| FAQs |
1. How do I make this box on my SASS say “OK” instead of “NO?”O.K., this isn’t really a FAQ, but it’s a summary of many FAQ’s. Remember that your SASS report is a tool to help you navigate through your academic career here. PLEASE USE IT. The idea is to get all the “NOs” to turn into “OK’s.” When they do you are (99% of the time) ready to graduate. But when you have “NOs” on your SASS there is some problem. The first week of the semester that you think you are ready to graduate, you should have no “NO’s” left on your SASS. All the boxes should say “OK” or “IP” (in progress). If you are really ready to graduate, you should get a happy little message at the top of your SASS which reads… *******ALL REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED BELOW HAVE BEEN MET******* PENDING COMPLETION OF CURRENT REGISTRATION – IP COURSES If you are not getting that message and you have any “NO’s” on your SASS GET THEE TO THY ADVISOR!!! (while it is still early enough in the semester to do something about it.) 2. I’m a transfer student and I earned more than 60 credits before I got here. Can I get more than the 60 transfer credits counting towards my 120 graduation total?I’m a transfer student and I transferred more than 60 credits to FIU. But only 60 transfer credits are showing on my SASS report. Can I get more than the 60 credits into my graduation total? Well, that depends. Did you complete any upper division work before transferring to FIU or not? Students are allowed to apply a maximum of 60 lower division credits towards their graduation total of 120. If you only did lower division course work before transferring to FIU, then you “max out” at 60, even if you completed more. Students are allowed to apply additional transfer credits (up to a maximum of 30 additional) if they can show that some of the work they completed before coming to FIU was upper division. If you think this applies to you, see your advisor. 3. What’s a SASS?SASS stands for Student Academic Support System. It is an automated degree audit that monitors your progress through the University, keeping track of what requirements you have fulfilled and what requirements you still have to complete. You can’t graduate until all the little boxes on your SASS say “OK”. You should run your SASS report twice every semester, once the first week of classes (to make sure all the classes you registered for are being applied to the requirements as you expected), and again about a week after final grades have been posted. Review the SASS for accuracy and put the copy in your Important Documents Portfolio. You can run your SASS online through the FIU website at the State site (http://www.facts.org ): See “How Do I Access My SASS Report.” Select “College Advising Tools” and then “Institutional Degree/Program Audit.” And then just follow the directions. If you have transfer coursework and it isn’t showing on your SASS report click HERE. Find out more about SASS. 4. I have 120 credits; why can’t I graduate?You need to do more than simply rack up 120 credits in order to graduate. I mean, if I took a 1 credit BIO lab 120 times, no one’s going to give me a diploma. That’s why in addition to keeping an eye on your total number of credits you need to keep an eye on your SASS report and the various requirements you have to fulfill. In most cases you can knock out all your requirements right about the same time as you come up on 120 credits. But not always. Depending on your major and the course selections you have made you may fulfill all your requirements BEFORE 120 (In that case you would need to take some more elective credits to come up to the 120 total.) or you may get to 120 BEFORE you have fulfilled all your requirements. (In that case you would need to take more courses to fulfill your requirements.) Just remember you have to do both: fulfill all your requirements AND earn a minimum of 120 credits. 5. I don’t have 120 credits but I’m all done with my requirements; why can’t I graduate.See the answer to #4 above. 6. I took a CLEP exam, but I’m not getting credit for it.If you attended another institution between high school and FIU, say Miami Dade College for instance, your high school transcripts along with the AP credits were sent there. In many cases, MDC would only send us MDC credits on your transcript, but not AP credits, since technically you did not earn the credits at MDC. What you would have to do in that case would be the contact the AP (or IB, etc.) offices directly and request that they send a transcript to FIU.
7. I have AP (or IB or Dual Enrollment or other transfer) credits that are not being counted.When students take and pass AP (et alia) exams, the credits come into FIU as transfer credits. If you attended another institution between high school and FIU, say Miami Dade College for instance, your high school transcripts along with the AP credits were sent there. In many cases, MDC would only send us MDC credits on your transcript, but not AP credits, since technically you did not earn the credits at MDC. What you would have to do in that case would be the contact the AP (or IB, etc.) offices directly and request that they send a transcript to FIU.
