. DO NOT ASSUME THE INSTRUCTOR WILL DROP YOU FROM A CLASS YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING. Students who wish to drop a course must go through drop/add to ensure the course is removed from their schedule. An instructor who wishes to drop a student from a course should complete a drop/add form and submit it to the Office of Records and Registration during the drop/add‑change of schedule period. A decision by the instructor to drop a student from a class may not be appealed.    

 

 

 

DROP/ADD

Students already enrolled in a course may add courses via the TALON system through Friday, January 30, for full semester courses, provided that course/section is open. An instructor's signature is needed to enter a class that is closed (preparing to register - Overrides). For additions to schedules between Monday, February 2 and Friday, February 6, an instructor's signature is needed. Drop/add forms are available at the Office of Records and Registration, 117 Graff Main Hall. Completed forms may be returned between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After February 6, additions to schedules will be made only in extreme cases and will need the approval of the instructor, department chair and dean. Students may drop courses via TALON through Friday, January 30 for a full semester course. After January 30, students must have a drop/add form signed by the course instructor and then brought to 117 Graff Main Hall. Drop/add forms are available at the Office of Records and Registration, 117 Graff Main Hall. Completed forms may be returned between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The last day to drop a full semester class is Friday, March 26. For more information about withdrawal policies and limits please see Withdrawal from Class/University.

 

 

 

EXCESS CREDIT POLICY

Starting in the fall of 2004, Wisconsin resident undergraduate students who have earned 165 credits (or 30 credits more than required for their degree programs, whichever is greater) will be charged a surcharge, equal to 100 percent of the regular resident tuition, on credits beyond that level. 

This policy, created by the Board of Regents, views a college degree from the perspective of a taxpayer. There are many legitimate reasons why students might accumulate “excessive” credits. This new policy will not prevent students from pursuing their goals, but it will be at a cost that is less subsidized by Wisconsin taxpayers. This is not a policy that UWL can decide whether or not to implement. This is a mandate. 

The policy covers all Wisconsin resident undergraduate students pursuing their first bachelors degree, including students pursuing a double major.  Minnesota residents and non-residents, graduate, post-baccalaureate, and non-degree students are not affected. 

The policy applies to all credits earned at UW System campuses and WTCS (Wisconsin Technical College System) transfer credits accepted toward a degree. Retroactive, AP, military, and other college transfer credits do not count toward the total. 

The surcharge will be applied to students in the semester following the one in which they reach the earned credit limit. The limit is 165 credits or 30 credits more than required for a degree program, whichever is greater. 

The policy becomes effective in the fall 2004 and it applies to all Wisconsin resident students enrolled who meet the above criteria. It is not phased in.  

The surcharge will add 100 percent to the Wisconsin resident tuition routinely charged, and it will be charged for all credits over the credit limit. 

A message appears on students’ SNAP reports when they reach 130 earned credits. Each semester the assistants to the deans will notify students who have reached a predetermined number of earned credits, that they are accumulating credits at a rate that might result in them being charged the surcharge. Students will have the opportunity to discuss the issue with the assistants to the deans.  Each semester, J Term and summer session, students who have earned 165 credits or 30 credits more than required for their programs will be billed the surcharge.  In reality,  the additional tuition will be charged to very few students. 

Each student has the right to appeal the surcharge to the assistant controller, once it has been levied.

 

 

 

 GRADE REPORTS

Grade reports are no longer sent to each student. You may access your grades online using the TALON system at www.uwlax.edu/current.htm approximately May 26, 2004.

 

 

 

GRADUATING IN MAY/SUMMER?

Students graduating at the end of spring semester or summer session should file an "Intent to Graduate" form when they register. This form, available in 117 Graff Main Hall, and on the Web at www.uwlax.edu/Records/intent_grad_form.htm indicates the intent to graduate and is used to provide information to students concerning graduation. Students who have filed an "Intent to Graduate" form will receive additional information through the mail (to the current local address on file) after mid-semester. Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 15.

Please Note: 
All undergraduate students with 95 credits and graduate students with 20 credits are automatically billed the one-time graduation fee of $15.00. This fee covers the cost of graduation and commencement, and is assessed whether or not a student chooses to attend the ceremony. An additional cap and gown fee is paid at the bookstore when caps and gowns are picked up the week before the ceremony.

 

 

 

ID CARDS

ID validation for students who have registered is an automated process. New students need to report to room 221 Cartwright Center if they want an ID photo. Lost IDs should be reported to 221 Cartwright Center and can be replaced for a $15.00 fee. New and replaced IDs can be picked up in room 221 Cartwright Center a few days after the photo was taken to allow for processing. The card can be used for on-line university applications such as textbook services, food service, bookstore purchases, and for off-line applications such as vending machines and copy machines.

 

 ID NUMBERS

State law requires that universities begin to replace Social Security numbers with randomly generated numbers for student ID numbers. All new students and re-entry students (those who have returned after having been out of school for at least a semester or who officially withdrew in the fall and are returning) will be assigned a nine-digit number that begins with 8. It is very important to remember this number because it will be used for all features of TALON. All students who were assigned an ID number were notified in writing as part of the admission/acceptance communication. The number also shows on SNAP reports. This is a confidential number, which means it cannot be given out via phone or e-mail if a student forgets his/her number. Continuing students who were not assigned a random ID number, but are strongly opposed to using their SSN as their ID number may obtain an ID number at Records and Registration, 117 Graff Main Hall, and then report to the ID card office, 221 Cartwright to get their Tower Card reconfigured.

