Declaring a Major or Changing a Major - All students are encouraged to declare a major in a discipline area, or a Special Major if applicable, as soon as possible so that they can be advised by a faculty member from that discipline.  In addition, the earlier that the student declares a major, the sooner the student can develop a comprehensive program of study for the baccalaureate degree.  All students are required to declare a major by the time they achieve junior status, i.e., have completed 90 quarter units.  

If a student decides to change his/her major, it is the student’s responsibility to submit a formal “Change of Major” form to Admissions & Records (SA 103, 654-2147).

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Academic Advising - The university prides itself on its advising system.  The faculty are trained to provide accurate information and helpful advice regarding university requirements (Roadrunner First-Year RUSH-A seminar; GE, GRE, GWAR, foreign language, residency, etc.), major and minor requirements, and career opportunities within the discipline.  Every student is assigned to a faculty advisor from the discipline/program of the student’s major.  The assignment of the faculty advisor is normally made by the Department Chair.  All first-time freshman students, those students with less than 45 quarter units, will be required to meet with their assigned advisor prior to registering for courses each quarter.

Students who have not declared a major (i.e., undeclared) will be assigned a faculty advisor (Roadrunner Advising Fellow) or a trained staff member from the Academic Advising & Information Center (AAIC).  All undeclared students will also be required to meet with their assigned advisor (Roadrunner Advising Fellow or AAIC staff) until they formally declare a major and get assigned to a faculty advisor from the discipline/program of their major.

Students who are required to enroll in developmental courses for English and/or Mathematics will be “tracked” and advised by the Coordinator for the Roadrunner Academic Achievement Program (RAAP).  The RAAP Coordinator is a staff member of the Academic Advising and Information Center (AAIC).

Students who have been placed on “academic probation” or “subject to dismissal” will be required to meet with the AAIC Director until the student achieves “good academic standing.”  In addition, any student granted “re-instatement” following “academic dismissal” will be required to meet with the AAIC Director.

The staff at the AAIC is available for academic advising to all students, not just students who have not yet declared a major, who are enrolled in developmental courses, or who are experiencing academic difficulty.  The AAIC professional staff can answer questions about many of the university’s programs.  The AAIC hours are 8:30 AM -7:00 PM Monday through Thursday and 8:00 AM-4:30 PM on Friday.

Regardless of class level or major, all students are encouraged to meet with their advisors every quarter.  Advising is particularly important prior to registration, not only for selecting courses for the coming quarter but also to verify whether the student is “on track” regarding his/her program of study toward the baccalaureate degree. Regular meetings with the faculty advisor also provide the student with the opportunity to ask questions about the scheduling of needed courses, availability of specific instructors, internships, career plans, employment opportunities, etc.  These meetings also provide the faculty advisor with the opportunity to become better acquainted with the student and his/her academic performance, progress toward degree, and career interests, so that the advisor may be able to provide more detailed and helpful letters of recommendation when requested.

Our advising system is designed to insure that all students obtain the information they need to meet their educational objectives.  If a student finds that the system is not working, however, he/she can receive emergency assistance from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies (EDUC 242, 654-3420).

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Registration - Registration is the final step in the matriculation process.  When students have been admitted to the University and have determined which courses they should take to meet specific requirements for their baccalaureate degree, they are ready for registration.

A Schedule of Classes listing courses offered and detailing registration procedures is available before registration for each quarter.  No student should attend classes until his or her registration has been completed.  Registration is complete only when all official documents are properly filed, and all outstanding fees and deposits are paid or arrangements for a payment plan are completed.  Students may not receive credit in any course for which they have not completed registration.

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Online Registration & Student Information - Students are encouraged to register for courses and review their academic records online.  To register for courses and to access student records online, the student must have an internet connection available.  Login for Student Information Online at www.csub.edu.

The CSUB website offers the following options:

1.   Registration

      •     Registering for classes

      •     Dropping and Adding classes

      •     Verifying current and past schedules

      •     Checking availability of courses

2.   Student Records

      •     Accessing unofficial transcripts

      •     Viewing quarter-by-quarter grades

      •     Reviewing account history, charges, and payments

      •     Checking current address and biographical information on file

Upon logging into Student Information Online, the student will be prompted for his/her user name and PIN.  The user name is the student’s campus ID number and the PIN is the student’s date of birth entered as mm/dd/yy.

