ASK ADVISOR ALEX
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Ask Advisor Alex and Other Apt Advice for the Week of February 25, 2008

• The deadline to submit Degree Audit Application Forms to the OASIS for Spring 2008 graduation is Thursday, February 28. The office will accept forms after this date, but they will be considered “late”, and their timely processing is not assured. Make every effort to get your form in on time!
• If you believe a grade you received in a Fall 2007 course is inaccurate, Thursday, February 28 is the last day to appeal it. You should contact the professor or the department as soon as possible to discuss the procedure.

Ask Advisor Alex

Dear Advisor Alex:
I had a really terrible semester a couple years ago, and I failed several of my classes. Over the past year I have retaken all of the classes I failed, because I was told I could replace the grades, and I have improved my grades a lot. The problem is that all of the Fs are still on my transcript and they are still being counted toward my GPA. What gives?

Thanks,
Improving Isaac

Dear Improving:
You are using the Failed Course Repeat Rule, and you are partially correct, but I think you are missing some important pieces to this process. First of all, let me clarify that repeating a failed course will not remove the failing grade from your transcript. Sadly, it will always be there. What does happen is that the new grade will be calculated into your GPA instead of the failing grade, and this can make a huge difference in your overall GPA.

The second thing I think needs clarifying is that the failing grade is not automatically replaced when you retake and pass the course. After the new grade is on your transcript, you must complete a “Failing Grade Course Repeat Form” and submit it to the OASIS, and then the new grade will be used instead of the old one. The Failing Grade Course Repeat Form is available in the OASIS or here: http://registrar.hunter.cuny.edu/forms/FailingGrade2.html.

Finally, you should keep in mind that you may only replace a maximum of 16 credits worth of grades while you are at Hunter, so it is an option that can expire. Repeating a failed course can be a great way to improve your GPA, but it is not always possible, and not always the best option. Talk to an academic advisor if you have any questions about what courses can and should be repeated. Congratulations on your progress and keep up the good work!

Always,
Advisor Alex

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Dear Advisor Alex:
I am currently taking a class to fulfill one of my Writing (W) requirements, and I chose it because it is listed in the Hunter catalog as one of the classes that is designated as having significant writing . The problem is, one of my classmates just told me that the class we’re in isn’t a W course, and that some sections are and some aren’t. Is this true? I thought all the courses listed in the catalog as W courses would meet the requirement. How can I tell if it does or doesn’t?

Sincerely,
Baffled Barney

Dear Baffled:
This is a common point of misunderstanding, but it is fortunate that you caught it now rather than at graduation time! The catalog lists all of the courses that may be designated as significant writing classes, but they are not always offered with the W component. Semester to semester, some of these classes will have Ws and some will not. For example, in the summer, very few classes have the W designation because the term is shorter and it is difficult to have enough writing to qualify as a W course. A course that is a W class will be indicated on the semester schedule with a (W) after the course title. If this (W) is not there, it is not a W course and will not fill one of your writing requirements. If you are ever uncertain, check with an advisor when choosing a class. Hope this clears things up for you.

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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