Admissions

  • Current Opportunities:  (1)We are still accepting applications for SAA at UW-River Falls! (2)There are 2 GSI positions open at UWEC!  To apply for either, email saa@uwlax.edu.

  • Admissions is closed for both the on-campus and online programs.  Please note that if your GPA was below the required 2.85 to be admitted in good standing, this has a significant impact on your candidacy since the majority of the applicants have a stellar academic record. There are graduate programs where the undergraduate GPA may be less of an issue but, given our record number of applicants, your chances of being admitted to the SAA program are significantly lowered with a low GPA.

  • Important Announcement for Online Applicants for 2014: Please visit the following links regarding "State Authorization" regulations that are now being enforced.  Unfortunately, if you live in states that UW-L does not have an agreement with to provide online education, we can not admit you to the SAA program.  To check the status of your state, go to States Authorized with UW-L .  If you would like to learn more about these regulations, visit State Authorization Info .  Posted 2.28.13

 

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

To apply to the program, go to Apply Now for detailed application instructions.  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 in February and March, 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 15-18 students in the On-Campus cohort (2013-15) and 15-20 students in the online cohort that will start in May, 2013. 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 for Summer Online & Fall On-Campus Admissions

The SAA Admissions approximate timeline is as follows:

November 15th -- applications will begin to be accepted per the directions in Apply Now. All communication regarding your application status is done via email. We appreciate applications that arrive in November and December but please note that applications will not be reviewed until after February 1st.

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 spots are filled.  If you want to be invited to participate in the first Visit Day and receive early consideration for admission, it is important that you complete your application to meet this deadline.

Late February/early March -- On-Campus candidates will be notified of their status via email and may be invited to the Visit Days. 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. Candidates with an undergraduate GPA below 2.85 (probationary status) may be placed on the Wait List and will receive an update via email as soon as their status changes.

February 22nd -- 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.  Candidates who attend this Visit Day will receive earlier consideration for admission than those who participate in the second Visit Day.  However, there will be program spots available for those who attend the second Visit Day so everyone who participates will receive consideration for open spots.

Beginning in March -- Candidates who participated in the first 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 received offers will begin interviewing for GA positions via phone, Skype, or in-person.  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) if space is available on the Visit Day schedule.  Candidates will receive updates via email.

February 28th - March 3rd-- 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.  OPE candidates will be invited to attend one of the visit days.

March 8th -- 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.

March 18th -- 22nd -- Spring Break at UW-La Crosse

March through April -- Candidates who participated in the Visit Days 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.  On-Campus candidates who have been offered admission to the SAA Program will interview for GA positions via phone, Skype, or in-person. 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 (offered admission or no longer being considered).

Online applicants will be notified about their status on a rolling basis depending on when the application is complete. 

April 1st -- If you have been offered a spot in the online program, this is the 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.

May 13th - Online program begins -- both the 2-year and 3-year plan.

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.

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