Registrar's Office

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

December 2, 2022

Welcome, Jason Barnes!

Dr. Charles Cotton would like to welcome the new Enrollment Management director of IT, Jason Barnes. Jason comes from University Advancement where he has served as the associate director of advancement services for the last seven years. Thank you to John Brown who has served as the interim director for the last several months. We look forward to onboarding Jason into Enrollment Management next Monday.

Following up with students who have not registered for spring 2023

All eligible students who have not registered for spring courses received a registration reminder email from the Registrar's Office earlier this week. 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.

Updates from Student Financial Aid

Endowed scholarships opened Dec. 1 

Through the generous support of donors, WMU has more than 50 endowed scholarships available to students. To be considered for these and other scholarships, students should access WMU’s ScholarshipUniverse system. Applications for the 2023-24 academic year opened yesterday and close Feb. 15, 2023.

FSA identifies FAFSA renewal issue

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has acknowledged an issue causing an error message for some applicants who are trying to access their 2023-24 FAFSA renewal form. In recent weeks, applicants have reported instances in which they have received an error message when trying to access their renewal form informing them that the form is not available. FSA expects the issue to be resolved by Thursday, Dec. 29, and urges applicants who receive this message to complete a new 2023-24 FAFSA from the beginning.

Staff spotlight with Taryn Forkin, assistant director, client services

  • What is it like working at WMU? Working on a college campus has a tangible energy you can’t get from any other work environment. The opportunities we have to engage with students are what motivate me and bring me joy even on the toughest days. 
  • Describe WMU in 3 words: Student-centered, resilient, welcoming
  • What hashtags best describe your personality? #introvert #dogmom #pragmatic #sarcastic #SlytherinHouse (for all the Harry Potter fans)
  • Where is your happy place in Kalamazoo? My backyard, on the Kalamazoo River 
  • What is something people don’t know about you? I am a dancer and I love musical theatre (both to watch and perform)! 
  • What has been your favorite project at WMU? Working directly with and being the liaison for physician assistant graduate students. They are such a unique group of students and each new class brings their own personality and challenges to the table. I have loved developing and maintaining the financial aid aspects of their program as well as building relationships with those students.

Final exam week is Dec. 12 through 15

Regularly scheduled class meeting times are not held during exam week. 

Final grades due Dec. 20

The final grade worksheet is available for grade submission until noon on Tuesday, Dec. 20. Students will not be able to see their grades online until the grade roll process is completed in the Registrar’s Office. This is done shortly after noon on the day grades are due and nightly thereafter. See tips and best practices for grading at wmich.edu/registrar/faculty-staff/grades.

Fall 2023 admission deadlines

Applications and all related materials must be received by the Office of Admissions by the following deadlines to be considered for admission: 

  • Fall 2023 entry for first-year students: 
    • Dec. 15, 2022, Early Action (non-binding). Admission to all Western academic programs*, admission scholarship consideration, Medallion scholarship consideration and priority invitation to the Lee Honors College.
    • June 1, 2023, Rolling Admission. Admission to WMU academic programs.
  • Fall 2023 entry for transfer and all other undergraduate student types: Aug. 15, 2023*

Students should visit wmich.edu/apply to select their student type and begin their application for admission.

*Students interested in Aviation Flight Science must apply for fall entry and complete their admission application by the following deadlines: Dec. 15 (Early Action) for first-year students and Feb. 15 for transfer students. First-year students interested in direct admission to the Bronson School of Nursing must apply for fall entry by Dec. 15. Learn more about admission criteria for these programs by visiting the Competitive Admission Program page. 

2023 graduation application cycle begins next week

The Registrar's Office will begin reminding eligible students of the Feb. 1 graduation application deadline via email early next week. The communication cycle will expand throughout December and January. There are two deadlines for graduation applications: Oct. 1 for April graduation and Feb. 1 for June, August and December graduations. For more information regarding application deadlines or the communication process, please contact John Scott.

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

Nearly 3,550 guest tickets have been reserved for the fall commencement ceremonies since the portal opened on Nov. 10. The deadline for graduates to reserve guest tickets is Monday, Dec. 12, at 11:59 p.m.