Registrar
UW-Whitewater Registrar Policies
  1. Registrar
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Policies


General

The notifying of instructors and arranging of make-up work in cases involving absence of students from class are the responsibility of the student. A student who is absent should notify instructors by phone or in person of the absence as soon as possible. If contact with instructors cannot be made directly, the student should see that a note is placed in each instructor’s mailbox, explaining the nature of the situation and inquiring about the effect of the absence on the student’s course work. If that is impossible, the student should call the academic departments involved.

In serious situations where the student is incapacitated and temporarily unable to perform the aforementioned responsibilities, family members may contact the Dean of Students Office (262-472-1533) for assistance with these matters. The Dean of Students Office would then provide notification (not verification) of the absence to the instructors involved. However, arrangements for make-up work, make-up exams or possible assignment adjustments are entirely the responsibility of the student. The Student Health Service and the Dean of Students Office do not provide excuses for absences from class due to illness.

If students have questions or need consultation regarding specific situations, they are encouraged to contact their instructors or the academic department involved.

Based on the criteria below, a student may apply for academic forgiveness. Once implemented, the student’s permanent academic record (transcript and Academic Advising Report) will be marked with an "Academic Forgiveness" notation, and the grade point average calculation will be restarted based only on the units taken after the three year absence. 

Eligibility:

  • Students must be admitted to an undergraduate degree-granting program at UW-Whitewater after having been absent from formal higher education for a minimum of three consecutive academic years.
  • Students must have a pre-absence GPA below 2.5. (Students with a previous GPA above 2.5 should speak with an advisor about utilizing other policies to address academic difficulties, for example, the late withdrawal policy.)

Limitations:

  • Students can only receive approval for academic forgiveness twice; however, students who have been denied in the past can re-apply for later terms.
  • After academic forgiveness is implemented, students returning to UW-W must earn at least 12 units before graduating. Students entering UW-W for the first time must meet the academic residency requirement.
  • Academic forgiveness cannot be applied to courses used within an awarded degree. For example, courses utilized in an earned associates degree cannot be forgiven, and those courses will continue to count in the GPA toward a bachelor’s degree.
  • If a student receives academic forgiveness but an accreditation or licensure requires a minimum grade/standard in a specific course or content area, the student will still need to meet that minimum. (For example, if licensure requires a C or above in COMM 110 but the student earned a D in that course, the D would not count in the GPA but the student would still need to retake the course.)
  • The academic forgiveness policy is independent of financial aid regulations. The original coursework and associated grades will continue to be used by the Financial Aid Office when evaluating financial aid eligibility under Satisfactory Academic Progress. Before applying for academic forgiveness, students should consult with the Financial Aid Office if they have been and/or will be a financial aid applicant.

This shall be the only UW-Whitewater undergraduate academic forgiveness policy.

Students who apply for academic forgiveness are not guaranteed to receive it. Academic forgiveness applications follow the deadlines for Academic Appeals for Reinstatement, found on the Academic Standards webpage. The application process, the evaluation of applications, and approvals/denials are managed by the Admissions & Academic Standards Committee. This committee’s decisions are final, and there is no appeals process.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2023-01-24

Approved by the Chancellor on 2023-02-21

Academic Forgiveness Form

www.uww.edu/student-handbook

UW-Whitewater believes that academic honesty and integrity are fundamental to the mission of higher education and of the University of Wisconsin System. UW-Whitewater has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity and to develop procedures to deal effectively with instances of academic dishonesty. Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards are subject to disciplinary action. UWS Chapter 14 identifies procedures to be followed when a student is accused of academic misconduct. For additional information, please refer to the section in the Student Handbook titled, Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures.

It is the policy of the Board of Regents that students' sincerely held religious beliefs shall be reasonably accommodated with respect to scheduling all examinations and other academic requirements.

  1. Students shall be permitted to make up an examination or other academic requirement at another time or by an alternative method, without any prejudicial effect, where:
    1. There is a scheduling conflict between the students' sincerely held religious beliefs and taking the examination or meeting the academic requirements; and,
    2. The students have notified the instructor, within the first three weeks of the beginning of classes (within the first week of Summer session and short courses), of the specific days or dates on which they will request relief from an examination or academic requirement.
  2. Instructors may schedule a make-up examination or other academic requirement before or after the regularly scheduled examination or other academic requirement.
  3. Instructors shall accept, at face value, the sincerity of students' religious beliefs.
  4. Student notification of instructors and requests for relief shall be kept confidential.
  5. For assistance with religious accommodations unrelated to scheduling, students should contact the  Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who will work with the student to facilitate an appropriate accommodation.
  6. Complaints of failure to provide reasonable accommodation of students' sincerely held religious beliefs as required by this rule may be filed under institutional complaint and grievance procedures adopted pursuant to Chapters UWS 6 and 13.

For additional information or to file a grievance regarding a failure to provide reasonable accommodation, please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 204 Hyer Hall, 262-472-1465.

Each term, all faculty and course instructors will verify attendance (or non-attendance) for all students enrolled in each of their courses and report it through the Student Information System (WINS).  When a student earns an F grade or otherwise stops attending, the faculty member or instructor will indicate the last date of the student's attendance in WINS on the final grade roster.

Attendance, in this case, is defined as academically related activities including but not limited to physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students; submitting an academic assignment; taking an exam; completing an interactive tutorial, or participating in computer-assisted instruction; attending a study group that is assigned by the school; participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to verify the student is attending each day? No. You only need to verify that each student was in attendance at least once during the first three weeks of the term. Attending at least once establishes that the student began attendance in the course.

How do faculty report attendance? An attendance roster will be available in WINS for each course. By default, students will be pre-assigned as “attending” on the roster. Instructors will need to update the roster by indicating which students (if any) were not in attendance at any time during the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring terms. After completion of the first three weeks of the term, instructors will be given another five business days to submit their course rosters.

How do I verify attendance in any class? A student is considered to be attending if they do any one or more of the following: are in attendance face-to-face when you take roll, complete a quiz or any assignment face-to-face or online, complete an online learning activity, post a message to an online discussion board, view a video or lecture online, send an e-mail communication about the course to the instructor. Note: A simple log-in to the course management system or online course is not adequate to determine attendance.

Does this policy apply to all types of courses? Yes, it applies to any credit-bearing course where any student might potentially receive financial aid. The policy includes independent studies, thesis, internships, labs, field experience, online courses, etc. The instructor must verify student attendance based on course participation. This may include: submission of an assignment for the course, contact with the student about the placement/field experience/student teaching, verification from the site supervisor that the student is working at that location, face-to-face verification of the student at the placement/field experience/student teaching, other examples previously cited

What about shorter terms? Attendance must be verified for shorter terms as well. For each type of shorter term or session (e.g., Winterim, Summer, 1st or 2nd 8-weeks of Fall or Spring, etc.) the period for instructors to verify attendance will be up to the last day to add a course for that term.

What are the consequences for not submitting attendance verification? Students whose attendance is not verified during the first three weeks of a regular semester may lose Title IV federal financial aid funds if they are attending the course but not verified by the instructor. Students not in attendance will be contacted by the Registrar, Financial Aid or other offices to ensure they are enrolled and attending or not.

