Curriculum Requirements—All candidates for a degree must complete one of the academic programs offered by the University.  A candidate for an associate degree must complete a minimum of 60 unduplicated undergraduate semester hours.  Some associate degree programs may require more than the minimum 60 semester hours.   A candidate for the baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 120 unduplicated undergraduate semester hours.  Some baccalaureate degree programs may require more than the minimum 120 semester hours. Students should be aware that some academic programs may require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the appropriate department head.

Academic Standing —A candidate for an undergraduate degree must have a scholastic standing of at least 2.0 (1) in all credits presented for graduation whether earned at WKU or elsewhere, (2) in all credits completed at WKU, (3) overall in the major subjects and in the minor subjects, and (4) in the major subjects and in the minor subjects completed at WKU. Students desiring teacher certification must fulfill all academic requirements for teacher certification in the major and minor, in addition to meeting the requirements for graduation. Students should be aware that some academic programs require a minimum grade of “C” in each course applicable toward a major or minor. Refer to the departmental descriptions in this catalog or contact the department head to determine the specific requirements for each major.

Course Requirements —At least one-third of the course requirements in each major and minor must be earned at WKU.

At least one-half of the semester hours required for each major and minor must be earned in undergraduate courses numbered 300 and above (except the minors in business administration and computer information systems, and majors in social studies, art education, middle grades education, and middle grades science).  Students with a minor in business administration or computer information systems receive a 3-hour waiver in upper division coursework in the minor.  Students with a major in social studies receive a 12-hour waiver in the upper division hour requirement in the major field. Art education, middle grades education, and middle grades science majors receive  a 6-hour waiver in the major.      A registered nurse (RN) with an associate degree in nursing receives a 6-hour waiver in the upper division hour requirement for the baccalaureate nursing major.

A minimum of 42 undergraduate semester hours must be completed in upper division courses (courses numbered 300 and above) by students earning a baccalaureate degree. Students with an associate degree who major in systems management receive a 15-hour waiver of the upper division hour requirement.  Students with an associate degree from a dental hygiene program accredited through the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation receive a 16-hour waiver in the upper division hour requirement.  Students with an associate degree from a health-related program receive a 19-hour waiver in the upper division hour requirement for the Health Sciences major. 

Graduate credit may not be used to satisfy undergraduate academic program requirements.

Residence Requirements —The minimum residence requirement for the bachelor’s degree is 25% of the minimum number of semester hours required in the student’s degree program. At least 16 of the hours counted in meeting the residence requirement must be completed after the semester in which the student has earned a cumulative total of at least 90 semester hours. Exceptions to these regulations may be made for WKU students who have been given permission to transfer credits earned at accredited professional schools to apply as electives toward the degree. The minimum residence requirement for an associate degree is 25% of the minimum number of semester hours required in the student’s degree program. One-third of the hours in the specialty must be earned at WKU. With the exception of military personnel pursuing the Associate of Interdisciplinary Studies degree, twelve semester hours used toward the associate degree must be taken at WKU during the last half of the student’s program. A student is permitted to transfer a maximum of six semester hours toward a certificate program.

Culminating Assessment —Students are required to show evidence of knowledge in their major field(s) prior to degree completion. Each program will require students to provide evidence that standards have been met through portfolio, examination, capstone course, juried performance, or other culminating experiences.

Transfer of Credits —Credits earned at other accredited American institutions of higher education may be transferred to WKU and applied toward a degree. The “Transfer Credit Practices” report published by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers will be the reference used for the evaluation of such credits.

Students who previously earned course credit from a non-regionally accredited institution may petition for recognition of that credit. Consideration will be given to courses whose content suggests competencies at least equivalent to courses offered by WKU.

Students should be aware that some academic departments require a minimum grade of “C” in each course applicable toward a major. Refer to the departmental descriptions in this catalog or contact the department head to determine the specific requirements for each major.

