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Student Policies

Article I. Admission

Prospective students seeking admission to WGU Academy must be no less than 16 years of age. Prospective students may not be incarcerated in a state or federal penal institution. Prospective students must also reside in the United States. Exceptions are made for U.S. active-duty military personnel and their families at overseas installations and individuals living in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

WGU Academy admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Prospective students seeking admission to WGU Academy must have a high school diploma. WGU Academy also recognizes several equivalents to a high school diploma:

  • A GED
  • A certificate demonstrating that a student passed a state-authorized examination recognized as the equivalent of a high school diploma (e.g., HiSET or TASC).
  • An academic transcript of a student who has successfully completed at least a two-year program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree.
  • A diploma from a foreign school equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.

WGU Academy seeks to ensure that students can engage in coursework using both written and spoken English, through instruction, evaluation, coaching, and tutoring. While a prospective student may enroll in WGU Academy if they are not a native English speaker, he or she may need to meet additional admission requirements before being admitted into WGU.

WGU Academy does not participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and is therefore unable to accommodate students with, or those seeking, student visas. This policy applies to both F-1 (CPT, OPT, STEM) and M-1 type visas.

Article II. Academic Requirements

Successful Completion of the Program for Academic and Career Advancement (PACA) requires students to attend all live group sessions and multiple individual coaching sessions. Failure to attend these sessions may result in ineligibility for guaranteed admission at WGU. Refer to the PACA course description for current details.

Students are required to have a working computer with microphone, speakers, and external web camera; internet connection; and telephone. To verify that a computer meets all technical requirements please see the Help Center System Check.

Course materials may include learning resources such as books, e-books, online modules, videos, study guides, web-based tutorials, and simulations made available to WGU Academy students in affiliation with its education providers to help students develop required competencies. Details about learning resources for each course and assessment you must complete are available in each course’s syllabus. Most learning resources offered are included in WGU Academy’s tuition. If you have technical difficulties with a resource, you may contact support@wgu.academy.edu; however, Academy cannot guarantee or warrant the uptime of third-party web-delivered learning resources.

Article III. Assessments

(a) Multiple Attempts

WGU Academy students are allowed two attempts for each assessment.  Once an assessment is passed, no additional submissions are allowed. Students who do not pass the assessment after two attempts will work with staff for additional attempts.

(b) Evaluation Approach

WGU Evaluators judge performance assessment submissions using rubrics to measure various aspects of competence. Generally, WGU Academy students will receive feedback and an assignment score from an evaluator within 3-5 days of submission.

(c) Software Usage

The following file types are not acceptable for submission:

  • Prezi (Unless submitted in a .pdf format)
  • Emaze
  • Any file that is accessed via a live link to an editable document, i.e., Google Documents, DropBox links, OneDrive links, etc.

(d) Academic Authenticity

Each assignment must represent original student work, demonstrating a student’s own competence and no one else’s, whether other sources are used and properly cited or not.

WGU Academy uses a variety of means to ensure the submission of original work, including but not limited to faculty expertise and technology tools such Unicheck or Turnitin.

Submissions identified as being not a student’s own work will not be evaluated.

(e) Proctoring

All midterm and final exams are proctored and are subject to the terms outlined herein.

When taking a proctored assessment, the student may not access any device or material not specifically approved in advance, nor communicate with anyone except the proctor.

Students are required to have a working external webcam, microphone, and speakers to take proctored exams. Proctored exams must be scheduled in advance. Proctoring is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Information on how to schedule proctored exams can be found in each course.

Before beginning a proctored assessment, a student’s identity must be verified by presenting a current, valid (not expired), government-issued photo identification (ID), including temporary IDs, where picture, name, and expiration date are clearly visible. The first and last name on the identification must match the first and last name on file with WGU Academy. Acceptable IDs include:

  • Driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
  • Passport
  • Military ID
  • Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
  • Registration card (such as a green card, permanent resident, visa)

All students using online proctoring for their final exams must take the test within a secure environment. A secure environment is defined as a place that is clear of any papers, books, and other materials. This includes any items on the walls around the student.

A secure environment also means that the student is the only person in the vicinity of the environment chosen for the test session, and that no other person is present or can be communicated with during the exam.

