Academic Standing (Scholarship Standards)
Good Academic Standing
A student is in good academic standing if s/he has a cumulative grade point average that is not below 2.00.

High Scholarship
Graduation Cum Laude or Magna Cum Laude is possible from those divisions of Western Washington University which employ the A - F grading systems: The College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Sciences and Technology, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Fine and Performing Arts, the Woodring College of Education and Huxley College of the Environment. Fairhaven College of Interdiscipilinary Studies, which employs a different grading system, may develop alternate ways to honor outstanding graduates, subject to approval of the Academic Coordinating Commission.

To be eligible for cum laude or magna cum laude status upon graduation, the student must have earned at least 90 credits from Western Washington University, at least 65 of which must be for courses completed under the A-F grading system while in junior or senior standing. Only students who earn a first bachelor's degree are eligible for graduation honors.

Within each college which awards cum laude or magna cum laude status upon graduation, the determining factor in granting such distinction shall be based upon the honors grade average. The honors grade average is computed using only the grades earned at Western Washington University after the quarter in which the student attains junior standing, but excluding grades in courses subsequently repeated and excluding all grades earned prior to approval of a "fresh start" grade average.

Magna cum laude shall be awarded to each student whose honors grade average places him or her at the 97th percentile or higher among graduating seniors during the previous academic year. Cum laude shall be awarded to each student whose honors grade average placed him or her from the 92nd through the 96th percentile among graduating seniors during the previous academic year.

Quarterly President's List
Each undergraduate student whose quarterly grade average places him or her at the 90th percentile or higher among students of the same class (freshman, sophomore, etc.) shall be placed on the President’s List. The term “honor roll” shall be affixed to the student’s permanent academic record for that quarter. To be eligible for the quarterly President’s List, a student must be enrolled officially in a division of Western Washington University which employs the A - F grading system and must complete at least 14 credits that quarter on that grading system.

Low Scholarship
The University has set the standards described below to assure that students who are earning poor marks will examine carefully their objectives before continuing enrollment. In some cases, students will be dropped from the University. The standards are designed to assure that this action is taken before a student’s record deteriorates to the point that reinstatement or admission to another college becomes impossible. In all cases involving poor scholarship, students are encouraged to consult with their advisers, instructors, or the Academic Advising Center. The low scholarship categories below apply to all divisions of Western Washington University, except Fairhaven College. (See the WWU General Catalog for scholarship standards in this division of WWU.) Students dropped from one college division may not transfer to another college division without reinstatement by the appropriate academic committee (Master’s students see section pertaining to low scholarship in WWU General Catalog).

Academic Warning is issued to a first-quarter freshman whose grade average is below 2.0 and to any continuing student whose quarterly grade average is below 2.0 but whose cumulative grade average is 2.0 or higher.

Academic Probation is the status assigned to (a) any student except a first-quarter freshman whose cumulative grade average falls below 2.0, (b) a transfer student admitted by special action of the Admissions Committee.

Continuing Probation is the status assigned to a student who begins a quarter on probation and, during the quarter, earns a grade average of 2.0 or higher without raising his/her cumulative grade average to at least 2.0. The student must then improve his/her cumulative grade average to at least 2.0 or attain at least a 2.3 quarterly average during the next quarter of enrollment.

Academic Dismissal will result if a student (a) begins a quarter on probation and earns a quarterly grade average below 2.0 or (b) begins a quarter on continuing probation and fails to raise his/her cumulative grade average to at least 2.0 or, alternatively, fails to attain at least a 2.3 quarterly average.

Removal from Probation occurs at the end of the quarter during which a student has improved his/her cumulative grade average to 2.0 or higher. This must be done within two quarters after being placed on probation or academic dismissal will result (see “Continuing Probation”).

Reinstatement: Students who have been dismissed for low scholarship can seek reinstatement by submitting a petition to the Scholastic Standing Committee. Petitions for reinstatement and information on the procedure are available in Academic Advising and Tutorial Services, Old Main 380. Deadlines are April 1 for Summer quarter, July 5 for Fall, October 15 for Winter, and January 15 for Spring.