Auditing Classes Part I

Auditing Classes Part II

Students who wish to audit courses must apply to UW Whitewater through the UW System application https://apply.wisconsin.edu/homepage and obtain the audit registration form from the Registrar's Office, acquire the instructor's written approval (and, in some cases, the department's), and return the completed form to the Registrar's Office by the published deadline to add classes. Students are required to complete the "Terms & Conditions for Enrollment/Credit Agreement." Instructions regarding to complete this agreement are at: http://www.uww.edu/documents/adminaffairs/finance/sfs/termsconditions.pdf. Students registering for audit courses may do so on a space available basis and cannot change the courses to graded basis during the term of enrollment. Off-campus courses, remedial courses, College of Business and Economics courses, and programs that utilize service-based pricing courses cannot be audited. Auditing of Art department courses may be limited.

Audit-Only Enrollees

  • Wisconsin residents will pay 30% of the normal per unit resident academic fee and non-residents will pay 50% of the normal non-resident fee per the fee chart. No audit fees will be assessed disabled Wisconsin residents who are receiving federal old age survivors and disability insurance benefits (OASDI) under 42 USC 401 to 433, or Wisconsin residents age 60 or over. 
  • Students must contact the Registrar's Office prior to the start of term regarding their intent to register. Students will be registered (with instructor permission) beginning the week immediately prior to the start of the term.
  • Any special course fees other than the normal tuition charges will be assessed and paid by the student.
  • An audit grade symbol (X) will be recorded on the academic record provided the instructor reports satisfactory attendance.
  • Access to University services will be limited to the library and to non-segregated fee funded activities of the University Center. A special identification card for audit-only students will permit this limited access.
  • Regent, University, and Student Government regulations applying to other students will apply equally to audit-only enrollees.
  • Students having a disability for which they would like to request a reasonable accommodation to assure access to campus programs, activities and services should contact the Office of Students with Disabilities for more information.

Audit and Credit Combination Enrollees

Students who are taking a combination of courses for regular credit and for audit will pay the regular fees for all units based upon the fee chart. The following stipulations will also apply:

  • Students wishing to audit courses must obtain the audit registration form from the Registrar's Office, acquire the instructor's written approval, and return the completed form to the Registrar's Office.
  • No credit will be granted for the course, but an audit grade symbol (X) will appear on the academic record provided the instructor reports satisfactory attendance.
  • The audit course may be repeated for credit in another term.
  • Audits do not count as units for veterans' benefit certification, financial aid consideration or verification of full-time status.

Starting in Fall 2014, the standard class schedule should provide a 10 minute break between 50 minute classes.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2013-05-07

Schedule of Classes

Commencement is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. All your coursework (including co-ops, internships, study abroad, and student teaching) must be completed and showing on your record within 30 days from the end of the term in order for your degree to be awarded.

Although your attendance is optional, we strongly encourage you and your family to attend this important ceremony and celebrate the achievements of our new graduates.

August graduates please note (undergraduates only): If you are an undergraduate completing your coursework in the summer session, you will have an August graduation date. Effective Spring 2017, you will have the option to participate in either the May or December commencement ceremony. Please note, August graduates who wish to walk with University Honors must participate in the December ceremony.

Graduate students who enroll in undergraduate level courses, and undergraduate students who enroll in graduate level courses, will be registered for such courses with a grade basis of Course Non Career. Grades earned will be part of the student's official academic record but the student will not earn course credit toward his/her undergraduate or graduate level program. These grades will not be computed into the student's term or cumulative grade point average. 

FERPA is the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs the release of student education records maintained by the University and access to these records.

Students are afforded certain rights concerning their education records, including:

    • the right to inspect and review the education records
    • the right to seek to have the records amended
    • the right to have some control over the disclosure of the information from the records

FERPA Information

For classes that have set meeting times, the final exam shall be administered at the prescribed time during finals week. For classes with set meeting times that do not have a final exam, the time prescribed during finals week shall be used as a regular class meeting. For classes without set meeting times (ie. online classes), the timing of the final exam or final assignment is at the discretion of the instructor within finals week. No undergraduate student shall be required to take more than two comprehensive final exams on the same day. Any student with more than two comprehensive final exams scheduled for the same day may elect to reschedule the additional examination(s). These alternative arrangements are available only when the exams are comprehensive.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2023-2-14

For the purposes of fee calculation and enrollment verification, UW-Whitewater considers a graduate student to be registered on a full-time basis when the student is enrolled in at least nine (9) UW-Whitewater units during a fall or spring term and at least five (5) UW-W units during the summer term. An undergraduate student is considered full-time when he/she is enrolled in at least twelve (12) UW-W units during a fall or spring term and at least six (6) UW-W units during the summer term.

Please check with Financial Aid for federal regulations for enrollment.

Instructors can submit a grade change at any time between a grade being submitted and when the student’s degree posts to their record. The timeline and approval requirements for grade changes is as follows:

  • Before grades are processed by the Registrar's Office for that term - Instructor can change grade independently.
  • From what grades are processed by the Registrar's Office for that term until the end of the fifth week of the next term - Requires approval by the department chair.
  • From beginning of sixth week of the next term until one year after the end of the term - Requires approval by the department chair and dean.
  • From one year after the end of the term until the degree is posted to the student's academic record - Requires the student to submit a "Record Changes After One Year Appeal".
  • After the degree is posted to the student's record - Prohibited.

Limitations

  • In the case that an "I" has reverted to an "F" due to passing the deadline, the grade cannot be changed back to an "I" grade. The “F” can be changed to another terminal grade.
  • If a terminal grade is recorded at grade processing time, it cannot be changed to an "I" or “W” grade.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2023-2-14

Grades - Changes*

Grades - Changes Prior to Rosters Closing*

*password protected and accessable to only instructors

The grade point average is based on the computation of conventional letter grade units attempted and conventional letter grade honor points earned. It is computed by dividing the honor point total by the total number of units attempted. For example, if students attempted 16 units of work and received a B in each course, they would receive 48 honor points which would give them a grade point average of 3.00.

The general quality of a student's work is expressed in terms of the grade point average (GPA). This is the total number of grade points earned divided by the total number of GPA credits. The highest possible average is 4.000 or an A in every subject. Grade point averages are not rounded.

UW-Whitewater's grade point average recorded on your official transcript is based solely upon credits earned or attempted at UW-Whitewater on a regular graded basis. Even though you may receive credits for coursework taken elsewhere, such transfer credits are not counted as part of the GPA at UW-Whitewater. Credits granted by examination or UW-Whitewater credits taken on an audit, satisfactory/no credit, or pass/fail grading basis also are excluded from the official UW-Whitewater's grade point average.

Credits transferred internally between curricular tracks within the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater will carry grade point value and count as UW-Whitewater's credit for repeat purposes.

If you are returning to UW-Whitewater and have not previously earned your undergraduate degree, your cumulative GPA will continue from your last point of enrollment. If you have previously earned your undergraduate degree, you should apply as a "Second Degree" student. Your credits and GPA will start over with the courses you take upon your return, and your original record cannot be altered.

Students are held responsible for keeping an accurate record of their progress toward graduation. The Advisement Report (AAR) is available to students online through their WINS account.

Students are responsible for meeting the degree requirements in effect at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at the time of declaration of their current major unless they interrupt their attendance at Whitewater by an absence of four or more consecutive academic sessions (including summer), in which case upon re-entry they will be subject to the requirements in effect at that time.

