College policy requires regular class attendance as a basic requirement for all courses. However, as long as absences are not excessive, it shall be the students' performance and not their attendance record that shall determine their course grade. The policy does not exclude class participation and/or performance as a factor in determining course grades.

In determining the student's grade, the instructor may consider excessive absences. Instructors shall state in the course syllabus, and emphasize to the class at the first meeting, the attendance requirement for the course. Instructors should make clear to their classes what they consider to be valid reasons for missing class, and what penalties will be assessed for excessive absences.

Penalties for excessive absences, as determined by the instructor's policy, shall not exceed one-third of a letter grade per class hour of absence.

Academic Assistance

Students needing academic help should utilize all available resources. This includes the Academic Support and Achievement Center in Memorial Library, consultation with course instructors, and contact with faculty advisors. Tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, individual support, faculty contact, and academic skill building are just a few of the ways that students work to improve academic performance.

Academic Dismissal

Students who are reinstated following academic suspension and fail to meet their academic contract will be subject to academic dismissal, with the right of appeal to the Academic Standing Committee. Students who are academically dismissed are ineligible to apply for readmission for a minimum of three years.
Note: Any academic contract, whether signed by the student or not, will be in effect for the term in question and will supersede other probation and suspension policies. Grounds for appeal will be mitigating circumstances such as death in the family, injury or illness requiring hospitalization and other special circumstances.

Academic Integrity

In a college setting, all members of the institution have an obligation to uphold high intellectual and ethical standards. As members of the SUNY Cortland academic community, all students are expected to uphold the standards for academic integrity that include taking responsibility for their own learning, protecting their work from misuse, and respecting the work of others. A full description of the academic integrity policy is detailed in the Code of Student Conduct and Related Policies , which is available in the Judicial Affairs Office .

Academic Probation

All SUNY Cortland students with a cumulative GPA between 1.01 and 1.99 will be placed on academic probation. They will receive a notice of academic probation from the associate dean of their school along with an academic contract notifying them of the semester GPA needed to regain good academic standing of 2.00 cumulative GPA, limiting their course load to no more than 15 credit hours and providing other recommendations. Students on academic probation will be advised to curtail any activity that is detrimental to regaining good academic standing (e.g. on and off-campus employment, fraternity/sorority, resident assistant activities).

Academic Suspension

Students who fail to meet their academic contract will be subject to academic suspension. Suspension mandates two semesters away from campus (two summer sessions equal one semester). During that time, students are required to take full-time coursework at another accredited college, earning an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher, be employed full time with an excellent employment record, or have an honorable record of military service.

Students whose semester GPA is less than 1.01 will be automatically suspended. Students placed on academic suspension have the right of appeal to the Academic Standing Committee. Students who are reinstated after appeal or upon return from suspension will be placed on academic probation with an academic contract.

First-semester freshmen and first-semester transfer students with a cumulative GPA of less than 1.01 will automatically be suspended but will be eligible for expedited appeal through their respective associate deans. Those students reinstated following expedited appeal of suspension will be placed on academic probation with an academic contract. They must meet expectations for students on probation.

Admissions, General

At SUNY Cortland we are committed to a strong liberal arts foundation in all of our academic programs. Therefore, admission to the college will be granted to those applicants who present the strongest academic programs in English, social studies, mathematics, science and foreign language regardless of the intended major. A challenging college preparatory program with significant achievements both in and out of the classroom will help ensure that your application is competitive. For more information contact the Admissions Office .

Admissions into Majors, see specific majors as described in the college catalog

Certain majors may require specific grade point averages. See the College Catalog for details.

Adding a Course

Students may drop/add courses from their schedules during the first three days of class on Banner Web for Students . Students should remain in contact with their advisor so that advisors are informed of adjustments in schedules due to drop/add. More information about adding and dropping courses can be found on the Registrar's home page.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

The mission of the Student Disability Services Office is to facilitate the education and personal development of SUNY Cortland students with disabilities. Its goal is to ensure equal access to all programs and activities and facilitate the architectural and attitudinal accessibility of the campus environment. SUNY Cortland is committed to upholding and maintaining all aspects of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) approved in 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Adult Student Support

Adult students are often faced with many responsibilities and have unique learning needs. The Advisement and Transition Office offers support to adult students. The Non-Traditional Students Organization is a great opportunity for adult students to connect with other learners and learn about strategies and resources. For more information call (607) 753-4726.

Advanced Placement Exams

Students may earn college credit or be waived from certain requirements through Advanced Placement Exams. The student must have taken the AP exam, earned a minimum score of three within the scale of five points, and requested that an official score report be sent directly to SUNY Cortland Admissions in order to earn SUNY Cortland credit. SUNY Cortland AP Credit Equivalencies

Advisors

Advising is a relationship between a student and a faculty or professional where they work collaboratively to learn about academic choices, campus resources, academic planning, and implement strategies for success.

Responsibilities
Advisors are faculty and staff designated to assist students with academic planning and decision-making, career issues, and problem-solving strategies. An advisor provides information, assists in analyzing issues, and refers students to appropriate resources. Advisors are dedicated to empowering students to take responsibility for their learning and decision-making and support students throughout their academic experience.

