Skip to main content

Accessibility menu

Skip to main content Skip to footer

Campus Life

Be Well @ UWL
YOU@UWL

Be Well @ UWL

Emotional

Emotional expanders

Benefits
  • Human Resources
    • Retirement and savings plans
    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • Life and accident insurance
    • Leave benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • The employee assistance program is a free, confidential service to UWL employees, their dependents, and anyone living in their household.

Physical

Expanders

Benefits
  • Human Resources
    • Retirement and savings plans
    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • Life and accident insurance
    • Leave benefits
Dining & Catering
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • The employee assistance program is a free, confidential service to UWL employees, their dependents, and anyone living in their household.
Outdoor Equipment
  • Outdoor Equipment Rental; Outdoor Resource Library: maps, guide books, instruction and periodicals; Outdoor Equipment purchasing advice; Outdoor Trips and Clinics; Outdoor skills training; Lectures and Seminars; Green Bike Rental Program
Rec Sports Memberships
  • Membership includes: access to the REC Strength Center, track-side cardiovascular and strength equipment, 200 meter track, courts, climbing wall, racquetball courts, multipurpose room, and conditioning room; access to the Mitchell Hall pool; reduced rental and trip rates at the Outdoor Connection; ability to sponsor guests (up to 3 per visit) for appropriate guest fee; eligibility to play intramural sports; eligibility to utilize personal training services; ability to participate in family weekends
  • Avoid ‘busy times’ by following the live counts for the fitness center
StayWell Wellness Wisconsin
  • StayWell is an independent provider of health promotion programs and services. StayWell specializes in helping organizations improve the health and well-being of their participants. Since 1978 StayWell has designed and managed programs for employers throughout the United States.

    The StayWell wellness portal is available to employees, retirees and their spouses enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Programs. Access is based on the effective dates of your health insurance coverage. The StayWell wellness portal is not available to children or other dependents of the employee enrolled in State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program. The services available to you through StayWell, including individual confidential health coaching and all of the tools in the portal, are provided at no cost to you

    To access your StayWell Portal, click here.

Well Wisconsin Incentive
  • The $150 Well Wisconsin Incentive is the uniform wellness incentive available to employees, retirees and their spouses currently enrolled in the State of Wisconsin or Wisconsin Public Employers Group Health Insurance Programs. 

    Complete a health screening, the StayWell health assessment, and a StayWell well-being activity to earn the $150 gift card. You can complete these steps via your StayWell wellness portal account

    Click here to be redirected to the StayWell portal

Financial

Expanders

Benefits
  • Human Resources
    • Retirement and savings plans
    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • Life and accident insurance
    • Leave benefits
Educational Assistance
  • Tuition reimbursement is available to all Academic Staff and Faculty who hold budgeted appointments of half time or greater and University Staff employees who hold project appointments or appointments with an expectation of continued employment. See full information here: Employee education assistance policy
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • The employee assistance program is a free, confidential service to UWL employees, their dependents, and anyone living in their household.
Financial Planning
  • In addition to retirement & savings plans benefits, UWL employees have access to financial planning vendors associated with the UW Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA), i.e., 403(b) program: TIAA, Fidelity Investments , and Rowe Price
  • UWL employees can also utilize direct deposit from their payroll to contribute to Edvest (Wisconsin’s 529 College Savings Plan).
  • Additional resources for financial wellness are available through ETF

Spiritual

Spiritual expanders

Dining & Catering
Benefits
  • Human Resources
    • Retirement and savings plans
    • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
    • Life and accident insurance
    • Leave benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • The employee assistance program is a free, confidential service to UWL employees, their dependents, and anyone living in their household.

Social & cultural

Expanders

Athletic Events

Ticket information with faculty/staff discounts: https://uwlathletics.com/documents/2018/8/10/Ticket_Information_2018_19.pdf

Campus Bookstore
  • Bookstore. UWL apparel, gifts, decorations, and much more!  First floor of the Student Union
  • Online bookstore
Campus Activities Board
  • CAB provides cultural, educational and entertaining events for UW - La Crosse students, community, faculty and staff. 
    • CAB Events- free movies, performances and speakers
Murphy Library
Outdoor Equipment
  • Outdoor Equipment Rental; Outdoor Resource Library: maps, guide books, instruction and periodicals; Outdoor Equipment purchasing advice; Outdoor Trips and Clinics; Outdoor skills training; Lectures and Seminars; Green Bike Rental Program
Visual & Performing Arts

