This browser does not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's intended design. May we suggest that you upgrade your browser?



FAQ's

Questions:

  1. I'm thinking of taking a class at UW-Eau Claire, but where do I start?
  2. How much does it cost to take a class at UW-Eau Claire? Can adult students qualify for financial aid?
  3. If I know I want to be an admitted student at UW-Eau Claire, what are the first steps I need to take? Do I need ACT or SAT test scores?
  4. I don't want a college degree. Can I still take some classes for my own enrichment or to "test the waters"?
  5. Is there childcare available on campus?
  6. I have some "old" college credits. Are they still "good" will they still transfer in?
  7. It's been years since I've been in school. Is there help available for brushing up on my academic skills?
  8. I have to work fulltime. Can I earn a degree at UW-Eau Claire on a part-time basis?
  9. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! Can I get some academic and career advising?
  10. I'm a senior citizen. Is there a reduced rate for senior citizens taking classes?

Answers:

  1. I'm thinking of taking a class at UW-Eau Claire, but where do I start?
    TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Call 715-836-3259 to make an appointment with the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser. If a phone appointment would be more convenient initially, that can also be scheduled. The Nontraditional Student Services Adviser will cover all your initial questions related to registering for one or more classes, tuition and fees, academic support services, campus resources, and more. Whether you seek admission to UW-Eau Claire or just want to try out a course or two as a "special" (unadmitted) student, start with the Nontraditional Student Services Office in Schofield Hall 226. In addition to regular business hours, some late afternoon/evening hours are also available for appointments.

    Click here for information on the Admissions Process.
    Click here for information on registering as a Special Student.

    If you're wondering what the next best educational or career step might be for you, and you haven't yet decided if UW-Eau Claire is the right institution for you at this time, you can also get professional help in researching all your education and career options through the free services of the Educational Opportunity Center (EOC). The EOC is a federally-funded program serving adults in a10-county area of western Wisconsin. The main EOC office is housed at UW-Eau Claire, and a satellite office is maintained at UW-Barron County campus in Rice Lake. Call 715-836-2024 to determine if you are eligible for the free services the Educational Opportunity Center can provide.


  2. How much does it cost to take a class at UW-Eau Claire? Can adult students qualify for financial aid? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Current tuition and fee schedules are published each term in the Class Schedule Bulletin, available from Registration Services in Schofield Hall 128. Total tuition and fees depend on the number of credits taken; a few courses also have a special course fee. For current tuition and fees, contact the Business Office at 836-4325 or view the Business Office Fee Schedule on-line.

    YES, adult students qualify for financial aid based on their family resources, the same as traditional-aged students. Visit the Financial Aid Office website. There you can see the varieties of aid available, a list of all university scholarships, a Power Point slide show on how to apply for aid, information on tax cuts for education, and related links to free scholarship search services. To get an idea of what your education expenses might look like, you can fill out a Financial Aid Estimator. There are also a number of scholarships specifically for returning adult students, which the Nontraditional Student Services Office publishes in a scholarship booklet called Pennies from Heaven. These scholarships are also listed on the Financial Aid homepage.


  3. If I know I want to be an admitted student at UW-Eau Claire, what are the first steps I need to take? Do I need ACT or SAT test scores?
    TopBACK TO FAQ's

    It is often useful for adults to have an initial conversation with the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser, either in person or by telephone, prior to applying for admission. However, it is not required. You can get a UW System Undergraduate Admissions application either from the Nontraditional Student Services Office in Schofield Hall 226 or from the Admissions Office in Schofield Hall 112. You can also apply on-line at http://apply.wisconsin.edu. Graduate school applications are available from the Admissions Office or send an e-mail request for an application, admissions@uwec.edu. You may also choose to apply on-line at http://apply.wisconsin.edu/graduate/eau.

    Students over the age of 22 do not have to submit ACT or SAT scores. If you do not have a bachelor's degree yet, you need to have both your high school and any college transcripts sent directly from those institutions to the Admissions Office. It is your responsibility to contact those schools to have your transcripts sent to UW-Eau Claire. If you already have one college degree, you only need to have your college transcript(s) sent, not your high school record. Once all your documents have been received, your application will be reviewed and you'll receive a letter from the Admissions Office. Call the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser at 715-836-3259 if you have any questions during the application process.


  4. I don't want a college degree. Can I still take some classes for my own enrichment or to "test the waters"? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Yes, you can. You do not have to go through the admissions process in order to take classes. There is another category of students known as "special students." A special student is anyone who wishes to take one or two classes at a time but is not ready or interested in being an admitted student yet. Special students do not qualify for the regular forms of financial aid, and they have last priority in registration, after all admitted students have registered. If people have some flexibility in their schedule, we can usually find a class or two that meets the needs or interests of a special student. For more information and to discuss which status--admitted student or special student--would best suit your situation, call the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser at 715-836-3259.  Click here for information on registering as a Special Student and for a printable application form.


