General Academic Information

Administrative Credit Courses
English 099 and Math 050 carry only administrative credit which will count toward financial aid and athletic eligibility, but not toward minimum graduation credit requirements. The grade received in an administrative credit course is NOT included in the calculation of the term or cumulative G.P.A.

Arranged Classes, Independent Studies and Internships
Arranged Class, Independent Study and Internship applications must be turned in to the appropriate dean by deadline indicated in the Academic Calendar. Applications will not be accepted after this date.

Applications received by this date will be processed and you must register for these courses by the last day of the Drop/Add period.

Attendance
In order to improve students’ access to classes they need and want, the Faculty has adopted a policy which requires student attendance at first meetings of classes which are closed. Each semester some of the seats in WSU’s many closed classes are taken by students who drop them too late for other students to take their places. The purpose of this policy is to identify students who have decided to drop classes sooner, so that students who want to enroll in them can be served.

If you registered for a class and you do not attend the first scheduled meeting of that class, the instructor MAY cancel your registration in that class, if it is closed. YOU MUST NOT ASSUME THAT YOUR REGISTRATION IN A CLOSED CLASS WILL BE CANCELLED IF YOU FAIL TO ATTEND THE FIRST CLASS MEETING; IT WILL BE CANCELLED ONLY IF THE INSTRUCTOR CHOOSES TO DO SO. If your registration is cancelled by the instructor, you will be informed by a notice sent to your permanent address.

If your absence from the first scheduled meeting of a closed class is unavoidable and you wish to retain your seat in the class, you should contact the instructor before that meeting. If you do not know the instructor’s name, call the academic department which offers the course. Phone numbers of all academic departments are listed on the Web. If you know the instructor’s name, call the Campus Switchboard at 507-457-5000 (toll-free 800-242-8978) to obtain her/his office phone number.

Audited Courses
A student may audit courses if he/she so desires. This procedure permits a student to attend classes but not receive credit. Courses pursued on an audit basis must be indicated as such when registering. Regular tuition charges apply. A student may not use audited courses to satisfy graduation, certification or licensure requirements.

"Blue Cards"

If you find that a class in which you wish to enroll is closed, you may not register for it. You will also be blocked from registering if instructor permission is required. In either case, you may receive permission to add the class if the instructor will either provide a signed Class Permit Form (the "blue card") or will issue an electronic authorization. It is your responsibility to complete the registration process. If you have a "blue card," you must bring it to the Registrar's office (114 Somsen Hall) before the drop/add deadline (see the Academic Calendar). If you have been given electronic authorization, you must complete registration on line before the drop/add deadline. See more about Drop/Add below.

Course Numbering System
Courses are numbered from 100 to 799. Courses numbered from 100-400 are for undergraduate students. Courses numbered at the 500, 600 and 700-level may be taken by graduate students only.

Credit by Examination
Credit by departmental examination may be granted without formal enrollment in a course, if a student can satisfy the requirements of the course by a written or oral examination. The intent of this policy is to make it possible, without enrollment in the course, for a student who has completed equivalent study at a non-accredited school or who can present evidence of independent study or related work experience, to establish credit. A student must be fully matriculated with an established grade point average at Winona State University, in good standing, and enrolled at the university during the semester in which a Credit by Examination is taken. This process may not be used to improve a grade. Credit by Examination forms may be picked up in the Registrar’s Office, Somsen 114.

Disabilities
Winona State University is committed to making its programs accessible to all qualified students. Students who need academic accommodation are advised to provide documentation to the Disability Resource Center, Howell Hall 136, (507) 457-5600 or (507) 457-2409 (TTY), or FAX (507)457-5155, or E-mail: ndumke@winona.edu

Drop/Add Classes (at the beginning of the semester)
It is the responsibility of the student to correct errors in enrollment no later than the last day of the Drop/Add period. Instructor permission, either by way of a Class Permit Form or a computerized electronic override, is required for adding closed classes (See Blue Cards, above). Instructor signatures and departmental stamps on Class Permit Forms are required to add ANY day class after the fourth instructional day, and any night class after the first class meeting. If you drop a class after the sixth instructional day of the semester you will be charged for the number of credits that the class carries. Your account in the Business Office will be charged for all credits in which you are enrolled at the end of the sixth instructional day.

If you fail to attend the first meeting of a closed class and the instructor does not drop you from the class, and if you do not drop the class by the end of the sixth instructional day of the semester, you will be charged tuition and fees for that class.

The deadline for adding a class, and the deadline for dropping a class without the class appearing on your academic transcript, is the sixth day of the semester. See Withdrawing from Classes (below) for information about withdrawing after this date.

Education Courses
All undergraduate students must be admitted to the Teacher Education program before registration in 300-level or 400-level Education courses can be processed. First year students (students with 0 – 30 semester hours earned) may not enroll in courses numbered at the 400-level.

