Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Find a club, sport, or other organization to participate in! You can view the many organizations we have on campus, their meeting times, contact information, and more.
• Students are also encouraged to attend the Involvement Fairs that are held once a semester. These fairs give students the opportunity to meet many clubs and organizations in person.
• The University Center (UC) offers many free entertainment events throughout the year.

• Ensure that your student is in communication with their instructor to find out what they missed in class, and to ask for support where needed.
• Students who are too ill to eat a meal in the dining halls can have a friend pick up a meal and bring it back to the residence hall.
• Request a Sick Meal Kit.

• A student’s advisor depends on many factors including the number of units they've earned and if they've chosen a degree program.
• Most first year students begin their advising career with the Academic Advising & Exploration Center (AAEC).
• More information about the Academic Advising & Exploration Center and how students work with their advisor can be found on the AAEC website.
• Students can see who their Advisor is in WINS.

• UW-Whitewater acknowledges students for their academic, athletic, and extracurricular achievements through an online platform called Merit. You can sign up with Merit to receive notifications of your student’s achievements.

• Tutoring appointments can be held virtually or in-person.
• Schedule appointments through Navigate under the "Appointments" tab.
• Check out our Tutorial Service below:
  • Whitewater
  • Rock County

• Student education records are considered confidential and cannot be released without the written consent of a student.
• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 - commonly known as FERPA, the Privacy Act, or the Buckley Amendment - is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate and misleading data through informal and formal hearings.

• All students are assigned a dedicated career advisor based on their major.
• Undergraduate students can find their career advisor in Navigate under "Your Success Team" or on the Career Services website.
• To set up an appointment, select “Schedule an Appointment” within Navigate and choose Career Services as the Care Unit.

• We encourage students to meet with their career advisor as early as freshman year. Students should view Career Services as a resource throughout their college career and beyond.

• Yes! Our career advisors can assist students in exploring the majors available to them at UW-Whitewater.
• Students can also connect with their advisor either in the Academic Advising Exploration Center or their Academic College.

• Our career advisors can assist students in developing strategies and utilizing resources like Handshake, UW-Whitewater’s online job board.
• Students can check with their major’s professors for additional opportunities, as many departments work with businesses/organizations regarding internships.

• Most on-campus job opportunities are posted on Handshake.
• Students receive an email giving them access to Handshake within 1-2 business days of attending SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration).
• Check out tips and tricks for using Handshake.

• Your student can find more information about how to fill out the FAFSA on our Financial Aid Process page.
• The FAFSA is available starting December 1st at the Financial Aid website. If you wish to be considered for aid, you need to fill this out every year.

• The HawkCard is the name of the UW-Whitewater identification card.

• Yes! There are two types of accounts that can be accessed with a HawkCard.
  • Dining Dollars
  • Purple Points

• Checks can be mailed to the HawkCard Office (190 Hamilton Green Way, UC 250 Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190). Make checks payable to: UW-Whitewater and in the memo line put, "Purple Points, *student's 7-digit ID number*
• You can use a Credit/Debit Card with the guest deposit feature.

• Scholarships are available through UW-Whitewater starting December 1^st of every year.
• Current students can find scholarship information in their WINS account.
• New freshmen admitted to UW-Whitewater by Jan. 1 of their senior year are automatically considered for academic scholarships based on merit.

The FAFSA is available December 1st of every year and can be found on our Financial Aid website.

• The IRS Form 1098-T will be available at the end of January in WINS.

• A list of payment options can be found at Payment Options

• Students can set up their family members as authorized payers to receive e-bills and have access to make payments. Information on this process can be found at Student Financial Services.

• All students currently enrolled in UW-Whitewater classes are eligible for services at UHCS.
• The services offered can be found at UHCS.

• Students can call (262) 472-1305 or stop on the second floor of the Ambrose Health Center between 8am and 4:30pm, Monday – Friday for counseling services.
• For urgent concerns, a counselor is available without appointment for crisis intervention when the Ambrose Health Center is open.
• Emergency/Urgent Care resources

• The Office of Recreation Sports & Facilities provides facilities, programs, and services that address all physical, recreational, and leisure pursuits of the University communities.
• Warhawk Fitness memberships include access to the Williams Center Weight Room, University Fitness (located in the basement of Wells Hall), and all Group Fitness and Cycling classes.

• Warhawk Fitness memberships include access to the Williams Center Weight Room, University Fitness (located in the basement of Wells Hall), and all Group Fitness and Cycling classes. UW-Whitewater Students Fitness access is included in student fees, to have the membership added to your HawkCard, head over to the membership page to claim your membership. Memberships are available to purchase for UW-Whitewater faculty/staff, as well as community members.

• Find a club, sport, or other organization to participate in! You can view the many organizations we have on campus, their meeting times, contact information, and more on UWW Connect.
• Students are also encouraged to attend the Involvement Fairs that are held once a semester. These fairs give students the opportunity to meet many clubs and organizations in person.
• The University Center (UC) offers many free entertainment events throughout the year.
• Encourage your student to visit Student Activities & Involvement in the UC!

• Your student can find all events on the campus events calendar.

• Campus Lost & Found is located on the main floor of the University Center at Information Services.

