New Student Success Tips

Tips for successful first-year and transfer students.
In this Section

Welcome to UW-Stout! Transitioning to college as a first-year or as a transfer student on a new campus can be challenging. Review our tips for success.

Successful Students Embrace Differences 

We strive to engage with every student and provide them with the information they need to meet their goals. Campus resources are available to assist students with growing their cultural competencies, participate in research, and find programs to assist them understanding the ins and outs of the college experience. 

Student Support Offices

Successful Students Get CONNECTed 

Students are encouraged to get CONNECTed to campus through student organizations, campus jobs, service learning, athletics, recreation and leadership opportunities. CONNECT is our campus involvement tool that allows students to search for organizations and events happening on campus.  

Download the CONNECT App by searching your app store or google play for "UW-Stout Connect"

Search for clubs and organizations!
More ways to CONNECT to campus

Not all campus involvement is related to student organizations and events. Students may also be athletes, members of an intramural team, hold a campus job or be part of student research or Honors. Study Abroad is also a great way to be CONNECTed and learn about yourself and other cultures.

Successful Students Ask for and Accept Help 

Sometimes you might receive a personal contact from a campus resources--instructor, advisor, RA, Honors, or coach offering assistance for a specific reason. Respond and meet with them. 

Students are encouraged to be proactive and take advantage of counseling and health services, tutoring, advising, and other academic resources to help them be successful. 

Learn more about campus resources

Successful Students Go to Class 

It is important that students attend class regularly, are in communication with their faculty members, and know where they stand academically. 

explore academic requirements and planning tools

Take Advantage of Academic Services

  • Academic Services: Be aware of the services available to you and use them when you need them. 
  • Registration & Records: Registration & Records website containing forms and academic policies and procedures
  • Academic & Registration Calendar: Know the semester calendar and be prepared for mid-terms, advisement day and breaks.
  • Academic Status: Understand academic expectations and consequences.
  • General Education: Know the university requirements for general education, racial and ethnic studies, and global perspective.
  • Grading: Faculty members are responsible for providing a grade (based upon the officially approved grading symbols) for every student enrolled in their classes
  • Important Dates & Deadlines: Know the important dates and deadlines! 
  • Program Requirements: Check your grades in Canvas often and know the academic requirements for your individual courses, program and for the university.
     

Successful Students Manage Their Budgets 

It is important to understand how to pay for your education, what assistance is available, and how to manage your budget while in college.

Learn more about Budgeting tools

Successful Students Know Important Dates & Deadlines 

To be successful as a student you need to manage your time well. Utilize a planner or your outlook calendar and be sure to add important dates such as the last day to add classes, the last day to drop classes and exam weeks.

View links for important dates and deadlines

Enrollment and Academic Dates & Deadlines

  • Registration & Records: Registration & Records website containing forms and academic policies and procedures
  • Academic & Registration Calendar: Know the academic and registration calendar, and be prepared for mid-terms, advisement day and breaks.

Financial Dates & Deadlines

Successful Students Connect With Other Blue Devils 

Get to know your peers but also take advantage of current students, they are a wealth of knowledge! 

UW-Stout has partnered with Mentor Collective to enhance students' first-year experience. Incoming students can choose to be paired with an upper-class mentor who is ready to listen, inspire, and help navigate UW-Stout. Stout MentorLink is a win-win for students and mentors alike. Mentors share their experiences and develop leadership skills while helping incoming students navigate their first year on campus.

Successful Students Stay On Campus 

Living on campus is a requirement for new first-year students during their first and second year on campus. Did you know, that the first six weeks are the most impactful in students deciding to stay at a university? It is important to stay on campus those first few weeks to establish your community, your peer group and create meaningful connections to your new campus.

Learn more about life on campus
  • University Housing: In University Housing we strive to provide an environment of personal growth and support that also respects individual needs and differences.
  • University Dining: Welcome to University Dining where great food brings the campus together.
  • Campus Card: Campus Card issues campus IDs, provides information on meal plans, and helps students manage their accounts.
  • Student Centers: The Memorial Student Center is a community that allows you to find your place while at UW-Stout and get through the busy days of college life.

Successful Students Use Technology

The university uses many technology tools Canvas in the classroom, the CONNECT app for staying CONNECTed to campus, the Navigate app to schedule appointments with your advisors and manage your to-dos and more!

Click to learn more about technology tools

The first tip to success is to CHECK YOUR EMAIL! Your UW-Stout email account is the universities official communication tool. This means anything pertaining to grades, alerts, emails from your advisor, faculty members, and the campus will go to your UW-Stout email account. Be sure you are checking it daily (even twice per day).

Download these apps on your phone. These tools will help you to be successful while here at UW-Stout. Once you are enrolled in classes, you will gain access to these tools using your UW-Stout credentials.

  • Canvas Student: Canvas is our online classroom (similar to Blackboard or Google Classroom which you may have used in high school).
  • Zoom: Zoom is a web conferencing tool that can be used for classes, coursework, and meetings. Students can set up their UW-Stout Zoom account by visiting the UW System Zoom portal. Zoom can be accessed via Canvas, the portal or through the app on your mobile devices or laptop.
  • Microsoft Teams: Teams is a Microsoft tool for meetings similar to Zoom. You will likely use Microsoft Teams once you are on-campus at UW-Stout this fall.
  • Navigate: Navigate is your student success tool which you will use to schedule appointments with your advisor, view to-do items and more!
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (2-step/Duo): Security is a top priority at UW-Stout and all students are required to use Multi-Factor Authentication. Multi-Factor Authentication, also known as 2-Step Authentication enhances the security of your account by using a secondary device to verify your identity when logging into many of our UW-Stout accounts. This prevents anyone but you from accessing your account, even if they know your password.  

eStout Laptops 

As a student with an eStout-issued laptop, you'll have eduroam wifi keeping you connected across campus. You'll also have access to a wide selection of software with Office365 already installed and additional program-specific software available for download in the Company Portal (HP) and Managed Software Center (Apple). Loaner laptops are available at the Technology Help Desk if your eStout laptop needs service or repair.

Technology Support

The Technology Help Desk assists UW-Stout students with their technology needs, including your eStout laptop. Support is available via email, phone, walk-up (109 Sorensen Hall), and the self-service portal.

Successful Students Plan for Their Degree 

When in doubt, ask your advisor! Students should meet with their advisor regularly. Create a plan with your advisor, learn about your degree requirements and stick to it.