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Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

What is the difference between Independent Study and Online courses?
Independent Study courses are print-based, correspondence courses. You will complete all work on your own using a course guide for guidance and mailing the work to the instructor. Most Independent Study courses have at least one exam that must be proctored (additional information about Testing). Instructors may have specific due dates for assignments and exams. These courses also have a built in extension time, so you have about six months to complete course requirements, provided that you have met all assignment deadlines set by the instructor. Online courses are accessed using the Internet and allow for electronic submission of assignments, although some Online courses require at least one proctored examination (for more information see “Testing” section below). You will consult the course website in place of a course guide, although you will still need to order textbooks and other materials. These courses run for either 8 (Summer) or 16 (Fall and Spring) weeks with no extensions. Online courses contain deadlines within the semester for completion of assignments and exams.
How long do I have to complete my course?
All of our courses begin at the same time as regular on-campus classes.
  • Fall – Mid-August
  • Spring – Mid-January
  • Summer – Early-June
Online courses must be completed by the end of the regular on-campus semester (16 weeks for Fall and Spring, 8 weeks for Summer). All materials are due to the instructor by Monday of on-campus finals week.

Independent Study courses have a built in extension – provided that you have met all interim deadlines set by the instructor – so that you have about 6 months to complete the course. The final deadlines are;
  • March 1 for Fall
  • August 1 for Spring
  • Decemberfor Summer of each year.

If you are graduating or need your grade at the end of the semester, all materials will need to be turned in by Monday of on-campus finals week.
What happens if the weather turns bad?
When weather conditions warrant and all WIU classes offered in the Quad Cities are canceled, announcements of class cancellations will be broadcast on local radio and television stations. When weather conditions in Macomb are bad, University cars may be grounded and faculty members who normally drive to the Quad Cities to teach may be unable to travel. Please call WIU-Quad Cities at 309/762-9481 for information on individual canceled classes. If you commute a long distance for classes, please use your best judgment about attempting to drive to class when you are experiencing severe weather.
How do I check what courses are being offered next semester?
All course offerings will be available online only through Course Search on STARS. You may access Course Search from the Registrar’s website.
How do I apply for admission if I've attended another college or university?
If you have attended other regionally accredited colleges or universities:
  • You must have a “C” average for all work attempted.
  • You must be in good standing at last college or university attended.
  • It must be at least five years since your scheduled high school graduation date.
  • Or you must have earned an accredited associate’s degree or successfully completed 60 semester hours of coursework at a regionally accredited institution.
Can I be admitted even if I have a bachelor's degree?
Answer: Although people with bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited institutions cannot be admitted to the BOT/BA degree program, firefighters are the one exception. Firefighters who hold a bachelor's degree who would like to complete additional coursework through the Degrees at a Distance Program and attain a second bachelor's degree should the Non-Traditional Programs office by calling 309/298-1929 or by e-mailing NP-BOT@wiu.edu for more information.
Can I transfer to a different degree program once I'm admitted?
Admission to the BOT/BA degree program does not admit you to any other WIU degree program.
What platform is used for online courses?
Westernonline is the only platform for online courses. Login requires your WIU ECOM username and password. If you use WIU's email, your ECOM username and password will be the same username and password. You can call our Helpdesk at (309) 298-2704 if you have forgotten your ECOM username or password.
What about advising?
Each student in the BOT/BA degree program is assigned an advisor. Students living in and around the Quad Cities area are assigned an advisor based at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. All other students are assigned an advisor based in Macomb, Illinois. The advisor's role is to assist you in your efforts toward earning the BOT/BA degree. Your advisor is willing to assist you in making those decisions that are right for you. Whenever you have a question about your progress toward the degree, you may contact your advisor via e-mail, telephone, letter or in person. BOT/BA advisors will focus their efforts on issues directly relating to the BOT/BA degree. We will be happy to refer you to other university resources for accurate information pertaining to other issues indirectly related to degree completion (i.e. financial aid, grades, grade appeals, billing, etc.)
What is the policy on Non-Discrimination?
Western Illinois University complies fully with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws, orders, and regulations. The University is committed to providing equal opportunity and an educational and work environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from discrimination based on sex, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, religion, age, marital status, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Further, the University is committed to a comprehensive Affirmative Action program that ensures access and equity in educational programs, activities, and employment.
Will I have to duplicate any credit?
When Admissions/Records Officers of the BOT/BA degree program prepared your WARD Report, they checked for possible duplication of credit in your past academic work. In each case, they made every effort to award you as much credit as your records warranted without granting credit twice for the same course or course equivalency. If you have any questions about your WARD Report, please contact your advisor. Now that you are in the program, you will need to avoid taking courses that duplicate work that has already been recorded on your transcript or WARD Report. When in doubt, contact your advisor BEFORE taking a course, taking a proficiency examination, requesting courses in a prior learning portfolio, etc. Specific areas that constitute duplication of credit include:
  1. Repeating a course at the same school for a better grade. Credits will be awarded toward graduation only once for the course even though it will appear on your transcript each time you take it.
  2. Taking a course at a college or university that contains the same subject matter as a previous course from a different institution. This applies even if the courses have different numbers, names, or were taken in different departments.
  3. CLEP subject examinations that cover the same material as covered in a course taken prior to the CLEP examinations.
  4. CLEP or Excelsior examinations which would award credit that is a prerequisite to courses taken in that subject that have been taken and recorded on your transcript.
  5. Proficiency credit for courses that have been taken.
  6. Written Prior learning portfolio credit awards for courses taken.
The 120 total semester hour requirement and all other credit hour requirements (except the 30-semester hour BOT/BA enrollment requirement) may be fulfilled through any or all of the following options.
  • WIU Courses
  • Transfer of Credit
  • Miltary Credit
  • Non-collegiate Credit
How do I access STARS?
There are two ways to access STARS: STARS on the WEB (http://stars.wiu.edu/). Available options include academic calendar, addresses, billing information, catalog descriptions, comments, department identification, employee inquiry, major/advisor information, open class sections, registration, student loan status/financial aid, transcript, UHDS al la carte and flex plan points, UHDS contract renewal, UHDS lifestyle assign preference, WARD print request, WESTEL authorization. STARS Online On-campus (from WIU computing labs), including the WIU-Quad Cities campus. Available options include academic calendar, addresses, billing information, catalog descriptions, comments, department identification, employee inquiry, major/advisor information, open class sections, printer selection, registration, STARS instructions, student loan status/financial aid, student voting and election, transcript, UHDS al la carte and flex plan points, UHDS contract renewal, UHDS lifestyle assign preference, WARD print request, WESTEL authorization.