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Graduate Student Orientation
Welcome to graduate school at SUNY Cortland!
You've paid your admission deposit - what now?
Complete the following Next Steps to help orient you to SUNY Cortland...
Click on each Next Step below for more details and instructions.
Download Next Steps as a PDF
Next Steps you can take from home:
Review and accept/decline your financial aid
Complete your Immunization Form and Health History Form
Become familiar with how to use myRedDragon
Access your Cortland.edu email account
Contact your academic advisor or graduate coordinator
Learn how to use CAPP – your degree audit tool
Review the course schedule and register for classes
Order your textbooks
Review and pay your student bill via myRedDragon
Submit final transcript of undergraduate degree to Graduate Admissions
Submit initial teaching certificate (for teacher education majors only)
Watch for your Welcome Packet to arrive in the mail
Visit the Graduate Student Support website for additional resource information
Like us on Facebook
Next Steps to take when you come to campus:
Get your Cortland ID Card
Purchase your parking permit
Pick up your textbooks if you ordered online!
Some other Next Steps you might consider taking:
If you are a student with a disability, contact Student Disability Services for assistance.
Review your course schedule on myRedDragon prior to the start of the semester. Room changes may have occurred over the summer.
Submit your emergency contact information for SUNY NY-Alert – our campus emergency notification system.
Review the Code of Student Conduct. These policies apply to all students attending SUNY Cortland.
Review these Useful Links to student resources.
Contact Tracy Frenyea, Coordinator of Graduate Student Support if you have additional questions.
Best wishes as you pursue your education at SUNY Cortland!
Next Step Details and Instructions…
Review and accept/decline your financial aid
Review and accept/decline your financial aid award letter through myRedDragon. Be sure to regularly review the Financial Aid checklist. You will be notified by the Financial Aid Office when your award letter is ready. For questions regarding your aid or student loans, call 607-753-4717 or email financialaid@cortland.edu.
Complete your Immunization Form and Health History Form and return them to the Student Health Service Office.
For students entering in the Fall semester your immunization documentation should be completed and submitted to Student Health Service by July 1st, or as soon as possible after that for late admissions, and for students entering in the Spring semester, documentation should be submitted by December 1st or as soon as possible thereafter for late admissions.
Failure to provide the Student Health Service with all of the required immunization records and completed Health History Form in a timely manner may delay registration or result in administrative penalties including having a hold placed on your account.
Please note that you MUST submit your health forms and immunity requirements to Student Health Service as soon as possible. Submission of this material is in accordance with NYS Public Health Laws and you may not register for courses until it is received. Please call Student Health Service at 607-753-4811 with any questions about the forms or requirements.
Become familiar with how to use myRedDragon
Once you have paid your admission deposit, you will have access to myRedDragon, SUNY Cortland’s online portal to many functions you’ll need to use as a student. There is always a link to myRedDragon at the top of each SUNY Cortland Web page or click myRedDragon Login Page and bookmark it in your browser. If you have any trouble logging in, call the Information Resources Support Center (IRSC) at 607-753-2500.
Learn more about how to use myRedDragon.
Access your Cortland.edu email account
Once you have paid your admission deposit, you will be issued a Cortland.edu email account that can be accessed through myRedDragon in the Google Apps box on the Home Tab. This is the method through which all official College communication will be sent to you. Your email address will appear in the "My Profile" box in the Home Tab. You will be expected to check your Cortland.edu email on a regular basis. If you are familiar with Gmail, this account will very familiar to you. You will have generous storage space and the added ability to use Google Docs. If you have any trouble accessing myRedDragon or your email account call the Information Resources Support Center (IRSC) at 607-753-2500, or stop at the IRSC desk in Memorial Library. Here is a screenshot of the Home Tab in myRedDragon pointing you to your email access.
Special Messages
You may, from time to time receive messages in your Cortland.edu account from "myRedDragon". These messages will be targeted specifically to graduate students and you should pay particular attention to them.
Contact your academic advisor
Contact your academic advisor or graduate coordinator to review program requirements and determine what classes you should register for. The name and contact information for your academic advisor is located in the Student Tab on myRedDragon (locate the Registrar box and click "Who is my Advisor?"). If you have trouble reaching this person during summer hours you may also contact your program’s Graduate Coordinator or your department’s chairperson (contact information can be found on your department’s website). Please note that your Graduate Coordinator may also be your academic advisor.
Learn how to use CAPP – your degree audit tool
All students have an online degree audit called a CAPP Report. A CAPP Report displays program requirements and whether each has been completed successfully. Information and a tutorial on how to use your CAPP Report can be found here. All graduate students should be familiar with their individual CAPP Report.
Review the course schedule and register for classes
Once you know what classes to register for, consult the online Course Schedule to find specific course offering information.
Online registration for summer classes ended May 11.
