A-Z Index D2L Directory Murphy L
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Campus Basics

As a new student to campus here are a few tips and practices you may want to consider while adjusting to campus.

  • Campus phone numbers

  • Computers on campus

    • Computer Labs
    • Personal Computers
      • If you choose to have your own computer on campus ITS can offer some helpful advice on buying a computer. When you move into your dorm building you must sign into a login screen to access the network. Resident halls usually help incoming students with this process when they arrive. Also, ITS can give you some computer assistance for personal computer problems.
    • Wireless Network
      • UW-L also has wireless network coverage on campus. ITS can help with wireless network setup and any questions you might have about access on campus. Residence halls are only partially covered so your best bet for studying and using your computer would be at Wing Technology Center and Murphy Library.
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  • Get Involved

    • Band, orchestra, chorus, or marching band
      • The Music Department has many options for students who want to join a performance group, and you do not need to be a music major or minor to be involved! There are several choral groups, (including concert, women's, and men's choir), several bands (symphony, wind, and marching band), and symphony and chamber orchestra, as well as many jazz ensembles.
      • Some of these groups hold auditions during the first week of classes in September. For audition materials and more information, call the Music Department at (608)785-8409.
    • Greek Life
      • There are fraternities and sororities for students to be involved with. The Greek community at UW-La Crosse helps incoming students to build leadership skills, develop character, and feel more connected to others through a bond of sisterhood and brotherhood. Greek Life is dedicated to the improvement of the quality of student experiences related to the educational, personal, social and service development of its diverse members and constituencies. Find out more about each chapter by visiting the Greek Life homepage.
    • Religious opportunities
    • Sports
      • The first step is to get in touch with the appropriate coach. Visit the UW-L Athletics homepage for coach contact information.
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  • Jobs

    • On Campus Hours
      • On campus jobs are a great way to work and attend classes. Employers usually work around your school schedule. Since your primary focus should be on your education, students can only work 20hrs per week during the school year.
    • What is available
      • On campus, students find employment in almost every administrative office including: Admissions, Athletics, Career Services, Information Technology Service, and the Involvement Center. Most of the academic divisions will also have opportunities for work. You can become a resident assistant, help run a student organization, work at the front desk of your residence hall, teach aerobics courses, or manage the student union and be compensated for your time.
    • When and where
      • Fall and Spring job fairs through Career Services are a great way to see what's available on and off campus. On campus jobs are also posted on bulletin boards around campus and online on the student employment job board. Also, employment opportunities on and off campus can be found on the second floor of Carl Wimberly Hall across the hall from the Student Financial Aid Office room 215. Also, the Financial Aid Office posts job opportunities that are available in the community.
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  • Managing your time/what college means

    • School plan, time management

  • Meal plan advice

    • Choosing your plan
      • The best meal plan is the 19 meals per week for $1090 compared to the 7 meals per week for $1030(a $60 difference per semester). If you don't eat much during the week you can always take home bag lunches from the Dining Room, subs from Badger Street Station, salad or sandwiches to go from Trattoria, and any food from Chars besides the regular food served at all location. Do keep in mind that you can only eat a certain amount per day in each building. Meal plans also come with $50 in Dining Dollars which can be spent at any location on campus at any time.
    • Dietary and medical needs
      • Students with dietary needs and medical reasons such as vegetarians should contact Dr. Mary Beth Vahala, (608) 785-8888 to help with your meal plan situation.
    • End of meal plan each week
      • The week ends on Thursday evening and starts on Friday morning so make sure you use up your meals.
    • Guest Meals
      • Guest Meals are available to use Friday night dinner through Sunday dinner. These are not additional meals added to your weekly meals.
    • Meal plan times and locations
    • More FAQs about meal plans
    • Planning
      • Remember to plan out your meals depending on the number- three meals during the weekdays and two on the weekends for the 19 plan, two meals per day for the 14 meal plan and so on for the 10 and seven meal plans.
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  • More Student Life Advice

    • Bikes, cars, involvement, exercise.

