2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog
GradTrac
Western Illinois University has developed a program designed to help students complete their undergraduate degree in four years or less. The University is committed to helping students graduate in a timely fashion and has developed GradTrac to enable them to achieve this goal. GradTrac utilizes WIU's automated degree audit so students and advisers keep current on degree progress. GradTrac is not a graduation requirement or an academic regulation. Regularly admitted freshman may choose to participate in the GradTrac program. Participation in GradTrac requires significant initiative during a student's years at WIU.
Specifically, a student must:
- Enter the University as a regularly admitted student with appropriate academic preparation to begin GradTrac;
- Enroll in GradTrac and declare an interest in a major that qualifies for the program;
- Take responsibility for meeting the deadlines and requirements of GradTrac and regularly monitor her/his progress toward graduation. Such monitoring includes timely meetings with an academic adviser at least once each semester prior to each registration;
- Take responsibility for making and keeping required appointments and advisement sessions;
- Consult with an adviser before dropping or adding a class;
- Accept any available class section that fits her/his schedule and register for classes at her/his assigned registration time. The following encumbrances can prevent a student from registering on time: financial, immunization, administrative, housing, judicial, and athletic. Be sure these encumbrances are taken care of prior to pre-registration;
- Meet all the academic requirements of her/his major, minor (when applicable), college, and the University;
- Accept responsibility for timely annual application for all necessary financial assistance; and
- Complete the applicable credits for her/his degree program each year as set out in her/ his GradTrac degree plan (approximately 30 semester credit hours each year).
If a student changes majors and can still complete all remaining requirements within the time specified by the GradTrac agreement, the agreement remains valid. Appropriate signatures must be secured from the adviser and chair of the new major.
Students may enroll in an additional major or minor or in programs leading to additional licensing and certification, if he/she can complete all of these requirements within the time specified by the GradTrac agreement. A student must consult with her/his academic adviser in a timely manner in order to accomplish these changes or additions.
Transfer and summer credits may count toward GradTrac requirements, but the academic terms in which these credits are earned will not be counted as part of the GradTrac agreement.
If, after working with an academic adviser, it appears that graduation may be delayed due to the unavailability of a course, a student must obtain the requisite form from the adviser and file it with that adviser no later than two working days after the end of the published pre-registration period. The form will be forwarded to the department chair and college dean.
If a student meets all the conditions of the degree plan but is unable to graduate due to the unavailability of a course, the University will offer one of the following options:
- Allow the student to graduate in the prescribed number of semesters by substituting a different course or an appropriate independent study assignment, as determined by the department and the college offering the major.
- Allow the student to graduate in the prescribed number of semesters by waiving the requirement to be met by the unavailable course, as determined by the department and college offering the major.
- If the college or department is unable to affect a waiver or substitution that will allow the student to graduate in the prescribed number of semesters, the University will waive the tuition for the course or courses still needed, if taken at Western Illinois University
Majors Participating in GradTrac*
- Accountancy
- African American Studies—General
- African American Studies—Humanities
- African American Studies—Social Sciences
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Science
- Art—Bachelor of Arts
- Biology—Botany
- Biology—Medical Sciences
- Biology—Microbiology
- Biology—Zoology
- Broadcasting
- Chemistry
- Chemistry—Biochemistry
- Communication
- Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Computer Science—Business
- Computer Science—Traditional
- Economics—B.A.
- Economics—B.B.
- Emergency Management
- English
- Exercise Science
- Family and Consumer Sciences—Fashion Merchandising
- Family and Consumer Sciences—Hotel/Restaurant
- Management
- Finance
- French
- Geography—Systematic/Cultural
- Geography—Systematic/Physical
- Geology
- Health Sciences
- Health Services Management
- History
- Human Resource Management
- Information Systems—Health Care Information
- Technology Systems
- Information Systems—Information Technology Systems
- Journalism
- Law Enforcement and Justice Administration
- Management
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Meteorology
- Nursing
- Philosophy
- Physics—Standard
- Political Science—American Government
- Political Science—General
- Political Science—International Relations/Comparative
- Politics
- Political Science—Public Administration/Public Policy
- Psychology
- Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Telecommunications Management
- Theatre—Acting
- Theatre—Directing
- Theatre—Production/Design
- Women's Studies
* Due to additional course requirements, teacher education is not included in GradTrac.
Provost & Academic Vice President
Sherman Hall 211 • 1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
E-mail: Provost@wiu.edu • Phone: 309/298-1066 • Fax: 309/298-2021