You must now register using the Alternate Registration Process. Be sure to read all information carefully. Payment arrangements are expected at time of registration. For questions, contact the Registrar's Office at 607-753-4702.
For students registering for fall classes prior to July 19, 2013:
Learn how to register for classes on myRedDragon. The benefits to registering online during designated Web registration times include:
- ensuring you get the classes you want (or need)
- having the time to resolve registration errors you might receive while registering
- receiving a bill for tuition and fees, rather than having to pay at time of registration
- being prepared to start your next semester stress free
Please note that you may disregard any reference to a Registration PIN – this is only applicable to undergraduate student registration.
For students registering for fall classes after July 19, 2013:
You must register using the Alternate Registration Process. Be sure to read all information carefully. Payment arrangements are expected at time of registration. For questions, contact the Registrar's Office at 607-753-4702.
General registration tips and helpful information:
You may also wish to view these registration resources:
- Web Registration Tips
- Web Registration Error Messages
- Department Chairs/Graduate Coordinators Contact List
- Course Numbering/Attribute Information
Call the Registrar’s Office if you have questions or problems with registration at 607-753-4702 or email registrar@cortland.edu.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You MUST submit your health forms and immunity requirements to Student Health Service as soon as possible. Submission of this material is in accordance with NYS Public Health Laws and you may not register for courses until it is received. Please call Student Health Service at 607-753-4811 with any questions about the forms or requirements.
Order your textbooks
Visit the College Store for details on how to order your books online. You can purchase your textbooks ahead of time as a “prepack” (you can pick them up when you arrive on campus or they can be shipped to you), or you can purchase them in person. You can even choose to rent your textbooks!
You may also purchase your textbooks from outside vendors. There is no requirement that you purchase through the College Store.
Review and pay your student bill via myRedDragon
Visit Student Accounts for more information. Student Accounts may be reached by calling 607-753-2313 or emailing bursar@cortland.edu.
Submit final transcript for undergraduate degree to Graduate Admissions
Prior to the first day of classes, you will need to provide the Graduate Admissions Office with a final transcript showing conferral of your undergraduate degree. If you are currently a SUNY Cortland undergraduate student, the Registrar’s Office will process the conferral of your degree and a transcript will not be necessary.
Submit initial teaching certificate
As soon as your initial teaching certificate is issued by New York State, please submit a copy from the TEACH system to your advisor or Graduate Coordinator. You may need to submit a Request for Change of Graduate Status form to have the “W” removed from your program code. Students in the Health and Modern Languages programs do not need to submit a Change of Status form. Check with your advisor or Graduate Coordinator if you have questions.
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Watch for your Welcome Packet to arrive in the mail
Shortly before each semester all new graduate students are sent a packet of resource information welcoming them to SUNY Cortland. This packet contains:
- a brochure describing the graduate student support resources available
- a Campus Resource Guide
- helpful tips to start your semester
- a campus map
- parking permit information
- Memorial Library Guide and Hours of Operation
Also included in your Welcome Packet is an invitation to a Welcome Reception held prior to the fall and the spring semesters. This is a great opportunity to meet some key people on campus including the associate dean of your school and other new graduate students.
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Visit the Graduate Student Support website
This website, designed for you, is updated frequently. Here you will find links to may resources, including:
- academic policies
- CAPP Report tutorials
- Grad Connections, the newsletter for SUNY Cortland graduate students
- a list of all graduate coordinators
- academic dates and deadlines
- funding opportunities for graduate students
- reference guide to academic processes
Like us on Facebook
Like us for up-to-date reminders and timely information. You can also connect with other SUNY Cortland graduate students here if you'd like to.
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Get your Cortland ID Card
Your SUNY Cortland ID Card is essential! Among its many uses:
- check out materials from Memorial Library
- put cash on your card and use it in vending machines, at on-campus dining facilities and at many off-campus eateries
- use it to print and copy documents on WEPA stations and copiers across campus
- show it upon check-in if you’ve joined either of the fitness centers
To obtain your Cortland ID Card, visit the Auxiliary Services Corp. (ASC) Office in Neubig Hall. Keep in mind that office hours vary during winter and summer sessions; it is advised that you call ahead to see if they are open (extended hours are offered at the beginning of each semester). Contact the ASC Office at 607-753-2430.
Purchase your parking permit
You may purchase your permit in person at the Parking Department, Van Hoesen Hall, Room B-38, Monday – Friday, prior to 4:30 p.m. (4 p.m. during the summer).
Alternatively, you may purchase your parking permit online and pick it up when you get to campus. If you are unable to pick up your permit at the Parking Department during normal business hours, it will be available for you at the University Police Department, Van Hoesen Hall, Room C-17.
For details on types of permits and parking fees, visit the Parking Department, or call 607-753-4123.
