Institutional Response to the National Call to Action for Higher Education

Western University is committed to admissions practices that are clear, consistent and connected to the educational purpose of each academic program.

The University publishes its academic admission requirements and application procedures in its University Catalog. Undergraduate applicants are required to meet the stated secondary-education and academic requirements, while graduate applicants must demonstrate the required prior degree and academic preparation. Doctoral admission follows the applicable academic pathway and program requirements. Where applicable, additional program prerequisites and English-language requirements are communicated to applicants.

Admission is therefore based on the applicant's academic preparation, qualifications and suitability for the program rather than an undisclosed or unrelated selection criterion. The University does not represent admission as an entitlement; applicants must satisfy the published requirements for the level and program to which they are applying.

The University will continue to maintain admissions information that allows prospective students to understand, before enrollment, the academic requirements, program structure, tuition and applicable policies associated with their chosen program.

Our commitment: admissions requirements will remain published, understandable and applied consistently, with academic preparation and the University's educational purpose serving as the basis for admission decisions.

Western University believes that meaningful education requires students to be able to ask questions, examine competing ideas, challenge assumptions and express their views respectfully.

The University's Student Rights and Responsibilities framework expressly recognizes students' rights to academic freedom, open inquiry, critical thinking and respectful debate, while also establishing responsibilities concerning academic integrity, respect for others and compliance with University policies.

This balance is important to Western University's digital academic environment. Students and faculty should be able to engage with differing perspectives without the expectation that every participant must reach the same conclusion. Academic discussion should be guided by evidence, reasoned argument and the standards of the relevant discipline.

At the same time, freedom of expression does not remove the responsibility to maintain an environment in which teaching and learning can take place. Students are expected to communicate respectfully, avoid harassment and bullying, comply with academic and conduct requirements, and participate in their academic responsibilities.

Because Western University operates its academic programs through a digital learning environment, the University's approach to maintaining an orderly academic environment applies to its academic communications and other University-operated learning activities. The objective is to protect both the individual's opportunity to express a legitimate academic view and the broader academic community's ability to learn without disruption.

The University also provides grievance and appeal mechanisms through which students may raise concerns regarding treatment or perceived violations of their rights.

Our commitment: Western University will continue to protect open academic inquiry while maintaining the standards of civility, academic integrity and conduct necessary for an effective learning environment.

Western University considers intellectual pluralism an important part of academic development. Students should encounter ideas, evidence and perspectives that enable them to think critically rather than simply reproduce information.

The University's institutional learning outcomes reflect this approach. Graduates are expected to demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving, effective communication, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, professional competence, global awareness and cultural sensitivity, and lifelong learning and personal development.

These outcomes are reflected across the University's academic programs. Business students examine management, leadership, decision-making and business problems; information technology students develop technical and analytical competencies; economics students engage with economic systems and policy; psychology students study human behavior and related evidence; and students in artificial intelligence and data science develop knowledge in technology and data-driven fields.

Intellectual vitality also depends upon the quality of academic engagement between students and faculty. Western University therefore expects academic instruction and assessment to support analysis, application and informed judgment rather than reliance solely on memorization.

The University recognizes that different academic disciplines require different approaches and that relevant perspectives should be considered according to the subject being studied, the available evidence and the academic purpose of the course. Academic discussion should not be reduced to a requirement that students or faculty hold a particular viewpoint.

Western University will continue to review its academic programs and learning outcomes as part of its institutional commitment to continuous improvement, using assessment information to identify areas in which curriculum, instruction or student support can be strengthened.

Our commitment: academic vitality will be supported through rigorous curricula, qualified academic personnel, meaningful learning outcomes and an environment in which students can examine ideas through evidence, inquiry and reasoned discussion.

Affordability is a fundamental part of our's institutional mission. The University's stated vision is to empower students through affordable and accessible education to enhance employability.

Tuition and applicable fees are published in the University Catalog & Website so that students can understand the cost of their selected program. The University also provides payment-plan options to assist students in managing tuition obligations.

The University does not currently participate in federal or state financial-aid programs, including federal grants, loans, work-study programs or veterans' education benefits. This information is disclosed to students, and the University identifies alternative avenues such as external scholarships and payment plans.

