Registration (drop, add, withdraw)

Adding a class

WMU uses a Time Ticketing registration system based on the number of credit hours earned. The system does not take into account the credit hours for which a student is currently registered. The schedule can be found on the Registrar’s Office Website on the student tab. Choose the correct term under the registration header.
Priority registration is designated for the following groups only:

Athletes

Disabled Student Services
Lee Honors College
RAs
Trio

Classes cannot be added after the drop/add period ends except for extenuating circumstances as determined by the instructor. Should the instructor deem that a late add should be granted (and the student is not enrolled in any other WMU courses for that semester), the student will be assessed $100 per course late add fee.

Late Add Form

Waitlisting

Departments have the option to offer waitlisting for some of their sections. Students who put themselves on a waitlist will know that they are “in line” for the course and will not have to continue to try to register through GoWMU.

Chairs and Deans will be able to easily see the demand for those sections with waitlists, thus waitlisting can be used as an enrollment management tool.
Here's how it works -

• Students must satisfy all prerequisites and restrictions in order to put themselves on a waitlist.
• Students cannot put themselves on waitlists for courses which would cause time conflicts with other courses.
• When a seat becomes available in the section, the student will receive an automatic email letting them know that they have 24 hours to register for the course.
• If the student does not register within this time frame, that student will be automatically removed from the waitlist and the course will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.

It will be up to the department to decide whether or not to use waitlisting, it is not appropriate for all courses. For example, waitlisting cannot be used in linked courses.

Please note that if a section has students on a waitlist, students cannot be added to that section by WMU staff. Students on the waitlist have first priority for registration into that section.

Drop/Withdraw

Drop

Initiated by the student through the first five days of the semester or session. No documentation is required, but he student is encouraged to consult with the instructor, academic advisor, and financial aid advisor (if applicable). Dropped courses do not appear on the student’s transcript.

The sixth day of the semester is department clean-up day, the last day that departments have access to change student’s schedules. There is no academic or financial penalty for students whose schedules are update on clean-up day. At the end of the day, our census count will be taken to give our final enrollment numbers for that semester or session.

Withdrawals

Two types of withdrawals are possible, Student-initiated withdrawal and Hardship Panel-approved withdrawal. Courses from which the student withdraws will appear on the student’s transcript with a non-punitive "W" grade.

Students may not withdraw from courses or programs when any unresolved Academic Integrity charge exists or to avoid any academic penalty resulting from an Academic Integrity violation for which the student is found responsible. If a student has been found to withdraw from any or all courses or programs to avoid an Academic Integrity charge, the student shall be re-enrolled so that any such charges may be resolved.

Student-Initiated Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from one or more courses without academic penalty online through GoWMU, from the end of open registration until the last date for student-initiated withdrawal. No documentation is required, but the student is encouraged to consult with the instructor, academic advisor, and financial aid advisor (if applicable).

Hardship Panel-Approved Withdrawal

Withdrawal from a course at any time after the end of the student–initiated withdrawal period will only be permitted through the Hardship Panel withdrawal process of GAPDAC, and documentation as to the nature of the hardship is required. The Hardship Panel will determine if a hardship exists and whether a withdrawal is warranted. The decision of the Hardship Panel is final and not subject to further appeals. Except for documented and exceptional circumstances, hardship petitions will NOT be accepted more than one year after the end of the term or session for which the hardship was documented. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the University Ombuds before initiating a hardship-based withdrawal appeal.

Hardships may include (but not be limited to): severe physical or mental illness; injury of student or close family member; death of a close family member; act of violence; and exigencies of military service (where established procedures are not applicable). Examples of situations NOT considered a "hardship" include (but are not limited to): student dislikes course, teaching method or professor; student considers course too difficult; student has taken on more academic or other obligations than student can handle; change in major so course no longer needed; financial constraints; any situations of resolved or unresolved academic integrity charges.

Forms and Further Information

Appropriate forms may be obtained from the University Ombudsman office or Web site at www.wmich.edu/ombudsman

Specific deadlines and details concerning any tuition refund that may be allowed can be found online at the Registrar's Web site, www.wmich.edu/registrar/.