Undergraduate Catalog

Academic Appeal

Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS)

The Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) is responsible for recommending and evaluating policies concerning admission, retention, graduation, and academic standards and for establishing some of the procedures to carry out such policies. It also serves as an appellate body regarding such policies and procedures. CAGAS (ten faculty and two student members) meets weekly during Fall and Spring semesters, as well as several times during the Summer. More information is available at wiu.edu/registrar/cagas.

Academic Dishonesty Appeal

Western Illinois University is dedicated to the discovery and communication of knowledge. The University can best function and accomplish its objectives in an atmosphere where high ethical standards prevail. For this reason, and to ensure that the academic work of all students will be fairly evaluated, the University strongly condemns academic dishonesty. WIU’s policy on academic integrity is available at wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php.

Grade Appeal

It is the responsibility of any student wishing to pursue a grade appeal to meet with the faculty member who assigned the grade by the end of the second week of the regular semester (Fall or Spring) following the term in which the student received the grade in question. In the event the student does not receive a response from the faculty member by the beginning of the third week of the regular semester (Fall or Spring), the student should contact the Department Chairperson or School Director in order to set up a meeting with the faculty member (or to meet with the Department Chairperson or School Director if the faculty member is on medical leave, on sabbatical leave, retired, or no longer employed by WIU and is unable to participate in the meeting). WIU’s full Policy on Grade Appeals is available at wiu.edu/policies/gradeapp.php.

Oral English Proficiency Appeal

Students who have complaints concerning the oral English proficiency of faculty providing classroom instruction should contact the Department Chairperson or School Director or the immediate supervisor of the appropriate faculty member. The complaint should be as specific as possible and should include a written summary.

All complaints shall be investigated by the Department Chairperson or School Director including, but not limited to, classroom visitation. If the Department Chairperson or School Director finds the faculty member’s oral English proficiency is satisfactory, the Department Chairperson or School Director will so notify the student.

Students may appeal the Department Chairperson’s or School Director’s satisfactory evaluation of oral English proficiency to the appropriate Dean who shall investigate the complaint. If the Dean finds the faculty member’s oral English proficiency is satisfactory, the Dean will so notify the student. In the event of such a finding, the decision of the Dean shall be final.

If the Department Chairperson, School Director, or Dean finds the faculty member’s oral English proficiency is unsatisfactory, a recommendation shall be submitted to the Academic Vice President for consideration. The Academic Vice President will notify the student and the faculty member of this decision.

At all levels of this procedure, the student’s identity will remain confidential. WIU’s full policy on Oral English Proficiency is available at wiu.edu/policies/oralexam.php.

Right of Academic Appeal

Students have the right to appeal the implementation of any University regulation which relates to admission, academic standards, or graduation by submitting a formal written appeal to the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS). Such appeals must be based upon the existence of unusual or extenuating circumstances which have prevented the student from achieving the normal University standard, and evidence of these unusual or extenuating circumstances must be presented with the appeal. Such appeals must be submitted to the CAGAS office, Sherman Hall 110, or by email to CAGAS@wiu.edu.

Withdrawal from an Individual Course Appeal

Students may appeal to the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) for a late withdrawal from an individual course, provided the student can document extenuating circumstances. All appeals should include sufficient documentation of any extenuating circumstances which explain why a student was unable to follow the proper procedure for withdrawing from the course prior to the end of the tenth week of the term. The student must also have the instructor of the course send a statement verifying grades on quizzes, tests, assignments, and last date of attendance. Appeals and support documentation must be submitted to the CAGAS office, Sherman Hall 110, or by email to CAGAS@wiu.edu.

Withdrawal from the University Appeal

Students may appeal for a late withdrawal from the University and receive a W for each course, provided the student can document extenuating circumstances. All requests should include sufficient documentation of any extenuating circumstances which explain why a student was unable to follow the proper procedure for withdrawing from the University prior to the end of the tenth week of the term. The student’s request must be submitted in writing with appropriate, supporting documentation to the Student Development and Success Center, Memorial Hall 125, or by email to sdsc@wiu.edu.

If the Student Development and Success Center denies the request, the student may appeal the decision to the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS). Students are advised to attend classes, if possible, until a final decision is reached.

After the close of the semester, a student may appeal directly to CAGAS for late withdrawal.