Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start my NSE?

• You must accept your admission before you can begin your New Student Experience. Placement tests do not need to be completed in order to begin your NSE.
• To begin your New Student Experience:
  • Log into your PASS account 
  • Open Menu Bar
  • Select “New Student Experience” in the left-hand navigation
  • Refer to this guide if you have additional questions

I can’t access the NSE menu in my PASS account. Why is this happening?

• There are several reasons why you may not be able to start your NSE yet. One of the most common is that you have not yet accepted your admission. If you have completed this step and are still having issues, please contact the Office of Admission at admit@uwplatt.edu or 877.897.5288. 

Can I make changes to the information I included when starting my NSE in PASS?

• Yes, you can make changes to your NSE information in PASS until the date of your On-Campus Orientation session. You can edit any personal information, the date you selected for on-campus orientation, and guest information, including emails and phone numbers.

Will New Student Experience be held in person or virtually? 

• Academic advising and registration appointments may be held virtually or in person. They will be scheduled individually between students and their academic advisor throughout the summer.
• Our on-campus orientation sessions are currently planned to be in person on your UW-Platteville campus.
• Our welcome activities are also being planned as in person activities.
• Please note: Plans may change as required by the health and safety requirements of the pandemic.

What will happen during New Student Experience? 

Your New Student Experience will include:

• An individual advising appointment to register for classes. Please note, you must complete the UW System Placement Tests.
• Pre-advising information offered through Canvas.
• An on-campus orientation experience.
• Welcome activities offered in person.

New Student Experience for Parents and Families will include:

• Parent and Family sessions offered during On-Campus Orientation.
• Communications about campus resources, supporting your student, and more, delivered through email and the NSE website.

Will there be a fee for NSE? 

• The New Student Experience fee is $100 for the Platteville campus and $75 for the Baraboo Sauk County campus. This fee will appear on the semester billing statement and covers materials, mailings, student staff, and welcome activities.

How do I choose my classes?

• To make sure you are ready to register for classes, you will need to complete all the required steps before meeting with your advisor, including taking your placement tests and completing the required modules in Canvas.
• Next, you will schedule an advising appointment with your advisor, who will discuss your general education and major requirements, as well as your placement test results.
• During that appointment, you will discuss your choices and receive a PIN, which will allow you to register for your classes in PASS.

Where can I find more information about course registration? 

• The online Canvas course that you must participate in will provide information about general education and major requirements, as well as how to use the enrollment tools. Your academic advisor will provide you with information on accessing the NSE Canvas course.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for On-Campus Orientation?

Before your orientation day (all campuses):

• Download and log in to the Navigate Student app. We'll talk more about using it during your orientation. Android | iOS
• If you or a guest has a dietary restriction or other accommodation request, please let us know here. 

Are there in person, on campus events I can participate in?

• Yes! Every student is strongly encouraged to attend an On-Campus Orientation session at their UW-Platteville campus. You will select the date for your orientation when you start your New Student Experience in your PASS account.
• These orientation days will include activities designed to introduce you to the resources and services available at your campus, as well as connect you with staff, faculty, and other new students. We also invite you to bring up to two guests with you to participate in parent and family programming.
• Every semester, we celebrate new and returning students with our Welcome Activities. These activities will help you connect to campus resources, explore your campus and surrounding areas, and build community with fellow students. Visit Welcome Activities to view the schedule of events.

Why should I participate in Welcome Activites?

• New students who take part in Welcome Activities are more successful and get better connected to UW-Platteville. You’ll maximize your college experience if you fully participate in these activities and events. While these events are not mandatory, we strongly encourage you to attend.

Where can I find a schedule of events for Welcome Activities?

• Visit Welcome Activities to view the schedule of events.

When are the placement tests available?

• Placement testing is now available for students attending in Spring (January) 2024. Pre-register at UW-Center for Placement Test (wisc.edu).
• UW-Platteville requires all students to complete the UW System Placement Tests in English and Math (Math A).
• The World Languages exam is optional. Students are encouraged to take the exam if they studied the language in high school and plan to continue to study the language at UW-Platteville.

I took AP classes (and the tests for them) in high school, how do I make sure UW-Platteville receives them?

• If you took AP tests in May 2023 (or earlier) and still have a “to do” in your PASS account for the tests, you may need to contact College Board to have those scores sent (preferably in electronic form) to UW-Platteville.
• Students who are currently taking AP courses as part of their high school curriculum and plan to take the exam for them in May 2024 are not exempt from testing, as we will not receive scores from these exams until late July 2024, after when students will be registering for classes.

Will my AP scores exempt me from the UW-System placement tests?

• Please utilize our campus catalog to review your scores against what courses count for AP scores. If you have specific questions about the exemption for testing, please contact our NSE team at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081.

Will my SAT or ACT scores exempt me from placement testing?

• No, UW-Platteville does not accept SAT or ACT scores to exempt students from placement testing.

I took dual credit, youth options, ECCP, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, CAPP, or other college-level courses at my high school or local college-level campus. How do I know if I should still take the placement tests?

• Any student who has taken college-level credit from an accredited (college level) institution should contact that College/University and request an official transcript be sent to UW-Platteville (preferably in electronic form). Only college-level credit can be reviewed for completion of UW-Platteville degree requirements.  Once these scores are received, the “to do” item in your PASS account for the math or English placement test will be removed. If the “to do” isn’t removed from your account after the campus has received your transcript, please contact our NSE team at nse@uwplatt.edu or (608)342-1081.  

