UW SYSTEM
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Universities of Wisconsin believes the ‘Direct Admit Wisconsin’ program makes it easier to enroll at some UW colleges.
It began for students in the class of 2025 and allowed them to opt into the program in their junior year at participating high schools.
Three schools in the Universities of Wisconsin system are not part of the program. Those are UW-LaCrosse, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Madison.
The schools that are part of Direct Admit Wisconsin are UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Stout, UW-Superior and UW-Whitewater.
A concern for many campuses has been shrinking enrollment.
“This is consistent with our strategic plan where we said we want to increase enrollment and increase the number of graduates from UW institutions,” said Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman.
Both Rothman and UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Andrew Leavitt see Direct Admit as an opportunity to show students who don’t think they would qualify for college that they can be successful at a UW campus.
“They’re going to see that it’s possible, it’s possible for them to go to college, and that we want them. And I think that that’s a message that we’ve never been able to completely convey as a higher education sector, if you will,” said Leavitt. “But now, they’re going to get a letter that says, ‘You’re in.'”
Leaders at the high school level are all for the program and the opportunities it can present for students.
“I think what this does for kids is what exactly what we want, you know, for our high school students. Just to see what doors are opened for them, what doors are available to them and for them to make an informed decision,” said De Pere High School Principal Roger Allen.
High school seniors will begin receiving their admission offers next week via email and through the postal service. Admission offers will continue to be sent out through September.
Universities of Wisconsin officials say the Direct Admit Wisconsin program will have no effect on the traditional ways of applying to college.
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