UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH

COURSE AND ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT POLICIES

Academic Advisement

The University Academic Advisement/Registration Center is ideally and comfortably located on the first floor in Dempsey Hall, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's centrally located administration building. The Center staff is available to serve all University students and staff from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday twelve months a year with extended hours during peak periods.

Students are assigned an Academic Advisor when they are admitted to the University. Graduate students are assigned an advisor from their appropriate academic program. Undergraduate students from the College of Business Administration, the College of Education and Human Services (Elementary Education, Human Services, and Special Education), the College of Letters and Science (Undeclared), and the College of Nursing are assigned an advisor in the University Academic Advisement/Registration Center. Students from the College of Education and Human Services (Secondary Education) and the College of Letters and Science (Declared) are assigned an advisor from their major area of study with designated, comprehensive support from an advisor in the University Academic Advisement/Registration Center.

Students admitted to the University through the Assistance Program (AP) are required to meet regularly with their academic advisor in the Academic Advisement/Registration

Center. After meeting with their advisor, they will register in person according to registration procedures. Assistance program students must enroll immediately in the appropriate basic knowledge and skills courses and any other courses that are needed for their academic enhancement; credit loads are limited to 13 credits in the 14-week term and 3 credits in the 15-17 week term during their first two semester in attendance at the University.

The advisors in the University Academic Advisement/ Registration Center work with staff members from colleges and departments for the purpose of enabling students to be successful in meeting College and University requirements needed for graduation. Advisors are responsible for administering College and University policy. Their responsibilities include: counseling with new students regarding appropriate courses consistent with high school record, ACT results, major/minor, and career objectives; counseling with continuing students regarding appropriate courses, career objectives, personal goals , and appropriate referrals; and communication regarding overloads, late add/drops, late withdrawal from the University, course waivers/substitutions, curriculum modifications, general education requirements, major/minor requirements, and graduation requirements.

The University Academic Advisement/Registration Program is supported by a complex, sophisticated, on-line, electronic data system. An electronic record is created when a student is admitted to the University which is instantaneously available to all authorized personnel on a campus-wide basis. Each advisor in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center has a computer terminal for immediate data access when counseling with students. Computer printers are located in the Center if hard copy records are needed to support the counseling process. Student records are accurate and current as of the moment needed and authorized adjustments are made instantaneously. Student service and support are maximized with the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh's superior, nationally recognized electronic data system.

ACADEMIC ADVISEMENT AND REGISTRATION

Dates - Fall/Spring Semesters:

New Freshmen: May-August/December-January New Transfer and Reentry: February-August/October-January

Depost Requirement

$100 for new freshmen, transfer, and reentry students

Timetable Available - Fall/Spring and Summer Semesters

October/February/ and March

Additional Information:

Dempsey Hall 130 and 414-424-3007

Course Attendance

While attendance and punctuality are under the control of each instructor, students are expected to be present for each scheduled class session.

  1. Students are directly responsible to each of their instructors for attendance in each scheduled class.
  2. Instructors may initiate their own policy regarding attendance; if an instructor teaches more than one section of a course, the same policy should be used for all sections.
  3. Instructors are expected to announce their attendance policy to each class, but it is the responsibility of the student to know the policies of the instructor.
  4. If students must be absent to participate in a group activity sponsored by the University and approved by the Vice Chancellor, the group's faculty advisor or the instructor in charge should provide a signed excuse at the request of a participating student.
  5. A dean may recommend to the instructor that a student who incurs an absence for personal reasons be excused.
  6. A University physician may, at his discretion, recommend to the instructor that a student who incurs an absence for health reasons be excused.
  7. In all cases of absence, excused or otherwise, the student is responsible for completing missed work. The instructor is not required to do extra teaching unless so assigned.
  8. Students may only attend courses/sections for which they are registered.

Maximum Student Credit Loads

One credit is generally equivalent to 14 class hours of instruction (lecture) work per semester (laboratory, discussion, studio and physical activity experiences normally require more time per credit.)

