Indiana Wesleyan University welcomes applications for admission from any academically qualified person whose motivation is in keeping with the university's purposes. Admission is based on the careful review of all credentials presented by an applicant, but in no case is admission denied due to race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Students are admitted in one of the following categories:
A student who is living in the United States but is not a United States citizen must submit a copy of a visa or permanent resident status during the process of application. Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission to the university. A score of at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.
Credit is granted for work with a satisfactory grade ("C" or above) taken at an approved college or university accredited at the same level, provided the courses are applicable to the curriculum the student wishes to pursue at Indiana Wesleyan University. An "approved college or university" generally refers to those institutions that are accredited by a regional accrediting body or the Association for Biblical Higher Education.
The University Registrar is responsible for approving the transferability of all credits. Credit hours accepted in transfer are recorded, but quality points and grades are omitted and used only for the determination of graduating with honors. All credits are accepted as semester credits. Quarter credits are converted to semester credits using the two-thirds conversion ratio.
Credits from International Business College and ITT Technical Institute are transferable only through evaluation of each individual course. Students are responsible to supply course syllabi for this evaluation. A maximum of 62 hours may be accepted through this process from these two institutions. A maximum of 60 semester hours in coursework from RETS College School of Nursing may transfer and be applied to the IWU RNBS baccalaureate program.
Indiana Wesleyan University accepts official transcripts from the American Council on Education (ACE) located in Washington, D.C. ACE evaluates and provides credit recommendations for educational offerings for a significant number of corporate universities and other extrainstitutional learning providers. Courses from nonaccredited colleges and universities, and from schools/colleges/universities not accredited at the same level, such as proprietary business schools, vocational/technical schools, or other single purpose institutions may be presented through the evaluation of assessed learning process. A maximum of 40 hours may be accepted through assessed learning and/or ACE credit.
Credit through examination (CLEP, DANTES, AP, institutional examinations) or assessed learning is not accepted in transfer from another institution's transcript. Credit through examination is awarded through Indiana Wesleyan University with official test scores from an official testing center. Credit from nontraditional learning by life experience is awarded through the IWU's assessed learning process. The Associate Vice President of Student Services is responsible for the assessment of all nontraditional learning, and the University Registrar is responsible for approving the transcription of any credits that result.
Transcripts from foreign institutions are sent to an outside agency for evaluation and determination of transferable credits, degrees, and GPA. Students are responsible for the initiation of this evaluation and for any fees incurred during the process. Applications for this service are available to the student through the university.
Students who have previously withdrawn from a program and have not attended classes for six months or more must complete an application for readmission from the Office of Student Services. Receipt of the signed application will initiate a review of the student's academic file to determine remaining requirements. A student who was academically suspended from a CAPS program may make application to the Dean of CAPS for readmission after six months.
Former Indiana Wesleyan University students from the traditional programs who wish to apply to a program must go through the regular CAPS admission procedure. Students who were academically suspended from the traditional campus and wish to apply to a CAPS program must meet the following criteria:
CAPS courses are offered under the semester hour system but in a non-traditional academic calendar. Each program consists of specific courses that are taught in a modular format and taken sequentially. Core groups meet on the same day for the duration of the program. Classes meet for four hours on weeknights or Saturdays (classes in the M.Ed. program meet for eight hours on Saturdays). Students are also required to complete project team assignments.
The Associate Nursing program is offered under a traditional semester based academic calendar. The majority of the classes are held on weeknights with clinicals and labs held on Saturdays.
The purpose of academic advising is to acquaint the undergraduate student with all available options for degree completion and ensure that the student successfully fulfills all requirements prior to the student's assigned graduation date.
An academic advisor is assigned to each individual undergraduate student and advises that student throughout the duration of his/her academic program. Advisors meet one-on-one with students at their regional locations, and are also available daily for student contact via phone, email, etc.
Registration occurs following the first class session of the individual program. At this point, students are registered for the entire degree completion program. Therefore, if a student needs to miss an individual course, official withdrawal must be made through the Office of Student Services. Staff will work with the student to make arrangements to retake this class with another core group at a time that is convenient to the student. A student who has failed to make arrangements for the payment of tuition for a course will have registration in that course cancelled.
A student who finds it necessary to withdraw from the program or to take a temporary leave of absence is required to contact the Withdrawal Specialist in the Office of Student Services to complete this process. Students must request the withdrawal from the Withdrawal Specialist before the last class workshop. Failure to initiate an official withdrawal will result in a "no credit" or an "F" grade for the student in those related courses. Students withdrawing from a class or transferring to another core group will be charged a $25 withdrawal fee.
A student who is temporarily withdrawing may request an individual leave of absence up to 180 days in a 12 month period. A student cannot request more than three leaves during a 12 month period, and the total number of days on leave may not exceed 180 days within a 12 month period. All leaves must be requested through the Office of Student Services.
