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2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog

Admission Procedures: Transfer Students

General Requirements

Prospective transfer students should contact the Office of Admissions, Western Illinois University, for application forms or obtain an application from their community college counseling office or transfer center. An electronic application may be accessed at www.admissions.wiu.edu/application.

Transcripts from each college and university attended must be sent directly from the institution(s) attended to the admissions office at Western Illinois University. Recommended application deadline for students applying for fall semester is August 1st and December 1st for spring semester. Failure to report any previous college work may result in dismissal from the University. Transcripts received from other colleges and universities are utilized for admission purposes only and will not be released to a third party.

Applicants to WIU in Macomb who have earned 24 or more semester hours (36 or more quarter hours) of college work and applicants to WIU-Quad Cities who have earned 60 or more semester hours (90 quarter hours) of college work will be considered for admission on the basis of college performance only. A combined C average for all hours attempted from all institutions attended and good standing at the last college/university attended are required for admission.

Applicants to WIU in Macomb who have earned fewer than 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) of college work must meet the freshman admission standards, have a combined C average for all hours attempted from all institutions attended, and be in good standing at the last college/university attended. In addition, transfer students to WIU in Macomb with fewer than 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) that graduated from high school in 1993 or afterwards must meet the high school course-specific requirements.

Transfer credits may be accepted from another college or university of recognized standing. If the applicant is not from a regionally accredited school, credits may be accepted only after examination or by validation through satisfactory work at WIU. WIU will not accept for transfer credit a course equivalent to English 180 or 280 in which a D, F, or U was recorded at a previous institution. This provision does not apply to students entering under the Community College Compact Agreement or the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.

To earn a baccalaureate degree, a transfer student must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit, of which 60 semester hours must be completed at Western Illinois University or another accredited four-year institution. A minimum of 40 semester hours credit must be earned in upper division courses (courses numbered 300 or above) from Western Illinois University or another accredited four-year institution. The student must also fulfill the University's general education requirements (see University General Education Curriculum) and meet residency requirements for a degree from WIU (see Graduation Requirements).

New transfer students who appeal and are accepted on probation are required to earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average by the end of their first term of enrollment.

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Science and Art Degree Graduates

All Illinois public community colleges, the Eastern Iowa Community College District, Southeastern Community College (Iowa), and Lincoln College have a written articulation commitment (compact agreement) from Western Illinois University. Additional agreements are being developed with other public and private colleges in Illinois and Iowa. Completion of an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program in an accredited Illinois two-year institution (and selected other colleges) provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing and (b) be considered to have completed the general education requirements (University General Education Curriculum) at Western Illinois University. The associate’s degree must include the equivalent of 60 semester hours with at least a C average. Western Illinois University will honor the community college commitment if Western Illinois University credit is used to complete the associate’s degree.

Exceptions: An A.A., A.S., or A.S.A. degree graduate from an accredited Illinois two-year college (and other selected colleges) who is a candidate for a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences may be required to complete additional semester hours of coursework at WIU to satisfy college curriculum requirements.

Associate of Arts in Teaching (Early Childhood Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, or Special Education) Graduates

Western Illinois University is a participant in four statewide articulated Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT) degree programs—early childhood education, mathematics education, science education, and special education. Completion of an AAT degree must be in one of four fields (early childhood, mathematics, science, or special education) and will only be accepted for transfer into a teacher education program in that same field. Students transferring into Western Illinois University with an AAT must meet cumulative GPA requirements for being accepted into Western’s teacher education program. Those completing the AAT in mathematics education and science education must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 from the community college at which they completed their program; and those completing the AAT in early childhood education and special education must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75.

Early Childhood/Mathematics/Special Education: Completion of an approved statewide articulated AAT degree in early childhood education, mathematics education, and special education at an accredited Illinois two-year institution provides that the student will: (a) be accepted with junior standing and (b) be considered to have completed the general education (University General Education Curriculum) requirements at Western Illinois University.

Science: Completion of an approved statewide articulated AAT degree in science education at an accredited Illinois two-year institution provides that the student will be accepted with junior standing. Students must complete 3 semester hours of humanities and 3 semester hours of social science in addition to the AAT degree to fulfill the general education (University General Education Curriculum) requirements at Western Illinois University.

Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)

Western Illinois University is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Completion of the transferable General Education Core Curriculum at any participating college or university in Illinois assures transferring students that lower-division general education requirements for an associate’s or bachelor's degree have been satisfied. WIU will award transfer credit for Illinois General Education Core Curriculum courses taken at other institutions of higher education in accordance with the evaluation of transfer credit policy provided below. The following codes identify qualifying general education courses: IAI C (Communication), IAI F (Fine Arts), IAI H (Humanities), IAI L (Life Sciences), IAI M (Mathematics), IAI P (Physical Sciences), and IAI S (Social/Behavioral Sciences). The appropriate IAI code follows the course descriptions of matching WIU courses in the Academic Departments, Programs, and Courses section of the catalog. A complete listing of the WIU courses that match IAI General Education Core Curriculum course descriptions as of May 1, 2007 is provided.