Environmental

Expanders

Environmental Health & Safety
  • UWL has a legal and financial obligation to provide and maintain a safe and healthful environment for our employees, students, guests, and residents of the community. Implementation of the Environmental Health and Safety Program is intended to achieve this goal.
Environmental Sustainability

Career & academic

Expanders

Educational Assistance
  • Tuition reimbursement is available to all Academic Staff and Faculty who hold budgeted appointments of half time or greater and University Staff employees who hold project appointments or appointments with an expectation of continued employment. See full information here: Employee education assistance policy
Professional Development

Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness is a component of mental health along with psychological and social well-being. Mental health is how we think, feel, and act. Emotional wellness involves the ability to understand and share your feelings. This includes feelings of fear, anger, sadness, stress, disgust, hope, love, joy, happiness, and much more. Three important components of emotional wellness are awareness, acceptance, and management. This means:

  • Recognizing your feelings and the feelings of others,
  • Understanding the normality of human emotion and realistically assessing personal limitations,
  • And managing or coping with personal feelings and knowing how to seek support when necessary

Community Resources:

  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
    • Call or text for 24/7 free and confidential support
  • La Crosse County Crisis Services: 608.784.4357
    • Local mental health support and evaluation of risk via phone and/or in person
  • Great Rivers 211 Helpline: 211 or 800.362.8255
    • Local support and connection to resources for meeting basic needs

Physical Wellness

Physical wellness is multidimensional and looks different for different people. Optimal physical wellness is a complex state of health and well-being that includes, but is not limited to, a properly functioning body. Taking care of your physical well-being requires physical activity, proper nutrition, avoiding misuse of alcohol and other substances, safe sexual health practices, proper sleep, professional medical attention when needed, and taking steps to prevent injury.

Components of Physical Wellness

Exercise & Fitness

Physical activity is vital for maintaining health. In addition to building muscle, improving endurance, strengthening bones, and improving one's ability to do everyday activities, regular exercise has been shown to decrease anxiety and stress, increase self-esteem, and improve academic performance.

It is recommended that adults perform at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week and resistance training for muscular fitness on 2-3 days each week.

Nutrition

Combining physical activity with quality food intake will maximize the benefits for physical well-being. While nutrition practices can look different, a healthy diet generally includes a variety of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, lean meat, and other sources of protein. Carbohydrates, fat, and protein are the essential macronutrients we need for energy and to maintain the body's systems.

Along with a well-rounded diet, intuitive and mindful eating can be important components of nutrition. Intuitive eating is an approach to fueling, nourishing, and loving your body; mindful eating is a specific tool used to intentionally and purposefully engage in the eating process without judgement.

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Substance use can be a significant barrier to student success. We recognize that students may choose to participate in the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, so Wellness & Health Advocacy provides education and prevention strategies that promote safety and bystander intervention. Risk reduction is essential for fostering safer consumption and a community of responsible individuals.

Sexual Health

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being connected to sexuality. While sexual and reproductive health can be difficult to talk about, having informed conversations and practicing safer sexual habits can positively support overall well-being.

Pregnancy and STI Prevention

If you choose to participate in sexual activity, it is important to protect and respect yourself and your partners. For example, barrier methods are recommended for protection from sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies can be avoided with proper use of contraception.

Consent and Healthy Relationships

Consent is freely given words or overt actions that clearly communicate an individual’s agreement to engage in sexual activity. It should be specific and enthusiastic from all partners. Consent cannot be legally obtained if an individual is incapacitated due to alcohol or other drugs, is unconscious or asleep, or has impaired mental capacity.

Relationships should consist of mutual respect, open communication, honesty, and support for one another. Learn more about healthy relationships, consent, and sexual violence from Violence Prevention.

Sexuality and Gender Identity

How we identify and express our gender and sexuality are important components of sexual, reproductive, and relationship health.

Sleep

Sleep is a necessary and vital biological function that is essential to a person's physical and emotional well-being. Sleep benefits your immune system, helps repair your nervous system, and aids in hormone release. And proper sleep can help you stay healthy and can improve academic performance. It is recommended that adults sleep for 7 to 9 hours every night.

Medical Self-Care

Participating in medical self-care it vital for physical well-being. Attending regular physical exams, recognizing and responding to signs of disease, and utilizing professional medical services when needed are important components of taking care of one's health.