Recognizing that precise definitions of student credit load are difficult to realize in all cases, the following credit load maximums have been established for undergraduates.

  • 17 week term -- 21 credits
  • 14 week term -- 18 credits
  • 7 week term -- 9 credits
  • 3 week term -- 3 credits
  • 8 week term -- 9 credits
  • 4 week term -- 6 credits
In extraordinary circumstances, students may file a written request to schedule loads exceeding these limits. Students should see an advisor in Academic Advisement/Registration for application for permission to schedule an overload. Final decisions on overload requests are made by the Dean of the College.

Credits dropped with a grade of "W" are considered part of the semester total credits attempted and are subject to fee payments.

Changing a Student's Registration

ADDING A COURSE

If you add or drop courses during the 11-20th academic calendar day of the Fall or Spring term resulting in your having added or dropped 19 or more credits for the 17-week semester, you will incur an additional tuition charge on a per credit basis.

A student may add courses as follows:

Course adds are allowed to the end of class day (without instructor's signature)

  • 14/17 week -- 5th day
  • 7 week -- 5th day
  • 3 week--2nd day
  • 8/10 week -- 5th day
  • 4 week -- 2nd day
Course adds are allowed to the end of class day (with instructor's signature)

  • 14/17 weeks -- 20th day
  • 7 week -- 10th day
  • 3 week-- 5th day
  • 8/10 week -- 10th day
  • 4 week -- 5th day
A student wanting to add courses after the deadlines "with course instructor signature required" must complete a REQUEST FOR LATE ADD FORM describing relevant extenuating circumstances. This form is available in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center, Dempsey 130 and must be approved by the appropriate College Coordinator of Academic Advisement and Dean's Office before any course can be added.

DROPPING A COURSE

If you add or drop courses during the 11-20th academic calendar day of the Fall or Spring term resulting in your having added or dropped 19 or more credits for the 17-week semester, you will incur an additional tuition charge on a per credit basis.

A student may drop courses as follows:

Course drops are allowed to the end of class day:

  • 14/17 week --20th day
  • 7 week -- 10th day
  • 3 week -- 5th day
  • 8/10 week -- 10th day
  • 4 week -- 5th day
Course drops completed during the above time periods will not be reflected on the student's transcript.

A student wanting to drop a course after the above deadlines must complete a REQUEST FOR LATE DROP FORM describing relevant extenuating circumstances. This form is available in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center, Dempsey 130, and must be approved by the appropriate College Coordinator of Academic Advisement and Dean's Office before any course can be dropped.

Course drops approved through the above procedure will result in having a "W" (Withdrawal) reflected on the student's transcript.

NOTE: Students who have already completed a course during the semester and wish to leave the University should DROP remaining courses rather than withdraw. Total withdrawal from the University automatically assigns "W"s to all courses for the semester.

Students should consult the Fee/Refund Schedule for refunds and charges as fee policy does not coincide with academic policy.

The drop policy also pertains to changes from credit to audit.

Withdrawal from the University

Withdrawal is a complete severance of attendance from the University. A student may request withdrawal after the opening day of classes in any semester by completing a SEMESTER WITHDRAWAL FORM, available in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center, Dempsey 130, and having the request approved by an advisor in the Advisement/Registration Center during the following withdrawal periods:

Withdrawals are allowed with advisor's signature to the end of class day:

  • 14/17 week -- 40th day
  • 7 week -- 20th day
  • 3 week -- 10th day
  • 8/10 week -- 25th day
  • 4 week -- 15th day
Students seeking to withdraw after these periods must complete a SEMESTER WITHDRAWAL FORM and a REQUEST FOR LATE DROP FORM for approval by the appropriate College Coordinator of Academic Advisement and Dean's Office. If the request is approved, grades of "W" will be assigned. If the request is not approved, grades will be placed on the student's record as assigned by instructors.

NOTE: Withdrawal does not remove the obligation for costs incurred by a student during a semester.

A student who withdraws and does not re-register in the same semester must complete reentry procedures to return for a subsequent semester.

