Orientation Program Description
Housing and Meal Benefits
Housing and Meals for Vacation Periods
Academic Notes
Medical Insurance and Health Services
Application Deadlines
FAQ (under construction)

Name of Institution:   University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Exchange Program Contact Person: Hong Rost

Address:

Office telephone:

Fax:

E-mail:

Office hours:

Web Site:

116 Graff Main Hall
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601, USA

(608) 785-8016

(608) 785-8923

rost.hong@uwlax.edu

8:30am - 4:30pm US central time

http://www.uwlax.edu/oie

The person you should contact on arrival: Diane Sasaki sasaki.dian@uwlax.edu
Phone number: (608) 785-8921 or (608) 386-3716 (cell)

Academic Calendar
 

Spring Semester 2008

Application Deadline:
Housing Deadline:
Arrival:
Orientation:
Classes begin:
ESL Test Date:

November 15
December 1
January 20, 21, 22
January 22
January 28
January 23

Summer 2008

Application Deadline:
Housing Deadline:
Arrival:
ESL Test Date:
Orientation:
Classes Begin:
Last day of Class:

April 1
May 1
June 9
June 11
June 10, 11, 12, 13
June 16
 August 8

Summer II (For Special Group Arrangement Only)

Arrival Date:
ESL Test Date:
Orientation:
Last Day of Class:

July 8
July 9
July 9-11
August 8

Fall Semester 2008

Application Deadline:
Housing Deadline:
Arrival:
Orientation:
ESL Test Date:
Registration begin:
Classes begin:
Vacation period:
Last Day of Exams:

April 1
May 1
August 21, 22, 23
August 25-29
August 25
Mid November (until the first week of class)
September 2
November 26-30 (Thanksgiving Recess)
 December 17

Spring Semester 2009

 Arrival Date:
Orientation:
Registration begins:
Classes begin:
Vacation period:
Last day of exams:

January 18-19
January 20-24
Mid-April (until the first week of class)
January 26
March 13-22 (Spring Break)
 May 15

English Language Requirements for Exchange Students

• TOEFL score of 550/213 (computer based/ IBT-73) is required for all academic fields.
• Students with TOEFL less than 550/213 (computer based// IBT-73) or without TOEFL score will be required to take an English Placement Test upon arrival which will determine if English language study is required. For those whose English language level is below the minimum requirement for regular academic courses, ESL study is mandatory.
• No TOEFL is required for students whose native language is English or students who come to UW-L for ESL study only.

Registration Information

• ESL Study

Students admitted only for ESL study will be registered by the ESL Institute after the English Placement Test during the orientation week.

• Undergraduate Students

As a new student, you will not be able to use the online registration system. Please go to the UW-L website at: http://www.uwlax.edu/records/catalogs.html and check out “timetable/course listings” to find out the courses offered for the next available semester.  You may choose six specific courses so we have several options in planning your schedule. Once you have chosen your fields or courses, e-mail the list to Hong Rost at rost.hong@uwlax.edu as soon as possible.

Every effort will be made to select courses and academic areas you have indicated. A copy of your class schedule will be in your orientation package. If you do not know what courses to choose, you may wait until you arrive at UW-L. Your academic advisor will be able to help you with registration during the orientation week.

Please note: many business related courses have pre-requisite requirements.  You have to fulfill the pre-requisite requirement before you can be registered for a high level course.  Most classes are filled very fast, early registration is highly recommended.

General course description is on our website under the “course catalog”.  If you need a detailed course syllabus, you have to contact specific faculty member directly by e-mail. All faculty e-mails are listed under the specific department.  You may click on “colleges and academics” from the UW-L home page to find the department.

*UW-L has a textbook rental service for undergraduate courses and for the ESL institute. That means that most textbooks are provided at no cost, although some courses may require you to purchase some additional materials. Textbooks for graduate courses have to be purchased.

Arrival Information

UW-La Crosse will provide a pick up service for new international students at the local bus station, airport and train station between Wednesday, August 20 and Saturday, August 23 for the fall semester and January 20 to January 22 for the spring semester.  Students must contact the foreign student advisor at (608) 785-8921 at least three (3) days in advance.  Students who arrive before or after the pickup days will have to take a taxi to the UWL campus. The cost of a taxi is about $15.

For participants who cannot avoid arriving before the program starts, please try to arrive on campus during the office hours.  The office of International Education is located at: 116 Graff Main Hall, 1725 State Street.

