Registrar's Office

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

November 20, 2020

Virtual commencement updates

WMU will be hosting a virtual commencement ceremony on Dec. 19 to celebrate fall graduates. The virtual ceremony will be as close to a traditional commencement experience as possible. More information, including viewing times, will be announced soon. Instructions on how to participate in the virtual ceremony were sent to graduates via email on Thursday, Nov. 12. The deadline to submit materials for inclusion in the ceremony is Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 11:59 p.m. Regalia may be purchased from the WMU Bookstore shops. GPA and military honor cords are available upon request. Learn more at wmich.edu/commencement.

Campus tours suspended

Due to statewide orders, on-campus tours are suspended through at least Tuesday, Dec. 8. If students/families want to be notified once tour registration is open, please have them call the Office of Admissions at (269) 387-2000. During this time, we are encouraging students to participate in our virtual experiences:

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

Learn more at wmich.edu/admissions/virtual.

Final exams are just a few weeks away

Exams begin Monday, Dec. 14, and conclude Thursday, Dec. 17. As a reminder, regularly scheduled class meeting times are not held during the exam week. 

View the complete exam schedule
Following up with students who have not registered for spring 2021

All eligible students who have not registered for spring courses will receive a registration reminder email from the Registrar's Office the week of Nov. 30. In the email, we will include a link to the WMU Course Offerings page and reiterate 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.

Fall 2021 scheduling updates from the Registrar's Office

The Important Dates for Faculty and Staff calendar has been updated with the fall 2021 academic scheduling timeline:

  • Fall course offerings will roll on Dec. 2 and new CRNs will be created. 
  • Banner will be available for departments to edit the schedule beginning on Jan. 11. 
  • Access to edit fall 2021 extends through Feb. 15. 
  • Fall course offerings open for viewing on Feb. 24; priority registration begins on March 10.

Academically Talented Youth Program begins recruitment for 2021-22

ATYP recruitment for next year has begun! Please encourage interested sixth/seventh grade students (and their families) to visit the ATYP recruitment page to learn more.

Upcoming Admissions events

Please share the following information with prospective and admitted students:

Lee Honors College event

Students are invited to virtually join reps from the Lee Honors College and the Office of Admissions to discover how the LHC community will provide them with support, attention and opportunities to be prepared for a lifetime of success. Sessions are offered:

  • Monday, Nov. 23, at 11 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m.

Kalamazoo Area College Night

Kalamazoo-area prospective students and families are invited to participate in a virtual Q&A event to gain information and connect with representatives from WMU, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Kalamazoo College. Sessions are offered:

  • Monday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m.

Office of Precollege Programming is a partner in MI GEAR UP grant

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) has been awarded $28 million by the U.S. Department of Education for the Michigan Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (MI GEAR UP) efforts aimed at increasing the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

“Through MI GEAR UP, we partner with Michigan’s 15 public universities and other key community partners to provide early intervention services and a scholarship component to help students succeed,” LEO Employment and Training Director Stephanie Beckhorn said. “Throughout the process, we serve a cohort of students, beginning in the seventh grade and follow them through the first two years of college.”

Learn more at wmich.edu/precollege.

Early Action deadline reminder

Thanksgiving break is a great time for prospective students who have not completed/submitted their applications to catch up and meet the Dec. 15 Early Action deadline. 

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

More than 10,100 undergraduates have used Degree Works this month to plan their spring 2021 schedules.