Table of Contents| Academic Programs by College| Campus Information |  Notes to Students | General Information | Admission to the University | Expenses and Financial Aid | The Campus | Services and Involvement | Academic Regulations and Student Conduct | Degree Requirements | Colleges & Schools |Undergraduate Course and Program Descriptions | Administrative, Faculty and Staff listings | Calendar | Campus Map 

FEES
SERVICES INCLUDED IN SEGREGATED FEE
LIVING EXPENSES
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS, AND SHORT TERM LOANS
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE FOUNDATION INC.
BENEFITS FOR VETERANS AND VETERANS’ DEPENDENTS

Fees

The university establishes a fee schedule for each academic year. The fees are published in the class Timetable for each term and on-line at www.uwlax.edu/cashiers . If you have questions about current fees, contact the Cashier’s Office, 121 Graff Main Hall. The Board of Regents reserves the right to change tuition and fees without published notice.

electronic billing

Bills are sent via e-mail to the student’s campus e-mail address. Billing information is confidential. By law, the university cannot release this information to anyone other than the student. It is the responsibility of the student to check campus e-mail and to make sure that the bill is routed to the proper individual for making payment.

Current billing information also can be viewed on the Web at www.uwlax.edu  by clicking on Current Students. A student ID# and PIN are required to access this electronic bill. Because this PIN allows access to other confidential information, such as grades and schedules, it is the decision of the student as to whether or not they share their PIN with other individuals. Payment can be made electronically on the Web at

Installment Billing

All students are required to pay a non-refundable $100 tuition deposit before registering for classes. This is in addition to the $75 deposit paid by students who choose to live in a residence hall.

The balance of semester charges for tuition, room and board is due not later than the posted due date; however, the university also offers an installment credit plan. Under this plan, students receive a bill for their remaining charges. They may elect either to pay the bill in full without interest by the billing due date, or pay one-half of the balance due and be billed one month later for the remainder plus interest.

Students who wish to use the payment plan must file an “Application for Installment Credit” form available in the Cashier’s Office, 121 Graff Main Hall. All students are urged to apply for the credit plan even though they may not intend to use it when they register for the first time. The agreement will cover all subsequent semester billings.  

Note: There is no installment payment plan available for summer session or J Term enrollment.     

Services Included in Segregated Fee

Students’ semester bills include a “Tuition and Fees” charge. The tuition charge is established by the Board of Regents. The fees charge is a segregated fee determined by the student government with the support of campus administration. It funds student services including the health center, textbook rental, student centers and the childcare center and activities such as athletics, intramurals and other organized activities.

Textbooks

Undergraduate course textbooks are available on a rental basis through the Textbook Rental Service. Textbook rental for undergraduates is included in the semester segregated fee. Undergraduates may purchase their textbooks, at reduced prices, during a specified time period, if desired. Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate courses are expected to purchase texts.

Health Service

Students who meet student health service requirements and pay the segregated fee at registration are eligible to receive outpatient care, physical therapy and laboratory service in the Health Center. Students carrying seven credits or more are automatically charged the segregated fee. Students carrying less than seven credits may choose to pay a health service fee. (A description of health care facilities and medical requirements for entering students is on p. 23.)

The following services are not provided: medicines, eye refraction, care of families of married students, medical and surgical consultation outside of the Health Center, ambulance service, emergency room visits, hospitalization, house calls or after hours visits, dental visits, premarital examinations, pregnancy care, infertility studies, sterilization procedures, and abortion.

Check your current insurance policy to make sure you have adequate coverage for services not provided by the Health Center. If you do not have health insurance coverage, you may enroll in a student group insurance plan. If your current policy will expire during the school year, plan to purchase student group insurance at the beginning of the semester in which existing coverage will cease.

Excess Credit Policy

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.  Students are notified when they have accumulated credits that make it likely that the excess credit policy will affect them. Students with questions about this policy should contact their dean's office where the assistant to the dean can determine total applicable credits Students have the right to appeal the surcharge.  

Living Expenses

Residence Halls

According to the Board of Regents policy, freshmen and sophomores who are not veterans, married students, or students residing in their parent’s or guardian’s home, must live in a university-operated residence hall when accommodations are available. Requests for exceptions to this policy must be made in writing to the Director of Residence Life.