  Note: Courses on a High School transcript that are marked as a college-level course most likely will not count for college-level credit at UW-Platteville.

Will I be charged for testing?

• Yes, the Placement Testing fee of $45.00 will appear on your semester billing statement.

Once I register, how long do I have to take the test?  

• Once you’ve pre-registered and received a username and password from Meazure Learning, you have 180 days to complete any tests. After that, you will need to re-register for the tests.

How do I access practice materials for the placement tests?

• Practice materials for the placement tests can be found at https://testing.wisc.edu/centerpages/contentsofplacementtests.html

I’ve lost my log-in information for the placement tests, what should I do? 

• If you can’t remember your log-in information, you will need to contact the UW-System Placement Testing office at 608.262.5863 or frontdesk@exams.wisc.edu.

How do I request accommodations for testing? 

• Students who require accommodations for testing must have pre-approval by the UW System Placement Testing office before they pre-register for UW System Placement tests. Please visit the UW System Requesting Accommodations page for additional information.

How long will the placement tests take? 

• The placement tests will be available on demand, and you do not need to complete all of your tests in one sitting. You will have 90 minutes each for the math and English tests and 60 minutes for the world language test. If you leave or log out of a test before finishing, the system will remember how much time was remaining when you log back in.
• You will have access to five tests: English, math, and three world languages. UW-Platteville requires English and math (Math A). The world languages are optional. Students are encouraged to take a world languages exam if you plan to continue your foreign language education at UW-Platteville and have already studied that language in high school.
• It is important that after completing each test, you must submit your answers to Meazure Learning. Failure to submit your answers could result in a delay of transmission of these scores to UW-Platteville and the opportunity to schedule your academic advising appointment.

When do I need to complete the tests?  

• Once you’ve pre-registered and received a username and password from Meazure Learning, you have 180 days to complete any tests. After that you will need to register again for the tests.
• Complete all tests at least two weeks before your advising and registration appointment to ensure scores are received in time.

What technology do I need to have to take the placement tests? 

• Our recommendation is that students test on a desktop computer, laptop computer, or tablet, rather than on a phone. Your web browser must be able to accept cookies, JavaScript, and pop-up windows. It is also recommended that you use the most up-to-date version of your web browser.
• If you are concerned about meeting these technology needs, please contact us at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 and a member of our team will contact you to discuss your technology needs.

How soon after I register for the placement tests will I receive information about the online tests? 

• Within two business days of registering, you will receive an email from Meazure Learning with a username and password for accessing the placement tests. 

What if I have technical difficulties during the test? 

• Meazure Learning will provide telephone and email support to students during testing. Staff will be available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding holidays. Voicemail will accept student inquiries outside of these business hours.

When will my scores be available? 

• Your scores will be shared with you during your academic advising appointment. 

Why is it important to take the placement tests seriously? 

• The UW-System Placement Tests have been shown to be very good at determining what math and English courses a student should take. Please be sure to use the knowledge that you currently have to answer the questions. Using outside resources could result in you placing into classes for which you are not prepared.

What if I cannot take my placement tests before my academic advising appointment? 

• All students are expected to complete their placement testing prior to enrolling in classes. If you believe you can’t complete your placement tests prior to your appointment, please contact us at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 to discuss your situation.

When will I have access to my UW-Platteville email?

• Students will receive information about accessing their UW-Platteville email account at some point after starting their New Student Experience in their PASS account, but before registering for classes.
• They will receive an email to their personal email account from the UW-Platteville Office of Admission with the subject line, “Important Step Needed before you can log into PASS.” Check this email for information about your UW-Platteville email account.
• Students must access their UW-Platteville email account once it becomes available in order to connect with their academic advisor and register for courses.

How do I access my UW-Platteville email?

Once your UW-Platteville email account is available, take these steps to access your account.

• First, be sure you have enrolled in Duo, our two-factor authentication system. You will not be able to access your email if you have not enrolled in Duo.
• Then, start at the Pioneer Portal and click on “Email”. Your username and password will be the same as what you use to log into PASS. Add @uwplatt.edu after your username when logging in to your email.
• Watch this video for a walkthrough of accessing your UW-Platteville email.

What if I can’t access my UW-Platteville email account?

Once your UW-Platteville email account is available, take these steps to troubleshoot your account access.

• If your password still works for PASS but does not work for your email, please reset your password using this link. Wait 15 minutes after resetting your password and try logging in to your email again.
• For any other issues, including questions about Duo, or if the password reset doesn’t solve the issue, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 608.342.1400 during business hours for additional assistance.

What kind of computer should students have?

Please see the chart below for suggested specifications for laptops:

Many students use computer labs or virtual desktops to access major-specific or advanced software. The virtual desktop allows students to use campus software on their personal device as if they are on a campus computer.

Students will have access to five free MS Office licenses to use on personal devices as long as they are enrolled at UW-Platteville. These can be accessed once students can access their UW-Platteville email account.

The College of EMS provides additional computer recommendations for their students. You can view their information in SharePoint at https://go.uwplatt.edu/brochure-ems-pc-recommendations.

Students - You can find additional information on our Information Technology Services FAQ page.