A DAY IN THE LIFE

A typical day in the UW-Whitewater LIFE Program combines classroom learning, hands-on experiences, campus involvement, and independent living.

In addition to academics, volunteering is an important part of the LIFE Program and serves as a vocational learning experience. Through volunteering, students develop transferable job skills, explore career interests, and gain real-world experience in professional environments.

Opportunities may include campus and community placements such as dining services, offices, child care programs, computer labs, police departments, animal shelters, and community organizations such as farmers markets or greenhouses.

Areas of instruction

LIFE Program coursework focuses on skills essential for success during and after college, including:

Functional academics
Employment and career development
Independent living skills
Social and communication skills
Leisure and recreation skills
Safety and wellness
Self-advocacy and self-determination
Disability awareness and literacy

Curriculum content examples

Communication, relationships, and social skills

Friendships, dating, strangers and personal boundaries, email and phone communication, first impressions, conflict resolution, journaling, and newsletters

Current events and safety skills

Emergency signs, fire and tornado safety, 911 use, internet safety, and basic first aid

Daily living skills

Nutrition, grocery shopping, meal preparation, food storage, laundry, cleaning, scheduling, hygiene, fitness, recreation, and applied instruction in the residence hall and community

Self-advocacy and self-determination

Identifying strengths and challenges, asking for help, advocating for needs, and understanding disability and its impact on daily life

Employment skills and career development

Career exploration, employment goals, resumes, applications, interview skills, workplace etiquette, job shadowing, and applied instruction on campus and in the community

Functional academics

Budgeting, banking, debit and credit use, saving, tipping, measuring, mailing, and other important functional skills

University coursework

Students may enroll in university courses aligned with their interests, such as walking for exercise, swimming, archery, tennis, badminton, or weightlifting – often alongside traditional undergraduate students

Sample weekly schedule

LIFE students follow a structured weekly schedule that balances classroom learning, applied instruction, campus activities, and independent time. Schedules vary by student.

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:00 a.m.	Newsletter	Working out	Literacy	Working out	Working out
9:30 a.m.	Newsletter	Working out	Literacy	Working out	Working out
10:00 a.m.	Journal/email	Employment	Communication	Safety	Employment
10:30 a.m.	Journal/email		Communication
11:00 a.m.	Study hall		Study hall
11:30 a.m.	Study hall	Lunch	Study hall	Lunch
12:00 p.m.	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12:30 p.m.	Lunch	Social skills	Lunch	Social skills
1:00 p.m.	Functional academics		Relationships
1:30 p.m.	Functional academics		Relationships		Housekeeping
2:00 p.m.	Literacy	Daily living skills	Self-advocacy	Daily living skills	Current events/shoutouts
2:30 p.m.			Self-advocacy		Current events/shoutouts
3:00 p.m.			Functional academics		Community

Fitness and athletic opportunities

LIFE students are encouraged to participate in fitness and recreation options that match their interests and goals. Opportunities may include:

Intramural or club sports
Fitness center workouts
Swimming in the pool
Attending UWW athletic events

As UW-Whitewater students, LIFE students have access to a wide array of recreation facilities and wellness resources.

Fitness options on campus

Evenings, weekends, and free time

Outside of class, students can engage in a wide range of activities, including:

Studying or spending time at the library
Movie nights, board games, and video games
Bowling, campus events, and university entertainment
Laundry and room cleaning
Fitness center workouts and swimming
Grocery shopping, cooking, and dining out
Student organization involvement

Independent Living Assistants

Students in the Basic Program are supported by Independent Living Assistants (ILAs). ILAs provide guidance during non-instructional times and help plan social and recreational activities such as game nights, movie nights, karaoke, and off-campus dining trips.

Independent cooking

Students are encouraged to practice independent cooking as part of healthy living instruction, including preparing group meals using the full kitchen available in Tutt Residence Hall.

Housing and residential life

Living on campus is a key component of the LIFE Program and serves as an extension of the classroom, promoting independence by providing real-world living experiences in a supportive environment. Students live in Tutt Residence Hall alongside traditional undergraduate students and share similar housing arrangements, including double-occupancy rooms, keyed entry, laundry facilities, and access to common social areas of the residence halls.

Meal plans and dining

UW-Whitewater offers a variety of meal plans to meet each student's specific needs. LIFE students use the same dining services and locations as traditional students, and they have the same HawkCard access as everybody else. Learn more about Dining Dollars, Purple Points, and meal plan options on our HawkCard site.