Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

NOTICE: The following information is valid only for the academic year 2008-9. There is no implication that this information is valid beyond this academic year. There is no assumption that available majors or eligibility criteria will be same for the academic year 2008-9 or beyond.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WUE allows selected students from eligible western states who enroll at the University of Oregon (UO) in WUE-eligible programs to pay 150 percent of regular resident tuition plus any fees that all students are required to pay. For example, a WUE student at the UO during 2007-8 paid $8,497 in tuition and fees, compared to $19,338 paid by other nonresident undergraduates, for an award of $10,857. A limited number of WUE awards are made each year. Consideration is competitive and space is limited.

The following information includes the qualifications and process for the WUE program at the UO for the 2007-8 academic year.

WUE is open to first-time entering freshmen only. Transfer applicants and continuing non-WUE UO students are not eligible for consideration.
You must be a permanent resident of Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington or Wyoming.
You must apply to one of the WUE-eligible programs which include:
anthropology; art history; Chinese; classics; classical civilization; comparative literature; computer and information science; economics; ethnic studies; French; geography; geological sciences; German; Greek; history; Honors College*; humanities; Italian; Japanese; Judaic studies; Latin; linguistics; mathematics; medieval studies; music; philosophy; physics; religious studies; and Russian.
Have a high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or have a combined SAT critical reading and math score of 1200 or have an ACT composite score of 27.
Meet all other University of Oregon freshman admission requirements.

No separate application is needed. All freshman applicants meeting the eligibility requirements are automatically considered. Applicants must:

Submit an undergraduate application for admission including supporting documents, to the Office of Admissions postmarked by January 15, 2008.
Indicate intended major in one of the WUE-eligible programs. A student must provide, in writing, any request for change of major. Requests for change of major must be received in the Office of Admissions by 5:00 PM on February 15, 2008. Late requests are not accepted.

A limited number of spaces will be available for fall 2008. Students are selected based on space availability in their selected major or program and on their academic achievements and SAT or ACT scores. Recipients of WUE awards pay 150 percent of the Oregon resident tuition rate.

WUE awards are not combinable with Dean's Scholarships.

* A limited number of Robert D. Clark Honors College applicants may be selected as WUE recipients. Students admitted to the Clark Honors College and named as one their WUE recipients may declare any major. Admission to the Clark Honors College does not guarantee a WUE-award. The Clark Honors College also considers financial need as demonstrated by the results of the FAFSA.

WUE recipients continue to pay WUE tuition rates as long as they are enrolled in the program in which they were admitted and meet other continuance criteria specified as part of their student WUE agreement.

NOTE: WUE awards are renewable for a total of 12 terms (fall, winter, spring only), which must be completed within 5 years from the time of initial enrollment. Students must maintain enrollment in a declared WUE-eligible major, maintain a cumulative UO GPA of 3.0 or above, and maintain academic progress for degree completion.

Recipients of the Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship will be notified April 1, 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)
Western Undergraduate Exchange Awards 2008-9

How is the WUE Program administered at the UO?

The WUE program is designed to attract high achieving students to under enrolled majors at the UO. You may notice that many of our top ranked programs such as architecture, business, and journalism are not available under the program. Students are selected to receive an Award based on admission application information (see #6). Awards are not automatic or guaranteed under any circumstance.
Are WUE Program spaces equally distributed across the eligible majors?

No. WUE Awards are determined based on UO needs as compared to the applicant pool each year. We consider program space availability and needs as well as a high emphasis on the academic profile of each applicant.
How many new spaces are available for the academic year 2008-9?

There are a total of twenty-five (25) new spaces. Twenty (20) spaces are allocated to the eligible majors. Another five (5) spaces are allotted to the Robert D. Clark Honors College.
What if someone declines an award? Is there a waiting list?

No. The limit of new WUE Awards is 25.
Do I apply for WUE?

No. Students are SELECTED to receive a WUE Award based on the information supplied on the admission application and/or the R.D. Clark Honors College as well as supporting education records.
What information is needed for a WUE Award consideration?
1. Submission of an undergraduate admission application by January 15, 2008 (postmark deadline).
2. Documentation to meet the academic criteria (official transcript and SAT/ACT scores).
3. Selection of an eligible major on the admission application.
4. If you desire consideration through the R. D. Clark Honors College, you must also submit the Honors College application by January 15, 2008 (postmark deadline) as well as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of receiving a WUE Award?

Academic information (transcripts and test scores) must be received by February 1, 2008, to ensure that updated information is available to the selection committee by March 1, 2008. If you did not indicate an eligible major on the submitted admission application, written change of major requests must be received by the Office of Admissions no later than February 15, 2008, at 5:00 PM.
Which other UO scholarships are combinable with a WUE Award?

The other UO scholarships that can be combined with a WUE Award include a General-University or Diversity-Building scholarship and National Merit Scholarship and Honors College, Bowerman, and Departmental Scholarships. Students may not combine a WUE Award with any of the following: Dean’s, Oregon Community Credit Union, or Stayton Scholarship.
If I receive a WUE Award, can I have a double major?

Yes. There is no current policy that prohibits a student from declaring a double majoring. However, the primary major listed with the Office of the Registrar MUST be the WUE-eligible major. In addition, students must complete the majority of coursework to complete requirements toward the WUE-eligible major.
If I am admitted to the Honors College but received a WUE Award through one of the WUE eligible majors, can I change my major to something else?

That depends. If a student is awarded WUE through one of the eligible majors but is also admitted to the Honors College, he/she can change a major to another WUE-eligible major - except for eligible music options. If the UO adds new majors after a student has enrolled, he/she may NOT change a major to one of the new majors. A student is limited to the eligible majors offered the year the student begins at the UO. Students admitted to the Honors College AND named as of their WUE students may have any major.
If I have other questions about the WUE program at the UO not listed here, whom should I contact?

Contact the Office of Admissions by calling (800) BE-A-DUCK.