Procedures For Main Campus Students
Registration and Schedules
Each academic term, the University provides an online Registration Guide which includes a web registration and a telephone registration worksheet. The Guide also contains information about the Registration Windows and the Academic Calendar (important deadlines), among other things. The Guide is located on the FSU website at: http://registrar.fsu.edu.
The official schedule of classes is posted to the FSU website two weeks before the registration period begins. It is available online through the Course Lookup system, and it can be easily accessed through the FSU website at either: http://registrar.fsu.edu or http://studentsfirst.fsu.edu. The Course Lookup system also has a convenient link to online registration.
Required Fall Graduate Student Orientation
All new Master’s and Specialist students, main campus and distance, are required to participate in online orientation prior to their first term of enrollment. This orientation conducted by the College of Information is the official orientation for Information students and the only one that they are required to complete. Orientation information and instructions are sent to all new students when they are admitted to the program.
FSU provides orientations through the Office of Graduate Studies and the Office of Distributed & Distance Learning. Information students may opt to participate in them, but they are not required to do so.
Full-Time Student Course Load
Recipients of stipends from the University, whether holders of fellowships or assistantships, must be full-time students. Twelve (12) credit hours per semester constitute a full-time load for graduate students and fellowship holders.
Nine (9) credit hours is defined as a full-time load for graduate assistantship holders on a quarter-time appointment or larger. Academic deans may grant exceptions to this policy for teaching assistants in those departments which conform to national course load policies in their disciplines. To satisfy the residence requirement, however, a doctoral student must be enrolled for twenty-four (24) semester hours during any period of 12 consecutive months.
The number of hours that a graduate student may carry without special permission is fifteen (15). A heavier load must be approved by the academic dean.
International students should consult an immigration advisor at the International Student & Scholar Center for information on course load requirements mandated by immigration regulations.
Drop/Add
During the first four days of classes (official drop/add period), students may add, drop, or change sections of a course through the online registration system. Students are financially liable for all courses that appear on their schedule after the 4th day of classes. Courses dropped during this period will not appear on the student’s transcript. To add courses after the first four days of classes requires the Associate Dean’s approval and the assistance of the Graduate coordinator. Approval of the Associate Dean is also required if you are increasing your course load to over 18 hours.
The deadline for students to drop courses without grade liability or their academic dean’s permission is at the end of the 7th week of the semester. Fee liability will remain for courses dropped during the first seven weeks of the term. Any course may be dropped through the 7th week of classes with the exception of courses involved in allegations of academic dishonesty.
Exception: The University system will not allow the last course on a student’s enrollment to be dropped; instead, the student must apply to withdraw from the semester. Contact Susanne Houff, Graduate Coordinator, for information about this procedure.
After the 7th week of classes, courses may be dropped only in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the Associate Dean. Students must obtain a Petition for a Last Course Drop from graduate Student Services and return it to the Graduate Coordinator. Supporting documentation should be provided and may be required for a decision can be made. If the petition is approved, as signed drop slip will be issued to the student to take to the Registrar’s Office. Such courses will appear on the student’s transcript with the notation “WD.” Students who register for courses, but who do not attend the classes, will receive grades of “F” if the courses are not officially dropped.
Incompletes
A student who is passing a course but has not completed all of the required work in the course at the end of the term may, with the permission of the instructor, be assigned a grade of "I" (Incomplete). Grades of "I" are not assigned to any courses if a student withdraws from the University. Unless the instructor notifies the Office of the University Registrar of an extension in time, an "I" or an "NG" not removed by the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled will be recorded as an "IE" or "GE." Both "IE" and "GE" compute as an "F" in grade point average calculations. An ""I" will be changed to a final grade at the time the student completes the required work. Students may not reregister for courses in which incomplete grades ("I") or no grade ("NG") have been received. If they do so, the original "I" or "NG" will automatically be changed to "F."
Course Waivers
With approval from the faculty advisor, the course instructor, and the Associate Dean, a student may be permitted to waive a core course by demonstrating competence in the stated objectives of the course. As a minimum demonstration, the student must successfully pass the same tests, projects, etc. or their equivalents, that students enrolled in the course must take. The waiver option will be available to students when they are ready to take the course. Contact Susanne Houff, Graduate Coordinator, for information about this procedure.
Directed Independent Studies
Students may enroll in courses directed by an instructor for individual study of a particular area. The directed individual student (DIS) course title and credit hours must be approved in writing by the instructor offering the course and the Associate Dean and will be posted on the student’s transcript with that title. Each DIS course may be taken for 1-3 credit hours. A student may complete up to a maximum of six (6) credit hours of DIS without special permission from the Associate Dean.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain agreement of a faculty person to serve as the instructor of record for the DSI and to negotiate the course title and credit hours with the instructor. The procedure for obtaining permission to take a DIS course:
- Pick up an Individualized Course Approval form from Graduate Student Services in the College of Information.
