Registrar's Office

Office of the Registrar
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5256 USA
(269) 387-4300

April 24, 2020

Spring grade deadline extended to April 30

Instructors have been given additional time to submit their grades this semester. The grade submission deadline has been moved to Thursday, April 30, at noon. Students were notified earlier this week that spring semester grades will be available for viewing next Thursday afternoon.

View tips and best practices for grading

Grade mode changes

Graduate and undergraduate students have until May 15 to change any or all of their spring 2020 courses to credit/no credit. This is a one-time exception to help reduce the uncertainty brought about by COVID-19. Starting April 30, students may request a change to their grade mode through GoWMU by selecting Grade Mode Change from the Academic Services Menu. Students should allow up to two weeks for processing. 

Dismissed students

Due to the May 15 deadline for students to change their grade mode, dismissed students will not be dropped from their summer I courses. Any student still dismissed after the May 15 deadline, and registered in summer I courses, will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Students on probation, extended probation, final probation or dismissal will not receive an email notification until after May 15. 

Updates from Admissions

Virtual college fairs

  • College Fairs Online: WMU Admissions is participating in a virtual college fair April 20-25. Interested students should register at collegefairsonline.com/students to win a $300 scholarship from College Fairs Online. They can then find the #WMU online ‘booth’ and ask questions and post comments.
  • Promoting the Publics: Michigan Virtual College Fair: All 15 public universities in Michigan are partnering to host a virtual college fair, May 5-7. Students can register at collegefairsonline.com/mi-student-reg/. 

June 1 Application deadline

Incoming first-year students who complete their application and submit all related materials by June 1 will be considered for admission to WMU. Students may apply either via the Common App or by submitting WMU’s own institutional application. Visit wmich.edu/admissions/apply to link to both applications and for more information. If a student is affected by a school closure (and they are unable to request official transcripts) or a spring ACT/SAT test date cancellation, we don’t want that to impact their ability to apply. Please visit wmich.edu/admissions/covid-19 for updates.

Holds for summer I enrollees placed May 12

On Tuesday, May 12, Admissions holds will be placed for the following groups beginning classes in Summer I:

  • First-year students who have not submitted a final high school transcript.
  • First-year students and transfer student who have not submitted an official ACT or SAT score.
  • First-year students who were enrolled in an early-middle college program and have not submitted a final college transcript.
  • All other undergraduate domestic student types who have not submitted final college transcripts.

Students will receive reminder emails leading up to the hold placement. Transcripts and test scores can be submitted following the methods outlined on our website: wmich.edu/apply/transcripts.

New Admissions activity hub

To engage and entertain prospective and admitted students, the office has created a page that houses Top 20 lists, color pages, Bronco-themed games and other activities to help pass the time. Join the fun at wmich.edu/admissions/activities.

Business student video project

Leadership and Business Strategy program students created videos to help Michigan businesses and organizations during the coronavirus pandemic, including WMU Admissions. Students created 50 videos to lift up and recognize companies that are working hard through the crisis, helping both the school and its neighbors. Rhino Media will choose three winning student videos and eventually connect with each of those teams that produced the winning videos and help them take their production value up to a professional level.
 
View both videos created for WMU Admissions:

Follow their social media campaign at #SafeMichigan and view news coverage on WOOD TV.

Virtual experiences

During this time when it is not possible to visit the WMU campus, the Office of Admissions has a variety of ways for students and families to experience our campus virtually. Whether prospective students are seeking to see our academic and social spaces, interact with our staff or get admissions questions answered from home, our team is available to help.

  • Virtual Info Sessions
    • Daily info sessions at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    • Daily Lunchtime Live social chats at noon
    • Tuesday/Thursday info sessions for transfer students at 3 p.m.
    • Academic college info sessions at 11 a.m.
  • Western Wednesday Virtual Presentations
  • Virtual Tour
    • Personalized virtual tour, narrated by student ambassadors
  • Admitted Student Tutorials

View details and additional options at wmich.edu/admissions/virtual.

Plans are shaping up for Virtual Orientation 2020

Virtual Orientation will consist of three components:

  1. On-demand online orientation modules that will include the mission-critical information of being a new student at WMU, available in early June.
  2. Virtual 1:1 advising appointments and course registration during the month of June.
  3. Virtual student engagement opportunities during the month of July for incoming students to connect with current students, affinity groups, RSOs and more. 

We will also offer an online orientation module for parents and families, and the fee for Virtual Orientation is $60 (reduced from the usual $220). We are collaborating with a multitude of units across campus and are appreciative of everyone's support in making this plan come to life. More details will be shared as they become available at wmich.edu/transitions/orientation. 

Summer camp updates from Precollege Programming

Academic Affairs has made the decision that there will be no summer camps on campus during May and June. This decision does not currently impact other VP areas, but if this changes, we will let you know. 

There are two options for those with May and June summer camps:

  1. You may offer your summer camp in an online, virtual format in May or June.
  2. You may reschedule your in-person summer camp to July or August. Please note that residence halls are not available in August, and there may be limited July availability. 

A decision regarding July and August camps being allowed on campus will made at a later date. At this point, camps scheduled for July or August may still be permitted. We will keep you posted as soon as a decision has been made. Please let Alexis Arocho know what you decide to do with your May and June camps so we may update our summer camp web page. If you have questions about how your camp should proceed, contact Dr. Erika Carr.

If you have not yet registered your summer camp on our website, please do so ASAP. This allows us to keep our camp information up to date: wmich.edu/precollege/camps.

Updates from Student Financial Aid

  1. Our office is currently amending financial aid policies regarding the impacts of COVID-19 which include, but are not limited to: satisfactory academic progress, scholarship renewals and change in family circumstances appeals.
  2. We are reviewing the processes and regulations for the CARES Act and will have more information soon, including a financial aid COVID-19 webpage with specific FAQs for the campus community.
  3. Summer I financial aid applications are now being processed and communicated with students.
  4. In collaboration with DOSA, SFA is able to provide emergency funding to support based on the COVID-19 emergency. Students can follow the process as outlined by the Invisible Needs Project at wmich.edu/invisibleneed/serf.

Academic scheduling for spring 2021 delayed

A handful of dates regarding spring 2021 scheduling in the "Important Dates for Faculty and Staff" calendar have been updated. Please direct questions to @email.

See the calendar

Spring commencement reschedule/refund

Last week, April graduates received an email from Dr. Montgomery congratulating them on completing their WMU degree. The email also expressed the disappointment we all share in having to postpone the April commencement ceremony. 

April graduates were given the option to participate in a later ceremony at some point in the future or to receive a full refund of their graduation fee. A survey link was provided in the email where students could indicate their selection. If a student opts to not participate in a later commencement date, the $55 graduation fee will be refunded to their student account. An FAQ page has been added to the commencement website to address many of the questions we are receiving from April graduates and their families.

The University continues to monitor information from national, state and local public health officials on the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. A decision regarding the June 27 commencement ceremony is expected by May 20. Summer graduates will be notified as soon as a determination is made.

Did you know? A fun fact from the Registrar...

As of this morning, 57% of April graduates have opted to attend a commencement ceremony at a later date and 43% have selected not to attend and receive a refund.