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Ward

THE WARD
During the admission process, Western’s Audit of Requirements for Degrees (WARD) was prepared to display your prior credits and to designate how these credits apply to the BGS degree requirements. By considering Western credits, transfer courses, military credit, proficiency exams and Western courses in progress, this automated record provides timely information on your progress toward meeting degree requirements.

As soon as you receive your WARD, check it carefully for accuracy and completeness. If there is inaccurate information, notify us immediately so that we may make appropriate corrections. We recommend that you have your copy in hand whenever you call the office.

The WARD is issued for advising purposes only. It is not an official document of the University. Advising and planning will be based on this document and official transcripts. Therefore, it is to your advantage to keep us informed of courses taken from other institutions, name and address changes, etc.

At the top of the WARD, above the double lines, is the Header Information. This includes the date and time the report was prepared along with items from your academic records including name, student identification number, graduation date, program codes and catalog year. The program code on the right (H22) identifies your program (BGS). The various symbols contained throughout the report are explained in the “Legend” block located at the end of each WARD.

Below the double lines the Requirement Blocks begin. Surrounded by double lines, each requirement (or requirement option such as WIU General Education or IAI General Education) is unique unto itself.

The report contains two columns per page. Under Column 1, the first block indicates the overall status of the report:

At Least One Requirement Has Not Been Satisfied  -  OR  -  All Requirements Have Been Completed.

The next Requirement Block lists the general graduation requirements. This block reports the actual degree requirements and what you have earned of these requirements. Requirements: total hours earned, cumulative grade point average, residency hours (this includes online), hours from senior institutions, hours of upper division, and a math competency requirement.

You have the choice of completing the requirements of either the WIU General Education component or the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) component. These requirements are listed next on the WARD. You need to carefully review these two options to determine your current status in each and then, with the help of your advisor, determine which would better meet your individual needs.

The final Requirement Block is listed under the header of “BGS Major.” 3) Complete one Writing Instruction in the Discipline or BGS Writing Course option. Also listed under this Requirement Block are any courses falling under the heading of “University Electives.”

Each time progress is made toward degree completion, your WARD is updated. Students can view the updated WARD through the Student/Alumni Records System (STARS). You need to review this report carefully and discuss any potential problem areas with your advisor. Here is a sample WARD Report (pdf).

Courses in which the student is currently enrolled and/or are currently graded "Incomplete" are listed. These courses are reflected with a grade of "IP" or "I" throughout the degree audit and are not included in satisfying any requirement until a successful grade is reported.

Please Note: The WARD Report is an internal document used for advising. It is not an official certification of your academic record or graduation; therefore, it is unlawful to transmit this document to a third party.