Dear UW-La Crosse Student:

Welcome to a new academic year with the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. My name is Paula Knudson and I am your new dean of students.  I believe you have made a terrific choice by being a part of this exciting community and look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.

Whether you’re a new or returning student, I want to draw your attention to the opportunities and responsibilities you have as a member of this community.  All communities have standards to help us support one another and to provide for a safe environment.  This is true for UWL as well!  By being a member of our community, you can expect to have protections of your individual rights, but we will also have expectations of you.  One of the basic principles of our community is to treat each other with respect and adhere to local standards. 

The Eagle Eye is an important resource for all students. This publication contains the rules and regulations which define appropriate student conduct, states processes and policies related to behaviors that are irresponsible and inappropriate, outlines rights and procedures for grievances, reports information reflecting campus crime statistics, and gives information and resources compiled by the University in compliance with the Drug Free Campus and Communities Act.

The Eagle Eye also identifies some of the services and programs offered by the University to assist you in the attainment of your educational goals and provide guidance regarding the regulations that govern student life on this campus.  It is your responsibility to read and understand the information in The Eagle Eye. It is an important document that should be useful to you throughout your academic career at UW-La Crosse.

On behalf of the staff of Student Development and Academic Services, I hope you’ll have a richly rewarding experience, filled with community engagement, personal learning, and exciting new opportunities.   Please do not hesitate to contact my office or the staff of any of the departments in Student Development and Academic Services for assistance or suggestions.

Yours truly,

Paula M. Knudson, Ph.D.
Dean of Student Development and Academic Services
    
 

UW-L has adopted an Affirmative Action Program to eliminate discrimination and to correct under-utilization of women and minorities at all levels of employment and in all academic programs and activities within the university.  Our campus program requires the university to do more than simply ensure employment and educational neutrality for women, racial/ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities, since even color-blind and gender-neutral practices may perpetuate the under-utilization of qualified women and racial/ethnic minorities.  Thus, our affirmative action program requires UW-L to make additional, positive efforts to recruit and admit qualified students from under represented groups, as well as to recruit, hire and promote qualified members of underutilized groups.

The Eagle Eye contains the UW System policy on Equal Opportunities in Education, the UW-L Sexual Harassment Policy, and the Student Grievance Policy, as well as a section on what to do if you experience discrimination on campus.  Please read these sections carefully.  As the campus Affirmative Action Officer, it is my responsibility to monitor these policies to ensure that no UW-L student is denied the benefits of an education due to his or her race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability or other protected status.

In addition, the Affirmative Action Office receives and investigates student grievances alleging any form of discriminatory treatment, including sexual harassment.  If you believe you have been discriminated against by another student or member of the faculty or staff, I urge you to report the situation to the Affirmative Action Office.  We can eliminate discrimination at UW-L -- but only if those who have been discriminated against refuse to tolerate the discriminatory treatment and instead report it to this office.

If you're unsure whether you have experienced discrimination, please do not hesitate to come by the Affirmative Action Office, 235 Graff Main Hall, to talk with me about your concerns.  If you choose to file a complaint alleging discrimination, I will treat it very seriously and confidentially; however, I will not investigate any complaint or attempt to resolve it through established informal or formal procedures without written authorization.

Al Thompson
Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action and Diversity