Hi everyone, my name is Anita and I am currently a senior at UAlbany. I am majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Psychology and Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.
With “Syllabus Week” over, it is time to stay focused in order to continue starting off the semester strong. As classes are starting to settle in and the workload is piling up, it is extremely important to make sure you are keeping track of important dates. Below are important dates to keep in mind, but you can always refer back to the Academic Calendar. You may also follow @UAlbanyAdvising on Twitter to stay up to date!
Monday, September 12th (Yesterday) was the last day to drop semester length courses without receiving a “W.” A “W” means, “withdrawn without academic penalty.” After this date, dropping a course will be indicated on your transcript with the letter “W.” This date was also the last day to add a semester length course with permission of the instructor. If you would like to add courses to your schedule after this date, you will need to request a letter from the professor and there will be a late fee.
Monday, September 26th is when you will be 100% liable for dropping semester length courses. What this means is that if you drop a course on or after this date and it causes your schedule to drop below 12 credits, you may be liable for certain charges. Visit the Financial Aid office for any questions and concerns.
*Visit http://www.albany.edu/studentaccounts/Fall_2016.pdf for 8 Week 1 and 8 Week 2 liability charts*
Tuesday, October 18th is the Midterm Point, which means that it is time to buckle down and stay concentrated and focused. If you are having any difficulties with a course/subject, there are multiple resources on campus that offer tutoring to students in need of assistance. Advising PLUS, CARSS (Center for Achievement, Retention, & Student Success), and Project EXCEL are just a few examples.
Registration Season Begins!
Wednesday, October 19th – Friday, November 18th is when Advance Registration begins for Winter 2016-2017 and Spring 2017. Advance Registration is the time period when a student may register for Spring 2017 courses. Around the beginning and middle of October, if you have an intended major, you will receive an email from your
Academic
Advisor announcing the start of Advance Registration and encouraging you to make an appointment to meet with them. In order to register for courses next semester, you MUST obtain an AVN (Advisor Verification Number) from your OWN Academic Advisor. Before the start of Advance Registration, make sure to check “When Can I Enroll” accessed through your MyUAlbany account, so you know what date you must meet your advisor by. Don’t wait until Advance Registration to start thinking about courses you would like to take in the Spring. PLEASE make sure you meet with your Academic Advisor before your enrollment date!
Tuesday, November 8th is the last day for undergraduate students to file S/U option or return to A-E grading for semester length courses. You can select a course to be S/U graded instead of the normally graded A-E option. S means satisfactory and is equivalent to the grade of C or higher and is acceptable to fulfill graduation requirements. U represents unsatisfactory and equates to a C- or lower, which will not be accepted towards your graduation requirements. A student is limited to requesting S/U optional grades in only two courses in their undergraduate career. November 8th is also the last day to drop semester length courses with a “W” assigned. After this date, you will no longer have the ability to drop a course. Visit the Registrar’s office or website for more information on the S/U grading policy and dropping classes.
W
ednesday, December 14th – December 20th is FINALS WEEK! Just one more week until the semester is officially over and you are on break for almost a whole month! End the semester on a good note and aim for your GPA goal!
Keeping track of all these dates on top of taking classes may be a little overwhelming, and as the semester goes by, many students will deal with stress. Stress is part of the college experience, so trust me, you are not the only one. There are however, many ways you can cope with college stress.
The University at Albany’s Counseling and Psychological Center provides students with individual and group counseling. During the semester, the Counseling and Psychological Services offers “Let’s Talk” sessions. Let’s Talk is an informal, free, and confidential program where a student can speak with a psychologist on site.
*For more information, visit http://www.albany.edu/counseling_center/*
Another way to cope with stress is to seek out your Academic Advisor! Many students believe that their Academic Advisors are solely there to guide you academically. Your advisor is a person you can talk to whether you have an academic or personal problem that you would like to discuss. You are more than welcome to make an appointment with your Academic Advisor if need be. The Advisement Services Center also holds walk-in hours everyday from 1PM-5PM. During these hours, you can walk in, sign in at an available
kiosk, and have a seat until the Advisor-on-Duty is ready to meet with you.
Joining a student organization is another great way to cope with stress. A club or a student group that you are a part of may act as your “safe space” and may be a place where you can relax and have fun. One of the great things about this University is its large variety of clubs and organizations. There are over 200 student organizations on campus so whether you are interested in joining a social, political, religious, or academic group, there is something for almost everyone. If you would like to start a student group, visit Student Association for more information.
In addition to Academic Advisors, campus offices, and student organizations, another available resource is your degree audit. A degree audit is your road map to graduation. It lists out General Education requirements, major and minor requirements, and any other requirement you may need to obtain your degree. That’s the degree audit in a nutshell. Treat it like the bible during your undergraduate career. You may also visit any Peer Advisor in the Advisement Services Center for a one-on-one break down of your degree audit.
Good luck with the rest of the semester! And remember, you are more than welcome to come visit an Academic Advisor and/or Peer Advisor for any questions or concerns you may have.
UAlbany Project MyStory 
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