Accreditation

Is Indiana Wesleyan University accredited?

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Regional accreditation is the form of academic accreditation that is universally recognized by colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Applications/Admissions

Is there an application fee?

As of July 1, 2014, Indiana Wesleyan University will no longer require an application fee for most Online & Regional Programs.

Is someone available to help me if I have questions about my application?

If you have not already been in contact with an admissions representative, one will be assigned to you upon receipt of your application. This person will guide you step-by-step through the application process.

How long will it take to process my application?

Once all documents are received, it usually takes only a couple of business days to process your application.

How far in advance of the enrollment deadline should I submit my application?

It is best to submit your application as early as possible to allow time to gather and submit the required documents. At a minimum, you should start the process at least two weeks before the deadline. Some programs may necessitate a longer lead time due to admission requirements.

What happens if I miss the enrollment deadline?

It's not the end of the world. Many of our programs have a class start every 6 to 8 weeks, so you can submit any remaining documents in plenty of time for the next class start.

Attendance

What is IWU's general attendance policy for online & regional students?

Under emergency circumstances, a student may be allowed one (1) absence in courses that are five class sessions ("workshops") or fewer in length, or two (2) absences in courses that are more than five class sessions in length. For online classes, to be counted present, a student must participate in at least one designated discussion or submit at least one assignment due during the workshop. For more information and for specific attendance requirements by program, see the IWU Catalog.

Contact

I am a potential/prospective student with various types of questions. Whom should I contact?

The simplest way to find the right person is to fill out the form on this page, with just some basic data and a click of your mouse, you will be provided complete contact information. You can always call us at 866-498-4968.

Crisis

I have a crisis and would like some prayer support and/or spiritual advising.

IWU's Spiritcare ministry offers Christ-centered support, resources, and services. You can post prayer concerns, access e-devotionals and other faith and life resources, contact a chaplain, and find information about how to have a personal relationship with God. The Spiritcare offices can be contacted by email or at 800-621-8667, ext. 1830. In addition, IWU students can count on prayer support from class facilitators and most classmates and employees. Each of our online courses has a Prayer Requests section in its discussion forum.

Financial Aid

How do I know if I will qualify for financial aid?

As a general rule, any U.S. citizen who is not in default under a prior student loan is eligible for a federal student loan program if enrolled in a program leading to a degree, professional licensure, or certification. Your enrollment counselor or our Financial Aid Office can help you determine your eligibility for financial aid programs.

Grades

How will I receive my grades?

Instructors have two weeks after the last day of class to submit grades. After that, you may access them through your student portal.

Library Services

What kinds of library services are available?

Online Campus Library Services (OCLS) is available to help you with research, identifying what materials are available and obtaining them for you. Assistance is available at 800-521-1848 or ocls@indwes.edu. Some of our regional Education Centers also have local library materials and librarian assistance.

Online Learning

How will I know what time and day to log in for online class sessions?

There is no prescribed date and time for class sessions. Each class session or "workshop" lasts seven days. Students log in throughout those seven days to view their assignments, participate in discussions and team activities, and submit their assignments. The key advantage to online learning is the flexibility and convenience of participating in class when it best suits your schedule.

Are asynchronous online discussions really meaningful for learning?

Yes, extremely so. One of the greatest benefits of an online discussion is that each student is required to participate. There are no wallflowers. Every student's viewpoint is presented and considered. Asynchronous discussions are a marketplace of ideas, not personalities. Each student has ample time to reflect and present well-considered responses, rather than just the first thought that comes to mind. Online discussions are extremely robust and meaningful learning experiences.

Are the online instructor's lectures also asynchronous?

Lectures, in the traditional sense, are not a significant part of IWU's online learning programs. Our faculty members participate in the class discussions and provide their insights in interactive fashion rather than a sit-and-listen lecture. There is also a Facilitator's Forum that affords our faculty a venue in which to expand upon or explain textbook concepts. Other supplements, such as CD-ROMs and virtual tours, are also frequently used to supplement the textbooks.

What if I want to have a synchronous discussion with my online classmates or teammates?

The Virtual Classroom feature, online collaboration tools, and instant messaging are all available, and we encourage their use - particularly for team projects - as a means of developing 21st-century communication skills and experience.

What kinds of learning activities will I be doing online?

A wide variety of learning activities are used, in order to give students numerous ways and opportunities to demonstrate their learning, and the types of activities do vary from program to program. All of our online programs have papers and projects, just like those found in classroom programs, but there are also virtual tours, video presentations and case studies, interactive CD-ROM or Web-based activities, simulations, and similar learning activities that are particularly well-suited to the online environment and adult learners.

Can I still do online learning if I'm not really that well organized and disciplined?

Of course! Just plan on spending a little more time on your studies for the first few courses. You will be surprised how quickly you become more organized and disciplined when you are studying in an environment that rewards it and provides task management and scheduling tools to help develop those traits.

Do online students have to attend any classes at IWU's main campus?

For most programs, no. Most of our online courses are designed without any residency or on-campus meetings of any kind.

Can I access my online courses when I'm traveling?

Yes. Since no specific communication software is needed other than email and a Web browser, you can access your online courses anytime and from anywhere that you have Internet access - hotels, Internet cafés, airport Wi-Fi nodes, etc.

How do I know I will get a quality education from IWU's online programs?

Quality is the driving force behind every academic program at Indiana Wesleyan University. Our online curriculum is specifically designed to maximize the learning experience for adults, using the latest in human performance technologies. Our faculty members are chiefly active practitioners in their fields, meaning that they possess both the academic qualifications and the practical experience to successfully translate textbook theory into practical, relevant skills for the 21st-century professional. Our online learning system is regularly upgraded with additional and improved learning tools and technologies. Both students and faculty submit an evaluation at the end of each course, and these evaluations - together with external assessments and best practices information - are used to periodically revise all courses in our programs to ensure their currency and quality.

