Student grades are not mailed. A student can check his or her grades through the online WINS system. FERPA prohibits sharing academic information without a student's consent. Students can fill out and sign FERPA forms and bring them to the Solution Center in Hyatt Smith Hall to allow someone else access to their student information. Each department requires their own FERPA form to be filled out and signed to release information. FERPA release forms are available for Financial Services, Financial Aid, Registrar's Office and HawkCard Office.

Encourage your student to read their UW-Whitewater email, as much important information is sent through the campus e-mail system. We hope your student will ask questions of everyone on campus. People resources abound at UW-Whitewater at Rock County. The Solution Center, located in Hyatt Smith Hall, is always a good place to turn to with any questions you may have. Students will be able to search for courses by using the WINS Guest Course Search feature. Additional information about classes can be found on the Registrar's Schedule of Classes webpage. University Policies and Resources can be found on the University Policies and Resource Handbook webpage.

It's important for students living at home to get involved in campus activities. They may get more out of the college experience if they study on campus, join a club, get involved in student government or play sports. This will help them to meet new friends, get to know the staff and faculty and take advantage of opportunities for leadership roles here and at other colleges should they transfer. Encourage your child to get involved and understand his or her schedule may be varied with these new roles.

Unfortunately, personal difficulties happen. If your student is having personal or family problems, please urge him or her to contact of the Solution Center at 608-758-6541. Professional mental health counseling is available at no cost to students through the Solution Center.

Accommodations vary greatly with the needs of each student, but include extended time for tests, note taking, seating adjustments, room changes and tutoring. Ali Potratz, the campus contact for student accessibility services in the Solution Center can discuss options and plans. Call 608-758-6541 to make an appointment.

Yes, it is appropriate. We do believe that your most important source of information about your student's progress is your student and we hope that you will foster open and honest communication with your son or daughter about his/her academic work. If you would like to talk with someone at the college about your student's academic situation, feel free to call the student's advisor or the Solution Center office. Again, the information we can provide without the student's written permission is limited, but if you have concerns we may contact the student and/or instructors to see if additional assistance or advising may be needed.

The normal course load for most full-time students is 15 credits. Typically, students eligible to be covered under their parents' health insurance policies must take at least 12 credits to be considered a full-time student. A student's first semester typically consists of 12 to 15 credits, usually from two or three general education courses plus two or three courses from an academic area of interest. Your student may also be enrolled in a LEC 100 Freshman Seminar course designed to help new students adjust to academic and social changes from high school.

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the same agency that accredits most American universities. Courses and credits transfer easily to UW System campuses as well as to other private and public colleges and universities, with the exception of several remedial courses, which do not carry degree credit. Your student will want to check the online  Transferology Lab or ask their advisor to see just what program requirements will be met by specific transfer courses.

Requirements for transfer may vary slightly from one university to another, but most will require a minimum of 12 transferable credits and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0.Your student may want to look into the  Guaranteed Transfer Admission Program. A student who begins his or her education as a freshman at UW-Whitewater at Rock County can be guaranteed admission to any four-year University of Wisconsin campus by participating in this program. After fulfilling certain credit and grade point requirements (60 credits and a 2.0 GPA for most campuses), the student will transfer as a junior with the same rights and privileges as those who begin their education at the four-year institutions.

Earning the Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree requires completing a minimum of 60 credits. Students who earn the degree will automatically meet the general education requirements at University of Wisconsin institutions and will be admitted as juniors when they transfer.The degree requires completion of courses in English composition and math as well as course in the breadth categories of fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social science.
Your student should rely on the UW-Whitewater schedule of classes for specific major requirements, course prerequisites and other academic policies.

During the summer, your student will have the opportunity to register for classes with an advisor. Your student will sign up for an advising session when he or she is on campus for the Student Orientation and Academic Registration (SOAR). Academic planning for the first semester and beyond is a process between the student and the advisor. Both the advisor and the student should expect and have responsibility for creating a productive advising relationship.

Students must take responsibility for their own academic success and the consequences of their performance. Students cannot learn if they are not in class. Attendance policies are set individually by the instructors.

