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Higher Education Leadership Certificate

Admission requirements

Admission to the Higher Education Leadership Certificate requires:

  1. An earned master's degree from an accredited institution.
  2. An overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. At least three years of full-time experience working in higher education.

How to apply

Contact the graduate program director

We encourage you to make contact with our program director to introduce yourself and ask any questions you might have about the program.  This contact also helps to alert us to your interest in the program.

Becki Elkins  Profile of Becki Elkins  Office hours

Specialty areas:

Higher education organization and governance; higher education history; student affairs law and policy; assessment of student learning and program efficiency; social class identity; and college students in recovery.

Submit a UW System application

UW System App completion hints

Complete the following sections as indicated:

  • "DEGREE SEEKING STUDENT?".....Choose Yes

  • CHOOSE: Looking to Earn a Graduate Degree

  • "CHOOSE YOUR MAJOR/PROGRAM"
    • select - "SAA: Higher Education Leadership Certificate" 

  • "WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO START SCHOOL?" 
    • select your start term
      • Application materials should be submitted 2 weeks prior to the start of classes.

  • HOLISTIC BACKGROUND
    • "EMPLOYMENT" (WORK EXPERIENCE)
      • You can choose to upload a resume or manually enter your employment information, then click "SAVE AND CONTINUE"
    • "ESSAY"
      • Type in your personal statement into provided text box, click "SAVE", then click "SAVE AND CONTINUE" 
  • Follow the link to the UW System application. Register as a new user, unless you already have an account.
  • The email you enter on this application will be used to send you important information related to completing your graduate school application. You should use an email address that you monitor on a regular basis. 
  • There is a $56 UW System application fee, which you can pay online at the time of application. Alternatively, you can send a check (payable to UWL) to the address below.  *Application fee assistance is available to McNair Scholars. 

Graduate Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601

Submit transcripts

Request that ALL previously attended institutions of higher education send official transcripts to the UWL Admissions Office. This includes college level courses taken while in high school. If you enrolled in fewer than 10 undergraduate semester credits at an institution, you do not have to send an official transcript unless the courses completed are prerequisites for the graduate program. Additional transcripts may be required at the university or graduate program's discretion. All graduate transcripts must be submitted. UWL accepts transcripts mailed directly from the issuing institution(s) or through an electronic secure document sending service. Transcripts should be sent to:

UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
admissions@uwlax.edu

  • Applicants can check transcript status via their WINGS account.
  • Applicants who are current UWL undergraduate students/alumni do not need to request formal transcripts for UWL coursework. Admissions can access your UWL transcript.
  • It may take a week or more for transcripts to be received/uploaded to your application file. Please plan accordingly in order to meet application deadlines. 
Additional requirements for international applicants

In addition to the application requirements listed above, international applications will need to submit the following items:

  • Transcript information: As noted above, official, certified or attested transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended must be submitted. Additionally, documents issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
  • Proof of English language proficiency: Non-native English speakers must submit evidence of one the following language proficiency requirements for admission:
    • TOEFL score (within last 2 years) of at least 79 iBT or 550 pBT - Institution Code: 1914
    • IELTS score (within last 2 years) of at least 6.0
    • Duolingo English Test (DET) score of at least 110
    • 60 PTE score
    • A bachelor’s or higher degree from UWL or another approved institution where English is the sole language of instruction.
      • Degree must be earned within two years of expected enrollment in this UWL graduate program.
      • Applicant must have attended the institution for a minimum of two years.
  • Proof of funding: Submit a bank statement and completed Affidavit of Support form.
    • Applicants who require F-2 visas for dependents (spouse and/or children) must submit additional proof of funding and passport copies for each dependent.

  • Passport information: Submit a photocopy of the photo page of your passport. 

Please contact International Admissions at  intladmissions@uwlax.edu if you have questions.  Each of the items listed in this section "Additional requirements for international applicants" can be sent directly to the UWL Admissions Office.

UWL Admissions Office
1725 State Street
La Crosse, WI 54601
USA

Deadlines