  • Moving into the Residence Halls

    • *First
      • Make sure to consult the Dorm Check List and your roommate before packing. Each residence hall room is furnished with beds, mattresses, dressers, curtains, desks (with a chair), bookshelves, a refrigerator and a wastebasket.
    • Additional information can be found at the Office of Residence Life.
    • Decorating
      • This is your home away from home, so decorating and personalizing your room is encouraged. You may hang posters and pictures from the wall; however, this must be done with non-damaging materials or removable hangers. Adhesive tape, staples, adhesive holders, brackets, tacks and nails are not to be used on the walls, woodwork, floors or ceiling. Damage done to walls, furniture, ceilings, doors, windows or anything else that was originally in the room is charged to the residents. Students are not allowed to paint their rooms.
    • Dorm deposit
      • Near the end of Spring semester students have the opportunity to sign up for living in the residence halls again. Students who currently reside in halls will receive emails with details on what they should do. It is very important to get your dorm deposit in on time otherwise you will not be able to sign up. If that happens you should ask to be put on a waiting list immediately.
    • Dorm equipment
      • Volleyballs and basketballs can be rented at resident hall front desks for use on campus courts but you may want to bring your own if you play frequently.
    • Flooring
      • Carpeting or rugs are more barefoot friendly flooring. Vacuums can be signed out from the front desk for cleaning.
    • Front Desk Services
      • Besides equipment rental the residence halls' front desk usually offers cleaning supplies like vacuum cleaners, movie rentals, pool equipment (sign out with ID), and food options like pizza.
    • Get Involved
      • Get involved with dorm life and your floor. Some dorms have parties and activities such as mural painting and hot tub parties. Also, each residence hall houses its own student government, which provides programming and events specifically for residents in that community. Residents can also be involved as representatives for their respective floor/cube/wing communities, and in special event committees that form throughout the year. Each hall also has representatives that serve on behalf of the hall in the larger RHAC government.
    • Laundry
      • Laundry locations are in the basements of dorm buildings and can be monitored online through Laundry View.
    • Not Allowed
      • Certain items are not allowed such as toasters and lava lamps. Make sure to look at the dorm check list before moving in.
    • Shower
      • Make sure to bring a shower basket and shoes to make dorm showering easier.
    • Space savers
      • Two long wooden board to go over your desks and bookshelves help save space. Most students use them for their food supplies and as an extra ledge. Make sure to find the dimensions to your room first and be prepared to saw wood outside the dorm buildings before installation on move-in day.
    • Suggested items
      • Microwaves, answering machines, bikes, chairs (i.e., bean bag) duffel bag, fans, plants, computers, stereo/television equipments, lamp/clip-on lights are mostly what students bring to their room and are used quite often. Remember, additional storage space is not available so anything you bring must stay in your room with you.
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  • Parking and Transportation (bus, train, plane options)

    • Bikes
      • Bicycle transportation is a safe, fast, and environmentally friendly way to get around. Also, the bluffs have wonderful trails for bike riding. Bike racks are located outside of all buildings and residence halls.
    • Freshmen
      • Freshmen are discouraged from bringing cars to campus for they have the lowest priority for obtaining permits.
    • No car, no problem (UPASS, Ride Board, Safe Ride)
      • Since you are able to ride the La Crosse bus system for free as a UW-L student through U-PASS, the need for a car is slim to none. Also, the Safe Ride bus offers a safe ride between downtown and campus on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Ride boards are another good way to travel, mainly for coordinating travels back to hometowns for the holidays. These boards are located in many buildings across campus such as in Whitney Center next to Chars.
    • Non-permit holders
      • Alternatives for non-permit holders is either trying to find regular parking near campus or park in 1 or 2hr parking. After 6pm the time limits end as well as unlimited parking time on the weekends and holidays. There is some regular parking on campus but is usually full. Also be aware of alternate side parking for regular city streets in effect Nov. 1 through April.
    • Permits and lots
      • Parking lots around campus need a permit or have meters. More information on where lots are located and how much permits cost can be found at Parking Services.
    • Tickets
      • Be aware that Parking Services' will ticket you if you park in a campus lot or go over the time limit. Remember that backing into a stall on campus will also earn you a ticket.
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  • Recreation

    • ESS Courses
      • Exercise and Sport Science (ESS) 100 courses are a great way to do your favorite activities like skiing, canoeing, tennis, golf, etc. and not have to do the work of setting up trips. ESS 100 is a one credit course with fees depending on the activity some involve a several day trip.
    • Exercise equipment
      • You will find a wide range of cardiovascular training equipment, including treadmills, steppers and climbers, elliptical trainers, upright bicycles, recumbent bicycles, cross trainers and rowers. Locker rooms, indoor and outdoor equipment rental, a fitness room and a lounge with a large screen television are also located in the REC. Visit the Recreational Eagle Center (REC) for photos of the facility.
    • Intramurals
      • Participating in intramural sports is a great way to meet new people and continue playing the sports you have grown to love. Intramurals offers team, dual, and individual sport leagues in which you can organize your own team or utilize the free agent list.
    • Mitchell Hall
      • A smaller facility in Mitchell Hall provides a gymnasium with a multipurpose floor that can accommodate floor hockey, indoor soccer or ultimate Frisbee. An indoor track encircles tennis courts, and a rock-climbing wall is located on the back wall of the field house.
    • Outdoor Connection
      • The Outdoor Connection is a gear rental service and outdoor activity provider. The Outdoor Connection is conveniently located at the REC.
    • Swimming Pool
    • Trips and clinics
      • The REC always has some sort of trip or clinic. These activities are a great way to explore the outdoors with little cost to students.
    • Types of locations at the REC
      • The Recreational Eagle Center (REC) is a great way to exercise and play games. It includes a four-court, hardwood floor gym suitable for basketball, volleyball or badminton; a weight room; an aerobics room; a martial arts room, a rock climbing wall, racquetball courts and an elevated four-lane jogging track.
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  • Recycling on campus

    • Campus recycling
      • Recycling bins are also located throughout the academic and dining hall buildings on campus and indicate which type of items go in each bin.
    • Dorm recycling
      • Each dorm room has two garbage bins, one for recycling and the other for trash. It is highly encouraged that students recycle since the large garbage dumpsters are close by the outside of the dorm buildings. Visit Landscape Services for products that can be recycled.
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  • Scheduling classes

    • Advisor
      • Visit your advisor to help you plan out your classes and degree goals. Your advisor can be found at the top of your SNAP report. They have helpful information on who to contact if you want to switch programs and when classes typically are scheduled each semester.
    • Course conflicts
      • You should talk with your advisor if there is an alternative solution first when facing a course conflict. To overlap classes you will need to have a blue sheet from your college within UW-L signed by both teachers and then by the dean of the department. To enroll into a course that is already full you will need the same blue sheet but fill out the top portion and talk with the professor that teaches your wanted class. These sheets need to be turned into the Registrar's Office located at 117 Graff Main Hall.
    • Lunch breaks
      • Make sure you schedule a break to eat during the day so you can maintain a healthy diet and can concentrate on class.
    • Signing up
      • To sign up for classes at UW-L you need to visit TALON. On TALON you can display available classes and then go to "course registration" when you have the correct department, course number, and section number. TALON will not allow you to overlap classes, go over the 18 credit course load, or enroll in courses in which prerequisites have not been met.
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  • Student ID cards

    • Remember to have your Student ID card with you around campus as they serve many different functions on campus:
      • Library book checkout
      • Entrance to your dorm building
      • Swiped to use your meal plan and Dining Dollars
      • Tower OneCard for debit card purchases (say credit not debit= no debit fee)
      • Swiped for Tower Tender used with laundry, soda machines, and other on campus purchases
      • Show Student ID to purchase Theatre tickets at student price
      • Access to the Eagle Recreation Center
      • Admittance into athletic events
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  • Study Abroad

    • Explore the world
      • Studying abroad is a great way to explore the world while earning college credits. Many students study abroad after Freshman year of college. You do not need to know another language for all locations for some courses are taught in English (England, Australia).
    • Subleasing
      • When studying abroad during the school year many students who live off campus choose to sublease their apartment. One area where subleasing is posted as available or needed is 213 Graff Main Hall.
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  • Study places

    • Dining Halls
      • Dining halls can be a good place to eat and study during the day. Non-peak hours would be the best times to sit, relax, eat, and study.
    • Murphy Library
      • The Library is a great place to study. Both upstairs and downstairs have comfortable places to sit. The basement and upstairs have study carols for both individual and group study sessions. Murphy's Mug which is connected to the Library serves food and drink from 7:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also, late night study areas can be found by following the signs.
    • Outside
      • Numerous areas around campus offer comfortable areas to study outdoors. Benches, tables, and gazebos can be found around campus. Also, many students enjoy studying on the grass around campus when the weather is nice.
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  • Textbooks

    • Best times to go
      • The best times to rent your books would be before move-in day or at off-peak times during those days. Lines can be about an hour or so long to check out during peak times so make sure to go early in the day. Also, you are required to find your own books and put them away when returning books, but staff are available if you need help.
    • How it works
      • UW-L uses a textbook rental system which is automatically paid with your tuition. With Textbook Rental students don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks each semester. Some courses do require you to purchases packets and other books in the UW-L Bookstore which will be indicated on you printout of course books.
    • Location
      • Textbook Rental is located in the basement of Cartwright Center next to the UW-L Bookstore.

  • Year by Year

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