Student Academic & Advising Services

Academic Advising

The School of Aging Studies offers advising services for prospective and current students. For an appointment with Gail Smith, the Undergraduate Advisor in Gerontology, please contact her at (813) 974-9740 or email her at gsmith@cas.usf.edu. Ms. Smith will respond to your inquiry within one business day. Feel free to drop by MHC 1345 and if time permits she will be happy to speak with you without an appointment. We are proud to be student service oriented.

The School of Aging Studies primary mission is excellence in applied aging research and education. Our undergraduate advisor, along with our outstanding faculty, wish to provide you with information to successfully achieve your academic goals. We strongly recommend that you meet at least once a semester with Ms. Smith to discuss your progress toward your degree, plan a schedule of courses, and explore graduate school and career opportunities. If you need assistance during registration, please do not hesitate to call our office.

Following the FAQ’s you will find links to University websites that you will need throughout your academic career i.e. Registrar, Financial Aid, Schedule of Classes, Oasis, and myUSF.

You have the opportunity to participate in a School of Aging Studies Student Evaluation of Undergraduate Services.  We are always looking to improve our services to our students. Please assist us by completing this short survey.

Undergraduate Advising FAQ’s

1. How do I declare my major?
2. What do I need to bring to an advising appointment?
3. I’m a new transfer student, how do I proceed?
4. How do I find out my NetID and USF ID?
5. I’m a Senior, any advice?
6. What other type of assistance is available to students?
7. What if I need an Academic Plan (for ARC petitions)?
8. What if I need a form signed?
9. If I just have a question, can I get an answer over the phone?
10. I just need a permit for class. Do I need to see an advisor?
11. How do I print a Degree Audit?
12. What if I need a certain class and it is not appearing on the class schedule search?
13. What if a class that I need is closed?
14. I have a hold on my registration. What does this mean and how do I get it removed?
15. How many times can I drop classes?
16. What if I want to take more than 18 credit hours per semester?
17. How do I “cross-enroll” or apply as a “transient student”?
18. How do I apply for graduation?
19. I’ve applied for graduation. Now what do I do?
    
    

Undergraduate Advising FAQ’s

1. How do I declare my major?

You can declare your major in Gerontology through the College of Arts and Sciences website:  http://www.cas.usf.edu/declare

2. What do I need to bring to an advising appointment?

Just yourself! Your current SASS report will be printed for you.

3. I’m a new transfer student, how do I proceed?

Be sure to declare the major through on-line transfer student orientation and follow the instruction. Prior to making an appointment with an advisor, new Gerontology transfer students are required to:

• Review the on-line PowerPoint presentation.
• Attend an information session. The New and Transfer Student web page has the information and links you need to do all of this.

4. How do I find out my NetID and USF ID?

• To get your NetID, go to Academic Computing http://www.acomp.usf.edu/
• To find your USF ID, go the OASIS www.usfweb2.usf.edu/oasis

login screen, and enter your SS# as your User ID. This will allow you to log in
 and see your USF ID. Keep the USF ID handy as you will be using it a lot!

5. I’m a Senior, any advice?

It is extremely important that you request from your advisor a “Major Check” of required courses in the semester before you expect to graduate. If you wait until you are already enrolled in your final semester and expecting to graduate, it will be too late to offset requirements that you may have overlooked.

6. What other type of assistance is available to students?

• First year students experiencing personal problems should contact Counseling and Wellness Center at (813) 359-4254
• Students experiencing test anxiety have trouble studying or pass the CLAST, in need of career or personal counseling or with learning disabilities should contact Counseling Center for Human Development at (813) 974-2831.
• Academic Computing (813) 974-1222 - LIB 618.
• Academic Success Center – MPD 007 (north of Beta Hall) Information on the free tutoring can be found at http://www.ugs.usf.edu/taps/asccourses.pdf
• Academic Support and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (ASASD) (813) 974-4309.
• Advocacy Program, (Abuse, stalking, sexual battery, harassment) (813) 974-5756.
• Career Center (813) 974-2171 – SVC 2088.
• College of Arts & Sciences, Administration, (813) 974-2804 – CPR 107.
• College of Arts & Science, Academics, (813) 974-6957 – BEH 201.
• Office of the Registrar, (813) 974-2000 – SVC 1034.
• Student Health Services, (813) 974-2331 – SHS 100.
• Student Judicial Services, (813) 974-9443, RAR 234.

7. What if I need an Academic Plan (for ARC petitions)?

Academic plans for students who have been academically dismissed will be handled by a face-to-face advising appointment. Our advisor will only advise academically dismissed students for one semester at a time. The student must make an advising appointment before registering each semester.

8. What if I need a form signed?

Not all forms require an advisor’s signature. Forms may be obtained online or in the School of Aging Studies. They may be obtained on the Registrar’s Office website listed under Forms on the right hand side of the page. http://www.registrar.usf.edu/

• Cross enrollment/Transient Student Forms - If you are taking any lower-level course (2000 level or lower) at another school this form should be signed in the College of Arts and Sciences office (BEH 201).
• Graduation Application - This form does NOT require department or academic advisor approval (even though the form indicates that it does). Take the completed form to BEH 201.
• Late Drop/Add forms - You should complete the form and have it signed by the instructor(s) teaching the course(s) you are dropping/adding.
• ARC petitions for late drop/add. You must see the Undergraduate Advisor (813-974-9740) for a departmental stamp. Completed ARC petitions should be turned in at BEH 201.
• Time conflict - Obtain a signature from both instructors involved in the time conflict and leave the form in BEH 201.

9. If I just have a question, can I get an answer over the phone?
Absolutely! Call Ms. Smith at (813) 974-9740.

10. I just need a permit for class. Do I need to see an advisor?
Ms. Smith can help you or you can also call Amy Woodbury at (813) 974-2414 for a permit.

