Online or Distance Education at UWRF

UW-River Falls offer a variety of distance education options for undergraduate and graduate students. Explore this page to learn more about our offerings, view disclosures and more.


Fully Distance Education Programs

Associate of Arts and Science Collaborative


NC-SARA

The State of Wisconsin is a member of SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) and UW-River Falls has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) formed the Distance Learning Authorization Board (DLAB) to assist with oversight. Learn more about SARA. 

Per federal requirements outlined in 34 CFR § 668.43 and as outlined in UW System Administrative Policy 121 (SYS 121; revised January 3, 2025): For all academic programs, universities must determine the location of the student enrolled in the program and the subsequent requirement to notify students if professional licensure requirements in the states where they reside are being met by the curriculum of the program. 

States vary regarding the professions they require to be licensed and how licensure functions. Some states require an individual to graduate from an approved program. Others require an individual to meet certification requirements of a national organization. A specific amount of training can also be required as well as passage of an examination based on a state requisite exam score. Often, licensed professionals must complete continuing education on an annual basis.

Prospective or current students planning to apply for licensure in a state other than Wisconsin after completion of their program should inform the program of their home address, and if their address changes. Formal receipt of information regarding change of location: Prospective students enter their address information upon inquiry to the university and current students are prompted to update their address information upon registration each term. Students may use self-service within the university’s student information system (eSIS) to formally update their address at any time. Programs have elected to provide individual disclosures to all students, regardless of student location to ensure all students receive the disclosure, regardless of state the state in which they are located.  

Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although UW-River Falls will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the state board to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice. 

Select programs at UW-River Falls are designed to provide the educational requirements for the following initial professional licenses in the State of Wisconsin.  

Individual disclosures must be in writing (email, letter, or printed on program documents) and be provided to current and prospective students in the following circumstances:

  • the program does not meet the educational requirements for initial licensure or certification; or
  • the institution has not determined whether the program meets the educational requirements for initial licensure in the state that the student is located; or
  • for current students, if the program is determined to no longer meet the educational requirements of the professional licensure program (student to be notified within 14 days of the institution discovering the program no longer meets the licensure requirements).

Based on input from the departments and programs required to provide individual disclosures, it is agreed that the department chairs and program directors, or their designees, shall provide individual disclosures to all students, regardless of location, upon initial enrollment into the program and in the circumstance outlined herein. Individual disclosure language should align with the general disclosure language. Individual disclosures must be provided to students at or prior to registration for the term in which the student initially enrolls into the program.

Requirements of professional licensure or certification in fields such social work vary from state to state. The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Social Work Program is designed to meet the requirements of professional certification by the Joint Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Work - Social Worker Section in Wisconsin. The program meets the educational requirements for all states that require a CSWE accredited Bachelor of Social Work Program. Not all states require licensure or certification for Bachelor’s level social work practice.  Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure or certification, UW-River Falls strongly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s social work licensing requirements.

To determine the requirements of a particular state Social Work Licensing Board, please use the Association of Social Work Boards website for general requirements;  From there, you may follow the link to the Social Work Licensing Board of any particular state or jurisdiction in the United States and Canada.  For questions regarding licensing, please contact Tammy Kincaid.

The UW-River Falls bachelor’s degree program in social work is provided 100 percent face-to-face.      


Attestation Form

Per NC-SARA regulations, we ask students whose home address is outside of Wisconsin to complete the Attestation Form, confirming they are aware of their home state licensing requirements, that the UW-River Falls program may or may not meet those requirements upon degree completion, and that the student understands the potential risk of pursuing studies at UWRF. Further, the student will notify the program if their home address changes.  


Definitions

Refers to a student who has made contact with a program representative to learn about program requirements.

Unless otherwise defined by federal law, and for the purposes of this policy, a university may consider the time of initial enrollment as a student’s official enrollment in a professional licensure or occupational certification program and/or the receipt of the student’s financial commitment to the first class, semester, or term required for completion of a licensure program.

Per SYS 121, At the time of initial enrollment in a professional licensure or occupational certification program, a student’s location shall be defined as the following:

  • A student who enrolls in a program that holds instruction primarily at a physical location on campus (on-campus instruction) shall be considered located in the state of Wisconsin. This determination is based on the student being located (in part or exclusively) in Wisconsin when receiving instruction and enrolling in a program designed, primarily, to lead to licensure in the state of Wisconsin.
  • A student enrolling in a program that offers instruction in a hybrid learning format will be considered located in Wisconsin.
  • A student enrolling in a program offered exclusively through distance education will be considered located at their current address listed on the official application and/or acceptance into the program.

For individual professional licensure disclosures at UWRF, student location for brick-and-mortar programs is determined by the “local address” field within the university’s Student Information System (eSIS); however, if this field in not populated, the “home address” field shall be used to determine the student’s location. For distance education students enrolled through collaborative degree programs, the “mailing address” field within eSIS shall be used to determine the student’s location. If no mailing address is provided, the “home address” field shall be used to determine the student’s location. All students are prompted to update their address information in eSIS each term.

An educational program that is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional licensure or occupational certification that is required for employment in an occupation or is advertised as meeting such requirements. Optional certifications administered through the private sector fall outside the scope of this administrative procedure. 

Provost

116 North Hall
410 S. 3rd St.
River Falls, WI 54022

provost@uwrf.edu

715-425-3700