Q: How do I get an advisor?
A: All students in the College of Letters and Science are assigned to an academic advisor. If you do not know your academic advisor's name, you may call 229-4654 to obtain that information. You will need to tell the receptionist your name and student number. The receptionist will be able to identify your advisor from this information. [ Back ]

Q: Who is my professional advisor?
A: Visit the following web page to meet the Letters and Science advisors. [ Back ]

Q: Who is my faculty advisor?
A: After you formally declare your major, you will be assigned a faculty advisor in the department. This individual can provide you with advice regarding courses offered in the major, major requirements, and graduate study in your field of interest.

(Note: You still need to continue meeting with your professional advisor to review degree and graduation requirements. Faculty advisors do NOT clear students for graduation, this is done in the L&S advising office by your professional advisor.)[ Back ]

Q: What can I expect from a freshmen-advising session?
A: Freshman year is a period of tremendous adjustment. Everything about college is new, exciting and sometimes a bit overwhelming. Your freshman advising sessions will focus not only on selecting courses, but also on helping you become familiar with the resources available to you on the UWM campus. At each advising session you may request a degree summary sheet which lists all courses required for general education requirements, L&S requirements and your major. A typical freshman advising session may also include information about or referral to the following services/programs:

UWM Tutoring/Academic Resource center
Peer mentoring programs
Career or Personal Counseling services
Student organizations
Referral to Financial Aid resources on campus
How to find your way around Milwaukee!

Your advisor will guide you through the university! [ Back ]

Q: What can I expect from a sophomore/junior advising session?
A: During the middle years of your college experience, you will need to consider several important issues. You need to decide upon a major, begin to develop career goals and/or explore interest in graduate or professional school education. At each advising session you may request a degree summary sheet which lists all of the requirements you need to fulfill in order to graduate. The following list provides examples of sophomore/junior advising session activities:

Evaluate academic progress
Develop an academic plan based upon your goals and interests
Identify internship and other relevant experiences to enhance your undergraduate experience [ Back ]

Q: What can I expect from a senior advising session?
A: Senior year is also a year of transition for most students. You are on the verge of graduation and will need to make concrete plans for the next phase of your life. Your advisor can assist you in many ways! Some of the topics/issues discussed during your senior advising sessions may include:

A final review of the courses that you need to graduate.
Information regarding how to apply for graduation. The College of Letters and Science provides its own graduation clearance services, and therefore students who apply for graduation will be provided with a written summary of graduation requirements.
Information regarding the Career Development center's resume, interviewing and career search services.
Referral to appropriate resources for graduate school information. [ Back ]

Q: When and how often should I meet with my advisor?
A: You should meet with your advisor whenever you have questions. Students are encouraged to see their advisor at least once or twice per semester, but you may come as often as you like! [ Back ]

Q: How do I make an appointment to see my advisor?
A: To make an appointment to see your advisor, please call one of the following Letters and Science advising offices:

Student Academic Services (414) 229-4654
African American Student Academic Services (414) 229-6657
American Indian Student Services (414) 229-5880
Roberto Hernandez center (414) 229-6156
Southeast Asian Student Academic Services (414) 229-5282 [ Back ]

Q: Where are the Letters and Science Advising Offices located?
A: The Letters and Science Advising offices are located on the ground and first floor of Holton Hall. Our beautifully renovated reception area (Holton 142) is a great place to sit and relax or read a good book! [ Back ]

Academic Issues

Q: How do I know if I am considered a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior?
A: The number of credits completed determines your class standing in the College of Letters and Science.

Freshmen (0-23 credits)
Sophomore (24-55 credits)
Junior (56-87 credits)
Senior (88+ credits) [ Back ]

Q: How are the General Education Requirements (GER) different from the Letters and Science requirements?
A: The Letters and Science requirements extend well beyond the minimum University requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements. Therefore, a student may have General Education requirements complete, but may have several Letters and Science requirements left to fulfill. Degree requirements vary depending upon when you began college for the first time. In order to determine your degree requirements, it is very important that you meet with your academic advisor! [ Back ]

