March 7, 2016

Midterm grading

We are in the final week of midterm grading for the spring semester. Midterm grading will remain open through Monday, March 14. Instructions for submitting midterm grades can be found on the Registrar's Office website.

Fall 2016 registration

Registration for the fall 2016 semester opens next Monday at 8 a.m. for graduate students. View the priority schedule.

Transfer course credit planning form

If you are working with a student who is planning to take a course at another institution during the summer, don't forget about the Transfer Course Credit Planning Form. This form allows students to obtain pre-approval that the course will transfer back to WMU. Once the student completes the form, they take it to their college advisor for approval along with a copy of the course description. The signed form should then be submitted to the Registrar's Office where it will be recorded and available when the transcript arrives from the guest institution.

FERPA

According to FERPA all notes made about a student that an institution maintains and shares with school officials are included in the definition of education records. This applies to notes produced and maintained in electronic as well as hard copy format and includes all e-mail correspondence.  

It is important to understand that notes are considered a part of the education record because that means notes are subject to disclosure under FERPA.  In the event the student invokes his/her right to inspect or review their education record, all student notes would need to be made available to the student. Notes would also be subject to disclosure if the education record is released to comply with a judicial order or subpoena.   

Sole possession notes are an exception.  Sole possession notes are made by one person as an individual observation or recollection of a student, and are kept in the possession of the maker. Sole possession notes are not subject to FERPA regulations. However, sharing the notes with another person or placing them where they can be viewed by others makes them “education records” and subject to FERPA.

With the move to imaging, Degree Works and electronic communication it is easier than ever to maintain information on a student, but we need be mindful that any information kept is subject to disclosure under FERPA.

Upcoming dates

  • Monday, Mar. 7—Last day to receive 25% refund for a complete withdrawal
  • Mar. 7 - 11—Spring Break (no classes - University is open)
  • Monday, Nov. 14—Last day to withdraw from classes
  • Apr. 25 - 29—Final exam week
  • Saturday, Apr. 30—Commencement
  • Tuesday, May 3—Final grades are due by noon