Is online learning really as good as classroom learning?

Many students find online learning to be superior to classroom learning. Studies of online learning have shown that it is at least as good as classroom learning. Just how well online learning meets the needs of a particular student, however, depends to some degree on a person's individual learning style. Visual and tactile learners (those who learn best by reading, watching, and practicing) tend to excel in the online environment. Audio learners (those who learn best by listening to lectures and explanations) will often struggle, at least initially, with the online learning environment because of its reliance on text, video, and learning activities rather than lectures.

Will my IWU transcript say that I got my degree online?

No. Since the course objectives, major learning activities and assignments, and assessment criteria are essentially the same for online and onsite courses, no distinction is reflected on your transcript. You will earn the same degree online as you would in a classroom. The only difference is where you hold your class discussions and where you submit your assignments.

Textbooks/Course Materials

How far in advance will I receive my textbooks and course materials?

Textbooks and other resources are included in the overall cost of most of our programs. You will receive your textbooks and materials for your first course a couple of days before it begins. After that, textbooks are scheduled for delivery about a week ahead of each new course starting.

Transcripts

How do I request my IWU transcript?

Indiana Wesleyan University is using Parchment for Ordering Transcripts.  As a result, you will now need to submit your transcript request through their services.  IWU will still be mailing transcripts from the Marion Campus until we have completed the next phase of this partnership, which will be the electronic delivery.  However, please note that Parchment is providing the ordering service only at this time.

An official transcript will show:

  • Degree(s)
  • Courses
  • Grades
  • Credit hours
  • Dates of instruction
  • Honors
  • Majors
  • Specializations

A $5 fee is charged for each mailed transcript and $10 for each faxed transcript.  Additionally, Parchment will charge $2.50 per each transcript request.

Please use the following link to order your transcript:

IWU Transcript Requests

If you are unable to access the link above, contact the Registrar’s Office at 765-677-2131 or registrar@indwes.edu.

  • Only unofficial transcripts will be faxed.
  • Indiana Wesleyan University currently does not send transcripts electronically.
  • Federal Express/overnight options are available and can be chosen through Parchment when ordering.
  • Current students can access their unofficial academic record through http://myiwu.indwes.edu.
  • It is university policy not to release a transcript if there is a financial hold on file, if any loans are delinquent, or if payment is not submitted with the request.
  • If you have had a name change, please provide a copy of the legal document showing this change.

Delivery of Transcripts:

IWU will continue to deliver the transcripts in the following time frame:

  • Mail - within 2-3 business days
  • Fax - within 24 hours
  • Federal Express - within 24 hours

Transfer Credit

Does IWU accept undergraduate transfer credit from other schools?

Yes. IWU has a generous transfer of credit policy. For those seeking a bachelor's degree, IWU will accept the majority of courses toward the student's degree as long as a grade of "C" or better was earned and the course is from a regionally accredited institution (even technical credits). These credits will be applied toward the liberal arts and electives requirements of the bachelor's degree. IWU does not accept transfer credit for core courses in undergraduate programs.

Why won't IWU accept transfer credit for core classes?

The core courses constitute the major in which IWU is going to award the student a degree. To satisfy the residency requirement in order for IWU to be the degree-granting institution in that major, the coursework must be completed at IWU.

Does IWU accept graduate transfer credit from other schools?

Yes. IWU has a generous transfer of credit policy. Each program has different restrictions and requirements regarding transfer credit; contact a enrollment counselor to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Why doesn't IWU accept transfer credit from unaccredited schools?

IWU is a regionally accredited institution (see Accreditation). To maintain our accreditation standards, we cannot accept transfer credit from a school that has not undergone the rigorous evaluation required to obtain regional accreditation. This would invalidate the accreditation process.

My last college was nationally accredited. Why doesn't IWU accept its credits for transfer?

National accreditation, though it sounds broader in scope, is quite different from regional accreditation. While many national or international accrediting agencies perform valid accreditation of specific programs (IWU holds several such national accreditations), the majority of national accreditations are technical or specific to a profession, rather than academic in nature.

Are there any other ways I can earn college credit to be applied toward my degree?

Yes. For undergraduate students, we provide the opportunity to obtain credit for prior learning and experience. The process involves careful documentation in the form of a portfolio (a collection of evidence) of prior training and experiences that demonstrates their legitimate equivalency to specific college-level coursework. Up to 40 credit hours of portfolio credit can be documented in this manner for most programs.

Tuition and Fees

How much will the tuition and fees for my program be?

Tuition and fees vary according to the degree program you plan to pursue. For further information, please refer to the "Costs and Financial Aid" page of the program in which you are interested. As a not-for-profit institution, our tuition and fees are very competitive, and we disclose the full costs of tuition, books, and all normal fees up front.

Withdrawal/Re-Enter Core

What if I have to withdraw from a course, or my entire program, because of some unforeseen circumstance that comes up?

We know that life can occasionally throw people a curve. Most of our programs have a new class starting every six to eight weeks, which is about the same length of an average course. This means that students can readily pick back up where they left off if they must skip a course to deal with an unexpected situation.

Whom do I contact to resume my program or re-enter a course from which I withdrew?

To re-enroll in a program or to register for a class from which you have previously withdrawn, contact Registration Change at 800-621-8667, ext. 2877 or registration.change@indwes.edu. If it has been more than six months since your program withdrawal, you are required to reapply for admission. Application for readmission.