Students may elect to satisfy any newer set of requirements by contacting the advising location of their major. Permission of their dean is required if, due to extenuating circumstances, students wish to satisfy a set of requirements earlier than the academic year indicated on the AAR.

Students who have not completed their degree requirements within eight years may be held to satisfy newer requirements deemed appropriate by the dean of the college in which they are enrolled.

  1. Definitions and Basic Principles:
    1. A grievance is a request for specific action to solve a problem or redress an injury done to the individual presenting it. When that individual is a student and is responding to treatment received as a student, it is a student grievance. However, if a student wishes to challenge an academic decision that impacts their grade, the Student Grade Appeal procedures should be used.
      1. A grievance may concern the actions taken by any UW-Whitewater employee who is a member of any college, department, office, administrative unit, or committee of the University.
      2. A grievance may not necessarily be directed at a particular individual but rather at a policy or rule which the student believes to be unfair.
    2. The basis for a grievance is to raise a problem for the purpose of resolving it by the parties closest to it. This is true whether the issues involve an instructor, administrator, service personnel, or members of any University department, college, division, administrative unit, or committee.
    3. A cause of action would involve a specific injury to the student or a specific problem. A remedy should be available. If no remedy is available or if punishment of someone is sought, the procedures for complaints rather than grievances should be used (see University Handbook, Sections VI-F and VI-A).
    4. Process timelines are established to enable review and resolution within a reasonable time after the problem occurred. This assists problem solving when memories and facts are still fresh.
    5. Written appeals and responses need not be lengthy but rather describe events, relevant facts, and reasoning, so that parties are clear about what is at issue and why decisions are being made the way they are.
  2. Steps in a Grievance:
    1. Informal Process:
      1. Discuss the issue of concern with the individual(s) primarily involved. This should take place within 14 calendar days after the aggrieved action occurred.
      2. If this discussion brings no resolution, is unsatisfactory, or if the primary individual is unwilling or unable to participate, the student may then, within 7 calendar days of the discussion or the communication that there will be no discussion, schedule a conference with the chairperson of the department or the supervisor of the individual. The student should articulate the concerns and the result of, or lack of, discussion with the primary individual.
      3. After hearing the student's appeal, the chairperson or supervisor will attempt to mediate the problem to resolution within 14 calendar days.
      4. If this attempt at resolution is unsatisfactory, or if all are not willing or able to participate, the student should submit a formal grievance to the Dean or Director within 7 calendar days of the failure of informal resolution.
    2. Formal Process:
      1. The grievance should be in writing and signed by the student following the Basic Principles above, and should explain the problem, reasons for dissatisfaction with the recommended resolution, and an alternative resolution.
      2. Within 14 calendar days, the Dean or Director can attempt further resolution or make the final decision. The student and employees should be notified of the final decision in writing.
      3. The decision of the Dean or Director will be final unless discipline is requested, in which event appropriate disciplinary procedures would be followed.

Synopsis of the Step-by-Step Process of Student Grievances

  1. Problem occurs.
  2. Within 14 calendar days, discuss it with the person whose actions are in question (informal).
  3. If no satisfaction, within 7 calendar days, talk it over with the Chair or supervisor of the person (informal).
  4. Chair/supervisor will attempt to resolve within 14 calendar days (informal).
  5. If no satisfaction, student has 7 calendar days to write it up as a formal grievance, including why dissatisfied with recommended resolution and propose a remedy (formal).
  6. Within 14 calendar days, the Dean or Director will attempt resolution or make the final decision (formal).

In order to facilitate the process of awarding honorary degrees, the decision makers will be the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, the Chancellor, and the President of the UW-System.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 1995-2-14

Re-Confirmed by the Chancellor on 2022-10-18

The Faculty Senate, on behalf of the Faculty of UW-Whitewater, delegates decision-making authority for posthumous degrees to a consensus of 1) the Dean of Students, 2) the Dean of the deceased student’s college, and 3) the Chair of the deceased student’s major department (or the DBA committee if enrolled in a doctoral degree program), with the caveats that the awarding of a posthumous degree be appropriate to a deceased student's academic program, that at the time of death the student be currently enrolled and in good academic standing, and that the student has completed at least 75% of the units required for their degree program. 

The Faculty Senate, on behalf of the Faculty of UW-Whitewater, delegates decision-making authority for “Recognition of Educational Achievement” to a consensus of 1) the Dean of Students, 2) the Dean of the deceased student’s college, and 3) the Chair of the deceased student’s major department, with the caveats that at the time of death the student is in good academic standing and is currently enrolled at UW-Whitewater.

Revised by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

The last day for students to add a full semester course is the sixth day of classes. The last day for students to add a short course (first half or second half semseter, winterim, or summer course) is the second class period.

The last day for students to drop a full semester class without a grade implication is the 10th day of classes. The last day for students to drop a short course (first half or second half semseter, winterim, or summer course) without a grade implication is Friday of the week in which 33% of the class is completed.

The last day for students to drop a full semester class with a "W" grade will be the Friday of the 8th week of classes. The last day for students to drop a short course (first half or second half semseter, winterim, or summer course) with a "w" is the fifth day of classes.

Revised by the Faculty Senate on 2018-02-13

Approved by the Chancellor on 2018-04-30

Deadlines: Add, Drop, Withdraw, Refund

Registration priority is based on the number of cumulative credits that students have completed and earned (credits in progress do not count). To find your earliest date and time to register, sign in to WINS, Enrollment Dates. If you have a registration hold, it must be cleared by the office that placed it before you will be able to register for classes.

Use the on-line, web-based WINS system to register for classes.

Problems associated with accessing WINS or student email accounts can be addressed by the iCIT HelpDesk.  

Students who enroll in classes at UW-Whitewater have certain financial obligations and are responsible for knowing and abiding by all UW-W regulations, procedures, and academic calendar dates as stated in the term Schedule of Classes and the Graduate Catalog.  Deadlines for adding and dropping classes, changing class grading bases and withdrawing from the university are published as part of the Schedule of Classes.  Students must adhere to the deadlines to take advantage of tuition/fee refunds and to avoid academic consequences.  Nonattendance does not exempt students from their financial and academic responsibilities.  

UW-W uses e-mail to communicate with students on many important matters such as tuition billing (e.g., bills are sent only to the student's UW-W email account, they are not sent through postal mail).  Students are responsible for knowing and, when appropriate, acting on the contents of all university communications sent to their UW-W e-mail accounts. 

Problems associated with accessing WINS or student email accounts can be addressed by the iCIT HelpDesk.  

If you have a registration hold, it must be cleared by the office that placed it before you will be able to enroll in classes.

If you have questions about your graduate program, please contact the School of Graduate Studies. 

The chairperson of the major or minor department may waive a required course within the major/minor if mastery of the course content can be demonstrated; however, other coursework must be completed to meet the minimum unit requirement for the major/minor.

A required course from a department other than the major or minor can be waived or substituted by (1) the dean of the college of the degree, if the course is in the college or degree requirements; (2) the Assistant Dean for Letters and Sciences, if the requirement is in General Education or U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity; or (3) the department chair of the course, if the requirement is in the Communication and Calculation Skills area. In selected cases, departments may waive a course in their own department based upon high school background or departmental exam.

Students may not take for credit any course for which they have received a waiver, nor may they take for credit any course in the same department that is a prerequisite for a course that has been waived (e.g., if a student has been waived from MATH 143, he may not take MATH 141 for credit).

