Senior Guest Auditors

Are you a Wisconsin resident 60 years of age or older with goals unrestrained by degree and credit requirements?
Becoming a Senior Guest auditor may be a good fit!

What is auditing?

Auditing is defined as sitting in on a lecture course and not actively participating. Auditors may not recite, perform, or take examinations. Auditors are not graded and do not receive credit for the courses they enroll in. Space availability and instructor permission are required to audit.

Courses NOT typically available for auditing include:

• conversational languages
• studio and performing arts including music
• writing, math, computer, and lab courses
• independent study and directed study
• seminar, research, and colloquial courses

Contact the Adult Career and Special Student Services office for questions or clarification.

Apply to be a Senior Guest auditor using the University Special student online application.

• January 3 is the application deadline for spring 2023
• When asked to select your student type on the application, choose “Senior Guest Auditor/Senior Guest Auditor/UGSR”
• Using the online application will expedite the process of your application. During the application period, there is a paper application available for those unable to complete the application online.

If you’re having trouble navigating the application, reference additional application instructions (PDF) to help guide you through the online process.

Additional notes:

• Verification of Wisconsin Resident Status is required. Complete the residency portion of the application as thoroughly as possible as this will speed up processing time.
• If you are unable to complete the online application, you may apply using our paper application (PDF) however we highly encourage the use of our online application as it will greatly reduce processing time.
• Your Guest auditor status will remain active as long as you are fully enrolled in courses each fall and spring semester.
• Returning auditors who did not enroll in the most recent fall or spring term must submit a new application.

Once you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email and our office will begin processing your application.

Processing your application will take between 2 and 7 business days. During this time, please keep an eye on your email. You will receive an email once you have been admitted. This email will contain your campus ID number which you can use to proceed to the next step.

While you are waiting to be officially admitted, you may proceed to Step 5 however be sure to complete Step 4 once you receive your admissions email.

Your NetID is a university-assigned username which will allow you to access your MyUW student portal. You must activate your NetID and create a password for your account.

Use the following steps to help you.

1. Go to www.mynetid.wisc.edu.
2. Enter your 10-digit campus ID number (this was provided to you in your admission email and letter) and your Date of Birth.
3. Click activate.
4. You will be given your NetID (this will be some combination of your first and last name).
5. Create a password unique to you and your account.
6. Be sure to write down your NetID and password as you will need to use this frequently.

If you’re a returning Guest auditor and have forgotten your NetID and/or password, please contact the DoIT Help Desk (608-264-4357).

Spring 2023

Spring schedule of classes

Search for courses utilizing the official, up-to-date Course Search & Enroll tool:

• Admitted senior guest auditors can follow these Course Search Instructions (PDF) or view the Course Search Tutorial on this page.
• Anyone can browse the online Public Class Search tool regardless of admission status.
• Use the search feature on the left-hand side of the page and select desired term.

Popular audited courses (PDF)

Interested in history courses? See the Department of History page for Senior Guest auditors.

Music performance classes are no longer auditable.

Summer term 2023 permission form not yet available. Check back in late April.

Remember, once you receive permission to enroll you need to enroll in the class via the Class Search and Enroll tool. Senior guest auditors can enroll starting the first day of class. Follow the instructions in the next step, Enroll in classes.

If it is less than a week before the start of the term and you haven’t had a response about your request, please see our related FAQ under the enrollment section of our FAQ page.

Once the department has entered an electronic permission into the system and it is the first day or the term or later, you will be able to enroll.

You will enroll online using the Course Search & Enroll tool found in your MyUW portal. Use our enrollment instructions guide to walk you through the enrollment process.

Note, if you added a class to your cart before permission was granted remove the class from your cart at this time to avoid any errors. Then proceed with the enrollment process found on our enrollment instruction guide.

Enrollment troubleshooting and tips

Canvas access:

• After you have enrolled in the course, it may take 2-4 hours for it to appear in the Canvas learning management system.
• View this Canvas student training course for tips on using Canvas.
  

Additional Notes:

• You must enroll by the end of the second week of classes to avoid the late enrollment fee.
• You MUST complete the enrollment step for your Guest auditor status to remain active.
• Some courses have Digital Course Materials (eTexts) and Senior Guest auditors will be automatically opted out of these materials. If you wish to purchase the eText and have the opt-out reversed, contact advising@dcs.wisc.edu by the end of the second week of courses.
• The eText charge will  be billed and you are responsible for paying.

The day after you enroll in at least one course, you can pick up your Wiscard at Union South.

Your Wiscard is your UW–Madison photo ID card and will be needed to access campus libraries and computer labs. You will also need a Wiscard if you plan to purchase an affiliate membership for access to the recreational facilities.

What is auditing?

Auditing is defined as sitting in on a lecture course and not actively participating. Auditors may not recite, perform, or take examinations. Auditors are not graded and do not receive credit for the courses they enroll in. Space availability and instructor permission are required to audit.

Courses NOT typically available for auditing include:

• conversational languages
• studio and performing arts including music
• writing, math, computer, and lab courses
• independent study and directed study
• seminar, research, and colloquial courses

Please contact the Adult Career and Special Student Services office for questions or clarification.

If you enrolled in and audited a class in the most recent term, you should be eligible for the upcoming term.

To confirm:

• Login to your MyUW account
• Select the Course Search and Enroll tile
• Look for your earliest enrollment date and time. Note, if you check before mid-October for spring or before mid-March for summer/fall you will not yet see an earliest enrollment date.
  OR
• Contact our office to ask about your eligibility for the upcoming term.

If you skipped a semester (not counting summer) you will need to apply again. The application deadline for spring 2023 is January 3.

Spring 2023

Spring schedule of classes

Search for courses utilizing the official, up-to-date Course Search & Enroll tool:

• Admitted senior guest auditors can follow these Course Search Instructions (PDF) or view the Course Search Tutorial on this page.
• Anyone can browse the online Public Class Search tool regardless of admission status.
• Use the search feature on the left-hand side of the page and select desired term.

Popular audited courses (PDF)

Interested in history courses? See the Department of History page for Senior Guest auditors.

Music performance classes are no longer auditable.

Summer term 2023 permission form not yet available. Check back in late April.

Remember, once you receive permission to enroll you need to enroll in the class via the Class Search and Enroll tool. Senior guest auditors can enroll starting the first day of class. Follow the instructions in the next step, Enroll in classes.

If it is less than a week before the start of the term and you haven’t had a response about your request, please see our related FAQ under the enrollment section of our FAQ page.

Once the department has entered an electronic permission into the system and it is the first day or the term or later, you will be able to enroll.

You will enroll online using the Course Search & Enroll tool found in your MyUW portal. Use our enrollment instructions guide to walk you through the enrollment process.

Note, if you added a class to your cart before permission was granted remove the class from your cart at this time to avoid any errors. Then proceed with the enrollment process found on our enrollment instruction guide.

Enrollment troubleshooting and tips

Canvas access:

• After you have enrolled in the course, it may take 2-4 hours for it to appear in the Canvas learning management system.
• View this Canvas student training course for tips on using Canvas.
  

Additional Notes:

• You must enroll by the end of the 2nd week of classes to avoid the late enrollment fee.
• You MUST complete this step for your Guest auditor status to remain active.
• Some courses have Digital Course Materials (eTexts) and Senior Guest auditors will be automatically opted out of these materials. If you wish to purchase the eText and have the opt-out reversed, contact advising@dcs.wisc.edu by the end of the second week of courses.