A housing application packet will be sent only after you are officially admitted to the university. To file a valid room reservation, you must return the completed form with an advance deposit that will be credited on your final payment for the room. Residence hall facilities, regulations, and programs are described on p. 26.

Dining Service

Although all students are invited to sign up for one of the meal plans offered by the dining service, freshmen and sophomores who live in university residence halls are required to do so. As an entering student, you will be given an opportunity to select a meal plan that best fits your schedule. Should you find that your meal plan needs are different than you anticipated, you may request changes during the first two weeks of school.

Contract board service is provided in Whitney Center. Vending machines, catering, and other dining services are available in Cartwright Center for commuters as well as resident students. Dining service is available only when the university is in session. Further information may be obtained from the TowerOne Card office, 221 Cartwright Center.  

A typical semester budget for a freshman who is a Wisconsin resident might include the following. All costs are estimates.

                 Fees (instruction, textbook rental,  
                 athletic events, lectures and  
                 concerts, health services)              $1,950  

                Room (double occupancy)             $1,265                        

                 Board (meal plan)                         $1,020  

               Total per semester
                    (with meal plan)                         $4,235

  (Non-resident undergraduates [out-of-state] add $5,023 per semester.)  

  In addition, students are advised to allow for travel, spending money, clothing, etc.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

         Most financial aid programs are based on financial need. This is demonstrated by applying a federal need analysis formula to the student and family financial information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Exceptions to the financial need requirement include the Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship, Chancellor’s Scholar Awards, Counselor’s Choice Scholarships, Return to Wisconsin Scholarships, some UW-L Foundation scholarships, Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students.

                    Admission to the university is a pre-requisite to consideration for financial aid. Special non-degree students are not eligible for aid unless they are working for an approved license or certificate.  

                    Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress in order to receive aid. Several other federal and state requirements need to be met in order to receive financial aid. These include proper citizenship status, registration with the Selective Service System, and not being in default on any federal student loan.

Application procedures

        All financial aid applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Federal Central Processing System. File the FAFSA by March 15 for priority consideration. Nevertheless, applications are accepted throughout the academic year. The FAFSA is available from high school guidance counselors, the Financial Aid Office, or on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

                    Applicants also must submit the UW-L Financial Aid Information Form (FAIF) to the Financial Aid Office. The FAIF is available on the Internet at www.uwlax.edu/finaid  or from the Financial Aid Office.

                    Students whose application is selected for verification by the United States Department of Education or the Financial Aid Office will be required to submit student and parent federal income tax returns to the Financial Aid Office. Other documents also may be required.

Notification Dates

                    Students who complete their application by the March 15 priority date can expect to receive a financial aid offer by July 15. Students who complete their application after March 15 will receive a financial aid offer as soon as possible after July 15. Applications received after June 1 may not be processed in time for students to receive their aid by the start of the fall semester. These students should be prepared to pay their initial expenses from their own resources.

Financial Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant

These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate students.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate students.

Wisconsin Higher Education Grant

These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate students who are   
Wisconsin residents.

Talent Incentive Program Grant

These need-based grants are available to qualified undergraduate students who are Wisconsin residents and demonstrate exceptional financial need.

Chancellor’s Scholar Awards

These prestigious scholarships are awarded to non-resident students who demonstrate exceptional academic talent.

Return to Wisconsin Scholarships

These scholarships provide a 25% discount of non-resident tuition to children and grandchildren of UWL graduates.

Non-Resident Fee Waivers

These need-based grants are available to residents of states other than Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Wisconsin Study Abroad Grant

These need-based grants are available to Wisconsin residents who study abroad through the UW-L Office of International Education.

Wisconsin Academic Excellence Scholarship

This program is available to top students at Wisconsin high schools.  The program is administered by local school boards, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board.

Counselors Choice Scholarships

These scholarships are available to new ethnic minority freshmen from Wisconsin and Minnesota and is administered by the UW-L Admissions Office.  All qualified students will automatically be considered so no application is necessary.

Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant

These grants are available to statutorily defined ethnic minority sophomores, juniors and seniors who are in good standing academically and are residents of Wisconsin or Minnesota.