A student who has been dismissed for low scholarship may not enroll for Western courses except for Summer Session courses, non-program extension courses, and contract study and correspondence courses. Course work through these programs does not guarantee future reinstatement as a degree candidate.

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Address Change
Students are responsible for notifying the Registrar’s Office when their address(es) change. Address changes may be made via the Web4U Address Change Form. Address changes cannot be made over the telephone.

There are no restrictions on the number of graduate courses counted toward the baccalaureate degree. A senior who later enters a master’s program at WWU may under certain conditions count up to nine quarter credits toward the master’s degree as long as the credit was not used for the baccalaureate degree, and appropriate department and Graduate School approvals are given.

NOTE: Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students cannot enroll in 600-level courses.
Post-baccalaureate students may enroll for some 500-level courses. All prerequisites must be met and permission obtained from the department.

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1. College Entrance Examination Board Advance Placement Examinations in certain subjects. The department concerned determines the minimum acceptable score.
2. One quarter of successful performance in an advanced course in a sequence which is developmental in nature can, upon departmental recommendation, qualify a student for credit for the preceding course; admission to the advanced course is subject to permission of the department.
3. Challenge examination of WWU course work approved and prepared by the department concerned.

Regulations Governing Course Challenges:

1. Students desiring to challenge a course should apply to the Testing Center by the fourth week of the quarter. The time and procedure to be followed in completing the evaluative process will be announced by the Testing Center. A special fee is charged for each challenge examination. Fees are listed in the current WWU General Catalog.
2. The result of the challenge is recorded as “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory” on the student’s permanent record and is not used in computing grade point averages.
3. The challenge application will normally be denied:
   1. if the student is currently enrolled in the course;
   2. if the student has previously established credit for a similar course at this or another college;
   3. if the student has previously failed the course;
   4. if the student has previously challenged the course and failed;
   5. if the student has previously audited the course;
   6. if, in the judgment of the Testing Center, in consultation with the department concerned, the challenge procedure is inappropriate;
   7. if the student is in his/her final quarter prior to graduating and the course is part of the General University Requirements;
   8. if, in the judgment of the academic department, the student has not demonstrated sufficient familiarity to have a reasonable chance of passing a challenge examination.

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Building Symbols
The prefixes before room numbers signify the following buildings:

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Cancellation for Non-Payment
Tuition/fees and housing payments are due the first day of the quarter. Charges incurred on or after the payment deadline are due immediately. A late fee of $75 is applied if charges are not paid by the quarterly payment deadline: Fall - October 15; Winter - January 15; Spring - April 15; Summer - July 15.

A one percent interest charge will be assessed monthly on all past due accounts. Failure to pay an overdue balance will result in withdrawal from all classes and assessment of a reinstatement fee of $10 per credit.

Once the non-payment withdrawal action has been taken, it is possible to be reinstated by the final day of the quarter, but only with full payment of outstanding charges, late and reinstatement fees described above. Reinstatements are not made after the end of the quarter.

Warning notices are sent via University email accounts -- be sure to activate your WWU email account and check it frequently.

Class Attendance
Any student who fails to attend the first meeting of a class for which s/he has registered may be required to drop the class if another student, previously unable to register for the class due to enrollment limitations, seeks admission. Students who are required to withdraw from a course due to failure to attend the first class meeting must complete the course-drop procedure themselves.

Course Fees
Special course and lab fees are listed and updated regularly in the online Timetable and in Classfinder.

100-199 first-year courses
200-299 second-year courses
300-399 third-year courses
400-499 fourth-year courses
500-599 open only to graduate students
600-699 post-master degree courses

Students are not permitted to take courses more than one year above their class standing except in unusual circumstances.

Course Reference Numbers
Indicate CRNs on all registration forms (e.g. 13002). All Fall Quarter CRNs begin with a 4, Winter Quarter CRNs begin with a 1, and Spring Quarter CRNs begin with a 2.