As a service to students who transfer to WKU from another institution, the Office of Admissions provides transfer evaluations of previously earned credits. The evaluations serve as official assignment of credits to General Education Requirements. Acceptance of transfer credits for a particular major or minor is subject to approval by the appropriate academic department. Students transferring to WKU are required, as a part of the admission process, to provide the Office of Admissions with official transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Upon admission and receipt of all transcripts, updated information will be available online at www.topnet.wku.edu. Academic advisors may view iCAP prior to the student’s participation in the Academic Transitions Program (orientation).

WKU students occasionally enroll (usually during summer terms) in courses at other institutions. Prior to such enrollment, students should access the on-line transfer equivalency guide available through the Office of Admissions web-site. Approval for credits to be applied to General Education Requirements is provided by the Coordinator of Transfer Admissions, Office of Admissions. Approval for courses to be applied to a major, minor, or certification program should be obtained from the appropriate academic department.

Credit for a course in which a failing grade has been received can be earned only by repeating the course in residence unless prior written approval is granted by the head of the department in which the course is offered.

Courses completed at a baccalaureate degree granting institution will be accepted for transfer credit at the level of the equivalent WKU course. Courses completed at a community or junior college will transfer to WKU as lower division credit only.

At least one-third of the course requirements in each major and minor must be earned at WKU.

Credits earned through educational institutions located outside the United States will be considered for acceptance after an appropriate evaluation prepared by World Education Services. Students may contact the Office of Admissions for information regarding the evaluation procedure.

Kentucky Transfer Agreements —Western Kentucky University supports, in principle and in practice, agreements that facilitate transfer of credit. The General Education Transfer Agreement, developed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the public institutions in the state, applies to students who transfer from one Kentucky public higher education institution to another. The foundation of the agreement is a core of five broad areas or categories that are common to the general education programs of the public colleges and universities in Kentucky (Communications, Humanities, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Mathematics).

Questions or requests for additional information pertaining to the General Education Transfer Agreement should be directed to the Office of Admissions, 117 Potter Hall, (270)745-2551.

Application for Graduation —All candidates for a baccalaureate degree are expected to apply for graduation immediately after attaining senior status (90 hours earned). Associate degree candidates are expected to apply for graduation after earning 48 hours. The Application for Graduation is available on the Office of the Registrar website and on TopNet under Student Records.

All forms must be completed, all incompletes must be removed, all transfers of credit received and all correspondence courses completed by the end of any semester or term in which the degree is to be awarded. Failure to comply could result in postponement of the graduation date. Students with outstanding obligations to the University will not be awarded a diploma until the Registrar has been notified by the appropriate office that the obligation has been settled. The student must, in all cases, be primarily responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation.

Exceptions to Degree Requirements —No substitution for requirements prescribed by the Council on Postsecondary Education may be made. Substitutions for departmental requirements may be made under certain conditions when recommended by the department head concerned and approved by the dean’s office.

As a general practice, WKU awards degrees posthumously only to those students who have met all degree requirements. Under extraordinary circumstances, the University may make an exception to this policy if the student at the time of death was in good standing, on a clear path toward degree completion, and had completed a minimum of 110 semester credit hours.

Appeals regarding degree requirements may be submitted to the Office of the Registrar for consideration by the Committee on Credits and Graduation. This committee is the body responsible for hearing undergraduate students’ appeals of university academic requirements and regulations. Appeals must be submitted by the student in typed form to the Office of the Registrar. The request should include the statement of the problem, statement of request, and justification of circumstances supporting the request. Statements of support or clarification from the student’s academic advisor are encouraged if the problem resulted from the advisement process. When a request pertains to an exception in a major or minor, the student should consult with the appropriate department head for a written recommendation to the committee. Decisions of the committee shall be made by a simple majority of the voting members in attendance. Detailed information regarding the submission of an appeal is available from the Office of the Registrar.

Independent Learning —A failed course cannot be repeated through Independent Learning without special permission by the department head.

Eight weeks is generally the minimum time in which most IL courses may be completed. Students who use financial aid or tuition assistance may be required to complete the course within the current semester. Check with the office issuing the financial assistance to see what restrictions apply. Students without other constraints will have one year to complete their course(s).

