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Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I register for classes?

Students register for classes using the MySlice Web registration system. You may register any time on or after your access time, which you may find on the MySlice system, butnot before. Holds that you may have include advising hold, administrative hold, financial holds at ESF or SU, including Library and Parking holds; and Health Center holds. Any holds must be removed before you can register. A registration form is also known as a course selection sheet, and it is just that. List the courses you want to take on it, and then meet with your advisor/major professor for approval. After you meet with your advisor, you will need to bring your registration form to 111 Bray to have the advising hold removed before you can register.

You will need to know your net ID and password to access the MySlice portal. You also access your Orangemail account the same way.

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Can I take a course at Syracuse University?

ESF students are eligible to take courses at SU if the prerequisites for the course have been met. There is one exception -- ESF students may not take an SU course for which there is an equivalent ESF course.

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Where do I register for an SU course?

All registration activity for ESF and SU courses takes place using the MySlice. system.

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How do I add or drop courses?

You also use the MySlice system to add or drop courses. You will follow the same procedure used for registration. The first week of classes is when you are allowed to add classes; after that we are in the drop only period. During the drop only period the MySlice registration system is offline and the ESF Registrar's Office processes your drop transactions.

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What if I miss the deadlines to add or drop?

If you miss the deadlines, you must submit a petition to the faculty requesting to be allowed to add or drop a class. Petition forms are available in the Registrar's Office.

Guideline Criteria for Successful Late Drops

A petition must exhibit a clear and significant mitigating or extenuating circumstance outside of "normal" and predictable distractions from college coursework, etc. Examples might include illness, injury, death in the immediate family, financial emergency, and others.

The mitigating or extenuating circumstance must occur after or extend beyond the college designated "drop deadline".

The mitigating or extenuating circumstance is clearly the result of actions outside of the control of the student, i.e. not self-inflicted hardship. Similarly, if the student is innocently a victim of poor advising or administrative mishandling, justifiable grounds for the petition may be found.

The clear message contained in these criteria should be "late drops are only justifiable under exceptional conditions." The drop deadline placed by the college (ESF, not SU - it differs in intent and date) is exactly that - normal drops are not accepted after that deadline. You may find it useful to see what isn't appropriate as well as knowing what is. The following are "typical" examples of petition justifications which would not be accepted:

  • student missed the "drop deadline" by accident
  • student coursework load is too heavy
  • student is failing the course
  • student has missed too many classes or has fallen too far behind
  • student has changed major and the course isn't required in the new major
  • student intends to retake the course later or at another college
  • student gambles unsuccessfully in taking an exam or attempting a project on or after the drop deadline

Two other points are of noteworthy consideration: first, a late change to "audit" a course is considered equivalent to dropping, and all the above criteria apply; second, a petition to late drop is not approved until final review by the Dean of Instruction and the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. Students petitioning for late drops should continue to attend class until they receive final notification of the subcommittee's action. Even if your advisor and instructor approve the petition, it is not a done deal.

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What are the other uses of a petition form?

Petition forms are used for a number of purposes, including:

  • petitioning to late add or drop a course
  • petitioning to have additional credits accepted in transfer from another school
  • petitioning to substitute a course for a degree requirement
  • petitioning to have a requirement waived

Undergraduate students must have the form signed by their advisor and curriculum coordinator before sending the form to the office of the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies, 227 Bray Hall, for final review. Graduate students need their major professor's and faculty chair's/designee's signatures before sending the petition to the Dean's Office. In some cases, a course instructor may need to sign. After petitions are reviewed by the Dean, they come to the Registrar's Office for processing, whereupon we will send you the student copy, which constitutes your notification of the official answer.

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How do I know when the deadlines are?

There is an Academic Calendar available which lists all the important dates of the academic year. It's a green form, available at the Registrar's Office, and is one of the most important pieces paper you should have.

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Can I audit a course?

Yes, you can. Auditing a course means that you attend the course, but do not receive a letter grade or credit hours for the course. You may wish to audit a course that you are interested in, but do not need towards your degree. The procedure for auditing is similar to that of adding or dropping a course, but with one major difference. When you fill out your registration form, just put a checkmark in the "Audit" box, get your signatures, and bring the form in to 111 Bray for processing. After you add the course on MySlice, we will process the audit for you. But be advised that the decision to audit must be made within the first two weeks of classes. At the end of the semester, you will either receive a grade of "SAU" for satisfactory audit, or "UAU" for unsatisfactory audit. Please note that audited courses do not count toward degree requirements. Please also note that Syracuse University courses may not be audited.

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Can I withdraw from a course?

You cannot withdraw from a single course, but may drop a single course within the drop period noted in the Academic Calendar.

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How do I know when my final exams are?

The ESF Final Exam Schedule is available approximately a month before the end of the semester. It is your responsibility to check for conflicts. In all cases, you should check with your instructors to verify examination times and places.

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I'm planning to take a course next summer at another school. Will I automatically be given ESF credit?

No. You must file a petition seeking to have the course transferred into your ESF program. The petition should be filed and approved before you take the course.

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How can I get a transcript?

You must come into the Registrar's Office and fill out a transcript request form, or send us a written request. We need to have your signature to release a transcript. Transcripts are free. If you need a transcript, but are not on campus, you can write to us requesting it at SUNY-ESF, Registrar's Office, 111 Bray Hall,1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, New York 13210. For more information, see Ordering a Transcript.

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Can the ESF Registrar provide a copy of my transcript from my previous school?

No, federal law prevents us from releasing another college's transcript. You may see it, if you need certain information from it; but if you need a copy, you must order it directly from the other college.

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How do I get a loan deferment or proof that I'm enrolled?

If you have a deferment form from your lender, bring it to our office and we will fill it out confirming your enrollment status. If you do not have a form, but need a deferment, call us or come in and let us know the lender's address, and we will send them an enrollment certification form. The same information applies if you need proof of enrollment for health insurance, scholarships, or any other reason.

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What is a Registrar audit?

All student must complete an audit of their Registrar record each semester. It is accomplished by signing on to our On-line Services to review your address information, program of study, advisor/major professor, and class registration for the current semester. After doing so respond via email to the Registrar's Office indicating that either a) the information is accurate, or b) any changes that need to be made.

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What is an undergraduate curriculum plan sheet (CPS)?

The undergraduate curriculum plan sheet is a tool used to track your progress toward your degree. It shows all the requirements for your particular program and indicates which of these requirements have been completed. Both you and your advisor have web access to your CPS.

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Do I need to fill out any forms in order to graduate?

Yes. Undergraduates need to fill out the Undergraduate Application for Graduation. This is a form that lets us know how you want your name to appear on your diploma, and where you would like your diploma sent. It is a yellow form which will be sent to graduating seniors before registration for their last semester, and must be returned to the Registrar's Office. You should also check with the Registrar to make sure that you will have enough credits and have met all the requirements for graduation. Graduate students need to fill out a Diploma Record form which is available at the Dean's Office, 227 Bray Hall.

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How do I contact Faculty/Program offices?

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Where can I get more information on ...

... billing, tuition, and fees? Business Office
102 Bray Hall
470-6653
... change of major? Career and Counseling Services
110B Bray Hall
470-6660
... financial awards? Financial Aid
115 Bray Hall
470-6706
... health services? SU Health Center
111 Waverly Avenue
443-2666
... parking? ESF University Police
19 Bray Hall
470-6666
(For SU permits, go to the SU Parking Services office in the Skytop Office Building)
... student employment? Financial Aid
115 Bray Hall
470-6706

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