2024-25 Fact Sheet

Exchange and American University Experience Programs
General Information
University Name

Western Michigan University

Address and Phone

Haenicke Institute for Global Education
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5246, USA
Phone: +1 (269) 387-5865

Director of WMU Study
AbroadMr. Joseph Milostan
Email: joseph.milostan@wmich.edu
Phone: +1 (269) 387-5890*Main contact for outgoing exchange programs and exchange balance

Associate Director ofInternational Admissions
Operations

Ms. Yumi Takahashi-Ede
Email: yumi.takahashi@wmich.edu
Phone: +1 (269) 387-5865*Main contact for incoming exchange programs and American
University Experience programs.

Websites

University: https://wmich.edu/Exchange Program: https://wmich.edu/studyabroad/exchange
American University Experience (Partner students):
https://wmich.edu/studyabroad/studyabroadwmu
American University Experience (Non-partner students):
https://wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/semester
COVID-19 information and updates: https://wmich.edu/covid-19

Nearest Airports

Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (AZO) - 6.5 miles/10.5km
Detroit Airport (DTW) - 123 miles/198km
Chicago O’Hare (ORD) - 168 miles/271 km

Emergency Contact

WMU Public Safety
Phone: +1 (269) 387-5555 or +1 (269) 488-8911

Nomination and Application Information
Nomination Process(1) Please fill out the online nomination form (link will be emailed topartners separately).
(2) After submitting the online nomination form, please send thefollowing nomination materials via email toyumi.takahashi@wmich.edu:••

Application Process

Official university transcripts translated into English (Transcriptsmust include a grading scale.)
Official English proficiency test score reports such as TOEFL iBT,IELTS, and Duolingo for non-native English speakers (Please see
https://wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/proficiency for a list of
acceptable English proficiency test scores. Test scores must be
no more than two years old.)

After we receive the online nomination form and materials,
nominated students will be contacted by our office with a link to theonline application system and the step-by-step guide.
Application materials to be submitted online by your students:
•••

•
•

Cover letter completed and signed by student’s home university
coordinator
Proof of finances (The minimum amount of proof of finances
required is stated in the online application guide for students.)
Copy of passport (Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6months after the end of student’s last semester at WMU. The
signature should be visible on the passport ID page.)
Copy of university transcript in English
Copy of English proficiency test score

Nomination and Application
Exchange Program
Deadlines
Nomination Deadlines
Application Deadlines• February 1 (fall)• March 1 (fall)• August 1 (spring)• September 1 (spring)
American University Experience Program
Nomination Deadlines• March 1 (fall)• August 1 (spring)
Eligibility Requirements(GPA and English
proficiency)

Application Deadlines• May 1 (fall)• September 1 (spring)

Exchange Program
https://wmich.edu/studyabroad/exchange#info
American University Experience Program
https://wmich.edu/studyabroad/studyabroadwmu#infoAcademic Calendar
Semester/Session

StartEndFall

Late August

Mid-December

Spring

Early January

Late April

Summer I

Early May

Late June

Summer II

Late June

Mid-August

For exact dates of each semester/session and detailed calendar information, please go tohttps://wmich.edu/registrar/calendars/academic.

International Student Orientation
Western Michigan University's International Student Orientation is an online series ofmodules designed to help students make a smooth academic, social, geographic, and professionaltransition to WMU. Admitted students will receive instructions on accessing International Student
Orientation via email.
Websitehttps://wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/orientation

Housing Information
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate exchange and American University Experience students are required to live on
campus (residence halls only). Students should apply online for residence halls as soon as they
have been accepted to Western Michigan University.
WMU's residence halls are home to nearly 5,000 students who enjoy the friendships, living-learning
focus, and diversity of campus life. Residents can take advantage of hall activities, leadership
opportunities, high-speed Internet, staff available 24 hours a day, close proximity to the dining halls,
and many other campus conveniences designed to support busy college students.
Graduate Students
Graduate exchange and American University Experience students are strongly encouraged to live
in University-sponsored (on-campus) housing during the program period. Although on-campus
residency is not mandatory for graduate exchange students, please be advised that graduate
students who opt to reside off campus bear sole responsibility for finding off-campus housing,
contracting with private management companies and others, and abiding by conditions and terms.
They may also find it difficult to lease an off-campus apartment for one or two semesters sincemost off-campus apartment leases are for a one-year (12-month) period. Breaking a lease is costly.
If graduate exchange students wish to live off-campus, they are encouraged to visit the website
below for private apartment communities for more information:
https://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Michigan/Western-Michigan-University/
Meal PlansWMU students have a variety of fresh, flavorful, healthy, and comfort items tochoose from on campus. Students may use their meal plan to access food in thefollowing ways, based on their schedule and preferences.

