Do I need to set up an appointment with an academic adviser prior to orientation?No. Meeting with an adviser and registering for classes is included as part of the
orientation program for undergraduate students. Graduate students should make an appointment with their adviser upon admission.
How can I make sure I am taking the correct courses?
- Attend your new student orientation program.
- Always meet with your adviser prior to registering for classes.
- Read the course descriptions in your course catalog to ensure you have taken the prerequisites for each course.
Always check the requirements for your major.
How can I see my academic adviser?For undergraduate students, each school/college at Oakland University has its own academic adviser. To meet with an adviser for a particular program you will need to contact that school/college. If you are an undecided student you will contact the Undecided Advising office in 121 North Foundation Hall. Please remember that every new student will meet their academic adviser during their orientation program. You can identify your Adviser by going to www.oakland.edu/advising. Graduate student advising is handled at the department level.
How do I declare a major or change majors?Undergraduate students who want to declare or change majors must fill out a Change of Major form in the college or school with which you are planning to pursue a program of study. For example, if you switch from Undecided to Psychology, you start the paperwork in the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Office. You will receive more detailed instructions when you start the process. Just remember that some programs impose additional restrictions and/or criteria for admission. Graduate students should file a Request for Program Transfer in the Office of Graduate Study in 160 North Foundation Hall. The policy and form are also available
online.
How do I get information about majors?For information about academic majors, you should make an appointment with an academic adviser. Undergraduate students will need to contact the specific school or college
advising office. If you would like information about a various majors you can schedule an appointment with the Undecided Advising Office in 121 North Foundation Hall.
For graduate students, a list of academic programs is available on the
web.
I'm undecided about my major, where can I go for assistance?It is common for many students to feel uncomfortable about not knowing their academic major. The Advisers in 121 North Foundation Hall provide direction to students who are uncertain about declaring a major and who are having difficulty in making a career choice. You can contact them at at (248) 370-3227 and make an appointment with one of our professional advisers.
How many credit hours do I have to take to be are considered full time?You typically need twelve credit hours as an undergraduate student to be considered full time. (Graduate students are considered full time at 8 credit hours for fall/winter semesters.) If you have specific concerns related to insurance, financial aid or housing however, you should consult with the appropriate office for details. Policies and individual situations can vary. Beyond your official status as a full-time student, undergraduate students normally take anywhere between twelve and sixteen credit hours each semester. If you are thinking about taking more or less than that, consider talking to your adviser. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons. Please refer to the
Office of the Registrar's Web site for additional information.
Will my GPA transfer from another college or university?Only credits, not grades, will transfer to Oakland University. You must achieve a minimum grade of 2.0, or equivalent, in a course for the credits to transfer to Oakland University. Some programs may use the grades from other schools as part of their internal admission criteria but these grades will not be used to calculate you OU GPA.
Is tutoring available at Oakland University?
Is there a formula I can use to calculate my grade point average?
Who should I talk to about selecting the right courses to ensure I meet my general education requirements? Students should meet with their adviser at least once an academic year to discuss progress toward graduation, including a review of general education courses.
Can a course taken at another institution be used to fulfill a general education requirement? It is expected that students will be able to fulfill some general education requirements through courses taken at other institutions. Oakland University continues to work with area institutions to ensure a smooth transition.
How do I find out if a course meets a specific general education requirement?Each course offered by Oakland University has a course description in the University catalog. The course description includes a statement in italics if the course satisfies a university general education requirement.
Example from the catalog:
AH 100 Introduction to Western Art I (4)
History and analysis of the visual arts of western Europe from prehistoric times through the Medieval period. Satisfies the university general education requirement in the arts knowledge exploration area.
The Schedule of Classes on SAIL also lists this information in the Prerequisite/Comments section of the course information.
Example from SAIL:
Intro to Western Art I - 40915 - AH 100 - 001
Prerequisites/Comments: Satisfies the university general education requirement in the arts knowledge exploration area.
If you want a complete listing of all of the classes that satisfy a certain general education category, go to the university catalog in section for General Education requirements.
Some majors have courses outlined to satisfy specific general education requirements. Review your major’s plan or speak with you academic adviser if you need additional validation.
What is a Plan of Study?A Plan of Study is also referred to by some academic departments as a checklist, Degree Plan, program plan and a program of study. A student’s Plan of Study is developed with the assistance of the academic adviser. It lists all of the courses required to complete a degree at Oakland University including the university general education requirement, and/or, if applicable, minors or concentrations. The Plan of Study will also show official transfer credits.