A specific advisor is assigned to each student. Students can check their advisor's name via Banner Web for students or by calling their academic department. Students are welcome to call the Advisement and Transition Office at 753-4726 if they cannot locate their advisors.

Changing an Advisor
If a student is not satisfied with his or her advisement, he or she should first discuss specific concerns with the advisor. If differences cannot be resolved, the student may speak with the department chair about the possibility of a new advisor. Students may also inquire about changing their advisor at the Advisement and Transition Office at 753-4726.

Auditing a Course

Auditing of courses is subject to the following conditions:

Auditors may be accepted into classes only with the consent of the instructor of record and will be refused admission to classes that have reached the maximum number of students.
Course auditors normally will not be charged any tuition but will pay all laboratory fees and other charges connected with a course.
Course auditors will not be enrolled and listed in registers for such courses. Course auditors attend without credit or formal recognition. They do not need to meet the requirements of the course.
Course auditors may not subsequently request credit for the course even if they complete the course requirements.

Calendar, Academic

The Academic Calendar is the official College calendar that outlines:

Dates classes begin and end
College holidays and breaks
Quarter course and exam dates
Designated study days
Designated exam dates
Other important dates

View the Academic Calendar or the Important Semester Dates and Deadlines.

Challenge Examinations

At the discretion of individual departments, students may arrange challenge examinations to demonstrate proficiency in the content areas of specific courses for academic credit. Faculty may arrange written, oral or performance exercises to establish competency and the appropriate number of semester hours will be awarded for satisfactory performance with a grade of P (pass). Interested students should contact the department chair responsible for the content area they wish to challenge. If the department agrees to supervise the challenge, the student is referred to the office of the associate dean to complete the appropriate form and pay a fee, if appropriate.

Class Attendance, see Absence from Class

Class Standing (year in college)

The number of completed credit hours determines student class standing. This includes courses taken at SUNY Cortland and coursework officially transferred in for credit (e.g., AP credit, transfer credit). Class standing may impact registration, housing, financial aid. It is important that students understand the implications and are able to identify their class standing.

Students are identified by class year in accordance with the number of credit hours earned toward graduation as follows:

Freshman		0-25.5
Sophomore		26-56
Junior		56.5-89.5
Senior		90 or more

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students may earn credit through CLEP exams. Students who are taking or have taken a higher-level course within the subject area are not eligible for CLEP credit. SUNY Cortland equivalent course information is available on the Transfer Admission Web site . At this time, Cortland is not a test center for the College-Level Examination Program. Information regarding test centers can be obtained at www.collegeboard.com .

Confidentiality of Student Records

Learn more about confidentiality through FERPA and the SUNY Cortland Code of Conduct

Course Schedule

The course schedule is available in print or online each semester. Check Quick Links on the SUNY Cortland home page for Course Schedule. The following information will help students navigate the publication.

Course Reference Numbers
CRNs are five digit codes identifying the specific section of a particular course.

Department Prefix Code
The department prefix code is always three alphabetic characters and describes which program is offering the course. For example, ATR indicates an Athletic Training course.

Course Numbers
100-199 courses generally designed for freshmen but may be appropriate for sophomores.
200-299 courses generally for sophomores but may be appropriate for freshmen and juniors.
300-399 courses generally designed for juniors but may be appropriate for sophomores and seniors.
400-499 courses generally designed for seniors but may be appropriate for juniors.
500 courses designed for graduate students.

Section Numbers
000-099 section numbers indicate that the course has no restrictions.
010,020,030,040 generally indicate quarter courses. The middle digit represents the quarter.
200-299 section numbers indicate that the course is paired with another course.
300-399 section numbers indicate that the course has a special prerequisite.
500-599 section numbers require special permission from the department chair.
600-699 section numbers are for that department's majors only.
700-799 section numbers are reserved for students outside the major department.
800-899 section numbers indicate courses that are part of a "learning community" or special student cohort program.

Course Schedule by Semester

Each course is worth a number of credit hours. The most common number is three credits, but you also see one credit (e.g., activity courses) and four credit (e.g., a course with a lab), and other variations. Additional information on the Course Schedule includes:

Liberal Arts (LA): This course will count towards liberal arts credits
Cortland General Education: The Cortland GE category into which the course falls
SUNY General Education: The SYNT GE category into which the course falls
Writing Intensive (WI): The course can be used as a writing intensive requirement
Cross-listed: A course that is offered from two departments (e.g., SOC 315 and ANT 315)
Register for this one also: Indicates that a course is concurrent or paired with another course
Pre-req: Another course must be completed before students are allowed to register for this course.

Credit, Earning Additional or Advanced Standing

Students may earn credit or advanced standing in a series of coursework in several ways:

Challenge Examinations
International Baccalaureate Courses
Military Coursework or Other Organization Coursework
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
College Proficiency Examinations
Advanced Placement (AP tests)

Also see transfer credits.