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Course Load and Changing Course Load

Full-Time Student Classification:

1.   For fee purposes, students registering for more than 6 quarter units of credit.

2.   For certification under the Veterans’ Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-358), undergraduate students registering for 12 quarter units or more of credit or graduate students registering for 8 quarter units or more of credit.

3.   For all other purposes, undergraduate students registering for 12 quarter units or more of credit or graduate students registering for 8 quarter units or more of credit.

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Part-Time Student Classification:

Undergraduate students registering for less than 12 quarter units of credit or graduate students registering for less than 8 quarter units of credit, except as noted above.

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Course Overload - Undergraduate students in good academic standing are normally permitted to enroll in a maximum of 19 units.  Students with a CSUB grade point average 2.5 - 3.29 may enroll in 20 units and may request permission to carry more than 20 units by petitioning the appropriate dean for approval.  A full-time undergraduate student with a CSUB grade point average of 3.3 or better may carry extra units without petition.  Loads in excess of 19 units are not permitted for first-quarter CSUB students.

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Concurrent Enrollment - Concurrent enrollment in regular CSUB courses by nonmatriculated students is on a space available basis through Open University with the Division of Extended Studies.  Courses carry extension credit and are limited to 36 quarter units toward a baccalaureate and 13 quarter units toward the master’s degree.

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Simultaneous Enrollment - A student at CSUB who desires to enroll for concurrent work at another institution or through Extended University at CSUB must file a petition with the Director of Admissions and Records (SA 107, 654-2160).  No student will be permitted to receive credit toward graduation for a combination of courses taken at CSUB and elsewhere which total more than would have been approved in any one quarter under the University’s policy for Course Overload (see above).  A student having total units resulting from concurrent enrollment in courses at CSUB and courses from another institution, including Extended University at CSUB, exceeding the “standard” 19-unit load must have approval via a petition to the appropriate dean in accord with the University’s policy for Course Overload (see above).

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Repeating Courses - The University does not limit the number of times that a student may repeat a course.  However, the number of credit units counted toward the baccalaureate degree is limited to that of a single registration for that course.  The grades for each repetition shall be calculated in the CSUB grade point average, unless the student petitions for Replacement of Grade through Repetition of Course (see page 73).

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Changing Course Registration

Each student is responsible for all changes made to his/her official schedule of classes, i.e., adding courses, dropping courses (except for instructor initiated drop), or complete withdrawal from the university.

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Adding Courses - Students may ADD courses that are “open” either in person at the Records Office or using the online Web-based registration system during the first week of the term.  For courses that are “closed” and for all courses after the first week of classes, students must file an Add Form with instructor signature(s) with the Records Office (SA 103).  Add Forms are available in the Records Office and in all the school deans’ offices.

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Dropping Courses - Students may DROP courses either in person at the Records Office or by using the online Web-based registration system during the first three (3) weeks of the term.  After the third week of the term, students must file a Drop Form with instructor signature(s) with the Records Office (SA 103).  Drop Forms are available in the Records Office and in all the school deans’ offices.  Students failing to officially drop a course will receive a final course grade of “WU” for “unauthorized withdrawal” from the course; a “WU” is calculated as an “F” in the student’s GPA.

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Instructor Initiated Drop Policy - If a class is fully enrolled and the instructor has a waiting list, the course instructor has the right to request that students be administratively dropped from the class if the student has not attended for three (3) consecutive class sessions during the first two weeks of the term.

Except for the condition of “instructor initiated drop,” students will not be automatically dropped from classes due to nonattendance.

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Complete Withdrawal from the University - Students who find it necessary to cancel their registration or to withdraw from all classes after enrolling for any academic term are required to follow the university’s official withdrawal procedures. Failure to follow formal university procedures may result in an obligation to pay fees as well as the assignment of failing grades in all courses and the need to apply for readmission before being permitted to enroll in another academic term. Information on canceling registration and withdrawal procedures is available from Admission/Records Office (SA 103, 654-3036).

Students who receive financial aid funds must consult with the Financial Aid Office (SA 114, 654-3016) prior to withdrawing from the university regarding any required return or repayment of grant or loan assistance received for that academic term or payment period. If a recipient of student financial aid funds withdraws from the institution during an academic term or a payment period, the amount of grant or loan assistance received may be subject to return and/or repayment provisions.