May 8, 2020

Following up with students who have not registered for fall 2020

All eligible students who have not registered for fall courses received a registration reminder email from the Registrar's Office last month. In the email, we included a link to the WMU Course Offerings page and reiterated tips to ensure a smooth registration process (e.g., checking for holds and speaking with an advisor). 

If you would like to communicate with unregistered students in your area, there is a Cognos report available to help. The report, 21.00.20 - Students Registered in Prior Terms Not Registered in Future Terms, can be found by going to the Retention folder (21.00). This report excludes students who have graduated, applied for graduation or been academically dismissed. Please email John Scott with questions.

June commencement postponed

Students were informed Wednesday that June commencement is being postponed because of the continuing need for social distancing. April and June 2020 graduates have been 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 an email where students could indicate their selection. If a student opts to not participate in a later commencement date, the $55 fee will be refunded to their student account.

An FAQ page has been added to the commencement website to help answer many of the common questions we are receiving from graduates and their families.

Last day to drop/add SUM I courses is May 11

Summer I census will occur Monday, May 11. Typically, registration changes on census day must be done through the department. This session, due to staff working remotely, students will have the ability to drop and add classes on census day through GoWMU. After May 11, dropping a class is considered a withdrawal and will show on the academic transcript with a final grade of “W”. Classes can be withdrawn in GoWMU from May 12 to June 1. The refund schedule is listed in the calendar at the bottom of this email.

Spring grade mode changes due May 15

As a reminder, students have until May 15 to change the grade mode of their spring semester courses. Given this deadline, we will not be dropping dismissed students from their summer I registration. The Registrar's Office will send a reminder email to all students enrolled in spring 2020 early next week.

Updates from Admissions

Deferral process for fall 2020 students

WMU will allow incoming students who have been admitted for fall 2020 to defer admission for up to a year (until fall 2021) provided the student does not enroll at another institution during that time. Students can defer admission by completing the Change Term Form at wmich.edu/apply/changeterm and indicating that they are choosing to change their entry term because of COVID-19. Further information regarding scholarships will be shared soon.

International Baccalaureate credit

Now that spring 2020 IB testing has been cancelled, WMU will utilize the score provided through IB’s evaluation and award credit based on that score. An IB transcript must be sent to the WMU Admissions Office for credit consideration.

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 Tour
    • 20-stop campus tour, offered virtually
    • Personalized virtual tour, narrated by student ambassadors offered daily at 3 p.m.
    • On-demand virtual tour, narrated by student ambassadors
  • 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 specific for transfer students at 3 p.m.
    • Academic college info sessions at 11 a.m.
  • Western Wednesday Virtual Presentations 

View details and additional options

Financial aid COVID-19 web page

Student Financial Aid now has a financial aid COVID-19 web page with information for the campus community regarding ever-changing impacts: wmich.edu/finaid/COVID-19.

Reclaim the W suspended until fall 2021

The Reclaim the W program started in 2014 out of the Center for Academic Success Programs and the Registrar's Office. Reclaim the W targets first- and second-year students with a WMU GPA between 1.00 and 1.99 who were dismissed at the end of their second semester. To date, 262 students have participated in the program.

The decision was made to suspend Reclaim the W for the next academic year due to the spring credit/no credit option and the uncertainty with the fall semester. We are planning to resume the program in fall 2021.

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

As of May 7, 2,604 grade mode changes have been processed since grades were posted on April 30 (2,578 undergraduate and 26 graduate). There are 1,175 requests currently being processed.