Admissions

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Western Michigan University admits students whose educational backgrounds indicate a high probability for success in college work.

Whether students apply online, mail the application, or have a one-on-one onsite admission, the major factors considered in the admission decision are grade point average, ACT/SAT scores (optional writing test recommended), college prep courses taken, and trend of grades. Additionally, other variables, such as letters of recommendation, the optional essay, and extra-curricular activities are reviewed.

WMU strongly recommends that applicants follow a college preparatory curriculum that would include minimally: four years of English; three years of mathematics, including intermediate algebra; three years of social sciences; two years of natural sciences; and two years of foreign language, especially for those students pursuing a major in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Offers of admission made to students still in high school are provisional pending graduation from high school and the University’s review of final senior year grades. Poor performance may result in a change of admission status or withdrawal of the admission offer.

In reviewing applications from prospective transfer students, the University makes decisions on the basis of previous college work (and high school grades if fewer than twenty-six semester hours will be transferred). At least a “C” average in transferable work is required for initial consideration.

Offers of admission made to students currently enrolled in another college or university are provisional, pending successful completion of work in progress. Poor performance may result in a change in admission status or withdrawal of the admission offer.

The University reserves the right to withdraw, revoke, and/or cancel an admission decision for any reason, and at any time, it deems warranted. This right shall also apply in instances when the University acquires information about an applicant or student after an admission decision is made.

Readmission

Students who make an initial enrollment at Western but do not return the following semester/term will have one year’s valid admission status in which to re-enroll, providing they left in good standing and have not attended another college since leaving WMU. After one year, students in good standing and with no college work since leaving WMU may reactivate their admission status by completing a readmission form.

Students who leave the University in good standing and subsequently take additional college work must complete a readmission form and have official transcripts sent from each institution attended. The readmission decision will be made under existing transfer admission standards.

Dismissed students applying for readmission must complete a readmission application and obtain an authorized college advisor’s approval for readmission. University students who have been dismissed will normally not be readmitted for at least one fifteen week semester. The University will require evidence that the causes of past academic problems have been removed before approving readmission.

Forgiveness Policy

WMU undergraduate students who have not earned a degree and have not attended the University for at least four years may apply for academic forgiveness through the Office of the Registrar. Students who are granted academic forgiveness may have work still applicable to their program counted toward graduation requirements, but grades will not be calculated in their grade point average. The WMU grade point average will be calculated from a minimum of twelve graded hours of work attempted after the re-entry date. All other University regulations apply. As a matter of course, the Registrar will advise students granted forgiveness to meet with a college advisor.

Freshman Applicants

To be considered for freshman admission, with no previous college work, applicants should:

1. Obtain an application (available from high school counselors, the Office of Admissions, or online at www.wmich.edu/admissions/undergradapp/, complete the applicant section, attach a non-refundable $35 application fee, and give the application to your high school counselor;
2. Have your high school counselor complete the school’s portion of the application and send it along with an official copy of your high school transcript directly to the Office of Admissions;
3. Make arrangements to take the examinations of the American College Testing (ACT) Program, or the College Board (SAT), with results sent directly to Western Michigan University (ACT College Code 2066; SAT College Code 1902); and
4. For those who have completed a General Educational Development (GED) Test, submit official GED scores as well as a high school transcript.

When to Apply

Students should submit applications for fall semester during the fall preceding their enrollment. High school students may apply for freshman admission after completion of the junior year. Application by December 15 ensures priority consideration for scholarships.

Admission Interviews

In order to make the best possible decision for an individual student, an admissions officer may require a personal interview to clarify or explain parts of the application materials.

Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) of the College Board provides the opportunity for students to earn college credit while still in high school. WMU awards credit for all AP areas. An AP score of three (3) or better will earn credit in all areas except physics, which requires four (4) or five (5). For those wishing to participate, have AP send a score report to WMU, College Code 1902.