• Student organizations are great for making new friends, meeting people, and making connections on campus!  Many organizations are also great opportunities to further your professional development, try new interests, and learn outside of the classroom.

• Make time to attend some free events at the University Center (UC)! We offer many fun opportunities for students to relax, have fun, and meet new people.
• Encourage your student to view the many organizations we have on campus, their meeting times, contact information, and more on UWW Connect.
• Reassure your student that it is okay to ask for help, ranging from their academic advisor, instructor, resident assistant, to a fellow classmate.

• Warhawk Shuttle Services

Aside from a personal vehicle, there are many options for transportation that are available to students.  Some options include: Uber, Lyft, Brown Cab Services, Whitewater Shared-Ride Taxi, Warhawk Shuttle, Wisconsin Coach Lines, or Van Galder. More information about all of these options can be found at Alternative Transportation Options.

Yes, there is an FAQ page for Parking Services.

• Usually in August, students will be able to purchase a parking permit. Permits are sold on a first come, first serve basis and can be found on the parking portal. 
• Parking Services FAQ

• Download InformaCast to receive real-time updates.
• Family members can get emergency information or sign up for text alerts.

UW-Whitewater uses a system called InformaCast.  Informacast is a connection to real-time updates, instructions on where to go, what not to do, who to contact and other information.  Instructions for signing up for campus safety alerts can be found on the IT Services page on InformaCast.

The UW-Whitewater campus police page contains additional information and resources.

• Search for dining information.
• Menus and hours of operation.

• Various helpful guides are provided by the Dining Services team.

• Find information on UW-Whitewater residence halls

• Based on the Board of Regents' Residency Requirement, freshman and sophomores are required to reside in university-operated residence halls.
• Exceptions are: Married students, veterans, students commuting from the home of a parent or legal guardian (40 miles), students age 21 by the first day of the fall semester, and those having applied for and received exemption through University Housing.

• Housing contracts for new students become available in early October.
• We recommend students submit their housing contract and deposit as soon as possible.
• Check out the University Housing FAQ

Yes, there is a University Housing FAQ.

• Mutual requests for specific individuals are honored when possible.
• Roommates are assigned on the basis of information supplied by the student in their profile on the contract.

• Residence halls are locked 24 hours a day and students are issued a key to gain access.
• There is always a staff member on duty to uphold policies and procedures. For a comprehensive list, please visit Policies & Procedures.
• Campus is staffed 24 hours a day by a sworn and armed police force.

• Generally, this will require a meeting with the Complex Director to discuss the reason(s) for the request and to discuss the options available to the student.

• Each residence hall is a bit different, but here’s a look at what’s included with most on-campus housing:
• Fully furnished rooms
• Laundry included in housing fee
• Cable TV with 100+ channels (including streaming service)
• Internet 100% Wi-Fi coverage in the Residence Halls, wired connections available as well.
• Lounges, common areas, study areas, and computer labs
• Programming, events, and activities for students
• TVs, pool tables, and other games
• Different living options including substance-free, wellness and quiet floors, and gender-inclusive options.
• Vending machines

There is always a staff member on duty to uphold policies and procedures. For a comprehensive list, please visit Policies & Procedures

• When you are sending a package or envelope via USPS to your campus address please use the following format:
  Student first & last name
  Room Number, Residence Hall
  Residence Hall Street Address
  Whitewater, WI 53190
• All Amazon packages, and any other package that is not sent via USPS should be addressed as follows:
  Student first & last name
  Goodhue Hall
  790 W. Starin Rd
  Whitewater, WI 53190

• In partnership with the PB Poorman Pride Center on campus, the rainbow floor provides an inclusive residential community for students within the LGBTQ+ community.
• The rainbow floor celebrates people of diverse genders and sexualities and strives to create a community-driven learning experience for students living on this floor.
• See more about living options on campus.

• UWW has a robust wireless network, so an ethernet connection is not required.
• Students living on-campus, need to activate your cable ports by following these steps.
• Students can register their wireless games and media systems.

Information on cable television, internet, and more can be found on the Housing Services Technology page.

Specific questions about devices and access to devices can be found on Housing Services' Electronic Access page.

• Learn more about connecting game systems
• Learn how to connect Roku sticks

• For students living in University Housing, please call ResNet for support at (262) 472-3233 or visit Goodhue Room 19.
• Students not living in housing, can email, call, or visit the IT Services Help Desk or call (262) 472-4357.

• Yes, the app is called Navigate. It has many functions and uses that will help your students get connected to services at UW-Whitewater.

Yes! IT Services maintains a list of mobile apps recommended for students.

• Visit the IT Services New to Campus page for student resources on university technology.
• Review The Student’s Guide to Technology and TechQuest, an interactive course on university technology for students.

• Purchasing a computer isn't required since students can use computer labs, borrow laptops from the library, and have free access to software. For those making purchases, here is a list of recommendations from our Information Technology Services (ITS) team. 
• Students can also purchase discounted hardware and software through the 4U program. 

• Students can print university-related materials in dozens of computer labs across the campus. A list of locations of printers and directions to set up printing can be found on the IT Services printing site.  All black and white printing is free.