We strongly encourage students to talk with their instructors outside of class if they are experiencing difficulty. This usually requires a change in thinking and habit, since many students did not seek out their teachers in high school. Faculty members are their best resource. We also urge students to contact their advisor for support and counsel. Most academic problems can be resolved if students seek help in a timely way. The Learning Support Center (LSC) on campus offers free tutoring to any student and can help with other issues such as time management and tips for working with faculty. Some students are also eligible for the federally funded TRIO program, which provides additional academic support to the students served by the program.

Your student may make the necessary adjustments with no difficulty, but if you sense that is not the case, encourage your student to talk with his or her advisor.Realistic expectations help. We expect students to study at least three hours outside of class for every hour they are in class.

No, we will contact your student directly. All students admitted to UW-Whitewater at Rock County have the ability to succeed and to graduate. When students begin to struggle academically, the reasons are as diverse as the students. We do everything we can to help students identify problems, accept responsibility and subsequently solve their problems. Resolving their own difficulties is an important skill for students to develop as they grow into adulthood. However, if you have a particular concern about your student, we do welcome your call.The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Unless we have written permission from the student, only a limited amount of information can be released to the parents.

The Foundation seeks to enhance UW-Whitewater at Rock County's intellectual and cultural capacity through the financial support of faculty, administration, and structures. Our mission is tri-fold:

• To offer an academic arena where everyone is given a chance to succeed by assisting in the provision of:
  • A College financially available to all whether young or old, single or married, whether a grandparent, parent, or child.
  • A Campus that unites ethnic minorities, the displaced workers, returning life-long learners, and those with disabilities.
• To achieve the highest level of excellence in instruction through the support of the faculty's pursuit of knowledge.
• To assist in the provision of an environment that is most conducive to successful learning.

As well as providing for students, the Foundation also is endeavoring to provide future learning opportunities for the faculty, whether that is through conferences, seminars, or memberships in academic arenas, assuring that the UW-Whitewater at Rock County faculty's instruction remains relevant and a cut-above the rest.

June 2010

MaryAnn Burkheimer of Janesville was selected as the recipient of the June 2010 Alumni Awareness Award presented by the UW-Rock County Foundation.

Burkheimer, the Program Director at the YWCA CARE House since 2007, first became a student at UW-Rock County in the fall of 1980. She was a traditional student, coming straight from high school. "I lasted just two semesters," said Burkheimer. "I wasn't ready for college at the time. I returned in the fall of 1996 more determined and prepared to work hard to obtain a college degree." She went on to complete a bachelor's degree in social work from UW-Whitewater in 2000.While attending UW-Rock County, Burkheimer worked full-time, juggled parenting a toddler and maintained a respectable grade point average.  When asked to offer advice to current students, Burkheimer stated, "Recognize the opportunity that UW-Rock County offers; the campus is an excellent place to start. UW-Rock County more than prepared me to transfer and I felt the professors had higher expectations and challenged me more than at the four-year college."

December 2008

Jenny (Consigny) McMullen was selected as the recipient of the December 2008 Alumni Awareness Award presented by the UW-Rock County Foundation.The Alumni Awareness Award, first presented in September 2008, was created to honor UW-Rock County alumni or former students who are recognized for their expertise and good works. These notable people must have attended UW-Rock County for at least one year, completed a higher education degree and distinguished themselves through achievements and service or contributions to Rock County, where they live and work.McMullen, a registered nurse for the Milton Dean Clinic since 1996, first became a student at UW-Rock County in 1981. She went on to complete her bachelor's degree in nursing from UW-Madison in 1985. She began her nursing career by returning to Janesville about 21 years ago.While attending UW-Rock County, McMullen was involved in band and enjoyed small study groups. She counts among her most memorable experiences numerous courses with Charles Rust, a former UW-Rock County professor of biology. "Because I was interested in the field of nursing, I took lots of science courses," says McMullen. "Professor Rust was difficult but he prepared me for the future. I learned how to study and developed a stick-to-it attitude. feel that UW-Rock County set the ground work for good study habits, which in turn allowed me success in Madison."

