Below are some of students’ most frequently asked questions regarding College of Science academic policies and procedures. For additional questions or concerns, please contact the College of Science Advising Center at 216-687-9321 or cosadvising@csuohio.edu.

What services are provided by the Advising Center?
Who is my advisor?
How do I declare a major and/or minor in the sciences?
How do I file a petition?
How do I begin the graduation process?
What are the deadline dates for registration?
How do I find out which courses will transfer to Cleveland State?
What are my responsibilities, and what are the responsibilities of my advisor?

What services are provided by the Advising Center?
The College of Science Advising Center provides the following services: assistance with academic, general education (Gen Ed) and college requirements, course selection, monitoring academic progress, and academic support — including appropriate contact and intervention for students in academic distress. Other service areas include: major and career exploration, petition assistance, graduation application information and ongoing referrals to appropriate University resources and opportunities.  For the sake of convenience, students can schedule an individual appointment with their advisor, or may visit the Advising Center without an appointment (as a Walk-In) during designated Walk-In hours (see Advising Center Home).

Who is my advisor?
College of Science students will have at least two advisors to assist them in degree completion. Students will have an academic advisor to assist with questions related to general education requirements, and a faculty advisor in their academic department who will assist with questions related to the requirements of the major. It is extremely important for a student to have regular contact with both advisors to ensure that all degree requirements are met. A student’s major will determine their advisor assignment.  Faculty advisor assignments are determined by each department. Students with a second major, minor, or status as an Athlete, Honors student, or other special program status will have additional advisors with whom to consult.

How do I declare a major and/or minor in the sciences?
Entering students can declare a major in the College of Science by listing the program on their application to Cleveland State. Current students can declare, add, delete, or change a major or minor program of study by consulting with an academic advisor or by contacting the Advising Center with their request. Students are encouraged to keep their program of study updated to ensure the accuracy of their university records and to ensure that they are receiving the proper information. Please note that any student accepted to Cleveland State University and in good academic standing is eligible for admission to the College of Science. However, some majors may require a specific minimum GPA.

How do I file a petition?
Students wanting to waive or modify any General Education requirements and/or the University’s residency requirement must do so through a University Petition.  University Petitions need to be discussed with and supported by an academic advisor, and should contain appropriate documentation to support your case.

Students seeking approval for a credit hour overload, late add/registration, late withdrawal, extension of an Incomplete, readmission to the University following academic dismissal, or a waiver of a College of Science graduation requirement must do so through a College of Science Petition. College of Science Petitions are available for students to download and submit to the College of Science Advising Center along with appropriate documentation. College of Science Petitions do not require meeting with an advisor.  However, students wishing for advisor assistance in preparing a petition are able to meet with an advisor either by appointment or as a walk-in. Both the University Petitions Committee and the College of Science Academic Standards Committee (which reviews College of Science Petitions) meet only a few times each semester. Therefore, students should be proactive in initiating the petition process and completing the paperwork promptly.

How do I begin the graduation process?
Students nearing completion of their degree should meet with both their academic advisor and faculty advisor to determine when a graduation application should be completed. Graduation applications are obtained in the College of Science Advising Center, and there is a fee associated with filing the application. Ideally, students should complete their graduation application more than one semester in advance of when they anticipate graduation. Specific application deadlines and graduation application information is available through the Office of the University Registrar.

What are the deadline dates for registration?
Deadlines associated with registration are set by the Office of the University Registrar.  It is important to be aware of these dates, and to meet with your advisor accordingly. Knowing when you are able to register and promptly meeting with your advisor will, in many cases, prevent you from being “closed out” of classes. Similarly, it is important to be aware of the deadlines to drop or withdraw from a class if you anticipate that you will be unable to complete the class successfully.

How do I find out which courses will transfer to Cleveland State?
Students interested in transferring should visit the Office of Admissions website for more information. Advisors from the College of Science Advising Center are also able to perform a tentative evaluation of credits if provided with a recent transcript (official or unofficial). Once official transcripts are submitted to the university, an official evaluation of transfer credit will be completed. 

What are my responsibilities, and what are the responsibilities of my advisor?
Your advisor expects you to:

1. Meet with him/her at least once each semester.
2. Schedule an appointment and arrive to your appointment on time.
3. Come to your advising appointments ready to openly and honestly discuss Gen Ed requirements, academic policies and procedures, major choices and any issues that may impact your academic success.
4. Assume responsibility and be an active participant in the academic advising experience as well as your own educational experience at CSU.
5. Understand how to access and read a Degree Audit Report available in CampusNet.
6. Seek assistance in decision-making rather than expect the advisor to make decisions.
7. Follow through with appropriate action after each advising session and consult with the advisor if critical decisions cannot be accomplished.
8. Keep a personal record of your progress in meeting your goals.
9. Accept responsibility for your academic and personal growth and success.

Your academic advisor will:

1. Answer specific questions about Gen Ed requirements, academic policies, procedures, and other concerns that you may have.
2. Respond promptly to your questions and concerns by phone, email, or individual appointment.
3. Respect your opinions and give honest feedback to assist you in making decisions and solving academic related issues.
4. Discuss options concerning selection of courses, and help you define and develop realistic educational and career goals based on aptitudes, life goals, career interests, academic performance, and the frequency of course offerings.
5. Answer questions that you may have regarding your Degree Audit Report.
6. Know where and who to refer you to with special needs or interests (such as the Career Services Center, Financial Aid Office, Campus 411, The Writing Center, and The Tutoring and Academic Success Center).
7. Be familiar with the variety of college degrees and program offerings.
8. Maintain a record of advising appointments.
9. Act as a mentor by providing you with personal guidance, support, and advocacy.