8. I took a foreign language in high school, but my Arts and Sciences Foreign Language requirement isn’t clearing.There are TWO language requirements, University Requirements and College of Arts & Sciences Requirements. The good news is that any course work which satisfies the CAS's Foreign Language Requirement will also satisfy the University's Foreign Language Requirement. A. University FLENT/FLEX Foreign Language Requirement. Everyone at the University must fulfill the University FLENT/FLEX Foreign Language requirement. You probably took two years of a modern language in high school. If these classes were on your high school transcript, it would/should have been entered on in the FIU system and the Flent/Flex foreign language portion of the SASS will say "OK." If the SASS still says "NO" and you have completed two years of language in high school, you need to check with an advisor to see what is missing. Some Academic Units do not require anything in addition to the University's foreign language requirement. However the College of Arts & Sciences does require something in addition to high school credits. B. College of Arts and Sciences Foreign Language Requirement Remember that Academic Units sometimes have requirements in addition to those set by the University. The big difference between the two language requirements is that two years of high school foreign language satisfies the University Foreign Language Requirement, but high school DOES NOT satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences Foreign Language Requirement. The College's requirement is a competency requirement, not a credits requirement. That is to say the student must demonstrate competency at or exceeding that of someone passing a second semester college level foreign language course. This proficiency can be met by receiving credit for the second semester of a foreign language or higher (e.g., SPN 1131 or higher). Check with your advisor as to the best way for you to meet this requirement. 9. How do I intend a major? How do I declare a major? (What’s the difference?)Intending a Major You do not officially “declare” your major upon acceptance to the University. First, after you have completed 30 credits you intend a major by filling out an Intended Major Application and submitting it to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. (UP PC249 or BBC AC1 180) They will then forward your records to your major department. Intended majors are advised by their major department even though they have not been fully admitted to the major. DECLARING A MAJOR: FIU Freshmen and Sophomores/Transfer Students with Fewer than 60 Credits: Freshmen, Sophomores and Transfer Students with fewer than 60 credits may intend a major after having earned 30 credit hours, however they are not officially declared a major until they are accepted into the Upper Division Academic Unit of their major. In order to be admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences, students must have met the following three requirements:
Once the student has met the above requirements, the student may apply for admission into the College by completing the Change of Major Form and have the form signed by a departmental representative in the Dean’s Office (BBC) or Kenton Harris in the Arts & Sciences Advising Center/Dean’s Office (UPC). DECLARING A MAJOR: Transfer Students with at Least 60 Credits A transfer student with an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida community college or having completed the equivalent coursework at a four-year institution may be admitted into a program in the College if they have:
Once the student has met the above requirements, the student may apply for admission into the College by completing the Change of Major Form and have the form signed by a departmental representative and either a BBC advisor or Kenton Harris in the Arts & Sciences Advising Center/Dean’s Office (UPC). Note: The Graduation Office will NOT even accept graduation applications from students who have not been officially declared their major. 10. What does Academic Warning, Probation and Dismissal mean? A student goes on Warning the first term their Cumulative (Institutional) GPA falls below 2.0.Probation If the student’s Cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student is placed on Probation. A student will remain on probation until his or her cumulative GPA rises to 2.0 or higher. One can remain on academic probation indefinitely. However, a student cannot graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences unless he or she has a Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Dismissal If a student is already on Academic Probation AND his or her Semester GPA falls below 2.0, the student is Dismissed. Dismissed student must not register for one calendar year and then apply fro readmission to FIU. A student may appeal to be allowed to register sooner than that. In order to register the student must appeal for reinstatement*. For reinstatement to the College of Arts and Sciences a dismissed student must get the consent of his or her major department and bring a signed memo to either Assistant Dean Kenton Harris (ECS 411 at UP) or a BBC representative (ACI 318a at BBC) in the Arts and Sciences Advising Center. When a student is reinstated they are placed back on academic probation where they will remain until their institutional GPA is 2.0 or better. This means that, once reinstated, they run the risk of being dismissed again so they should be very careful as to what courses they take and how many credits they attempt. 11. What is the forgiveness policy?The forgiveness policy is basically a “do over.” It allows a student to repeat a course and substitute the second grade for the first. When a forgiveness policy is used, the first grade stays on the transcript, but only the second grade will be calculated in the FIU institutional/cumulative GPA. For example, if you got a D in PHI2011, but you take PHI2011 again and get a B, the D is taken out of your GPA (forgiven) and the B is put in instead. To use the forgiveness policy you have to complete a form in the Registrar's office requesting substitution of the second (better) grade for the first (poorer) grade. Do NOT complete the forgiveness policy form until after you have repeated the class the second time and see your grade. If you complete the form too soon and the second grade is lower, your GPA will decrease not increase because only the second grade is counted in the GPA.
