Congratulations on being admitted into a graduate program at WLU.
Whether online or in-person, WLU graduate students may find the information and resources included on this page to be very helpful.
Academic Advising
All graduate students enrolled at WLU are assigned an academic adviser within their program of study to assist the student with meeting graduation requirements. Depending on your program, your academic advisor may also assist with course registration. Academic advisers are assigned to new students prior to the semester beginning. The name of your academic adviser can be found in WINS. You can locate telephone numbers and email addresses for advisers in the WLU directory, which is available on the home page.
Course registration may also be done for/with you by the Office of Graduate Studies. If you have questions about the course registration process for your program, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies and we’ll assist at gradstudies@westliberty.edu.
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar is updated each year and posted at the beginning of the new academic year. It includes important dates regarding add/drop, registration, and graduation. Please consult this result frequently.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic Dishonesty, in whatever form, belies the stated philosophy of West Liberty University “to promote the development of the intellectual, cultural, social, physical, emotional, moral, and vocational capacities of all persons within its sphere of influence.” Individuals who commit acts of academic dishonesty violate the principles, which support the search for knowledge and truth. The academic community has established appropriate penalties and disciplinary action for such behavior.
You can find the complete policy in the West Liberty University Catalog.
Accessibility Services
If you have a documented disability and would like to receive accommodations, please contact the Student Success Center at 304.336.8018 to set up an ‘Accessibility Services orientation appointment.’ Please let us know as soon as possible to allow sufficient time to make proper arrangements for your accommodations. Accessibility Services is part the Student Success Center.
Adding/Registering for Classes
Course registration including adding courses may also be done for you by the Office of Graduate Studies or the Regsitrar’s Office in the Enrollment Services Center. If you have questions about the course registration process for your specific program, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies and we’ll assist at gradstudies@westliberty.edu. If you need assistance with dropping classes after the start of the semester you can contact the Enrollment Services Center 304-336-8007.
Business Office/Student Accounts
The Business Office, located on the 3rd Floor of Shaw Hall, handles all invoicing for student accounts. Payment for Fall and Spring Semester is due 10 days before the start of class. For Summer, payment is due the first day of summer term.
There are multiple options available to make payments on your account and the Business Office can assist with those.
Books
To find out if you need a book for a course first look at your class schedule in your WINS account for a list of classes you are taking for the upcoming semester. Then go the WLU Bookstore webpage. Click on the “Textbooks” link on the top menu. Enter your class schedule and you will have a list of textbooks needed for your courses. Not all classes require a textbook.
Campus Activities and Organizations
The Office Student Life strives to provide co-curricular activities for those who want to be involved at West Liberty. Whether it is a student organization, Student Government, leadership programs, intramural Campus Activities programs, or Greek life, there is something for each student who wants to get involved. Ranging from academic organizations to special interest groups, West Liberty has more than 50 clubs and organizations, providing opportunities for students to engage with a wide variety of interests and activities.
Campus Activities further seeks to provide leadership, involvement, and engagement opportunities for students in the planning, proposal, promotion, and presentation of a variety of activities. Further information about campus activities, intramural or clubs and organizations can be found online at: https://westliberty.edu/student-life
Campus Map
https://westliberty.edu/admissions/visit/directions/
Campus Police
The Campus Police Office is located on the ground floor of Shaw Hall. They can be reached at 304-336-8021. https://westliberty.edu/health-and-safety/
Concurrent Enrollment
A senior undergraduate student may be granted Concurrent Enrollment to enroll in up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate courses while completing their undergraduate degree in eligible programs under the following conditions:
- a) the student has an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0;
- b) the student must need no more than twelve (12) credit hours of undergraduate work to complete their baccalaureate degree; and
- c) the total number of courses per semester may not exceed 18 credit hours, including both undergraduate and graduate coursework.
Students must complete and submit a Concurrent Enrollment Application form. Graduate coursework may be used to complete undergraduate degree requirements. Exceptions to these requirements can be made by the Program Director and/or Dean.
Counseling
Free and confidential counseling service is offered through the Counseling Service, which is located in the Student Union, Second Floor.