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Course Repeats
A few courses are approved to be repeated for credit. Such approval is included with the course description in the WWU General Catalog. If a course not designated as repeatable for credit is retaken, the following will apply:

1. Credit will be awarded only once for a repeated course.
2. All grades earned will be considered in calculation of the cumulative grade average and all grades remain on the record. The grade assigned for the final time the course is taken will nullify any previous credit earned, e.g. a failing grade assigned subsequent to earning a passing grade in a repeated course will nullify the credit earned initially with the passing grade.
3. Students wishing to repeat a class in which they have already received a P, S, C-, or better grade, may not register for the class until Phase III of registration, except in the case of students needing to retake English composition or a public speaking course for admission to teacher education to achieve a grade of B- or better.
4. The repeat registration for English composition or public speaking course prior to Phase III requires the written permission of the chair of the respective department.
5. Students who register to repeat a course must file a Course Repeat Card with the Registrar's Office. Unless this card is filed, the repeat may not be detected until the graduation evaluation, at which time cumulative credits will be reduced.
6. Master's degree students are not permitted to repeat courses.

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Credits and Credit Load
Credit is awarded for courses only in the quarter in which they are taken.

Classes will be assigned one credit for each hour of classroom discussion or lecture, and one credit for every two hours of laboratory or practice/rehearsal involving some preparation or reporting.

Classes using different formats for at least part of the course will be assigned credit for amounts and types of work equivalent to those described above. When such a component is proposed, the type and amount of work involved must be described in detail. In particular, the activity for which credit is assigned must be structured and occur at regular or periodic intervals throughout the course, and faculty must supervise and evaluate students' work in this activity.

Since each hour in a course requires two additional hours of study, and since students usually register for several courses, Western has established the following credit load policies for undergraduate students.

1. The standard load per quarter for undergraduates is 15 credits; during the first quarter of residence, a load must not exceed 17 credits. Before registering for more than 15 credits, students should consult with their advisers.
2. After the first quarter of residence, the maximum allowable load is 20 credits per quarter.
3. An employed student is expected to reduce his or her academic program and credit load accordingly.

Students are limited to registering for a maximum of 17 credits during Phase I to allow all students an opportunity to develop a basic schedule. Additional credits may be added during Phases II and III. Students may register for a maximum of twenty credits per quarter, however there is a surcharge for taking more than 18 credits.

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Directed Independent Study
Undergraduate students see the instructor to obtain the Directed Independent Study Permit. Obtain all required signatures. Then go in person to the Registrar’s Office, Old Main 230, to have the permit processed. TO DROP A DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSE, YOU MUST GO IN PERSON TO THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE.

Graduate students requiring an indepedent study course need to fill out the online form, Independent Study Contract and Registration Approval Form, and submit it online to the Graduate Office for approval.

Directory Information/Confidentiality
The University publishes an annual student directory, showing your name and local phone number. You may elect to have this information omitted by completing a Request for Confidential Status of Directory Information form in the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230. If this option is chosen, NO information will be released about you, including degrees and awards earned.

disAbility Resources for Students
Students with documented disabilities who have academic accommodation needs, must initiate a request for services through the disAbility Resources for Students office, Old Main 110, Voice: (360) 650-3083 TTY: (360) 650-3725.

FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed by Congress in 1974, protects the confidentiality of student records against disclosure to third parties and guarantees access to those records by the student. For more complete information about FERPA and Western's Student Records Policy, see Appendix E in the general catalog. Following is a summary:

Directory Information
Directory information, as defined in FERPA, is that information designated by an educational institution as the portion of student records that can be revealed to the public or third parties. It can include a student's name, local address, local phone number, e-mail address, whether the student is currently enrolled, dates of attendance, degrees earned, and most recent previous institution attended; and in the case of student athletes their weight and height. At Western Washington University , however, the only information shared with third parties is whether the student is currently enrolled, the student's dates of attendance, and degrees earned. For students who have requested a special confidential block, no information is provided, not even that the student is enrolled.

Parental Access to Student's Educational Records
When a student reaches the age of 18 or begins attending a postsecondary institution, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. The only way in which parents may obtain protected information on their child is for them to obtain a signed consent from their child for each inquiry.