Credit Hour System (College Credit Hour System)

The "credit hour" (one hour of credit for a 16 week semester) is the basic unit of credit in college courses. Students are expected to study a minimum of three hours outside of class for each credit hour. Thus a student should plan on a 45-hour study week for an academic load of 15 credit hours. Most students carry a semester credit hour load of 15 to 18 credit hours. If a student chooses to take more than 18 credits a semester, the students must receive approval from the appropriate associate dean.

Dean's List

A uniform 3.3 average will be required of all students to qualify for the Dean's List which is announced at the end of each semester. Students named to the list represent the highest-ranking undergraduates in their respective academic areas of the College. Students will qualify for the Dean's List if their semesters grades include credit for a course load of at least 12 semester hours, of which at least eight hours must be taken for letter grades.

Degree Elements

The degree is the sum of all coursework. Most undergraduates are either working on a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. A degree consists of coursework in the following:

General Education
Major
Liberal Arts Electives
A degree may also include minor, concentration, and open electives.
A minimum of 2.0 grade point average (GPA) overall and in the major is required to graduate. Specific majors may require a higher grade point average.

Degree Requirements

There are minimum requirements for a Bachelor's degree from SUNY Cortland. The general Bachelor requirements include but are not limited to:

A minimum of 124 total credit hours
Completion of all college and SUNY General Education requirements
Completion of an academic major, minimum 30-36 credit hours. No more than 45 credits in one discipline may be counted towards the degree.
Minimum of 45 credits completed at Cortland.
Elective coursework to reach the total credits needed.
Completion of all coursework.
Liberal Arts credit miniums:
- For the BA, 90 credits
- For the BSE, 60 credits
- For a BS in Arts and Sciences, 75 credits
- For BS program in Professional Studies, please see major requirements for minimum

Limitations include:

No more than four hours of physical education activities may be applied toward degree requirements unless specified by major.
No more than eight hours of participation may be applied to degree.
No more than 45 credits of coursework in a single discipline may be applied toward degree.

If a student chooses to take coursework beyond these maximums, he or she should be made aware that it would not count towards his/her degree.

Change of Degree Requirements

While the curriculum at Cortland undergoes frequent review and new courses are established, students are assured that requirements for graduation at the time of initial enrollment will remain unchanged for those who complete their undergraduate programs without interruption. A change of major, the addition of a new minor or concentration, may result in additional required coursework for the new major and/or the need to meet certain grade point criteria as determined by the changes. An official leave of absence is not considered an interruption in enrollment.

Diploma

Degree/ Diploma order cards are mailed to potential bachelor degree recipients with at least 75 hours towards the degree for the ensuing year in October. All candidates for the bachelor's degree should file their completed cards with the Registrar by Nov. 1 prior to the year of which the degree will be received - this applies to May, August, and December candidates.
Major, minors, and concentrations are not listed on the diploma, but are listed on official College transcripts.

Discrimination Issues

Please contact Judicial Affairs with concerns regarding discrimination. The State University of New York, in its continuing effort to seek equity in education and employment and in support of federal and state anti-discrimination legislation, is adopting a grievance procedure for the prompt and equitable investigation and resolution of allegations of unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability or marital status.

Dismissal, see Academic Dismissal

Dropping a Course

Students may drop a course during the first three days of a semester, the official college drop/add period for full semester courses. Quarter courses (2nd and 4th) have designated two-day drop/add periods in October and March. See the Registrar's page for specific dates and instructions on how to use Banner Web for drop/add.

Students who do not officially drop a course and do not attend that class are not dropped automatically and will earn a grade of E.

If students are planning to drop courses, they should consider the following:

How will this affect the overall credit hours?
If this is a required course, when will it be taken? Is it offered on a regular basis?
If this is a general education course, how will that requirement be met?
How will this impact financial aid?

Dual Major, see requirements for each specific major

Final Exams

Final Examinations are given during final examinations week. No examinations, quizzes or tests are permitted during the last week of classes prior to the published final examination week unless approved in advance by the department chair and associate dean.

Final Exam Schedule

Adjustments may be requested in the exam schedule for students having two exams scheduled at the same time, more than two exams in one day, or a verified emergency. Requests for adjustments follow Registrar procedures.

Missed Examinations

It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor for make-up examinations. Students who miss final examinations will receive an E for those courses unless they are granted and excuse for their absence by the associate dean of their school. Make-up examinations must be taken after the regularly scheduled examination and will be given at the convenience of the instructor.

Foreign Language Requirement

All SUNY Cortland first-year students who entered in Fall 2000 and all transfer students who entered in Fall 2002 must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by fulfilling one of the following requirements:

Successful completion of a one-semester college-level foreign language course (101)or the equivalent (e.g., earning CLEP or AP credits) or
having earned a score of 85 or higher on the New York State Regents examination in a foreign language.

Note: By virtue of completion of the Cortland foreign language requirement, students will automatically meet the SUNY foreign language requirement.