Each student desiring to earn credit through Independent Learning must assume full responsibility for registering for appropriate courses.  Students should check carefully with the departmental advisor to determine that these courses will fulfill the requirements for their degree or certificate program.

Academic Freedom —The University desires that every student experiences freedom in academic pursuits. Academic freedom, however, is not irresponsibility—it is the opportunity to pursue truth.

Academic Offenses —The maintenance of academic integrity is of fundamental importance to the University. Thus it should be clearly understood that acts of plagiarism or any other form of cheating will not be tolerated and that anyone committing such acts risks punishment of a serious nature. (See “Statement on Rights and Responsibilities” in Appendix.)

Academic Dishonesty —Students who commit any act of academic dishonesty may receive from the instructor a failing grade in that portion of the coursework in which the act is detected or a failing grade in the course without possibility of withdrawal. The faculty member may also present the case to the Office of Student Life for disciplinary sanctions. A student who believes a faculty member has dealt unfairly with him/her in a course involving academic dishonesty may seek relief through the Student Complaint Procedure.

Plagiarism —To represent written work taken from another source as one’s own is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious offense. The academic work of a student must be his/her own. One must give any author credit for source material borrowed from him/her. To lift content directly from a source without giving credit is a flagrant act. To present a borrowed passage without reference to the source after having changed a few words is also plagiarism.

Cheating —No student shall receive or give assistance not authorized by the instructor in taking an examination or in the preparation of an essay, laboratory report, problem assignment or other project which is submitted for purposes of grade determination.

Grading and the Quality Point System —At the first class meeting the instructor will provide students a written statement of the factors to be considered in determining grades and the specific weight to be assigned to each factor. The letters A, B, C, D, F, P and X are used by the University to indicate the student’s academic proficiency. These letters have the following significance:

A —Excellent, valued at four quality points per semester hour.

B —Good, valued at three quality points per semester hour.

C —Average, valued at two quality points per semester hour.

D —Below average, unsatisfactory, valued at one quality point per semester hour. (A “D” gives credit toward a degree. The student’s overall grade point average, however, must be a 2.0 or better to meet the requirements for graduation.)

F —Failure, valued at no semester hours earned and no quality points.

FN —Failure due to non-attendance (no semester hours earned and no quality points).

P —Pass, credit is awarded toward a degree, but no quality points are assigned. The “P” designation is restricted to specific courses approved for its use.

X —Incomplete. (See below for additional information.)

The designations AU, W, NR, ER and NG are not included in the determination of grade point average and are used in the following cases:

AU —Auditor of a course (See below for additional information.)

W —Officially Withdrew.

NR —No report. Grades for an entire class were not received by the Office of the Registrar in time for processing. The designation “NR” is not to be used as a grade for individual students.

ER —Error in reporting. This designation is used by the Office of the Registrar when a grade is not reported for an individual student.

NG —No grade. A grade is not appropriate to the course. The “NG” designation is restricted to specific courses approved for its   use.

IP —In Progress. The IP designation is restricted to specific courses designed to span more than one term. Unless approved otherwise, an IP designation unresolved at the end of one year after its assignment will be converted to an F.

Credit for a course in which a grade of “F” has been received can only be earned by repeating the course in residence unless prior approval is given by the head of the department in which the course was taken. A course in which a grade of “D” has been received may be repeated at another accredited institution.

A grade of “X” (incomplete) is given only when a relatively small amount of work is not completed because of illness or other reason satisfactory to the instructor. A grade of “X” received by an undergraduate student will automatically become an “F” unless removed within twelve (12) weeks of the next full term (summer term excluded.) An incomplete must be removed within this twelve-week period regardless of whether the student is registered for additional work in the next term. A grade of “X” received by a graduate student, with the exception of thesis courses or similar projects, will automatically become an “F” unless removed within twelve (12) weeks of the next full term (summer term excluded). A student should work with the instructor who assigned the incomplete on an independent basis in order to complete the necessary assignments. The grade of “X” will continue to appear as the initial grade on the student’s transcript, along with the revised grade. A grade of incomplete is not used under any circumstances as a substitute for “F” or “W.”

