Academic Questions
What is a usual class load?
The large majority of courses offered at WSU are 3 credits. Most students take 12 – 18 credits per semester. Students must register for at least 12 credits per semester to be considered a full-time student. If a student drops below 12 credits, they may find that part-time status affects financial aid, insurance, housing, and possibly other aspects. Students who receive a grant from the state of Minnesota benefit from taking at least 15 credits.
What is the recommended amount of study time?
The university and the faculty expect students to study two hours for every hour in class. If a student has 12 semester hours of credit, 24 hours of study are expected each week. If a student has 16 semester credits, 32 hours of study are expected each week. Course expectations may vary, depending on content.
When do students declare a major?
Students may declare a major anytime during their university experience. Many students find the best match for their major by taking University Studies courses which offer the breadth and depth of a liberal arts education. It is recommended that students declare a major before they complete their sophomore year. The Declaration of Major forms can be found at the Registrar’s Office, 114 Somsen Hall.
Can a student change their major?
Students often change their majors, add a minor, or add a licensure to their degree. To update a major, minor, or licensure, complete a new Declaration of Major Form. There is no charge for making these changes.
What does my student need to know about attending classes?
Each class may have a different attendance policy which is determined by the professor. In almost all cases, class attendance is important for success in college. The best students attend class prepared and participate actively while respecting others opinions. Even if your student has legitimate reasons for missing a class or classes, the absences may be reflected in the grading system.
Students who have significant difficulty attending classes may want to discern if an online course would better meet their academic needs. A schedule of online courses may be found at the Course Schedules link on the WSU home page, www.winona.edu.
How does my student get on the Dean's List?
A student who attains at least a 3.50 grade point average for the semester will be placed on the Dean's List. The student must have taken at least 12 graded semester hours (not including pass/no credit grades). Questions about the Dean's List may be directed to 507-457-5017.
The University Communications office (Ph: 507-457-5024) typically notifies home town newspapers of Dean's list honorees within six weeks after the end of a semester.
What if an emergency occurs and a student misses classes or leaves campus?
In the case of a death of a close friend/family member, serious illness, or other compelling circumstances, students should notify their faculty members, preferably before they leave campus. If a student misses 3 or more days of class and supplies medical documentation, the Student Life and Development Office will contact the respective faculty members. When students return to campus, it is their responsibility to contact their faculty members to discuss missed work.
If my student is struggling academically, what can I do to help?
Ask your student if they have talked with their professor. Many students hesitate initially and then find that it is the best way to know how they are doing in the class. The professor may have suggestions about how they can study better to improve their academic performance.
How will I know if my student is having academic difficulty?
Winona State University treats students as adults; consequently, WSU will not release academic or disciplinary information to parents without a student's written consent. Students are encouraged to communicate directly with their parent(s). A consent form to release information may be signed in the respective office by the student. Information will not be released unless the parent contacts that office.
How do I know what grades my student earns?
Students can review their grades online about two weeks after the end of the semester and can be reviewed at any time.
What should my student know about academic tutoring?
The Advising and Retention office provides free tutoring services through the Academic Assistance Center, Student Support Services. If a student wants assistance in note-taking, time management, study skills, test taking or a specific subject area they should register for tutoring services in Howell Hall 133. The sooner a student asks for a tutor the more helpful a tutor can be.
The Academic Assistance Center is located in the Library, Room 202. Peer tutors are available to assist you in many subject areas as well as test taking strategies and time management. Check at http://www.winona.edu/tutoring for tutors’ schedules.
Student Support Services is located in Howell Hall 133. Students who are first generation college students, meet financial requirements or have a disability are eligible for tutoring and advising in SSS.
What if my student has a documented disability?
In order to have full consideration, students requesting accommodations are required to provide current documentation about the disability to the Coordinator of the Disability Resource Center. Students then need to meet with a DRC staff member to determine what accommodations (if any) are appropriate. For more disability related information, please review our website at http://www.winona.edu/disabilityservices/. Contact the Coordinator of the DRC if you have questions: drc@winona.edu or 507-457-2391.
What is the Writing Center?
The Writing Center is located in Minne Hall 348 and offers free, individualized instruction to help students become capable, successful writers. For more information, see www.winona.edu/writingcenter/.
What if my student wants to drop a class?
Students occasionally struggle with a class due to lack of preparation, unexpected absences due to illness, or a variety of other factors. If your student has talked with the professor, sought tutoring services and still cannot be successful in a course, they may consider dropping it. Students are able to drop a course before the drop deadline, which is around midterm break (review Academic Calendar for exact date). The student can drop the course online. It is important to keep in mind that the student must be enrolled in at least twelve semester credits to be considered full-time. Note: Dropped courses appear as a “W” on the transcript.
What does academic warning mean?
Students must be in good standing at the end of each academic year to remain enrolled in the University. A Notice of Academic Warning is sent to each student if they are not in good academic standing at the end of the fall semester of each academic year. Students are strongly encouraged to seek support from the Academic Assistance Center, Student Support Services, the Disability Resource Center, the Counseling Center, the Writing Center, or the Tutoring Center. Students will be asked to meet with a faculty member to discuss their plans for improving their chances of academic success. While there are many places where students can seek support, the student needs to be willing to accept the recommendations of those advisors before the advisor or faculty member can be of assistance.
What does it mean to be placed on academic suspension?
Students will be suspended at the end of the spring semester by the Vice President for Academic Affairs if they have a cumulative grade point average below the minimum required for good academic standing. Students are not subject to suspension until the following spring if you are newly admitted to the university in the spring semester.
If a student is suspended, they can submit a written appeal for re-admission. If the written appeal is denied, the student can appeal in person to the Academic Review Committee. The student is eligible to return during the next academic year if their appeal is granted. Instructions for submitting an appeal are included in the Notice of Suspension.
What is an internship?
Internships are opportunities for pre-professional work experience done either off or on-campus during the academic year or summer. They are usually part-time and may be either for credit or noncredit. Internships are required in some departments and recommended in others. Check the current WSU catalog to determine if your student’s major has an internship policy.
Are there Study Abroad programs?
A variety of Study Abroad options are available for your student if they are interested in broadening their university experience and enhancing their resume by including a living and learning experience in a foreign country. In addition to programs sponsored by WSU, students may select programs through other universities. Programs vary in location, length, cost, admission requirements, application deadlines, focus, etc., so it is important to receive the most recent and detailed information. The International Studies Office provides this information and guidance in selecting and applying for Study Abroad. Early and careful planning for Study Abroad is important; students will want to maximize the academic and cultural benefit of the experience. All WSU-sanctioned programs that are one semester or more carry 12-15 credits per semester (short-term study/tours carry fewer credits).
To make an appointment to explore options and receive information about Study Abroad, you students should contact the Director of International Studies in Minne 128.
What is a Degree Audit Report (DARS)?
The DARS report is designed to help students select courses and build their academic schedule by displaying their progress at any point in their career. It shows how courses taken at WSU or transferred from other schools apply to the student's degree, and what courses are still needed to meet all requirements. With DARS, students can anticipate and resolve any problem areas and can work with their advisor to get the best academic and career counseling.
A DARS report is available online in the student’s registration account. The DARS report tracks the completion of the University Studies course requirements as well as the Major and Minor course requirements.
Students should bring a copy of their DARS report whenever they meet with their advisor. It is a helpful tool for planning courses for the following semester as well as planning for the remainder of the student’s university career.