B.S. Degree Candidates:
In addition, all SUNY Cortland students enrolled in a B.S. program in Early Childhood, Childhood, Early Childhood and Childhood, Adolescence Education, or Special Education must successfully complete the second semester (102) of a college-level foreign language sequence or confirm proficiency equivalent to successful completion of the second semester (102) of a college-level foreign language sequence through a testing program approved by the International Communications and Culture Department.

Note:Some departments require specified courses in foreign language in support of their major program requirements in addition to those described above.

B.A. Degree Candidates:

Successfully completing the fourth semester (202) of a college-level foreign language sequence or
Confirming proficiency equivalent to successful completion of the fourth semester (202) of a college-level foreign language sequence, through a testing program approved by the International Communications and Culture Department. (See College Catalog for placement guidelines and information.)

American Sign Language can meet SUNY Cortland's foreign language requirement for certain programs only.

Major Foreign Language Requirement:Certain majors require a more extensive foreign language proficiency. Check with your academic department for details.

Full-time status

To be eligible for maximum federal and state financial assistance or Veterans' benefits an undergraduate student must be registered for a minimum of 12 hours a semester. Students who retake courses should check provisions of their financial aid awards to avoid risking the loss of aid.

Undergraduate Study
Any undergraduate who receives New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester. To qualify for TAP during summer session, students must register for at least six credit hours of study during either summer session, or three credit hours in each summer session. During each summer session, students may enroll up to six credit hours. Students must receive approval from the associate dean for enrolling in more than six credit hours during each summer session.

Graduate Study
Academically, a full-time semester course load for graduate study is nine credit hours. Twelve credit hours are required for receipt of financial aid. (See the Financial Aid Office for more information.) During the summer session period, students must register for three credit hours in each Summer Session. Approval of the Director or Assistant Director of Graduate Studies must be received if students register for more than 14 credit hours during the semester or seven credit hours during a five-week summer session.

General Education Requirements

General Education Categories - Effective Fall 2007

The NEW Cortland General Education Program fulfills all SUNY General Education requirements and includes additional elements specific to the Cortland degree.

Quantitative Skills
Natural Sciences (TWO course requirement)
Social Sciences
United States History and Society
Western Civilization
Contrasting Cultures
Humanities
The Arts
Foreign Language (refer to degree program)
Basic Communication: Academic Writing and Presentation Skills
Prejudice and Discrimination
Science, Technology, Values and Society
Natural Science (second science course)

View an explanation of each of these categories (Goals and Learning Outcomes)

View a listing of courses that meet the requirement for each category

Your Major and the General Education Requirements

Depending upon your major, you may have to take particular courses within a general education category. You should be sure to learn about any major-specific general education course work during orientation and in your first semester. You will be able to review these with your fall academic advisor and read about them in the College Catalog you receive in the fall.

How to find out what GE courses are being offered...

The catalog describes these categories in detail and offers suggested course work. The Course Schedule is available online at the Registrars Home Page offering a listing of GE courses being offered for the various semesters. Under "search attributes" click the GE category/attribute that you are looking for information about.

GE Strategies

Be sure to keep a record of your completed courses and the courses you have yet to finish.
Develop a plan over several semesters to spread out your GE requirements.
Work on completing most of your GE course work in the first two years of college. This will give you time to focus on higher level requirements, such as major course work, during your upper division years.
Discuss the GE requirements with your advisor and ask questions!
Any GE you take is progress toward your degree. Even if it is not your first choice, you can at least get the requirement completed.
GE is a great way to explore-keep an open mind to what you will learn!

General Education Waivers for Transfer Students

At the time of entry to SUNY Cortland, transfer students may be granted up to three waivers that can be applied toward meeting the requirements in General Education Category 11, Category 12, and one of the Natural Science course requirements reflected in Category 13. Under this policy, the student may elect waivers based on the number of credits posted at the time of entry, or the first semester of enrollment at SUNY Cortland.

Transfer students may be eligible for waivers based on the number of transfer credits posted in the first semester of enrollment at Cortland according to the following criteria:

Transfer Credit Hours	GE Waivers
20 - 34.5	1 course
35 - 49.5	2 courses
50 or more credits	3 courses

General Education Waiver Form for Transfer Students (PDF)

Graduate Level Coursework

500-599 courses are considered graduate courses but are designed for both graduate and highly motivated undergraduate students. This level of course work is open to juniors and seniors in good
academic standing (cumulative grade point average of 2.0). Certain 500-level courses are for graduate students only.

Graduate School

SUNY Cortland offers students the opportunity to take courses leading to a master of arts, a master of science, a master of science in education and professional studies, a master of arts in teaching, as well as a certificate of advanced study. The certificates of advanced study are post-baccalaureate programs with concentrations in American Civilization and Culture (for international students only), School Building Leader, School District Leader, and School District Business Leader.

Students may enroll in graduate courses on a full-time or part-time basis. Most courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening, Monday through Thursday to accommodate commuting students. A selection of graduate courses is available during Summer Sessions, and at Cortland's Mohawk Valley Graduate Center, an off-campus center in Rome, NY.