Hotel and Taxi Information:

Guest House
810 South Fourth Street, (608) 784-8840

Radisson Hotel
200 Harborview Plaza, (608) 784-6680

Courtyard by Marriott
500 Front Street, (608) 782-1000

Grandstay Residential Suites
525 Front Street North, (608) 796-1615

Holiday Inn Suites
200 Pearl Street, (608) 784-4444

CTS Taxi – (608) 784-7700
A-1 Taxi Service – (608) 781-6655

For more information visit: www.explorelacrosse.com

A brief description about the Orientation Program

A weeklong orientation program specially designed for international students will be offered to all exchange students.  The orientation program will cover the information about the city, campus life, immigration regulations, health care and insurance, American banking, culture adjustment, academic advising, registration, on-campus job opportunities, university food service and meal plans. During the orientation week, you will be invited to a picnic with UWL faculty and staff, a get-together with American friendship families, an outing with American students, and a boat tour on the Mississippi River or a cross-country ski trip. We will also take you shopping the first day of the week so if you happen to forget something, you can always purchase them in local discount stores. Our current orientation schedule is on our website at: www.uwlax.edu/oie under International Students.

*There is an Orientation Fee of $50, this fee includes: some meals during the week, picnic with American family, and other various activities.

Please note most exchange programs do not cover the orientation fee.  Please see your advisor at your home institute for other fee information.

Housing and Meal Plan

*Each exchange program has different coverage; please check with your home university advisor to get detailed coverage information.

 As an exchange student, you are guaranteed a spot in University housing, if you send your reservation form with your application to UW-La Crosse. All incoming exchange students must live in University dormitories, and take one of the meal plans offered; it is UW-L’s policy. 

At UW-L we have two (2) types of University Dormitories:

Apartment Style Housing at $2250 per semester

Reuter Hall is a new 380 bed residence hall that has suite style rooms. The suites consist of four private bedrooms, a semi-private bathroom, a kitchen area, and a living room. General use spaces are also provided. These areas include a group kitchen facility, an exercise/game room area, a group study/TV lounge area, recycling room, and computer lab. The apartment style housing usually cost $600-$700 more each semester.

Additional information regarding housing is available online from the Office of Residence Life.

Note: The University does not provide bed linens, blankets, or towels. Students may bring their own or purchase these items locally. However, there are laundry facilities available and a kitchen on each floor of the residence halls.

Meal Plans

All students who live in university dormitories are required to take a mean plan which is the university policy.

Meal Plan Options

• 19 Meal Plan
  • 19 meals per week.
  • Three (3) “Guest Meals” can be used Friday dinner thru Sunday dinner.
  • Cost is $1150.00* per semester
  • $50.00 of Dining Dollars is included.

• 14 Meal Plan
  • 14 meals per week.
  • Three (3) “Guest Meals” can be used Friday dinner thru Sunday dinner.
  • Cost is $1125.00* per semester.
  • $50.00 of Dining Dollars is included.

• 10 Meal Plan
  • 10 meals per week.
  • Three (3) “Guest Meals” can be used Friday dinner thru Sunday dinner.
  • Cost is $1090.00* per semester.
  •  $50.00 of Dining Dollars is included.

• Block Meal Plan (Reuter Residents Only)
  • 75 meals each semester.
  • Cost is $570.00*per semester.

*Note: These fees are based on 2007-2008 cost. There will be a slight increase for the 2008-2009 academic year.  For additional information regarding UW-L meal plans and dining please visit Dining Services.

Housing and Meals for Vacation Periods:

Students may stay in the residence hall during vacation periods for an additional $8 per day.  There is no food service in the university cafeteria, but there are quite a few restaurants in walking distance.

Academic Notes:

Your home institution sets policies regarding the award of credit for coursework completed on an exchange program. You are responsible for knowing your home institution's policies and procedures regarding this matter.  All exchange students are required to take a minimum of 12 credits per semester at the UWL.

• Exchange students with TOEFL 550/213 (computer based) or above may take up to 18 credits for each semester.
• Exchange students whose TOEFL score is less than 550/213 (computer based) will have to take partial academic and partial ESL courses.  The total credits covered under the exchange agreements are 12 for each semester.  Additional credits are $280 per credit that will not be covered by the exchange programs.
• Exchange students who are taking ESL classes only may take up to 16 credits per semester.
• Class Grading Scales:

A=4.0, AB=3.5, B=3.0, BC=2.5, C=2.0, CD=1.5, D=1.0, F=Fail

Most ESL courses will only receive P=Pass or F=Fail.

Note: The number "4" shown on the UWL official transcript for ESL classes mean four credits.  It is not a grade.

All classes require attendance.  Missing class may cause a failing grade.

Medical Insurance and Health Services:

All exchange students are required to take UW-La Crosse international student insurance. The estimated cost is $315 per semester or $567 per academic year.  The health insurance will cover your entire program period, even during the winter and spring breaks when you travel outside the La Crosse area.  However, the UW-La Crosse international health insurance will NOT cover your home country and any other pre-existing conditions.

Please do NOT purchase health insurance from your own country.

Medical requirements for registration:  Health Exam Form with TB test within 1 year. The form is included in the application packet.