Waiver of any course does not reduce the total number of units required for graduation.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Academic Affairs

Withdraw

While attending UWW, circumstances may arise that require a student to withdraw from the University.  If you are considering dropping ALL of your classes (regardless of how many classes) after the term begins, you are considered to be "WITHDRAWING" from the University.  After the term begins, WINS will not allow students to drop all their classes online so a "Withdraw from the University" must be submitted.

Published Deadlines

Drop a Class (drop one or some classes within term) 

Withdraw from a Term (drop ALL classes within term) 

Things to Remember

  • Withdrawing from a term drops all classes.
  • You will only be able to withdraw from a term in which you have enrollment.
  • Continuously check your Checklist, Student Account Holds, and Student Account balance on WINS as charges could incur during the term and shortly thereafter.
  • If you are an international student, student athlete, receive financial aid, veteran's and/or other benefits, please meet with the appropriate official before withdrawing.  There may be legal, certification, and/or repayment penalties associated with the withdraw.
  • If you have completed one or more classes prior to requesting a withdraw for the term, the withdraw will be processed only for the remaining in-progress classes.  Completed classes and grades (including incomplete grades) will remain on your academic record.
  • The withdraw process may take up to 48 hours for processing; however, the day the Registrar's Office receives your withdraw is the official date of the withdraw.  If you have missed the deadline for withdraw you may appeal, by submitting a Last Day to Withdraw Appeal and appropriate documentation to the Registrar's Office. 

UW-W Communication Via Email
UW-W uses e-mail to communicate with students on many important matters such as their tuition billing. The university automatically assigns each student an official UW-W e-mail account when you enroll. You are responsible for knowing and, when appropriate, acting on the contents of all university communications sent to your UW-W e-mail account.

Keep Your Mailing Address Up To Date
To receive important information, be sure your current addresses are update.

  • Mail Address - update via WINS
  • Home Address - update via WINS
  • Residence Hall Address - contact Residence Life Office
  • Billing Address - contact Student Financial Services

Check Your Schedule
After registering, students should print a copy of their WINS class schedule and verify enrollment. Corrections to your class schedule must be made in WINS by published add/drop deadline(s) to avoid academic and/or financial penalties. Nonattendance does not exempt you from such penalties.

Academic Advising Report (AAR)
To be eligible for an AAR, you must be admitted to a degree program. You are required to meet all degree requirements in effect at UW-W at the time of declaration of your current major.

Are You Graduating This Term?
If you expect to complete your degree in the fall/spring term, you must complete a Graduation Application in through the Student Center in WINS. You are also required to pay the graduation fee even though you may elect not to participate in the commencement exercises. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for the application deadline. Contact the Registrar's Office for the Undergraduate application deadline.

Undergraduate

Students may graduate on the official date of graduation for a preceding term if they successfully complete all course and degree requirements within 30 days of the official end of that term. This policy allows for students to use courses completed in Winterim or the first term of the Summer Session when these terms are completed within 30 days of the end of the Fall or Spring semesters, respectively. It is understood that there cannot be an extension beyond the 30-day limit from the previous term for incomplete or progress grades received in Winterim of the first term of Summer Session

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 1996-12-10

Re-Confirmed by the Chancellor on 2022-10-18

The Undergraduate Academic Advisement Report (AAR) is a complete match of an individual student's academic course history against a prescribed set of degree program requirements based upon the requirement term on the student's record and the effective term of the requirements on the curriculum file.

The AAR project was implemented to meet the following objectives:

  1. to provide students and faculty with accurate and current information about degree requirements, courses completed, and courses in progress;
  2. to monitor courses applicability to degree requirements as an on-going process;
  3. to have students legitimately assume primary responsibility for meeting the requirements of their degree;
  4. to allow advisers to focus more of their time on student's personal, educational, and professional goals, and
  5. to reduce the manual, time consuming efforts in the academic departments, colleges, and the Registrar's Office to clear graduation applications.

A student’s academic level is determined by the cumulative number of units satisfactorily completed, as follows:

Freshman 0-23.9 units
Sophomore 24-59.9 units
Junior 60-89.9 units
Senior 90 units or more

e-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

Policy (beginning fall 2022):

Good Standing: Students with a UWW term and cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above.  Some colleges and/or programs may require a combined UW – Whitewater GPA above a 2.00 in order to remain in good standing in the program.

Academic Warning: Students with a term GPA below 2.00 will be placed on Academic Warning.  Students will be limited to 15 credits in the following semester.  Students would be removed from warning if they receive a 2.00 term GPA in the subsequent semester.  However, if their UW – Whitewater cumulative GPA falls below a 2.00, the student moves to Academic Probation.

Academic Probation: Students who have a UW - Whitewater cumulative GPA below 2.00 will be placed on Academic Probation and limited to enroll in 15 credits in the following term. Students who attain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or better are removed from Academic Probation.  Student remain on Academic Probation if they maintain a term GPA of 2.00 or higher even if the UW – Whitewater GPA is below a 2.00.  Students can be on Academic Probation for multiple semesters.

Academic Dismissal: Students who are on Academic Probation and have a subsequent term GPA below 2.0 will be placed on Academic Dismissal.  Students who are academically dismissed are denied all the privileges of the institution and of all organizations in any way connected to it, including any university-recognized living group. 

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2021-05-04

Approved by the Chancellor on 2021-06-07

Academic Standards

Students may fulfill the requirements for an additional major or minor after receiving their degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater if the following conditions are satisfied:

  1. The major/minor course and GPA requirements in effect at the time of declaration of intent must be completed.
  2. Course credits used to satisfy the requirements of previous major(s) or minor(s) may not be used, with the exception that credits used in a minor may be used when expanding the minor into a major.
  3. The major/minor transfer course limitation may not be exceeded.
  4. The course selection must be approved by the department chairperson. A major or minor will not be awarded to a student who has not earned a degree at UW-Whitewater.

  5. After successful completion of major or minor, the major or minor department will notify the Registrar’s Office and a transcript note will be added to the student’s academic record.

Courses taken at two-year campuses may be equated only to UW-Whitewater 100-level (freshman) or 200-level (sophomore) courses. When a course taken at a two-year college appears to parallel a 300-level (junior) or 400-level (senior) course at UW-Whitewater, the course may be accepted as a general elective.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

Transferable Credits: An Overview

Second Attempt At A Course: A course in which a grade of C- or below (C-, D+, D, D- , F, or NC) was originally earned may be repeated once for grade and earned credit replacement. The grade and units earned for the repeated course (even if it is an F) will replace those earned in the initial attempt when calculating grade point average and units toward degree. Students may not repeat for credit or grade replacement any course in which they earned a grade of C or higher, or S (see "Repeat for No Credit" explanation below).