The proctor is responsible for maintaining a secure environment during the testing session. Students must follow the proctor’s guidance on appropriately securing the space.

Proctored exams are considered high-stakes and cannot be taken outside of a secure testing environment.

Article IV. Student Records

Students may request transcripts from within their student portal. All transcripts are processed in the order they are received.

(a) Transcript Eligibility

In order for a course to be eligible for transfer, it must meet the following conditions:

  1. The course must be marked as “Complete” in our systems.
  2. The final grade must be marked PASS
  3. There cannot be an academic hold on the course.

Assessments vary by course, and may include a mixture of proctored exams, quizzes, essays, and presentations. Students can consult their course syllabus for detailed information on the types of assessments for each course.

WGU Transcripts include the following marks:

  • Pass: Certifies successful completion of a course of study. A student has demonstrated required competencies by passing all required assessments with a grade equivalent of B or better or 3.00 grade points on a 4.00 scale.
  • Not Passed: Indicates that a student failed to successfully complete course assignments and assessments. To meet program requirements, the student generally re-enrolls for the course of study in a subsequent term.

The Academy does not calculate a grade point average (GPA).

Grading policies may change from time to time. Students will be notified in advance of any grading policy change that would affect the courses that are in their program of study.

Courses are considered complete when all assessments are passed. Academic Authenticity policy violations may prevent a student’s course from being considered complete.

Student transcripts and course performance data are kept in perpetuity.

Individual WGU Academy employees may, at their own discretion, agree to write letters of recommendation in support of students they have worked with. Employees are, however, under no obligation to do so. Moreover, employees who agree to write letters of recommendation in support of students may not represent their position as the official position of WGU Academy. Under no circumstances may an employee offer letters of recommendation on WGU Academy letterhead.

Article V. Student Services

(a) General

Ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU Academy’s services and materials is one of our priorities. We strive to use best practices for accessibility, and our goal is to conform to international technical standards and tools for accessibility, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 3.0 and EPUB3. Existing U.S. laws, such as Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, promote the use of technical standards such as WCAG 3.0.

(b) Usability

WGU Academy has an ongoing series of compliance monitoring techniques to ensure that our services and materials are usable by students with disabilities. As part of our ongoing efforts, we conduct manual accessibility inspections utilizing multiple screen readers and automated testing tools. Most WGU Academy videos have been professionally captioned and are presented in a fully accessible media player, although, at any point in time, some videos may still be in the process of being made compliant.

At WGU Academy, we take our commitment to our students with disabilities seriously. Our efforts to ensure an outstanding experience for students with disabilities means that we use best practices, including, but not limited to, the following techniques:

  • In course design, WGU Academy limits the use of multiple or hard-to-read fonts and uses high contrast text/background pairs.
  • Use of all CAPS, italics, or bold text is limited.
  • Generally, we do not use “click here” hyperlinks within courses, which can be problematic for screen reader users.
  • When used, graphics have alternative text (alt tags) for students who are screen reader users.
  • We provide captioning of video and text transcripts of audio where possible, especially for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.
  • For students who have motor impairments and may have limited use of pointing devices, our online materials can be fully accessed using a keyboard.

(c) Online Course Environment

WGU Academy works with a number of partners and third-party providers, and their accessibility statements or VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) are listed below.

  • Our learning management system (LMS) platform is OpenEdX. For more information about the accessibility features of Open EdX:
  • Our publisher-provided content is also compliant and generally offers the ability to manage text size, toggle audio narration on/off, and provide text transcripts. Content provider accessibility statements:
  • Our proctoring services provide accessibility features and accommodations for test-takers with disabilities. Proctoring provider accessibility statements:
  • Our eTextbooks, serviced through VitalSource, provide accessible solutions to learners with disabilities. eTextbook provider accessibility statements:

If you have a disability that affects your ability to take an online course, please submit a support request in order to provide WGU Academy with adequate documentation. Students must submit documentation of their disability prior to completing any course assessments. Once documentation has been received, WGU Academy will work with students on an individual basis.

Article VI. Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students who believe they have been treated unfairly by WGU Academy, either through the action of individuals or the application of existing policy, may have their complaint(s) addressed through the procedures described in this policy.

