Student Success

Collaborate with classmates. Focus on wellness. Get counseling. Get involved. Find campus resources.

The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as “a conscious, self-directed and evolving process of achieving full potential.”

It is incredibly important to make sure that while you are here at UW-Madison, you are taking care of your whole self. Neglecting your physical, emotional, mental, financial and spiritual health can directly affect your ability to be academically successful.

We want UWell.

UWell is a campus initiative promoting the overall wellness of the UW-Madison community. UWell provides a comprehensive list of resources provided by on-campus and off-campus organizations.

University Health Counseling and Consultation Services is on campus to support students and help them be as successful as possible. Their services are confidential, and any enrolled UW undergraduate or graduate student is eligible. There is no charge to students for counseling sessions, because services are paid through tuition and fees.

To schedule an appointment, call 608-265-5600 or stop by the office on the 7th floor of 333 East Campus Mall.

For crisis services, please call 608-265-5600 and select option 9.

Office Hours: University Health Services offers informal, drop-in hours for counseling consultations on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 5:00 pm in 415 Wendt Commons. Just walk in for an informal, friendly, and free consultation. Speaking with a counselor consultant can provide insight, solutions, and information about other resources. Students often discuss issues related to stress, worry, sadness, relationships, academic performance, family problems, or financial struggles.

Get involved and get to know your professors. Attend office hours. Make connections. Attendance really does affect your grade. Consult Learn@UW for extra information about your courses. Attend a seminar to learn more about a major or a topic.
Ask for help when you need it. Successful students accept responsibility for their education and are active participants in it.
Check your degree progress each semester. Run a DARS after you register for classes. Know how your courses help you meet degree requirements. Know how to calculate your GPA.
Set goals. Think about how your short-term goals tie in to your long-term plans.
Build study groups. Make friends and academic connections. Compare your notes, quiz each other, and learn to collaborate.
Hone your time management skills. Prioritize, plan ahead and complete tasks by their deadlines.
Get enough sleep. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have shown that sleep is vital for learning and memory.
Check your email daily. This is how professors, advisors and employers communicate. When writing or responding to University officials, be polite and professional.
Get involved on campus. Find ways to apply what you are learning in the classroom to the outside world. One resource to use is Wisconsin Discovery Portal – the UW-Madison Researcher Directory.
Get to know your academic and faculty advisors. They are a great resource and could serve as a reference for scholarships, jobs and more.

One of the best ways to be successful is to meet people in your classes and connect with them outside of the academic arena. Making and sustaining personal connections is crucial to success. People don’t work in isolation. Collaboration is key.

Within the College of Engineering, there are myriad ways to get involved. For example, you can be a tutor, join a student organization or join a research lab.

Campus-wide, The Center for Leadership and Involvement and the Morgridge Center for Public Service are two resources that assist students in intentionally connecting with the many opportunities that exist on campus.

We suggest students join at least two organizations – one to foster professional connections and one to explore an outside interest.

Total Wellness