2007-2008 Undergraduate Catalog

Academic Services

Advising and Academic Support Center
Olson Hall, Second Floor; 309/298-1846 or 1871

The University Advising and Academic Support Center (UAASC) is responsible for the academic advisement of General Orientation students (students who have not yet selected a major), freshmen admitted on warning through the Academic Services Program, students in the Transitional Advising Program (major changers), and area high school students taking college classes while still in high school. Members of the UAASC staff work with all incoming freshmen and transfer students during the spring and summer preregistration programs. During the school year, the UAASC helps students resolve academic problems, aids in the choice of majors and careers, and provides information about classes, programs, tutoring resources, and University procedures and requirements.

Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS)
Sherman Hall 110; 309/298-1208

This Faculty Senate council (CAGAS) may be contacted through the Office of the Registrar in Sherman Hall. Undergraduate students seeking information concerning academic appeals, e.g., late withdrawals, course substitutions, and waivers of University requirements, may contact CAGAS at 298-1208. Students filing such appeals may send them to CAGAS, Sherman Hall 110.

Extended Studies
Horrabin Hall 6; 309/298-1864

The School of Extended Studies (www.wiu.edu/ses) provides educational and public service offerings to citizens of the region, state, and nation through a variety of delivery technologies. Courses are offered in more than two dozen disciplines each term. Extension coursework is delivered on-site or through distance learning technology to Chicago, Cook/DuPage/Kane/Lake Counties, and Springfield. WIU provides independent study, telecourse and online offerings, which allow individuals to study in their own homes at their own pace. Also, the School of Extended Studies coordinates the Degrees at a Distance Program (formerly the Open Learning Fire Service Program) that provides opportunities for fire service personnel to earn credits leading to a bachelor's degree without losing time on the job. Nontraditional Programs administers the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree program which is a nontraditional approach to undergraduate education designed for adult students who are placebound by work and/or family responsibilities. A wide variety of academic programs in the form of conferences, workshops, short courses, and residential programs are coordinated through Noncredit Programs.

Graduate Studies
Stipes Hall 527; 309/298-1806

The School of Graduate Studies (www.wiu.edu/grad) is the coordinating agency for the University’s graduate programs. The Graduate School processes graduate student admissions, writes graduate assistantship contracts, verifies degree completion, and provides numerous services to all graduate students at the University. The Office of Graduate Studies is responsible for implementing the policies, procedures, and academic standards established by the Graduate Council, a representative body elected by members of the graduate faculty.

International Studies Center
Seal Hall 217; 309/298-2501

The Center for International Studies administers and coordinates several activities designed to encourage an appreciation and understanding of international cultures. This office is involved in coordination with government agencies for visas, residence permits, and immigration problems; special international programs such as the annual International Bazaar and International Neighbors programs; University representation for international and intercultural matters; sponsorship of the International Friendship Club; and publicity related to all University international activities. Western English as a Second Language (WESL) Institute provides an intensive program in academic English for international students who are preparing to enter an American college or university.

The Study Abroad Programs office sponsors a variety of full credit educational programs abroad in countries such as Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, and a formal exchange program for faculty and students with distinguished colleges and universities overseas. In addition, the office offers several international study programs through affiliation agreements. Short-term programs of one to six week duration are taught by WIU faculty during spring break and summer at various international and domestic sites.

Registrar
Sherman Hall 110; 309/298-1891

The Office of the Registrar (www.wiu.edu/registrar) determines the residency status of students, administers the registration of students, verifies degree completion, maintains student academic records, and reviews applications for undergraduate readmission. This office is also responsible for certifying NCAA academic eligibility, issuing official transcripts and verifications, printing diplomas, publishing class schedules, coordinating commencement, issuing grade reports, processing student requests to change a major, minor or address, and administering academic room scheduling. The Office of the Registrar also facilitates the GradTrac program.

University Computer Support Services
Stipes Hall 126; 309/298-1177

University Computer Support Services (UCSS) administers computing resources used by students and faculty for research and instruction. Microcomputers in most instructional, administrative, and residential buildings on the Macomb campus are connected to a campus network (LAN) in order to access hosts, software resources, laser printing, and the Internet.