- Complete the form, including the course title and credit hours, and obtain the instructor’s signature approval.
- Submit the signed form to Marion Davis, Program Assistant, who will generate a course section and reference number for the DIS and register the student in the course. (The student cannot self-register for a DIS course)
Wait Lists
Course(s) in the College of Information typically fill to capacity during regular registration. In that event, students may sign for that course on the Wait List in case extra seats can be made available. Priority is given to graduating students who are required to take the course in order to fulfill graduation requirements. Please note that course instructors will not sign add slips to override the course enrollment. The Graduate Coordinator maintains the Wait List, and students will receive an email notifying them if they are added to a class. The Wait List is located at: http://apps.lis.fsu.edu/waitList. Detailed instructions are provided on the website.
Class Cancellations
Course(s) may be cancelled prior to or just at the start of the semester due to low enrollment. Graduate Student Services will post a message to the student administrative listserv making announcements about course cancellations. If time permits Graduate Student Services will attempt to contact students individually. It is the students' responsibility to drop the cancelled course from schedules and to add a new one.
Withdrawal
All students, including regular (degree seeking), special (non-degree seeking), and transient students, who wish to drop all courses during a term must formally withdraw. Students who do not attend classes and fail to withdraw will be assigned grades of “F” for each course. All withdrawals require the approval of the Associate Dean.
The deadline to officially withdraw from the University without grade liability is at the end of the 7th week of the semester. For information about withdrawing from the University, contact Withdrawal Services, located on the 4th floor, University Center, Bldg. A, or call (850)644-9565. Information is also available on the FSU website at: http://www.fsu.edu/~staffair/dean/withdraw/index.html.
The statement “Withdrew from the University” will appear on the transcript of students who properly withdraw within the first seven weeks of class. After that date, depending on the quality of work at the time of withdrawal, grades of “W” or “F” will be assigned by instructors and placed on the student’s transcript with the withdrawal statement. Under unusual circumstances and upon recommendation of the Associate Dean, a student withdrawing from the university may receive “WD” grades in all courses taken that term.
Students who withdraw after the first five days of classes but prior to the end of the fourth week of classes are eligible for a 25 percent refund to tuition and registration fees; this deadline is adjusted for shorter summer terms. Students who withdraw after this deadline are fully liable for fees and are not eligible for a refund, except as provided in policies set forth by the Florida State University.
Refunds of tuition and registration fees may be authorized for documented reasons for withdrawal due to medical or mental illness, death in the immediate family, and involuntary call to active military duty, provided the withdrawal is initiated within six (6) calendar months from the end of the term form which the student withdrew. Note that refunds are processed by Student Financial Services upon completion of withdrawal, and funds are returned to the source of payment.
Transferring Credit
Students may request transfer of a maximum of six (6) credit hours from outside of the department or from another institution. The course(s) must be : 1) graduate level; 2) less than seven years old; 3) taken at an accredited institution; and 4) graded "B" or better. In addition, the course(s) cannot have already been counted toward another degree. Transfer credit approval cannot be given prior to a student's admission and enrollment in classes.
The procedure for requesting transfer credit approval:
- The student requests an official transcript from the university documenting that: (1) courses are less than seven years old; (b) the student received a "B" or better; (c) the course is at the graduate level; and (d) courses were not used toward another degree. The transcript should be sent to Marion Davis, Office of Deans, College of Information, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2100.
- The student faxes or mails an official course syllabus or catalog description to Marion Davis (Fax: (850)644-9763). She will forward the course description, transcript, and a Transfer Credit Approval form to the student's faculty advisor.
- The faculty advisor returns the Transfer Credit Approval form and supporting documentation to Marion Davis with a recommendation. If the course is approved for transfer credit, Marion will forward the transcript and written authorization to the Registrar's Office for the course(s) to be posted on the student's transcript.
In case of a request for exceptional transfer credit, approval must also be obtained from the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Auditing Classes
Currently enrolled students and persons not enrolled in the University may be granted seating privileges in a course on a space-available basis after the official registration period has ended, with permission of the instructor, payment of the prescribed fee for the course, and presentation of an Audit Registration Form approved by the University Registrar. Since no credit is allowed for attendance via "seating privilege," admission to the University is not required. The course(s) taken will not appear on the student's academic record.
Students are cautioned not to pre-register for any course they intend to audit. They will have to drop the course from their official schedule and will incur additional financial liability for tuition.
Citizens over 60 years of age or older who are Florida residents may attend classes under "seating privileges" criteria, and fees are waived except for those courses requiring individual instruction.
Quality of Course Work
The work for the Master's degree must be completed within seven (7) years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit. Graduate students must maintain an average of "B" or better in all work taken at the graduate level. No course with a grade below "C" will be credited toward the graduate degree, and no student is eligible for the conferral of a degree if the overall grade average is less than a "B."
