Glossary of Terms

Academic advisor
A faculty or professional staff member trained to help students select courses and plan programs.

Academic Conduct Hearing Process
Describes the steps involved when a student is charged with academic misconduct. This process is managed and facilitated by the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office and is described in the Student Code at wmich.edu/conduct/code. _{^{(MOA 19/03)}}

Academic dismissal
Dismissal from a college or program for not maintaining the required grade point average (GPA). Dismissal indicates that a student is no longer a member of the University community.

Academic forgiveness
WMU undergraduate students who have not earned a degree and have not attended the University for at least four years, and have reapplied to the University, 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 12 graded hours of work attempted after the reentry date. All other University regulations apply.

Academic misconduct
Relates to violations of academic integrity, and the associated policies and procedures that are outlined in the Student Code. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Academic standing
The academic standing of a student is determined by the student’s grade point average (GPA). All undergraduate students must have a 2.0 or better grade point average to maintain “good standing”. A “warning” will be issued to a student whose GPA falls below a 2.0 in any semester or session even though the overall GPA is 2.0 or better. A student will be placed on “probation” if the overall GPA falls below 2.0. The student will be placed on “extended probation” following a semester on probation if the student’s GPA for the enrollment period is 2.0 or above but the overall GPA is still below 2.0. The student will be placed on “final probation” following a semester on extended probation if the student’s GPA for the enrollment period is 2.0 or above but the overall GPA is still below 2.0. Students will receive a “dismissal” notice if they are on probation or extended probation and fail to achieve at least a 2.0 GPA for the enrollment period.

Advanced credit
Credit granted for examination programs or for transfer work.

Asynchronous Online
Asynchronous Online courses meet exclusively online through the learning management system (Elearning/D2L) and require no in-person or synchronous online meetings. Instruction and course content are delivered asynchronously but may offer option synchronous sessions for collaborative work, virtual office hours, and/or other course-related activities. Exams and other assessments may also be time limited or held on specific days and times. _{^{(MOA 22/02)}}

Auditing a course
Registering for and attending class(es) regularly without being held responsible for the work required for credit. Not eligible to sit for examinations. No credit hours are earned and full tuition must be paid. The grade “AU” appears on the record.

Bachelor’s degree
A degree granted after completing a specified amount of academic study beyond the completion of high school and fulfilling all graduation requirements.

Board
A term used for the meal plan (as in, room and board) at the University.

Capstone course or experience
A culminating holistic experience designed to review and more broadly understand the major issues, themes, theories, and research findings of the student’s discipline, often to enable the student to examine the relationship of the discipline to other areas.

Center
A unit formed for purposes of linkage and visibility, focused on a theme, issue, or set of skills. A center will frequently be interdisciplinary in nature. A center does not offer degree programs but may, on rare occasions, offer a course or courses. _{^{(MOA 24/06)}}

Class or credit hour load
The number of credit hours carried by a student each semester or session. A first semester freshman may not enroll for more than eighteen hours of work except by special permission, which is seldom granted unless the curriculum demands it. This regulation applies to total credit for work taken by extension or in some other institution, in addition to credit earned in residence at Western. The normal maximum load for the summer I or summer II session is nine hours.

Class standing
A classification based on the number of credit hours earned which indicates the level of a student:

• Freshman: A student credited with 0—25 hours inclusive.
• Sophomore: A student credited with 26—55 hours inclusive.
• Junior: A student credited with 56—87 hours inclusive.
• Senior: A student credited with 88 or more hours.

Co-Curricular Learning
Co-curricular learning takes place outside formal academic studies. It is similar to volunteerism, but includes structured reflection. (See Experiential Learning) ^{_{(MOA 14/05)}}

Cognate
A course, or a group of courses, related to a major or minor. Cognates may include courses from outside the department of the degree program. Courses used as cognates do not count towards the minimum 24 hours required for the major and may be used to satisfy requirements in another major, minor, or other academic program. _{^{(MOA 23/01)}}

Concentration
A concentration (or option or emphasis) is a thematically coherent block of courses that are more similar to one another than to others in the degree program. A concentration has a title and constitutes a significant percentage (e.g., 10%) of courses in the degree program. Concentrations (or options or emphases) may be recorded on the student transcript.

