Summer Registration

IDGP Students are recommended to register for summer dissertation credits (899 or 699) if you have a 10 or 20 hr RA over the summer. If you choose to enroll, you will be exempted from having FICA taken from your paycheck over the summer (saving of about $500 over the summer). There is a fee of $47 to register for the credits. The IDGP programs also benefit because a small fee per student is returned to us from Continuing Professional education office. A big advantage of enrolling for summer is that you can take up to 9 dissertation credits for $47 total — much cheaper than taking these credits in spring or fall, when per-credit fees apply.

To enroll go to SPIRE (instructions below). If you enroll, the IDGP office will change your status in SPIRE to full time.

• Log into SPIRE, go to the Main Menu in the top left corner, and then navigate to Enrollment àSummer/Wtr/Non-deg Enroll Appt
• To enroll in a class in Summer, log into SPIRE and request a UWW Enrollment Appointment by navigating to Main Menu > Enrollment > Summer/Wtr/Non-deg Enroll Appt. This appointment represents the time period during which you will be able to enroll in UWW classes in SPIRE. For detailed instructions, please visit our Requesting an Enrollment Appointment in SPIRE page.
• Once you have your enrollment appointment, you can then enroll in your classes by navigating to Main Menu, Enrollment and then Add Classes/Shopping Cart. For more information, please visit the Enroll in Classes Using SPIRE page.
• Review all information (make sure summer is selected and agree to terms) and then press Request CPE Enrollment Appointment.
• Register for the 899 Dissertation (or MS 699) credits.

FICA/OBRA Exemptions apply if you:

• Register by the end of add/drop for at least 1 summer credit (899 or 699), have a 10 or 20 hour RA for the summer, and have full-time status in Spire. [Note: NOT applicable if registered for Continuous Enrollment (gradsch999)]

NOTES:

• In addition to the $500 not being withheld from your pay, it will instead be paid to you in your bi-weekly paychecks throughout the summer:
• The credits you register for will only cost you the $47 as long as the GEO waiver (for your RA appointment) has been processed. This allows you to register for 1 to 9 (899) or (699) dissertation credits for only $47 (per credit fees are not applied) in addition to having the $500, rather than fica/obra being held (1.45% for Fica, 7.5% for Obra).
• If you are an international student on an F1 or J1 Visa for fewer than 4 calendar years, the fees are not withheld from your pay. The one benefit to you of doing all of the above is that you can register for up to 9 (899) credits for only $60.
• For more information about the voluntary Fica/Obra fees, see the SMART plan information.
• If you do have the fees withheld, you can get back the Obra portion (~7.5%) when you graduate. To do so, you will need to contact the SMART plan folks and request a disbursement of your retirement withholdings and fill out a lengthy form.