The New Student Experience helps students prepare for a successful transition into their college career at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. This experience is for new first-year students (freshmen) and new transfer students at UW-Platteville.

Our dedicated faculty and staff have developed programming to help you along the way, with information about campus and important next steps like completing placement testing, registering for classes, and more. 

As part of your New Student Experience, you will:

  • Choose to attend a Platteville Orientation Day. During this event, you will build connections with the campus community, learn about the many support resources available to you, and meet other new UW-Platteville students.
  • Register for classes with assistance from academic advisors. Students will be contacted by an academic advisor to register for classes individually and will not register for classes during their Platteville Orientation Day. Most students will need to complete placement tests to register for classes.
  • Get support from Peer Mentors, who will help you get to know other new students and guide you through the NSE process.
  • Participate in exciting welcome activities when you arrive on campus for your first semester.

Platteville Orientation Days

For students starting at UW-Platteville in Spring 2027, Platteville Orientation Day will be held on January 22, 2027. 

View the detailed orientation schedule. Choosing not to attend will not impact your ability to register for classes.

New Student Experience Fee

The New Student Experience fee will appear on your semester billing statement and helps cover materials, student staff, Platteville Orientation Day, and welcome activities at the beginning of your first semester. All new students will be charged the New Student Experience fee, even if they do not attend the Platteville Orientation Day. Please note the New Student Experience fee for your student type for Spring 2027.

  • First-year student: $75
  • Transfer student: $45

Additionally, all new students will be charged a $45 Assessment and Placement Fee.

Next steps for the new student experience

  • Students admitted for Spring 2027 are now able to log into their PASS account to start their New Student Experience, including choosing to attend their Platteville Orientation Day. Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details about completing this process.
  • Review the schedule for your Platteville Orientation Day.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The New Student Experience encompasses all the activities intended to help new students and their families become part of the UW-Platteville community, including advising and registration, a Platteville Orientation Day, and welcome activities before classes begin.

  • Start by logging into your PASS account. If you have not yet accepted your admission, you must do so before you can start your New Student Experience.

    Start your New Student Experience by selecting the “New Student Experience” from your list of to-do items in your PASS account. Click the link within the to-do item to start your NSE. This should open a new tab where you can complete your NSE sign-up.

    As part of starting your New Student Experience, you will select to attend your Platteville Orientation Day or to not attend. You will also provide us with any accessibility requests for you or your guests for your orientation day and add contact information for anyone (like parents or other family members) so they can receive information about the New Student Experience moving forward.

    Note that students cannot move forward with becoming a new student at UW-Platteville without starting their New Student Experience. Choosing to attend or not attend orientation will not impact your ability to register for classes, but you must choose one of the options.  

    Please do not hesitate to contact the New Student Experience team at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 to ask any questions about starting the New Student Experience. 

  • If you cannot access the New Student Experience link, that may be because you have not yet accepted your admission. If you believe you have completed this step and you still cannot access the link, contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at admissions@uwplatt.edu or 877.897.5288.

  • After completing your NSE sign up, you will not be able to make any updates yourself. To make any updates to your submission, including changing your decision to attend or not attend a Platteville Orientation Day, please email nse@uwplatt.edu or call 608.342.1081.

  • For students starting at UW-Platteville in Spring 2027, attending the Platteville Orientation Day is optional, but strongly encouraged. All students must start their New Student Experience through the To-Do Item in their PASS account in order to be contacted by an advisor to register for classes.

    Note that students who choose not to attend are still assessed the New Student Experience fee.

  • View the detailed orientation schedule. More information, including parking information, will be shared over email closer to the event.

  • For Spring 2027 students and their guests, your Platteville Orientation Day will include a chance to connect with other new students, learn about campus resources, and get ready to start your first semester at UW-Platteville.

    Note that for Spring 2027, students will register for classes individually with an academic advisor, typically during a virtual appointment. Advising and registration is not part of the Platteville Orientation Day schedule.

  • The fees associated with the New Student Experience will appear on the billing statement for your first semester at UW-Platteville. No payment is required in advance of your Platteville Orientation Day.