College
An administrative division of the University housing one or more academic departments or schools.

College-level writing requirement
A lower-division writing requirement for all students. On the basis of test scores a basic writing course may be required as a prerequisite.

Continuing education unit (CEU)
Recognition for participation in a non-credit program or workshop.

Coordinate major
A major—often interdisciplinary—that must be taken in conjunction with another major.

Corequisite
A course that must be taken at the same time as another course. See also Prerequisite below.

Course numbering system
The course numbering system is limited to four digits. Undergraduate courses are numbered from 1000 through 4999. Graduate courses are numbered 6000 through 7999. Courses numbered 5000 through 5999 are for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Credit/No Credit
A method used to evaluate performance in courses which is separate from the grade point system. Course grade does not affect GPA. “Credit” is earned for grades of “C” or better; grades of “DC” or below earn “No Credit.”

Students may elect for Credit/No Credit any course approved for WMU Essential Studies or General Physical Education credit, as well as other courses not counting toward their major or specified in their curriculum as defined in this undergraduate catalog.

Credit hour
One hour of classroom (50 minutes) or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit; or at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. See also “semester hour.”

Credit load
The total number of credits for which a student registers during a semester or session.

Cross-Level Courses
The term, “cross-level courses,” refers to an offering of two courses, one undergraduate and one graduate, with the same title/subject code, meeting pattern, location and instructor. ^{_{(MOA 24/04)}} 

Cross-Listed Courses
Cross-listed courses are two or more courses offered by different departments, which share the same content and student experiences. Cross-listed courses are considered equivalent courses and a student may only receive credit for the most recent enrollment.

Curricula
Requirements that apply to a larger group of majors, or applies to all students enrolled in a specific college. _{^{(MOA 23/01)}}

Curriculum
A complete program of studies, as defined by a college, leading to a baccalaureate (undergraduate) degree. 

Deadline
The date by which certain information must be received by any given office or unit.

Dean’s list
A public announcement at the end of fall and spring semesters, and the summer sessions, listing students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 in at least twelve semester hours of course work during fall and spring semesters, and at least six semester hours of work during summer I or summer II. Upon recommendation from a dean to the Registrar, a student who did not qualify for the Dean’s List in a specific semester or session solely due to incomplete grade(s) may retroactively receive the Dean’s List honor so long as the GPA and credit hour qualifications are met when the incomplete grade(s) are removed. _{^{(MOA 21/03)}}

Degree student
A student who has been admitted to a degree category and is seeking a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in a planned course of study.

Drop
Initiated by the student during the WMU open registration period online through GoWMU. No documentation is required, but the 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. _{^{(MOA 24/08)}}

Elective
A course which will count as credit toward a degree but is not a specific program requirement.

Emphasis, Track, or Focus Area
A set of related courses within a major that provide a student with a specialization in an area that may prove advantageous in their future careers. These are not reported on the diploma or in a student’s transcript but can be used by the student on their resume. _{^{(MOA 23/01)}}

Experiential Learning
Western Michigan University defines “experiential learning” as that which “informs many methodologies, in which educators purposefully engage with students in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people’s capacity to contribute to their communities” [Association for Experiential Education and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)]. Experiential leaning includes, but is not limited to:

Service Learning: Service learning is a mutually beneficial endeavor in which course learning objectives are met by addressing community-identified needs–putting academics into practice.
Co-Curricular Learning: Co-curricular learning takes place outside formal academic studies. It is similar to volunteerism, but includes structured reflection.
Volunteerism: Refers to work done without financial remuneration in order to give back to the community and may be completed by individual students or organized group activities. It may be done on a voluntary basis or as required for an academic course, program or other campus organization.
^{_{(MOA 14/05)}}

Faculty member
Any person hired by the University to conduct teaching activities, research, or who is otherwise considered by the University to be a member of its faculty. Synonymous with “instructor”. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
This act limits information which can be disclosed about individual students’ records without their written permission to general Directory information (name, address, telephone number, curriculum, and major field of study). All requests for information beyond Directory information should be referred to the Registrar’s Office.

