Guide to Academic Advising at SUNY Niagara

1. Use your Twolves email when contacting College faculty/staff. Include your full name and student ID (@00——) in the email. College staff & faculty cannot reply to non T-Wolves email with personal advisement information. This is to keep your personal information safe in compliance with FERPA.

2. Please allow Academic Advisors up to two business days to respond to your phone call or email. If you don’t hear from your advisor after those two business days, please visit the Student Success Center, D-102. You can also visit your advisor during their office hours, which will be posted on their doors. 

3. Keep your cell phone number, mailing address and emergency contact information up-to-date. You can update your contact information in Banner Web on the personal information tab.

You will receive an e-mail to your T-Wolves account prior to the start of Current Student Advisement in October (Fall) and March (Spring).

• To graduate in two years, students need to complete 15 to 18 credit hours in each of the fall and spring semesters. Enrolling in winter and/or summer sessions can be a good strategy to help catch up or stay ahead. You do not have to graduate in two years, however. STudents usually take longer. 
• Full-time status is defined as taking at least 12 credit hours per semester; anything less is considered part-time.
• The maximum amount of credits a student can take in a fall or spring semester is 18 credit hours without advisor approval.
• No more than 14 credit hours can be taken across an entire summer session, including no more than eight credit hours in a single summer session, and no more than 11 credit hours in overlapping summer sessions. No more than 6 credits may be taken over the winter session.

• For educational and administrative purposes, faculty and staff have access to student information.
• Faculty and staff are required to protect the privacy of student information. As a result, they may not discuss information about a student’s record with a parent or spouse without written permission.
• While you are encouraged to have open communication with family members, you can choose to submit the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Information Disclosure Consent form to assign a proxy who may access your records or discuss progress with others on campus when you need help. You can also choose to revoke this access at any time.

• It is common for students to change majors. Contact the Student Success Center to seek help with career and educational planning. The change of major form is located in Banner Web under the Student Records tab.

• Make an appointment with your instructor or visit them during office hours to discuss your concerns.
• Seek out tutoring opportunities available on campus through ACE.
• Talk to your Success Coach to see if withdrawing from a course(s) is an option.There are deadlines each semester and it can impact your financial aid.
• When meeting with your advisor, let them know if you’re struggling. This may impact your educational planning.

• 150% Rule – financial aid regulations limit attempted credits to a maximum of 150 percent of requirement. Typically the maximum credit hours for an associate degree are 95 credit hours with the exception of Nursing and Radiologic Technology which has a 106 credit hours limitation. The maximum credit hours for a certificate program are 45 credits. Following these regulations maintain eligibility for Federal programs (PELL grants, student loans, Federal SEOG grant, and Federal college work study). This policy includes all of a student’s previous attempted hours at SUNY Niagara certificate/degree courses) whether the student has received financial aid or not, as well as any courses transferred from another college.
• Academic Standards – periodic and helpful intervention for students working toward completion of a college program. The college enforces a three-part intervention system:
  • Academic Dismissal – loss of matriculation and removal from future courses by failing to meet college academic policy.
  •  Academic Notice– granted when an academically dismissed student is reinstated as a matriculated student through the appeal process.
  • Academic Warning – sent to matriculated students who earn a cumulative grade-point average of less than 2.0 after earning at least six credit hours and/or has been unsuccessful in a foundation class. A student on academic warning is encouraged to make greater efforts to improve academic progress. Warning does not affect academic standing and does not appear on transcripts.

