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New Student-Athlete Orientation

The Office of Academic Services presents a half-day, comprehensive orientation for first year and new transfer student-athletes to assist with the transition into the University of Wisconsin.

Student-athletes are introduced to the Office of Academic Services staff including athletic academic advisors and learning specialists. Students will learn about the resources and services offered through the Office of Academic Services including the tutorial program, advising services, the life skills program and the diversity and inclusion program.

The orientation includes an opportunity for active participation by all students. Discussions on practical survival scenarios, led by current student-athletes, will introduce students to typical problems and challenges often experienced by college freshman. The participants will learn how to avoid certain pitfalls and gain tips for success and a professor panel, made up of several UW-Madison professors, will give advice about ways to succeed academically at UW-Madison.

Lastly, students have the option to take a campus tour to learn where academic buildings are located, how the bus system works and where their classes are held.

The intent of the orientation is not only to share vital information that is important for student-athletes success, but to educate students on the resources available, through the Office of Academic Services, to help them achieve their academic goals.

SOAR: Student Orientation and Registration

The SOAR program is offered for incoming freshmen and new transfer students both domestic and international. This program takes place in the summer months and again in January for mid-year entrants.

SOAR is a two day program designed to introduce the student and their parents/guests to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Programming at SOAR is meant to introduce students to life both in and out of the classroom. Issues addressed by the SOAR staff are important in assisting students in making the transition from high school to college and the responsibilities that they will face as new freshmen.

In mid-April the admitted student-athletes will receive notification via a postcard that they are allowed to sign up for a SOAR date. They should follow the instructions given. Please remember students must be admitted, with their enrollment deposit ($100) paid or waived via a third party, to sign up for a SOAR date. All international students are required to attend their SOAR session in late August, during Welcome Week SOAR. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Events at SOAR:

Placement Testing - All freshman students are required to complete placement testing, regardless of previous coursework, AP, or IB credit. You are required to take tests in mathematics and English (or English as a Second Language) and strongly encouraged to test in the foreign language you studied in high school. Your scores will be used by your academic advisor to accurately place you in a variety of courses. You must fulfill your placement testing requirement prior to attending the SOAR program. There are multiple ways you can fulfill this requirement. Please visit www.newstudent.wisc.edu/soar/testing/ to determine the best way to fulfill your testing requirement. Students who have not made arrangements to fulfill their testing requirement will not be allowed to make a reservation for SOAR.
Academic Advising - through individual and small group work with faculty members, professional academic advisors and student advisors, each student is presented with the academic expectations, requirements, and the advising system at the University. Athletic department advisors will be available at SOAR to consult with student-athletes as they select and enroll in classes.
Course Registration - after the initial advising session the students will register for courses. They will have a printed schedule by the time they leave, with a full load (at least 12 credits).
There is also a program for parents/guests that meet at the same time as the student program. Issues addressed in this program would be health, safety, financial planning, faculty, teaching assistants, academic and social support services and campus housing.
Housing during the SOAR program can be either off campus or on. There is a fee for the program ($100 per student and $40 per adult/parent or guest) and a charge for the on-campus housing. The Athletic Dept. can only reimburse scholarship students for the cost of one night of on-campus housing during this program. The program fee is their responsibility and is paid when they check in for day 1 of SOAR. The reimbursement of the housing costs will be done once the semester begins.

For more information, click http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu/soar/.