Frequently Answered Questions

• What are my rights and responsibilities as WSU student?

  WSU students are expected:

  1. To inform themselves of and to fulfill all requirements of the University and those of the College and Department from which they expect to receive their degree;
  2. To fulfill conscientiously all assignments and requirements of their courses;
  3. To attend classes regularly and punctually;
  4. To maintain a scholarly, courteous demeanor in class;
  5. To uphold academic honesty in all activities;
  6. To notify the instructor as early as possible if prevented from keeping an appointment or carrying out an assignment;
  7. To discuss with the instructor any class-related problem and follow established procedures in the resolution of these problems;
  8. To adhere to the instructor’s and general University policies on attendance, withdrawal, or other special procedures.

  Excerpted from bulletins.wayne.edu > General Information > Academic Regulations > Obligations to the Instructional Process

  The full statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities are part of the Wayne State University Statutes: https://bog.wayne.edu/code/2-31-01

• IMPORTANT DATES: Where can I view important dates related to my individual classes?

  Most classes follow the dates on the Academic and Registration Calendar. To view the start and end dates, last day for 100% tuition cancellation, and the last day to submit a withdrawal request for a specific class, go to the Registration Portal (registration.wayne.edu).

  It is your responsibility to know the deadlines for your classes. 

  Browse for a class or view your registration information and click on the title of a class to view the Class Details panel.

  

• IMPORTANT DATES: How do I know when I'm supposed to register/withdraw/etc.?

  The Academic and Registration calendar is published by the Office of the Registrar and lists the important dates and deadlines that regularly take place during a semester: 
  https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration/calendar/

  You can subscribe to the Office of the Registrar events calendar here: https://events.wayne.edu/subscribe/

• IMPORTANT DATES: Why is my WSU email important?

  The Office of the Registrar routinely sends out reminders regarding your schedule, the last day to drop with 100% tuition cancellation, and the last day to submit a withdrawal request for full-term classes. If you have any questions about a deadline for your particular section of a class, consult the Registration Portal at registration.wayne.edu. 

  It is your responsibility to know the deadlines for your classes.

  All official communications are sent to your WSU email. You must know your AccessID and password. If you need assistance accessing your account, contact the C&IT Help Desk at (313) 577-HELP (4357).

  Information about your WSU AccessID and email can be found here: https://tech.wayne.edu/kb/accessid-accounts/accessid/712

• TRANSFER CREDIT: I can't register without my transferred credits, now what?

  Contact your academic advisor to discuss possible alternatives to your schedule while your credits are being evaluated. You will want to register for classes for which you are currently qualified, and can adjust your schedule once the credits have posted and meet pre-requisites or course requirements. You can drop and add through the first week of classes: https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration/how-to/

  If there is an error and your posted transfer credit should allow you to register, your advisor or department advisor can provide an override and contact Registration at registration@wayne.edu for assistance.

• TRANSFER CREDIT: Why didn't my AP/IB/CLEP credits transfer?

  Score reports must be sent directly to Wayne State University to be posted to your academic record. Credits are not automatically transferred from your high school or previous institution's transcript.

  Information about Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is available on the Transfer Credit Evaluation website: https://wayne.edu/transfercredit/tests/

• TRANSFER CREDIT: Where are my missing credits?

  You can view your Transfer Credit Evaluation through Academica > Student Resources > Transfer Credit Evaluation.

  Not all credits are transferable, so be sure to look up your previous institutions classes on the Transfer Credit Evaluation website: https://wayne.edu/transfercredit/

  If you do need to send an updated official transcript, the mailing address is:
  Wayne State University
  Transfer Credit Evaluation
  P.O. Box 02759
  Detroit, MI  48202-0759

  Electronic transcripts may be sent to admissions@wayne.edu

• REGISTRATION: What if I need an override or want to audit a class?

  Overrides are permissions to register in response to a restriction or registration error. They are generally provided by the department offering the class. When an override is granted, you will be sent a notification to your WSU email. You will still need to register or be registered for the class.

  Information about auditing a class is available under Academic Regulations in the Undergraduate and Graduate Bulletins under "General Information" > Auditing Courses

  For a full list of overrides and when to use them, see the Add and Override Approval Form: https://wayne.edu/registrar/pdfs/add_form.pdf

• REGISTRATION: Can I register after classes start?