• Add/Drop – initiated by students to either officially register or withdraw from a single or multiple courses. Students should be aware of deadlines for changing schedules at the beginning of a term and for dropping courses after the term has started (See the Semester Guide). Online and modular courses have different deadlines than full semester on campus courses.
• Alternate Pin – (see RAP number)
• Articulation Agreement – a formal agreement with a four-year college which coordinates SUNY Niagara courses with specified transfer programs and guarantees an associate degree graduate may transfer without loss of credit.
• Associate Degree – A degree program consisting of at least 60 credit hours which includes: general education requirements, core courses and electives.
• Attempted Hours – includes all of the coursework on record at SUNY Niagara.
• Banner Web – online student information system used for course registration, unofficial transcripts, final grades, etc.
• Brightspace – SUNY Niagara’s learning management system where online courses content is housed and coursework is submitted.
• Census – attendance records of students are recorded, especially during the first 21 days of the semester. Failure to attend on a regular basis may adversely affect financial aid benefits and student progress.
  • Students should seek help from their Academic Advisor, Success Coach, and/or Financial Aid in the event they are not attending classes.
• Certificate – completion of courses in a career area designed to teach specific skills leading to employment.
• College Placement Assessment – tests in writing, reading, and mathematical skills given to new, transfer and readmit applicants are assessed to determine appropriate course placement using the in-house college placement test located in Brightspace. Students whose scores indicate a need for foundation courses must take those courses during the first semester of attendance and continue taking them in successive semesters until passed.
• Cooperative Education Program – combines academic requirements and coursework with supervised work experiences. Students receive academic credit and a grade; open to all majors. Contact Student Development for details.
• Co-requisite – a course required to be taken during the same semester as a second designated course. For example, a co-requisite of Biology 109 is Biology 109L (lab).
• Course Load Limitation – 18 credits per Fall and Spring semester; students with GPAs of at least 2.5 may request permission from their academic advisor or division chair to exceed 18 credits. Students are limited to 6 in Winter and 14 in Summer.
• Course Request Number (CRN) – a five-digit number that acts as an identifier for a specific section of a course.
• Course Substitution – allows one course to count for another course in certain situations; students should speak with their advisor who can submit the approval form to the Program Coordinator and Division Chair or AVP for approval.
• Credit Hour – value assigned to a course usually based on the number of hours spent in the class.
• Degree Works – online degree evaluation tool that helps track progress towards graduation.
• Drop (a class) – official withdrawal from a class; students should be aware of financial and academic implications before dropping a class. Online and modular classes have different deadlines. If a class is dropped during the drop period, there will be no academic record of registration for the class. However, a financial penalty may apply. Consult with Financial Aid, Student Development, and/or Cashier as appropriate.
  • Drop Delete (a class) – to officially withdraw from a class within a specific window of time which is usually the first few weeks of the semester. A deleted class does not post on the student transcript.
• Dual Admissions Program – guaranteed admission and junior level standing to eligible transfer programs at four-year colleges upon graduation from SUNY Niagara. Students should meet with an advisor in Student Development before earning 30 credits to learn more.
• Elective – courses you choose from a specified category: general education, program requirements, restricted, or free electives (from any academic discipline; allow students to develop interests outside the major).
• Free Elective – allows students to choose any course we offer (as long as prerequisites are met).
• FERPA – Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford students certain rights with respect to their education records.  See the Enrollment Center for more details. 
• Fresh Start Policy – an appeals procedure that allows a student returning to SUNY Niagara after an absence of 5 or more years to request academic forgiveness of prior cumulative grade point average (GPA). It is available after successful completion of the returning semester as a matriculated full-time student.
  • All courses taken in the time period prior to the 5 year break with a grade of C or better (or S grade) will be carried forward and treated in the same manner as transfer credit showing earned hours ONLY.
  •  Credits with a grade of C-minus or lower will NOT be counted as earned credits at SUNY Niagara, will NOT apply to the degree, will NOT calculate into GPA, and will need to be retaken if applicable to the student’s degree/certificate program.
  • Questions related to the election of Fresh Start affecting Financial Aid should be directed to that office.
  • This is a policy of SUNY Niagara. It may not be recognized by other institutions.
  • Fresh Start must be applied for no later than the last day of classes in the semester that the student re-enrolls.
• Full-time Student – 12 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semester OR 6 or more credit hours in a summer semester.
• General Education Requirement (SUNY Gen Ed) – SUNY requires students to complete 

coursework in several designated competency areas. Specific information can be found at http://catalog.niagaracc.suny.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=30&poid=2866. Students should refer to their own Degree Works evaluation for their specific catalog requirements.

