ASK ADVISOR ALEX
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Ask Advisor Alex and Other Apt Advice for the Week of February 11, 2008

• The summer schedule is up! Start planning your summer sessions now and get to graduation sooner. http://registrar.hunter.cuny.edu/subpages/searchclass.shtml
• The first couple weeks of classes are a great time to get a jump on all of the required reading. Do a little extra reading now and you’ll have more time when exams and papers come due!

Ask Advisor Alex

Dear Advisor Alex:
I transferred from Upstate University. I took an African American Literature class there, which I think should fulfill the “Americans” portion of my Pluralism and Diversity requirements here at Hunter. The problem is it just shows up as an elective on my transcript. Can I still use it for Pluralism and Diversity?

Thanks,
Transfer Travis

Dear Transfer:
That is a good question. African American Literature certainly sounds like a course that would be consistent with the Pluralism and Diversity requirement. However, to use a course there, it must have a Hunter equivalent number. To get a transfer course evaluated for a Hunter equivalent, you should get a description of the course from your previous institution’s website, or a course syllabus if you still have one, and bring it to the department that would teach the course here at Hunter. (In this case it would be Africana Puerto Rican/Latino Studies) The department will decide if the course you took is equivalent to one taught here, and if it is, they will change it from an elective to a Hunter number. Once the course has that Hunter number, you can use it to fulfill any requirements that it is approved for, including Pluralism and Diversity. You can have this done for any course that you believe should have a Hunter equivalent, as long as it is not from another CUNY institution. CUNY equivalents are pre-determined and cannot be changed. Hope that helps!

Always,
Advisor Alex

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Dear Advisor Alex:
I am a junior and am taking 12 credits this semester, but I just found out that my sister in Arizona is very sick. Depending on how things progress, I may have to go out there at some point during the semester, but I don’t know for sure. I’m worried that if things go badly I’ll end up missing a lot of classes and failing. Should I drop all my classes just in case?

Sincerely,
Worried Wendy

Dear Worried:
I am so sorry about your sister. This could be a very stressful time for you. Before I answer your question, please know that we have free, confidential personal counseling available on campus if you need to talk to someone about what you are going through. You can contact the Personal Counseling Center at 212-772-4891, and there is more information about that office here: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/pcc.htm.

As for your classes, you have several options. You may drop all or some of them now to receive a partial refund, you could to see how your sister’s health progresses and Withdraw from classes by March 30th if you need to, you could speak directly to your instructors about the possibility of receiving an Incomplete grade if you are unable to finish the work this semester, or you may choose do a combination of these things. Start by meeting with an advisor in Student Services (Room1119 East /212-772-4882) to discuss all of your options and decide which are best for you. It will be much easier to deal with these details now than in the midst of a family emergency, so take this time to develop a plan. Good luck.

Always,
Advisor Alex

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For more advisement information or questions:

Visit the Advising Web Site
http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/advising.htm

Contact the Office of Student Services
(212) 772-4882
1119 East Building

Contact a peer advisor in the Sylvia E. Fishman Student Center
(212) 650-3282
417 West Building

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