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Chapter Topics: [ I. Administration & Governance] [ II. Funding, Budget and Operations] [ III. Personnel ] [ IV. Other Personnel Policies ] [ V. Curriculum and Related Policies ] [ VI. Student Academic Affairs ] [ VII. College Relations ] [ VIII. Resources & Services ] [ Glossary of L&S Terms ]

Chapter VI Contents: [ VI.1 L&S Student Academic Affairs ] [ VI.2 L&S SAA Staff ] [ VI.3 Academic Advancement Program ] [ VI.4 L&S Advising Service ] [ VI.5 Bradley Learning Community ] [ VI.6 Cross-College Advising Service ] [ VI.7 Letters and Science Career Services ] [ VI.8 S.O.A.R. ] [ VI.9 Student Records ] [ VI.10 Degree Audit Reporting System ] [ VI.11 Academic Misconduct ] [ VI.12 Accommodation of Religious Belief ] [ VI.13 Policy & Guidelines on Nondiscrimination ] [ VI.14 Summary Blocks/Final Exams ] [ VI.15 Multi-Section Courses ] [ VI.16 Chadbourne Residential College ] [ VI.17 Deleted Section] [ VI.18 First-Year Interest Groups ] [ VI.19 Pathways to Excellence Programs and Services ] [ VI.20 African American Student Academic Services ] [ VI.21 American Indian Student Academic Services ] [ VI.22 Chicano/a Student Academic Services ] [ VI.23 Southeast Asian American Student Academic Services] [ VI.24 Summer Collegiate Experience ] [ VI.25 Undergraduate Research Scholars ] [ VI.26 Grading Policies ] [ VI.27 The Grading System ] [ VI.28 Grade Change Procedure ] [ VI.29 Student Appeals of Grading ] [ VI.30 Grade Disputes ] [ VI.31 Distinction: in the Major, in the Thesis ] [ VI.32 Scholarships ] [ VI.33 Major Declaration Form ]

VI.8 STUDENT ORIENTATION, ADVISING, AND REGISTRATION (SOAR)

Website: http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu/soar/

The SOAR Program is designed for all new first-year and transfer students who plan to enter UW-Madison.  Invitations to participate in Summer SOAR are mailed in early April to admitted first-year students who have confirmed their intention to enroll by submitting the enrollment deposit.  Because the needs of transfer students are often different from those of new first-year students, special orientation programs are designed for that population.  In mid-May, transfer students who have been admitted will receive invitations to Transfer SOAR programs.  Students planning to enroll for the fall semester attend SOAR sessions during the summer; students who plan to enter in the spring semester attend SOAR during the January session.  

Students and their parents are able to choose from numerous possible two-day summer SOAR sessions scheduled in June and July.  SOAR provides an introduction to residence life, academic advising, information on academic and co-curricular opportunities, registration for classes, and an orientation to the campus. This orientation continues with the "Wisconsin Welcome" events held when new students arrive on campus at the beginning of the fall semester.  

At SOAR, academic advisors from all the schools and colleges as well as from the Cross College Advising Service explain program and degree requirements and help students select courses for their first semester; students are also instructed in the web-based registration process.  In addition, students who have not taken their University of Wisconsin Placement Tests will have that opportunity at SOAR. (Most students, however, will have already taken these tests at regional sites around the state in spring.)  Placement tests in English, math, and several foreign languages are given at SOAR.  

SOAR is a critical part of every new student's introduction to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offering opportunities for students to become familiar with the campus and its resources while meeting some of their new classmates, faculty, staff and advisors.  

For further information about  Letters and Science programs at SOAR, contact the L&S SOAR Coordinator:

Greg Smith
Assistant Dean and Director of First-Year Interest Groups
413 South Hall
608-263-6504
glsmith@lssaa.wisc.edu

Go to current Freshman Admission Expectations 

Last approved:  August 2007

 

It is the nature of this document to be a work in progress. 
The L&S Handbook is produced and hosted by the UW-Madison College of Letters and Science.
South Hall, 1055 Bascom Mall, Madison WI  53706
This document is updated annually each summer; however, significant additions may be made at any time. Departments
will be alerted to these when they are made. Most recent annual update: August 2006.
Contact:  Elaine M. Klein, Webmaster/Editor, L&S Online Handbook
klein@ls.admin.wisc.edu or (608) 265-8484
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