Informal Complaints: An informal complaint can arise from any student dissatisfaction. With some exceptions, WGU Academy encourages students to handle complaints as close to the source as possible by discussing issues with the relevant WGU Academy department, staff member, or manager. This practice allows issues to be resolved quicker by individuals who have the expertise to address any problem. The following procedures accordingly are established to promote direct interaction with responsible Academy departments and staff:

  1. Grading Appeals: For complaints about a qualitative assignment grade or feedback therein, students should submit a support request.
  2. Objective Assessment Scheduling and Retakes: For complaints about assessment scheduling or the assessment retake policy, students should submit a support request.

Formal Complaints: If a student is unsure how to approach a concern or an earlier complaint cannot be resolved informally, the student may initiate a formal complaint by sending a written explanation of the concern to the Student Affairs via email: StudentAffairs@academy.wgu.edu. This written complaint must describe who has been involved, the status of the concern, and steps already taken to resolve the concern informally.

(a) PREAMBLE

The WGU Academy Code of Student Conduct is premised on the principle that respect for individuals, ideas, and the authenticity of student work are all critical to a thriving academic community. Accordingly, WGU Academy holds that all members of the Academy community have a shared responsibility for ethical, responsible, and respectful behavior and should comply in every respect with all applicable laws in addition to the rules WGU Academy has set forth in this Code of Student Conduct.

(b) DEFINITIONS

  1. The term “student” includes all persons in all locations taking courses at WGU Academy.
  2. The term “WGU Academy official” includes any person employed by WGU Academy or its platform providers performing assigned administrative or professional responsibilities. WGU Academy Official also includes WGU Academy faculty members.
  3. The term “member of the WGU Academy community” includes any person who is a student, alumni, faculty member, staff member, WGU Academy official, and any other person employed by WGU Academy.
  4. The term “policy” means the written regulations of WGU Academy as found in, but not limited to, the WGU Academy Student Policies Guide, including this Student Code of Conduct. WGU Academy policies are made continuously available to students on the website.
  5. The term “cheating” includes, but is not limited to: (1) using any information found, requested or purchased on the Internet (or elsewhere) containing WGU Academy assessment materials or responses to those materials (i.e., answers to exam questions or projects responses created by someone else); (2) creating or transmitting responses to WGU Academy assessments or projects if you have reason to know those responses may be submitted to WGU Academy by someone else; (3) copying, recording and disclosing WGU Academy assessment or project material for others’ use; (4) accessing any device or materials not specifically approved in advance, or communicating with anyone except the proctor when taking a proctored WGU Academy assessment; and (5) working with others on assessments or projects unless specifically directed by WGU Academy; and (6) representing the work of others as your own without proper citation.
  6. The term “plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
  7. The term “harassment” means the use of words, gestures, imagery, and other communication that creates a hostile and intimidating environment to the degree that other members of the WGU Academy community would choose not to participate in communications, programs, or activities.
  8. The term “identity misrepresentation” means the use of false, stolen, or borrowed identification materials (e.g., driver’s license) to obtain: i) admission to WGU Academy, ii) access to WGU Academy programs, assessments and other activities.
  9. The term “Complainant” means any person who submits a charge alleging that a student violated this Student Code. When a student believes that he or she has been a victim of another student’s misconduct, the student who believes he or she has been a victim will have the same rights under this Student Code as are provided to the Complainant, even if another member of the WGU Academy community submitted the charge itself.
  10. The term “Accused Student” means any student accused of violating this Student Code.
  11. The term “Advisor” includes any member of the WGU Academy community, but the Advisor cannot be acting as an attorney.
  12. The “Disciplinary Record” includes a statement of charges, summary of information considered, findings or sanctions, records of appeals, and rationale for the decisions.
  13. The “Academic Record” is defined as information relating to a student’s academic performance including transcripts, narrative notes of the student’s academic progress as documented by the student advisor or coach, assessment and evaluation results, external exam scores, and results of any appeals filed by the student.

(c) JURISDICTION OF STUDENT CODE

The Student Code of Conduct shall apply to conduct that adversely affects the WGU Academy Community and/or the pursuit of its objectives. Each student shall be responsible for his or her conduct from the time of admission through program completion, even though conduct may occur before courses begin or after courses end.