Q: What is a Degree Summary Sheet and why would I want one?
A: A Degree Summary Sheet is a tool used by academic advisors to monitor your academic progress towards the fulfillment of degree requirements. This document compares the courses that you have taken with the requirements that you need to complete. The Degree Summary Sheet will indicate how many credits you have completed, how many credits you have in progress, and how many credits remain to be completed for each requirement. The Degree Summary Sheet may be updated at each advising session and is a helpful tool that will generate important discussion between you and your advisor. [ Back ]

Q: How do I make the Dean's Honor list?
A: Letters and Science students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher on at least 12 graded credits will be placed on the Dean's Honor list. [ Back ]

Q: What is the best way to raise my grade point average?
A: As a general rule, the most efficient way to raise a grade point average is to repeat coursework in which you have done poorly. At the undergraduate level, only the highest grade earned will be counted into your official UWM grade point average. It is important to note that you may not repeat a course taken at UWM at another institution to raise your UWM grade point average. Grades earned at UWM take precedence over grades earned at other institutions. In addition, most, if not all, graduate and/or professional schools will calculate your grade point average based upon all attempts at each course. We suggest that you consult the UWM Course Repeat Policy for further information. [ Back ]

Q: What does it mean to be on academic probation?
A: Students are placed on academic probation if they have not met the UWM quality of work requirement. If your cumulative grade point average falls below 2.0, you will be placed on academic probation. This is a warning signal to you that you may be in jeopardy of being academically dismissed from UWM. You should see your advisor immediately if you are placed on academic probation. Students will remain on academic probation until their cumulative grade point average increases to 2.0 or above. Continuing students who are placed on academic probation and earn a semester grade point average below 2.0, or new freshmen who earn a 1.0 or below, will be academically dropped for one semester. Students who are permitted to enroll after any drop action are placed on Final Academic Probation. Students will remain on final academic probation until their cumulative grade point average increases to 2.0 or above. In addition, a student on final academic probation must maintain a 2.0 or higher semester grade point average. If the semester grade point average falls below 2.0, the student will be dropped from UWM for a period of two years. [ Back ]

Q: How do I choose a major?
A: Choosing a major can be very challenging. In the College of Letters and Science, we want you to take your time and explore the many options that are available to you. You may select a major based upon a variety of factors including your personal interests or career aspirations.

Three types of majors are available in the College of Letters and Science: Departmental majors, Non-Departmental majors, and Committee Interdisciplinary majors. Click here to see a list of all L&S departmental majors.

The Non-Departmental majors available are Biological Aspects of Conservation, Comparative Study of Religion, Film, International Studies, and Women's Studies.

The Committee Interdisciplinary major (CIM) is a self-designed major. Students who are typically attracted to the CIM often have very specific academic or career interests that can not be adequately addressed through one of the more standard departmental majors. Students are required to secure a faculty committee to guide them in the development of a major proposal. The CIM structure requires that students use at least two departments within the College of Letters and Science. Courses from most units outside the College may be selected for part of the major.

Selecting a major is often a process that evolves over time. Through discussion with your academic advisor, career counselors at the Career Development Center, family, friends and faculty, you will eventually determine the path that you wish to follow! The key is to actively investigate your options! If you would like more information about any of the major options available in the College of Letters and Science, please talk to your advisor. [ Back ]

Q: What can I do with a major in ...?
A: Letters and Science majors are extremely marketable and offer many career opportunities. To explore what you can do with various Letters and Science majors, visit the Career Development Center. [ Back ]

Q: Is a major required?
A: Yes. All students in the College of Letters and Science are required to complete a major prior to graduation. [ Back ]

Q: When should I declare my major?
A: We recommend that students declare their major sometime between 45 -75 credits. This will allow ample time to complete all major requirements. Students may not formally declare their major until they have completed a minimum of 45 credits. Some majors have a specific sequence of courses that must be completed prior to formally declaring the major. You should plan to discuss your major with your academic advisor. [ Back ]

Q: What is an "intended" major?
A: Students who are not yet eligible to declare a major formally may declare an intended major (pre-major) in an academic discipline of interest to them. The declaration of a pre-major is encouraged as soon as a student finds s/he is interested in a particular area. This action permits the department to identify students to whom to send information concerning programs, awards, opportunities (e.g. internships), and other matters relating to the area of study. Students may declare a pre-major by completing a brief form available from the Letters and Science Advising Office (Holton Hall 142) or from the department office. [ Back ]