The following conditions apply to repeats for grade and earned unit replacement:

  1. Unless the repeat courses are offered as S/NC only, all repeats must be taken for conventional grades, not satisfactory/no credit. If a student is repeating a course in which a grade of NC was earned, the repeat must be on a conventional grade basis.
  2. Courses taken initially at UW-Whitewater may be repeated only at UW-Whitewater; they may not be taken at another institution to replace the UW-Whitewater grade and credit.
  3. Students may repeat a C- grade or below that was earned at a transfer institution if the course has a direct UWWhitewater equivalent and the course was attempted only once prior to transfer to UW-Whitewater. Students who repeat a transfer course will receive UW-Whitewater course credits regardless of the number of credits the course carried at the transfer institution; for example, a student repeating a 4-unit transfer course with a 3-unit UW-Whitewater course will receive only the 3 UW-Whitewater inits. All other repeat regulations apply.
  4. A student may not repeat a course if the student has received credit for a higher level course in the same department for which the course to be repeated is a prerequisite or corequisite; for example, a student who has received credit for English 102 may not repeat English 101.
  5. In courses in which there has been a change in the number of units awarded, a repeat for grade replacement will replace the units and grade from the first attempt with the credits and grade from the repeat. For example, in a course that had been changed from 5 credits to 4 credits, a 5-unit D would be replaced by a 4-unit B.
  6. If a student officially drops or withdraws from a repeat course, the original enrollment attempt’s grade and earned units will be reinstated or remain in the student’s term and cumulative calculations.

All attempts of repeated courses, including the grades, remain on academic records and transcripts even though they may not be included in the GPA calculation or earned units.

After earning a degree at UW-Whitewater, beginning a second degree restarts the attempted/earned credits and cumulative GPA. Courses taken as part of the first degree and taken again as part of the second degree will not be considered repeats.

Third Attempt At A Course: Students who wish to register for a third (or more) attempt of a course must submit an appeal and gain approval before enrolling in that course. All attempts of a course, including the grades, appear on the student’s official academic record and transcript. The following examples may help to explain how third attempt grade and credits are factored into the official academic record and transcript GPA and earned unit totals:

Example 1: A student enrolls in a third attempt of a course in which a grade of D was earned in the first attempt. The student receives a grade of C- in the second attempt and a B in the third attempt. Only the C- and the credits earned in the second attempt will be included in the GPA and earned credit. After a student earns a passing grade (i.e., a grade of D- or higher) in a repeat attempt, all subsequent attempts will not count for grade replacement or earned credit. Such noncredit attempts will be identified on the academic transcript as “No Credit”.

Example 2: A student enrolls in a third attempt of a course in which a grade of D was earned in the first attempt. The student receives a grade of F in the second attempt and a C in the third attempt. The second attempt’s F grade and the third attempt’s C grade will both be calculated into the GPA and the student will receive earned credit only for the third attempt (the first attempt’s grade and credits are replaced). Unsuccessful repeat attempts (i.e., those with grades of F) are included in the GPA as long as they are prior to the student’s first successful (i.e., grade of D- or higher) repeat of the course.

Example 3: A student enrolls in a third attempt of a course in which a grade of D was earned in the first attempt. The student receives a grade of F in the second attempt and an F in the third attempt. The second attempt’s F grade and the third attempt’s

Repeat for No Credit: Under certain circumstances, students may need to repeat courses in which a C grade or above was earned. For example, a student may need to repeat a course if a grade of B is required for the student to proceed to a higher level course or to remain in a major. In such cases, repeat grades will be considered only as qualifying students to continue, and the repeats will not be counted for grade replacement or earned credit. All enrollment attempts will be recorded on academic records and transcripts, with the non-credit attempts identified as No Credit.

Revised by the Faculty Senate on 2009-01-23

Approved by the Chancellor on 2009-01-20

Repeat Enrollment in 3rd or More Attempt of a Course

If students have not completed their degree requirements within eight years, they may be required by the dean of the college in which they are enrolled to satisfy newer requirements as deemed appropriate. Under special conditions, substitutions are allowed that are in their best interest and considered educationally sound by the dean.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

Academic Affairs

Effective Fall 2007, students at UW Whitewater may pursue two undergraduate degrees concurrently - provided that the degree programs reside in two different colleges (e.g., BA - Letters and Sciences and a BBA - Business and Economics). Students must complete all requirements for both programs, including degree, major and unique requirements; the major from either degree may be used in place of any minor required in the other degree (e.g., the business major from the BBA degree may replace the minor requirement in the BA - Letters and Sciences degree). If all the requirements are completed concurrently, both degrees will be conferred for the same term. Students who wish to pursue programs leading to two degrees to be conferred in the same term should declare their intent with the Graduation Examiner in the Registrar's Office no later than the term in which they will have earned 90 credits.

  • The writing requirement fulfilled for one college is also fulfilled for the other - two not required.
  • Degree requirements may share, meaning one course can fulfill degree requirements from two colleges.

If you are going to be completing a dual degree, please fill out and submit the form for the college of your secondary major.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Dual Degrees

Candidates for baccalaureate degrees are graduated with honors if they have earned at least 48 units in UW Whitewater courses and meet the cumulative UW Whitewater grade-point average as specified in the chart below. No credits earned through bypassed courses, credit by examination, or experiential learning may be counted among these 48 units.

Summa Cum Laude 3.850 and above
Magna Cum Laude 3.600 to 3.849
Cum Laude 3.400 to 3.599

Students may earn graduation honors in a second degree if one of the following two requirements is satisfied:

  • Completing a minimum of 48 units at UW-Whitewater with a UW-Whitewater cumulative grade point average that meets the requirements as defined for graduation honors above; or
  • Earning a second degree by completing less than 48 units at UW-Whitewater, but having earned the first degree at UW-Whitewater. Students may qualify for graduation honors if both the grade point average of the second degree itself and the grade point average of the first and second UW-Whitewater degrees combined meet the graduation honors requirement.

Candidates for associate degrees are graduated with Associate Degree Honors if they have earned at least 24 units in UW Whitewater courses and meet the cumulative UW Whitewater grade-point average of 3.40 or higher. No credits earned through bypassed courses, credit by examination, or experiential learning may be counted among the 24 units.

Note: Final Graduation with honors is determined at the point in time when the degree is posted to the student's academic record based upon the student's grade point average at that time. The commencement ceremony uses the cumulative UW-Whitewater GPA earned the previous semester and looks for minimum UW-Whitewater unit limit.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

If an undergraduate student has been doing satisfactory work until near the end of a term but is unable to complete the remaining work for the course before the term ends for reasons beyond the student’s control, the instructor may assign the student an incomplete “I” grade. Since an “I” grade results in a previous term’s workload following the student into the next term, students and instructors should utilize the “I” grade only in rare circumstances, and the instructor reserves the right to decline a request for an “I” grade.

Assigning an “I” Grade

  • When an instructor elects to utilize the “I” grade, they must enter into WINS the “I” grade and a terminal reversion grade. The reversion grade should reflect the grade earned by the student if no other work is submitted. Instructors should communicate with the student about what reversion grade they have entered. The instructor may also elect to enter a reason for the “I”, but this is optional.
  • Once the “I” grade is entered in WINS, the instructor and student should work together to identify the list of remaining required class activities and the date by which materials are due to be submitted. The materials submission deadline is at the discretion of the instructor; however, the maximum deadline for completing the “I” grade in WINS is the Tuesday of the 14th week of the next full term.

Completing an “I” Grade

  • The instructor may enter the terminal grade at any point between the agreed upon materials submission deadline and the Tuesday of the 14th week of the next full term. If a terminal grade has not been manually entered by the instructor before the Tuesday of the 14th week of the next full term, the “I” grade will revert to the entered reversion grade.
  • If a grade needs to be changed after this reversion, that would follow the grade change policy.
  • In the event that the instructor who assigned the “I” grade leaves UW-W or is otherwise unavailable, the Department Chair will be responsible for completing the “I” grade process.

