Frequently Asked Questions

The educational record designated as Directory Information may be released or published by the University without prior written consent of the student unless exception is made in writing by the student. Appropriate forms are available in the Office of the Registrar. Such written exception must be received within the first five days of class of each term. Once received, that request will remain in effect until notification to the contrary is received by the Office of the Registrar.

Tuition Assessment Policy - Undergraduate students who enroll for more than 18 hours will be assessed a surcharge. Refer to the Student Billing & Account Services webpage for details: https://www.wku.edu/billing/coa.php.  

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Undergraduate - Twelve hours constitutes the minimum full-time load. Students who wish to enroll for 20-21 semester hours must have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above or complete an overload form that can be obtained here: https://www.wku.edu/registrar/registrar_forms.php.  

Graduate - The course load for a full-time graduate student is 9-15 hours with 9 being the minimum and 15 the maximum.

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Winter session course loads are restricted to no more than 4 credit hours. Students who wish to enroll in more than 4 credit hours during the winter session must complete an overload form that can be obtained here: https://www.wku.edu/registrar/registrar_forms.php.     

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Summer session course loads are restricted to the following limits within specified time periods:

Summer Session	Maximum Hours
May, June I, June II and July II Sessions | Three-week courses	4
May, June I, June II, July I and II Sessions | Four-, five- or *six-week courses	6
May, June I and June II Sessions | Seven- or eight-week courses	6
May Sessions | Thirteen week courses	15

*July Sessions have no six- to eight-week courses.

Students receiving financial aid must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 hours in any combination of sessions from May to August.

Students may drop or add classes with no financial penalty through the last day to drop or add a course as printed in the official academic calendar. After that date, a $50 Schedule Change Fee per course will be assessed for all student-initiated schedule changes.

Registration in a course obligates the student to pay for the course and fulfill course requirements. If you register and decide not to attend, you MUST withdraw from all classes prior to the first day of classes on TopNet or notify the Office of the Registrar of your withdrawal in writing; otherwise, you will owe tuition and late payment fees and receive ‘F’ grades. If you are receiving financial assistance and do not officially withdraw from WKU and plan to attend another university, your eligibility for aid at the other school may be affected. You are responsible for your own enrollment status.

Newly admitted freshmen and transfer students will be mailed Topper Orientation Program information. Registration for these students is provided either in-person for first time freshmen or on special dates for transfer students. Reservations for Topper Orientation Program should be made as early as possible to assist the University in its efforts to provide maximal service for each student.

TopNet will advise you of any holds on your record. Students with outstanding obligations to the University will not be permitted to register until the obligation has been cleared with the appropriate office.

Registration in a course obligates the student to be regular and punctual in class attendance. Students who, without previous arrangement with the instructor or department, fail to attend the first two class meetings of a course meeting multiple times per week or the first meeting of a class that meets one time per week MAY be dropped from the course. Nonattendance for a web-based course shall be defined as failure to perform meaningful academically-related activity (including, but not limited to, the following: submitting an academic assignment, taking an exam, participating in an online discussion about academic matters) within one week of the course start date without previous arrangements with the instructor or department. Nonattendance does NOT release students from the responsibility to officially drop any course for which they have enrolled and choose not to complete.

An undergraduate student is permitted to repeat a maximum of six courses. Only two courses in which a grade of ‘C’ or above has been earned may be repeated.

An auditor is one who enrolls and participates in a course without expecting to receive academic credit. The same registration procedure is followed, and the same fees are charged as for courses taken for credit. An audited course is not applicable to any degree or certificate program. Regular class attendance is expected of an auditor. Other course requirements, which may be obtained in writing from the instructor, will vary depending on the nature of the course. Students interested in auditing a course should secure permission from the instructor and discuss course requirements prior to enrolling. Failure to meet course requirements may result in the auditor being withdrawn from the course at the request of the instructor. A successful audit will be recorded on the transcript with the designation AU. Any change from audit to credit must be done by the last day to add a class. Changes from credit to audit must be done by the last day to drop a class with a grade of ‘W’. Instructor’s written permission will be required to change from credit to audit beginning the first class day of the term. Refunds for withdrawals from audited courses will be prorated on the same basis as refunds for withdrawals from courses taken for credit.

Note: An audited course does not count toward enrollment for financial aid/scholarship purposes.

The National Student Clearinghouse (NSCL) is the official agent for all enrollment verifications, such as those needed for health insurance and loan deferments. Enrollment Verifications may be obtained free of charge from the National Student Clearinghouse.

How to generate your WKU Enrollment Verification (Previous Term):

1. Log on to your TopNet account.
2. Click Student Services.
3. Click Student Records.
4. Click Enrollment Verification (National Student Clearinghouse for Previous Term).
5. Complete required information and click Login.
6. Click Obtain an Enrollment Certificate.
7. Click Current Enrollment or All Enrollment. The certificate will appear in a couple of minutes.
8. Print your official enrollment certificate.
9. Mail or deliver it to whomever requires verification of your enrollment at WKU.

Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader must be on your computer to produce your verification. For problems, email John.Lack@wku.edu.

Exceptions to using National Student Clearinghouse:

WKU Enrollment Verification (Current and Future Terms)

1. Log on to your TopNet account
2. Click on Student Services, Student Records, Enrollment Verification WKU (Current and Future)
3. Select Term, Submit Term
4. Display Enrollment Verification Report and print

Good-Student Discounts - Print an Official Grade Report for the most recently graded term.

1.  Log on to TopNet.
2. Click Student Services, Student Records, then Official Grade Report.

If your provider requires an Automobile Insurance form, fax or email the form to the attention of John-Paul Lack at 270-745-2675 or John.Lack@wku.edu. 

Letter of Good Standing - Request these through the Office of the Registrar website (www.wku.edu/registrar)

1. Current Students
2. Letter of Good Standing/Enrollment Verification
3. Fill out the form provided on the right side of the screen

For any questions related to Enrollment Verifications or Letters of Good Standing, please email John-Paul Lack at John.Lack@wku.edu.

Undergraduate students who enter WKU in the Fall 2014 semester and thereafter will follow the Colonnade Program, a 39-hour general education program. The specific requirements and courses that fulfill the requirements can be found at https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/.

It is your responsibility to keep the university informed of address changes so that appropriate correspondence can be mailed to you. Addresses may be updated through TopNet as follows:

1. Access TopNet at topnet.wku.edu
2. Enter WKU ID and PIN, Login
3. Click Personal Information
4. Select desired activity

Students’ local and home addresses and phone numbers are considered “directory information” by the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and may be released to the public. (See FERPA Notification of Rights) However, neither the university’s public online directory nor printed directory will include a student’s local or home address unless the student specifically requests that the information be provided. To indicate your desire to have your local and/or home address included in either or both directories, follow steps 1-3 above, and then click Directory Options.