Exceptions to Academic Policy

Students may request exceptions to academic policy. Examples of Academic policies are: 1) period to add a course; 2) period to drop a course; 3) period to withdraw from a semester; 4) number of times a course may be repeated; 5) maximum number of credits per semester; 6) general education requirements; and 7) degree requirements.

Students who want to request exceptions need to contact their College Coordinator of Academic Advisement to complete the necessary paperwork and provide the Coordinator with supporting documentation.

The decision of the College Coordinator may be appealed to the College Dean or Dean's Designee. The appeal decision of the College Dean or Dean's Designee is final.

Student Complaints Against Faculty and Academic Staff

Students who have complaints against faculty or academic staff have two procedures they may follow if the alleged misconduct is not judged serious enough to seek dismissal. They are as follows:

  1. A student who believes that the staff member has violated University rules, professional ethics or performed in a way warranting disciplinary procedures, may start proceedings in a formal manner by preparing a written complaint to be submitted to the Chancellor or his designee.
  2. A student with a complaint about classroom treatment, grades or other matters will normally
  3. wish to seek resolution of the matter informally as follows:
  • Meet with the staff member. Most complaints are resolved this way.
  • Should the complaint not be resolved by this meeting, the student next meets with the staff member's supervisor.*
  • The staff member's supervisor will give the student written procedures covering complaints. The supervisor will determine the facts, and try to mediate between staff member and student and resolve the complaint.
  • Should the supervisor's efforts be unsatisfactory to the student, the written procedures provide more formal steps. The student must prepare a written complaint for a grievance committee within a specified time period. Inaction by the student at this point indicates that the complaint has been dropped.
*The supervisor is in the Dean's Office in the College of Nursing and the College of Business Administration. For the College of Letters and Science, the College of Education and Human Services, and the Graduate School, the supervisor is the Department Chairperson. In the Bachelor of Liberal Studies Program it is the Director.

Should the student be unsure as to the choice of procedure (1 versus 2 above), it is advisable to discuss the matter with personnel in the Dean of Students office or a member of the Academic Advisement/Registration Center staff in Dempsey 130.

Independent Study and Related Readings

The purpose of Independent Study is to allow a student to explore in-depth topics of scholarly interest which are not attainable through University course work.

Related Readings permits the student to pursue research usually well beyond that required in established courses. Before beginning the course, the student must present a bibliography of readings that he/she and the instructor have agreed upon and which are to be reviewed and discussed. The outcome is a research paper critique by the instructor.

Independent Study offerings are not to be used as a substitution for General Education requirements.

Before registering for an IS/RR course, students must obtain the proper contract form from the department secretary, complete it and secure all necessary signatures. Students may count no more than 12 credits in IS/RR combined toward the 128 required for graduation. General prerequisites: Junior standing (60 credits) or above, preparation in the academic area, and grade point average of 3.0 or above.

Special Limitations for IS/RR Within the Various Colleges

College of Letters & Science

86-446 A maximum total of 6 credits of IS/RR and Special Problems in Psychology may be counted in meeting the minimum credit requirements of any Psychology major or minor.

32-446 Independent Study/Research course in Chemistry
and
32-456 Related Readings/Chemistry course - maximum of 9 credits
22-446 (May be repeated) Independent Study/Art course - maximum of 3 credits

Correspondence Courses

A maximum of 16 credits earned by correspondence may be applied toward a degree at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Questions concerning accreditation of another college and its correspondence course offerings should be directed to the Transfer Evaluator in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Upon completion of a correspondence course, the student must request that an official transcript be sent from the college offering the course to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.

A full-time student at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is entitled to a waiver of fees for University of Wisconsin Extension correspondence courses taken concurrently with full-time course work at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Evidence of payment of full-time fees must be obtained from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Cashier's Office and included with the University of Wisconsin Extension application. If a fee waiver is desired, a student must obtain written approval from the College Coordinator in the Academic Advisement/Registration Center prior to taking the course.

Questions, Comments...
  Please Email registrar@uwosh.edu

Last Updated July 1, 1999