Is it true that I will not receive credit toward graduation requirements for some courses I have passed?Course numbers 000-049 are designated for skill development courses specially designed to aid incoming students with significant deficiencies in their academic background in preparing for
courses numbered 100 and above. Credits earned in these courses cannot be used to
satisfy minimal graduation requirements in any academic program. Grades earned in
these courses, however, are included in students’ grade point averages. Course numbers 050-
099 are for courses specially designed to enrich academic skills. No more than 16 credits in
courses numbered 050-099 may count toward graduation requirements. Courses numbered
100-299 are introductory undergraduate courses primarily for freshmen and sophomores.
How do I know which catalog to follow for degree requirements?Undergraduate degree requirements are of two kinds: general degree requirements determined by the
university to be binding on all baccalaureate programs and specific degree requirements established by
the various academic units that offer degree programs. Students may choose to meet graduation
requirements as presented in any catalog in effect since their matriculation at Oakland University,
providing it is not more than six years old at the time of graduation. They also may follow separate
catalogs for general and specific requirements, subject to the limitations described below.
An academic unit may require that students changing majors into its programs from another major
or undecided status follow both major and college or school distribution requirements (if applicable)
from the catalog in effect at the time of change. (A change from pre-major to major standing in the same field does not constitute a change of major).
The catalog chosen for the student’s major will also be used to determine degree requirements for
any minor or concentration the student may be pursuing unless a written plan of study has been
approved by the department or school offering that program. Some academic units require that students file an approved plan of study for a concentration or minor in order to complete program requirements; those that do so stipulate this requirement in the appropriate section of this catalog. Forms for planning and approval of a minor or concentration are available from the advising offices. If the academic unit establishes no such requirement, students are still entitled to negotiate a minor or concentration in writing with the program coordinator. Written plans are particularly encouraged for those students using transfer courses to satisfy some portion of the program.
A plan of study may be based on any catalog in effect at time of filing, but not one predating the
student’s enrollment at Oakland University. Changes to an approved plan require prior written
authorization from the concentration or minor coordinator. Students may establish credit in a course to meet degree requirements by earning a passing grade in the course, by passing a competency examination or by receiving transfer credit from another institution. In certain circumstances, a requirement may be formally waived through a successful Petition of Exception.
Can I receive college credit for Advanced Placement scores?Course exemption and/or credit toward graduation is granted to students who have official scores
sent to the university by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board.
Oakland University grants credit for scores of 5 or 4 in advanced placement examinations, and in some
cases, also for scores of 3. Students presenting AP scores for credit should be aware that the content of
particular courses may not correspond to that of any university courses. In such cases, the AP credit
would count toward graduation but would not satisfy any academic program requirements.
For more information please contact Academic Records Office, 102 O’Dowd Hall, and (248) 370-3462.
What is Placement Testing?Placement testing helps new students in selecting the appropriate courses and is required for enrollment in some courses. For more information about placement testing, visit
www.oakland.edu/courseplacement or contact Orientation and New Student Programs, 105 North Foundation Hall (248) 370-GOLD or gold@oakland.edu.
Do I need to take Placement Tests if I already took them at another school?Yes you need to take placement tests at Oakland University for appropriate placement in certain courses because the test results of placement exams do not transfer from one school to another.
In order to fulfill the Foreign Language and Culture requirement for degree, do I need to take a foreign language if I took foreign language in high school?
"High school courses are often great preparation for college level coursework, but are not equivalent. Students that have had several years of Spanish, French or German language in high school are required to take the online placement exam http://www2.oakland.edu/courseplacement/ to determine the proper course to fulfill the Language and Culture requirement and still expand their learning."
What is a “residence requirement”?This is an Undergraduate baccalaureate degree requirement that needs to be satisfied in order to earn a baccalaureate at Oakland University. This requirement is applicable for issuing all undergraduate degrees.
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 32 credits at Oakland University. They must also complete at Oakland University the last 8 (4 of Bachelor of Integrated Studies designation) credits needed to fulfill the requirements for baccalaureate.
How do I view my OU transcript?You can view your transcript through your SAIL account. Once you login to the portal, click on “Student Services & Financial Aid” then on “Student Records”. There is an option to “View/print Student Transcript”.
