UW-L SAA at UW River Falls

An SAA degree option based at UW River Falls
Begins Fall 2013
Posted 2.7.13

How will this work?  You will earn your degree online while working as a "Graduate Student Intern" (aka Graduate Assistant) on the UW River Falls campus. The GSI positions will be in student affairs areas and will be 50% positions through the academic year (20 hours per week). Your payment will be similar to that of a Graduate Assistant at UW-L.  Some positions will need to start sooner or extend beyond the academic calendar and you would get paid extra on a pro-rated basis.

What's the curriculum? You will be enrolled in 9-10 credits per semester in a course sequence that is similar to our current on-campus course plan.  Although you will be enrolled as an online student, we expect some of the courses to include face-to-face learning activities on the UW River Falls campus. You can find the course sequence on the Calendars page and at the bottom of this page.  Courses will be completed in either a 7 or 14 week format. Classes start September 2, 2013.

The SAA online courses are asynchronous which means that students are not required to be in class at the same time.  There are weekly discussion deadlines as well as clear deadlines for course assignments.  Students complete the discussions in a group format and will experience a variety of learning activities in the D2L classroom as well as in a face-to-face context, depending on the course and instructor. This will not be a self-paced or isolated learning experience.  Rather, students will be part of a student affairs community cohort of learners that will include both academic (classroom) and professional development (led by UWRF staff) opportunities.   

What GSI positions are available?

 

How do I apply to the SAA program? You will need to apply to the SAA online program.  Please follow the instructions in our Admissions and Apply Now links.  Be sure to include UWRF in the subject line of your email to saa@uwlax.edu.  If you have already applied to the SAA on-campus program, please email us at saa@uwlax.edu to let us know that you would like to be considered for the UWRF program. You may apply to both.

How do I apply for GSI positions at UWRF? Application instructions are included in the position descriptions above.  Candidate interviews for GSI openings will be conducted by the UWRF staff.

What's the deadline? We do not have a set deadline and will be accepting applications until all positions are filled. Given the interest this new program has already generated, we would encourage you to apply soon.

What's the timeline? Both the SAA and GSI application processes will be moving through the next 2-3 months.  Although we will try to match up our timelines as closely as possible, one may get ahead or behind the other.  Regardless of which one you interview for first, your final acceptance into the UWRF program is dependent on getting an offer (1) to the SAA online program and (2) to be hired for a GSI position.  For example, you may be offered a GSI position first and it will be contingent upon you being offered admission to the SAA program.  If you are not offered admission to the SAA program, the GSI offer will be revoked. 

How long is this program? This is a 2-year commitment for all of us.  If all goes well, you will have earned your master's degree by May 2015!

What is the cost of the program?  Students enrolled in SAA at UWRF are online students and will be charged $575/credit, as stated in the General Financial Information page.  However, the total charge will be capped at 9 credits per semester. 

       
Contacts:         

UW-La Crosse:

Sara Flack
SAA ADA
sflack@uwlax.edu

Jodie Rindt, Ph.D.
SAA Department Chair
 jrindt@uwlax.edu
   
   
UW-River Falls:
 

Paul Shepherd
Director of Student Life
 paul.shepherd@uwrf.edu

 

SAA at UWRF Course Sequence

(Classes start September 2, 2013)

Fall 1:  2013 – 10 credits
 SAA 700 Professional Practice in Student Affairs – 1 credit
 SAA 702 Student Development Theory
 SAA 705 History of Higher Education
SAA 708 Diversity in Higher Education

Spring 1:  2014 – 10 credits
 SAA 704 Leadership in Higher Education
 SAA 710 Administration in Higher Education
SAA 720 Special Topics - 1 credit
SAA 761 Applied Research

Fall 2:  2014 - 8-11 credits
 SAA 701 Student Affairs & Technology - 1 credit
 SAA 706 Helping Relationships & Crisis Management - 1 credit
 SAA 730 Legal Aspects of Student Affairs
 SAA 780 Applied Research Project
 SAA 781 Internship (earned via GSI)

Spring 2:  2015 – 10 credits
 SAA 720 Special Topics - 1 credit
SAA 745 University Finance & Governance
SAA 780 Applied Research Project
 SAA 790 Capstone