(d) PROHIBITED CONDUCT

(i) Conduct—Rules and Regulations

Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit the following misconduct is subject to disciplinary sanctions:

  1. Acts of dishonesty, including but not limited to the following (See Academic Authenticity):
  • Cheating, plagiarism, or other forms of academic dishonesty.
  • Identity misrepresentation.
  • Furnishing false information to any WGU Academy official, faculty member, or office.
  • Forgery, alteration, or misuse of any WGU Academy document, record, or instrument of identification.
  1. Disruption or obstruction of advising, facilitation, instruction, administration, disciplinary proceedings, or other WGU Academy activities.
  2. Unprofessional conduct including harassment, threatening, bullying, or verbal abuse of any member of the WGU Academy community by any means (conduct, speech, written notes, electronic mail, etc.). This includes, but is not limited to, the use of threats, profanity, and demeaning or intimidating comments.
  3. Physical abuse, threats of physical abuse, and/or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.
  4. Failure to comply with directions of WGU Academy officials or law enforcement officers acting in performance of their duties and/or failure to identify oneself to these persons when requested to do so.
  5. Violation of any WGU Academy Student policy.
  6. Theft, abuse, or misuse of WGU Academy computing, information, and communication systems (“WGU Academy systems”) and/or protected WGU Academy course content, information, files, and resources (“WGU Academy resources”) including but not limited to:
    • Unauthorized entry into WGU Academy resources to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.
    • Unauthorized transfer of WGU Academy resources.
    • Use of another individual’s username and/or password.
    • Use of WGU Academy systems to interfere with the work of another member of the WGU Academy community.
    • Use of WGU Academy systems to send obscene or harassing messages.
    • Interfering with the normal operation of WGU Academy systems and WGU Academy resources.
    • Use of WGU Academy resources in violation of Academy’s Student License Agreement for use of learning resources.
    • Unauthorized use of WGU Academy systems and WGU Academy resources to obtain or disclose the personal details of another member of the WGU Academy community.
    • Tampering with communications.

(ii) Attempts and Complicity

Attempts to commit acts prohibited by the Student Conduct Code, and/or knowingly or willfully encouraging or assisting others to commit any of these acts, are also prohibited and may be adjudicated in the same manner.

(e) STUDENT CONDUCT CODE PROCEDURES

(i) Investigation of Violations

WGU Academy staff and its partners review student work and identify possible violations of the Academic Honesty Policy using plagiarism detection software, Identity Verification records, user-generated electronic device data, and other tools.

In the event that the Student Code of Conduct has been violated, staff will, at a minimum, notify the student via their email address on record. Additionally, WGU Academy may suspend a student’s account, prevent transcripts from being processed, or take other actions as deemed appropriate until the student is once again in “good standing” with WGU Academy. Any sanctions and actions required of a student to get back into “good standing” will be relayed to the student via email or phone. During the investigation process, WGU Academy may impose additional penalties at its discretion. If further infractions are discovered, WGU Academy reserves the right to remove the student from courses and cancel their account. (No refunds will be made available.)

(ii) Sanctions

The following sanctions may be levied as a consequence of a student violating the policies laid out in this Student Code of Conduct:

  1. Written Warning: The student will be notified in writing via email (to the email address on record) of further or pending discipline as a result of their behavior or action that violates the Student Code of Conduct.
  2. Academic Hold and grade reduction (Assignment): A hold may be placed on a student’s account and the student may receive a grade reduction or zero for a specific assignment that may prevent that course from being eligible for transcript. The student may be required to resubmit assignments or retake examinations in order to sufficiently meet requirements and remove holds.
  3. Grade reduction (Course): A student may receive a grade reduction or zero for a course, requiring that the course be retaken; in addition, the student must prove that he or she is not responsible for any recurring or additional policy violations in order to be eligible for a transcript.
  4. Restriction: Serious or recurring violations of the Student Code of Conduct may result in the immediate removal from WGU Academy.
  5. Revocation of Transcript: Serious or recurring violations may result in the rescission of a transcript already granted and sent to a university, college, or organization (including ACE).

More than one of the sanctions listed above may be imposed for any single violation.

(f) Appeals

Any student charged with a violation of the Student Code shall have the opportunity to appeal. The appeals procedure shall provide both substantive and procedural fairness for the student or student organization alleged to have violated the Student Code and shall provide for resolution of cases within a reasonable period of time.