Student whose grades fall below "B" in the first semester are placed on academic probation for the next term. If the minimum grade point average of 3.0 or better is not achieved in the next term, the student will be academically dismissed. Academic dismissal may follow if the minimum grade point average is not achieved in the following semester. The student may petition the Associate Dean for approval to be reinstated. If the student's continuance in the program would extend beyond the 7-year time limit, the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies must also be obtained.
Forgiveness Policy
The University has discontinued the Forgiveness Policy and replaced it with a new late drop policy that allows students to drop a course through the 7th week of classes without dean's permission or grade liability. Continuing students who planned to file for the Forgiveness Policy during or after Fall 2004 should contact Graduate Student Service for information about their options.
Courses in Other Departments of FSU
With prior approval of their faculty advisor, students may take a maximum of six (6) credit hours in another department of the University for credit toward a degree. Graduate courses are eligible for transfer credit. Undergraduate courses may also be taken, but only one senior (4000) level course may be approved toward the Master's degree.
Course Books and Materials
Students can buy the books required for their classes at the University Bookstore or at Bill's Bookstore. Both bookstores sell new books at the publisher's list price and used books at a 25% discount. Used books may be sold back at any time but only if the course will be offered again. Buying books early helps to avoid the rush, and they can be returned with a receipt during the first two weeks of classes as long as there are no marks in them.
The University Bookstore is a full-service store that sells school supplies, health and beauty products, and FSU merchandise. This is also where graduating students go to order their caps and gowns.
Course packets and reading materials packets may be required for certain courses. Typically, they are prepared by Target Copy (635 W. Tennessee, (850)224-3007), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Change of Student Information (Address, Marital, etc.)
Students can change their mailing address online through BlackBoard:
To change marital status, students must apply in person at the Registrar's Office (3rd Floor, University Center, Bldg. A) with a copy of their marriage certificate.
Graduation
Graduation Check
All students are required to apply for a final graduation check during the term prior to the semester in which they plan to complete all degree requirements. Ideally, they should request the graduation check before the registration period for their last semester beings. The Graduation Check Request Form is available online: GRADUATION_CHECK_REQUEST.doc. The graduation check is completed by Susanne Houff, Graduate Coordinator, and results of evaluation are emailed to the student.
Application for Degree
Main campus students must apply to graduate at the Registrar's Office by the published deadline of term in which they will complete all degree requirements. Commencement ceremonies to confer degrees are held at the end of fall, spring, and summer semesters. Information and instructions about Commencement, including cap and gown ordering, are available online through the Registrar's Office website: http://registrar.fsu.edu. Students who do not graduate after applying for the degree will be charged $5 to pay for printing a new diploma.
No one is allowed to participate in the Commencement ceremony prior to completion of degree requirements. The permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies is required for an exceptional graduation of a student whose cumulative grade point average is less than 3.0. For more information, contact the Graduation Office at (850)644-5850.
University Ceremony
Importance of attending - Student participation in the Commencement ceremony is an important way for both the student and the College to celebrate this significant academic achievement. It is the College's hope that all graduating students will attend the University's graduation ceremony.
Cap and Gown Ordering - At the time you file your Intent to Graduate, you will receive a memorandum explaining the deadlines to order and to pick-up your cap and gown. Caps and gowns must be ordered through the University Bookstore. (Borrowed regalia is not permitted.) Caps and gowns are available for pick up the week before graduation. Tickets for guests are issued at that time.
Extra Tickets for Graduation - A limited number of guest tickets are available to each graduating student. To request additional tickets, contact the Graduation Office at (850) 644-5850.
Grievances and Recommendations
Grievance Procedure
Students who feel that an academic policy has been improperly applied in specific instances may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process. In this process, the student brings a complaint first to the instructor, then to the department chairperson, and finally to the academic dean appropriate to the course involved, stopping at the level at which the complaint is resolved.
If no resolution is reached, the student brings the complaint to the attention of the Dean of Faculties for either resolution or referral to the Student Academic Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate. This committee has the authority to direct through the Vice President for Academic Affairs that corrective action be taken when justified.
Recommendations
Recommendations for any aspect of the College may be made via e-mail or by memo to the Dean, the Associate Dean, or to any faculty member. The recommendation will be either forwarded directly to the Dean or Associate Dean for immediate decision and/or implementation, or to the appropriate Committee Chair to be placed on the agenda for consideration, depending on the nature of the recommendation. Any and all recommendations are welcome.
Each term, the College sponsors a "Tell the Dean" session during which the Dean seeks honest evaluation of students' experiences at the College. In addition, graduating students are invited each semester to participate in an online survey to gauge how well the College is meeting the needs of students.
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142 Collegiate Loop
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2100
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