Developmental Course Grading – Courses numbered 050-099 are developmental courses; grades earned in these courses will not count toward the student’s GPA, but shall be considered in determining eligibility for financial aid and academic probation status.  Hours earned in these courses are not degree applicable.

Grade Reports —It is recommended that some graded evaluation be accomplished by the end of the first six weeks equal to at least 20% of the student’s final grade. Final grades are accessible through TopNet, WKU’s on-line student information system.

Auditing of Courses —An auditor is one who enrolls and participates in a course without expecting to receive academic credit. The same registration procedure is followed and the same fees charged as for courses taken for credit. An audited course is not applicable to any degree or certificate program.

Regular class attendance is expected of an auditor. Other course requirements, which may be obtained in writing from the instructor, will vary depending on the nature of the course. Students interested in auditing a course should secure permission from the instructor and discuss course requirements prior to enrolling. Failure to meet course requirements may result in the auditor being withdrawn from the course at the request of the instructor. A successful audit will be recorded on the transcript with the designation AU.

Any change from audit to credit must be done by the last day to add a class. Changes from credit to audit must be done by the last day to drop a class with a grade of “W.” Refunds for withdrawals from audited courses will be prorated on the same basis as refunds for withdrawals from courses taken for credit.

Recording of Grades —Grades are recorded in the Office of the Registrar as reported by the faculty at the end of each term. No grade filed in that office may be changed except on a written statement from the instructor certifying that an error has been made. All conditions must be removed before the student will be recommended for any certificate or degree.

Computation of Point Standing —The overall grade point average is defined as the ratio of the total number (including transfer work) of quality points to the total number of quality hours attempted. The WKU grade point average is defined as the ratio of the total number of quality points to the total number of quality hours attempted for courses taken only through Western Kentucky University.

Repeating Courses —An undergraduate study is permitted to repeat a maximum of six courses.  Only two courses in which a grade of “C” or above has been earned may be repeated.

Credit for a course in which a grade of “F” has been received can be earned only by repeating the course in residence unless prior approval is given by the head of the department in which the course was taken. A course in which a grade of “D” has been received may be repeated at another accredited institution.

A course which has been failed cannot be repeated by independent learning without special permission from the department head.  A student may not repeat by proficiency testing a course which has been previously taken or failed at WKU or another accredited institution.

If a course is repeated, only the second grade will be counted in computing the grade point average; if the course is repeated a second time both the second and the third grades will be used in computing the grade point average. The grade received for each attempt will continue to appear on the student’s academic record. A student may attempt a single course no more than three times.

The Committee on Credits and Graduation has the responsibility for hearing appeals from students regarding the application of these regulations.

An appeal for special permission to repeat a course in the major or minor beyond the third attempt will be considered only upon the recommendation of the head of the department involved and then only if special consideration is needed to raise the average in that subject to the minimum required.

Students seeking special consideration to repeat a course beyond the third attempt in the general education requirements and in free electives must first consult with the Registrar of the University. If after this conference an appeal is deemed appropriate, the Committee on Credits and Graduation will consider the student’s request.

Academic Renewal —An academic renewal program is available to qualified undergraduate students. Academic renewal prevents the voided coursework from counting toward graduation and the computation of the grade point average; however, the voided coursework will remain a part of the transcript. Qualified undergraduate students must not have attended any accredited college or university for at least two previous years and must have a cumulative grade point average, since readmission, of at least 2.0 (with no grade below “D”), computed at the end of the term in which the student completes a minimum of 12 semester hours of courses numbered 100 or above.

WKU accepts transfer credit retained through academic renewal at other institutions but will use grades from those courses for the computation of the overall GPA.

The student must petition the Registrar in writing to request academic renewal, indicating whether one semester or all previous coursework is to be voided. No student may declare academic renewal more than once.