To submit an appeal, the student must send an email to support@academy.wgu.edu including the following information:

The student’s account of events;

Any additional materials or evidence that may substantially alter a decision. The Student Affairs Office will review the appeal and render a decision on the appeal within 30 days. The result of the appeal review is final, and the student will be notified via the email address on file in the student’s account.

All documentation concerning a question of student conduct and the academic honesty policy will be added to a student’s records, including original submissions, alleged plagiarism sources, grades, partner reviews of information, appeals, email conversations, and any other supporting materials.

Academic authenticity is fundamental to the educational process at WGU Academy. “Academic authenticity” means the ethical completion of WGU Academy coursework by the student. Examples include appropriately attributing text, pictures, tables, and graphs used in coursework to the creators of the content. It also means that a student completes her or his own coursework and assessments.

The following policies apply to all WGU Academy students and assessments, and every WGU Academy student is expected to uphold these Academic Authenticity rules:

(a) Intellectual Property

  1. Students may not use any information found, requested, or purchased on the internet (or elsewhere) that may include WGU Academy assessment materials or answers or other responses to those materials (For example, obtaining or using answers to assessment questions or submitting assignments completed by someone else is strictly prohibited).
  2. Similarly, students may not create, share, or disclose answers or guidance for assessments or assignments, as those disclosures may potentially result in another student submitting work to WGU Academy or another institution in violation of the Student Code.
  3. Students may not copy, record, or disclose WGU Academy assessment or assignment material to anyone else. This includes copying for personal use and disclosure on websites, blogs, and other social media.

(b) Assessments

Proctored Assessments

  1. When taking a proctored WGU Academy assessment, the student may not access any device or material not specifically approved in advance, nor communicate with anyone except the proctor; this includes reading the questions aloud.
  2. All audio and video equipment must be in working order, and the student is required to remain in the view of the proctor at all times.

Written Assignments

  1. If students use material from any source, an appropriately formatted citation must be provided. To use the work of another without proper citation is plagiarism and may lead to sanctions, including dismissal from the Academy.
  2. All assignments and projects submitted by any WGU Academy student will be evaluated for compliance with these rules. All written work will be checked by Evaluation faculty, utilizing sophisticated technology to review every submission for evidence of plagiarism.

The Code of Student Conduct defines violations of this policy as “cheating” and subject to the sanctions described above in Section III.2 (e)(ii), potentially including dismissal from the Academy.

Article VII. Financial Topics

Students must prepay tuition for WGU Academy or arrange an installment plan. After the initial purchased tuition term is finished, students are automatically charged once a month for each additional enrollment month on their renewal date until cancelled by the student. Students can update their billing information or pause or cancel their enrollment at any time. Amounts paid prior to cancellation are not refundable.

(a) Payment Method

WGU Academy accepts most major credit cards and debit cards issued by U.S. banks (Payment Method). Tuition payments are non-refundable and are charged automatically on each renewal date (i.e. monthly) until the student cancels.

Tuition payments will be billed to the Payment Method designated during the account registration process. To designate a different Payment Method, the credit/debit card information must be changed online in the profile section of the student portal prior to a next billing period. This change in information may temporarily disrupt access while WGU Academy verifies the new credit card information.

Tuition may include any applicable sales tax; such sales tax is based on the bill-to address and the sales tax rate in effect at the time of purchase. WGU Academy will charge tax only in states where digital goods or services are taxable.

(b) Failed Payment

If a charge to the Payment Method on a student’s account is declined, the student’s  enrollment will be cancelled.

(c) Cancelling Enrollment

Students may cancel at any time during the month. To cancel, students must sign in and go to the profile section of the student portal to initiate the cancellation. If a student cancels in the first seven (7) days of their initial term, they may be eligible for a refund. See the refund section below for more information.

(d) Timing of Cancellation

Student cancellations will take effect at the end of each student’s last paid term (i.e., until the day prior to their next renewal date) and will remain enrolled (active) until that time.

