Graduate Academic & Career Advising

Concordia University Wisconsin employs a Faculty-Advising model whereby each student is assigned a faculty member from their respective program, as their Academic Advisor.  This role provides students guidance on course selection, program opportunities, and support throughout each student’s studies.

The Center for Academic Advising & Career Engagement serves the career needs of graduate students, as well as alum. We recognize God created you on purpose, for purpose and thus strive to learn about your many talents, interests, and aspirations. Our goal is to help you develop an awareness of what makes you uncommon so harness those gifts to fully engage with meaningful learning opportunities in the classroom, in the community and in the workforce.  As with your academic experience, the ultimate responsibility is upon you—the learner—to fully engage in your educational and career pursuits. We will be with you every step of the way and simply ask that you keep us informed of questions, concerns, and changes to your plans as they arise, so we may best assist you along you journey.

Tools for Professional Development

• Handshake is our Career Services online tool.  You can use this to find jobs, internships, and other career resources.  This innovative platform will help take you through college and into the first Handshake with your employer.
• Career Document Series:  This is located on our cuw.edu/careers website.  Visit this for a complete list of information that will be helpful in prepar-ing your professional documents, interviewing, and other aspects of your career.
• Focus v2 will help you find out more about yourself with its skills, personality, values, and work interest assessments.  Find out what you can do with your major and how to start down a path toward success.
• CUWConnect is a tool that will allow you to connect with current alumni in your field.  Alumni can be an invaluable resource as you pursue your vocation.  Create an account and begin searching for mentors and connections in your interest area.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Use of Human Subjects in Research

Federal regulations and Concordia University policy require that any research involving human subjects must come before the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review and approval. This policy pertains to projects for classes, independent studies, thesis and dissertation research, as well as faculty/student collaborative projects. Each research protocol involving human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the IRB prior to beginning the project. While investigators may contact organizations from which subjects might be recruited, contacting subjects for recruitment or obtaining consent are prohibited actions until IRB approval is received.

Examples of research activities that would fall under IRB purview include:

• Clinical trials
• Experimentation with human tissue
• Review of medical records or other personal data
• Pilot studies and feasibility studies (including single subject studies)
• Research using data on human subjects gathered in earlier projects
• Surveys or questionnaires
• Other social science or educational studies involving human subjects

Certain types of research involving only minimal risk procedures (e.g., the study of individual or group behavior in which the behavior is not manipulated and the subjects are not exposed to any stressful situation) or research deemed to be exempt from full board review by the IRB (e.g., survey research) may be eligible for an expedited review process. Expedited review is generally to be used only in special circumstances such as research involving strict time constraints or special unanticipated opportunities.

For more information, log on to the CUW IRB website at www.cuw.edu/departments/irb. You may also phone the IRB office at (262) 243-4514 or the Office of Institutional Research at (262) 243-4207.

Academic Resource Center (ARC)

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides free services, programs and supports for Undergraduate, Graduate, Center and Online students. The Academic Resource Center is located on the Mequon and Ann Arbor campuses. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  For more information email Mequon campus at arc-as@cuw.edu or Ann Arbor campus at arc-as@cuaa.edu.

Tutoring - Tutoring is available for frequently requested traditional courses offered at CUW and CUAA. The ARC's trained tutors help students understand course objectives, review material, prepare for quizzes and tests, and identify study techniques necessary to succeed in class. Students are typically matched with tutors who have taken the same class and instructor the prior year. Depending upon individual needs, either peer-to-peer or small group tutoring can be arranged.

Supplemental Instruction (SI) - SI is a peer-facilitated, large group study session for courses that are historically difficult. SI leaders will collaborate with students and compare notes, discuss readings, develop organizational tools, and predict test items. It’s all about insider information. Supplemental Instruction sessions are led by students who’ve successfully completed your course — with the same professor. Simply put: they’ve been there!

The Writing Center - The Writing Center serves undergraduate and graduate students in all academic disciplines. Writing Consultants are available to help with all aspects of writing, including: generating ideas, conducting research, organization, editing, revising, and more. In person and online consultations are available for individual students or small groups. Students have two options to utilize the Writing Center: they can make in-person appointments at the Mequon campus or Ann Arbor campus, and/or they can submit their work online through the Online Writing Lab (OWL). For information on how to make an appointment or submit work online, contact the ARC on the CUW or CUAA campus for more information.