Graduation Status with an “I” Grade
If a student has an incomplete in the term in which they wish to graduate, they will need to complete the work before their degree can be awarded. Therefore:

  • In alignment with the 30 day extension for graduate policy, on the 29th day after the end of their last term, the “I” grade will revert to the indicated reversion grade. If the reversion grade then prevents the student from graduating, they will be contacted.
  • Completing an incomplete after the 30th day after the end of the last term will result in the student being awarded their degree at the next official graduation date.

A terminal grade is one of the following: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, NC, or S

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 2023-2-14

Grades - Incomplete Grades*

*password protected and accessable to only instructors

The Satisfactory or No Credit (S/NC) stipulations are as follows:

  • The S/NC option will be limited to a maximum of fifteen (15) units in an undergraduate degree program. Developmental courses (e.g., MATH 40 or ENGLISH 90) that do not count toward the minimum credits necessary for graduation and credit courses offered only on an S/NC basis are not included in the fifteen unit limitation.
  • Courses that are used to fulfill a student's major/minor requirements, lower/upper BBA degree requirements, any College of Business and Economics course attempted by a BBA student, and General Education core courses may not be taken on an S/NC basis unless the course is offered only on an S/NC basis by the department. Proficiency, General Education options, unique major/minor, and elective courses may be taken on an S/NC basis.
  • The S/NC option is available to any student without regard to grade point average or class standing. The decision to take a course for S/NC must be recorded on WINS by the deadline published in the Schedule of Classes. After the deadline to change the grading basis, the S/NC basis will not be changed to a conventional grade basis or vice versa.
  • Satisfactory (S) is the equivalent of a grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable). The S will be recorded on the academic record but it will not be computed in the grade point average. Course work that does not merit a C or better will be graded NC. The NC grade will appear on the academic record but the course credits will not be counted in earned credits or the grade in the grade point average.
  • The S/NC option cannot be used to repeat a course taken for a conventional (e.g., ABCDF) grade. Veterans should refer to the VA Educational Assistance section of either the Schedule of Classes or the University Catalog, or check with the Veterans Certifying Official in the Registrar's Office.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Grade Basis - Adjust

Graduate students who enroll in undergraduate level courses and undergraduate students who enroll in graduate level courses will be registered for such courses with a grade basis of "Course Non-Career".

Grades earned in this way will be part of the student's official academic record, but the student will not earn course credit toward the undergraduate or graduate level program in which they are currently enrolled.

Grades for these courses will not be computed into the student's term or cumulative grade point average. 

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

Academic Affairs

Grading System Policy

NOTE FOR GRADE ROSTER PURPOSES ONLY: “FX” and "NCX" grades are to be given to students who fail the course due to NO attendance.  “FS” and "NCS" grades are to be given to students who fail due to STOPPING attendance anytime during the semester, including exam week.  A Last Date of Attendance MUST be entered for all "FS" and "NCS" grades.  These grades will show as an “F” on the student grade reports and transcripts.

Fall/Spring:

An undergraduate student's academic standing determines the maximum number of units in which he/she may enroll in a fall or spring term. Students admitted on academic probation or students with less than a 2.00 cumulative grade point average may enroll for a maximum of 15 units. New freshman with both a high school percentile rank and an ACT or SAT score below the 50 percentile are limited to 15 units. Students with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or above may register for a maximum of 18 units. Exceptions to the number of units in any of the above circumstances require permission of the dean of the student's major.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Summer:

The unit restriction standard is the maximum of one unit per week for each of the three and six week sessions, with the exception that a student may enroll simultaneously in one three and in one six week course. During the summer term, students are limited to a total of 12 units. Requests for overloads made by undergraduates require approval of the dean of the student's major.

Approved by the Faculty Senate on 1994-12-13

Re-Confirmed by the Chancellor on 2022-10-18

Overload Request

  • A minimum of 30 units of UW-Whitewater coursework is required to qualify for an undergraduate degree.
  • At least 15 of these 30 units must be taken at UW-Whitewater immediately prior to graduation.
  • A minimum of 25% of the major course units and 25% of the minor course units must be completed at UW-Whitewater.
  • Students pursuing any major in the BBA curriculum must complete course work in at least six courses (18 unit minimum) in their major field. A maximum of two transfer courses may count in the BBA major.
  • Associate degree seeking students - 15 of the 60 units must be taken in coursework at UW-Whitewater.
  • Students must be enrolled at UW-Whitewater during the term in which the requirements are completed.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Students who have received their first degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater may earn a second degree provided that it is not the same as the first degree (e.g., a student whose first degree is a Letters & Sciences BA could not receive a second Letters & Sciences BA degree but would be eligible for a Letters & Sciences BS or Arts & Communication BA). The first degree will be considered to have satisfied all Communication and Calculation Skills, University (General Education), U.S, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, and minor (if any) requirements. Students must complete all other degree and major requirements; credits used to satisfy major requirements in the first degree may not be used to satisfy major requirements in the second degree (credits used in a minor or minors may be applied to the new major). Students must complete a minimum of 30 units at UW-Whitewater after the date of conferral of the first degree, and a minimum of 25% of the major course credits must be completed at UW-Whitewater.

Students who have received their first degree at another institution may earn a second degree at UW-Whitewater following these same regulations, except that the second degree may be the same as their first degree (e.g., a student who has received a Letters & Sciences BS degree at another institution may earn a second Letters & Sciences BS degree at UW-Whitewater).

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

Academic Affairs

Special permission is not needed to enroll for a course on a satisfactory/no credit basis. The S/NC option may be selected by using WINS. See Course Add and Drop, Grade Basis Change, and Refund Deadlines in the Schedule of Classes for each semester for last day to add or change to S/NC. The S/NC stipulations are as follows:

  • The S/NC option will be limited to a maximum of fifteen (15) units in an undergraduate degree program. Developmental courses (e.g., MATH 40 or ENGLISH 90) that do not count toward the minimum credits necessary for graduation and credit courses offered only on an S/NC basis are not included in the fifteen unit limitation.
  • Courses that are used to fulfill a student's major/minor requirements, lower/upper BBA degree requirements, any College of Business and Economics course attempted by a BBA student, and General Education core courses may not be taken on an S/NC basis unless the course is offered only on an S/NC basis by the department. Proficiency, General Education options, unique major/minor, and elective courses may be taken on an S/NC basis.
  • The S/NC option is available to any student without regard to grade point average or class standing. The decision to take a course for S/NC must be recorded on WINS by the deadline published in the Schedule of Classes. After the deadline to change the grading basis, the S/NC basis will not be changed to a conventional grade basis or vice versa.
  • Satisfactory (S) is the equivalent of a grade of C or better (C- is not acceptable). The S will be recorded on the academic record but it will not be computed in the grade point average. Course work that does not merit a C or better will be graded NC. The NC grade will appear on the academic record but the course credits will not be counted in earned credits or the grade in the grade point average.
  • The S/NC option cannot be used to repeat a course taken for a conventional (e.g., ABCDF) grade. Veterans should refer to the VA Educational Assistance section of either the Schedule of Classes or the University Catalog, or check with the Veterans Certifying Official in the Registrar's Office.