(e) Refunds

Students may cancel their purchase of their initial term access and receive a refund of the associated payment made to WGU Academy by providing written notification to Student Support at support@academy.wgu.edu within seven (7) days of initial purchase. WGU Academy’s refunds will consist of all monies received by the WGU Academy during the initial term registration less any of the following costs that may have already been incurred: (a) application fees, (b) costs incurred because a student finished a course(s) and/or (c) costs associated with taking exam(s).

Any refund will be issued to the payment method used during the initial term registration process. If not canceled within seven days of initial purchase, WGU Academy will not refund tuition for any unused portion of the enrollment/access term. For example, if a student enrolls on July 1 for an initial three-month term, the student will be charged immediately for the initial term and will be charged monthly starting on October 1 for continued enrollment if the student has not completed their coursework or has not otherwise requested to withdraw or cancel. If the student requests to withdraw or cancel after making payment for a specified enrollment period, the student will have continued access to their courses and materials through the end of the pre-paid enrollment period but will not receive a refund for the remaining pre-paid enrollment period.

(f) Reentry

Students can ask for a temporary pause during their current access term. If students request a pause, they can return and resume where they left off. If students cancel during their initial access term, they must purchase a new initial access term. If students cancel during their month-month subscription access term (i.e., the period purchased after the initial access term), they maintain access to the end of the prepaid subscription access term. Such students can then return at any time and restart their subscription to re-engage.

Article VIII. Terms of Use for Learning and Assessment Materials and the Learning Platform

The following terms and conditions (“Terms of Use”) govern your use of or access to the WGU Academy courses and the learning platform that makes these courses available to you, including all content, information, and functionality displayed or available through the learning platform, as administered by WGU Academy or its technology partners (“we,” or “us”). By using or accessing the WGU Academy course materials and/or the learning platform, you agree to be bound by all of the Terms of Use set forth in this Policy and any supplemental terms, legal notices, and other communications provided to you, all of which are incorporated into these Terms of Use by reference.

WGU Academy courses may include links to outside resources to third-party content, sponsored social media forums, and other Internet-based services (“Services”). WGU Academy may also purchase licenses granting you access to the Services allowing your individual use of the Services during your enrollment at WGU Academy. You may not permit anyone else to use your identity to access the Services, nor can you share, sell or distribute copies of any material in any format (including printed eBooks) or access to the learning platform, that you obtain via the Services. A license does not provide any rights of ownership and you understand accordingly that you may not copy, distribute, display or modify any aspect of the Services, or evade limitations on the amount of material you are allowed to receive, download, display, retain, copy, print, or purchase in printed format at special pricing. You are also prohibited from using the Services to invade the privacy of others, to harass or to commit any other violation of the student code of conduct, to advertise, or to violate the intellectual property rights of WGU Academy, its vendors, or students. You acknowledge that any modifications that you may suggest to the Services will become the sole and exclusive property of the Service provider. WGU Academy reserves the right to monitor your use of the Services and may revoke or suspend your access for any violation of these rules according to the process set forth in the WGU Academy Student Code of Conduct. Misuse of the Services may also subject you to serious legal penalties.

The Services are provided to you on an “as is” basis and WGU Academy’s service providers do not make any guarantees or warranties of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the content of the Services (including the learning platform). Further, WGU Academy’s service providers are not responsible for any content or information entered by other users. Any material or data obtained through your use of the Services is at your own discretion and risk, and you understand that you will be solely responsible for any resulting damage to your computer system or loss of data. WGU Academy’s service providers will not be liable for any indirect, special or consequential damages, under any legal theory, whether or not such damages are foreseeable.

All assessment materials created by or offered by WGU Academy, including assessment prompts, rubric aspects, scenarios, exam questions, and exam answers are protected by United States Copyrights. You may not copy, distribute, display, or modify any aspect of a WGU Academy assessment. The course materials contain materials copyrighted by various providers who each own copyrights in their own materials. You may not copy, distribute, display, or modify any aspect of such course materials. The learning platform uses copyrighted software and materials of its technology and course partners. You may not copy, distribute, display, or modify any aspect of a learning platform. All rights are reserved by WGU Academy and its licensors.

The trademarks, service marks, and logos (the “Trademarks”) used and displayed on the learning platform or in any WGU Academy provided course materials are registered and unregistered Trademarks of us and others and are protected, without limitation, pursuant to U.S. and foreign trademark laws. You may not use the Trademarks, either ours or others, in any way without the prior written permission of the applicable Trademark owner.