  You may still register after the first day of classes, but you will still need to meet course restrictions and some departments have policies regarding attendance during the first week.

  Late Registration starts the second week of classes and requires permission to register for each class you want to add. The Add/Override approval form is available here: https://wayne.edu/registrar/pdfs/add_form.pdf

  Important dates (including additional fees for late registration) are listed on the Academic and Registration calendar: https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration/calendar/

• REGISTRATION: Can I sit in on a class before I register?

  Short answer: No.

  In the Bulletin, under General Information > Records and Registration > Registration:

  " A student may not attend any class for which he/she is not officially registered."

• REGISTRATION: Why was I charged a registration fee?

  The Registration Fee is charged every semester. Any student registering after priority registration is charged an additional $35 registration fee if completed before the start of classes and $70 if completed after the start of classes (applies to initial registration only). Please refer to the Academic and Registration Calendar for specific tuition cancellation dates.

  For more information about tuition and fees, see: https://wayne.edu/registrar/tuition/

• REGISTRATION: How do I change my classes after I’ve registered?

  You can change your schedule through Priority Registration and the first week of classes by logging into the Registration Portal (registration.wayne.edu) to drop classes and add new ones.

  Instructions on how to register and how to drop classes are available here: https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration

• REGISTRATION: What if I need to increase/decrease a variable credit course?

  Prior to the end of the drop/add period, you should be able to make the correction yourself (see Changing Variable Credit at https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration/how-to/). 

  After the drop/add date, email your request with your name, WSU ID, and the CRN fo the course to registration@wayne.edu for assistance. Holds on your account will prevent the registration of additional credits. 

  Increasing or decreasing credits will affect your tuition for the semester! Be sure to check your account balance in Academica once the changes have been made.

• REGISTRATION: Can I repeat a class?

  You can view the university policy regarding Repeating Courses in the Bulletin (bulletins.wayne.edu).

  Undergraduate students need to see their advisor to repeat a course for a third time. You will also need to see your advisor if you have repeated three different courses and want to repeat a fourth class. For more information, see: https://bog.wayne.edu/code/2-34-07

  With a repeated course, only the most recent grade is included in your grade point average (GPA). The original letter grade remains on your transcript, but in the column labeled R (for repeats), there is an indicator to show whether or not that grade is included in your overall grade point average (GPA). An "I" means Include in the GPA, while an "E" means Exclude from GPA. For courses taken prior to Winter 1998, a repeat may be marked with a grade of R. 

• REGISTRATION: How can I get my hold lifted to register for next semester?

  First, make sure you are approaching the office who placed the hold(s). You can do that by logging in to the "View Registration Status" area in the Registration Portal (registration.wayne.edu). Your Registration status will tell you if there are any holds on your account and what actions may be prevented.

  You can also view your holds in Academica > Student Records > Holds

  For a list of holds and their contact offices, go to: https://wayne.edu/registrar/registration/holds/

• REGISTRATION: Where can I obtain verification of my enrollment?

  Myhub is a centralized and secure online destination where learners can access all their academic records from multiple institutions held by the National Student Clearinghouse.

  For more information, please visit: https://wayne.edu/registrar/records/verification

• TUITION: Why is my tuition different from what I expected?

  Information about Tuition and Fees are available on the Office of the Registrar website: https://wayne.edu/registrar/tuition/

  Additionally, the Office of Student Financial Aid offer helpful information for estimating costs: https://wayne.edu/financial-aid/resources/cost-of-attendance/

• TUITION: Why did my tuition go up after I paid my balance?

  Paying your balance does not prevent tuition or additional fees from being assessed to your account. Changes in your class rank (such as receiving credit for transferred courses) or curriculum (some majors charge a different tuition rate, some require an additional support fee) may result in additional charges as you change your schedule or change from one major to another.

  Information regarding Tuition and Fees, including a Tuition Calculator and information about Class Ranking, may be found here: https://wayne.edu/registrar/tuition/

  If you have classes from another institution that need to be applied to your transcript, be sure to have official transcript sent in a timely manner: https://wayne.edu/transfercredit/transcripts/

• TUITION: I’m being charged out-of-state tuition rates. What do I do if I think this is an error?