Advanced Opportunity Grant

These grants are available to qualified ethnic minority graduate students.

Design for Diversity Grant

This is a need-based, full waiver of non-resident tuition for qualified ethnic minority undergraduate students.

Native American Indian Grants (Federal/Tribal/Wisconsin)

Native American students should file an application with their tribe.

Foreign Student Scholarships

These partial non-resident fee waivers are available to qualified international students. International students should file an application with the Office of International Education.

Federal Stafford Loan – Subsidized

This loan is available to students who demonstrate financial need. Students borrow interest-free from a private bank, credit union or savings and loan association but the federal government pays the interest while the student is in school and until six months thereafter. Interest is at a variable rate but capped at 8.25%. Repayment begins six months after the student ceases to be at least a half-time student.

Federal Stafford Loan – Unsubsidized

This loan is available to students who do not demonstrate financial need as a result of filing the FAFSA. The terms are the same as the Federal Stafford Loan – Subsidized except that the student is responsible for all interest charges from the date of the loan forward.

Federal Perkins Loan

This need-based loan is available to qualified students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. The loan is interest-free as long as the student is at least a half time student. Repayment begins nine months after the student ceases half-time enrollment. Limited funding.

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students

Parents of dependent undergraduate students are eligible to borrow from private lenders (banks, credit unions and savings and loan associations) under this program. Applications are available from local lenders.

Emergency Short Term Loan

These loans are for emergency purposes only. The applicant must have completed at least one semester at UW-L, be in good academic standing and be a full-time student. Apply at the Student Financial Aid Office.

Federal Work-Study Program

This need-based program provides on-campus and off-campus employment to qualified students. Students who do not qualify for Federal Work-Study can work on campus on the regular student help payroll; these students should apply at academic departments and administrative units. Students can also search for off-campus jobs in the private sector at the Financial Aid Office Web site at www.uwlax.edu/finad .

UW-L Scholarships

The UW-L Foundation awards several hundred scholarships each year to incoming freshmen and continuing students.  For more information or an application, contact the UW-L Foundation at 785-8489 or www.foundation.uwlax.edu  

Private Scholarships

Students may want to search for private scholarships on the Internet at  www.fastweb.com   . This private non-profit resource maintains the largest database of private scholarships and does not charge for information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Unless previously negotiated, all aid awards are based on full-time student status. Students carrying less than a full-time load will have their aid reduced accordingly. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure the application is complete and moving through the processing system. Funding levels and regulations are subject to change at any time per state or federal budgetary and legislative mandates. Students who withdraw, either officially or unofficially, may need to repay money to federal and state financial aid programs and will be required to pay any resulting balance due to the university. For additional information, visit www.uwlax.edu/finad . For questions, call (608)785-8604 or e-mail finad@uwlax.edu .  

Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard

Federal law mandates that post-secondary institutions participating in Federal Title IV Student Financial Aid Programs, including student loans, have in place and monitor an academic progress policy. There are three components of the UW-L Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard for Financial Aid: grade point average (GPA), progress (credits attempted/credits earned), and the 150% rule. 

1. Grade point average is monitored by the various academic deans at UW-L. The grade point average provisions of the academic progress policy are listed under retention standards (p. 41). Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being academically suspended from UW-L. The student will also lose eligibility for student financial aid including student loans. Notification of non-compliance with the GPA component, and the appeal procedure for academic reinstatement are performed by the various academic deans. If an appeal is granted, eligibility for financial aid will be determined by the Financial Aid Office.

2. Progress: All full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students must complete and pass 70% of all credits registered for at UW-L. This will be monitored on a yearly basis, September through August. Failure to comply with this component will result in the student’s financial aid eligibility, including student loans, being suspended.

3. 150% rule: The federal government has established that an eligible undergraduate can receive Federal Title IV Student Financial Aid for credits attempted up to, but not exceeding, 150% of the published normal completion length of a student’s program. Credits transferred to UW-L and all credits attempted at UW-L cannot exceed this figure. Credits attempted at UW-L and credits earned at UW-L will count regardless of whether the student received or did not receive financial aid, including student loans.

