Admissions

We have closed our On-Campus and Online application process for 2011-12.  Check back here for updates.  Posted 4.26.11

Note:  We will start to accept applications for 2012-13 on November 15, 2011.  Deadline: February 1, 2012, for early consideration for the online program and March 1, 2012, for early consideration for the on-campus program.

Also note that Marie Rieber has accepted a full-time job on-campus and Sara Flack will be joining us as her replacement.  Her email will be flack.sara@uwlax.edu and she will be happy to assist you. 

Thank you for your interest in the Student Affairs Administration (SAA) program at UW-La Crosse. Please read all the information regarding our Graduate Studies guidelines and the SAA application requirements before you apply. 

To qualify for unconditional admission to graduate study at UW-La Crosse, you must have:

  1.  A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
  2.  An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.00 scale, or
    An average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or
    An average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited                 graduate school.
  3. Departmental (SAA) or school/college approval to enter the graduate program chosen.
  4. The SAA program does not require the GRE or other tests for admission to the program.

If you have an undergraduate grade point average between 2.50 and 2.84 and are otherwise qualified, you may be admitted to graduate programs on probation if there is evidence of your ability to do satisfactory graduate work.

If you have earned at least six credits in an accredited graduate school with grades of "A" or "B," you may be admitted on probation if you meet all other requirements. If your undergraduate grade point average is below 2.50, you may be allowed to take six semester credits of advanced undergraduate or graduate course work (specified by the appropriate program director). If you earn a "B" or better in each course, you may be granted admission on probation, however, these credits will not apply to a graduate degree.

If you entered on probation, after completing nine graduate semester credits with a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.00 or better, you will be removed from probation. If you haven’t attained the required 3.00 after completing nine credits or two terms (whichever comes first), you will be dismissed from graduate study.  Please refer to the Graduate Catalog regarding probation policies.

Application Requirements

Detailed instructions for the application process are described in the "Apply Now" section. Your application will be considered "complete" when all of the following materials have been received by the SAA program:

  1. The Graduate Studies electronic application (the Admissions Offices forwards a copy to SAA after they approve it) -- make sure ALL transcripts are sent from every institution ever attended to the Graduate Admissions Office per the Graduate Studies application instructions or your application will be held up in the Admissions Office. Note: not receiving all transcripts is the #1 reason for application delays and/or incomplete applications so take care of this promptly.  If you have only taken one class at another university/college (including international), you must have those transcripts sent as instructed in the Graduate Studies application instructions. There are no exceptions to this requirement. Contact the Admissions Office for all info related to your transcripts at 608.785.8941.  Go to the "Apply Now" link for the address where all transcripts should be sent -- do not send them to the SAA Office.
  2. The SAA electronic application (On-Campus or Online).
  3. Your current resume.
  4. A writing sample.  See step 3 for the SAA writing sample instructions on the "Apply Now" page.
  5. Two letters of recommendation.  See the instructions on the "Apply Now" page.
  6. The names and contact information for two additional references.

Note: International students must apply through the Office of International Education.  Please ignore the information in #1 above and go to the admissions link on their website for instructions at Office of International Education. International students should complete #'s 2-6 above to complete the SAA portion of the application process.

Except for your transcripts, note that all the application processes are completed electronically -- either online or via email. Our Admissions Coordinator, Sara, would really appreciate it if you would follow the application directions to a "t" since it definitely helps her with organizing all the incoming materials.  After the deadline dates pass, only complete applications will be considered by the SAA Admissions Committee. Late "complete" applications may be considered after the first round of consideration and interviews has been completed and if there are spots available. Thus, make sure to meet the deadline if you want your application to be considered promptly after the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The SAA Admissions Committee will consider all aspects of your application materials including your academic history, campus involvements, and work experiences. For On-Campus applicants, interviews will be conducted as part of the application and graduate assistantship process. You interview separately for the SAA program and then meet with graduate assistantship supervisors individually to interview for their open positions (these usually last about 30 minutes). Two interview days will be scheduled in early March. For Online applicants, phone interviews will be conducted as needed and preference is given to those currently working in higher education or who have comparable work experience. Due to the fact that the Online program starts in May, the admissions process will move at a slightly faster pace than the On-Campus process.

The SAA faculty seek students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Students admitted to the program have a variety of academic backgrounds (no particular major is required) and experiences. Multi-cultural experiences (both academic and work/personal) are valued and encouraged.

Enrollment Targets

We anticipate enrolling 15-20 students in the next Online cohort and 15-17 students in the On-Campus cohort (2010-12). Online applicants will be able to select either a 2 or 3 year option.  It's difficult to predict how many students will apply to the Online program and we generally anticipate 50-75 complete applications for the On-Campus program although that can vary from year to year as well.

The Application Timeline/Process

The SAA Admissions approximate timeline is as follows:

November 15th -- applications will begin to be accepted per the directions in the "Apply Now" section. All communication regarding your application status is done via email. The SAA Admissions Committee will not look at complete applications until after the application deadline and once they are officially informed that you meet the graduate school requirements. You will receive an email from Sara to notify you that your application is complete. We appreciate applications that arrive in November and December (to help us stay organized) but please note that there is no priority given to earlier applications. However, it is very important that your application is completed (ALL your materials have been received) by the deadline so you can receive full consideration at the beginning of the process -- the most common problems are either late transcripts or reference letters. So, if you plan to apply to the SAA program, the first thing you should do is complete the Graduate Studies application and have your transcripts sent as instructed.

February 1st -- the application deadline for the SAA Online & On-Campus Program; the SAA Admissions Committee will begin to review completed applications after this date. Late applications may be accepted if spots are still available. Thus, if you apply after the deadline, please be aware that your application will only be considered if spots are available after the first round of interviews and/or offers have taken place. Check the top of this page for updates.

2nd - 3rd week in February -- On-Campus candidates will be offered the opportunity to interview (for the program and available graduate assistantships), be placed on the "Waiting List," or will be notified that they are no longer being considered for the SAA program. In some cases, the Program Director (Dr. Jodie Rindt) may need to contact applicants for more information before a status decision is determined.

March 7-8 - - Interviews for On-Campus candidates.  The tentative schedule for both days includes an 8-8:30 am check-in, a program overview, program and graduate assistantship interviews, and interaction with a student panel. Potential students will also be encouraged to check-out the campus and the beautiful La Crosse community.

Beginning in Mid-March -- Online candidates will be extended offers to join the SAA program, be placed on the "Waiting List," or will be notified that they are no longer being considered for admittance to the program.

Beginning in Mid-March through April 1st -- offers to join the SAA On-Campus Program with graduate assistantship assignments (if available) will be sent out via email. Individuals on the "Waiting List" will still be on hold due to the fact that students who are offered spots have until April to make a final decision.

April 1st -- final deadline to accept our offer to the Online program or your "spot" will be offered to another applicant who is on the "Waiting List."

April 15th -- final deadline to accept our offer to the On-Campus program or your "spot" will be offered to another applicant who is on the "Waiting List." This is a national deadline for all on-campus student affairs-related programs. If spots are still available after this deadline, the Admissions Committee will contact candidates on the "Waiting List" for program interviews. All candidates on the "Waiting List" should receive an update within two or three weeks after this date.

May 15th (approximately) -- all admissions decisions should be finalized. Students will be emailed a status update within a few days.

Second Monday in May - Online program begins -- both the 2-year and 3-year option.

Tuesday after Labor Day -- On-Campus program begins (some graduate assistantships start at the beginning of August).

 Questions?  Call Sara at 608.785.6869 or email her at saa@uwlax.edu