Field experience, practicum, work experience, co-op

Field experience: Actual practice, often away from the college campus, in a practical or service situation. In a teacher education program, it is usually conducted in schools.

Practicum: 1) A course of instruction aimed at closely relating the study of theory and practical experience, both usually carried on simultaneously; 2) an academic exercise consisting of study and practical work; and 3) supervised experience in counseling or a similar activity through such procedures as role-playing, recorded interviews, abstraction, analysis, and supervisory evaluation with interviewing techniques. 

Work experience, co-op, or internship: A sponsored learning experience in an occupational area for persons preparing for full-time employment, conducted in connection with a course of study, where the students spend a part of their time on an actual job in a school, business, or industry.

Cooperative education: A program for persons enrolled in a school that provides for parallel or alternating study in school with a job in industry or business, the two experiences being so planned and supervised cooperatively by the school and the employer that each contributes definitely to the students’ development in their chosen occupation.

Cooperative program: An organizational pattern of instruction which involves regularly scheduled employment and which gives students an opportunity to apply classroom learning.

Full-time student
An undergraduate student who enrolls for twelve credit hours during fall or spring or for six credit hours during summer I or summer II. The University does allow full-time status to some co-op and intern classes, when it is the only class allowed a student during a semester or session. University Housing has its own regulations on the definition of hours needed to be eligible for housing contracts. Students should contact the University Housing Office for this information. The above definitions are Western Michigan University regulations and may or may not be accepted by other agencies.

Fully Synchronous Online
Fully Synchronous Online courses meet exclusively through distance education technologies according to the pre-scheduled meeting days and times as indicated in Banner. As an example, a synchronous online course might stream its content and engage students in discussion via a web conferencing platform during the typical time frame employed for in-person classes (i.e., TR 9:30-10:45 a.m. or W 4- 6:30 p.m.) The learning management system (Elearning/D2L) and other distance and collaboration technologies are used to facilitate activities such as discussion, collaborative exercises, distribution of materials, collection of deliverables, grades, etc. ^{_{(MOA 22/02)}}

Gate course
A course in fundamentals in which a student must achieve a grade of “C” or “Credit” in order to qualify for enrollment in upper division courses of a curriculum.

Good standing
A designation that signifies that a student is eligible to continue, to return, or to transfer elsewhere. It implies good academic standing; that is, an overall GPA of 2.00 or better.

Grade point
The numerical value given to letter grades. For example. an “A” is equivalent to 4 points per semester hour, a “BA” to 3.5 points, a “B” to 3 points and so on. No points are earned for an “E” grade. Also referred to as “honor points.”

Grade point average (GPA)
A student’s scholastic average computed by dividing total grade or honor points by total credit hours attempted.

Graduation audit
A formal, required evaluation of the student’s academic record and program of study to determine the student’s eligibility for graduation. The audit, initiated by a student’s application for graduation, determines whether all University, degree, and program requirements have been met satisfactorily.

Deadlines for all degree recipients to apply for graduation are October 1 for spring graduation, February 1 summer I, summer II and fall graduation.

Students who change a graduation date need to complete a new application for graduation. No fee for the change is required. The Registrar’s Office will not change a student’s graduation date unless the student submits this new application for graduation.

Grant
Financial assistance awarded to a student which does not have to be repaid; usually based on need.