What is an Educational Record?
Any information provided by a student to the university for use in the educational process is considered a student educational record. That includes personal information, enrollment records, grades, schedules, and disciplinary records.

Who Can See Student Records?
A person who, because of the responsibilities of his or her employment, has the right to see a student's educational records without the student's written consent. Access is allowed on a need-to-know basis. An instructor or advisor, for example, has the right to see his or her student's academic record (transcript) in order to provide guidance to the student. A dean has the right to see a student's record if the student is appealing to the dean for a grade change. An employee in Admissions, Academic Advising, Registrar's Office, Student Accounts, or Financial Aid, for example, has the right to see a student's record in order to provide advice or process applications, tuition assessments, registrations, or financial aid eligibility. Even student employees working in offices such as these may see other students' records if their responsibilities include those mentioned above. In all cases, however, employees make a promise not to disclose that information to any third party. Access also is given to federal or state officials requiring access in connection with the audit or evaluation of programs or in connection with the enforcement of legal requirements; agencies needing information in connection with a student's application for financial aid; organizations conducting studies for the university or for the purpose of improving instruction; accrediting organizations; those authorized by judicial order or subpoena to receive such information; or an alleged victim of any crime of violence seeking information concerning the perpetrator (as defined in federal and state law)

Release of Information in Emergencies
The vice president for student affairs or designee and university police may release a student's education records or personally-identifiable information with the student's consent in the event of emergency situations when such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.

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Measles Immunization Requirement
With a commitment to the health and safety of our campus community, WWU has a policy regarding proof of measles (Rubeola) immunity for all students. A student who does not provide documentation to the WWU Student Health Center will be unable to register for classes. This requirement must be met by the time of registration for a student's first quarter enrollment. For additional information regarding the measles immunization requirement, contact the Student Health Center.

Override Clearance
If a course is restricted and requires permission, students must obtain an override clearance from the instructor or department office. Override restrictions are designated with an OV in the restriction column in the online Timetable or in Classfinder

Pass/No Pass Grading Option
You may register for a course electronically; however, you must go in person to the Registrar’s Office, Old Main 230, to elect the pass/no pass grading option. The deadline to elect the pass/no pass grading option is the end of the fourth week of classes. If a course is changed to pass/no pass grading, it cannot be used as part of the major or minor or as a GUR.

Personal Identification Number (PIN)
As a new student, your initial PIN used to access Web4U will be set to the first six digits of your Social Security Number. You should then change your PIN to something more secure. If you do not have a SSN, use your birthdate in month-day-year format, entered MMDDYY.

Prerequisites
A student who enters a course without the prerequisite(s) may be required to drop the course. Only the instructor may exempt a student from course prerequisites. Since the registration system does not enforce all prerequisites, it is the student's responsibility to abide by the prerequisites as listed in the WWU General Catalog.

500-level and 600-level courses are restricted to graduate students. Post-bac students must receive permission from the department and the Graduate School before registering.

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Registration Changes
Any changes in registration must be completed by the student via Web4U during Phases I, II and III. After Phase III (5pm on the fifth day of the quarter), it is not possible to add or withdraw from classes via the web. Any late changes or late registration must be done in person at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230.

Initial registration after the fifth day of the quarter requires permission of the instructor , department chairperson, and the Registrar (either written or an override). A $10 per credit late registration fee will be charged.

Adding new courses to an existing schedule after the fifth day of the quarter requires permission of the instructor, department chairperson, and the Registrar. A late fee of $10 per credit for adding courses after the second week will be charged. (See Important Dates and Deadlines)

Course withdrawals can be completed via Web4U until 5pm on the fifth day of the quarter, fall, winter and spring quarters.

Registration Holds
If you have a hold on your registration, you will not be permitted to register until the hold has been released by the initiating office. If you attempt to register before your hold has been released, the response will indicate which office has placed the hold. The possible holds and contact phone numbers follow:

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Registration Priority
Because of high demand for many courses, departments often must give enrollment priority to students for whom those specific courses are requirements rather than electives. Priority is given to declared majors in the department and to other declared majors for whom the courses are required.