UW-Whitewater undergraduate students with senior status may be allowed to complete up to 9 graduate units at UW-Whitewater, provided they have completed at least 90 units with at least a 2.75 overall grade point average (or 2.90 over the last half of their course work), have the written recommendation of the department chairperson of their undergraduate major, and have a graduate application on file in the Graduate Studies Office. Students may download this form at School of Graduate Studies.

Eligibility for this privilege must be established with the Graduate Studies Office and is not available to seniors at other institutions or to students who already possess a bachelor’s degree. Seniors may not use graduate-level units to satisfy requirements for the bachelor’s degree, and undergraduate fees will be charged for their graduate-level work.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

School of Graduate Studies

*Awarded in Fall and Spring terms only*

Undergraduate students having earned a 3.400 or above term grade point average in a spring or fall semester, with no grade below C (e.g., C-, D+, D, D-, F, I, NN, or NC), will be granted Term Honors for that term. To be considered for Term Honors, students must have successfully completed a minimum of 12 unit hours of work for the term, and at least 9 of those must have been taken on a regular/conventional letter grade basis.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-10-25

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-04

 

UW-Whitewater requires a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (4.00 system) to transfer; however, admission requirements may be higher for students planning to enroll in particular academic programs and during periods of enrollment limitation.

Re-approved by the Faculty Senate on 2022-11-08

Re-approved by the Chancellor on 2022-11-15

Transfer Grade Point Average and Credit Requirements

Graduate

Academic Probation

Students in degree programs who fail to maintain at least a 3.00 overall grade point average for all graduate work completed at UW-Whitewater are placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation must attain at least a 3.00 overall grade point average within the next 12 graduate units attempted at UW-Whitewater (including courses that are repeated) in order to be returned to good standing status. Failure to accomplish this will result in the student being dropped from the degree program with ineligibility to take further graduate work in that degree program.

Undergraduate courses, including those taken to make up deficiencies in background or in supervised teaching, will not be counted toward the number of graduate units required for a degree. Undergraduate courses may not be used to satisfy master’s degree requirements, and graduate courses may not be used to satisfy undergraduate requirements at UW-Whitewater.

The minimum required overall grade point average for graduation will be 3.00. No course in the major or emphasis or any other required course in which a grade of below C (2.00) has been earned may be applied toward the completion of any degree. However, some programs may require higher standards.

During a semester, students may register for at most 15 units, while those on probation should not take more than 12 units. Graduate assistants must be registered for at least nine graduate units, but no more than 12 units each semester. During the 12-week summer session, students are limited to a total of 12 units. Courses taken on an audit basis are subject to the above limits.

A student may not carry more than three units of individual studies in a single term. Not more than four units in individual studies, not more than six units of special studies, and not more than a combined total of 9 units of individual studies, workshops, and special studies may be applied toward the completion of a degree. Departments retain the prerogative of allowing fewer than nine of these types of units to apply toward their respective graduate degrees.

Degree Completion Time Limit - Masters

Students have seven years in which to complete their degree program. The seven years are measured from the beginning of the term for which they are admitted at UW-Whitewater. In the case of students transferring courses into their UW-Whitewater degree program, the seven years begins in the term of the first course to be included in the degree. These include courses completed as a non-candidate for degree student or in a prior graduate program.

International students are afforded the same amount of time, however, they need to comply with visa requirements while they are residing in the United States. Specifically, for those on F-1 and J-1 student visas, this means maintaining a full course load (generally nine units) per academic semester.

Based upon good cause, students may request an extension of this time limit. Such requests should be made in writing, should include the reasons for which the request is being made, and should be directed to the student's degree program coordinator. Requests for extensions not exceeding two additional years will be considered and acted upon by the faculty of the degree program or the degree program coordinator. Requests for extensions beyond two additional years will be considered, with the recommendation of the program coordinator, by the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. Requests for extensions beyond those additional two years will be considered only in cases of extreme and unavoidable hardship; such requests must also be acted upon by the Committee on Exceptions to Graduate Policy, and must carry the endorsement of the degree program coordinator. All student requests for extensions are reported by degree program coordinators to the Graduate Studies Office on the appropriate form.

Degree Completion Time Limit - Doctoral

Coursework Phase

Students take classes with their cohort for two years. This coursework is focused on integrating business functions such as accounting, finance, management, marketing, and information technology. Students also learn the fundamentals of business research and statistics. At the end of the second year, they are well-trained to pursue scholarly research independently.

Dissertation Phase

During their third year, students apply their training to complete an original research project. The dissertation is a significant work that will address a substantial question and contribute to solving a problem or advancing a strategy that addresses an important interest. Successful completion involves research and writing, as well as formal defense.

The dissertation defense involves two phases: proposal defense and final defense. Candidates are expected to defend their proposal during the beginning of their third year, after they have completed all coursework, and to complete the final defense by the end of their third year.

All DBA candidates must successfully complete their dissertation and final defense to be recommended for the DBA degree.

Students desiring to earn an additional graduate degree can request up to 12 credits of graduate coursework from a previously earned graduate degree to be applied toward additional graduate degree requirements. Individual programs may accept fewer credits.

Fall/Spring:

A graduate student in good standing may register for up to 15 units, while a student on probation may not take more than 12 units. Graduate Assistants must register for at least nine, and no more than 12, graduate units. Up to three units of individual studies may be taken in a term. Requests for exceptions to these limits must be made in writing to the Graduate School.

Summer:

The unit restriction standard is the maximum of one unit per week for each of the three and six week sessions, with the exception that a student may enroll simultaneously in one three and in one six week course. During the summer term, students are limited to a total of 12 units.

Overload requests by graduate students must be approved by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education. Note: Graduate students may not carry more than 3 units of individual studies in a single term. Not more than 4 units in individual studies, not more than 6 units of special studies, and not more than a combined total of 9 units of individual studies, workshops, and special studies may be applied toward the completion of a degree. Departments retain the prerogative of allowing fewer than 9 of these types of units to apply toward their respective graduate degrees.

In cases where exception to graduate school policies or other regulations seems justified, a student should follow this procedure:

  1. Request for specific exception to graduate school policy is presented by the student in writing to the graduate program coordinator of his/her program. This request should include clearly stated reasons that may justify an exception and should be submitted to the program at least 30 days before the term for which the request would be effective.
  2. The graduate program (or academic department) will forward the student's request and the program's recommendation regarding the request to the School of Graduate Studies.
  3. The School of Graduate Studies will convene the Committee on Exceptions to Graduate Policy for consideration of the request. (The Committee is made up of one graduate faculty representative from each of the four colleges and one graduate student representative.) Students will be notified of the Committee's decision within one week.
  4. Actions by the Committee on Exceptions to Graduate Policy are binding. Decisions may be appealed to the Provost, in writing, within thirty days of the student being notified of actions/decisions. However, the Provost isn't authorized to overturn a decision made by the Committee. The Provost can only request the Committee reconsider the decision.

Requests for exceptions involving college or department policies, procedures, or other academic matters, including those that supersede graduate school policy, will be resolved by the appropriate unit within the college. Such appeals are initiated by students through their advisers. Since NCFD students are not assigned an adviser, they may appeal directly to the college or department where the problem occurred. In either case, appropriate appeal procedures will then be followed as established by the individual college or department within the college.

At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater it is expected that instructors will evaluate students regularly and consistently by criteria and guidelines presented to students at the beginning of each grading period. If a student has reason to believe the grade is incorrect, the student may act on that by taking the following steps in chronological order. A complaint which is timely and filed under any other student complaint procedure and then referred for processing under these procedures, shall be considered to have met the deadline for filing as a grade appeal. The process for filing a grade appeal is the same at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and begins with an informal process, before moving to a formal process.

