Admissions

ADMISSIONS UPDATES

The On-Campus admissions process is closed for Fall 2012 - it re-opens Nov. 15th for Fall 2014

Please contact us  (Sara at sflack@uwlax.edu) regarding online openings for Fall 2012.

Deadline for Fall Online 2012: August 1st

Deadline for Spring Online 2013: December 1st

Online applicants will be able to select a 2 or 3-year plan of study.

 

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 , the SAA application requirements, and the cost of attending graduate school 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 "Application Instructions" section. Your application will be considered "complete" when all of the following materials have been received (all completed electronically):


1. The UW System Online Admission Application and the $56 fee.
2. All transcripts from every institution ever attended.
3. The electronic SAA Application.
4. A personal statement.
5. A current resume or vita.
6. Two letters of recommendation.

Note: International students must apply at Office of International Education. International students should complete #'s 2-6 above to complete the SAA portion of the application process.

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. The Visit Days are scheduled for February 24 and March 23, 2012, and are by invitation only.

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 students in the On-Campus cohort (2012-14) and 15-20 students each in the two online cohorts that will start in May, 2012. Online applicants will be able to select either a 2-year or 3-year plan of study. 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 "Application Instructions" section. All communication regarding your application status is done via email. We appreciate applications that arrive in November and December but please note that there is no priority given to earlier applications.

February 1st -- the early consideration deadline for the SAA Online & On-Campus Program; the SAA Admissions Committee will begin to review completed applications after this date. Applications will continue to be accepted until all the spots are filled.

2nd - 4th week in February -- On-Campus candidates will be notified of their status via email and may be invited to the Visit Days (February 24th & March 23rd). Online applicants will be notified of their status via email and may be asked to participate in a phone/Skype interview. In some cases, the Department Chair (Dr. Jodie Rindt) may need to contact applicants for more information before a status decision is determined.

February 24th -- Visit Day #1 -- On-Campus candidates may be invited to campus for SAA Program interviews, informational meetings with GA supervisors, opportunities to interact with SAA faculty and current students, and campus tours.  The day will also include a classroom experience and information about the Germany & SAA Partnership.

Beginning in March -- Candidates who participated in the February 24th Visit Day will be extended offers to join the SAA program, be placed on the "Wait List," or will be notified that they are no longer being considered for admittance to the program.  Applications for both the On-Campus and Online program will continue to be accepted until all spots are filled. More On-campus candidates may be invited to the second Visit Day (March 23rd) if space is available.  Candidates will receive updates via email.

March 1st-4th -- Oshkosh Placement Exchange (OPE) -- candidates who have applied to the Program and who are interested in GA positions in resident life areas, may be able to arrange GA interviews at OPE. 

March 23rd -- Visit Day #2 -- On-Campus candidates may be invited to campus for SAA Program interviews, informational meetings with GA supervisors, opportunities to interact with SAA faculty and current students, and campus tours. The day will also include a classroom experience and information about the Germany & SAA Partnership.

March through April -- On-Campus candidates who have been offered admission to the SAA Program will interview for graduate assistantship (GA) positions. Due to the limited number of applicants that can be offered admission, some on-campus applicants will be on the "Wait List" during this period and will be notified via email as soon as their status changes.

Candidates who participated in the March 23rd Visit Day will be extended offers to join the SAA program, be placed on the "Wait List," or will be notified that they are no longer being considered for admittance to the program.  Candidates who have been offered admission will interview for GA positions via phone, Skype, or in-person. Candidates will receive updates via email.

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

April 15th -- this is the national deadline to accept our offer to the On-Campus program or your "spot" will be offered to another applicant who is on the "Wait List." If spots are still available after this deadline, the Admissions Committee will contact candidates on the "Wait List" for program interviews and review any recent complete applications that have been submitted. All candidates on the "Wait List" should receive an update via email within two or three weeks after this date.

June 1st (approximately) -- Students will be emailed a status update. The admissions process will remain open until all spots are filled.  Check the top of this page for updates.



First Monday in May - Online program begins -- both the 2-year and 3-year plan.

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