FAQ for WISE ScholarshipsWhat does the scholarship money cover?Full Scholarship
Partial Scholarship
What additional expenses will I have?
How am I billed?
How do I register for each course?You may enroll in program courses once you have:
Watch the UWSSLEC website for information updates. You should receive an email several months before each class asking if you want to register for the next course. Make sure to respond to this message because it will reserve your spot in the course. Failure to respond may result in your being closed out of the course. If you do not receive this information at least two months before the course, contact Carrie Lencho, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it After receiving an e-mail from Carrie with your course and section number, complete the registration process by contacting your home campus:
Registration for courses in the UWSSLEC sequence closes one week before the first class. Can I transfer in courses taken elsewhere?Each course that you wish to apply will be considered individually. Courses taken more than five years before admission will not be considered. If you seek to transfer in more than two courses, you will be eligible for a partial scholarship. How does choosing UW-Madison as my home campus differ?Students at UW-Madison must be admitted to the School of Library and Information Science in their degree program. They do not accept students working on licensure only. Also, they accept only five of the UWSSLEC courses, so UW-Madison students are eligible for only partial scholarship. Contact Allison Kaplan (608-890-1335,
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) for deadlines and more information on their program requirements. What is the introductory session?If you receive a full scholarship, you will be part of one of the two cohort groups. Each group will have a 2-day meeting before the first course. This course will introduce you to the program, meet program faculty, distribute the laptops, and get basic technology training. Attendance is required. How much time is required for an average course?The distance environment is not a watered-down version of face-to-face classes; many people find it more work. While distance learning may be more flexible, it is not less work than a traditional on-campus class. You must be prepared to dedicate an average 5-10 hours per week to the class during the school year, with commensurately more hours during the more intensive summer courses. What technology requirements must I meet before starting classes?If you receive a full scholarship, you will have the required computer and software at the start of coursework. If not, check out the computer and software requirements under Overview --> Technology Needs. You will need broadband Internet access from home and a gmail account for use in the courses. For technology skills, we will assume you:
There are links to tutorials under Overview --> Tech Skills if you feel you need to improve your skills in any of these areas. What responsibility do I have for the technology during the grant?TO BE ANNOUNCED What happens to the laptop at the end of the grant period?Everyone who completes all the coursework, including the practicum will keep the laptop. Anyone who withdraws from the program will have to immediately return the laptop. When and where are the on-campus sessions for the classes held?The on-campus sessions are held at the campus of the faculty member teaching the course. Check the list of courses under Courses -->When and Where for the schedule of courses. Make sure you are looking at the correct row for your group. What happens if I can't take a course one semester?Prior approval from the UWSSLEC faculty is required to withdraw from the program for a semester and keep the remainder of the scholarship. This will be granted only for medical or substantial personal issues. How will I do a practicum when I'm working full time?Many of the students in the UWSSLEC classes are practicing teachers or library media specialist on emergency license. To support them, the practicum experiences for this program are set up to provide valuable experiences in two different school libraries, one at the elementary and one at the secondary level. This allows the student to relate the experience directly back to his or her own workplace and complete the experience with minimal disruption in work schedule . Students will work with the faculty member at their home institution to fulfill the requirements of the practicum to meet the above goals. Generally the programs require about 200 total hours across the elementary and secondary levels with a certain percentage of that in schools outside your own and some additional projects possible in your own setting. There are a range of possibilities such as:
What type of service project must I carry out?Each WISE Scholar will be expected to work with a community organization or institution to share information about digital environments and 21st Century Skills in a service project. This project should involve at least 10 hours of work with the organization. Examples include schools, public libraries, retirement homes, hospitals, and clubs or organizations for children, teens or adults. You may develop a product, conduct instruction, work with small groups, etc. Where can I get technology help?A range of technology problems can arise during a distance course. See Services --> Technology Help for suggestions on where to get help related to your computer, Internet connection, Desire2Learn, and library resources. What is required for professional level licensure as a school library media specialist in Wisconsin?Once you have your initial license (called Professional with Stipulations if you had a teaching license before 2004), you have five years to move to the professional level license. There are six courses at the graduate level that will lead to this license. For details on those courses, see Licenses –> 902 Professional. Whitewater, Oshkosh, and Superior also have these courses on campus. Does the Wisconsin initial license transfer to other states?License requirements vary greatly from state to state, but we have found neighboring states have similar requirements with the addition of the Praxis II test. To learn the requirements for any particular state, contact their State Department of Education to determine:
Is it possible to car pool to the campuses?We find that often there are students from the same area of the state in any class. You’ll get to connect with your classmates at the beginning of the program and at the start of each class online. This is the time to determine if anyone within a reasonable driving distance from you is coming to the class and make arrangements. Where do I stay when I am at a distant campus?People have found a variety of options such as
Some people find it possible to drive to campus very early the morning of the first class, but it can be really tiring. Classes generally end by late afternoon on the last day of the on-campus session so people can get home that evening. |