WebsitesWMU Housing and Residence Life: https://wmich.edu/housingRoom and Board Rates: https://wmich.edu/housing/info/rates
Meal Plans: https://wmich.edu/dining/mealplans
Dining Services: https://wmich.edu/dining
Dining Options: https://wmich.edu/dining/options

Course Information
Courses Available for
Exchange and American
University Experience
Students

Exchange and American University Experience students are eligible totake courses in most of the programs at WMU contingent on thestudent having completed the appropriate prerequisites, having
acquired the appropriate level of English-language proficiency, andhaving submitted all paperwork prior to deadlines. For some subject
areas, pre-approval from academic department or college may berequired.
Exchange and American University Experience students are noteligible to take flight science based classes in College of Aviation.
Many of classes offered through College of Fine Arts (Art, Dance,Music, and Theatre) have major restrictions and have limited seatavailability. WMU major/minor students in those programs have priority
to enroll in those classes, thus those classes may not be available forexchange and American University Experience students.

Credits Required for
Exchange and American
University Experience
Students

Undergraduate students may take 12 to 15 credit hours per semester.
A minimum of 12 credit hours is needed to maintain visa status.

Course Registration
Procedure

Students will be contacted by our office regarding their course
selection and course in-progress forms after they complete their online
application. WMU academic advisors will process course registrationfor incoming exchange and American University Experience students
based on their course selection, course availability, and eligibility.

Academic Transcripts

Students will need to request and send their official transcript to theirhome institution after grades have posted. Due to U.S. privacy law(Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), we cannot send thetranscript on the student’s behalf. For more information, please visit
https://wmich.edu/registrar/transcripts.

Grading Scale

The student receives one grade in each course taken. This grade
combines the results of course work, tests, and final examinations.
Grades are indicated by letters, each of which is assigned a certain
value in honor points per hour of credit. For more information, please
visit http://www.wmich.edu/registrar/policies/grades.

Websites

Course Offerings Website: https://www.wmich.edu/classlookup/
University Catalog: https://wmich.edu/registrar/catalogs
Office of the Registrar: https://wmich.edu/registrar

Graduate students may take six to nine credit hours per semester. A
minimum of six credit hours is needed to maintain visa status.

Estimated Program Costs
Exchange Program2024-25 Estimated Cost per Semester: $9,100
Western Michigan University exchange agreements provide for 12 to 15 credit hours per student
per semester at the undergraduate level or 6 to 9 credit hours per student per semester at thegraduate level. Should your students wish to take more than this number of credits, they will pay
non-resident tuition cost per credit.
There are certain standard WMU registration fees that are automatically assessed to all students,
including exchange students, depending on the specific agreement between our universities.
There are other fees associated with specific courses students take. These fees are charged at thetime of course registration, and vary considerably for each exchange student depending on his/her
choice of courses. These fees are unknown at the time we initially estimate our program costs for
WMU students (at least a year in advance). Therefore, please advise your students that there may
be some fees that will be their responsibility to pay.
Whether or not a student is responsible for these fees is determined by the contract the home
university has with WMU. Students are encouraged to speak with their home university'sinternational office to determine which fees are covered in the exchange agreement.
Also, due to a recent change in U.S. tax laws, all scholarship monies awarded beyond tuition are
subject to a 14% tax. This amount will be charged to exchange students’ accounts, and they will beheld responsible for this tax. The withheld 14% is usually reimbursed to students upon filing of U.S.
tax forms which will be made available to them in late January via our website(http://www.wmich.edu/internationaladmissions).
American University Experience Program (Fee-Paying Program)
Program fees vary depending on a program option of American University Experience program.
Please refer to the Program Fees tables on https://wmich.edu/studyabroad/studyabroadwmu#infofor estimated costs per semester.