November 2008

LaVay Elg-Scott of Janesville was selected as the recipient of the November 2008 Alumni Awareness Award presented by the UW-Rock County Foundation.The Alumni Awareness Award, first presented in September 2008, was created to honor UW-Rock County alumni or former students who are recognized for their expertise and good works. These notable people must have attended UW-Rock County for at least one year, completed a higher education degree and distinguished themselves through achievements and service or contributions to Rock County, where they live and work.Elg-Scott, the assisted services manager for Mercy Assisted Care since 2004, first became a student at UW-Rock County in 1982. She completed her two-year Associate of Arts degree in 1984 but wasn't able to continue her education at that time, but returned 14 years later as a non-traditional student to complete her UW-Madison foreign language requirement. She went on to complete bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from UW-Madison.Returning to college after a long break was a bit daunting, but Elg-Scott credits the teaching staff at UW-Rock County for their support and direction in helping her achieve her educational goals. "The professors went out of their way to help me," she says. "The instructors allowed non-traditional students to feel comfortable in the classroom and encouraged us to share our life experiences with our classmates. Professor (Linda) Reinhardt made me see I had a passion for helping others, allowing me to realize a career in social work was something I should pursue."Elg-Scott offers this advice to students thinking about attending UW-Rock County, "Talk to staff about your interests and leave yourself open to a variety of opportunities. My motto has always been 'It's never too late to be what you might have been.'"

September 2008

Matthew J. Weber, Janesville, was selected as the September 2008 recipient of the UW-Rock County Foundation's Alumni Awareness Award.The Alumni Awareness Award was created to honor UW-Rock County alumni or former students who are recognized for their expertise and good works. These notable people must have attended UW-Rock County for at least one year, completed a higher education degree and distinguished themselves through achievements and service or contributions to Rock County, where they live and work.Weber, Vice President/General Manager of the Controls Technologies Division of SSI Technologies, Inc. since 2001, was a traditional student while at UW-Rock County back in 1981. He went on to complete bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology at UW-Oshkosh.Weber's experience at UW-Rock County was what he calls "the best bang for your buck." He admits he didn't think of himself as college material but opted to give UW-Rock County a try. "UW-Rock was my way of giving college a try without the huge financial investment," he says. "It provided me a taste of college without feeling overwhelmed. The class size was small and I received individual attention."Weber offers this advice to students thinking about attending UW-Rock County, "You can't plan your educational life, but UW-Rock County provides a fundamental base that will prepare you for life-long learning."To nominate someone for an Alumni Awareness Award, contact the UW-Rock County Foundation at 608-758-6565 ext. 390.

President

Dennis Condon

Treasurer

Don Jensen

Members

Diana Shadel, Interim Executive DirectorRick MuellerKimberly LanttaLinda Reinhardt
Scott Bordwell
Jose Carrillo
Steven Dean
Jane Thompson
Rick Mueller

Ex-Officio

Charles Clark
Regional Executive Officer and Dean of the Southwest Region

Kristin Fillhouer
Campus Administrator of the Southwest Region

Beverly Simonds
Regional Executive Assistant of the Southwest Region

Annual Giving

Overview

Established in 1965, the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus is a partnership between Rock County, which owns and maintains the land and facilities, and the State of Wisconsin through the University of Wisconsin, which pays salaries and operational expenses.

With a student population of about 900, the campus sits on 50 acres, has a 65,000-volume library, a living prairie, and a 225-seat theater. The campus offers collaborative degree programs with UW-Platteville, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater, which allow students to complete a bachelor's degree on-site.

Community Impact

• Musical presentations, theatre productions, faculty lectures, and athletic events are open to members of the community. Most events are free!
• College for Kids offers local school children unique learning opportunities during the summer months.
• UWW Rock County faculty and staff participate each year in the local United Way campaign.
• Faculty members present a lecture series to the elderly at a local retirement community center.
• Students participate in an internship program, offering their services to local companies while gaining expertise in a chosen field.

The UW-Rock County Foundation, Inc. encourages the enrollment of students who will add to the overall excellence of academic and co-curricular programs. The scholarship program is intended to provide financial support for, and recognition of, students who have demonstrated qualities of academic excellence, leadership, and/or financial need.

Applicants must first be admitted and enrolled in order to be awarded a Foundation Scholarship. After you are accepted, you will be given a username and password from the university. The scholarships will be divided equality, in most cases, unless there are special circumstances, between the fall and spring semesters.

Please Note:  Foundation applications must be submitted to the appropriate person by the due date as described within the application materials.

UW-Rock County Foundation Scholarship Application (Applicaton materials available January 2022 for next scholarship cycle)

Wartman BAAS Scholarship Application (for BAAS students)

Additional scholarship opportunities can be found on the UW-Whitewater Scholarships webpage.