Incomplete Grades
Instructors may report a grade of "Incomplete" for a student who is unable for some reason beyond her or his control, to finish some important assignment by the end of the semester, though he or she is passing the course in other respects. Under-graduate students who receive incomplete grades must complete the work and their instructors submit changes of grades to the Registrar’s Office not later than the middle of the next semester. Graduate students who receive incomplete grades must complete the work within one calendar year. Incomplete grades which are not changed by these deadlines are automatically converted to failing grades. However instructors may request that incomplete make-up deadlines for individual students be extended to specific dates.

Intent to Return
Former undergraduate and graduate students who did not attend Winona State during the previous semester are required to file an "Intent to Return."

Former undergraduate students who have either not attended another university or college after they left Winona State, or attended another school during summer sessions only, should file their Intent to Return forms with the Registrar’s Office (Somsen 114).

Former undergraduate students who have attended another university or college, except during summer sessions, should file their Intent to Return forms with the Admissions Office (Somsen 106).  Filing deadlines are indicated in the Academic Calendar.

Major/Minor/Certification Programs - Declarations and Changes
Students must declare or change a major, minor, or certification program by completing the appropriate form which is available in the Registrar’s Office, Somsen 114. Upon declaration or change of declared major/minor/certification program, students must follow the requirements in effect on the date shown on the declaration or change form. Program implementation dates are available in the Registrar’s Office. Detailed program requirements are available in the office of the appropriate Department Chairperson.

Overloads
Undergraduate students: Students who wish to enroll in more than 19 semester credits must obtain prior approval from the Dean of the College of their major:
College of Liberal Arts - Minne 206
College of Education - Gildemeister 135
College of Business - Somsen 309
College of Science and Technology - Stark 201
College of Nursing & Health Sciences - Stark 301

Graduate students: Students who wish to enroll in more than 12 semester credits must obtain prior approval from the Director of Graduate Studies (Somsen 109).

Pass/No Credit Courses
A student wishing to enroll in an optional P/NC class must indicate so when registering for the class. A student may not take more than six P/NC credits per semester, excluding Student Teaching and Internships. The six credits include both optional P/NC classes and classes in which P/NC grading is mandatory. If a student wishes to repeat an optional P/NC course, it must be repeated on a regular grade basis, not on a P/NC basis. Students are allowed to change their grade type for courses during the Drop/Add Period.

Permission Required Courses
If you wish to add a class which has a note in the class schedule that reads "permission of instructor required", you must contact the instructor of the class for permission. Instructors of these classes may give you permission to enroll in two different ways:

• by entering an approval into the computer (the instructor will not be registering you in the class but will be authorizing you to enroll in the class). Use web registration if you are given permission via the computer.

• by giving you a blue ‘Class Permit’ slip with his/her signature and the departmental stamp on it. If you are given a ‘Class Permit’ slip, you will need to present the slip at the Registrar’s Office (Somsen 114).

Repeated Courses
A student who is repeating a course (taking it over to improve his/her grade) must complete a Repeat Form. When repeating a course, the student must take it the second time on a graded basis (not Pass/No Credit). Only the last grade received and credits earned will count. If a student withdraws while repeating a class, the original grade remains on his/her record and GPA. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Registrar's Office when repeating a class by completing a Repeat Form. The Registrar's Office does not accept responsibility for incorrect totals or grade point averages which are due to "repeat" courses for which the proper paperwork has not been completed.

Residential College
All classes offered in Lourdes Hall are available to all Winona State students. Back-to-back classes on opposite campuses are not possible due to the length of time it takes to travel between campuses.

Senior Citizens
Minnesota residents, age 62 or older, may enroll in classes at WSU at no cost if no credit is desired; or $20.00 per credit if credit is desired. Both situations are dependent upon space availability. Participation requires admission to the Senior Citizen Program. The admission fee is $20.00. For more information contact the Continuing Education Office, Somsen 109, (507) 457-5080.

Transcripts
Winona State issues two types of transcripts: Unofficial (generally used by students and advisors) and Official (stamped with the University seal and sent to other educational institutions and businesses). Official transcripts in sealed envelopes will be provided upon proof that the transcript must be sent directly by the student. Requests for official transcripts are normally processed within two or three business days. There is no charge for WSU transcripts. Winona State University reserves the right to deny transcripts if the student has an unpaid financial obligation to the University. Unofficial transcripts may be ordered at the Registrar’s Office, Somsen Hall 114, and are ready for pick-up the next day. If you are a currently-enrolled student, you can produce an unofficial transcript yourself by clicking the Register icon at the top of this page. Log in using your Warrior ID, select the Student tab, and click on "Academic Record."

Withdrawing from Classes (after the beginning of the semester)

Note: Students should be aware that withdrawing from classes may slow their academic progress and may delay graduation.