Graduate students, attending full-time or part-time, are entitled to all campus privileges: the use of the library, recreational facilities, and computer labs. Students also have access to career and personal counseling.

Contact the Graduate Studies Office office for information on graduate admission, opportunities, and programs at SUNY Cortland. Their telephone number is (607) 753-4800 and their e-mail address is gradstudies@cortland.edu.

Graduating with Honors

Honors at graduation are awarded students whose quality point averages meet the following standards:
Summa cum laude 3.75 and above
Magna cum laude 3.5-3.749
Cum laude 3.2-3.499

All such awards of honors must have the approval of the faculty. Although honors at the graduation ceremony are designated by using the cumulative grade point average recorded as of February 1 of the commencement year, the diploma and permanent record will only reflect honors as designated when all course work has been completed.

Grading System

Quality Points per credit hour:
A+ = 4.3	A= 4.0	A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3	B =3.0	B- =2.7
C+ = 2.3	C =2.0	C- =1.7
D+ =1.3	D =1.0	D- =.7
E = 0.0

SUNY Cortland's grading system ranges from an A+ to D-, which is the lowest grade in which college credit is awarded. An E indicates failure of a course. Instructors are expected to inform students of course requirements and grading procedures by the end of the first full week of classes.

Credit Hours are the academic units that students accumulate through coursework. Many courses are worth 3 credits, but Cortland also offers courses for 0, 1, 2, 4 or more credits. Some courses have a set credit hour while others may have a variable number of credits that the student registers for (e.g., Internships may vary in credit hours).

Course Grade is the final grade assigned by the instructor at the end of each academic session. At mid-semester, students are notified regarding their satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or failing status. Other grading options at Cortland are the following:

Pass /Fail
The Pass/No credit grading option encourages juniors and seniors to enroll in challenging courses outside their major or minor, adding breadth to their academic work while not incurring the penalty of a low grade. Only juniors or seniors with a grade point average of at least 2.0 cumulative and in the major may petition to receive Pass/No credit grades in elective courses with the approval of the student's major department chair.

Some restrictions apply to Pass/No credit grades. Students cannot receive Pass/ No credit in the following courses:

Courses in the major, minor, or concentration
Courses required for the General Education, or All-College requirements (composition and quantitative skills as well as Writing Intensive courses) and foreign language courses required for the B.A. or B.S. degree.
Graduate courses.

Only one course per semester may be taken Pass/No credit.
Exceptions require the associate dean's approval.
Forms can be found in departmental offices, and must be submitted to the Registrar's Office during the first three weeks (semester course) or the first week (quarter course).

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Calculation Grade points are the numeric value assigned to the letter grade for a particular course and number of credit hours. The higher the letter grade, the more points a student receives. In the same way, the more credit hours a course is worth, the more GPA points a student will accumulate. To calculate the points earned for a particular course, students must first understand the grade point system.

Points Table

Grade	1 Credit	2 Credit	3 Credit	4 Credit
A+	4.3	8.6	12.9	17.2
A	4.0	8.0	12.0	16.0
A-	3.7	7.4	11.1	14.8
B+	3.3	6.6	9.9	13.2
B	3.0	6.0	9.0	12.0
B-	2.7	5.4	8.1	10.8
C+	2.3	4.6	6.9	9.2
C	2.0	4.0	6.0	8.0
C-	1.7	3.4	5.1	6.8
D+	1.3	2.6	3.9	5.2
D	1.0	2.0	3.0	4.0
D-	.7	1.4	2.1	2.8
E	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Learn How to Calculate GPAs (Word) and make use of the GPA Repair Kit (Word) or the GPA Repair Kit with Retake (Word)
Cumulative grade point average (Cum GPA) is the grade point average that includes all coursework done at SUNY Cortland.

Holds on Registration

Students can check for holds on myRedDragon. If students have any type of hold (e.g., Bursar) they must go to the appropriate office and take care of the issue before they will be allowed to register.

Honors Convocation

The College recognizes students for their academic achievements at the annual Honors Convocation. Awards and scholarships are presented at this solemn, yet festive ceremony. The Honors Convocation is the College's affirmation of its commitment to excellence.

Honors Program

The SUNY Cortland Honors Program is designed for students with high ability and unusual motivation. The Honors Program is designed for students with high ability and unusual motivation. It brings together accomplished teachers and achieving students in a program that provides challenging opportunities for students of outstanding ability and interests.

Honor Programs within Academic Disciplines

Several academic disciplines, such as English, history and psychology, offer honors programs for high-achieving students. For more information, see the various departmental listings in the College Catalog.

Honor Societies

The The following academic honor societies have chapters at Cortland:
Alpha Sigma Lambda, national honor society for adult students
Alpha Kappa Delta, Sociology
Beta Beta Beta, Biology
Eta Sigma Gamma, Health
Kappa Delta Pi, Education
Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics
Phi Alpha Theta, History
Pi Delta Phi, French
Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science
Psi Chi, Psychology
Rho Phi Lambda, Recreation and Leisure Studies
Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish
Sigma Phi Omega, Gerontology
Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics
Sigma Tau Delta, English

Phi Eta Sigma - The Freshmen Honor Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines
Tau Sigma - The Transfer Student Honor Society

Incomplete Grade

Incomplete grades are given to students who have not completed all the coursework for a given class, but will be able to complete the class with additional time. Incomplete grades are contracts between the student and faculty member who decide on the work to be completed.

