29-04-2025
UW La Crosse helping students finish what they started with the Win-Win Program
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – College is difficult. Not only is rigorous academics and a step up in skills and approach, but you are also barely an adult when they tell you it's time to go do it. First time out of your parents' home, first time being 'self-sufficient', first time forced to be an adult.
All of that pressure and all of the 'newness' make some students leave school. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is hoping that it can help some of their own finish what they started. Over the past four years, UWL's Win-Win program has helped 126 former students turn unfinished college business into a proud accomplishment. The annual outreach initiative reconnects with students who were close to completing their degrees but left before finishing, giving them a clear, supported path to graduation.
The results speak for themselves: Since 2020, 44 students have earned their bachelor's degree, while 82 have been awarded an Associate of Arts (AA) degree through the program. UWL Academic Advisor Mic Nauman says. 'The Win-Win program recognizes this and reminds them that earning a degree is still a possibility and we can work together to make that happen.'
'This is a great example of a multi-unit UWL collaborative project that has a potentially life-changing impact on individuals,' says Sandy Grunwald, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 'It exemplifies what makes UWL so great, people working together to positively impact our students, former or current.'
Most students contacted by the Win-Win program express excitement, relief, and hope for the future. The program shows that the university understands that life doesn't always follow a straight path, she adds. 'Students stop out for a variety of reasons,' Nauman says. 'The Win-Win program recognizes this and reminds them that earning a degree is still a possibility, and we can work together to make that happen.'
About Win-Win
The Win-Win program targets former UWL students who:
Have not enrolled elsewhere in the past 2.5 years
Meet certain academic criteria, such as having earned at least 50 credits
Are close to completing an associate's or bachelor's degree
Eligible students receive both email and mailed letters outlining next steps. Once they respond, advisors help chart a path to completion. When all requirements are met, the Records and Registration office awards the degree.
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