Changes of Major and/or Faculty Advisor —Changes in majors, minors and advisors are routinely made prior to periods of priority registration for undergraduate students. The student should submit to the academic department that administers the student’s chosen program a “Change of Major/Minor Advisor Form.” To access the form the student must go into TopNet to "Student Services", "Student Records", and "Change of Major, Minor, Concentration, Advisor." It will walk the student through the process and give them the opportunity to correct any errors prior to submitting it to print. Students are required to bring the form to the department listed on the form for a signature. Students at a Regional Campus should bring the form to their Regional Campus advisor for processing. For further information please contact the Academic Advising and Retention Center at (270)745-5065.

University Attendance Policy —Registration in a course obligates the student to be regular and punctual in class attendance.

Students should make certain that their names are on the class roll. If an error has been made in registration, it is the student’s responsibility to see that the error is corrected in the Office of the Registrar. It is the individual instructor’s responsibility to inform students, in writing, on the first day the class meets of the guidelines for implementing the instructor’s attendance policy. Students who cease attending class are expected to report to the Office of the Registrar to initiate withdrawal procedures. Withdrawal deadlines are published each semester in the schedule bulletin.

Excessive absenteeism frequently contributes to poor academic achievement. An instructor who determines that a student’s absenteeism is inconsistent with the instructor’s stated policy should either counsel with the student or request that the Academic Advising and Retention Center arrange a counseling session with the student. Excessive absenteeism may result in the instructor’s dismissing the student from the class and recording a failing grade, unless the student officially withdraws from the class before the withdrawal deadline. If the student withdraws from the University after the end of the official withdrawal period, excessive absenteeism may be one of the considerations in the instructor’s deciding whether circumstances justify a “W” or an “F” in the course. The normal appeal process is available to the student who wants to appeal the decision of the instructor.

When a student is absent from class because of illness, death in the family, or other justifiable reasons, it is the student’s responsibility to consult the instructor at the earliest possible time.

Students who, without previous arrangement with the instructor or department, fail to attend the first two class meetings of a course meeting multiple times per week or the first meeting of a class that meets one time per week MAY be dropped from the course.  Nonattendance for a web-based course shall be defined as failure to log onto Blackboard or other instructor-designed website within one week of the course start date without previous arrangements with the instructor or department. Instructors may drop a student for nonattendance only during the regular drop/add period of the term.  Nonattendance does NOT release students from the responsibility to officially drop any course for which they have enrolled and choose not to complete.

Academic Probation —To be eligible for continuous enrollment without being placed on academic probation, a student must maintain the following scholastic standards in both the overall grade point average and the total institution grade point average (courses taken at WKU):

1. A 1.7 overall and total institution grade point average if the student has 17 or fewer semester hours attempted.
2. A 1.8 overall and total institution grade point average if the student has more than 17 but fewer than 34 hours attempted.
3. A 1.9 overall and total institution grade point average if the student has 34 or more but fewer than 51 semester hours attempted.
4. A 2.0 overall and total institution grade point average if the student has 51 or more semester hours attempted.

At the end of each academic term, students may access their grade report via TopNet that reflects grades for the term, the overall, and the total institution grade point average. Students failing to meet the scholastic standards listed above are placed on academic probation. Students enrolled on academic probation are subject to academic dismissal if they fail to attain the minimum standards listed above and earn less than a 2.0 grade point average for the academic term. A student on academic probation is allowed continued enrollment on a semester-by-semester probationary status as long as a 2.0 grade point average is maintained each term.

Once placed on academic probation, the student who fails to earn a current (term) grade point average of 2.0 or higher is not eligible to enroll in the next regular semester. Depending upon the student’s overall grade point average and total institution grade point average, the student may be invited to a hearing with the University Academic Probation Committee. The Committee may dismiss the student from the University or allow the student continued enrollment with stated restrictions for one additional term. One restriction may be to participate in one of the Best Expectation Programs through the Academic Advising and Retention Center (AARC). Academic status for all students who complete a term is shown on TopNet. It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of his/her academic status and to improve academic performance until he/she is returned to good standing status.

NOTE: Students with an overall or total institution grade point average below 2.0, but above the academic probation scale should be aware that their performance does not meet the minimum requirements for graduation and that their performance is considered marginal by the university. These students are encouraged to attain a minimum 2.0 grade point average as soon as possible, including seeking advice and counseling from the AARC.

