Wisconsin residents who are 60 years of age or older by the start of the semester/term may audit classes tuition free, on a space-available basis, in courses that are open to auditors and special students.
Additionally, Wisconsin residents who have a documented disability and are receiving disability insurance benefits under either the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program or the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program can also qualify to audit classes.
Please note that auditors are responsible for paying any special course fees, including fees assessed in lieu of tuition, for courses in which they choose to enroll. The Instructional Technology for online courses is waived.
Per Universities of Wisconsin Class Audit policy, instructor permission must be obtained by the auditor. An enrollment hold will be placed on all auditors preventing them from self-enrollment at time of admission. Please note, auditors receive only provisional permission to attend classes until course registration is completed at the end of the add/drop period.
Follow the steps below to apply!
Submit the 60+ and Auditors with a Documented Disability Application Form
Apply with the Universities of Wisconsin application
60+ Auditors: Proof of age is needed for successful completion of application. Please email a copy of your drivers license, birth certificate or state ID to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at undergraduateadmissions@uwm.edu.
Auditors with a Documented Disability: SSI benefit letter is needed for successful completion of application. Please email a copy to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at undergraduateadmissions@uwm.edu.
Activate Your UWM Log In Credentials & Email Account
After you are admitted, you will need to activate your UWM ePanther ID. These credentials are used to log into UWM systems and email that are needed to request enrollment and access course materials. UWM uses a number of online platforms for enrollments, course assignments, and many other processes. Please note that you cannot activate or access your UWM email account until 2-3 business days after you have been admitted into the auditor program.
- Activate Your UWM ePanther ID – Every UWM student is issued a unique ePanther ID that is used to log into all UWM accounts. You will need your Campus ID number to activate your ePanther. You received your campus ID number in an email after you submitted your application.
- Access Your PAWS Account – Your PAWS account stores a record of all the courses you have taken along with all of your contact information. Make sure you are able to log in.
- Log into Your UWM Email Account – You will be able to access your UWM email account 2-3 business days after you have been admitted. You cannot access your email account prior to that time. Your UWM email account is provided through Microsoft Outlook, and your email address is your ePanther ID with @uwm.edu after it. (Example: ppanther@uwm.edu)
- Access Canvas – All online courses and many in person courses will require that you use Canvas to read the course syllabus, view readings, access assignments, etc. Your courses will not appear in your Canvas account until 1-2 business days after you are enrolled in a course.
Submit the University Terms and Conditions Agreement
All newly admitted students must complete UWM’s Terms and Conditions Agreement online through their PAWS account. You cannot be enrolled in courses until this step is completed.
Requesting Enrollment
To enroll in a course as an auditor, you must email the course instructor from your UWM email the course instructor from your UWM email account to request permission. You must also CC the Registrar’s office (regoff@uwm.edu) on your email.
Your enrollment request email must include:
- Your first and last name
- Campus ID (99x-xx-xxxx)
- Phone number
- Course year and term
- Subject name
- 3-digit course number
- 3 digit lecture number
- 5 digit class number
Important enrollment notes
- Course listings for upcoming terms are available at uwm.edu/schedule
- Students in the 60+/disabled auditor program may enroll in lectures only. Labs and discussions are not permitted.
- Enrollment permission is up to the instructor and department and is not guaranteed.
- A staff directory with contact information is available at uwm.edu/directory/people.
- If you want to enroll in multiple courses, you must send a separate email request for each course.
After you receive permission
Once permission is granted, UWM staff will enroll you on or after the first day of the term. You’ll receive a confirmation email once enrolled. Auditors are not enrolled before the first day of the term.
Please allow 2 additional business days after enrollment to gain access to Canvas (the online system where some instructors post course materials).
Email access reminder
You cannot activate or access your UWM email account until 2-3 business day after admission to the auditor program, and you must have an active UWM email account before requesting enrollment.
Please send questions about the program to undergraduateadmissions@uwm.edu.
Please note applications and enrollment requests will take at least 3 days for processing after all necessary information has been submitted.
If you have questions as you work through this process, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 414-229-2222.
60+/Disabled Auditor Enrollment Request Instructions & Template
IMPORTANT COURSE ENROLLMENT INFORMATION FOR OUR AUDITORS
Courses for the upcoming term can be found at uwm.edu/schedule
A directory of staff contact information can be found at uwm.edu/directory
Auditors must submit all course enrollment materials via their UWM email account. We will no longer be accepting paper enrollment forms. You must use the enrollment email template below. Applications and course enrollments are not processed same day. These materials require 3-5 days to be processed.
Auditors cannot enroll themselves in courses. You must request permission to enroll from the course instructor. You can begin requesting enrollment permission 2-3 days after you are admitted once you have activated your UWM email account.
Students in the 60+/disabled auditor program are only allowed to enroll in lectures. You cannot enroll in labs or discussions. Permission to enroll is at the discretion of the instructor and academic department.
After permission is granted, you will be enrolled by UW Milwaukee staff. We will begin enrolling auditors on the first day of the semester, Tuesday, September 3rd, or shortly thereafter. After a staff member enrolls you, you will receive a confirmation email. You will not see your enrollment in your UWM accounts prior to receiving that enrollment confirmation email. It takes an additional 2 business days after enrollment for students to get access to Canvas (an online system where some professors upload course materials).
The add/drop deadline for the Fall 2025 semester is Tuesday, September 9. Please submit all enrollment requests prior to that date. Enrollment requests will not be accepted after this date.
To request enrollment in a course:
- Copy the enrollment email template (listed below) into an email from your UWM email account to send to the class instructor for the course in which you are trying to enroll.
- If you wish to enroll in more than one course, you must send a separate enrollment email for each course.
- You must include all of the information in the template below. If the information is incorrect, or omitted, you will not be added to the course.
- You must use your UWM email address when emailing the enrollment information form to your instructor for approval. Requests from non-UWM email accounts will not be accepted.
- All questions about accessing or using UWM email should be directed to UWM’s Help Desk at 414-229-4040 or helpdesk@uwm.edu.
- Please note that you cannot access your UWM email account until 2-3 business days after you are admitted. You cannot request enrollment permission until you activate your UWM email account.
- You must CC the Registrar’s Office (regoff@uwm.edu) in your email.Request that the instructor “reply all” to your request.
- Request that the instructor “reply all” to your request.
- Once the instructor has replied all with their approval, the Registrar’s Office will enroll you in the course on or shortly after the first day of classes. You will receive a confirmation email once you are enrolled.
Enrollment Email Template
Use the following template in the body of your email to instructor:
Dear XXXXX,
I am a 60+ auditor who is requesting permission to enroll in one of your courses. Can you please review the information below and ‘reply all’ to this email to indicate your permission for me to enroll in your course?
Student information:
Student Name (First and Last): Mx. Panther
Campus ID: 99x-xx-xxxx
Student phone number: 414-229-2222
Course information:
Year and Term:
Subject Name:
3 digit course number:
3 digit lecture number:
5 digit class number:
Sincerely,
Your Name