Resources

• Adult Career and Special Student Services
• College of Letters & Science
• Dean of Students Office
• Gender and Sexuality Campus Center
• International Division
• Languages at UW-Madison
• Libraries
• McBurney Disability Resource Center
• Greater University Tutoring Services
• Learning Support
• UW Databases
• Writing Center
• Office of the Registrar
• University Health Services – If you need or want to obtain assistance from University Health Services throughout the summer, please contact them as soon as you know you will be attending MEDLI to ensure that you will have access to the care you need.
  • Medical Services
  • Mental Health Services
  • Survivor Services
• University Veteran Services
• Multicultural Student Center
• Recreational Sports
• Student Unions

For additional campus resources, visit the main UW-Madison website

• Campus Area Housing
• Summer Term Housing

• UW-Madison Transportation Services
• City of Madison Metro Transit
• Visit Madison Maps and Transportation

• AAS Language Database
• Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) – Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs)
• National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages (NCOLCTL)

Tardiness and Absence Policies:

The tardiness and absence policy of your instructor may be stricter than the policy listed below and will supersede the MEDLI policies. Please refer to the syllabus of your class for any adjustments to the policies.

Absence:

One absence per semester is permissible.
Two absences in a semester will result in a grade deduction for that semester.
Three or more absences in a semester will result in automatic failure of the course.

Things to note:

• Absences on days of exams, projects, presentations, etc. will lead to failure of that coursework. There will be no make-ups of exams, projects, presentations, etc. due to absence.
• Failure of the first/third/fifth semester course prohibits students moving to the second/fourth/sixth semester course, and will result in dismissal from the program without refund.
• Contact hours for federal grants require that the MEDLI program must end on the last day of class. Requests to leave or take final exams early will not be granted.
• Pre-program requests for absences will not be granted.

Emergency circumstances for absences can be reviewed on an individual basis.

Tardiness:

Arriving to class on time is important for successful participation in the MEDLI program. Being late to class is disruptive and disrespectful to one’s instructor(s) and classmates, and could result in a marked absence or grade deduction.

• Make an appoint with the Language Directions Specialist
• Career Exploration Center
• Software Training Sessions (free)
• SuccessWorks
• Handshake
• LinkedIn

• International Student Services

It is just as important to take care of your health and wellbeing throughout the program as any other aspect of your studies. Your instructors, MEDLI Staff, and UW-Madison are all available for you when needed. We understand an intensive program brings its challenges and strongly encourage you to reach out if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Below, are a few resources to help you navigate your well-being throughout the summer. These include ways to check-in with yourself, tips for managing stress, and Campus Services.

• WISLI Wellness Worksheet is a great first place to start. This worksheet includes helpful questions for reflection, University resources, and more.
• University Health Services has available mental health, wellness, physical health, and survivor resources available to all students. We encourage you to look at the other UHS services listed under the “McBurney Disability Resource Center and University Health Services” tab.

What Will Classes Look Like?

Classes will meet Mondays through Fridays for a minimum of 4.5 synchronous instructional hours each day (8:30AM – 1:00PM Central Time).

Course materials will be organized in Canvas (See MyUW & Canvas tab) which is the learning management system at UW-Madison. Students may also use digital platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex instructor-facilitated class meetings.

All activities, whether synchronous or asynchronous, will be teacher-led, facilitated, or moderated.

Course dynamics can include:

• • Synchronous all-class meetings
  • Daily reflective questions
  • Lectures and presentations
  • Audio and video activities
  • Reading
  • Assignments and tasks
  • Student presentation and interviews
  • Regular formative and summative assignments

In addition to classes, there will also be co-curricular activities to provide opportunities for language practice and use outside of class hours.

MEDLI staff and instructors are committed to students’ language learning goals and will provide support to ensure the highest quality of learning experience possible.

What does MEDLI expect from me?

1. Daily attendance in class
2. Your full effort in learning a language, synchronously, asynchronously, and through after-class assignments and study
3. Respect and courtesy toward your instructors and classmates
4. Promptness in dealing with administrative matters (registration, payment, etc)
5. Openness to participating in MEDLI events

What should I expect from MEDLI?

1. Assistance and encouragement to learn your chosen language
2. Well-prepared lessons and class activities
3. Respect and empathy for the difficulties of learning a language, and the added challenge of learning in the remote environment
4. Engaging and inspiring co-curricular activities
5. Openness and promptness in dealing with student problems and concerns

• Wisc VPN (please download so you can use university access to various resources off campus)
• Canvas Training
• Duo Mobile (two-step authentication for your NetID)
• Office of Information Technology
• Scams and Fraud 

1. Do the work: This summer’s typical workload consists of 4.5 hrs of synchronous class time plus extra hours for homework and review. The review time is critical for locking in concepts that you cover in class. If you’re looking for ways to spice up your review time, see the next point!
2. Go to Office Hours: Your instructors and TA’s are there to talk you through concepts from class and are a great resource for finding ways to review and practice in your own time. Office hours are the best way to make sure you have control of new grammar or structures before starting your homework and review time on your own.
3. Make a Plan: Whether for your review time or for group discussions, you need to make a plan. During your synchronous classes or while doing homework, note what doesn’t stick, and reach out to your peers and Instructors to plan how you will address those points in your next session. Think about scripting, reading out loud, asking questions, drills conjugating new verbs, etc.
4. Share What Works: Connect with your classmates to practice your target language and share your strategy for advancing. Connecting with your peers will not only help advance your technical skills in your target language but also help build a support system and community to lean on now and in your future academic and career ventures.
5. Do the work: You’re only accountable to yourself.  Take a moment every few days and really look at the time you are putting in, and the effort you’re putting into that time.  If you are struggling, do not hesitate to reach out to your peers, instructors, or MEDLI staff. We know this is an intense program and will do what we can to support you.