An incomplete becomes an E if work is not made up by the end of the following semester.
Exceptions may be granted only upon petition to the instructor and the associate dean of the school in which the course is being offered.
Incompletes do not impact the grade point average. If the Incomplete grade is not changed to a grade by the deadline, it will be changed to an E.
Students do not re-register for the same course to make up an incomplete.

Individualized Degree Program

The Individualized Degree Program combines a traditional minor with an interdisciplinary concentration that is designed to meet the unique needs of the student. Hands-on experience is often part of the concentration.

By the time that students completes 78 credit hours, those who wish to pursue a program in areas that draw upon several fields of study or go beyond traditional academic majors may present a proposal for the specialized "Individualized Degree" program. The program is designed to meet individual interests and learning objectives.

The degree plan is formulated in consultation with a faculty mentor. Students who wish to propose an individualized degree program should contact the program coordinator, the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences (Old Main Room 125) to discuss application, and proposal procedures.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses

Credit for International Baccalaureate coursework will be granted as follows:

Students with an IB diploma may receive a maximum of 30 credits hours.
Non-diploma students receive credit for a maximum of two introductory courses with a grade of 4 or higher on exams.
Subsidiary level subjects are evaluated on an individual basis.

Internship Credits

SUNY Cortland has an extensive internship program coordinated through the Career Services Office. Students may contact Career Services to review intern opportunities or discuss an idea for an internship. The number of credits that a student receives will depend upon the amount of contact/work hours that applied to the internship.

Late Add/Drop, see Adding a Course, Dropping a Course

The official Drop/Add period is the first five days of each semester. Students are subject to a fee for any courses dropped or added after this period.

Late Registration, see Registration

Exceptions to the specified registration days can be granted only by the associate dean of the appropriate school. A late fee will be charged.

Learning Disabilities

The Student Disability Services Office will facilitate the educational and personal development of SUNY Cortland students with documented disabilities who voluntarily identify themselves to the Office.

For further information regarding student rights and accommodations contact Student Disability Services .

Leave of Absence (LOA)

Leave of absence for a specified period of time may be granted to a student in good academic standing (not subject to academic dismissal or on academic probation). A student applying for leave of absence must give a definite date for re-registration at this College and must re-register within one academic year of the date of leaving the College. A student not returning for re-registration within the specified time will be classified as an official withdrawal. Application for leave of absence must be made to the associate dean of the school in which the student is enrolled.

Liberal Arts Requirements

For completion of a Bachelor's Degree, students must complete 90 credit hours of liberal arts and sciences courses in B.A. degree programs, and 60 credits of liberal arts and sciences courses in B.S.E. programs. Liberal arts and science courses (LAS) are marked by a black square in the course catalog.

Major

A major is an approved program of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A major usually consists of 30-36 courses within a specific field of study with certain requirements. A student may apply a maximum of 45 credit hours in the major toward the baccalaureate degree. Cortland offers several majors. Please note that each major may require certain course requirements along with courses in the actual department.

List of majors in the School of Arts and Science
List of majors in the School of Professional Studies
List of majors in the School of Education

Change of Major

Undergraduate Change of Major forms are available in department offices and require the signed approval of the accepting department chair. Students should file all change of major forms in the department of the new major before the established deadline each semester (October and March) to ensure the ability to register for courses in the new major during the registration period. *Please note that transfer credits may need to be reevaluated when a student changes majors.

Matriculated Status/Non-matriculated Status

Matriculated Status

Matriculated students are students who have been accepted to work toward completing a degree. Matriculated students must complete at least 45 credit hours for the degree at SUNY Cortland to meet the college's residency requirement. In addition, one half the credits for the major and at least three courses of each minor or concentration must be completed at SUNY Cortland.

Non-Matriculated Status

All non-degree students register for courses through the Registrar's Office. Undergraduate non-degree students (UND) may not register for more than 11.5 credit hours. At this point an undergraduate must apply through the Admissions Office for matriculated status. If accepted, students will register with other matriculated students in accord with the schedule published in the Course Schedule.

Medical Leave of Absence, see Leave of Absence

The associate dean of the appropriate school will approve of a medical leave.

Mid-semester Evaluations

At mid-semester, students are notified regarding their satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or failing status. Mid-semester grades can be accessed through myRedDragon for students. They are not mailed. Military Coursework or Other Organization Coursework Students may receive credit from coursework completed in the Military or other non-collegiate organizations only if content is evaluated and considered appropriate as transfer credit. The associate dean and department chair of the student's major grant credit or waiver of a course based upon coursework.