To use certain learning platform features, you will need to register for a personal account on the learning platform (an “Account”) by providing an email address and password for your Account. You agree that you will never divulge or share access or access information to your Account with any third party for any reason. You also agree that you will create, use, and access only one Account, and that you will not access the learning platform using multiple accounts.

You agree to (a) notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your Account and any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your Account at the end of each course. Academy and its providers are not responsible for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with the foregoing requirements or as a result of use of your Account, either with or without your knowledge, prior to your notifying us of unauthorized access to your Account. However, you agree that you will be liable for any losses incurred by us or another party due to any use of your Account, excluding only uses following your notification to us of unauthorized access to your Account.

In using the learning platform, you further agree not to:

  • Upload or otherwise transmit to or through the learning platform any information or content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party;
  • Upload or otherwise transmit to or through the learning platform any unlawful, harmful, harassing, defamatory, threatening, vulgar, sexually explicit, hateful or otherwise objectionable material of any kind, any material that can cause harm or delay to the learning platform or computers of any kind;
  • Create a false identify or impersonate another person or entity in any way;
  • Gain unauthorized access to the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials, to other users’ accounts, names or personally identifiable information, or to other computers or websites connected or linked to the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials;
  • Reproduce, distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, communicate to the public, sell, trade, resell or exploit any portion of the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials, use of the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials, access to the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials or content obtained through the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials, for any purpose other than expressly permitted by these Terms of Use;
  • Remove, disable, damage, circumvent or otherwise interfere with any security-related features of the learning platform, features that prevent or restrict the use or copying of any part of the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials or any content accessible on or through learning platform, or features that enforce limitations on the use of the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials or any content accessible on or through learning platform;
  • Use any scraper, spider, robot or other automated means of any kind to access the learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials, except and solely to the extent permitted by these Terms of Use and the features of the learning platform, deep-link to any feature or content on the learning platform, bypass our robot exclusion headers or other measures we may use to prevent or restrict access to the learning platform or learning platform and/or WGU Academy course materials;
  • Violate any applicable federal, state or local laws or regulations or these Terms of Use; or
  • Assist or permit any persons in engaging in any of the activities described above.

Article IX. Drug and Alcohol Policies and Programs

(a) Purpose

This policy establishes drug and alcohol educational resources, support programs, and disciplinary actions.

Scope: This policy applies to Western Governors University (WGU) students and alumni.

(b) References

  1. Alcohol Policy Information System
  2. Student Code of Conduct
  3. DEA.gov Federal Trafficking Penalties (PDF) 
  4. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
  5. National Institute on Drug Abuse

(c) Definitions

  1. WGU Community: Any person who is a student, alumni, faculty member, WGU official, and any other person employed by WGU including proctors, graders, coaches, and clinical supervisors.