When students register for classes, the University reserves seats in those classes for them, and prepares course syllabi and other materials for their use. Because course availability is limited, a student’s registration may also prevent other students from taking a particular class. Therefore, registration in classes obligates each student to pay tuition and other fees unless she/he drops those classes before the "drop-without-tuition-obligation" deadline. (See Drop/Add, above, for further information.)

Classes dropped before the drop-without-tuition-obligation deadline are not recorded on transcripts of the student’s academic record. Classes removed from a student's record between that deadline and the final withdrawal deadline are recorded on transcripts of the student’s academic record with a grade symbol "W" (meaning "withdrew"). Credits in courses with the "W" symbol are not included in the computation of GPAs.

MnSCU expects WSU to charge tuition and fees based on enrollment, not on attendance. Therefore, each student’s tuition charge will be based on all courses in which she/he is enrolled after the drop-without-tuition-obligation deadline, even if the student has never attended those classes.

Students may withdraw from classes using either the WSU website or staff assistance:

• If you use the website, always print a copy of your schedule after you have finished withdrawing from classes. The printed copy should confirm that the internet transaction was completed. Also, your computer screen should display a message indicating that the transaction was successfully completed. If it does not, the transaction was probably not successful. (Note: To make it easier for the Registrar's Office to verify transactions, the system records any attempt to withdraw from a class after the "drop-without-tuition-obligation deadline , whether it was successful or not.)
•  If you use staff assistance, always ask the staff person for a copy of your schedule.

Withdrawal From the University

If a student intends to transfer from WSU to another school, it is best to do so at the end of a semester in order to present a complete academic record to the new school and to avoid losing the financial investment and the effort committed to a semester in-progress. WSU recognizes, however, that this is not always possible.

Deciding whether to Withdraw

If you are thinking about withdrawing in the middle of the semester, you owe it to yourself to be well informed and to consider all the consequences. Use the following checklist as you ponder this decision:

• Talk to your academic advisor. She/he will remember your academic and career objectives and be a willing ear to listen to your concerns. Your advisor will also be able to help you plan for completing your college education at a later time.
• Make an appointment to see one of the staff members in the Advising and Retention office (Phelps Hall, Room 129; 457-5600).
• If you are having academic difficulty in one or more of your classes, check out the Academic Skills Center (Phelps Hall, Room 125; 457-5543); Academic Assistance Center (Library, Room 301); or Student Support Services (Howell Hall, Room 133; 457-5465). See page 29 for more information about specific services available and eligibility for these services.
•  If you are not sure that you have chosen a major or career path that is right for you, visit the Career Services office (Gildemeister Hall, Room 110; 457-5340).
•  If you are experiencing personal problems, help is available in the Counseling Center (Gildemeister Hall, Room 132; 457-5330).
• If you are experiencing illness, go to Student Health Services (Maxwell Hall; 457-5160).
•  If you are having trouble paying tuition and fees, you may be able to work out a payment plan with the Accounts Receivable office (Somsen Hall, Room 104; 457-5076).
• If you are living on campus and are having problems with your roommate or accommodations, contact your Residence Assistant, Residence Hall Director, or the Housing and Residence Life office to find out what changes can be made (Kryzsko Commons, Room 130; 457-5305).

Withdrawing from the University

If, after exploring your options, you decide to leave the University, here is a checklist of things you should do:

• Be sure to drop your classes, either on the WSU website or with the assistance of staff members: on-campus (Winona) classes, Registrar’s Office (Somsen Hall, Room 114; 457-5030); Rochester classes, UCR Service Desk (285-7100); extension classes, ACEED (Somsen Hall, Room 109; 457-5080).
• If you are leaving the University for only a semester or two, pick up an Intent to Return/Application for Readmission form at one of the registration offices above. Complete it and submit it at least one month before you plan to register for classes for your first term back.
• Check with the Accounts Receivable office (Somsen Hall, Room 104; 457-5076) to make sure your account is paid in full or to inform yourself of the balance on your account and the University’s collections policies.
• If you are leaving in the middle of the semester and have received financial aid through the University, find out in the Accounts Receivable office whether you will be expected to return any of the aid you have received.
• If you are living in a campus residence, formally check out of your room with your Residence Assistant or the Residence Hall Director.

You may withdraw from the University (drop all of your classes) anytime during the semester until the final withdrawal deadline. If you withdraw from the University within a few weeks after the drop-without-tuition-obligation deadline, you will receive a partial refund of tuition and fees, based on the date of your withdrawal, and in accordance with a pro-rated refund schedule (page 10). Each term’s pro-rated refund schedule is published on the WSU website.

If you withdraw during the term and receive financial aid through the University, you may be expected to return part of it, corresponding to the portion of the semester in which you are not enrolled. If you plan to return to Winona State , or transfer to another school, leaving in the middle of the term may make you ineligible to receive government-sponsored financial aid in the future.