  After registering, you may petition for a change of classification for tuition assessment through the Office of the Registrar using the Apply for In-State Classification form. Documentation must accompany applications for each area pertinent to your request.  

  The due dates for Applications for Residence Classification are set by Board of Governors Code 2.34.03.120.  Deadlines falling on weekends are extended to the next business day. Applications submitted after these deadlines are considered for the next term.   

  Fall Term and the Medical Year Term - September 30  
  Winter Term - January 31 
  Spring/Summer Term - July 31 

• PAYMENTS: I don't know how much I owe for classes - where do I go?

  You can view your current Bill/Account Summary in Academica under Student Resources. Check your eBill for payment due dates.

  You will be sent notification to your WSU email when a new eBill statement is available.  You can access your eBill statement through your Student Account Dashboard.  To access your Student Account Dashboard:

  • Login to Academica
  • Select Student Resources
  • Select Financial Records
  • Select Student Account Dashboard
  • Select Statements
  • The eBill statements will be listed in ascending order with the most recent date on top
  • Select the view statement icon
  • Your eBill statement will open as a pdf file in a separate window

  To view the eBill schedule, the late payment fee schedule, and an FAQ, please visit: https://wayne.edu/bursar/ebill/

• PAYMENTS: Why was I charged a late payment fee?

  Late payment fees are assessed by the Office of the Bursar, generally on the next business day after tuition is due. The late payment fee assessment schedule is available here: https://wayne.edu/bursar/late-payment-fees/

• PAYMENTS: How do I make payment arrangements?

  The Student Accounts Receivable office has several payment options, including installment plans: https://wayne.edu/bursar/payment/

• FINANCIAL AID: What is participation confirmation and why do I need it?

  Participation Confirmation is documentation from your professor within the first few weeks of classes that you are present and engaged in your registered courses. It is not part of your final grade. Wayne State is required to track participation as part of federal guidelines for financial aid.

  For more information, see: https://wayne.edu/registrar/class/

  To view the status of your courses, go to Academica > Student Resources > Course Participation Status. Please note that instructors cannot confirm your participation until after the first scheduled meeting day for a specific class.

  If you added into a class after the first day of classes, financial aid cannot be disbursed until after your classes have been confirmed.

• FINANCIAL AID: What happens if I am not confirmed in a class?

  If you are not confirmed in a class, your financial aid (if applicable) may be adjusted. Any financial aid that has not yet paid out will not be disbursed until your classes have been confirmed by each instructor.

  For more information, visit: https://wayne.edu/registrar/class/

• FINANCIAL AID: How does dropping/withdrawing affect my financial aid?

  Changing your schedule can affect your financial aid. For information regarding retaining your financial aid, go to: https://wayne.edu/financial-aid/receiving/retain/

  Dropping a class means that you are choosing not to be registered for the class within the first two weeks of the semester. To drop a class, follow these instructions: https://wayne.edu/registrar/dropping-a-class/

  Starting the third week, withdrawal requests are submitted through Academica: https://wayne.edu/registrar/withdrawing-from-a-course/

• WITHDRAWALS: How do I submit a withdrawal request?

  Withdrawals are required after the last day for 100% tuition cancellation. To submit a withdrawal request: Log in to Academica > Student Resources > Registration > Course Withdrawal. You must submit a separate request for each class.

• WITHDRAWALS: Do I get my money back?

  No; you are responsible for tuition assessed on withdrawn courses.

  To see how withdrawals may affect your financial aid, see: https://wayne.edu/financial-aid/law/retain/cancelation/

• WITHDRAWALS: Does my instructor need to approve my withdrawal request?

  Instructors no longer need to approve withdrawals per policy change effective Fall 2022.

• WITHDRAWALS: How does a withdrawal appear on my transcript?

  All withdrawals will show as a W on the transcript.

• WITHDRAWALS: What if I stop attending and miss the deadline to withdraw?

  Wayne State does not allow faculty to assign a W ("Official Withdrawal") mark to students who have stopped attending.  Faculty are advised to post the grade you would have earned based on the work you completed as compared to the total work required in the course and to report your last date of attendance.  That grade could be a failing grade. 

  If you have registered for classes, but never participated, and fail to drop or withdraw, you will receive a failing grade for that course. It is your responsibility as a student to follow the deadlines of the university as published on the Schedule of Classes, the Academic Calendar, and sent to you via email from the Registrar’s Office. 