Health Insurance Requirements
The cost of health care in the United States is very high; a short stay in the hospital can costthousands of dollars. International students, scholars, or dependents who are in the U.S. on
temporary, non-immigrant visas such as F or J, are not eligible for U.S. government programs like
Medical Assistance or Medicaid. International students can protect themselves from the high cost ofhealth care by obtaining health insurance coverage.
Exchange and American University Experience students on J-1 visas are required by U.S.
Department of State regulations to have health insurance that meets minimum J-1
requirements while they are in the United States.
All international students must send documentation of their health insurance to iasinsurance@wmich.edu within the first week of classes. This includes a copy of the front and back of
the insurance card and confirmation letter from the insurance company stating coverage dates ofthe policy. The insurance policy must be written in English, in U.S. currency, and have a U.S. billing
address and phone number.

Students must keep a copy of their health insurance card with them at all times and present it when
they seek medical treatment.
For insurance assistance contact Ms. Tiedra Robertson at ias-insurance@wmich.edu.
J-Visa Holders Insurance
Requirements

Students entering the United States on a J-Visa must have healthinsurance that meets the minimum requirements set by U.S.
Department of State regulations:
http://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/how-to-administer-a-program/For more information, please visit
https://wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/resources/insurance.

Other International
Students Not on J-Visa

Health insurance for all other international students must meet thesame requirements as the J-Visa holders, plus:• Inpatient and outpatient medical coverage for hospitalization,
emergency room, urgent care, maternity, physical therapy,
and mental health services.
• Prescription (medication) coverage.
• Pre-existing condition clause not greater than 6 months.
For more information, please visit
https://wmich.edu/internationaladmissions/resources/insurance.
Please take note that medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
is a standard requirement for all international students. If students
do not have this coverage in their current plan, it must be purchasedin a separate policy.

Tuberculosis Testing
Requirement

Incoming students from countries identified by the World HealthOrganization as high-risk for tuberculosis exposure will be required
to have testing done at WMU’s health center. Sindecuse HealthCenter offers the highly-reliable Quantiferon Gold (QFG) test for M.
tuberculosis exposure. For more information, please visit
https://wmich.edu/healthcenter/clinic/services/tb.

Getting Around WMU Campus and KalamazooMost classes are within walking distance from on-campus housing, making walking the mostcommon transport for students to get to class.
Transportation
Options

WMU Campus Busing: https://wmich.edu/busing
Metro Transit Buses (greater Kalamazoo area): http://www.kmetro.com/
Uber and Lyft are also an option.

University Facilities
Health Services

Sindecuse Health Center: http://www.wmich.edu/healthcenter/

Located on the main campus, WMU’s Sindecuse Health Center offers
convenient, cost-saving services with an experienced, multidisciplinary staff
dedicated to maintaining and improving patient health.
CounselingServices

Counseling Services at Sindecuse Health Center:
http://www.wmich.edu/healthcenter/counseling/Counselors help students identify challenges and make changes to manage
the emotional and social difficulties that might complicate college life.

Academic Support
Services

Academic Success Programs:
https://wmich.edu/merzetate/academics/support
The Center for Academic Success Programs enhances teaching andpromotes student learning through collaborative, effective research-based
programs.
Student Success Services:
https://wmich.edu/merzetate/academics/support/successStudent Success Services in the College of Arts and Sciences at WesternMichigan University provides academic support programs and connects
students to resources they may need to achieve their academic andpersonal goals.

Special Needs andAccommodations

Disability Services for Students: https://wmich.edu/disabilityservices
All students deserve the change to succeed regardless of issues,challenges, or conditions. DSS advocates for students to be provided withthe appropriate tools to allow them to reach their potential. Those tools,
academic accommodation or adjustment, facilitate learning while
maintaining the integrity of course content and outcomes.

Exercise andRecreation

Student Recreation Center: http://www.wmich.edu/rec/
This center promotes healthy life-style choices, team building, leadershipskills, and opportunities for positive social interaction.