Value also depends on what students receive for the cost of their education. Western University's academic programs are structured around defined credit requirements, program learning outcomes and academic completion requirements. Students have access to academic advising, career services, tutoring, technical support, disability services and other student-support resources intended to assist them throughout their academic journey.

The University does not treat enrollment alone as the measure of educational success. Academic progress, satisfactory completion of coursework, achievement of applicable GPA requirements and fulfillment of program requirements remain central to the award of a degree.

Western University will continue to examine program relevance, pricing transparency, student support and academic progression as part of its institutional commitment to providing education that is both accessible and meaningful to working adults and other students seeking professional advancement.

Our commitment: students and prospective students should be able to understand what a program costs, what academic requirements it entails, what support is available and what they must accomplish to earn the degree.

Western University recognizes that artificial intelligence is changing how students learn, how faculty teach and how academic work is produced and evaluated.

The University's response begins with a principle that remains unchanged: academic credit must represent the student's own demonstrated learning and achievement.

Western University's Academic Integrity Policy applies across academic and scholarly activities and prohibits cheating, plagiarism, fabrication and other forms of academic dishonesty. The policy establishes procedures for reporting and investigating suspected violations and provides for formal resolution, sanctions and appeals where appropriate.

Graduation is dependent upon completion of required coursework, achievement of the applicable GPA and fulfillment of program-specific requirements.

Artificial intelligence does not eliminate these academic expectations. Where technology can assist learning, research, analysis or professional preparation, students remain responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of their academic work and for complying with the requirements established for their courses and programs.

Western University will continue to review assessment practices as artificial intelligence develops, with particular attention to whether assessments genuinely demonstrate student understanding, application and independent academic achievement.

The University also recognizes that maintaining rigor requires more than preventing misconduct. It requires meaningful teaching, appropriate assessment and academic expectations that challenge students to analyze information, solve problems, communicate effectively and apply knowledge to real-world situations.

Our commitment: Western University will preserve the value of academic credit by maintaining academic-integrity standards, meaningful assessment and appropriate academic rigor while adapting responsibly to the changing role of artificial intelligence in education.

Western University understands the final element of the National Call to Action in the context of its own institutional mission: preparing students with knowledge and skills that enable them to participate productively in the workforce and contribute to economic and professional development.

The University's academic portfolio reflects areas of continuing importance to a modern economy, including information technology, business administration, economics, psychology, artificial intelligence and data science.

Its institutional learning outcomes emphasize problem solving, quantitative reasoning, information literacy, communication and professional competence. These are transferable capabilities that students can apply across professional environments.

The University's digital model also provides a pathway for working adults and other students who require greater flexibility in pursuing higher education. By providing degree programs through a digital learning environment, Western University seeks to expand access to education while maintaining defined academic and program requirements.

The University recognizes that workforce needs change. It will therefore continue to review its curriculum, academic programs and learning outcomes in light of developments in technology, business and the professional environment.

Western University also recognizes its responsibility to prepare students not only for employment, but for responsible participation in professional and civic life. Its mission therefore includes ethical development, social responsibility, critical thinking and meaningful contribution to local and global communities.

Our commitment: Western University will continue to align its academic offerings and institutional learning outcomes with the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities required in a changing economy, while maintaining its commitment to academic quality and responsible citizenship.

Western University recognizes that a public statement is meaningful only when it is reflected in institutional practice.

The University will therefore continue to use its established academic policies, student-rights framework, assessment processes, academic-integrity procedures and student-support systems to advance these commitments.

Western University will also continue to review its academic programs and institutional practices as higher education evolves, including changes in technology, artificial intelligence, workforce requirements and the needs of adult learners.

Our objective is straightforward: to provide education that is transparent in its expectations, serious about academic achievement, respectful of open inquiry, responsible in its use of technology, accessible to students and relevant to the workforce.

Western University submits this statement as its public response to the 2026 National Call to Action and reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, student success, institutional integrity and service to the broader community.

Western University
400 N Ashley Drive, Suite 1900
Tampa, Florida 33602