Students' Rights Under FERPA
A student's rights with respect to their educational records are protected under the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The FERPA policy and a
description of "directory information" can be found in the university catalog under AC053: Confidentiality of Student Records or on the Office of the Registrar’s FERPA website.
Physical Facilities Related to the University's Academic Programs
Information about academic-related physical facilities is maintained through the Office
of Academic Records and Registration at PennWest Buildings and Rooms.
Course Schedule Information
For complete course schedule listings, go to PennWest's online course list and select the term. You can also view a full listing of Courses by term on the site.
Facilities and Services Available to Students With Disabilities
The office of Disability Support Services provides accommodations and services to
ensure equal access to education as intended by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For further information
regarding services and facilities, please contact Disability Support Services at 814-393-1877
(voice) or dial 7-1-1 (TTY: 800-654-5984) for Pennsylvania Relay.
Student Diversity
The office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion provides leadership, direction, and assistance to PennWest University in advancing its collective commitment to creating and sustaining campus environments that promote and celebrate a culture of inclusion, justice, and belonging. For further information, please contact Sheleta Camarda-Webb.
Statistics relevant to student diversity by race, ethnicity, gender, and Pell Grant
Recipient status are available here.
PennWest Definition of Student Location
The difference between “location” and “residence” plays an important role in PennWest University maintaining compliance with a number of regulations. “Location” is where a student is physically situated while participating in a University activity. “Residence” applies to the state where a student votes and/or holds a driver’s license.
At PennWest, student location is initially determined by the information provided
by the student at the time of enrollment.
Agencies That Accredit, Approve or License the Institution and Programs
Organizations that accredit, approve or license programs are listed in the university
catalog. In addition, information about the institution's accreditation, including
the status of accreditation, requirements, and any teach-out plans due to integration
can be found on PennWest's Accreditation page or msche.org/institution/0474/. New and updated information is maintained in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness
at 724-938-4625.
Transfer Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements With PennWest
Information about PennWest's transfer credit policies and course equivalency tables for course work taken at other schools is available through the Office of the Registrar-Articulation and Transfer or call 1-800-672-7171 option #2.
Enrolling in Study Abroad Programs
Information on PennWest's study abroad programs may be found on the Study Abroad website. The Study Abroad Office is located on the California campus in Dixon Hall,
and their phone number is 724-938-5836.
State Authorization
PennWest University operates under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA),
which enables PennWest students to complete field experiences in the 49 other member
states as well as allow PennWest to enroll residents from member states in distance
education programs. For more information on state authorization please contact Dr. Bob Mehalik.
Current Degree and Educational Programs
Students can find information on the degree, certificate and other educational programs
offered by PennWest in the university's catalogs or by calling Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 724-938-4404; Office of Graduate
Admissions at724-938-4187.
Faculty and Instructional Personnel
A listing of faculty and other instructional personnel is found in the university directory, where you can search by department or campus. New and updated information is maintained
by Human Resources: 724-938-4427.
Federal Cash Management Regulations
PennWest University is required by the Department of Education to publish information pertaining to our Campus Banking Services agreement with PSECU. The agreement provides PSECU marketing rights to market its banking products and services to students and employees. It also allows PSECU to install ATMs on the PennWest campuses. This agreement does not entail services related to the disbursement of Title IV credit balance refunds (T1 relationships as defined in the “Program Integrity and Improvement” rules).
Important: Students do not need to obtain a financial account with PSECU to receive any federal financial aid
refunds. Students are encouraged to shop around for or consult others regarding banking
products that best fit their situations and circumstances.
Copyright Infringement
Information about federal copyright laws and related information is available on the
PennWest policies webpage. Additional information regarding Copyright Law of the United States and Title 17
of the United States Code can be found at copyright.gov/title17/. Questions can be referred to techsupport@pennwest.edu or 724-938-5911.
Refund Policy and Requirements for Returning Title IV Funds
Students who withdraw from the university may be entitled to a refund of charges.
Also,recipients of federal financial aid who withdraw from the university may be required
to have a portion of their aid returned to the federal financial aid programs. Requirements
for Returning Federal (Title IV) Aid are available by contacting the Financial Aid
Office by email at financialaid@pennwest.edu or calling 814-393-2315. The Office of Student Accounts has refund related information
and can be reached by phone at 724-738-2088 or email at studentaccounts@pennwest.edu for additional information.
Requirements and Procedures for Withdrawing From the University
Students electing to withdrawfrom the university can do so through an e-withdrawal process in the PennWest Student Self-Service Portal.
Click here to view the video instructions.
Voter Registration Information
Please go to pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx to register to vote if you have not already done so.
Constitution Day
Annually, events in September with guest speakers are held to celebrate Constitution
Day, often including presentations with guest speakers. Contact Sarah Zerfoss-Calhoun for more information.
College Navigator
College Navigator is your direct link to nearly 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States as compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Use the link below to access PennWest’s information.
College Navigator - Pennsylvania Western University
Campus Life
All information related to living on campus can be found on PennWest's Campus Life webpage.
Computer Use and Information Security
Information related to computer use and information security can be found in PennWest's Acceptable Use Policy.