MyUW

MyUW is the home of most everything you will need to access for your course while at MEDLI, including:

• wisc.edu email
• access to Canvas
• see your grades
• set up a calendar

…so much more!

Log in to MyUW: https://my.wisc.edu/

If you have any issues related to MyUW or your wisc.edu email address, including forgetting your NetID and password, please contact the DoIT help desk: https://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/

Canvas Resources

Canvas is the learning management system at UW-Madison. Here you can access your class information, assignments, Zoom links, etc.

• Canvas login: https://canvas.wisc.edu/
• Canvas student guide: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10701-canvas-student-guide-table-of-contents

NORD has been working to improve its quantifiable data to promote the program and strengthen any weaknesses of our program. This data will help us promote NORD and apply for funding to improve and grow the NORD offerings. As a result, NORD will pay for an official OPI, which will be conducted during the start and the end of the program.

This test in no way affects students standing at NORD, but does have a variety of benefits from applying to academic programs, job applications, etc. We encourage students to take a look at the ACFTL OPI Resources document to familiarize themselves with the test and learn tips and tricks to succeed when taking their own OPI.

NORDIC LANGUAGES

Placement in languages offered in Scandinavian Studies (Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Old Norse, Sámi, and Swedish) is determined by an in-person evaluation with one of our instructors. To schedule a placement evaluation, please contact our Scandinavian Studies Advisor.

RETRO CREDITS

Students may earn college credit for language instruction in high school by demonstrating competence in a UW–Madison language course. Native speakers of the language in question and students who have not taken that language in high school are not eligible for retro credits. The course taken to earn retro credits must be the student’s first college course in that language; it must be taken before earning 30 degree credits (not including advanced placement credits); and the student must earn at least a B to receive retro credits. Information about UW–Madison’s policies on retro credits can be viewed on the Language Institute’s website. For the complete policy, see the UW–Madison Undergraduate Catalog.

SCHOLARSHIPS RECOMMENDED FOR GNS+ STUDENTS

Michael and Emily Lapinski Undergraduate Scholarship
The Lapinski Scholarship provides money for UW-Madison tuition for students studying the Polish language, literature, and culture. To learn more about this scholarship and its requirements visit Wisconsin Scholarship Hub.

Undergraduate Academic Awards Office
The Office of Undergraduate Academic Awards administers numerous scholarships and maintains lists of campus-wide and national scholarships.

Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies. FLAS awards are only available for specific languages and are contingent on federal funding. Please direct any questions to the FLAS Coordinator of your chosen language.

Boren Scholarship
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad.

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship Program provides undergraduate and graduate students with financial support, mentoring, and professional development to prepare them academically and professionally for a career in the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Diversity Abroad & the Institute of International Education offer the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for non-traditional study abroad students and projects. This scholarship is available to undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding.

The Foundation for Global Scholars
The Foundation for Global Scholars offers scholarships of approximately $1,000 to $3,000 for general study abroad programs, either summer or academic year programs.

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS

SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES

GNS’s Nordic program annually awards Travel Grants in varying amounts to Scandinavian Studies undergraduate and graduate students. These students will be contacted via email when applications become available (usually in the spring).

The Torske Klubben Foundation Scholarship is an award of $3,000 for a U.S. student enrolled at the UW for Norwegian studies broadly defined (e.g., Norwegian language, literature, folklore, Norwegian-American culture/studies).  Interested graduate and undergraduate students may apply by the deadline. The money is intended to be used for travel to Norway to complete a project that is to be described in the scholarship application.  For more information contact Kirsten Wolf (kirstenwolf@wisc.edu).

The ScanDesign Foundation offers scholarships to UW-Madison students studying abroad through any UW-approved program in Denmark, as well as to Danish students on exchange at UW-Madison.

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers fellowships and grants for proposed research projects in Scandinavian countries, and graduate students are encouraged to apply.

The Brittingham Viking Organization offers three full scholarships to American students studying in Scandinavia: the Madison-Ehrnrooth scholarship to Finland, the Madison Middelboe-Kellner Scholarship to Denmark, and the Madison Oslo Scholarship to Norway.

The Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) offers several various scholarships ranging in value from $250 to $10,000 for students studying abroad in the summer, fall, or spring semesters.

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) awards scholarships of up to $10,000 to students from traditionally underrepresented groups. FEA also offers dedicated scholarships for specific demographics.

The Gudrun Gytel Fund offers support for students studying in Denmark for the fall or spring semester or a full academic year.

The Upper Midwest Rebild Scholarship Corporation offers scholarships from $1,000 to $3,000 for students studying in Denmark.

The Cross Section was founded in October 2013 by three Scandinavian Studies majors as a cross-disciplinary journal by undergraduates, for undergraduates. Published in the spring in collaboration with graphic design students from Boise State University, the journal presents works of fiction, non-fiction, research essays, and poetry, as well as art features such as photography and painting. Inspired by the Wisconsin Idea, editors at The Cross Section help to increase the exposure of student works related to the Scandinavian Studies discipline, support the publication of undergraduate students, and connect undergraduates to their peers, mentors, campus resources, and the support networks available to them. Since the first publication, 20 students from five universities have published in The Cross Section. If you’re interested in getting involved as an editor or peer reviewer or would like to submit please get in touch through their website.

Also, check out their Facebook and Twitter.