Financial Wellness

Money plays a critical role in our lives and financial stress is a common source of anxiety for college students. Financial wellness focuses on learning how to successfully manage the financial factors that impact well-being. This might mean budgeting, saving, investing, and exploring new financial concepts.

Spiritual Wellness

At its foundation, spiritual wellness is rooted in discovering a sense of meaningfulness in your life. It provides the capacity to love, have compassion for others, practice forgiveness, and feel joy. For some individuals, spiritual wellness might be connected to religious faith. For others, it might be tied to personal beliefs, values, ethics, morals, and/or a relationship with nature. Signs of a positive relationship with spiritual well-being include:

  • Having a sense of purpose in life
  • The ability to spend reflective time alone
  • Having a clear sense of right and wrong
  • Caring for and acting in the welfare of others
  • Practicing forgiveness and compassion 

Social & Cultural Wellness

Social and cultural wellness is the ability to establish relationships, relate to others, and connect positively with other people. The social dimension of well-being encourages us to contribute to our community, foster healthy relationships and build a supportive social network, value cultural diversity, and preserve safe cultural spaces.

Environmental Wellness

Environmental wellness focuses on our ability to positively impact the land, air, and water that supports human and animal life. Elements of a sustainable lifestyle can support your health, the planet, ecological well-being, and your economic health.

Career & Academic Wellness

Career and academic well-being allows us to focus on our academic and professional work while still maintaining balance in our lives.

Academic Wellness

Components of academic wellness include the desire to learn new concepts and improve skills, the seeking of challenges as a lifelong learner, and the ability to effectively use information. The intellectual dimension of well-being highlights:

  • Getting the most out of education by asking questions and studying effectively
  • Creative and mentally stimulating activities
  • The importance of problem solving and critical thinking

Career Wellness

At the center of career and occupational wellness is the belief that occupational development is related to one's attitude about one's work. Important components of career wellness include personal satisfaction and enrichment at work, occupational skills and knowledge, and career ambitions, along with:

  • A career that is consistent with personal values
  • Rewarding work
  • Functional, transferable skills
  • Occupational safety and well-being

Well-being

ACCESS Center Come to us for academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
Advocacy & empowerment Experiencing anxiety, sorrow, grief, stress, or pain? Learn about services that aim to advocate and empower students.
Bias Incident Report Complete a bias incident report if you have experienced, witnessed or learned of a potential bias incident. Reporting helps facilitate change on campus.
CARE Team Learn about a campus team that discusses student concerns and provides appropriate interventions for the student and the university community.
Counseling & Testing Center Find encouragement and support, counseling and psychological assessments for educational, occupational or personal issues.
Student Health Center Get on-campus access to Mayo Clinic services including physical exams, management of illness, pain management, injury treatment, mental health and more.
Violence Prevention Get free, confidential help. If you have experienced sexual assault, stalking, violence or abuse or know someone who has, we are here to assist you.
Wellness Join the Peer Health Advocates at UWL events and learn how to support your well-being through culturally competent, health promotion programming on campus.

Campus life

Events Find out about upcoming lectures, speeches, forums, films, athletic events, entertainment, conferences, career development and more on the events page.
Campus Connection Get the latest news about the campus community including research, awards, new programs and initiatives, unique classes and more.
Dining Locations Explore where to eat on campus. Whether looking for a sit-down meal, or something to grab on-the-go, UWL campus dining has you covered.
Eagle Help Desk Reach out for free, technology help via chat, phone, ticket, email or stop by the Eagle Help Desk in Wing Technology Center.
Eagle ID Your Eagle ID is your key to access campus. IDs are needed to enter residence hall, purchase textbooks, ride city buses and much more.
New Student & Family Programs Get assistance on the transition to college. This office builds partnerships with students and families through communication, programming and resources.
Residence Life Make your home on campus. The Office of Residence Life supports students’ academic success and social life.
Sustainability Through education, programming and action, UWL will advance environmental sustainability on campus and build a campus culture of environmental responsibility.
Textbook Rental Save money on your textbooks through UWL Textbook Rental. At UWL, you’ll rent your textbooks, giving you the opportunity to save big on college books.

Academics

Academic Advising Center & Career Services Discover your educational and career goals with help from Academic Advising Center & Career Services.
International education Broaden your intellectual and cultural horizons with UWL’s office of International Education and Engagement.
Murphy Learning Center Receive free tutoring for a variety of courses, as well as writing and public speaking help. Open to all students. Located in 251 Murphy Library.
Murphy Library Find study spaces and access to hundreds of databases, computers, books, reference materials, special collections and more.
Student Research, Creativity, & Experiential Learning Explore research with a faculty mentor. SRCEL offers resources to support students in pursuing mentored research, scholarly and creative activity.