 

 

 

INCOMPLETES

DO NOT REGISTER FOR A CLASS TO REMOVE AN INCOMPLETE GRADE. Contact your instructor or the department chair to determine how to remove the incomplete.

 

 

 

 

LIBRARY CARDS

In order to check materials out of the library, a student must have an ID card. Students must present their bar-coded ID card at the circulation desk. Validation has been automated with fee payment.

 

 

 

OVERRIDES

The TALON system will not allow you to register for courses that are full or require special permission from the instructor, department chair, and/or dean. Permission is obtained on override forms that are available in department offices. See preparing to register for more information. All override forms must be brought to the Office of Records and Registration, 117 E Graff Main Hall.

 

 

 

PARKING PERMITS

Parking permits will be available on a first come, first served basis on Monday, January 26, 2004. Sales will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the Protective Services/Parking office at 525 East Avenue North. The number of permits available for sale will be limited. Second semester parking permits should be paid for by money order, check or cash.

 

 

REPEATING COURSES

Undergraduate students may retake a course for which they have earned a grade of "D" or "F". Courses for which a grade of "C" or better have been recorded may not be repeated.  Students may not go to another university to repeat a course in which a grade has been earned at UW-L.  If you are currently enrolled in a course, but have not completed it, the TALON system will allow  re-enrollment in the course, but will indicate a warning to the student. If you pass the current semester course with a grade of "C" or better, you are responsible for dropping the course from your schedule.  Do not register for a course in which you have an "incomplete" grade. Graduate courses may not be repeated.

 

 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Student Support Services is a federally funded program that provides academic assistance to 400 qualified students per year.  Services available include individualized academic advising, tutoring in mathematics and language arts, and course instruction in Reading 105. To be eligible for services, students must meet one or more of the following criteria: first generation college student (neither parent nor legal guardian graduated from four-year college); receive a substantial amount of financial aid; have a diagnosed physical and/or learning disability.  For more information, call 785-8535 or stop in 109 Wilder Hall.

 

 

TEXTBOOK DISTRIBUTION

Textbooks are issued in the Textbook Rental Service located in the basement of Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition.  Students must have an ID to pick up their books.

Textbook Rental hours are:
Wed., Jan. 21, 8:00-4:30
Thu., Jan. 22, 8:00-4:30
Fri., Jan. 23, 8:00-4:30
Sun., Jan. 25, 12:00-5:00
Mon., Jan. 26, 8:00-6:30
Tue., Jan. 27, 8:00-6:30
Wed., Jan. 28, 8:00-5:30
Thu., Jan. 29, 8:00-4:30
Fri., Jan. 30, 8:00-4:30

Beginning February 2, and throughout the semester, the Textbook Rental is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  All textbooks checked out of Textbook Rental must be returned to Textbook Rental at the end of each semester. You must return textbooks for courses you drop within one week of the drop date or you will be assessed a late fine for those textbooks. Textbooks checked out for a class in which you are receiving an incomplete, require a note from the instructor indicating the incomplete. Bring the note to Textbook Rental within the first two weeks of the next semester, or you will be billed for the textbooks for that class, plus late fines and a bill processing fee.

 

 

 

TRANSCRIPT SERVICE

To receive an official copy of a transcript, a request must be made in person or in writing. To request a transcript in person, please present your student ID. The fee for a transcript is $4.00. Second party requests will not be accepted. To request a transcript in writing, send your name (and any previous names used while attending UW-L), Social Security or student ID number, last date of attendance at UW-L, the name and address of where the transcript is to be sent, and the $4.00 per transcript fee. Please note: a transcript issued in person or sent to the requesting person’s home will be stamped “issued to student.” A transcript will not be sent for any person with outstanding balances due to the university. Transcripts cannot be faxed, nor can faxed requests be accepted. The $4.00 fee may be paid in cash (do not send cash through the mail) or check (payable to UW-La Crosse). UW-L’s Transcript Office does not accept credit cards and cannot put transcript fees on student accounts (bills). A transcript request form can be found at www.uwlax.edu/Records.

   

 

 

 

WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS

Students may add and/or drop courses any time after their registration date until the end of the "drop/add - change of schedule period."  The first five days in any semester (three days of instruction during summer session) are considered to be the "drop/add - change of schedule" period.  During this time, you may drop classes without affecting your permanent academic record. Between the fifth and tenth days of instruction, you must obtain the signature of the instructor to drop/add a course.

Any student may withdraw from a class until one week beyond midterm of a semester or summer session. All withdrawals from classes after the drop/add-change of schedule period will be recorded with a "W" on the student's permanent academic record along with the official date of withdrawal. Half-term courses or short-term courses will have withdrawal time limits established on a basis prorated to withdrawal dates for full-term courses. You must obtain either your adviser's or instructor's signature during this time period.

NO STUDENT IS PERMITTED TO WITHDRAW FROM A CLASS DURING THE SECOND HALF OF A SEMESTER. 

ONLY A GRADE OF "F" OR "I" may be recorded for a student who remains in a class the second half of a semester but fails to complete the course. Exceptions may occur under the Procedures for Withdrawal from the University. The number of class withdrawals permitted is limited as follows:

 1.   All students shall be allowed unlimited class withdrawals during the first two semesters of attendance, excluding summer session.

2.   After the first two semesters, a student shall be allowed four class withdrawals during the balance of his/her undergraduate career at UW-L.

3.    Drops effected during the drop/add-change of schedule period are not counted as class withdrawals.