Credits Earned:  The successful completion of a credit attempted is credit for which a grade of A, AB, B, BC, C, D, S, or P is received. 

Withdrawal:  Any withdrawal, whether official or unofficial, after the start of a grading period will count as credit attempted and credit not earned. 

Incompletes will count as credit attempted and credit not earned until a passing grade has been recorded by the Records and Registration Office. It will be the responsibility of the student to notify the Financial Aid Office of any change in grade. 

Repeated Credits will be counted as attempted credits as many times as the course is repeated. Examples: 1) A three-credit class is repeated and the second passed grade becomes the grade of record. The student has attempted six credits and has earned three credits; 2) the same scenario but the second grade is “F”. The student has attempted six credits and has earned no credits. 

Appeals:  A student not meeting the yearly progress component or the 150% rule component of the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard will be notified by the Financial Aid Office. The student can make an appointment in the Financial Aid Office, 215 Graff Main Hall, to discuss their situation. A written appeal outlining the reason(s) for failure to meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standard will be required, as well as appropriate third-party documentation. If an appeal is approved, eligibility for financial aid will be determined by the Financial Aid Office.

scholarships, awards, and short term loans  

                    Many scholarships and awards have been established by alumni, faculty and staff, parents, students, businesses, and organizations. Recipients are selected by scholarship committees on the basis of an application, grade point average and other materials as deemed appropriate by departmental committees. Scholarships are presented to students whose qualifications best fit the stipulations of the donor. Approximately one-half million dollars is awarded each year. Amounts vary annually based on funding from gifts or investment earnings available from a fund.

                    Almost all scholarships are contingent upon full-time enrollment both fall and spring semesters at UW-L. Scholarships and awards are usually paid for the academic year in two payments, the first half in the fall semester and the other half in the spring semester.

 A scholarship and awards resource book listing all scholarships administered by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation, Inc. is available in the University Bookstore, Cartwright Center. This information is also available on the Web at www.foundation.uwlax.edu .

A scholarship application is available to currently enrolled students at the UW-L Foundation Office, Cleary Alumni and Friends Center. Some scholarships require specific applications. Freshman applicants must submit the Freshman Scholarship Application. All applications (unless otherwise indicated) must be submitted to the UW-L Foundation Office. Applications are submitted to various offices that offer scholarships based on academic majors; please refer to the scholarship catalog. The deadline for entering freshman scholarship applications is January 2 each year. The deadline for other scholarship applications is March 1 each year. Scholarships and awards are announced at the honors reception set for the last Monday in April. For more information, call the Advancement Office at (608)785-8489.

The Foundation also administers a number of individual funds that provide for interest-free, short-term emergency loans to students in need, provided they are enrolled for a full credit load of non-repeat courses. The Financial Aid Office, 215 Graff Main Hall, has more information and application forms.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation, Inc.  

                    The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt Wisconsin corporation, created in 1967 to support the purposes and services of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Designated by the chancellor as the charitable arm of the university, the Foundation is responsible for encouraging and administering gifts from private sources and channeling those funds into areas where the university’s needs are the greatest.

Web site: www.foundation.uwlax.edu 

E-mail: foundation@uwlax.edu  

Benefits for Veterans and Veterans’ Dependents  

                    The university is fully approved for the education of veterans and veterans’ dependents under both federal and state programs. New students who qualify for benefits should report to the Veterans Benefits Coordinator in the Records and Registration Office, 117 Graff Main Hall, before or during registration. After this initial contact, registered students should keep the benefits coordinator apprised of their status and needs each semester.

If you receive support from veteran programs, you are required to report to the Records and Registration Office after registering for classes each semester to complete an enrollment verification form. The university certifies your attendance and credit load to the Veterans Administration based on the enrollment verification form.

Payments of veterans’ benefits depend on the number of credits carried. Students should carry at least 12 credits to receive full benefits under most programs. Payment will be awarded according to the schedule below. 

     table to determine 
    % of Benefits 

                               Undergraduate       Enrollment/
                                       Credits               Benefits

                                                                      Status             

                                           12+                   Full-time 

                                           9-11                  3/4 time 

                                            6-8                  1/2 time 

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