1.  As a new freshmen student, why should I schedule an appointment to see my Academic Advisor?

Since your advisor can be one of the most significant people during your college career, you should schedule to meet with your advisor within the first three weeks of the semester.  You may want to get settled into your classes during the first week and meet your advisor within the second or third week of the semester.  Academic advising is an ongoing process rather than a single or isolated appointment or event.  Meeting with your advisor can help you to define your academic or career goals and help you to choose classes.

2.  What should I do if my advisor's office hours are not conducive to my available free time because of my class schedule?

You can ask the department secretary if the instructor would have another available time to meet with you.  You can leave a note for your advisor, email your advisor, or leave a voice mail message for your advisor (remember to leave your telephone number so that your advisor may return your call) asking him/her to contact you to arrange a mutually convenient meeting time.  

3.  What happens if I carry only three courses (9 credits)?  

A student who carries fewer than 12 credits is a part-time student.  This part-time status could reduce the student's financial aid package because financial aid awards are based on an "assumed" full-time enrollment--12 or more credits.  Also, a student must pass 24 credits from the beginning of one academic year to the next and attain a grade point average of no less than 1.5 for freshmen and a 2.0 for sophomores and upperclass students* (see section on Financial Aid).  International students must maintain full-time status per federal regulations.

*certain majors may have higher grade point requirements

4.  When should a student repeat a course?

A student should repeat "F" grades and "D" grades when the student is attempting to raise his/her quality point average.  The student should try to repeat "D" or "F" courses by the next semester.  When a course is repeated, only the most recent grade counts in the overall quality point average.  All attempts to complete the course, however, are still recorded on the student's transcript (see section on Deficiency Points).  

5.  What happens if I withdraw from a course after the first week of classes?

The drop/add period lasts for five (5) days from the start of the semester at a compute terminal or until 7:30am, the second Monday of classes on RockTalk. A student may add a class with the the professor's approva; until the third Monday of classes.  During this time, a student can drop a course and there will be no record of the course on the student's transcript.  However, after the drop/add period until the end of the tenth week of the semester, a "W" (Withdrawal) grade will show on the transcript for all courses.  After the tenth week deadline, students may not withdraw from courses and must be graded.

6.  Are there any courses from which a student may not withdraw?

Yes.  Students may not withdraw from the courses listed as Basic Requirement Courses in the Liberal Studies Program (excluding Interpreting Literature).  

7.  Can I take courses at another university to improve my grade point average?

Yes, if the credits are taken through the SSHE Visiting Student Program.  Students must attend one of the other 13 SSHE Universities (Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, West Chester).  Otherwise, only credits, not grades, will be accepted from other institutions.  Also, if the grade in the course is less than a "C," the course will not transfer (see section on Transient Clearance).  

8.  If I get an "F" (or a "D" or "NC") grade in a course at Slippery Rock, can I repeat it at another university?  

No.  Courses in which a student has received a "D," "F," or "NC," can only be repeated at Slippery Rock.  A grade of "NC" in a Basic Skills course must be repeated at Slippery Rock (see section on Transient Clearance). The only exception is when a student is approved to take credit at another SSHE institution as a visiting student. Both credits and grades are transferable to SRU.

9.  What constitutes academic probation?  

A cumulative qualitative point average of less than a 2.0 places the student on academic probation, or a semester QPA of less than 1.0 even if the cumulative QPA is greater than 2.0 (see section on Academic Standing).

10.  What is the grade point average that students must attain for satisfactory academic standing?

Students admitted to the University are expected to maintain a satisfactory academic standing (2.0).  However, some departments require a higher academic standing in their major programs and their cumulative quality point average (see section on Academic Standing).  

11.  What should a student do when he/she receives an "NC" or "F" grade in Basic Competencies Course?

The student should contact his/her academic advisor as soon as possible to make a schedule adjustment for the next semester.  The student should repeat the course within the next semester (see section on Basic Competency Courses/Liberal Studies Program).  

12.  If a student is enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Program, can the student use the modern language requirements for the degree in the Cultural Diversity/Global Perspective area of the Liberal Studies Program?

No.  A student enrolled in a BA program must demonstrate language competency at the 103 course level and these credits may not be counted toward any Liberal Studies requirements.  Students working toward a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, who complete the language competency (103 level), can use any additional credits in the same language or another language in the Liberal Studies Program.

13.  How many credits does a student need to be a junior?

The junior classification is 60-89 credit hours (see section on Classification of Students).

14.  Can a student who is on probation carry more than 16 credit hours in a given semester?

No.  If a student's cumulative point average is less than 2.0, the student is limited to a maximum of 16 semester hours, including any courses to be repeated (see section on Semester Hour Load).  

15.  Can a student be suspended for reasons other than being on academic probation for three consecutive semesters?

Yes.  A student can be suspended for reasons other than being on academic probation for three consecutive semesters.  For example, after the first semester, a student earning a QPA of less than 1.0 for any given semester with a cumulative QPA of less than 2.0 will be suspended.  Also a student who accumulates a specified number of deficiency points can be suspended (see section on Academic Standing).  

16.  When does a student need to make up an incomplete grade (I)?

Effective, summer, 1993, if an undergraduate student receives an "I" grade in a course, the student will have 12 months after receiving the incomplete to finish all coursework and receive a change of grade.  Failure to do so within 12 months, regardless of whether or not the student attends the University, will result in the grade automatically converting to an "F."  Students will not be permitted to graduate with incomplete grades on their record.

17.  What does the "X" symbol mean?

The "X" symbol on a student's grade report means "no grade given."  The "X" symbol must be removed from the student's record by the end of the next semester of enrollment or it will automatically be converted to an "F."  If an "X" is awarded during a student's last semester and the course is not required to graduate, the "X" symbol will remain permanently on the student's records.

Students often have many questions related to academic advisement and registrations. Please review these questions and answers at http://www.sru.edu/pages/12582.asp . If you do not find an answer to a question you have, please contact an advisor in the Academic Advisement Center at 724-728-2009.