Appeal Procedure —A student dismissed from the University by the University Academic Probation Committee may appeal the decision to the Executive Appeals Committee. This committee will consider an appeal only after a written request for a hearing has been submitted to the director of the Academic Advising and Retention Center and an appointment is scheduled through that office. If the Executive Committee approves an appeal, the student will be permitted to register for an additional semester on academic probation with conditions determined by the Executive Committee at the time of approval. Detailed operational procedures followed by the University Academic Probation Committee may be obtained from the Academic Advising and Retention Center located in the Student Success Center of Downing University Center.

Students who fail to satisfy criteria for continuous enrollment due to academic deficiencies, and either are dismissed or voluntarily withdraw, are, after one semester of non-enrollment at any college or university, eligible to apply for readmission to the University. Enrollment at that time is not automatic; readmission will be determined by admission standards. Applications for readmission should be filed with the Office of Admissions prior to published deadlines.

Withdrawal From the University —For various reasons it is occasionally necessary for a student to withdraw from the University. Prior to the midpoint of the semester, students may use TopNet to withdraw. After the midpoint of the semester, the student should report to the Office of the Registrar to initiate withdrawal procedures. Students leaving the institution without an official withdrawal will receive failing grades in all courses in which enrolled and endanger their future status in the institution. Students withdrawing after the midpoint of the semester, a bi-term or comparable period during the summer session must consult with their instructors as to the withdrawal grade. The official date of the withdrawal is the date the withdrawal is processed on TopNet or the written notice is received in the Office of the Registrar. Students wishing to return to WKU at a later date must submit an application for readmission prior to the deadline for submitting applications.

In special circumstances, as described below, a complete withdrawal from the university after the mid-point of a term will be considered.

Administrative Withdrawal – A request for an administrative withdrawal is initiated by the University because of a disciplinary situation or when, in the professional judgment of a health care provider, psychologist and/or university administrator, there is reason to believe a student is a substantial threat to him/herself or interferes with the welfare of other members of the university, the education process, or the orderly operation of the university.   The Vice President for Student Affairs or the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, or their respective designees, will notify the student of the involuntary withdrawal, and the Registrar will be directed to withdraw the student from all classes in which the student is currently enrolled and cancel registration that has occurred for any future terms.  The Office of the Registrar will notify the student’s instructors of the withdrawal, and “W” grades will be recorded for the term in progress. A student who is administratively withdrawn will have a registration hold placed by the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs to prevent the student from being readmitted or re-enrolled unless cleared by the appropriate administrator or the respective designee.  A student may file a written appeal of an involuntary withdrawal through the office that administered the withdrawal.  Tuition refund appeals for administrative withdrawals are handled in a separate procedure, and instructions may be obtained from the Bursar’s Office. 

Medical Withdrawal – A student may request and be considered for a medical withdrawal from all courses in a term when extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious physical or mental illness or injury, prevent the student from continuing his or her classes after the mid-point of a term, and incompletes or other arrangements with the instructors are not feasible or possible.  A medical withdrawal must be substantiated with appropriate documentation from the attending health care provider. Once the rationale for a medical withdrawal has been validated by the Office of the Registrar, the student’s instructors will be sent notification of the withdrawal, and “W” grades will be recorded for each course.  A student  who requests a medical withdrawal, or an individual requesting a withdrawal on behalf of the student who is physically or mentally unable to request the withdrawal, should contact the Office of the Registrar to obtain medical withdrawal procedures.  Tuition refund appeals for medical withdrawals are handled in a separate procedure, and instructions may be obtained from the Bursar’s Office.

Military Withdrawal – Students who are members of any branch of the United States Armed Services, including the National Guard, who are called to active duty while enrolled at WKU are entitled to the following options. 

1. Students may work with each individual instructor to determine if an incomplete grade is appropriate, or
2. If an incomplete grade is not a viable option, the student will be permitted to withdraw either from individual courses or from the entire schedule of classes.  A full refund of tuition and fees will be issued for those courses from which the student has withdrawn.

