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We will begin to accept application materials for the 2010 cohorts on November 15, 2009. The deadline is February 1st. Note: The SAA Electronic application forms will go "live" on November 15th as well.
Instructions
Note: All the application processes below should be done electronically (online or via email)
Admission to the SAA
program is competitive. Applications for the Online program
(starts in May) and the On-Campus program (starts in September)
are accepted from November 15th through February 1st. The
deadline for applying to both programs is February 1st. Late applications may
continue to be accepted if spots are still available after the
first round of interviews and/or offers have been completed -- check
the top of this page for updates. The step-by-step application
process is as follows:
1. Complete the Office of Graduate Studies Electronic
Application . Go to the
Graduate Admissions
website and then to the
"Apply Online" link. The SAA Program cannot officially extend an
offer of acceptance until applicants have been admitted to the
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse through the Office of
Graduate Studies. When applying, please be sure to send official
transcripts from all institutions ever attended (undergraduate,
graduate, and college courses taken while in high school or
internationally) per
the instructions in the Graduate Studies application materials.
Even if you have only taken one class at a college/university
and maybe even took the class 30 years ago, you must send the
transcripts -- there are no exceptions to this policy. Note: the
#1 reason for an incomplete application is that the Admissions
Office is still waiting for all the transcripts to arrive.
The application fee is $58.
2. Complete the electronic
SAA On-Campus Application Form or the
SAA Online Application Form.
Make sure you complete the correct form because they are
different. At the end of the form when you press "done," you
should get a "thank you" to confirm that your application has
been received. Note: these links will remain
active from November 15th until the February 1st deadline
or shortly thereafter when the admissions process is closed.
3. Email your writing sample
(see instructions below) and your
resume as
an attachment to saa@uwlax.edu .
When you email it to Marie, please identify what you are
sending with your name and program option in the subject line.
For example, "Writing Sample -- Jane Doe (Online)" or "Resume --
John Doe (On-Campus)".
This helps us know where to file your
materials when we receive them. Marie Rieber will be
assisting with the admissions process and may be contacted at
608.785.6869 or
via email if you have any questions about your application or
application status.
4. Two letters of recommendation
should be emailed by your references to
saa@uwlax.edu
by the February deadline to make sure that your application is
complete. Please tell your references to send the letter
as an attachment and to identify what
they are sending with your name and program option in the
subject line of their email.
Example: "Reference for Eva
Doe
(Online)"
-- this helps us with organizing your application
materials on our end. The letters may be addressed to the "SAA Admissions
Committee" at Student Affairs Administration, 135 Wittich
Hall, La Crosse, Wisconsin. Letters of recommendation that are
received from the applicant will not be accepted.
In addition, you will be asked to submit the names of two additional references in the electronic SAA Application form. Please use any of these four references in the Graduate Studies application (you don't need to come up with new ones). Note: to make sure every applicant receives equal consideration, please ask only two individuals to send letters of recommendation on your behalf -- thank you!
Our Admissions Coordinator, Marie, really appreciates it when you follow these instructions -- thanks! She will email you when your application is complete.
SAA Writing Sample Instructions
Please address the following question: How would you like to contribute (or how have you already contributed) to the field of student affairs in higher education? Your response should be a maximum of 3 pages, double-spaced, using a 12 point font. Make sure to include your name and date on the top of your paper. Submit your paper as an attachment in your email to saa@uwlax.edu and identify it with your name and program option in the subject line.
Note
SAA application materials will be
accepted beginning November 15th. All application materials are
due by February 1st for the Online program and
the On-Campus program. All application materials must
be submitted to be considered for admission by the SAA
Admissions Committee. The Committee will not look at incomplete
applications. Late application materials will be
accepted until the student slots are filled (check this page for updates). This is the only open application
period for the entire year.
We appreciate your interest in our program and look forward to
receiving your application! The SAA Admissions
Committee will begin reviewing applications
after the February deadlines. We will be in touch with you via
email so make sure we have your updated email address.
What happens next?
Once we have received all of your application materials, TMarie will email you to let you know that your application is complete. The SAA Admissions Committee will begin reviewing applications after the February deadline to determine who will be offered the opportunity to join the SAA program. The SAA Admissions Committee will consider all aspects of your application in their deliberations including your academic history, campus involvements, and work experiences. You may be contacted for a phone interview or if we need more information regarding your application to make sure that it is complete and can be considered. Offers will be extended in March and must be accepted within a few weeks (Online) or by April 15th (On-Campus). Those who are put on the waiting list will be extended offers as space allows. Hopefully, this whole process will conclude in April. Given that the Online classes start in May, that admissions process will move slightly faster than the On-Campus process.
Program Start Dates
The Online program starts the third week of May and the On-Campus program starts in September on the Tuesday after Labor Day. Due to the fact that these are cohort programs where the students go through the program together, all students are expected to start their respective programs at the times indicated with their new student colleagues.
Application
Checklist
(all completed online or via email)
_______ Graduate Studies Application
_______ Transcripts (sent from every institution ever
attended)
_______ $56 fee
_______ SAA Application Form (On-Campus or Online)
_______ Writing Sample -- sent as an attachment to Marie at
saa@uwlax.edu
_______ Resume -- sent as an attachment to Marie at
saa@uwlax.edu
_______ Recommendation Letter #1 sent by email to Marie (no
hard copies) from the source (not the applicant)
_______ Recommendation Letter #2 sent by email to Marie (no
hard copies) from the source (not the applicant)
Questions? Call Marie at 608.785.6869