Degree Works – Graduation Requirements
Degree Works is our online degree audit which allows you to see which classes you need to complete you graduate degree at WLU. To see your degree audit log onto your WINS account, click on the “Student Services” tab and then “Degree Works”.
Dining
Students residing on campus have a number of options for dining and meal plans available to them. These are outlined on the Dining Information page. Residence Hall students can change their meal plan through the Housing and Student Life Office online at westliberty.edu/residence-life/mealplan. Meal plans can be changed through the end of the second week of each semester. Meal plans are available to commuters by contacting the Business Office.
All students will have an email account through West Liberty University. Students are assigned an email address shortly after being accepted to a graduate program and will be sent to them shortly after that. Students are expected to regularly check their WLU email accounts as faculty and administration primarily contact students through their WLU email accounts. Email accounts for new students will be created prior to classes beginning each semester. You will be able to access your email address through your WINS account or Google. If you have any questions regarding your email account, please contact the IT Services HELP Desk at 304.336.8886.
External Thesis Committee Membership Application
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 is a Federal law which states (a) that a written institutional policy must be established and (b) that a statement of adopted procedures covering the privacy rights of students be made available. The law provides that the institution will maintain the confidentiality of student education records. West Liberty University accords all the rights under the law to students who are declared independent. No one outside the institution shall have access to nor will the institution disclose any information from students’ education records without the written consent of students except to personnel within the institution, to officials of other institutions in which students seek to enroll, to persons or organizations providing students financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. All these exceptions are permitted under the Act. For more information please see the WLU catalog.
Financial Aid
We would like to encourage you to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, in order to allow the Office of Financial Aid to have ample time in communicating all available funding to you. As always, please feel free to contact us at 304-336-8016 or finaid@westliberty.edu with any questions or concerns.
GA Handbook
Graduation Process – Applying for Graduation
When ready to apply for graduation, students should complete the application for graduation on the Registrar’s webpage https://westliberty.edu/registrar/. Deadlines for the graduation application can be found on the academic calendar. Commencement ceremonies are held in December and May of each academic year. Questions concerning graduation should be directed toward the Registrar’s Office at 304-336-8007.
Housing & Residence Life
The Housing & Residence Life Office will help prepare you for life in the residence halls, and the transition you make into University life. As a member of the University community, you will find that much of what you learn will occur outside the classroom as you learn to live and work with others, in a diverse community. Graduate student housing is available. For questions about on campus student housing contact the Office of Housing & Residence Life at 304-336-8345 or residencelife@westliberty.edu
IT Services
WLU IT Services provides computing and telecommunication services and support for West Liberty University. We are committed to providing our users with the most current and evolving twenty-first-century technologies and technological support. Contact Helpdesk: 304-336-8886
Library
The Paul N. Elbin Library collection features over 150,000 items in print, audio, and video formats; plus two special collections – The Henry Lash Sheet Music Collection, and the Nelle M. Krise Rare Books Collection. The library also features a large number of online databases. Each year the login information for these databases is changed. Student should contact the library to get necessary login credentials each academic year. The library staff will assist with research, reference, coursework, and other informational needs.
Campus Mail
The mailroom is located in the College Union Office, on the ground floor of the College Union. The mailroom houses all on-campus mailboxes for residential students. When a student moves on campus they are assigned a mailbox number; you can find out what your mailbox number is by either stopping by the office and asking one of the staff, or you can check your WINS account. Only residential students will receive a mailbox number; if you live off-campus, you do not have a mailbox number in the mailroom.
Your Mailing Address:
Name
College Union Box #_____
208 University Drive
West Liberty, WV 26074
Microsoft 365
WLU graduate students can get a free download from IT services. Simply email helpdesk@westliberty.edu from your WLU student email account and request Microsoft 365.
Parking
Students taking classes or living on the main campus are assessed a parking fee per semester. Visit the campus Police, Health & Safety web page for more information for parking hangtag pick up for Fall. If a student does not have a vehicle on the main campus or is only taking classes at the Highlands Center Campus, they can complete a waiver form online through the Business Office.