Guest student
A degree student from another college who is taking courses at Western Michigan University for one semester. The credits earned are usually transferred back to the student’s home institution. A guest student may also wish to enroll in WMU courses for reasons other than seeking a degree. Guest student status does not constitute admission to a degree or certificate program.

Hardship Panel-approved withdrawal
Withdrawal from a course at any time after the end of the student-initiated withdrawal period is effectively a grade change. As such, it will be permitted only through the Grade Appeal Process, as described in the section, Students Rights and Responsibilities, “Course Grade and Program Dismissal Appeals.” To change an assigned grade to “W,” documented hardship must be determined to have existed by a GAPDAC Hardship Assessment Panel, as described in the section, Students Rights and Responsibilities, “Hardship Status”. _{^{(MOA 24/08)}}

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. All petitions filed after the one year timeline must be granted an exception by the Office of the Provost prior to consideration by the Hardship Assessment Panel.

The student is strongly encouraged to consult with the University Ombuds before initiating a hardship-based withdrawal appeal.

Hold
A barrier placed on a student’s ability to register for classes as a result of an unfulfilled monetary obligation or other action by the University.

Honors
Designation indicated on the college degree and transcript to reflect outstanding scholarship. Honors are conferred upon graduating students who have displayed a high level of performance during their university career. Recipients of honors receive their degrees:

Cum laude - student’s grade point average is 3.50 to 3.69, inclusive

Magna cum laude - student’s grade point average is 3.70 to 3.89, inclusive

Summa cum laude - student’s grade point average is 3.90 to 4.00, inclusive

To be eligible for honors, students must have earned at least thirty semester hours of course work at Western Michigan University which was graded by a letter grade and computed into the final cumulative grade point average.

Honors College (Lee Honors College)
An academic administrative unit of the University whose mission is to design and foster curricular and co-curricular programs for the academically-talented student.

Honors courses
Special courses offered by Western’s Lee Honors College designed to pose intellectual challenge and give personal attention to particularly able students.

Hybrid
Hybrid courses meet both physically and online with 51%[1] or more of the instruction occurring through distance education technologies in a synchronous or asynchronous format. It is strongly encouraged that in-person sessions are dedicated to active and experiential learning experiences that are not easily replicated online. In-person meeting dates, times, and location must be indicated in Banner. _{^{(MOA 22/02)}}

HyFlex
HyFlex courses are a responsive approach to course design that is a blending of “Hybrid” and “flexible,” which give students the choice of how to attend a course throughout the semester – online (synchronous, asynchronous, or a combination) or “face-to-face” (in-person). How that preference is managed, whether daily, weekly, or topically, depends on the college, department, and course context, as well as classroom and instructional capacity. Currently, HyFlex is not a registration option in Banner, and students will need to choose a modality for course registration. _{^{(MOA 22/02)}}

In-Person
In-Person courses that meet physically in classrooms, laboratories, and/or other instructional spaces in accordance with the existing meeting days and times scheduled in Banner. The learning management system (Elearning/D2L) and/or distance education technology may be incorporated to facilitate collaboration, instructional consultation or other activities outside of the physical meeting spaces. Course capacity is subject to Western Michigan University’s current on-campus guidelines and protocols. _{^{(MOA 22/02)}}

Incomplete
A temporary course grade (“I”) granted only if a student is temporarily unable to complete course requirements because of unusual circumstances beyond the control of the student.

Independent studies or readings courses
Independent studies or readings courses are courses in which a contract is developed between a faculty member and a student to complete research in, or readings on, a specific topic. The student is responsible for proposing the topic and contacting the appropriate faculty member.

Independent study
A course of study undertaken outside the classroom by a student under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

Institute
An organizational unit similar in nature to a center, as defined above, but which is degree-granting. Typically. an institute will be interdisciplinary. Course work for a degree offered through an institute may include some offered by the institute itself but will be primarily comprised of courses in various disciplines/departments already in existence.

