Office of the Registrar

CAGAS APPEAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Council on Admissions, Graduation and Academic Standard (CAGAS) is a Faculty Senate Council that considers undergraduate student appeals concerning various academic matters, including admission, reentry, New Start, semester hour overload, late registration, late withdrawal, class/section switches, and graduation substitution/waivers. CAGAS also serves as the University level committee for undergraduate Grade Appeals and Academic Integrity Appeals.

CAGAS meets every Thursday during the regular semester when school is in session. The agenda includes all appeals that are complete and received by 4:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the Council’s meeting. CAGAS also holds special monthly meetings in the summer. For specific information, see CAGAS Meetings and Deadlines.

Students who provide false information as part of a CAGAS appeal will be reported to Student Rights and Responsibilities for violating the Code of Student Conduct.

The information below outlines the documentation required for each type of appeal. Other stipulations may apply.

LATE WITHDRAWAL – TOTAL OR SELECTIVE

*** Before you appeal, please contact Financial Aid for Guidance ***

Student must provide the following:

  1. An email to CAGAS@wiu.edu of one page or less that includes:
    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • semester and course(s) requested for withdrawal including course number, STAR number, and section number
    • reasons/extenuating circumstances for requesting the late withdrawal, including why the student did not withdraw by the published deadline
    • for selective withdrawals, an explanation of why the extenuating circumstances only affected certain courses
  1. Documentation of extenuating circumstances*. The council considers the following circumstances
      • Death - a copy of the death notice or obituary, death certificate, funeral bulletin
      • Illness or accident - written verification from the doctor on office letterhead, hospital bills, copies of medical bills, accident reports.
      • Personal - verification from the counselor, medical associate, or supportive facility verifying dates attended/treated and/or comments they feel comfortable making; letter from employer regarding changes in job responsibilities, work hours, position change.
      • Legal - copies of proceedings, verification from attorney, police reports, etc.
      • Judicial (on or off campus) - copies of letters concerning hearings, statement from the Judicial Office, or a statement from OPS reports.
      • Military-copy of orders for annual training, summer camps, etc.

*NOTE: Poor academic performance is not an extenuating circumstance.

Faculty will receive an email from CAGAS asking for the following:

  1. Student attendance, last date student attended
  2. Grades on quizzes, tests, assignments
  3. And other pertinent information

Please see Late Withdrawal Appeal Procedure for more information.

SEMESTER HOUR OVERLOAD

Student must provide the following:

A brief email to CAGAS@wiu.edu that includes the following in a few sentences:

    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • total number of semester hours requested and the specific course(s) to be added including course number, STAR number, and section number
    • reasons for requesting the overload

Advisor will receive an email from CAGAS asking for the following:

  1. Approval/denial of student request
  2. Confirmation they have discussed the overload request with the student

LATE REGISTRATION

Student must provide the following:

A brief email to CAGAS@wiu.edu that includes the following in a few sentences:

    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • course(s) to be added including course number, STAR number, and section number
    • reasons for requesting the late registration, including why the student did not register by the published deadline

Faculty will receive an email from CAGAS asking for the following:

  1. Verification that the student has been attending and permission for the student to be added, or
  2. If the student has not been attending class, permission for the student to be added to the class and confirmation that the student will be permitted to make up missed assignments

CLASS SWITCH

Student must provide the following:

A brief email to CAGAS@wiu.edu that includes the following in a few sentences:

    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • course(s) to be switched including course number, STAR number, and section number currently in and new section number
    • reasons for requesting the class switch, including why the student did not switch classes by the published deadline

Faculty will receive an email from CAGAS asking for the following:

  1. Verification that the student has been attending and permission for the student to be added, or
  2. If the student has not been attending class, permission for the student to be switched to the class and confirmation that the student will be permitted to make up missed assignments

SECTION SWITCH

Student must provide the following:

A brief email to CAGAS@wiu.edu that includes the following in a few sentences:

    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • course(s) to be switched including course number, STAR number, and section number currently in and new section number
    • reasons for requesting the section switch, including why the student did not switch sections by the published deadline

Faculty will receive an email from CAGAS asking for the following:

  1. Verification that the student has been attending and give permission for the student to be switched, or
  2. If the student has not been attending class, give permission for the student to be switched to the section and will allow the student to make up missed assignments

GRADUATION SUBSTITUTION/WAIVER

Student must provide the following:

  1. Completed Waiver or Substitution of University Catalog Requirements for Graduation form
  2. An email to CAGAS@wiu.edu of one page or less that includes:
    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • course(s) requested for substitution/waiver. If a WIU course, include course number and STAR number (if applicable). If a course from another institution, provide course number, catalog description and syllabus
    • reasons for requesting a substitution/waiver and how it impacts the student’s remaining graduation requirements
  1. Any additional documentation that is required by CAGAS, based on the specific type of substitution/waiver requested
  2. Signatures of Advisor, Department Chair and Dean are required on Substitution/Waiver form. Email acknowledgements of these individuals are also accepted in lieu of signatures

SPECIAL APPEAL FOR REENTRY (Attended last semester/summer term and was suspended/dismissed)

Student must provide the following:

  1. An email to CAGAS@wiu.edu of one page or less that includes:
    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • an explanation of the extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from achieving the required GPA and what changes the student is making to prioritize their education
  1. Documentation of extenuating circumstances. The Council considers the following circumstances:
    • Death - a copy of the death notice or obituary, death certificate, funeral bulletin
    • Illness or accident - written verification from the doctor on office letterhead, hospital bills, copies of medical bills, accident reports.
    • Personal - verification from the counselor, medical associate, or supportive facility verifying dates attended/treated and/or comments they feel comfortable making; letter from employer regarding changes in job responsibilities, work hours, position change.
    • Legal - copies of proceedings, verification from attorney, police reports, etc.
    • Judicial (on or off campus) - copies of letters concerning hearings, statement from the Judicial Office, or a statement from OPS reports.
    • Military-copy of orders for annual training, summer camps, etc.
  1. One or two letters of support from a faculty member, advisor, or other individual that can attest that the student is prepared and has resolved the extenuating circumstances provided (strongly recommended, but not required)

REENTRY (Attended two or more semesters ago and was dismissed)

Student must provide the following:

  1. Completed Reentry Form
  2. An email to CAGAS@wiu.edu of one page or less that includes:
    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • an explanation of the extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from achieving the required GPA, what the student has been doing since leaving WIU, and how the student is now able to prioritize their education
  1. Documentation of extenuating circumstances. The Council considers the following circumstances:
    • Death - a copy of the death notice or obituary, death certificate, funeral bulletin
    • Illness or accident - written verification from the doctor on office letterhead, hospital bills, copies of medical bills, accident reports.
    • Personal - verification from the counselor, medical associate, or supportive facility verifying dates attended/treated and/or comments they feel comfortable making; letter from employer regarding changes in job responsibilities, work hours, position change.
    • Legal - copies of proceedings, verification from attorney, police reports, etc.
    • Judicial (on or off campus) - copies of letters concerning hearings, statement from the Judicial Office, or a statement from OPS reports.
    • Military-copy of orders for annual training, summer camps, etc.
  1. Copies of transcripts if student attended another university
  2. One or two letters of support from a faculty member, advisor, or other individual that can attest that the student is prepared and has resolved the extenuating circumstances provided (strongly recommended, but not required)

NEW START APPEAL (Attended 3 or more years ago and has a severe honor point deficiency)

Student must provide the following:

  1. Completed Reentry Form
  2. An email to CAGAS@wiu.edu of one page or less that includes:
    • student name, student ID number and contact information
    • an explanation of why the student did not meet academic requirements when they previously attended, what the student has been doing since leaving WIU, and how the student is now able to prioritize their education
  1. Documentation of extenuating circumstances. The Council considers the following circumstances:
    • Death - a copy of the death notice or obituary, death certificate, funeral bulletin
    • Illness or accident - written verification from the doctor on office letterhead, hospital bills, copies of medical bills, accident reports.
    • Personal - verification from the counselor, medical associate, or supportive facility verifying dates attended/treated and/or comments they feel comfortable making; letter from employer regarding changes in job responsibilities, work hours, position change.
    • Legal - copies of proceedings, verification from attorney, police reports, etc.
    • Judicial (on or off campus) - copies of letters concerning hearings, statement from the Judicial Office, or a statement from OPS reports.
    • Military-copy of orders for annual training, summer camps, etc.
  1. Copies of transcripts if student attended another university
  2. Letters of support (strongly recommended, but not required)

Western Illinois University abides by Title IX. As such, all employees of Western Illinois University, except those exempted by law, are considered "responsible employees" with an obligation to immediately report to the Title IX Coordinator any and all alleged sexual misconduct that is reported to them or about which they otherwise learn. For more information regarding Title IX, please see http://www.wiu.edu/policies/titleIX.php.

Contact Us

CAGAS
c/o Office of the Registrar
1 University Circle
Sherman Hall 110
Macomb, IL 61455-1390 USA

Phone: 309/298-3101
Fax: 309/298-2787
CAGAS@wiu.edu

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