Campus Visits

Whether you will be a freshman or transfer student, visiting campus is an important step in learning more about WMU. The Office of Admissions offers a variety of visit programs throughout the year, which include general information presentation and a walking tour of the main campus. For more information, or to arrange a visit, go online to www.wmich.edu/admission/undergraduate/visiting

Notification of Status

The University notifies freshman applicants of their admission status on a rolling basis. When all materials are on file and the Admissions Committee acts, students will receive written notice. The decision may be to admit; to request additional grades, test scores, or an interview; or to ask the applicant to begin at another school and transfer to the University after establishing a successful college record.

Admission of students to freshman status while they are still in high school is conditional upon their graduation from high school and the University’s review of their final grades. Poor performance in the senior year may cause a change in admission status or withdrawal of the admission offer.

Orientation

The foundation for an intellectually engaged and socially involved freshman class of students is established in the first year. Events and programs are offered that will assist students, enrich academic and campus life, and encourage retention. The First Year Experience program is designed to address those topics, and new students will receive information about the program following admission to WMU.

Transfer Applicants

To be considered for admission as a transfer from another college or university, students should:

1. Submit an application (available from community college counseling offices, the Office of Admissions, or online at www.wmich.edu/admissions/undergradapp/) with a $35 non-refundable application fee;
2. Request that each college attended send an official transcript directly to the Office of Admissions at WMU (transcripts brought or sent by the student cannot be accepted as official). Failure to report all colleges attended will invalidate the application and may result in dismissal if admitted. Transfer credit will not be granted for any schools not reported. Applicants currently enrolled at another institution should have a partial transcript sent to WMU. A provisional admission decision and partial credit evaluation can be made to allow for advising and registration. A final transcript showing acceptable grades must be received within the first term of enrollment at Western; and
3. If transferring fewer than twenty-six college semester hours, submit a high school transcript and ACT/SAT scores.

When to Apply

Applicants are strongly advised to submit all materials (application, fee, transcripts) in January to be considered for the Fall semester, in September for the Spring semester, and in December for Summer I or II sessions. All application materials must meet postmark deadlines of August 1 for Fall semester and December 1 for Spring semester.

Notification of Status

The University notifies transfers of their admission status on a rolling basis. When all materials are on file and the Admissions Committee acts, students receive notification. The decision may be to admit, to hold a decision for work in progress at another institution, or to suggest a student take more work before being accepted.

Admission of students attending another institution is provisional upon successful completion of the work in progress. Poor performance may change the admission status or cause withdrawal of the admission offer.

Credit Evaluation

Students Transferring to WMU

Students accepted for transfer to WMU will receive an evaluation of their previous college work, showing courses transferred with WMU equivalencies. Course equivalencies for Michigan’s public community colleges and other transfer information are available in the counseling offices of those community colleges or at the Office of Admissions web site www.wmich.edu/admissions. Credit transfer information for other institutions is also available from the Office of Admissions.

Transferable courses completed at another college will be accepted for credit only, and only courses in which a “C” or better was earned will be eligible for transfer. Grades earned in those classes will be used only to determine admissibility to the University; they will not be recorded on the WMU transcript. Credit earned by examination does not normally transfer to the University. Students who have taken AP or CLEP examinations should have official score reports sent to the Office of Admissions, according to the “Credit By Examination” information elsewhere in this catalog.

Western Michigan University normally accepts work taken at a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency (for example, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools). Work taken at a college or university accredited by an agency other than a regional accrediting agency may be accepted on a provisional basis, subject to validation. The validation process consists of successful, subsequent completion of 26 semester hours of course work at WMU or at another regionally accredited school with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Trend of the most recent grades also will be taken into account. The credit will be awarded after the validation has been completed.

Transfer credit from foreign institutions will be evaluated by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and credit awarded on a course-by-course basis depending on the result.

WMU Students Transferring Credit Back to WMU

All regulations and procedures concerning transfer of credit for new students also apply to WMU students who take work at other institutions to transfer back to Western. Before enrolling at another institution, WMU students should discuss course selection with their WMU academic advisor and a credit evaluator in the Office of Admissions to ensure transferability.