12. Where do I go with questions about Financial Aid?Financial Aid questions are best answered by the Financial Aid Office. It is a student's responsibility to know the number of credits required each semester for their specific financial aid package. If you are uncertain of requirements, meet with a financial aid counselor. 13. What is a major/certificate/minor?Major The Major reflects a student's MAJOR area of academic concentration. Complete list of Majors offered by CAS. In general:
Certificates Certificates are like minors, except they are interdisciplinary and “theme based.” (e.g. Film Studies, Environmental Studies or Latin American and Caribbean Studies). Complete list of Certificate Programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Minor A Minor reflects a MINOR area of academic concentration. We have the same subjects for Minors that we have for Majors. In general Minors require about 15 to 18 credit-hours. 14. Can I take courses elsewhere?You have chosen to pursue your degree at FIU, so it is assumed you will complete your course work here. Some exceptions can be made if there is a compelling academic reason. In such cases the student must fill out a “transient student request.” This can be done on the FACTS.org website. UCC requirements cannot be fulfilled with courses taken as a transient student. Exceptional cases must petition the Office of Undergraduate Studies Academic Advising Center for special permission prior to attending the other institution. There may be financial aid, student visa or other ramifications or complications involved in taking courses elsewhere, so check with your advisor. If you are going home for the summer, participating in the National or International Student Exchange, or studying abroad, you can be approved to take courses elsewhere. Check with an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center about the procedures for taking classes elsewhere. 15. Registration Holds (Who lifts what?)Registration Holds (Negative Service Indicators) are placed on students for a variety of reasons. They prevent you from registering until they are lifted. For a list of the different holds and where to go to have them removed click here. Some Common Holds:
RVS Holds: Majors Some departments elect to place advising hold (RVS Holds) on their major. This requires that the student meet with his/her major advisor prior to registering. After meeting with the student, the advisor will contact the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center (305-348-2978) to have this Hold removed. RUG Holds: CLAST CLAST registration holds (RUG Holds) are placed when a student has 96 credit hours and has yet to clear all portions of the CLAST. This is potentially a serious problem. At 96 credits a student maybe as little as 24 credit hours away from graduation. CLAST is not only a graduation requirement; the Graduation Office will not even accept an application for graduation or application to walk commencement if we do not have in our official records that the student has cleared CLAST. To remove this hold students must: Print two copies of the CLAST hold/release form. This form is available at: Take completed forms to the major advisor for signature. You and your advisor will need to discuss why you have not taken care of this my now and how you plan to clear this requirement. Based on this discussion, you advisor may or may not elect to lift the hold and allow you to register. Even if he or she does, you advisor may restrict the credits and courses you will be allowed to register for. If you advisor does agree to lift this hold you would then: Bring both signed forms to the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center (ECS 411 at UP or ACI 318A at BBC). RWP or RD Holds: Academic Warning, Probation and Dismissal Some departments request that Registration place a RWP Hold (Warning/Probation hold) on students who are on Academic Warning (their institutional GPA has fallen below 2.0 for the first time) or Academic Probation (their institutional GPA remained below 2.0 for two or more consecutive semesters). This hold requires that they see an advisor in order to get a RWP hold form signed to take to the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center to have the hold lifted. RD Dismissal Hold: Academic Dismissal Students on Probation with an institutional GPA that has been below 2.0 for two or more consecutive semesters who then let their term GPA fall below a 2.0 are Academically Dismissed. These students must either wait one year to be readmitted or they may appeal for reinstatement. Appeal for Reinstatement To appeal for reinstatement, they need to get a memo from their major department authorizing the reinstatement and bring it to the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Center for a dean’s signature. If reinstated, they are placed back on academic probation where they will remain until their institutional GPA is 2.0 or better. This means that, once reinstated, these students run the risk of being dismissed again, so they should be very careful as to what courses they take and how many credits they attempt. |
