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Western Colorado University / Welcome to Western

Welcome to Western

The Fall 2024 semester starts on August 26, 2024, and there is a lot do before the first day of classes. The resources on this page should help you get oriented, whether you are a new or returning student!

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Things to do before coming to campus

It’s important to log in and check your Western email regularly in the weeks leading up to semester’s start. The link to login, along with lots of other great resources, can be found on students.western.edu (). You set up your email after you paid your enrollment deposit; instructions were sent to the email address you used in the application for admission.

In your Workday account, you will plan your schedule, register for classes, access financial aid and pay your bill, view your grades, and more. You can login from students.western.edu ().

  • Review your class schedule – before classes start be sure to login and select academics, then current classes to check for any room, day, or time changes in your class schedule.
  • Check your holds and outstanding action items
  • Confirm your personal data, preferred, name, etc.
  • Submit your immunization information
  • Review and accept your financial aid awards
  • Authorizing your family and supporters to see your account

Need help getting started in Workday? Check out this resource page () for a variety of “How-To” guides.

The Housing and Campus Life Portal, available on students.western.edu () is your first stop for all things living on campus. This is your one stop shop for all things related to on-campus housing, meal plans, and campus life. If you have signed up for campus housing, but don’t have an assignment in your Housing & Campus Life portal, email ResLife (reslife@western.edu) , or call 970-943-2101.

You can log in into the portal from students.western.edu ().

  • Submit your ID photo – login using your Western email, then select profile to upload a photo for your student ID (photo hints from visaphoto.com).
  • Check Your Flex$ and Mountaineer$ – select accounts to see your balance or add money.
  • Family deposit to your Mountaineer$ – your family and friends can add money to your card on the portal home page using your email address.

The first bill you get will have all of your charges, but possibly not all of your financial aid and scholarships awards – don’t panic! 10 days before classes start, about August 17, you should login to your Workday account and see what has been credited, as well as make a payment, create a payment plan, or add a payer to your account.

The Center for Dis/Ability and Accommodations (CDA) works with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that all of Western’s students have equitable access to campus curricula, facilities, services, and resources through universal design, accommodations, and creative solutions. More information and the accommodations request form is available on the CDA webpage.

All new students go through our orientation program before starting classes at Western. Be sure to complete the student health and wellness courses before coming to campus, along with the online orientation through Canvas.

Additional details were sent to your western.edu email address and can also be viewed on western.edu/orientation.

Western uses the learning platform Canvas to manage courses. Each instructor will use this platform differently, depending on the needs of their class. You can access your syllabus for each course, as well as a variety of things from a schedule of lectures to your homework and assignments to your grades. Your instructors will communicate how they will use Canvas. You should anticipate that it will be different from course to course; it’s your responsibility to pay attention and ask clarifying questions when needed. You can log in from students.western.edu ().

It can be helpful to download mobile apps of Western’s resources so you can access your academic, work-study, and other information on the go. Here are a list of Western’s apps and where they can be downloaded for iOS and Android:

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