Office of the Registrar

Reentry

Any former undergraduate who has not attended Western Illinois University for one or more spring or fall terms must complete an undergraduate reentry form. This form is not for students in the B.A. General Studies program or those who have earned a bachelor's or master's degree.

Undergraduate Reentry Form

Open Registration for Spring 2025 begins Friday, November 1, 2024.

If the student has taken any college level coursework since attending WIU, he or she must have an official transcript of this work sent directly to the Office of the Registrar. A student who has been academically suspended and who has not attended one regular semester following the suspension will be allowed reentry without appeal to the University by completing the reentry form in the Office of the Registrar. The student will be placed on academic probation and required to meet specific stipulations assigned by the University. A student who has been academically dismissed (has one or more academic suspensions) can attend Western only during the summer terms. If at the end of any summer term, the student's cumulative grade point is equivalent to a 2.00 or higher, the student may continue at Western.

Reentry forms and necessary transcripts must be on file at least two weeks prior to the term for which the students are returning.

Students who return to the University after an absence of two regular terms must meet the requirements of the current catalog unless they receive written permission from the dean of the college in which they are enrolled to continue under an earlier catalog. This written permission must be on file in the Office of the Registrar within nine weeks of matriculation. A student may not receive permission to graduate under a catalog which predates re-enrollment by more than three years.

New Start Policy

Per the University catalog, the New Start policy is designed for former Western Illinois University students with a severe cumulative honor point deficiency who have not attended WIU for a minimum of three years.

To appeal to have prior grades excluded from subsequent grade point average calculations, a student must send a letter to the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) prior to re-entry to the University. The one page letter must specifically state what the student has been doing since leaving WIU and how they are now able to prioritize their education. Documentation of any extenuating circumstances and letters of support are strongly recommended.  In addition, a reentry form must be on file in the Registrar’s Office as well as official transcripts from all schools the student has attended. If you were last enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS) program, or are interested in changing to this program, a BGS advisor will also need to submit a letter verifying that New Start is an appropriate option for you.

If approved:

  1. The student will begin with a 0.000 GPA.
  2. A minimum of 30 semester hours at WIU must be taken after returning to WIU to qualify for graduation.
  3. All hours earned will count toward total hours for graduation.
  4. All students must have at least a ‘C’ average in all WIU courses counted toward the major and minor for graduation. This will include all courses taken before New Start.
  5. All grades received at WIU will be used to determine class rank and honors.
  6. All courses taken and grades earned will appear on the transcript.

The New Start provision may be exercised only once.