Instructor
Synonym for “faculty member”. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Intellectual skills requirements
The requirement that all students demonstrate entry-level competency in reading, writing, and mathematics by test or course.

Interdisciplinary
Designating a combination of subject matter from two or more disciplines within a course or program.

Interdisciplinary Programs
Interdisciplinary programs are academic programs that include courses from more than one department. Interdisciplinary programs may be intra-college or inter-college. ^{_{(MOA 23/01)}}

Internship
Work in a firm or agency related to a student’s major program and/or career plans. Usually involves earning college credit and may involve receiving payment.

Late drop
An official procedure for withdrawing from individual classes without removing registration from all classes that takes place after the last day to drop a course without academic penalty.

Loan
Financial assistance to students which must be repaid. Low interest loans are available and financial need may or may not be a factor.

Lower division
Courses at the 1000-2000 level; freshman or sophomore standing.

Major
A major is the primary field of study for an undergraduate or graduate student. Undergraduate majors must have at least 24 credit hours. ^{_{(MOA 23/01)}}

Michigan residence requirements
The requirements for identifying or establishing permanent residence in Michigan for tuition assessment purposes.

Minor
Undergraduate programs of 15 or more credit hours of courses representing a student’s secondary field of study. ^{_{(MOA 23/01)}}

Multi-topic or “umbrella” course
A variable topic course that focuses on a current or a special interest in a specific field or academic area. The course may be repeated for credit with different topics.

Non-degree student
A student who has been admitted as a guest student or is not currently seeking a bachelor’s degree.

Part-time student
An undergraduate student who takes fewer than twelve hours during a semester or fewer than six hours during a session.

Partially Synchronous Online
Partially Synchronous Online courses are facilitated through the learning management system (Elearning/D2L) and require no in-person sessions but will incorporate periodic synchronous sessions when the subject matter requires real-time demonstration, collaboration, and/or interaction. Required synchronous sessions should be made clear to students on syllabi so that they can coordinate their academic, personal, and work schedules. _{^{(MOA 22/02)}}

Portfolio
A collection of work (e.g., paintings, writings, etc.) which may be used to demonstrate competency in an academic area.

Prerequisite
A requirement, usually the completion of another course, which must be met before a student may register for a course.

Prerequisite with concurrency
A requirement, usually the completion of another course, which may be taken at the same time as the course it is a prerequisite for.

Readmission
An enrollment procedure administered by the Office of Admissions that is followed by a student who was previously enrolled at Western Michigan University but who has not been enrolled for one year or more.

Re-entry
An enrollment procedure followed by a student who was previously enrolled at Western Michigan University but whose attendance was interrupted for three (3) consecutive semesters, including the summer session.

Registration
The process of enrolling in and paying tuition and fees for courses each semester or session. For a full explanation of the registration procedures and regulations, consult the Registrar’s website.

Reinstatement
An appeal procedure for a student who has been dismissed. Consult your college advising office to begin the procedure. Readmission must be sought in the area of intended study.

Research Misconduct
Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or other practices that seriously deviate from those commonly accepted within the academic community for proposing, performing, reviewing or in reporting research results. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Residence requirement
The requirement that a minimum of 30 semester hour of course work for the bachelor’s degree be completed at Western Michigan University. In addition, 10 of the last 30 credits must be completed at WMU.

Responsible/Not Responsible
In the Academic Conduct Hearing Process, a finding of “responsible” occurs when a student accepts responsibility for a charge of academic misconduct, the faculty member so decides in an instructor hearing, or an Academic Integrity Hearing Panel so decides by majority vote. Decisions will be made on the basis of whether a reasonable person would conclude that it is more likely than not that the student has violated. Academic or conduct sanctions may be imposed upon a finding of responsible. A finding of “not responsible” means that a charge of academic misconduct is dismissed and no sanctions are imposed. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Sanction
The result of a finding of responsibility for a violation of the Student Code. Sanctions may be used in combination or separately. Sanction determination is based on the severity of the current offense, and/or previous offenses (if any), and/or the current conduct status of the student found responsible, and/or the threat to the health, safety, property of any person, and/or any other reasonable factor. Student Code sanctions are in addition to sanctions that can be imposed in other University forums such as, but not limited to, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics or employment situations. ^{_{(MOA 19/03)}}

Scholarship
Financial assistance to students awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement. Financial need may or may not be a factor.