Registration Responsibility
It is the student's responsibility to conduct his/her initial registration and any subsequent schedule changes via Web4U. Attending classes without being formally registered in the course is prohibited. Adding classes after 5pm on the fifth day of the quarter (after Phase III) can be done only in person at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230. Course withdrawals (except independent study and complete school withdrawals) must be done via Web4U until 5pm on the fifth day of the quarter. After the 5th day, withdrawals may only be processed in person at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230. Failure to drop courses by the published deadline will result in failing grades.

Registration Restrictions
If a department has placed a restriction on a course, you must obtain the department's permission to register for the course. Departments reserve the right to place a restriction whether the course is so designated or not.

Registration Tampering
A student who tampers or attempts to tamper with the registration records of another student, including but not limited to dropping or adding courses and improper use of permissions, may be subject to disciplinary action.

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Time Conflict
The system will not allow registration for two courses that meet at the same time or overlap time. If you want the second course instead of the one for which you are registered, you must drop the first one before adding the second course; however, be aware of any restrictions attached to the second course that may prevent registration.

Time Symbols and Contact Hours
Classes normally meet for a 50-minute period. Course periods are in military time:
1300=1pm
1400=2pm
1500=3pm
1600=4pm
1700=5pm
1800=6pm
1900=7pm
2000=8pm
2100=9pm
2200=10pm

Variable Credit Courses
Some courses are offered for a variable number of credits. After registering for the course on Web4U, make certain you key in the correct credit amount. The web will automatically register you for the least amount of credit; you will then need to go back to the Registration menu and choose Change Variable Credit Hours.

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Withdrawal
Course Withdrawal prior to the end of the second week of the quarter is considered to be a change of initial registration and no grade of W results. To withdraw from a course during the first five days of the quarter, a student must complete the transaction on Web4U.

Course withdrawal from the beginning of the third week to the end of the seventh week is permitted only if the student has an unused annual late-withdrawal privilege. Each student is granted two annual late-withdrawal privileges at the beginning of the academic year in Fall quarter. The annual late-withdrawal privileges can be used during Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer quarter. Unused annual late-withdrawal privileges cannot be used in subsequent years. To use an annual late-withdrawal privilege, a student must present the request in person at the Registrar's Office, Old Main 230. The course will show on the transcript with a 'W' grade.

Withdrawal from the University (withdrawing from all courses) may be made at any time prior to the final two weeks of a quarter. A signed request is required. Students who leave the University without official withdrawal will receive failing grades. School withdrawals on the first day of class or later must be completed in the Registrar’s Office, Old Main 230. A grade of SW (school withdrawal) is posted for each course for which the student was registered.

If a student receives federal student aid and/or a Washington State grant, and withdraws within 60 percent of the end of any given quarter, his/her eligibility must be recalculated in accordance with treatment of Title IV aid requirements. Based on the date of withdrawal, a student may receive a full or partial refund of tuition. For more information on the calculation process, visit the Student Accounts website.

If absence is one quarter or longer (excluding summer quarter), pick up a Returning Student application from the Admissions Office, Old Main 200. Deadlines are April 1 for Summer and Fall, September 15 for Winter, and December 15 for Spring. Readmission is not automatic.

If student has purchased Emergency Health Insurance, and is withdrawing for medical reasons, contact Student Health Center to avoid having insurance cancelled.

Writing Proficiency Requirements
Western Washington University believes that development of writing proficiency should be pursued systematically throughout the course of study. To that end, Western has established a program of writing courses and support services beginning in the Freshman year and extending to upper-level writing-proficiency courses (across the curriculum) offered throughout the University.

The following are the writing proficiency requirements:

Students whose college admission scores indicate a need for additional work in English composition will be notified that they are required to pass English 100, Review of Syntax and Usage, before registering for English 101.

• All students must satisfy Block A of the GUR Communication requirements during their Freshman year, except Fairhaven College students who must take Fairhaven 101 and 208 or 301 and 208.
• All students must pass (with a C- or higher) a writing proficiency course before graduation.
• Courses with an attribute of WP1 or WP2 do not, by themselves, complete the requirement. A total of 3 WP points are required to satisfy the University writing proficiency equirement.