Q: Is a minor required?
A: The College of Letters and Science does not require a minor. [ Back ]

Q: How is my UWM grade point average calculated?
A: Your UWM grade point average is a number that reflects your quality of work at UWM. Only coursework taken at UWM is included in your UWM grade point average. To determine your UWM grade point average you must add the total number of quality points earned at UWM and then divide that number by the total number credits attempted at UWM. For example:

English 101	3 credits	Grade=B	Quality Points=9
Math 105	3 credits	Grade=C	Quality Points= 6
History 151	3 credits	Grade=A	Quality Points=12
Psych. 101	3 credits	Grade=D	Quality Points=3
______________	______________	______________	______________
Totals	12 credits		Quality Points=30

Grade Point average: 30 divided by 12 = 2.5 [ Back ]

Q: What is PAWS?
A: PAWS (Panther Access to Web Services) is the self-service, front-end to PeopleSoft for students to do things like apply for admission to UWM, check the status of their application, change their personal information (address, phone number, email address), check the status of their financial aid, register for classes (add, drop, switch sections), check their tuition amount and pay their tuition via the web, check their grades, etc. In addition, faculty will be using PAWS starting summer term to submit grades.

PAWS replaces SASI; the last thing students will use SASI for is to check their Spring 2002 grades. After that, SASI will no longer be used.

For more information visit: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/DES/pawshelp/paws_help.html

Q: How do I find out about Letters and Science internships?
A: Students may explore Letters and Science internship opportunities by contacting Cindy Piercy in Holton Hall room 118 (414) 229-5872 or by reviewing the internship website at: MonsterTrak [ Back ]

Q: How do I find out about Study Abroad opportunities?
A: To explore UWM study abroad programs visit the center for International Education office of Overseas Programs and Partnerships or contact them at (414) 229-5182. [ Back ]

Policies & Procedures

Q: What is the policy regarding repeating a course?
A: The following Repeat Policy went into effect for the fall 1988-89 semester:

At the undergraduate level, if a course is repeated only the highest grade earned will be counted in the official UWM grade point average.
Unless a restriction is stated in the Schedule of Classes, students may repeat any course only once.
Under exceptional circumstances, one more repeat (a third take of a course) may be allowed. Students must receive written permission from the chair of the department in which they wish to repeat a course. This statement should be taken to Holton Hall room 115 for final approval. Mathematics and Math/Stats are the exception to this rule. Students wishing to take any mathematics or math/stats course for a third time (second repeat) should fill-out the form in Holton 142.
For the purpose of repeats in Letters and Science, a course listed as "WR" is considered a take of the course. Courses that have been audited also count as a take.
transfer students may take a course at least once at UWM regardless of how many times the course was taken at their previous institution(s).
Students many not repeat a course at another institution in an effort to improve a grade earned at UWM. [ Back ]

Q: What is the concurrent enrollment policy?
A: Students who wish to enroll at another institution at the same time that they are attending UWM must have written permission to do so prior to taking courses at the other institution. You may obtain this permission in the office of the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services, Holton Hall 118. For more information, please call (414) 229-5872. [ Back ]

Q: How do I file an appeal regarding a late add, drop or withdrawl?
A: The required appeal form and information sheet may be obtained at the Letters and Science reception desk in Holton Hall room 142. [ Back ]

Q: What is the new "F" Grade Policy?
A: Effective Fall 2004, the University implemented a new 'F' grading system due to Federal compliance requirements for students receiving financial aid. When reporting a grade of 'F,' instructors will also report a number corresponding to the student's "week of last participation" in the course. This is the last week of the term for which there is documented evidence of the student's participation in the course. A student receiving the grade of 'F0' would, therefore, be one who never attended or participated, whereas a student grade of 'F16' would signify completion of the entire term. The numeral for "week of last participation" will be reflected on unofficial transcripts and grade reports. On official transcripts, only the grade of 'F' will be reflected. [ Back ]

Q: How do I formally declare a major, minor or certificate?
A: The academic department in which you plan to study handles the formal declaration of major, minor or certificate process. You will need to complete a declaration form. This form is typically available in the secretary of the department's office. If you need assistance locating this office, please contact your academic advisor. After you complete the declaration form, a summary will be prepared for you which details the courses that you will need to complete in order to earn the major, minor or certificate. [ Back ]

Q: What is the credit/no credit policy?
A: Students may enroll in a course on a credit/no credit (C/NC) basis with the following restrictions:

The course may not be in your major, minor or certificate program.
The course may not be part of the Honors College.
The course may not be taken to complete the English and/or mathematics requirements.
The course may not be part of the Letters and Science language requirement.

