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:
- Attend a Platteville Orientation Day. During this full-day 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. First-year students will register for classes during their Platteville Orientation Day. Transfer 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
You will select one date to attend your Platteville Orientation Day on campus.
- June 12 (available for transfer students only)
- June 15, 16, 17, 18
- June 23, 24, 25, 26
- July 14, 15, 16, 17
- August 7
- August 13
- August 14 (available for transfer students only)
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 their first semester. All new students will be charged the New Student Experience fee, even if they are unable to attend a Platteville Orientation Day. Please note the New Student Experience fee for your student type for Fall 2026.
- First-year student: $150
- Transfer student: $75
Additionally, all new students will be charged a $45 Assessment and Placement Fee.
Next steps for the new student experience
- Admitted students are now able to log into their PASS account to start their New Student Experience, including choosing a date to attend their Platteville Orientation Day. Please review our Frequently Asked Questions section for more details about completing this process.
- Placement testing will become available in March 2026. Visit Placement Testing for more information.
- Additional information, such as how to access your university email account, will be shared as it becomes available.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 Weekend before classes begin.
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Start by logging into your PASS account. If you have not yet accepted your admission, you must do so before you can complete your NSE module.
Begin your New Student Experience by selecting “New Student Experience” in the left-side menu of your PASS account. Carefully complete each section of the module to ensure the correct information is entered and selected.
As part of completing the module, you will select the date for your Platteville Orientation Day, 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 toward becoming a new student at UW-Platteville without completing this module.
Please do not hesitate to contact the New Student Experience team at nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 to ask any questions about completing this module.
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If you cannot access the New Student Experience module in your PASS account, that may be because you have not yet accepted your admission. If you believe you have completed this step and the module is still not available, contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment at admissions@uwplatt.edu or 877.897.5288.
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After completing your module, you can edit any personal information, the date you selected for your Platteville Orientation Day, accessibility requests, and guest information, including emails and phone numbers. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your orientation date approximately one week before it takes place.
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For new first-year students, attending a Platteville Orientation Day is required. Please contact nse@uwplatt.edu or 608.342.1081 to discuss extenuating circumstances. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to attend a Platteville Orientation Day, but they will have the option to opt out of attending when completing their NSE module in PASS.
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Platteville Orientation Days are full-day events, typically running from approximately 9 am to 4 pm. Students should plan to stay for the entire day. More information, including a detailed schedule and parking information, will be shared over email closer to the event.
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For new first-year students, your Platteville Orientation Day will include advising and course registration and opportunities to connect with campus resources and other new students. Activities for parents and families will include information about supporting your student through their college experience as well as time to ask questions of campus resources.
New transfer students will have an orientation experience designed for their unique needs alongside other new transfer students. Course registration will not take place during orientation. Families of transfer students are also encouraged to attend.
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No, we encourage students to attend any Platteville Orientation Day that works for them, regardless of AP scores. All students should take their required placement tests before their orientation day. Our staff will help students register for classes based on those placement test scores. If AP scores received later indicate that a student’s schedule should be changed, our staff will reach out to students directly to discuss changing classes.
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New first-year students will receive their PIN and register for classes with the help of an academic advisor during their Platteville Orientation Day.
New transfer students will meet virtually with an academic advisor and will receive their registration PIN during that meeting.
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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.
UW-Platteville Family Portal
Parents and families, stay connected with UW-Platteville and the New Student Experience. The UW-Platteville Family Portal is your one-stop shop for access to important campus news and deadlines, personalized newsletters on your schedule, and announcements via email and text message.