Dean of Students

Fostering Success and Independence

Upcoming Event

The Fostering Success and Independence Program at UW–Whitewater is excited to welcome former foster youth, child welfare advocate, and New York Times bestselling author Andrew Bridge for a meaningful and inspiring evening. This free event will take place at the Young Auditorium on April 8th, 2026, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Andrew will share his lived experience, professional journey, and insights on the child welfare system and the power of advocacy. We warmly invite all UW-W students, aspiring and current social workers, educators, counselors, and any community members to attend. All are welcome to join this important and impactful conversation. RSVP for the event.

Mission

Fostering Success and Independence (FSI) at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater aims to provide intentional support and personalized resources through partnership with campus resources to ensure that, regardless of family support, students have an equal opportunity to obtain their degree.

Who We Serve

FSI aims to support students without traditional familial support. Typically, these students have faced various adverse childhood experiences including, but not limited to:

Foster care
Group home
Orphan/ward of the state
Homelessness
Deceased parent(s)
Deported parent(s)
Deployed parent(s)
Institutionalized parent(s)
Other unavailable family structures, not specified above

Ways to Support FSI

All donations made to FSI are greatly appreciated. Please see ways to donate below:

Financial contributions can be made via the UWW Foundation. Under “Designation” please select “Foster Youth Strategic Funding.”
Browse our Amazon Wish List to provide in-kind donations.
Gas-only Kwik Trip gift cards and Whitewater restaurant gift cards can be purchased in increments of $49 or less.
- For in-person delivery: Please drop off donations at the Dean of Students Office (Andersen Library Suite 2130, Door 10)
- For mail delivery, please address: Fostering Success and Independence, c/o Dean of Students Office, Andersen Suite 2130, 800 W. Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190.
If you would like to make in-kind donations for times like welcome week, midterm/finals week, or holiday gifts, or if you would like to be added to a list of supporters we reach out to with student-specific requests, please email us at FSI@uww.edu.

Thank you for your kind support of FSI!

Benefits for UW-Whitewater Students

Students receive guidance on how to access University services and navigate the sometimes-complex systems of higher education, helping to reduce any confusion or overwhelm.
Individualized support and referrals to campus resources from an FSI staff member.
Workshops focused on skills that help students thrive both academically and in their personal lives, such as budgeting, time management, and stress management.
Events for FSI students to have fun and connect with one another.
Improving graduation and retention rates for students who face additional life challenges.

Resources

Academic Support

Tutoring Services offers free subject area tutoring (in-person or virtual) at the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center.
Writing Center at the Mary Poppe Chrisman Success Center provides a quiet place for students to work on writing projects and meet with writing tutors. PCs and printers are available.
Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) serves UW-Whitewater students with physical, learning, sensory, psychological, health-related, or other disabilities substantially affecting a major life activity (i.e. walking, hearing, seeing, breathing, or learning). Apply for services to get connected with a Disability Services Coordinator.

Career and Employment

Career Services offers one-on-one career advising appointments.
Handshake is UW-Whitewater's online job board for student’s that includes on-campus student jobs and part-time local jobs, internships, and jobs for after graduation.
Alumni Mentor Program allows students to gain personalized career advice, real-world insights, and valuable networking connections with alumni who have been in their shoes and are eager to help them succeed.

Clothing, Food, and Personal Items

The Warhawk Food Pantry provides a space for students to obtain food, toiletries, school supplies, and more at no cost. The pantry is located in Drumlin Dining Hall, Room 143.
The Warhawk Success Closet has clothes, shoes, and accessories at no cost, suitable for your next academic or professional event. The Warhawk Success Closet is located in McCutchan Hall 226.
The Community Space is located off-campus in downtown Whitewater (834 E. Milwaukee St.), and they have food, clothing, furniture, books, and housewares at no cost.

Financial Assistance

Financial Literacy Center aims to provide personal finance and money management education to UW-W students and staff whether you need assistance budget planning, credit management, or need to understand student loans.
Universities of Wisconsin Emergency Grant is for currently enrolled Pell Grant-eligible students at UW-Whitewater's main and Rock County campuses who need assistance in urgent financial expenses like medical bills, car repair, travel expenses for family emergency, and replacement of items due to theft/fire damage.
Warhawk Emergency Fund is for currently enrolled undergraduate students at UW-Whitewater's main and Rock County campuses who need assistance in urgent financial expenses like rent, childcare, car repairs, or medical/dental bills.
ACCESS Wisconsin can help with health care coverage, food and childcare costs, job support, and more. Apply for ACCESS Wisconsin benefits.

Mental Health Support

University Health and Counseling Services is located in the Ambrose Health Center and offers free services to enrolled students. To schedule a health appointment, call 262-472-1300. To schedule a counseling appointment, call 262-472-1305. View a list of mental health resources.
Winther Counseling Services offers free individual, couples, family, and group counseling to students and the public during the academic year. To schedule an appointment, please call 262-472-2842.
Mantra Health partners with UHCS to offer free virtual counseling appointments to enrolled students. You can use your UW-W credentials to log in to Mantra and schedule a counseling appointment.
CARE Team offers mental health outreach and support to students who are facing mental health, academic, financial, and other concerns.
Emergency mental health resources
- UHCS after-hours crisis line: Call 262-472-1305
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text, or chat 988
- If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 instead of the above resources and state that you need support for a mental health crisis

Warhawk One-Stop

Warhawk One Stop is located in the University Center, Room 129. You can find support for financial services, scholarships, advising appointments, course registration, student life, and more either in person or online.
The One Stop has Success Coaches you can meet with one-on-one to discuss note taking, study skills/test preparation, motivation, goal setting, time management, organization, transition from high school to college, sense of belonging, and additional resources available both on and off campus.

Student Testimonial

Student stands in Aldi behind a cart wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt My name is Breanna Flores, and I’m a sophomore here at UW-Whitewater. I’m majoring in Social Work and minoring in Human and Social Services. A little about me: I’m a first-generation college student, and I’m doing this journey on my own. My biological mom has struggled with addiction, and when I was 15, I made the difficult choice to leave her home for the sake of my mental health and future. I moved in with a couple from my church who later became my legal guardians, and I was officially labeled a ward of the state.

As hard as it was, I’m incredibly grateful for that opportunity. It completely changed the path of my life, and I truly don’t think I’d be in college today without it. FSI has been a huge support system for me. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me build important skills like communication, time management, and networking.

Thanks to FSI, I’ve received financial support, made some amazing friendships, and grown so much in my confidence.

Two students stand next to each other at Aldi and smile.