Evaluation of Transferable General Education Credit

The following guidelines will govern the evaluation of transfer credit for the University General Education Curriculum. *

• Courses taken at other accredited Illinois institutions. Western Illinois University will accept for credit toward completion of the University General Education Curriculum courses taken at other accredited Illinois institutions of higher education. Students who have completed courses equivalent to those in the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum or WIU General Education Curriculum will be granted credit toward fulfilling WIU’s General Education Curriculum requirement. Students may also be eligible to receive credit toward WIU’s General Education requirement for completion of transfer coursework included in the WIU Course Articulation Guide.
• Students who have completed an Illinois associate’s degree.Transfer students who complete an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program (except Associate of Arts in Teaching in science education) at an accredited Illinois two-year institution (a) will be accepted with junior standing at Western Illinois University and, (b) will be considered to have completed the University General Education Curriculum. The associate’s degree must include the equivalent of at least 60 s.h. with at least a C average. Students who have completed the Associate of Arts in Teaching in science education must complete 3 s.h. of humanities and 3 s.h. of social science in addition to the AAT degree to fulfill the general education requirements at Western Illinois University.
• Students who have completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum but have not earned an associate's degree. Transfer students from accredited Illinois institutions of higher education who have not earned an associate’s degree in a baccalaureate-oriented program but have completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum will be considered to have completed the University General Education Curriculum if completion is indicated on the transfer institution’s transcript. Western Illinois University will honor the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum if Western Illinois University credit is used to complete the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum.
• Students who have not completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum or an associate's degree.Transfer students from accredited Illinois institutions of higher education who have not earned an associate’s degree or completed the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum must complete one of the following: (1) The 37 s.h. Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum plus an additional 6 s.h. from any approved IAI or WIU General Education course, or (2) the 43 s.h. WIU General Education Curriculum. Students who have satisfactorily completed courses within the Illinois Transferable General Education Curriculum will be granted credit towards fulfilling comparable lower-division general education requirements at WIU.
• Non-accredited and out-of-state institutions. . Individuals who have earned credits at non-accredited or out-of-state institutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Students with quarter-system credits. The University will waive a fraction of a semester hour of the minimum hours required from a specific area of the University General Education Curriculum for students with quarter-system credits.

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1. In addition to the General Education Curriculum, students must complete major, minor, college-specific, and other requirements to earn the baccalaureate degree.
2. Coursework completed at community colleges and lower-division coursework completed at four-year institutions will transfer to WIU as lower-division credit, even if the equivalent WIU course is offered as an upper-division course. Lower-division transfer coursework will still satisfy general education requirements even though the equivalent WIU course is upper-division.
3. To satisfy the Communication Skills writing requirement, transfer students must have earned a grade of C or better in each of the courses noted as equivalent to English 180 and English 280 unless waived by the Community College Compact Agreement or the IAI General Education Core Curriculum.

Evaluation of Baccalaureate Major Transfer Credit

The following guidelines will govern the evaluation of transfer credit for the baccalaureate major. **

• WWestern Illinois University may accept for credit toward completion of a baccalaureate major courses taken at other accredited institutions of higher education. Transfer students who have completed courses in a transferable IAI baccalaureate major program that are equivalent to courses required for the appropriate WIU major will be granted credit toward completion of the WIU major. Students may also be eligible to receive credit toward major requirements for the completion of transfer coursework included in the WIU Course Articulation Guide.
• Coursework in the major that is determined not to have a WIU equivalent will be accepted as an elective. Electives may apply towards completing the minimum 120 s.h. requirement for the baccalaureate degree. The major department will determine if such courses may apply toward completing specific requirements for the major.
• • Individuals who have earned credits at non-accredited or foreign institutions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

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1. Coursework completed at community colleges and lower-division coursework completed at four-year institutions will transfer to WIU as lower-division credit, even if the equivalent WIU course is offered as an upper-division course.

Dual Admission Transfer Program

Students who intend to earn the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Science and Art degree before attending WIU from a participating community college are eligible for the Dual Admission Transfer Program.

The Dual Admission Transfer Program helps bridge the transfer process between participating community colleges and Western Illinois University. Many community colleges participate in the Dual Admission Transfer Program and additional programs are being developed. The Western Illinois University Office of Admissions or WIU website www.admissions.wiu.edu/transfer/dual/currentagreements.asp can provide a current list of participating community colleges.

Students who are interested in participating in the Dual Admission Transfer while enrolled at their participating community college must complete a WIU application indicting the future term they plan to attend WIU. Official transcripts from any other colleges or universities and a dual admission addendum authorizing the exchange of information must be submitted before a written acceptance to the Dual Admission Transfer Program will be sent to the student.

At the end of each semester, the community college will forward an official transcript to WIU for Western’s Audit of Requirements for Degree (WARD) Report. The WARD Report will be mailed directly to students and community college advisers. This degree audit will update students on how their community college courses will transfer to WIU.

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