Residency Classification
Residency Classification for tuition and fee purposes is defined as follows: In state residency means the adoption of the state as a fixed, permanent home and requires continuous residency within the state for at least twelve months prior to the first registration, provided this residency is not for the purpose of college attendance. Further information pertaining to West Virginia residency requirements may be found here: Residency Classification
Sakai
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Online Education facilitates online learning at WLU through the use of SAKAI, an online learning management system similar to Blackboard, Angel, Moodle and others. Sakai works well with PCs, MACs and machines using a Linux operating system. A dependable internet connect and a browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox are all that is required to get started. Some instructors of online courses may require proctored examinations, some scheduled online meeting times or the use of specific software packages. These are course specific and generally described in the syllabus.
For assistance with Sakai you can contact The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Online Education at 304-336-8432 or online@westliberty.edu
Student Health Services
The WLU Student Health Service enables students to take full advantage of your academic experience by maintaining and improving your health. For questions about the Student Health Service call 304-336-8046 or email: cbennington@westliberty.edu
Title IX
Title IX is federal legislation from the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and gender in education programs, including athletic programs or activities that receive federal funding. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex or gender can include sexual harassment and interpersonal violence including stalking, relationship violence, and sexual violence. West Liberty University is committed to ensuring equal access to education in an environment free from discrimination, including sexual harassment and interpersonal violence. Students, employees, or visitors who have questions about policies, grievance procedures, and individual rights or would like to report an alleged incident of gender-based misconduct, can contact the following individuals for support: Title IX at WLU, 304-336-8018 or titleix@westliberty.edu
Topper Card – WLU Student ID
Students can pick-up and/or have your picture taken at the College Union Office located on the ground floor of the College Union for your Topper Card. Topper Cards are used as the meal card, library card, and with Topper Dollars, can be used for laundry, vending, and for purchases in Subway and the Bookstore.
TopperNet – Emergency Text Alerts
TopperNet is used to notify the campus community in the event of an emergency, weather cancellations, etc.
Tutoring
West Liberty University is committed to helping students become engaged, active participants in the educational process and academic community. An exemplary Peer Tutoring Program is run through the Student Success Center. Tutoring staff are highly qualified and well trained to assist with courses in their major/minor field(s) of study. All WLU students are eligible for free peer tutoring. Contact the Student Success Center at 304-336-8216 to set up an appointment.
Wellness Center
West Liberty provides a work out facility for all students in the Wellness center, found in the ASRC on Main Campus. The Wellness Center currently has several cardio-respiratory machines, including treadmills, stair climb machines, elliptical machines, and stationary bikes. The facility also has several weight machines and free weights, including dumb bells, kettle bells, and weight plates for barbells. Students, Faculty and Staff who have a WLU Topper Card will be required to present their Topper Card at the front desk of the facility and sign in with the Wellness Center.
WINS- WLU Student Account Information Portal
Students can access personal information, financial aid awards, billing information and many other items via WINS. Here is a WINS Access Guide for your resources.
Writing Center
The E. Kent & Barbara Culler Robinson Writing Center will offer free one-on-one tutoring sessions to undergraduate and graduate students throughout all stages of the writing process. Whether you are brainstorming ideas for a paper or revising your final draft, the Robinson Writing Center tutors can help you to communicate with your audience clearly and effectively. The mission of the Robinson Writing Center is to support students from all academic disciplines in improving their skills in written communication and gaining confidence in their writing abilities. With these goals in mind, our tutors aim to teach rhetorical principles that not only help students to approach the task at hand, but also transfer across different courses and writing assignments. Learn how you can schedule an appointment and how to make the most out of the support offered by the Robinson Writing Center. The Robinson Writing Center is located in L14, on the bottom floor of the Elbin Library. writingcenter@westliberty.edu
Withdrawing from a Course(s)
Students wishing to withdrawal from a course after the beginning of a semester must contact the Enrollment Services Center to officially drop the course. Drop forms are available in the Enrollment Services Center. The official withdrawal date is the date signed by the instructor. The last date to drop a course is listed on the academic calendar.