Faculty/Staff

 

September 17, 2012

Fall 2012 Registration Changes

Adds

Students who wish to add a Fall 2012 course to their schedule can do so with the approval of the instructor and the department chair.   The registration will need to be done in the Registrar’s Office and a completed Permission to Late Add form is required, which can be found on the Registrar’s Office website at:

http://www.wmich.edu/registrar/pdf/forms/add%20late%20form.pdf

Students adding their first course after census (September 11) will be assessed a late add fee of $100 per class.

Withdraws

Today is the last day students can receive a 50% refund for withdrawing from individual classes.  After today, there is no refund for a partial withdraw.   Students withdrawing from all classes are eligible to receive a 50% refund through Friday, September 28. 

A 24-hour grace period is provided to students who drop a course that meets for the first time on or after the end of the drop/add period.  Students dropping a class within 24 hours of the start date should contact the Registrar’s Office to make sure they receive the correct refund.

Grade mode and credit hour changes

At this point in the semester students can no longer change from a letter grade to credit/no credit, or from credit/no credit to a letter grade.   Students are also unable to decrease credit hours in a variable credit course.   According to university policy, changes to the grade mode and the credit hour range can only be done through the end of the drop/add period.

Textbook Orders

The Spring 2013 textbook deadline is quickly approaching.  Please ensure all textbook orders are submitted by September 28 to keep WMU in full compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act requiring institutions to have textbook information available to students when the schedule of course offerings opens for viewing.  Step by step instructions on the textbook requisition process can be found on the faculty/staff tab of the Registrar’s Office website: www.wmich.edu/registrar.  

FERPA and Parents

As we welcome new students to campus we often receive inquires from parents who are used to having access to their child’s educational information. According to FERPA when a student begins attending a postsecondary institution regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer to the student. While parents understandably have an interest in their student’s academic success and progress, we are only permitted to provide them with directory information. WMU has designated the following items as directory information:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone number
• WMU e-mail address
• Curriculum and major field of study
• Dates of attendance
• Enrollment status (full/part-time)
• Degrees/awards received
• Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight/height of members of athletic teams.

Students have the option of setting up Authorized User Access through GoWMU to grant third party individuals the ability to view certain academic, financial aid and account information. This does not allow faculty or staff to release the information, but it does provide an avenue for students to give their parents access to select information on-line.

Working Reports

Summer I and Summer II 2013 working reports are available in Cognos for departments to review.  Working reports do not have to be returned this round, but all edits must be completed in Banner by the end of the day on Friday, October 12.   If you require Banner training or have questions during the editing, please contact Laura Thomas at laura.thomas@wmich.edu.

Upcoming Dates

• Monday, September 17—Last day to receive a 50% refund for a partial withdraw
• Friday, September 21—Academic Convocation at 2:00 p.m. in Dalton
• Friday, September 28—Last day to receive a 50% refund for a complete withdraw
• Friday, September 28—Deadline to enter Spring 2013 textbook information
• Monday, October 1—First work grade due
• Monday, October 1—Spring 2013 schedule opens for viewing
• Monday, October 15—Spring 2013 registrations begins
• Wednesday, October 24—Last day to receive a 25% refund for a complete withdraw
• Sunday, October  28—Midterm grades due
• Monday, November  5—Last day to withdraw
• Wednesday, November 21—Thanksgiving recess starts at noon
• Monday, November 26—Classes resume
• Tuesday, Dec. 18—Final grades due at noon