Students who are called to active duty while enrolled should contact the Office of the Registrar to initiate the withdrawal process.  An official copy of the military orders must be presented to invoke this special withdrawal and refund process.

Retroactive Withdrawal – A student who leaves the university for extenuating circumstances without an official withdrawal during the term of departure may apply for a retroactive withdrawal. The student must present supporting documentation that demonstrates serious and compelling reasons justifying the withdrawal and extenuating circumstances justifying its retroactive nature; poor academic performance that is not attributed to non-academic extenuating circumstances is not a consideration for retroactive withdrawal.  A student may appeal for a retroactive withdrawal within two calendar years following the end of the term for which withdrawal is requested.   A student need not be enrolled at WKU at the time the application for retroactive withdrawal is submitted. 

An appellate board will review the request for a retroactive withdrawal.  The board will consider the following factors, including, but not limited to:

1. Documentation of extenuating circumstances
2. Written letter of support from an academic administrator, faculty member, advisor  or other university professional who is familiar with the student’s situation.  If a retroactive withdrawal is approved, the Registrar will notify the student’s instructors and department heads of the request for a retroactive withdrawal, and they will be given 14 calendar days to raise objections if the student’s classroom performance was such that a withdrawal (W) would not be appropriate.  If objections are raised by the instructor or department head, the Registrar will be informed of the objection, and the student will not receive a W in the class.  Instructions for filing an appeal for a retroactive withdrawal may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.   A tuition refund is not granted for a retroactive withdrawal.

Division of the School Year —The academic year of Western Kentucky University is divided into two semesters consisting of sixteen weeks, and a summer session. The opening and closing dates are given in the university calendar, which is published yearly.

Unit of University Credit —The unit of credit is a semester hour.

Classification of Students —Beginning students are classified as freshmen; students with a minimum of 30 semester hours earned, as sophomores; 60 hours earned, as juniors; and 90 hours earned, as seniors.

Student Load —To be considered a full-time undergraduate student, one must carry a minimum of 12 hours each semester. Students who wish to enroll for 20-21 semester hours must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above.

Seniors may enroll in graduate coursework during their final undergraduate semester provided they (1) have an undergraduate overall grade point average of at least 2.5, (2) make formal application to graduate study, (3) carry a final semester course load of no more than 15 hours (combined undergraduate and graduate hours), and (4) do not, in any way, attempt to apply the graduate course(s) to the undergraduate degree.

University Schedule Changes —The institution reserves the privilege at all times of canceling any course for which the enrollment is not sufficient to justify its continuation and to make any other adjustments in the schedule that seem necessary.

Registration and Student Schedule Changes — After classes begin, registration for a full-time course load and/or changes in schedules may be made only within the first six class days of a semester or the first three days of a bi-term. Courses which do not meet at least twice during the first six class days may be added through, but not past, the day of the second class meeting.

During a semester, a student may withdraw from a course with a grade of “W” or “F” under the following conditions. It is recommended that faculty members inform students of this “W” period deadline.

• A student is permitted to withdraw from any course with a grade of “W” through the midpoint of the semester.
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• After the midpoint of the semester, any student dropping a course receives an automatic “F.” However, when there are extenuating circumstances, and at the discretion of the faculty member and the department head, the student may be permitted to withdraw with a “W” instead of “F.”

During a bi-term a student may drop a course with a grade of “W” or “F” under the following conditions:

• A student is permitted to withdraw from any course with a grade of “W” through the midpoint of the bi- term.
• After the midpoint of the bi-term, any student dropping a course receives an automatic “F.” However, when there are extenuating circumstances, and at the discretion of the faculty member and the department head, the student may be permitted to withdraw with a “W” instead of “F.”

Students should check the Registration Guide each term for specific dates that affect schedule changes.

Transcripts —Transcripts will be released at the written request of the student and in conformity with existing state and federal statutes pertaining to the release of student academic records.

The official academic record is the property of the University. Consequently, the University reserves the right to withhold the release of a transcript of that record if the student has an obligation to the University.