Advising/Registration

All admitted transfer students should make arrangements for an advising session with an appropriate WMU college advisor as soon as they have their admission materials and credit evaluation. At this session students will learn how transferred courses apply to the WMU major and will select courses for registration. Registration may be completed after the advising session. Admitted transfer students should call their college advising office directly to arrange an advising session. Transfer students should meet with their advisor and register during the registration periods available to current WMU students and should not wait until just before the beginning of classes.

Orientation

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services handles the special needs of international students by processing applications for admission, conducting orientation programs for new international students, assisting with housing arrangements, coordinating community programs involving international students, providing immigration advice, serving as liaison between students and their financial sponsors, and offering personal and social counseling. While at the University, international students are encouraged to participate in academic and social activities as their interests and time allow.

International students interested in seeking admission to Western Michigan University should contact the Office of International Student Services for application forms and instructions. The website is www.wmich.edu/oiss

To qualify for admission, international students must show that they are academically, financially, and linguistically capable of succeeding in full-time study. Before an international student can be admitted and the Certificate of Eligibility for a visa issued, the student must:

1. Complete an application form and return it to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services with a $100.00 application fee.
2. Provide complete and official transcripts of secondary and undergraduate studies as well as copies of diplomas, certificates or degrees earned. These must be translated into English and list course titles and grades (marks) received for each.
3. Provide proof of adequate funding per academic year. This funding amount includes tuition, room and board, books, health insurance, and miscellaneous expenses ($26,200 for undergraduate applicants). Personal/family savings must be verified by a bank statement. If sponsored by a government, an official letter must be submitted showing that the scholarship is valid for use at WMU, and indicating beginning and ending dates of validity.
4. Complete the Student and Dependent Information form.
5. Provide proof of English competency. The following tests and scores are accepted at Western Michigan University as measures of English competency. This requirement is waived for students from certain countries (see www.wmich.edu/oiss/cq.html).

   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) A score of 500 (173 CBT) is required for restricted admission (part-time remedial English and part-time academics during the first semester) or 550 (213 CBT) for unrestricted admission.
   Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) A score of 75 is required for restricted admission or 85 for unrestricted admission.
   General Certificate of Education Advanced Level Pass in English with grade of A, B, or C from one of the five British-based examining boards only. This is equivalent to a 550 TOEFL.
   International English Language Testing System (IELTS) using Modules A, B, or C (not the General Training Module). A score of 6.5 is required for restricted admission or 7.0 for unrestricted admission.
   International Baccalaureate (IB) A grade of 5 in English is required at the Higher Level for unrestricted admission.
   Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) A passing grade is required for unrestricted enrollment.
   Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) A passing grade is required for unrestricted enrollment.
   The College Board’s English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) A score of 950 is required for restricted enrollment or 965 for unrestricted enrollment.
   CELCIS Successful completion of the advanced level and instructor recommendations from CELCIS.

A prospective student may enroll in the WMU Career English Language Center for International Students (CELSIS) until achieving the required TOEFL score for academic enrollment. For more information, contact the CELSIS Office.

Alpha Program

The Alpha Program is a one-year conditional-admission academic support program for first-year students. The program provides developmental academic advising, alerts students to University resources, and requires attendance at skill- building workshops.

Consideration is given to those students who do not meet WMU’s regular admissions criteria but who have demonstrated the potential for college-level work. From this pool, the University’s Office of Admissions will select those students who appear to have the best chance for success. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility of applicants for admission as Alpha students.

Selected students and their parents or guardians are asked to sign a program contract accepting conditions of admission.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy is an accelerated teaching and learning development program that has been in existence at WMU since 1968. Named in honor of the late Dr. King, this particular program has the distinction of being the forerunner of similar programs in colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Initially, the program was funded through a grant from the Kellogg Foundation and was able to provide scholarships as well as remedial help to its participants. “Project 73,” the original name of the program, began in the fall of 1968 with sixty WMU freshmen coming from high schools throughout southwestern Michigan. It now is a year-round program, beginning in the fall of the student’s freshman year.

