University of Wisconsin - Whitewater College Portrait
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater800 W Main Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 472-1440
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
The Mission of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater:
To provide a range of undergraduate programs and degrees, including interdisciplinary programs, in letters, sciences, and the arts as well as programs and degrees leading to professional specialization. To offer graduate education built clearly upon its undergraduate emphases and strengths with particular emphasis in the fields of business, education, communication, and human services. To engage in scholarly activity, including research, scholarship and creative endeavor, that supports its programs at the associate and baccalaureate degree level, its graduate programs, and its select mission. To create and maintain a positive and inviting environment for multicultural students, students with disabilities, and nontraditional students, and provide support services and programs for them. To serve as a regional cultural and economic resource center through its service initiatives. To provide continuing education and outreach programs as integrated institutional activities. To provide a variety of co-curricular activities to enhance out-of-class learning opportunities. To encourage and maintain a high level of personal and professional integrity in all University life and activities.
Living in the Whitewater Community
Whitewater is a city of some 14,000 persons less than an hour’s drive from both Milwaukee and Madison. The area is rich in natural amenities, including two picturesque lakes within the city limits, and is just minutes away from the trails, waters, and scenic vistas of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit. The local economy is diverse; featuring a mix of retail, service, and manufacturing entities, and the presence of the university enhances its stability. Whitewater also offers a quality public school district, along with numerous outlets for students and residents to practice the faith of their choice. The city and university have a strong partnership that continues to grow.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
| Total Students | 11,557 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 10,144 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 4,954 | 49% |
| Men | 5,190 | 51% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 26 | <1% |
| Asian | 150 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 484 | 5% |
| Hispanic | 333 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 9 | <1% |
| White | 8,949 | 88% |
| Two or More Races | 96 | 1% |
| International | 97 | 1% |
| Where do UWW undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 90% |
| Other US States & Territories | 9% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are UWW undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 9% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 20 - 25 | |
| Math | 19 - 25 | 460 - 600 |
| English | 19 - 24 | |
| Critical Reading | 430 - 540 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 31% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 76% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 83% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.2 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 97% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $15,188
Out-of-State & Other Costs
The cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 34% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $6,290. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 52% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,515. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
UWW Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 23 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 63% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 92% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 529 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 46% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 17% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 73% |
More Information
Campus-based Housing
94% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
40% of all undergraduates live on campus
More Information
Campus Safety
Police Services is staffed by officers who meet the criteria of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board. University officers cooperate with local police exercising their responsibilities. The university provides information to students and employees about campus security procedures and practices, encourages them to be responsible for their own security and the security of others, and informs them about crime prevention through literature distribution and regular public awareness programs.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (larger programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate with arts & sciences (business dominant)
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
Student Activities and Involvement at UWW
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 97% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 56% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 31% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 81% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 17% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 53% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 70% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 14% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 98% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 63% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 69% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 56% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 80% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 98% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 70% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 62% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 91% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 42% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 85% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 90% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 85% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Associate's | 15 |
| Bachelor's | 1,850 |
| Master's | 441 |
| Total | 2,306 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 35% |
| EDUCATION | 13% |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES | 10% |
| COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 8% |
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS | 7% |
| Links to degree programs at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater |
|---|
Associate'sBachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of 2009-10 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 84% four-year success and progress rate means that 84% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 1,745 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 557 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 79%
Student Learning at University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The assessment of student learning outcomes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater provides feedback to facilitate the continuous quality improvement of individual courses and degree programs. Within the broader context of the five-year Audit and Review cycle, assessment data are regularly gathered internally and externally at the course, department, and university levels using both perceptual (indirect) and performance (direct) measures. Some of the indirect methods include surveys of alumni, graduating seniors, continuing and new students, employers, and interns, along with focus groups and advisory board or external consultant reviews. Beyond the common course level direct assessments such as research papers, exams, case studies and performance appraisals, Whitewater students demonstrate their learning by completing capstone courses, assembling portfolios of their work, passing professional licensure exams, graduate school admissions, satisfying internship or practicum supervisors, and securing work in their fields. The feedback from these sources has been used by academic departments to improve the curriculum, change procedures, update course content, modify instructional practices, and refine assessment methods. For students and parents, the most visible manifestation of utilizing assessment results to enhance the student experience at Whitewater is the Academic Advising and Exploration Center.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2009-10 Results from the College Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP)
The Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency (CAAP) measures critical thinking and written communication using two test modules -- critical thinking and a writing essay. The critical thinking and writing scores are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Critical Thinking Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 61
Senior Score: 65
CAAP score range: 40 to 80
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 23
Writing Essay Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 3
Senior Score: 4
CAAP score range: 1 to 6
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 23