Military Coursework or Other Organization Coursework

Students may receive credit from coursework completed in the Military or other non-collegiate organizations only if content is evaluated and considered appropriate as transfer credit. The associate dean and department chair od the student's major grant credit or waiver of a course based upon coursework.

Minor

A minor is an approved program of study in a different discipline not leading to a degree. Forms are available in department offices.

Some questions to consider when considering a minor.

- Do I have the time and room to fit this into my current academic plan?
- How much stress will this put on my academic performance?
- Why does this interest me? Personal interests? Career Interest?
- Do I know all of the requirements?
- Have I spoken to a representative of the department the minor is offered through?
- Can I articulate why I want this minor and how it will impact my overall academic plan and performance?

myRedDragon

SUNY Cortland's on-line student information system. Access myRedDragon

Non-degree students

Non-degree students have not yet been accepted into a program at SUNY Cortland. Non-degree students may take up to 11.5 credits. After this, they must apply for admission. Non-degree students register through the Registrar's Office.

Overload, Credits

Students who wish to take over 18 credit hours in one semester must gain approval from their Associate Dean.

Pass/Fail

The Pass/No credit grading option encourages juniors and seniors to enroll in challenging courses outside their major or minor, adding breadth to their academic work while not incurring the penalty of a low grade. Only juniors or seniors with a grade point average of at least 2.0 cumulative and in the major may petition to receive Pass/No credit grades in elective courses with the approval of the student's major department chair.

Some restrictions apply to Pass/No credit grades. Students cannot receive Pass/ No credit in the following courses:

Courses in the major, minor, or concentration
Courses required for the General Education, or All-College requirements (composition and quantitative skills as well as Writing Intensive courses) and foreign language courses required for the B.A. or B.S. degree.
Graduate courses.

Only one course per semester, for a total of four, may be taken Pass/No credit. Exceptions require the associate dean's approval. Departments may set additional limits but cannot grant exceptions to the above stipulations.
Forms can be found in departmental offices, and must be submitted to the Registrar's Office during the first three weeks (for a semester course) or the first week (for a quarter or modular course).

Permission to Take a Course

There may be several reasons why a student is prohibited, restricted from taking a course. If the student and advisor still feel the course is appropriate, the student may contact the department chair for permission.

Probation, Academic

All SUNY Cortland students with a cumulative GPA between 1.01 and 1.99 will be placed on academic probation.

They will receive a notice of academic probation from the associate dean of their school along with an academic contract notifying them of the semester GPA needed to regain good academic standing of 2.00 cumulative GPA.
Their course load must be limited to no more than 15 credit hours
There may be other recommendations provided by their Associate Dean.
Students on academic probation will be advised to curtail any activity which is detrimental to regaining good academic standing (e.g. on and off-campus employment, fraternity/sorority, resident assistant activities).

Readmission

Candidates matriculated for undergraduate degrees who interrupt their education at SUNY Cortland and later wish to return must be formally readmitted. An official leave of absence is not considered an interruption in enrollment. Readmitted students re-enter under the College Catalog in effect at the time of readmission.

Readmission forms are available from the Registrar's Office at SUNY Cortland. Applicants for readmission to the College must complete and file a readmission form to the Registrar's Office no later than July 15 for fall readmission, no later than November 15 for spring readmission, and no later than April 15 for summer readmission.

For further details, please see the College Catalog.

Registration

Currently enrolled matriculated students have the opportunity to register for the upcoming semester about half-way through their current semester.

In order to pre-register:

Student meets with advisor to select first choice and alternate courses
Student receives Registration PIN from advisor
Student checks myRedDragon to see when their registration time ticket is activated
Student goes online to myRedDragon with Registration PIN when the time ticket is active.
The student's registration is processed automatically.

For more specific information about the registration process, please see the Registrar's Home Page.

Registration holds:

Students can check for holds on myRedDragon for students.
If there is a hold (e.g., Bursar), they must go to the appropriate office and take care of the issue before being allowed to register.

For more information contact the Registrar's office.

Advisors are available throughout the registration period to provide assistance.

Paired Courses

In the course catalog a course may state, "Register for this one also" this indicates that a course is concurrent or paired with another course. In order to take this course a student must also register with the concurrent course.

Prerequisites

Most courses beyond the introductory level require a degree of knowledge or preparation described by the prerequisites for the course. In appropriate circumstances the department chair of the program may waive pre-requisites.

Schedule Adjustment

Once registered, a student may make changes up to the cutoff date determined by the Registrar. Once a semester has begun, students must go through drop/add in order to make any schedule adjustments. The drop/add period is the first five days of the semester.

Religious Observances

In accordance with Section 224-a of the New York State Education Law, any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall, because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from any examination or any study or work requirements. For further details, please see the undergraduate catalog.

Retake of a Course

Retaking of course forms (available in the Registrar's Office and the Advisement Office) must be submitted to the Registrar. After a course is retaken, the last grade received will be included in the quality point average. The course hours are equivalent to taking the course one time.

Retaking courses is a powerful way to raise a student's GPA. Be advised that when a course is retaken, it is not included in the minimum credit hours (12) required for full-time status by the Financial Aid Policies of SUNY.

