2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog

Table of Contents

Overview

Academic Information

Directories

More Information

Overview: Special Study Opportunities

Four-Year Guarantees

GradTrac: Freshman students in eligible majors who wish to ensure graduation within four years may apply to GradTrac. A GradTrac agreement assures students that they will complete their requirements in four years if they comply with the provisions of the GradTrac agreement. GradTrac uses WIU's automated degree audit system, which allows students and their advisers to monitor progress in their degree plan. Students who sign the GradTrac agreement must meet with their advisers regularly, complete required coursework as prescribed for their degree program, maintain a grade point average designated by their program, and maintain continuous enrollment at the University. If a student meets all the requirements of the GradTrac Agreement but is unable to graduate due to the unavailability of a course, the University will waive or substitute the course(s) needed to allow graduation in the prescribed number of semesters. If a waiver or substitution is not possible, then the University will waive the tuition for the course(s) still needed if taken at Western Illinois University. See more information on GradTrac.

Tuition, Fees, and Room/Board: Western Illinois University guarantees a four-year rate for tuition, fees, and room and board for new undergraduate students entering the University. All new undergraduate students, full- and part-time, are automatically included in the plan. The per-hour rate will be fixed for a four-year period and remains in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. If a student's major requires more than four years to complete, the guaranteed rate will be extended to cover the expected time for degree completion. Each year the University's Board of Trustees sets new rates for the entering class. If a fee is added and approved by the board, such as funding a new student service, the fee will apply to all students when implemented. For more information on the Four-Year Tuition, Fees, and Room and Board Guarantee, contact the Office of Admissions located in Sherman Hall 115, telephone 309/298-3157.

General Orientation Program

Many students, typically 25 percent of the freshman class, are uncertain about their choice of a major. Western Illinois University designates these persons as General Orientation students who can remain in this category until they have earned 45 semester hours of credit. Students are required to declare a major at this point. The University Advising and Academic Support Center is responsible for advising General Orientation students.

The General Orientation Program enables students to examine major and career options while concentrating on coursework necessary for the University General Education Curriculum. The emphasis on General Education courses permits students to make progress toward graduation while still undecided about a specific major. Advisers help students evaluate interests, goals, values, and abilities, and apply this self-knowledge to the exploration of various majors.

General Orientation is a positive option for students who are uncertain about their future plans and wish to explore academic and career possibilities during their first semesters at the University.

Illinois Centennial Honors College

The Illinois Centennial Honors College provides academically talented and motivated undergraduate students an enriched academic curriculum and opportunities for leadership, professional development, and service learning. The program includes 39 academic majors or areas of study from four colleges as well as special pre-professional honors options such as the pre-law honors minor, pre-medicine, and pre-engineering. Within General Education, honors students are provided a curriculum of special General Honors tutorials, colloquium, seminars, and independent research. Within departments, students are offered in-course honors experiences, seminars, recital, and internship opportunities. For more information about the Illinois Centennial Honors College, visit www.wiu.edu/Honors.

Individualized Degree Programs

Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree Program: The Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree Program is a non-traditional approach to undergraduate education designed for adult students who are placebound by work and/or family responsibilities. The degree program permits maximum transfer of credit as well as credit earned for individually selected courses, prior learning portfolios, and proficiency examinations. Those students unable to attend classes on the WIU campus in Macomb may enroll in independent study courses (including telecourses and electronic-mail courses) and in courses offered at extension sites throughout west-central and northern Illinois and southeast Iowa. For more information on the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree Program see www.wiu.edu/SES/BOT or www.wiu.edu/BOTdegree.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program: The Interdisciplinary Studies Program allows students to design and pursue individualized programs of study in areas that are not available at the University. Students enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program receive either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree depending on the program and the requirements of the University General Education Curriculum. For additional information on the Interdisciplinary Studies Program, visit www.wiu.edu/idst.

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