Beginning Fall 2001, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy was redesigned to recognize the academic achievement of students who have been awarded scholarships through the Cultural Diversity Scholarship and various other programs at Western Michigan University. The MLK Academy provides an opportunity for scholarship students to pursue their major areas of study and to join with other scholarship students in a variety of educational experiences that broaden their educational perspectives. The Academy strives to enhance the educational experience by creating a challenging, diverse, and friendly learning environment which in college.

MLK Academy students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs and activities, including:

• Exposure to and encouragement for international study.
• Academic enhancement programs, including faculty and professional staff mentors and faculty-guided research projects leading to advanced degrees.
• Support of peer-group leaders to enhance student learning and development activities.
• Affiliation with student organizations that enhance professional development.
• Introduction to career development programs and associated internships.
• Participate in community involvement and volunteerism (service learning projects).
• Attend a series of events featuring speakers that represent the growing multicultural community at WMU.

Requirements for Academy Participation

• Must be a recipient of an institutional scholarship awarded through the admission process.
• Attend fall orientation program.
• Attend bi-monthly meetings with Division of Multicultural Affairs staff and peer leaders.
• Maintain a cumulative WMU grade point average of 2.0 or above.

Non-degree Admission

Students who do not seek a degree and only wish to take classes will select this admission status. Students who have been enrolled in any academic institution within the preceding five years must meet the same admission requirements and follow the same admission procedures as degree-seeking students. Acceptance for non-degree status does not constitute degree admission to WMU. If a non-degree admitted student subsequently decides to apply to a specific WMU degree program, the applicant will be expected to meet all University and program-specific admission requirements. The time period for any “Non-degree Admission” status may not exceed four years from the time such admission status is granted. Applicants for non-degree admission:

1. Should complete a regular application for admission and indicate non-degree status for program choice;
2. may register for any course for which the prerequisites and/or course restrictions have been met; and
3. may enroll in subsequent terms for up to four years in non-degree status, providing they meet University probation and dismissal standards (see Academic Standards in the Registration, Records, and Regulations section of this catalog).

Certain University courses and financial aid may not be available to non-degree students.

Guest Students

Students who are currently in attendance and in good academic standing (at least a 2.0 grade point average) at another college or university may apply to Western Michigan University to take classes as a guest student. Guests should work with their home institution in advance to determine the appropriate classes to be taken at WMU. Guest admission does not constitute degree admission to WMU. Students seeking Guest status should use the guest application available from the Office of Admissions website www.wmich.edu/admissions or their current institution.

High School Dual Enrollees

Students who wish to take courses at the University while still in high school should submit a High School (Dual Enrollment) application (available from the Office of Admissions or from the Office of Admissions website). Seniors with at least a 3.25 high school grade point average will normally be admitted. Freshman through juniors with at least a 3.50 grade point average will be considered for enrollment on a case-by-case basis. In either instance, admission is as a guest student and does not constitute degree admission. Students who wish to apply for degree admission must be considered under regular admission standards.

Project Scope (Senior Citizens’ Opportunity Program in Education)

The following are the key features of the Senior Citizen’s Opportunity in Education Program:

1. Senior citizens (persons 62 years of age or older) may qualify.
2. Enrollees may register in one regularly scheduled class , tuition free, each semester or session on a seat-available basis during the drop/add period. The late registration fee is waived.
3. Enrollees may not register for credit.
4. Only academic facilities necessary for the performance in class are accessible to SCOPE participants. SCOPE enrollees do not have access to normal services available to regular students such as the Health Center, Student Recreation Center, student discounts, etc. Special identification cards are issues to SCOPE participants.
5. Regular, degree-seeking admission is not extended to enrollees so the admission application is waived.
6. Special course fees for materials, trips, etc. are assessed.
7. Specific courses may not be available to SCOPE students due to space availability.