Basic needs

UWL Emergency Resources Do you need food, clothing, housing, emergency funds or legal help? Find campus and community resources you need in an emergency in one spot.
Campus Food Pantry Pick up free, non-perishable food items and more at the campus food pantry. These donated items are available to all UWL students.
Campus Thread Find free, used clothing for UWL students at the campus clothing closet. This gently-used clothing includes casual, career and UWL apparel.
Campus Child Center Feel secure keeping your child in a safe, interactive and educational environment with the reputable staff at The Campus Child Center.

Career

Academic Advising Center & Career Services Discover your educational and career goals with help from Academic Advising Center & Career Services.
Eagle Advantage Recognize the career competencies you're developing, learn how to articulate them to others, and apply them to your life.
UWL Employment & Internship Statistics View internship and employment outcomes of student who attended UWL before you. Data comes from a survey of all graduates six months after graduation.

Finances

Cashier's Office View your tuition bill. UWL's Cashier’s Office bills tuition, fees and other campus-based charges to students and faculty.
Financial Aid Do you have questions about how pay for college? You'll find information on financial aid and how to manage money at the Financial Aid Office.
It makes cents Learn about money management and financial planning for college and your future. It Make$ Cents! provide tools to improve your personal finance.
Scholarship Resource Center Search & apply for scholarships with help from the SRC. This center offers appointments, events and workshops to help you get money to pay for college.

Identities

Center for Transformative Justice Find programming and spaces that address inequities and barriers students experience.
Diversity & Inclusion Explore D & I, a division that advocates for access, equity, and inclusion for historically marginalized and systematically under-served populations.
International students & scholars We are here to assist you with questions about your immigration status, visa and work permits, scholarships, and much more!
Multicultural Student Services Find academic, leadership, personal and social development for black, indigenous, people of color; biracial; and multi-ethnic students through OMSS.
Pride Center Join a welcoming community at the Pride Center! If you identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, or want to learn more about it, stop by!
Student Support Services Are you a first-generation college student, from a low-income household or a student with a documented disability? Consider applying for support.
Veteran Services Make the most of your benefits with Veterans Services! For veterans & military-connected students, the office also facilitates transitioning to university life.

Involvement

Athletics Play a sport that fuels your passion. UWL offers 21 Division III athletic teams.
Campus Activities Board Learn about cultural, educational and entertaining events happening on campus organized by Campus Activities Board. The CAB motto is “Everyone is welcome."
International education Broaden your intellectual and cultural horizons with UWL’s office of International Education and Engagement.
Recreational Sports Rec Sports, UWL Recreation, Intramurals, Fitness, Special Events, Outdoor Connection, Outdoor Recreation, Sports, Intramural Sports.
Student organizations Get involved at UWL. With more than 220 student organizations, it’s easy to find a group to join.
Student Association Student Association acts as a liaison between students and faculty for organizational issues.
Visual & Performing Arts Experience award-winning exhibits, performances and shows from the departments of Art, Music, and Theatre & Dance.

Safety

Police Get to know the University Police. Campus officers serve and protect the UWL community with professionalism, integrity and impartiality.
UWL Emergency Resources Do you need food, clothing, housing, emergency funds or legal help? Find campus and community resources you need in an emergency in one spot.
Crime prevention Keep yourself and your property safe from crime through the UWL Police Department’s crime prevention programs from self-defense to alcohol awareness.
Emergency response plan Be aware of active threats on campus through RAVE, which sends a text/email to campus during a situation that is a serious or a threat to the safety of campus.
Violence Prevention Get free, confidential help. If you have experienced sexual assault, stalking, violence or abuse or know someone who has, we are here to assist you.
Title IX Know your rights when it comes to sexual misconduct or as a pregnant or expecting parent. Title IX is the place to start.
At-Risk Mental Health Training Learn how to recognize the signs of emotional distress, initiate a conversation and make a referral.

Transportation

Parking Services Learn about campus parking options for students, employees and visitors. A permit or payment is required to park in UWL campus lots.
U-PASS Travel anywhere in La Crosse using the city buses for free throughout the year. Just show your UWL student ID to the bus driver to get unlimited rides.
Safe ride Secure a safe and free bus ride between downtown and campus on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays nights using the Safe Ride bus.