11. How do I print a Degree Audit?

• Go to Oasis http://usfweb2.usf.edu/oasis/
• Choose SASS Undergraduate Degree Audit viewed on FACTS - Academic Advising
• Hover the mouse over the College Advising Tools link and then select Institutional Degree/Program Audit
• Select the institution, type in your id (still your SSN for now), and your oasis password (cannot be birth date)
• Wait for the report and print it.

12. What if I need a certain class and it is not appearing on the class schedule search?
There are two reasons that a class would not appear on the schedule search:

• The class is closed.
• The class is not being offered that semester, i.e. GEY 4401 Research Methods in Gerontology is only offered fall semester.

13. What if a class that I need is closed?

If a class that you need is closed, you can periodically check on the OASIS class schedule search for an open seat. Someone is always dropping out for various reasons. If that doesn’t work you can always go to that class on the first day and try to get a seat. As first day attendance is mandatory for undergraduates, anyone not attending will automatically be dropped from the class rolls. With permission from the instructor, call the School of Aging Studies office at 974-2414 and we will give you a closed section permit.

14. I have a hold on my registration. What does this mean and how do I get it removed?
The following a typical hold codes you will encounter:

• OB means remedial math is required
• CC means Cash Collections. You owe money to USF. It could be past due tuition, parking fines or library fines.
• IM means you have not turned in your immunization forms to Student Health Services. There phone number is (813) 974-2331.
• TS is a CLAST hold that is preventing you from registering until you have made arrangements with Test and Evaluation. The student has taken the CLAST but has not passed all the subtests nor met the exemptions. This hold recurs each semester until all subtests are passed or exempted. Students who have a TS or TL CLAST hold should go through the College of Arts & Sciences website: https://web1.cas.usf.edu/gus/clast/
• TC means the student has earned 45 credit hours and has not taken, passed or exempted all subtests of the CLAST. The only unit which should override a TC hold is the Testing Office. In all cases, students should go to the Testing Office in SVC 2060 to register for the test.
• TL hold means the student has completed 36 or more hours of upper level class credits and not satisfied the CLAST requirement. Registration is restricted to one and two thousand level courses.

15. How many times can I drop classes?

From the time you are a freshman until you earn 60 semester hours, you are allowed to drop three courses without academic penalty—provided you do so before the drop deadline (about half-way into the term). After you’ve earned 60 hours you are allowed to withdraw from three additional courses without academic penalty. Drops during drop-add week do not count toward this limitation. Withdrawals from 5000 or higher level courses do not count toward these limits.
I’m not getting the grade I want and the mid-term is approaching. Should I drop this course?
If you are failing or not getting the grade you need by mid-term, generally speaking, you should withdraw before the mid-semester drop deadline. Otherwise, you will not be able to withdraw without approval from the Academic Regulations Committee (ARC), a faculty committee designed to review student requests for waivers of University Academic Rules and Procedures.

16. What if I want to take more than 18 credit hours per semester?

To take more than 18 credit hours during a semester, you need to get approval by filling out an overload form and submitting it to BEH 201 or faxing it to (813) 974-4075. If you have a GPA below 3.0, your academic advisor, Ms. Smith, will need to sign the form before you submit it. http://www.cas.usf.edu/ADMIN_DEPTS/ACADEMIC_AFFAIRS/overload_approval.pdf

17. How do I “cross-enroll” or apply as a “transient student”?
Cross-enrollment means that you are simultaneously enrolled in at least 6 hours at USF and any number of hours at another institution. Transient study means you are attending another institution besides USF for an entire semester (you are not enrolled in any USF courses while at the other institution). These forms may be found on the Financial Aid website:

• Cross enrollment http://usfweb2.usf.edu/finaid/FormAidYearChoice/xrol.htm
• Transient http://usfweb2.usf.edu/finaid/FormAidYearChoice/cag.htm

18. How do I apply for graduation?

You apply for graduation by filling out the Bachelor’s Degree Application form which maybe found on the Registrar’s website. Look under Registrar’s Office Forms. You may submit it in person to the College of Arts & Sciences in BEH 201. Remember, your advisor does not have to sign it.

19. I’ve applied for graduation. Now what do I do?
Successfully complete your last semester! Be sure to check the USF Commencement website for instructions on where and when the ceremony will be held, how to purchase your cap and gown, etc. http://isis.fastmail.usf.edu/commencement/ Congratulations!

LINKS

Academic Calendars

Academic Support and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (ASASD)

• Services
• Accommodations

Campus Map

Career Center

• Explore and Choose a Career
• Career and Job Search Services

Catalog

Commencement

• General Information
• Ceremony Registration

Counseling Center for Human Development

Declaration of Major

Evaluation & Testing Service

• CLAST
• GMAT
• TOEFEL
• Exam Schedules
• GREs (Registration and Preparation):

Financial Aid Office

Forms and applications frequently requested

• ARC Petitions
• Final Exam Matrix
• Grade Forgiveness Forms
• Graduation Application
• Name Change Forms
• Transcript Request Forms
• Transient Student Forms

PhD in Aging Studies Forms

• Request for Dissertation Defense
• Successful Defense Form
• Graduate Students Supervisor Committee appointment form

Graduate School

• Admissions
• Certificates
• Forms

GRE Practice Tests

Grievance Procedures

Libraries

myUSF

• Blackboard Portal

Oasis

• Grades
• Pay Bills
• Registration

Registrar's Office

Schedule of USF Classes

Schedule of Gerontology Classes

• Spring 2007

Scholarship Application non-traditional female upperclassman

Semester calendar with important dates to remember

• Spring 2007