School
A single-discipline unit which has an identification in the public mind beyond that of a department. Schools may have significant subdivisions such that students will apply for admission and take degrees through the subdivision rather than through the central unit as a whole.

Semester
A unit of time, 15 weeks long, in the academic calendar.

Semester hour
One hour of classroom (50 minutes) or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit; or at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. See also “credit hour.”

Senior institution
An institution of higher learning offering baccalaureate programs. Western Michigan University is a public senior institution; a minimum of sixty hours toward the bachelor’s degree must be completed at a senior institution.

Service Learning
Service learning is a mutually beneficial endeavor in which course learning objectives are met by addressing community-identified needs–putting academics into practice. (See Experiential Learning) ^{_{(MOA 14/05)}}

Session
A unit of time, 7-1/2: weeks long, in the academic calendar.

Short-Term Military Obligation
Any sequential or non-sequential absence may total no more than 15% of scheduled class meeting time. Military orders must provide the student’s name, start and end date of the absence, military organization’s name, and must be signed. ^{_{(MOA 19/04)}}

Student employment
Part-time jobs made available to students with financial need through federally-funded programs (Work-Study) and to students without need through the Student Employment Office.

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). _{^{(MOA 24/08)}}

Teachable major/minor
A state-approved major/minor program for teacher certification at the secondary and/or elementary level.

Three-quarter time student
Three-quarter time undergraduate students are defined as taking nine to eleven hours during a semester and five hours during a session.

Transcript
A copy of a student’s permanent academic record at a particular institution.

Transfer credit
Credit earned at another accredited higher education institution and accepted towards a Western Michigan University degree. Grades earned at another institution do not transfer and hence do not affect the WMU GPA.

Transfer credit evaluation
An official statement which indicates the number and type of transfer credits awarded.

Tuition
The amount of money which must be paid for courses based on the number of credits for which the student registers.

Unit definitions
Center: An organizational unit formed for purposes of linkage and visibility, focused on a theme, issue, or set of skills. A center will frequently be interdisciplinary in nature. A center does not offer degree programs but may, on rare occasions, offer a course or courses.

Institute: An organizational unit similar in nature to a center, as defined above, but which is degree-granting. Typically an institute will be interdisciplinary. Course work for a degree offered through an institute may include some offered by the institute itself but will be primarily comprised of courses in various disciplines/departments already in existence.

School: A single-discipline organizational unit which has an identification in the public mind beyond that of a department. Schools may have significant subdivisions such that students will apply for admission and take degrees through the subdivision rather than through the central unit as a whole.

Unit of credit
The unit of credit is the semester hour; the number of semester hours credit given for a course generally indicates the number of periods a class meets each week.

Upper-level
Classification of students with 56 or more semester hours of credit earned towards a bachelor’s degree; courses at the 3000, 4000, and 5000 levels.

Volunteerism
Refers to work done without financial remuneration in order to give back to the community and may be completed by individual students or organized group activities. It may be done on a voluntary basis or as required for an academic course, program or other campus organization. (See Experiential Learning) ^{_{(MOA 14/05)}}

Withdrawals
Two types of withdrawal 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. ^{_{(MOA 24/08)}}

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. _{^{(MOA 24/08)}}

WMUx
Graduate courses and programs offered in the Regional Locations of Battle Creek, Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Metro Detroit, Traverse City, or elsewhere away from the Kalamazoo campus.