• GPA – Grade Point Average is a means of measuring academic performance. Only A-F (+ or-) grades factor into the GPA. The following grades do not affect the GPA:
  •  Incomplete or I grade – can be requested when work in a course has been satisfactory for most of the semester, but due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, more time is need to complete course requirements. The student and the instructor complete a contract specifying the work to be completed and the deadline for completion. If work is not completed within one year, the “I” grade will be changed to an “F.”
  • S/U Grades – S indicates satisfactory completion of the course and will receive credit; U indicates unsatisfactory completion and no credit is earned. S/U grades are neutral grades and do not calculate into the GPA. Students who elect to file for an S/U grade will be ineligible for the Dean’s list. Students enrolled in an associate degree program may elect a maximum of 14 credit hours to be graded S/U.   :  Required courses for any degree program cannot be taken on an “S/U” basis.
  • T Grades – transfer courses C or better will be posted on the transcript with a “T” grade; T grades are not considered when calculating the term, degree, or cumulative GPA. T grades do count as earned credits toward the degree. Only courses completed at SUNY Niagara are used in computing a grade- point average.
  • W Grades (Withdrawal from a course) – students may withdraw from a course by the published deadline in the Records Office. Financial aid eligibility and academic standing may be impacted by this decision.
  • X Grade – option to receive all “X” grades in the event of not attending and/or not passing classes to avoid possibility of F grades posting on the transcript. Financial aid eligibility and academic standing may be impacted by this decision.
• Graduation – requirements include a minimum 2.0 program GPA, completion of any required foundation coursework, and satisfactory completion of required program coursework. Refer to the Catalog for details.
• Matriculation – enrolled in a degree or certificate program
• Major – required sequence of courses leading to a degree or certificate, also referred to as curriculum or program (e.g. Accounting).
  • Change of Major – process to change college programs; can be done online or in Student Success Center, D102. Check the catalog for any admission requirements that must be met before making a change.
• Modular Class – courses which are less than a full semester in length; may be added at any time prior to the start of the course. Deadlines differ from those of the regular full term coursework; consult Course Offerings in Banner for currently offered mod courses.
• Non-Matriculated – means a major has not been declared, often when taken for personal development reasons.  Non-matriculated students are not eligible to receive Financial Aid.
• Non-Traditional Student – may include: transfer, international, older and first generation college students.
• Orientation – informative program to aid in the transition of new, readmit, and transfer students to SUNY Niagara; typically held in August.
• Part -Time Status/Enrollment – enrolled in less than 12 credit hours in the fall or spring semester OR enrolled in less than 6 credit hours in a summer semester. NOTE: Part-time students may be eligible for federal aid (PELL grants, Stafford loans, Work-Study program) and NYS Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS). For details, contact the Financial Aid office.
• Prerequisite – requirements which must be satisfactorily completed before proceeding to the next advanced course; for example, students must pass ENG 101 before taking ENG 102.
• Program Requirements – (see Graduation)
• Program GPA – only calculates in courses that count toward the current major; a minimum
  • 2.0 or C average is required for graduation. Run a Degree Evaluation to find your current program gpa.
• RAP Number – registration alternate PIN number issued each semester as a “password” for students to register in Banner Web. Students obtain their RAP number by meeting with their advisors during the advisement/registration period.
• Repeat Course Policy – the option to repeat a course in an attempt to improve the program and/or overall grade point average. All grades will appear on the transcript. An “U” grade may not replace an F grade.
  • Refer to the catalog for additional information. Students who elect to repeat a passed course for which credit has already been earned should discuss financial aid implications with the Financial Aid Office.
• Restricted Course – limited to students who meet predetermined qualifications or are in that designated major.
• Restricted Electives – chosen from a list approved for the major by the corresponding department; some majors may require restricted electives.
• Restricted/High Demand Major – predetermined qualifications to complete before the student is admitted,
  • Animal Management, Nursing, etc.
• Transcript – an official record of academic history, available on line or in the Enrollment Center.
• Transfer Credit Policy – cannot exceed one-half (50 percent) of the total credits required for a certificate or degree program. Only credits from regionally and nationally accredited colleges and programs are acceptable. For commonly transferred courses, visit our website’s course equivalency guide. Transfer credits will be evaluated by the Records Office upon matriculation into a program. Applicable courses with a grade of C (2.0) or above are eligible for transfer.
• Withdrawal (from the college) – (see GPA/X Grades)
• Work-study – a financial aid program that enables students to work at certain specified jobs on or off campus.  A student can check eligibility by consulting the Financial Aid office.