M.S.Ed. student handbook

SAA Mission: Our mission is to advance the field of student affairs by preparing diverse scholar-practitioners for leadership in the multifaceted context of higher education. 

M.S.Ed. Degree Requirements

• • Courses:  Courses are designed to increase students' knowledge, skills, and abilities in all of the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies.
  • Fieldwork:  Students must be working at least half-time in the student or academic affairs in higher education throughout their time in the program. Additionally, students will complete a practicum to gain experience in a different area. Requiring field experience in two areas helps us stay compliant with the Council for the Advancement of Standards guidelines for master's level student affairs professional preparation programs.
  • Capstone:  Students will complete a two-semester sequence in which they develop a substantive literature review / needs assessment academic paper one term, followed by an in-depth intervention proposal and e-portfolio their final term.
  • Additional University Graduate Degree Requirements
• Graduation
  
  • UWL Commencement
  • Graduation Checklist
  • Graduation Apparel
  • SAA Pre-graduation job policy
  • Diplomas/Transcripts

• Graduate Catalog - SAA students are responsible for all policies in the graduate catalog
• Graduate Academic Policies & Procedures
• Student Life Student Handbook
• SAA Department Policies
  
  • SAA Pre-graduation job policy
  • Conference Attendance: SAA students are allowed to miss only one day of class per semester for a conference. The instructor must be notified in advance.
  • Incomplete Grades: Students may receive a maximum of two incomplete grades, except in extenuating circumstances (need department approval). If a student has two incompletes, the student will not be allowed to enroll in any additional courses.

M.S.Ed. Program Forms

• See Practicum page for the Practicum Form and Substitution request
• Transfer Credit Request Form (Continuing Education classes will not transfer)

• UWL Writing Center
• Purdue Owl - APA Complete the APA workshop.
• Purdue Owl - Academic Writing Complete the Academic Writing tutorials.
• Turnitin: The Plagiarism Spectrum
• The Complete Guide to Discouraging Plagiarism

See the SAA Library Guide for more information on research tools available to students in our program and additional tips on graduate-level writing.

Students are encouraged to join at least one professional organization during their time in the program. 

Umbrella organizations include:

• ACPA:  College Student Educators International
• NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
• NOTE:  Many states have their own regional umbrella organizations, like
  • Wisconsin College Personnel Association (WCPA)
  • Minnesota College Professionals Association (MCPA)
  • Iowa Student Personnel Association (ISPA)

Functional-area specific organizations include:

• AACRAO:  American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers
• ACHA:  American College Health Association
• ACUHO-I:  Association of College & University Housing Officers - International
• ACUI:  Association of College Unions International 
• AFA:  Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors
• AHEAD:  Association on Higher Education & Disability
• AHEPPP:  Association of Higher Education Parent/Family Program Professionals 
• AIR:  Association for Institutional Research
• ASCA:  Association for Student Conduct Administration
• ASHE:  Association for the Study of Higher Education
• CIVSA:  Collegiate Information & Visitor Services Association
• COE:  Council for Opportunity in Education
• Consortium:  Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Professionals Association
• HECMA:  Higher Education Case Managers Association
• IACLEA:  International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
• NACA:  National Association for Campus Activities
• NACE:  National Association of Colleges & Employers
• NACADA:  The Global Community for Academic Advising
• NADOHE:  National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education
• NAFSA:  Association of International Educators
• NASFAA:  National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
• NCDA:  National Career Development Association
• NIRSA:  Leaders in Collegiate Recreation
• NODA:  Association for Orientation, Transition, & Retention in Higher Education
• Again, many of these offer regional opportunities and/or state-level organizations, like:
  • UMR ACUHO (Upper midwest region for housing)
  • WACADA (Wisconsin academic advising)
  • WAIE (Wisconsin international educators)

Organizations for specific institutional types include:

• AACC:  American Association of Community Colleges
• AAC&U:  Association of American Colleges & Universities 
  • Excellent (and free!) publications re: equity and inclusion 
• AASCU:  American Association of State Colleges & Universities
• ASACCU: Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities