“I’m Glad You Asked . . .” The Top-5 Questions People Ask about UW-Marathon County Becoming UW-Stevens Point at Wausau

Written by Dr. Ann Herda-Rapp

As part of its commitment to be open, honest, and communicative about the topics Marathon County leadership and staff get comments and questions on the most, this month’s article in our “I’m Glad You Asked . . .” series features:

The Top-5 Questions People Ask about
UW-Marathon County Becoming UW-Stevens Point at Wausau

You may have noticed the signs change as the University of Wisconsin–Marathon County campus became UW-Stevens Point at Wausau in the last year.

Now a branch campus of UW-Stevens Point, what had been known for years as UW-Marathon County (or, the M-C), has seen much more than a name change. As a branch of UW-Stevens Point, exciting new opportunities have been added to the mix beyond the first 2 years of university curriculum.

Read on to learn more about tuition comparisons, degree offerings, transferability, online/evening courses, and more at UW-Stevens Point at Wausau . . .

#1. What’s changed on the Wausau campus since it became a branch of UW-Stevens Point?

Beginning this fall, bachelor’s degrees and a graduate degree are available at the Wausau campus, including:

Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Nursing, and Social Work
A master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), with a focus on applied leadership and decision-making

Also this fall, several professional associate degree offerings will focus on professional careers:

Applied Finance
Environmental Science & Management
Health Sciences
Human Services
Information Science
Leadership & Project Management

These degrees continue to meet general education requirements, but they also offer credentials that students can use and benefit from right away, while providing coursework leading to a bachelor’s degree, now or later.

Another change is that UW-Stevens Point brought more support staff to key areas: information technology, tutoring, financial aid, admissions, and recruitment. These employees work directly with students, so it’s a real benefit to the campus.

In addition, we have many projects underway to spruce up our buildings while keeping our costs low and our value high.

#2. How much does it cost to go to UW-Stevens Point at Wausau, & what options are available for helping students finance their education?

I’m proud to tout:

UW-Stevens Point at Wausau offers the lowest university tuition in the state — $2,600 per semester for tuition and fees.

To help pay for tuition, students can apply for federal financial aid, and our staff here can assist them. Aid may come in the form of grants, loans, and/or work study, depending on income. On-campus work study jobs help connect students to our campus — the single biggest determinant of student retention and success — while reducing the need to borrow.

In addition, our university foundation — the UW Wausau Campus Foundation — offers scholarships to entering, continuing, and transferring students.

This year, our foundation awarded more than $190,000 in scholarships!

To check out scholarship opportunities or to learn more, visit our campus website: www.uwsp.edu/Wausau.

#3. Can a student start at UW-Stevens Point at Wausau & transfer to any UW campus?

In a word: Yes. As always, a student can transfer anywhere in the UW System, just as students can from any UW-Stevens Point campus.

The Wausau campus remains an important entry point into the UW System, with high-quality courses that transfer exceedingly well throughout the System.

uw-marathon-graduate

The Guaranteed Transfer Program has been expanded to include all 4-year campuses in the UW System. This means that a student who meets GPA requirements of an institution will be accepted if they sign up for the program in their first year here. Additionally, the UW System policy remains in place, which takes the UW-Stevens Point at Wausau associate degree as meeting general education requirements upon transfer.

Equally important, as part of UW-Stevens Point now, the transition from the Wausau campus to the main campus in Stevens Point is even smoother — no questions about the content of a course and its transferability. Enjoy the easy transition with high confidence that you may finish your bachelor’s degree.

#4. I work during the day. Does UW-Stevens Point offer online courses that are more flexible for my life situation?

Our students juggle many demands on their time. All need flexible and convenient course schedules, as well as high-quality courses. To meet these needs, we offer a full slate of online and evening options.

Lucas-student

Most find the highest impact courses for student learning are those that combine both in-person instruction and online learning. We offer these hybrid courses in the evening for students who may work during the day. Online, hybrid, and evening courses provide flexible, convenient formats for students pursuing their UW degree.

#5. How does the quality of the faculty & value of UW-Stevens Point at Wausau compare with 4-year universities?

Our faculty compare well:

92% at the Wausau campus have the highest degree in their field.

And most continue to conduct research in their fields. They are here because they love to teach, and they love this community.

Teaching and learning are supported on this campus by staff who embrace our mission as an important entry point to the UW System, as a place that offers rigorous courses that prepare students of all professional interests and goals for their next steps, a place where faculty are accessible. (You’ll find no lecture-hall classes with 600+ students here; our student-faculty ratio is 18:1.)

UWSP-at-Wausau-student2

As an open access campus, UW-Stevens Point at Wausau is an affordable place to start and can help those who may be underprepared or simply not ready for a 4-year university. Equally important, “access” means access to knowledgeable professionals who care deeply.

Whether you’re a cost-conscious 4.0 GPA student or someone who needs help preparing for the rigors and independence of college, UW-Stevens Point at Wausau is a great place to start — and now, even complete — your professional higher education journey.

* * *

UW-Stevens Point at Wausau remains a vital community resource, and Marathon County Government is a key partner in helping us ensure we give students a college experience that is academically and culturally rewarding. In fact, our campus buildings are owned by Marathon County, and maintenance is funded in part by the County — with the latest addition being the $6.8 million UW Center for Civic Engagement, which opened in 2010. This relationship with the County keeps our UW-Stevens Point at Wausau campus connected to the broader community in Marathon County. We appreciate how deeply they care about the success of our students.

The Wausau campus, which opened in 1933, has given tens of thousands of central Wisconsin students a great start to their college education. While our name has changed 5 times during the past 86 years, what hasn’t changed is the campus’s commitment to providing a quality education by knowledgeable faculty and making college-level courses accessible and affordable.

These are exciting times of promise and opportunity for current and future students at UW-Stevens Point at Wausau.

Our name has changed, but our quality endures.

Dr. Ann Herda-Rapp

Campus Executive | UW-Stevens Point at Wausau

As Campus Executive, Dr. Herda-Rapp advocates for both the campus and the community. Among her responsibilities, she focuses on identifying and delivering new degree programs and fashioning new professional development opportunities to meet employer and employee needs. She is eager to connect the resources of UW-Stevens Point to Wausau and the greater Marathon County community. Email Dr. Ann Herda-Rapp.

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