To be granted credit for a credit/no credit course, a student must earn a grade of "C-" or better. The credits will be counted toward total degree credits earned but will not affect a student's grade point average. Only one course per semester to a maximum of eight courses may be taken using this option. If a student enrolls in a course that may only be taken on a C/NC basis, s/he may take an additional course C/NC that semester. Refer to the schedule of classes to determine when changes to/from C/NC are allowed. [ Back ]

Q: What is the overload policy?
A: In a regular semester, the maximum credit load for undergraduates is 18 credits. Students enrolled in more than 18 credits will be assessed tuition above the normal full-time rate. A student must obtain approval for an overload from their academic advisor in Letters and Science. To be eligible for an overload, a student should have a minimum grade point average of 3.00, a GPA of 3.00 for the last semester in which s/he was enrolled full-time, and no outstanding incompletes. Student requests for more than 21 credits must be done through a formal appeal sent to the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Services and generally are not granted.

In a summer session the maximum number of credits allowed is the same as the length of the session. For example, a student may only take 4 credits in a four-week session. The exception to this rule is the 8-week session in which a student may take 9 credits. [ Back ]

Q: What is the incomplete policy?
A: At its November 21, 2002 meeting, the Faculty Senate passed the following Incomplete policy for undergraduate students:

An Incomplete may be given to a student who has carried a subject successfully until near the end of the semester but, because of illness or other unusual and substantiated cause beyond that student's control, has been unable to take or complete the final examination or to complete some limited amount of term work. An Incomplete is not given unless the student proves to the instructor that s/he was prevented from completing course requirements for just cause as indicated above.

A course marked Incomplete must be completed during the next succeeding semester, excluding summer sessions and UWinteriM. If the student does not remove the Incomplete during this period, the report of "I" will lapse to "F." [ Back ]

Q: How do I get "retro" credits in foreign languages?
A: Upon successful completion of a foreign language course that generates retro credits, you must go to the foreign language department and complete a form to request your retro credits. If you have questions about retro credits, please consult your academic advisor. [ Back ]

Q: How do I get reinstated after being academically dropped?
A: Students who are academically dropped from UWM should make an appointment to discuss their situation with their academic advisor and may file an appeal to request reinstatement. Appeals will only be considered if significant and extenuating non-academic reasons can be presented. Students may be asked to provide verifiable documentation of medically related or other circumstances. [ Back ]

Q: How and when do I apply for graduation?
A: Apply for graduation when you register for your final semester. (If you have already registered, it is not too late to apply.)

To apply for graduation, go to:

paws.uwm.edu
Go to "For Students"
Then "Academic Summary"
and "Apply for Graduation"

Follow the instructions to fill out the online graduation application
- OR -
go to www.des.uwm.edu/webapps/gradapp/.

For more information or assistance, contact the Undergraduate Graduation Office, Mellencamp Hall Room 212, (414) 229-4269. If you have any concerns about your course registration, you should make an appointment to see your advisor immediately by calling (414) 229-4654. [ Back ]

Q: What is the 165 Excess Credit Policy?
A: Effective Fall of 2004, a policy took effect at all University of Wisconsin System institutions. According to this policy, students pursuing their initial undergraduate degree who have accumulated over 165 total credits will be assessed a very significant surcharge - namely 100% of the usual in-state tuition rate - on any additional credits. The 165 credit total which will trigger this surcharge includes all credits earned at any UW campus, as well as credits earned at any Wisconsin Technical College System institution and accepted for degree credit at a UW System institution. The intent of this policy is to encourage students to complete the baccalaureate degree in a reasonably efficient manner, while still providing some flexibility and room for experimentation. [ Back ]