Informal Process

  1. Consult the instructor whose grade is being appealed. This consultation must take place within 7 calendar days of start of classes after the grading period in question.
  2. If the student/instructor conference is unsatisfactory or if the instructor is unwilling or unable to participate, within 7 calendar days the student may schedule a conference with the chair of the department in which the course was offered.
  3. After hearing the student's appeal, the chair will attempt to resolve the problem within 7 calendar days.
  4. If this resolution is unsatisfactory, the student may then, within 7 calendar days after receiving the chairperson's response, submit a written appeal to the department's Grade Appeals Committee through the chairperson. This will initiate the Formal Appeal Process.

Formal Process

  1. The appeal must be in writing and signed by the student.
  2. The Department Grade Appeals Committee will (i) convene to examine the appeal, the response and render its conclusion in writing to the chair, student and instructor, within 14 calendar days of receipt of the appeal. (ii) While the Grade Appeals Committee cannot require the instructor to change a student's grade, the Committee can recommend such a change to the instructor and to the Interim Associate Provost in the School of Graduate Studies.
  3. Should the student wish to appeal beyond the department, the student may submit the Committee findings and the basis for the further appeal to the Interim Associate Provost in the School of Graduate Studies, within 3 calendar days of presentation of Committee findings. The Interim Associate Provost will review the student's appeal and the findings of the Committee, and recommend appropriate action to the department and the instructor within 14 days of receipt of the appeal.
  4. If this action is unsatisfactory to the student, a final appeal may be made to the Provost who will determine whether a change in grade is to be made within 14 days of receipt of the appeal. The Provost is the only individual authorized to change a student grade without the instructor's permission. However, the Provost may change a grade only when the faculty department committee and the Interim Associate Provost support such a change.

Graduate student satisfaction with their educational experience remains a preeminent concern of the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who have questions, concerns or grievances about non-policy related issues are encouraged to contact the Office of Graduate Studies 262-472-1006

Grading System Policy

NOTE FOR GRADE ROSTER PURPOSES ONLY: “FX” and "NCX" grades are to be given to students who fail the course due to NO attendance.  “FS” and "NCS" grades are to be given to students who fail due to STOPPING attendance anytime during the semester, including exam week.  A Last Date of Attendance MUST be entered for all "FS" and "NCS" grades.  These grades will show as an “F” on the student grade reports and transcripts.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has a limited number of graduate assistantships for selected full-time graduate students. To be eligible for consideration, individuals must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at UW-Whitewater in good standing status. Graduate assistants must register for at least nine graduate credits, but no more than 12 credits, each semester.

Graduate students are allowed to repeat at most two courses in their degree programs. Courses may be repeated only once. When a course is repeated, the original course and grade remain on the transcript; however, the last grade and credits earned replace the original and are the only ones used in computing the overall grade point average and the grade point average in the major or emphasis. Students who have been dropped from a degree program may not use the course repeat process to gain readmission into that degree program.

A course taken for undergraduate credit may not later be changed to graduate credit. Courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be retaken for graduate credit, although exceptions may be granted by the degree program coordinator when the field of knowledge has changed to the degree that the course content has changed substantially from the first time the student took the course to the present. Graduate courses may not be retaken unless indicated otherwise in the Graduate Catalog.

Incomplete Grade -- Use of the Grade "I"

If a student has been doing satisfactory work until near the end of a term, and then because of illness or other unavoidable circumstances has been prevented from completing the work, the instructor may give the student an "Incomplete" and extend the privilege of completing the work by a later date. Instructors are responsible for entering the grade of "I" on the grade roster. In no case should the "Incomplete" be given to students who, through their own fault, failed to complete the requirements of a course on time or who failed to report for the final examination as scheduled.

By action of the Faculty Senate, when a faculty member issues an incomplete, a contract must be made with the student specifying the work needed to complete the course and the date by which the work is to be submitted. Your contract needs to be submitted to the Registrar's Office, contracts are available from your department ADA's and the Registrar's Office.

Graduate students grade change forms must be submitted to the Registrar's Office no later than one full week before the start of exams within a maximum of one year. However, the faculty member may assign a shorter period of time. NOTE: THE DEADLINE IS AUTOMATICALLY A MAXIMUM OF 30 CALENDAR DAYS FOR ALL STUDENTS PLANNING TO GRADUATE IN THE TERM FOR WHICH THE "I" GRADE HAS BEEN ISSUED. The "I" grade will carry 0 honor points and will not be computed in the G.P.A.

If a grade change is not received by the deadline, the "I" grade will automatically be changed to an "F" grade, unless a default grade was entered on the Incomplete Contract, with both the semester and the cumulative grade point averages adjusted accordingly. (See Section IV-E for grade changes after the deadline). A blank default grade will also lapse to an "F" grade. An "F" grade may not be changed back to an "I" grade.

Faculty may extend the make-up deadline by submitting a new contract form with a specified date in writing to the Registrar's Office at least one week prior to the termination of the make-up period, either defined by the date specified on the contract or before the deadline outlined above.

A grade of NN is recorded by the Registrar's Office when an instructor does not report a grade for a student officially registered for the course. The student must take the initiative to remove or change any IP, I, or NN grades. The grading symbol for audit is X. This grade is not calculated in the grade point average and no credit is earned in courses registered under this option.

In-Progress Grade -- Use of the Grade "IP"

In courses designed to extend beyond the term of registration, e.g., thesis research, instructors may assign a grade of IP to indicate "in progress" toward completion. In courses not designed to extend beyond the term of registration, instructors may assign a grade of I to indicate a student's course work was incomplete due to documented extenuating circumstances. Neither IP nor I grades are calculated into the term or cumulative grade point averages. An I grade is accompanied by a signed contract in which the instructor specifies the work to be completed by the student. An IP or I grade is replaced by a regular grade when the course work is completed. The grade point average for the term in which the course was registered, as well as for subsequent terms, and cumulative grade point averages will then be retroactively computed using the regular grade replacement. A regular grade cannot be changed to an IP or I on a temporary basis. With the exception of 799 Thesis Research, course work must be completed within one calendar year from the time the IP or I grade was assigned. Students may petition instructors for extensions of this deadline. Instructors granting extensions will then inform the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office automatically changes an IP or I grade to an F when the work has not been completed by the deadline.

A grade of NN is recorded by the Registrar's Office when an instructor does not report a grade for a student officially registered for the course. The student must take the initiative to remove or change any IP, I, or NN grades. The grading symbol for audit is X. This grade is not calculated in the grade point average and no credit is earned in courses registered under this option. 

  • Graduate students registered for a course on a pass/fail basis will receive either a grade of S or F.
  • A grade of S denotes the student has passed the course; a grade of F indicates failure.
  • Grades of F count in computing grade point averages; S grades do not count. Instructors decide what constitutes a grade of pass for their courses.
  • Workshops may be taken on a pass-fail basis. Other courses made available by departments on a pass-fail only basis are so indicated in advance in the Course Offerings portion of the Schedule of Classes.
  • Since the decision whether a course taken on a pass-fail basis will count in a degree program rests with the major or emphasis department or college, students should attain appropriate permission prior to taking a course pass/fail.