Scholarships

SUNY Cortland offers scholarships to new, transfer, and continuing students. A database of all scholarships and information on scholarships for continuing students is available in the Financial Aid Office. The Scholarship coordinator in Financial Aid can also assist students in locating external scholarship opportunities.

Study Abroad

Students may opt to complete an internship abroad, or academic work abroad. Students are eligible to participate in more than 400 other International study programs offered by units of the State University of New York.

As long as the study abroad experience is approved by the Internation Programs Office, credits earned during one or two semesters of foreign study are transferred automatically towards meeting Cortland's graduation requirements. Students usually choose to study abroad during their Junior or Senior year, for the duration of an academic semester or academic year. For more information, including estimated costs, prerequisites, and admissions procedures contact the International Programs Office.

Substituting a Course for a Requirement

The department chair and/or Academic Dean must approve substituting a course for a requirement.

Summer Session

Cortland offers two five-week summer sessions. Course offerings are published the middle of the spring semester. For more information on Summer Sessions, contact the office of Graduate Studies and Summer/Winter Sessions. Undergraduates may be eligible for Financial Aid and should contact their counselor in the Financial Aid office for more information.

Transcript

Graduating students receive one free transcript, which is mailed with the diploma after graduation. Requests for transcripts must be in writing and accompanied by a payment of $5 for each transcript. Checks should be made payable to SUNY Cortland and mailed to the Registrar's Office. The written request must include name, address, social security number, dates of attendance, any degrees received, and all name changes if applicable. Check with the Registrar for more info on requesting transcripts.

Transfer Credits, Prior to Cortland

The transfer counselors in the Admissions Office evaluate academic coursework for transfer students during their application process. Official and complete transcripts are required for full evaluation and granting of transfer credits. Students may request that credits be reevaluated. To request a reevaluation students should contact Admissions in their first semester at Cortland or their Associate Dean after the first semester. Transfer students entering with an AA or AS degree from a two-year college may bring in a maximum of 64 credits. Students transferring from a four-year institution may receive up to 79 credits if in Arts and Sciences or up to 83 if in a certification program. Amount of credits transferred may vary by major. *45 credits must be completed in residency at SUNY Cortland For additional information see the SUNY Cortland Catalog.

Transfer Course Equivalency Charts

Transfer Credit/Summer or Winter Coursework

If students wish to take coursework at another institution and transfer these credits back to Cortland, they must do the following:

Obtain a course description for the course from the other institution
Be sure that the other institution is an accredited institution
Complete a Permission to Transfer Credit from Another Institution Form available in the Advisement Office and Registrar's Office
Have this form signed by student's advisor and associate dean
Take the course and receive a minimum grade of C-.
Have an official transcript with the completed course grade sent to the Associate Dean at Cortland.

After requesting a transcript from another institution, students should follow up on the process with their Associate Dean.
Remember, transcripts sometimes take several weeks to arrive!

Transfer Course Equivalency Charts

Waiving a Requirement, see Substituting a Course for a Requirement

Web Registration, see Banner Web

Withdrawal from SUNY Cortland

Students may need to withdraw from SUNY Cortland for a number of personal, academic, and situational reasons. To withdraw, students must complete the process with their associate dean. Official Withdrawal forms can be obtained from the associate dean's office. Students withdrawing from the college will be assigned a grade of W.

Refunds are often time sensitive (there are deadlines where no refunds are available) and students must complete the withdrawal procedure to be eligible for any refund.

A tuition deposit is non-fundable past deposit due date. No refunds are given after semester start date. Students should contact Student Accounts for more information.
Students should also meet with Financial Aid to address any aid implications, since withdrawal from the College may require them to return or to repay any financial aid that students have received. Students should also meet with their academic advisor to plan for return or for help with future plans.

Students who decide not to return to Cortland are responsible for notifying the Registrar's Office in writing to avoid tuition and fee liability problems and to release seats to fellow students. Nonattendance does not constitute a drop. If the College is in session, obtain the withdrawal form from the Associate Dean. Failure to do so will delay any refunds the student may be eligible to receive.
Students who have withdrawn after midterm ordinarily will not be considered for readmission until the passage of a full academic year.

Withdrawal from a Course

A student may withdraw from a course after the drop/add deadline but prior to the last withdrawal date established each semester. Students choose to withdraw for several reasons. Be sure to discuss the decision to withdraw from a course with an advisor.

To withdraw, a student completes the official "Withdrawal From a Course" form any academic department and obtains the following signatures:

Advisor
Instructor
Associate Dean (the form will be left with the student's Associate Dean's Office)

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses

Writing Intensive coursework is part of the Skills Base in the Cortland GE requirements. Students must take 2 writing-intensive courses (3 credits minimum each), and one of these courses must be in the major. The coursework must be taken at SUNY Cortland and can only be taken after completion of CPN 100 and CPN 101.
Writing Intensive courses involve a minimum of 15 pages of assigned writing with specific guidelines for submission, review, and opportunity for revision.