Welcome!
We are so glad you’re here. The Office of Academic & Career Success (OACS) serves the advising, career services, and learning support communities and is excited to help you navigate your first weeks, months, and beyond at UW–Madison.
In addition to helping you gain access to the information and training you’ll need, OACS staff hope to support you and connect with you as you start your new position with the university.
Have you filled out the New Staff Form?
Not yet. Please fill out the New Staff Form so we can connect you with community leaders and any timely information.
Yes, I have! Please continue down this page for more ways to get informed and connected as a new staff member.
Subscribe to our Email Lists
Sign up for the New Staff email list where you will receive information on new staff events, resources, and more! Plus sign up for our other email lists that are relevant to your position to stay connected on upcoming trainings, community building opportunities, and events.
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Participate in New Staff Programming
OACS provides a variety of events and programs designed for new advising, career services, and learning support staff members. From social events to intro sessions to technology trainings, you can find all types of new staff events. View all our new staff events here and read on for a few key event series that OACS offers!
Interested in learning about key UW-Madison resources and offices and knowing when and how to refer students across campus. Campus Resources and Referrals is a fantastic way to learn about holistic student support and well-being, while also getting connected across campus and to other new community members.
Looking to reflect and grow in a variety of core skills that impact and guide your work with students? Helping Skills and Practice is a workshop-style event series for new and new-ish community members to do just that!
New staff are also welcome to join any of our OACS events. Visit the full online event calendar to check out more opportunities.
Meet Your New Staff Ambassadors
OACS New Staff Ambassadors are here to welcome, support, and engage with new staff members in the advising, career services, and learning support communities. Ambassadors will be present at new staff events, are available to answer any questions you might have, and look forward to meeting and engaging with new staff members all year long!
Get Connected to Technology Tools
Learn about and gain access to the technology tools available to advisors, learning support, and career services staff, including:
- Starfish: UW–Madison’s primary tool for scheduling student appointments, connecting students with advisors, staff, and other student support professionals.
- Advising Gateway: UW-Madison’s advising information hub that allows advisors to search for students and access a plethora of materials useful to the advising process.
- Notes in Advising Gateway: The note keeping system for student interactions within the Advising Gateway. Authorization to Notes is separate from authorization to the Advising Gateway.
- Handshake: A free job-search and career event tool for all UW–Madison students. It assists students in connecting with employers, finding jobs and internships, and learning about career and internship fairs, employer meet and greets, and more!
Learn about even more technology tools for advising, career services, and learning support staff here!
Find Even More Opportunities
Communities of Practice
Join an OACS Community of Practice. Communities of Practice are groups of colleagues who share common challenges, opportunities, or a passion for a given topic, and who collaborate to deepen their understanding of that topic.
Solo Staff Community
Are you the only undergraduate student facing-employee in your department or unit? We invite you to join the Solo Staff Community!
First-Gen Gatherings
The Office of Academic & Career Success facilitates monthly informal community gatherings designed for staff members who experienced being the first in their household to attend and/or graduate college. Gatherings prioritize being in community and sharing individual stories and experiences.
FERPA Information
The “Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act” (FERPA) is a federal law that governs the privacy of student education records, access to those records, and disclosure of information from them. Learn more about applying FERPA to advising work.
DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) Training
DARS is a tool used to help advise enrollment and degree requirements. Learn more about DARS resources and trainings.
UW Suicide Prevention Training
UW-Madison students often look to faculty or staff for support when they are struggling. The UW-Madison Suicide Prevention Training provides a guide for having conversations and can also increase your confidence in talking with students about mental health and suicide.
Connect to a Mentor
Learn about campus resources to connect with and learn from experienced staff.
For Graduate Program Coordinators
If you are also a graduate program coordinator, learn more about training opportunities related to that aspect of your role.
Professional Organizations
UW-Madison advising and career services staff are encouraged to join and participate in regional and national professional organizations. From resources, to networking opportunities, to conference experiences, these organizations provide additional opportunities for growth and development.