• GRADES: What grading scale does WSU use?

  The grading scale used may depend on the class you’re taking.  The undergraduate grading system is at: https://bulletins.wayne.edu/undergraduate/general-information/academic-regulations/ and the graduate grading system can be found at: https://bulletins.wayne.edu/graduate/general-information/academic-regulations/.

• GRADES: Can my professor give me an incomplete?

  It's up to your instructor. If you are passing, and do not need to attend any more sessions, but need more time to complete the course, the instructor may agree to give you an Incomplete ("I"). The "I" will become a failing grade ("F"/"U"), if it is not changed to another grade within one academic year.  You and your instructor will be sent reminders to your WSU email.

  For more information, see: https://wayne.edu/registrar/faculty/incomplete-contract/

• GRADES: Why can't I see my final grades? Where can I find them?

  Faculty are asked to submit their final grades with 72 hours of the final exam. 

  Once posted, you will receive an autogenerated email to your WSU account for each final grade received. You can view your final grades in Academica > Student Resources > Student Records > Grades. 

  Final grades are also posted to your academic record (transcript). 

• GRADES: Where can I view my final grades?

  At the end of the semester,  you can view your final grades in Academica > Student Resources > Student Records > Student Profile > Final Grades.

• GRADES: How can I appeal a final grade?

  To appeal a final grade, first speak with your instructor. Beyond that, each school and college has its own guidelines for filing an appeal: https://provost.wayne.edu/academic-policy

  Be sure to file your appeal within 30 days of receiving your final grade.

• TRANSCRIPTS: How do I get a copy of my transcript?

  To obtain an official copy of your transcript, start here: https://wayne.edu/registrar/records/transcript-requests/

  You may view an unofficial copy of your transcript in Academica > Student Resources > Student Records > Transcripts

• TRANSCRIPTS: How is a repeated class noted on my transcript?

  With a repeated course, only the most recent grade is included in your grade point average (GPA). The original letter grade remains on your transcript, but in the column labled R (for repeats), there is an indicator to show whether or not that grade is included in your overall grade point average (GPA). An "I" means Include in the GPA, while an "E" means Exclude from GPA. For courses taken prior to Winter 1998, a repeat may be marked with a grade of R. 

  Information regarding repeats is available on the Transcript Key and the University Bulletins. 

• TRANSCRIPTS: Can I have grades removed from my transcript?

  Individual grades cannot be removed from the academic record. You can repeat a class to improve your GPA (the most recent grade replaces the previous grade). You may not pick and choose which grades appear.

• TRANSCRIPTS: I have a financial hold; can I still get a copy of my official transcript?

  No. If a hold prevents you from receiving a transcript, a notice will be sent to your WSU email. You can also see if you have a hold that prevents receiving a transcript by logging in through the Registration Portal (registration.wayne.edu) > Prepare for Registration.

  Financial holds are applied by the Office of the Bursar. To avoid past-due holds on your transcripts and diploma, be sure to explore their website for various payment options: https://wayne.edu/bursar/

• TRANSCRIPTS: Where would I find my unofficial transcript?

  You may view an unofficial copy of your transcript in Academica > Student Resources > Student Records > Transcript - View

  If you have a hold on your account, you may view an unofficial copy of your transcript in Academica > Student Resources > Student Records > Transcript - View (holds).

• EXCEPTIONS: What if I get sick?

  You may apply for a Medical Withdrawal per Section 8 Wayne State University’s Tuition and Fee Regulations .  A Medical Withdrawal is a complete withdrawal from all courses.  The Health Care Provider Documentation form is required to confirm that medical attention was provided during the semester requested.  Additional information is on the Request for Medical Withdrawal form. Contact esp@wayne.edu for guidance.   

  For courses in a Fall semester the deadline is March 1 of the following year.  The Winter semester deadline is July 1 of the same year. The deadline for Spring/Summer semester is November 1 of the same year.

• EXCEPTIONS: What if I have to take care of a family member?

  If your education is interrupted due to the serious illness of a family member, you may apply for an Exception to the Enrollment Policy per Section 8 Wayne State University’s Tuition and Fee Regulations . You will need to document your relationship to the family member and provide information about their medical condition.  Contact esp@wayne.edu for guidance.  