Math Drop-In Desk - The Math Drop-In Desk offers free tutoring for most 100-200 level and some 300-400 level math courses at CUW. Students may seek assistance with math questions in relation to a math course, finance/business course, or even a science course, by just dropping by. Tutoring takes place on a first-come first-served basis, in short 30-minute sessions. For more information about the Math Drop-In Desk, contact the ARC on the CUW or CUAA campus.

Online Tutoring - Free online tutoring service staffed by trained online instructors who can tutor students in the general undergraduate subject areas of Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus), Science (General and Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology), Business (Introduction to Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Finance), Spanish, and Writing.  For more information contact the ARC on the CUW or CUAA campus: www.cuw.edu or www.cuaa.edu.

Peer Academic Coaches/Mentors (PACs) - PACs mentor their fellow students to develop the executive functioning skills necessary for success in college, such as time management, note-taking, test prep, understanding your syllabus, talking to your professor, and goal setting. PACs may also connect students to other campus support services/resources. Students who are off-site and unable to travel to either campus should contact the ARC to access online workshops, videos and other resources. For more information, contact the ARC on the CUW or CUAA campus: www.cuw.edu or www.cuaa.edu.

Accessibility Support Services

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is home to Accessibility Services. Our office collaborates with the CUW and CUAA communities to coordinate support services and programs for students with disabilities. The ARC assists students with obtaining and implementing reasonable accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA). Any CUW/CUAA enrolled student with a disability who requires accessible accommodations in order to obtain equal access to an education and university life and accessible educational environments, can visit our website to get registered and request accommodations: www.cuw.edu/arc or www.cuaa.edu/arc. The ARC – Accessibility Services office is committed to students with disabilities and ensuring academic and campus life accessibility needs.

Counseling Services

A director of counseling supervises the counseling activities on the campus. The director serves as a counselor for students desiring personal counseling. Graduate students may also be referred to agencies in the community as individual needs warrant.

Computer Access

Concordia University has several computer labs available for general use. In addition, computer lab, e-mail, and software access are accessible to all Concordia University students who fill out the Appropriate Use Agreement and agree to abide by the university’s ethical use guidelines. Printing is free of charge for all students.

PC’s and Mac’s are available for student use in several labs on both campuses. Some labs are open to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, Concordia University computers provide a variety of software applications.

Bookstore

The CU Bookstore is located on the Mequon Campus. Textbooks, supplies, clothing, and gift items can be purchased in the CUW Bookstore. Textbooks for the CUAA and CUW campuses are available to purchase online at cuwshop.com or via the CU Portal ==> Student Tab ==> My Books. Some titles are available on a rental basis - ideal for students who want to save some money and don't want to keep the book after the class is complete. Head to the campus store website as soon as you know your courses and section numbers to view the materials. This way you'll be most likely to snag a used copy, and you can sign up for an email alert for anything not yet available. You can choose to ship the materials to any address or have them reserved and waiting for you to pick up in the Bookstore for free.  It is also a good idea to check for your books on the Bookstore website because even if the Bookstore does not have an in-store copy, there may be one in another location that can ship to your Bookstore for free pickup. The Bookstore works every angle to provide students with the best prices - from partnering with faculty to choose the most cost-efficient items - to offering used or rental books. The Bookstore also have Care Packages on our website (cuwshop.com); parents and/or students can order Care Packages to be shipped to the Bookstore for free pickup or to a student's home address. At the end of each term (or whenever you no longer need the book), the Bookstore will buy back books based on the book's current market value. If you're not in the area, visit cuwhop.com and sell your textbook(s) online. 

For a listing of hours, questions, or additional information, contact the CUW Bookstore at 262-243-4349.

Health Services

The Health Center is operated at set hours for evaluation and treatment of minor illness, first aid, and consultation regarding health manners. A physician serves as a consultant and for referral. The Health Service instructs and supplies selected personnel with materials for dealing with minor problems. Serious illness and emergencies are referred to local professional health care agencies. All Concordia students are encouraged to carry adequate health and accident insurance, either through the university or individual policies.

Parking

A parking sticker is required for all student vehicles prior to parking on campus. Parking stickers are issued by Campus Safety. There is no charge for parking stickers for graduate students. Rules and regulations pertaining to parking can be obtained in the Campus Safety Office.