How do I receive/view my OU grades?You can view your grades in several places. 1) Moodle- Many instructors will keep a running total of assignments/grades for each course. 2) SAIL- When you first log in you will see your current semester schedule and if the instructor posted mid-term grades they will be listed right on this first page. 3) SAIL- Under the “Student Services & Financial Aid”, then “Student Records” you will find “Official Grades”.
What happens to my grade point average (GPA) if I repeat a course?When you repeat a course, only the most recent grade will be used to calculate your grade point average (GPA). If your first grade was a 1.0 and your repeat grade is 3.0, then the 3.0 is used to calculate your GPA. If your first grade was 2.0 and your repeat grade is 1.0, then the 1.0 is used to calculate your GPA.
All attempts remain on your official transcript. In order to register for a repeat, you must request for permission for an override from the Registrar’s Office by calling 248-370-4935.
What are university/school honors?University honors are awarded to eligible
undergraduate students with an overall GPA of 3.6 or above. Requirements
for awarding departmental honors to students who demonstrate outstanding
academic achievement are determined by each department. Please consult
the catalog or adviser in each department for specific details of these
requirements.
How do I request an official transcript?You can request an official transcript through your SAIL account. Once you login to the portal, click on “Student Services & Financial Aid” then on “Student Records”. There you will find “Request Official Transcript”.
When do continuing OU students register for classes?Combined registration for fall and winter semesters begins each year in March and is available by class standing and earned credits.
How do I add/drop/withdrawal from a class?Adds
Students may register for open sections using SAIL through the first week of the Fall/Winter semester. Instructor signature is required to add courses. Adds for Summer semester vary by session (see the Summer session information at
Calendar of Important Dates). After this timeframe, students must obtain a faculty signature and the student must submit the signed registration form in person at the Registration office in 100 O'Dowd Hall.
Students should contact the instructor's department for information to add into closed courses. If unable to reach an instructor, students should contact the academic department.
Please see the appropriate
Calendar of Important Dates for details regarding registration, add/drop periods and first-half and last-half session courses.
Drops
After registration, students may drop a course via SAIL, by fax or by certified mail at any time for a given semester until the semester begins. After classes begin, students may withdraw from all courses via SAIL, by fax or by certified mail until the last day withdrawals are accepted.
If dropping by mail or fax, include your name, Grizzly ID number, course number, course name, and CRN and semester. Mail or fax to:
Office of the Registrar
100 O'Dowd Hall
Rochester, MI 48309-4490
FAX: (248) 370-3461
Withdrawal
Students wishing to reduce their course load by withdrawing from all of their courses must officially withdraw for the semester. Simply notifying faculty or ceasing to attend courses does not relieve students from the obligation of officially withdrawing. Students who do not officially withdraw within the drop/withdrawal time period will remain officially enrolled, and instructors will assign grades as appropriate.
To officially withdraw, students must withdraw in writing by either submitting an official
Withdrawal Form at the Registration Office, 100 O'Dowd Hall, by certified mail or fax or by SAIL. Students may also withdraw from all courses via SAIL.
When is the last day to withdraw from a class?
What is the final exam schedule?
How do I find out about Financial Aid?
How do I find out about scholarships for current students?
What steps must I take to graduate?In order to be included on the graduation list, students must APPLY ONLINE TO GRADUATE by a specific deadline. The application is found on the registrar’s website:
Undergraduate Application.
What is the deadline to apply to graduate?The deadline to apply to graduate is determined by the semester you are finishing your requirements. There are three deadlines each year. Click here view the deadlines:
Important Dates.
How do I get tickets and cap and gown?By attending the Graduation Fair, students will have the ability to receive their commencement confirmation, purchase regalia, and retrieve tickets. Students may request up to
SIX tickets for family and friends. You can find out the dates and times of the
Graduation Fair at this website: Graduation Fair.
When will I receive my diploma?Approximately
8-12 weeks after graduation, diplomas are
mailed from the Academic Records Office to the
address the student provided on the Application for Degree .
How do I reorder a diploma?To order a replacement diploma, please complete the
Diploma Reorder Request Form and mail it to the Academic Records Office at 102 O'Dowd Hall, Rochester, MI 48309-4401.
What is the difference between dropping a class and withdrawing from a class?If you "officially" drop a class, it will not show up on your transcript.
If you "officially" withdraw from a class, a "W" will appear on your transcript.
Please refer to the
office of the registar's webpage
for policies and procedures for dropping and withdrawing from a class. Always talk with your academic adviser prior
to dropping or withdrawing from a class.
Please refer to the
Office of the Registrar's Web site for additional information.