  For courses in a Fall semester the deadline is March 1 of the following year.  The Winter semester deadline is July 1 of the same year.  The deadline for Spring/Summer semester is November 1 of the same year. 

• EXCEPTIONS: What if there is a death in the family?

  If there has been a death of a close family member affecting your studies, you may apply for an Exception to the Enrollment Policy per Section 8 Wayne State University’s Tuition and Fee Regulations . You will need to document your relationship to the family member and provide a copy of a death certificate or obituary.  Contact esp@wayne.edu for guidance.  

  For courses in a Fall semester the deadline is March 1 of the following year. The Winter semester deadline is July 1 of the same year.  Spring-Summer's deadline is November 1 of the same year.

• EXCEPTIONS: What are the deadlines to apply for a medical withdrawal or other Exception to Enrollment Policy?

  For courses in a Fall semester the deadline is March 1 of the following year.  The Winter semester deadline is July 1 of the same year.  The deadline for Spring/Summer semester is November 1 of the same year. 

  If you missed our deadline you may file your request through the Ombuds Office’s Tuition and Fees Appeals Board.  TFAB accepts requests within one calendar year of the last day of the academic term in which the challenged fees were assessed:  https://wayne.edu/ombuds/tfab/  

• EXCEPTIONS: What if I registered for an incorrect class?

  If you have missed the drop/add deadline, contact your advisor to help coordinate a correction.  For an even exchange of credit or section CRN change after the drop/add period but prior to grading: the advisor should email esp@wayne.edu and specify the course/CRN to drop and then to add. If grading has been entered the advisor needs to specify the correct grade for the updated registration.  Hold on your account may prevent a registration correction.  Contact esp@wayne.edu for guidance. 

• EXCEPTIONS: What if my appeal is denied?

  If your appeal is denied, you may file a second appeal through the Ombuds Office’s Tuition and Fees Appeals Board.  TFAB accepts requests within one calendar year of the last day of the academic term in which the challenged fees were assessed:  https://wayne.edu/ombuds/tfab/ Decisions made by the TFAB are final.

• EXCEPTIONS: If my appeal is approved, what happens on my transcript?
  • 100% tuition and fee cancellation – the courses will not be on your transcript.   
  • 60% tuition reimbursement  - a W mark will be on your transcript   
  • There is no tuition cancellation - a W mark will be on your transcript.  
  • W marks do not affect grade point averages.  
• GRADUATION: When is the deadline to apply for graduation? 

  A semester’s graduation application deadline is the fifth Friday of the semester.  Specific dates for each semester are on the Academic and Registration Calendar for that year.   

  To submit an application: 

  • Log in to Academica 
  • Click on Student Resources 
  • Click on Student Records 
  • Select Apply for Degree Certificate 
• GRADUATION: What if I miss the deadline?

  The graduation application deadline is quite rigid but in some cases, an advisor may allow a correction.  Apply for the next available semester and contact your advisor. 

• GRADUATION: What is the difference between commencement and graduation?

  Graduation is when your degree has been certified by their college or school.  Commencement is the ceremony marking the culmination of the college experience but is not graduating.  

  The commencement ceremonies occur before degrees have been certified so diplomas are not distributed. Attending the ceremonies does not mean a student has graduated.  The Commencement Office coordinates all aspects of the ceremonies such as who may attend, publishing the commencement booklet, and distribution of tickets. Details about ceremonies are at Commencement.

• DIPLOMAS: When will I receive my diploma and what will be printed on it?

  You should receive your diploma 2-3 weeks after your school or college has certified your degree. Diplomas are not released before the last day of exams for a full semester.  If you have a financial hold, we will be unable to release your diploma. 

  Degrees and majors are printed on diplomas.  Concentrations and minors are not on diplomas but are on the student’s transcript. Diplomas are 10 x 8 inches.

• DIPLOMAS: What if I need a replacement diploma?

  You can order a replacement or extra diploma are for $40 each using the Replacement Diploma or Certificate Order form.  

• DIPLOMAS: What if my diploma is incorrect?

  If you think there is an error on your diploma, please send a copy of it to graduation@wayne.edu.  Please specify what is incorrect. Concentrations and minors are not on diplomas but are on the student’s transcript.