(d) Policy

  1. Drug and Alcohol Policy: WGU is committed to maintaining a drug-free, healthy, and safe working and learning environment. While WGU recognizes that students generally participate in their educational activities in private settings, it discourages students from drug and alcohol abuse, misuse, and the possession or manufacture of illicit substances. Behaviors arising from such actions which violate the Student Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary sanctions. Further, students participating in WGU-sponsored gatherings, events, or field experiences are expressly forbidden from the Illegal use, possession, or distribution of alcohol or any controlled substance.
  2. Violations of this policy will be referred for adjudication under the Student Code of Conduct and may result in suspension or disciplinary expulsion.
  3. Substance Abuse Assistance: Students dealing with drug or alcohol issues are encouraged to utilize WGU’s partnership with a leading student well-being and mental health support service, a free resource that offers alcohol assessment and free counseling. Access is available 24/7 via Student Wellbeing Services. 
  4. Health Risks Associated with Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Although initial drug use might be voluntary, drug abuse has been shown to alter gene expression and brain circuitry, which in turn affects human behavior. Once addiction develops, these brain changes interfere with an individual’s ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use. The impact of addiction can be far reaching. Cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease can all be affected by drug abuse. Some of these effects occur when drugs are used at high doses or after prolonged use, however, some may occur after just one use.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (www.drugabuse.gov) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (www.niaaa.nih.gov), health effects of specific substances are as follows:
    • Nicotine is an addictive stimulant found in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. Tobacco smoke increases a user’s risk of cancer, emphysema, bronchial disorders, and cardiovascular disease.
    • Alcohol consumption can damage the brain and most body organs. Areas of the brain that are especially vulnerable to alcohol-related damage are the cerebral cortex (largely responsible for our higher brain functions, including problem solving and decision making), the hippocampus (important for memory and learning), and the cerebellum (important for movement coordination). Drinking too much alcohol, on a single occasion or over time, can also cause damage to the heart, liver, and pancreas. It can also lead to greater risk of certain cancers and weakens the immune system making the body more susceptible to infection.
    • Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal substance. This drug impairs short-term memory and learning, the ability to focus attention, and coordination. It also increases heart rate, can harm the lungs, and can increase the risk of psychosis in those with an underlying vulnerability.
    • Prescription medications, including opioid pain relievers (such as OxyContin® and Vicodin®), anti-anxiety sedatives (such as Valium® and Xanax®), and ADHD stimulants (such as Adderall® and Ritalin®), are commonly misused to self-treat for medical problems or abused for purposes of getting high or (especially with stimulants) improving performance. However, misuse or abuse of these drugs (that is, taking them other than exactly as instructed by a doctor and for the purposes prescribed) can lead to addiction and even, in some cases, death. Opioid pain relievers, for instance, are frequently abused by being crushed and injected or snorted, greatly raising the risk of addiction and overdose. Unfortunately, there is a common misperception that because medications are prescribed by physicians, they are safe even when used illegally or by another person than they were prescribed for.
    • Inhalants are volatile substances found in many household products, such as oven cleaners, gasoline, spray paints, and other aerosols, that induce mind-altering effects; they are frequently the first drugs tried by children or young teens. Inhalants are extremely toxic and can damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Even a healthy person can suffer heart failure and death within minutes of a single session of prolonged sniffing of an inhalant.
    • Cocaine is a short-acting stimulant, which can lead users to take the drug many times in a single session (known as a “binge”). Cocaine use can lead to severe medical consequences related to the heart and the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.
    • Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, are powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of euphoria and alertness. Methamphetamine’s effects are particularly long-lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.
    • MDMA (Ecstasy or “Molly”) produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart-wall stress. MDMA may also be toxic to nerve cells.
    • LSD is one of the most potent hallucinogenic, or perception-altering, drugs. Its effects are unpredictable, and abusers may see vivid colors and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Users also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours.
    • Heroin is a powerful opioid drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration, and its use is linked to an increased risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. People who become addicted to opioid pain relievers sometimes switch to heroin instead, because it produces similar effects and may be cheaper or easier to obtain.
    • Steroids, which can also be prescribed for certain medical conditions, are abused to increase muscle mass and to improve athletic performance or physical appearance. Serious consequences of abuse can include severe acne, heart disease, liver problems, stroke, infectious diseases, depression, and suicide.
    • Drug combinations. A particularly dangerous and common practice is the combining of two or more drugs. The practice ranges from the co-administration of legal drugs, like alcohol and nicotine, to the dangerous mixing of prescription drugs, to the deadly combination of heroin or cocaine with fentanyl (an opioid pain medication). Whatever the context, it is critical to realize that because of drug–drug interactions, such practices often pose significantly higher risks than the already harmful individual drugs.
  5. Legal Sanctions: In addition to university sanctions, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol may result in legal sanctions according to local, state, and federal law.

(e) Procedures

  1. Students may see the following resources for more information:
    1. The Alcohol Policy Information System is an NIAAA-sponsored website that provides detailed information on alcohol-related public policies at both state and federal levels.
    2. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration website lists substances and their associated penalties. Current Federal Trafficking Penalties can be found here: DEA.gov Federal Trafficking Penalties (PDF). 

Policy Maintenance Information

  • Policy: Drug and Alcohol Policies and Programs
  • Responsible Department: Academic Engagement
  • Effective Date: March 19, 2014
  • Approved Date: March 19, 2014
  • Viewability: WGU-Community
Policy Action Date Authorization
Reviewed 7/14/2022 Lucas Kavlie

Legacy Article Numbers: 20458, 2908