If a student officially withdraws after a course has started, a grade of "W" will be assigned. An "F" will be assigned to a student who stops attending but does not officially withdraw. Students withdrawing from the first course of a core program must withdraw from the entire program and re-enter with another core group.
If, at a later time the student wishes to re-enter the program, a re-entry form must be submitted to the Office of Student Services. Students sitting out of a core program for more than 90 days are subject to a tuition increase upon returning. Students re-entering a core program after six months or more are subject to any changes in curriculum upon returning.
Indiana Wesleyan University understands there are life events that may require a student to modify class enrollment and schedules. The leave of absence policy is designed to allow the student flexibility in their program enrollment to adjust to these life events. The leave of absence policy also extends to students the ability to make up any courses missed during the approved leave.
A student on an approved leave of absence will be considered enrolled at IWU and eligible for an in-school deferment for student aid loans. Federal financial aid and in-school deferment may be negatively impacted if a student fails to apply for the leave of absence or if the application is denied. This impacts students who receive Title IV federal financial aid (Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Grants, Federal Stafford Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Parent Loans) or who want to have a federal student loan deferred from payment while in school.
Students who will be out of attendance for a period of 29 days or more should request a leave of absence. Students out of class for less than 29 days are not eligible a leave of absence, and a recalculation on current financial aid will be done. Students who are not on federal financial aid programs or who do not have a federal loan in deferment are not required to request a leave of absence.
Students needing to make a change in their schedule need to contact the Office of Student Services to process the registration change. At that time, the leave of absence request form will be mailed to the student. The form can also be downloaded from www.caps.indwes.edu/studentservices/, or can be requested by calling the Office of Student Services at 765-677-1231. Students must request the leave within 21 days of initiating the registration change. The request for a leave of absence should be made prior to the date the leave is to start. The start date of the leave is the first date of the class or, if the class has already started, the date the registration change is initiated.
An approved leave of absence must meet the following criteria: the request must be received within 21 days of the registration change; the request must be made prior to the start of the leave (first day of class); the reason for the request must be one approved by IWU's Leave of Absence Committee (military, medical, jury duty, loss of job, family emergency, employment emergency, transfer of coursework, passing pre-requisite requirement, transfer of core groups, changing programs, administrative cancellation of core classes, or other reasons as approved by the Leave of Absence Committee); appropriate documentation must be submitted if the request is submitted after the leave has started; and, the leave of absence together with any additional leaves of absence must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period.
Documentation is required if the request for the leave of absence is made after the beginning date of the leave of absence, and needs to address the nature of the reason for the request. Documentation for each circumstance will vary; the student is required to provide whatever paperwork from a third party will attest to the circumstance outlined on the application form. Examples would include physicians' statements, letters from employers, letters from pastors or counselors, court documents, etc. Documentation is also required if a request is submitted after the 21 day deadline, and needs to address the reason for the delay in the submission of the request.
The leave of absence together with any additional leaves of absence must not exceed a total of 180 days in any 12-month period. Time in excess of 180 days will not be approved. A student may request an extension to a leave providing the request is made before the end of the leave, there are unforeseen circumstances which prevent the return from the leave, and the total number of days of approved leave do not exceed 180 in a 12-month period. A maximum of three leaves of absence are allowed during a 12-month period.
Failure to return from an approved leave of absence nullifies the approved leave and may have an impact on student loan repayment terms as well as the grace period. The first day of the leave will be reported as the beginning of the grace period for loan deferment. Students may return early from an approved leave of absence prior to the leave end date. The leave will be shortened according to the student's return date.
Students will not receive disbursements of Title IV student loan financial aid funds during the leave. Students are not deferred from making regularly scheduled payments to the Accounting Office for normal fees incurred. Any change in registration can impact current financial aid regardless of approval or denial of the leave of absence request. Questions about impact on current financial aid should be directed to the Financial Aid Office at 800-621-8667 ext. 2516. Students on an approved leave of absence will be reported as such and will be eligible for in-school deferment of previous loans. Students whose request for a leave of absence is denied will be reported as withdrawn and the grace period for loan repayment will go into effect.
Subject area proficiency exams are available in the areas of accounting and mathematics to fulfill prerequisite deficiencies or admission requirements. Students are notified of deficiencies at the time of admission.
Prerequisite deficiencies in accounting must be fulfilled in the bachelor degree programs as follows:
The Accounting mathematics deficiency must be fulfilled prior to beginning the core program.
These proficiency exams are offered at all regional education centers. Online students may take proficiency exams through a university-approved proctor in their home area. A $25 fee is charged for each test taken. A score of 70% or higher indicates satisfactory completion.
IWU students enrolled in IWU colleges other than the College of Arts and Sciences may not enroll in classes in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can take designated classes in the College Adult and Professional Studies elective offerings ONLY if the class begins after the first day of May term and ends prior to August graduation. Students who plan to change from programs and degrees in one college to programs and degrees in the other should examine carefully the ability to apply courses from one program to the other. See the Records Office for more information.