Major computing labs for students, staffed by trained student personnel, are located in Horrabin, Stipes, and Morgan halls, with unstaffed computing resource centers located in other classroom buildings. Residence hall students may use student-staffed labs in each hall complex, including two 24-hour labs, while students who live off campus have late-night access available in the Lincoln-Washington-Grote Hall complex. Internet access is available in all graduate and family housing, while 56K modem access is available to off-campus users. Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, located in Moline, Illinois, also houses a full-service lab.

Each registered student is provided an e-mail account, space to create a personal home page on the World Wide Web, 300 MB of network attached data storage, and access to the Internet via the campus network (LAN). Students also have access to some UNIX-based systems and IBM mainframe services. With these systems students can use e-mail, the World Wide Web, and other tools to communicate electronically over the Internet world-wide networks. They can also use many programming languages, the CICS programming environment, and several statistics and symbolic math applications.

All UCSS labs and resource centers house networked IBM/PC compatible and Macintosh computers, laser printers, and scanners. Storage options include USB portable storage ports, DVD/CDRW, floppy, zip, and server. Students have access to a variety of discipline-specific microcomputer software in versions for Macintosh and Windows. These include popular programming languages, word processors, spreadsheets, databases, graphic applications, multimedia, desktop publishing programs, and statistical packages.

UCSS staff members have offices in Stipes Hall 126 and Morgan Hall 107. The UCSS Information Center provides computing documentation, disk file recovery, one-on-one assistance, general information, optical scanning of answer sheets for test scoring and questionnaire analysis, and handles problems with student accounts.

For more information contact University Computer Support Services at 309/298-1177 or the UCSS Helpdesk at 309/298-2704. Individuals may also send email to ucss@wiu.edu or visit the UCSS website at www.wiu.edu/ucss.

University Libraries
309/298-2762

The University’s system of libraries contains more than one million catalogued volumes, 2,000 current periodicals, 24 foreign and domestic newspapers, and access to over 17,500 online periodicals as well as access to computer resources worldwide. The Leslie F. Malpass Library has six floors providing space for one million volumes of library materials and seating for more than 2,000 readers. I-Share, a computerized catalog and circulation system, provides immediate access to collections of Western Illinois University and 56 other academic libraries throughout the state. Wireless connectivity is available throughout the library including the Media & Digital Commons on the first floor.

The Malpass Library is a depository for federal and state documents. A legal reference collection is available for lawyers and citizens of the region. The Archives and Special Collections area house University history and records as well as official records from towns and county seats of the surrounding 16-county area of the military tract. Special Collections include such unique collections as Tom Railsback’s Congressional papers, Mormon histories of West Central Illinois, the Center for Icarian Studies collection, and papers of noted individuals including scholars and celebrities. Its new Malpass Mocha Café located on the first floor offers an informal atmosphere to meet faculty and fellow students.

Reference librarians assist students with research assignments. Librarians also orient students on library use and provide instruction on how to search bibliographic and full-text online databases. Interlibrary loans are available through a statewide delivery system.

The library system encompasses a main library and four branch libraries. The Physical Sciences Library, the Music Library, and the Curriculum Library are integral parts of the University’s system that provide full service to all students, faculty, and staff on the campus. The branch library located at the WIU-Quad Cities Campus in Moline, Illinois, provides valuable services to students and faculty members in the Quad Cities.

Western Illinois University-Quad Cities
3561 60th Street, Moline, IL; 309/762-9481

Western Illinois University-Quad Cities (www.wiu.edu/qc), ), located in Moline, Illinois, serves Quad Cities area residents and placebound undergraduate students. At present, WIU offers bachelor's degrees in accountancy; Board of Trustees; elementary education; law enforcement and justice administration; management; manufacturing engineering technology; marketing; and recreation, park and tourism administration through WIU-QC. Students enter the WIU programs after completing the freshman/sophomore requirements at area community colleges or other institutions. WIU then schedules the junior/senior courses for each of the eight majors so that students may earn a bachelor's degree without leaving the Quad Cities area. Fifteen graduate degree programs and four post-baccalaureate certificate programs are also available. (See a listing of programs available in at WIU-QC.)

Writing Center
Simpkins Hall 341; 309/298-2815

The University Writing Center (and its satellite center at WIU-Quad Cities) provides a wide range of across-the-curriculum writing assistance services to students, faculty, and staff. The Writing Center is staffed by highly qualified graduate students and faculty from WIU's Department of English and Journalism. Tutorial services are available for drafting correspondence, essay writing, research writing, grammar, and punctuation.

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