  5. Is there childcare available on campus? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Yes. The UW-Eau Claire Children's Center is a professionally staffed and accredited program of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Center is available to the children of students, faculty and staff, and to community members as openings permit. Childcare begins for children who are aged two and older. Some age groups have waiting lists. UWEC Staff also provides childcare for birth to 2 at an off-campus site, for more information, call the Children's Center at 715-836-2178 or visit their website at: www.uwec.edu/Children/


  6. I have some "old" college credits. Are they still "good" will they still transfer in? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Most college credits don't have a "statute of limitations" on them, but it does sometimes depend on the program you're planning to enter. In some cases, like the Nursing program, you might need to update some of your required science credits, even if you took a college chemistry course some years ago. If your old credits are from a technical college, there might also be some general studies credits that we cannot accept because the courses at the time you took them may not have been comparable to the current university curriculum.

    When you make application for admission and have original transcripts sent, the Admissions Office will evaluate all your transcripts and will send you a transcript evaluation which will indicate which of your old college coursework is still "good." In some cases the Admissions Office may have incomplete information about a course and may delay making a decision on its transferability. Such courses will be listed as "consult" or "defer" on the transfer evaluation. In both cases students should consult with the chair of the appropriate department to determine if and/or how credit might be granted. We also have Transfer Advisers, Katie Ritland-Clouse and Erik Rotvold, who can help you with your transfer issues. You can reach Katie or Erik at 836-3487 or by email at ritlanka@uwec.edu or rotvolep@uwec.edu.


  7. It's been years since I've been in school. Is there help available for brushing up on my academic skills? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Yes! UW-Eau Claire has an Academic Skills Center that offers both diagnostic testing and tutoring in many skill areas, including reading and study strategies, writing, mathematics, and English as a Second Language. There's also tutoring in foreign languages and many lower level science classes in biology, chemistry and physics. Each semester we also offer some special classes for credit called "developmental courses" that help students get their rusty basic skills up to speed. You can contact the Academic Skills Center at 715-836-5844 for more detailed information about their services or visit their website at www.uwec.edu/asc/.

    Outdated or inadequate computer skills can be another area of concern for incoming adult students. Technology is certainly pervasive throughout the university and familiarity with basic computer programs will be required, with some majors requiring more sophisticated computer use. The good news is that basic skill-building help is available. Free software training is available through the BITS Program (Bringing Instruction in Technology to Students) and the PALS Program (Personalized Assistance for Learning Success). Students can call the Computing & Networking Services Help desk at 836-5711 for help with all their computing questions, including those about connectivity from their home computer.

    UW-Eau Claire also publishes much of its computer-related documentation on the web through the ITM Online Help Collection available at www.uwec.edu/help. You can contact the Nontraditional Student Services Office for copies of basic technology brochures to get you started on all your technology needs at UW-Eau Claire.


  8. I have to work fulltime. Can I earn a degree at UW-Eau Claire on a part-time basis? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Yes, you can work towards a university degree on a part-time basis. We do offer many late afternoon and evening classes and some classes through distance education. However, there are many programs that require daytime availability, and we don't yet have any undergraduate degrees offered entirely in the evenings or on weekends. Check with the department of your intended major for more information on their particular options.

    Through the UW System there are also some opportunities to begin your general education coursework either through on-line courses or through independent study.  A UW associate degree is available completely on-line through the UW Colleges, www.online.uwc.edu.  And independent study courses are available through the University of Wisconsin Independent Learning Program, http://learn.wisconsin. edu/il

    Contact the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser at 715-836-3259 for more information on these options. The Educational Opportunity Center can also help you research all your educational options. Contact them at 715-836-2024.


  9. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up! Can I get some academic and career advising? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Yes! Both the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser and the counselors in the Educational Opportunity Center can help you assess your interests and experiences and how these might relate to future educational and career choices. There are career inventories available that can help match your interest areas to particular programs of study and career areas. Contact the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser at 715-836-3259 or the Educational Opportunity Center at 715-836-2024 for more information.

    The Career Services Center at UW-Eau Claire has a very useful website with many interesting links. They have an on-line inventory one can do, called SIGI Plus, with a large database of college majors and related careers.  Click here for Career Services.  Non-UW-Eau Claire students can access this program with a "guest" password.  Contact the Nontraditional Student Services Adviser for more information.

  10. I'm a senior citizen. Is there a reduced rate for senior citizens taking classes? TopBACK TO FAQ's

    Residents of Wisconsin who are 60 years of age and older or who meet certain disability requirements may audit courses on a space-available basis at no tuition charge. Not all courses are open to auditors, though most are. There may be some related course fees, such as a chemistry course breakage deposit. Also, campus (segregated) fees will be assessed for issuance of a university I.D. card, which entitles the holder to full use of student services, such as textbook rental services and other campus services subsidized by student segregated fees (e.g., recreation programs, city bus pass, health services, etc.) Tuition and campus fees are not waived for any courses taken for credit. Contact the Business Office Bursar for details on segregated fee charges for senior auditors at 715-836-4325.

    The Continuing Education Office also offers some credit and non-credit programs, some specifically targeting senior citizens.  Call them at 715/836-3636 or click here for their website.



Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.