Registrar's Office

September 1, 2020

Fall semester begins tomorrow; last day to drop/add is Sept. 9

Students may drop and add via GoWMU until 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 9. If students need to make adjustments after the deadline, departments can assist on Thursday, Sept. 10, until 5 p.m. Courses can be added or dropped on that day without academic or financial penalty. After Sept. 10, dropping a class is considered a withdrawal and will show on transcripts with a grade of "W". Courses can be withdrawn in GoWMU from Sept. 11 to Nov. 2.The refund schedule is listed in the calendar at the bottom of this email.

Preparing for fall census

Fall 2020 census will take place Thursday, Sept. 10. In preparation, please ensure the correct instructor of record has been entered in Banner for all sections, sections on hold have been canceled or made active and all students attending have been registered so they will be counted (this includes students completing thesis and dissertation hours, independent studies, internships, seminars, etc.).

Updates from Student Financial Aid

Fall hours

Bronco Express is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in a temporary location, the Bernhard Center's Global Lounge (located across the hall from Bronco Express). For more information, please visit wmich.edu/broncoexpress/fall2020. Student Financial Aid is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for deliveries only. Students should be directed to Bronco Express for financial aid questions and concerns.

CARES Act application

CARES Act applications are still available at wmich.scholarshipuniverse.com. Please note that this is a second round of funding and students who have previously received CARES funds can reapply and may be eligible for additional funds. This information was shared with students via email on Aug. 19.

Submitting financial aid documents

We encourage students to submit documents electronically by scanning or taking a picture and emailing them to @email. Verification documents and appeals can be uploaded directly through the online Student Forms portal, which is accessed through GoWMU.

Submitting financial aid payments

We encourage students to submit payments online. Bronco Express can only accept payments via the drop box located outside of the office. No cash payments will be accepted.

Financial Aid disbursement

Initial FA mass disbursement: Monday, Aug. 24
Bronco Express issuing book loans: Tuesday, Aug. 25
Initial e-refund disbursement: Tuesday, Sept. 1 (e-refunds will resume normal disbursement on Mondays and Wednesdays the following week)
Initial check disbursement (parent and student): Wednesday, Sept. 2 (checks will disburse on Wednesdays only going forward).

Please encourage students to check GoWMU and their WMU email account often!

Room scheduling information from the Registrar's Office

SUM I and II 2021 sessions were rolled last Friday. Departments will have access to make edits in Banner from Sept. 2 to Sept. 28. We are also allowing for changes to the spring 2021 schedule during this time. The new meeting types (delivery modes) will be permitted in upcoming semesters. Bulk room scheduling for spring 2021 will begin Sept. 29 and course offerings open for viewing on Oct.12.

Note: Changes to the fall semester must be submitted on section change forms.

Questions should be directed to @email. Be sure to check the important dates for faculty and staff calendar regularly for upcoming deadlines.

Updates from the Office of Precollege Programming

The Office of Precollege Programming will be providing the majority of its services virtually this fall. We will have limited office availability and reduced staff will be present in the office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Staff members are available to meet during office hours by appointment only. Specific programs within the Precollege Office (ATYP, College Day, Upward Bound) also have limited hours and staff may only be present in the office one to two days per week. Virtual appointments are available both within and outside of office hours. For more information, please contact us at (269) 387-2773 or @email.

College Day Program hosted webinar series for high school students

This past month, the KCP College Day Program held a series of webinars to connect high school students with topics, people and resources that will help prepare them for their college journey. The weekly series, hosted by Dr. Ramona Lewis and Madison Liebler, was held virtually from July 22 to Aug. 19. Session topics included career exploration, paying for college and the college application process.

Academically Talented Youth Program classes begin the week of Sept. 8

ATYP classes begin next week. All classes will be held virtually at least through the first semester (the end of January). Our complete calendar can be found online.

Campus visit experiences

The Office of Admissions recognizes that the campus visit experience can be an important part of the college search process for students and families. We are once again hosting in-person tours while also being conscious of safety measures and physical distancing for our campus community and visitors alike. As such, the Admissions team is prepared to offer prospective families both virtual and in-person options.

In-person: These student-led tours are 60-minute walking experiences on our amazing campus and will allow guests to learn about all the possibilities and opportunities awaiting them at WMU. All visitors are required to register for a tour in advance. To allow for proper social distancing, families are limited to three members: the prospective student and two guests. Please note that we will not be able to accommodate walk-in visitors. Registration information can be found at wmich.edu/admissions/visit.

Virtual: The Office of Admissions offers several options for students and families to learn about WMU, ask questions and interact with current staff and students.

Admissions virtual information sessions.
Academic college virtual information sessions.
Transfer student information sessions.
Complete virtual tour, including online walkthrough with a student ambassador.

Learn more at wmich.edu/admissions/virtual.

Reminder: Oct. 1 is the deadline for April 2021 graduation applications

The Registrar's Office has been reminding eligible students of the Oct. 1 deadline since early August. The communication cycle will expand throughout this month. As a reminder, there are two deadlines for graduation applications: Oct. 1 for April graduation and Feb. 1 for June, August and December graduations. These deadlines are firm; no exceptions can be made. For more information regarding application deadlines or the communication process, please contact John Scott.

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

More than 5,300 eligible students have received targeted communication regarding the April 2021 graduation application deadline.