How do I request a transcript?
See our Transcripts page.
Why am I not in the on-line directory?
There are two ways this could happen:
- You have not officially registered for classes. Only students registered for the current semester will appear in the on-line student directory.
- You have requested confidentiality for your "directory information." Directory information is a
special class of information which may be released without your written consent. This includes your name, address, phone
number, major, e-mail address and several other bits of information about you. Aside from directory information, we are
required by law to keep the rest of the information in your student records confidential. If you have requested that we
keep your directory information confidential as well, all of your student information will be
suppressed. This means that your name and other directory information will not appear in on-line directory.
To have directory information suppressed or to cancel a request for suppression, we need written notification prior to the
end of the drop/add period. For further information regarding these policies and your rights under the Family Education
Rights and Privacy Act, please refer to the area marked Student Records on our home page.
Why do you have to send my undergraduate record with my graduate transcript?
Case produces a transcript of all work completed at the university and will not selectively distribute records
from particular schools within the university. The purpose of a transcript is not to portray the student in the best
light possible, but to objectively display the academic record of course work and semesters attended at the university.
How do I calculate my GPA?
Grade point averages are calculated by multiplying the number equivalent of the letter grade by the number of credit hours for the course (this yields grade points) and then dividing by the total number of credit hours. The semester grade point average is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned at the University during a given semester by the sum of the credit hours for all courses in which the student received letter grades of A, B, C, D or F taken at the University during that same semester.
| Letter Grade | Number Equivalents |
|---|
| A | 4 |
| B | 3 |
| C | 2 |
| D | 1 |
| F | 0 |
GPA = Quality Points divided by Credit Hours
Example:
| Course |
Credit Hrs |
Grade |
Quality Points |
| MATH 100 | 4 | A | 16 (4x4) |
| CHEM 100 | 3 | C | 6 (3x2) |
| ENGL 100 | 3 | B | 9 (3x3) |
| ANTH 100 | 3 | A | 12 (3x4) |
| BIOL 100 | 2 | F | 0 (2x0) |
| MUSC 100 | 1 | P | 0 (n/a not an evaluative grade) |
Total GPA Credit Hours = 15
Total Quality Points = 43
GPA = 43/15 = 2.87
(because MUSC 100 has a grade of "P" it is not included in credit hours for GPA calculation)
Why do transcripts cost $5.00?
The $5 charge is actually nominal in relation to the actual cost of the service. Costs associated with the production of transcripts include not only the cost of printing the individual document, but also the cost for both equipment and personnel to maintain a system of records containing information on thousands of individuals. The University receives numerous requests for records from this system each year and accuracy is an absolute requirement. Also note that much of the benefit of the transcript system goes to alumni rather than to current students and that use of the system varies greatly from one individual to another. By having a fee of $5, the actual users of the service are being asked to absorb a larger share of its total cost, while the University continues to provide a subsidy.
Prior to 1996, transcript fees had not been raised since 1981, when the fee was raised from $1 to $2. In reviewing this charge, the University considered fees in effect at similar institutions. While some institutions provide transcripts for free, some charge as much as $10 to respond to "walk-in" transcript requests, and $5 is a relatively typical charge. Some of the universities that provide transcripts "for free" actually use a portion of the matriculation fee (or other separate entry fees) to cover transcript services.
I am a staff member here at Case. Do I have to pay for transcripts?
Yes. Everyone taking courses at Case Western Reserve University is considered a student regardless of any other existing university affiliation. Since the transcript fee (see "Why do transcripts cost $5.00") applies to all students, it would be unfair to exempt employees from paying this fee.
My course shows a grade of "Z." What does that mean?
A grade of "Z" means that your instructor did not turn in your grade. Please contact your instructor for further
information. Click here for a listing of the grading system at Case.
In order to get a "Good Student Discount" on auto insurance, I need a form filled out. Where do I have this done?
You can either send the form to us or bring it to our office for certification of your enrollment. It is important to note that we certify enrollment on a semester basis only (not annual) and only after the end of the drop/add period.
What is a permission?
See Overrides and Permissions.
What is an override?
See Overrides and Permissions.
I want to be covered under my parent's health insurance, but the health insurance company needs to
verify that I am a student at Case. How do I do that?
You need to request that we prepare for you a "certification of enrollment." These are available on a walk-in basis or
can be requested by mail. It is important to note that we certify enrollment on a semester basis only (not annual) and only after the end of the drop/add period.
I don't want to pay the health insurance fee that is automatically billed to my account when I
register. How can I accomplish that?
Once you've registered for a term (fall or spring) using SIS, you should see a message on your student center. The message will indicate that your health insurance has not been waived for the semester. There will be a yellow WAIVE button next to the message. You will be directed to read the policy and enter your insurance provider. Once you've saved this information, your health fee will be waived and the message on your student center will reflect this. You may visit the University Health Service website for more information. Note that there is no health fee for summer.
I am an undergraduate student and I want to withdraw from classes. How do I do that?
If you are withdrawing from one course (and it is not your only course), you need to fill out a drop/add form and
obtain a dean's signature from the Office of Undergraduate
Studies before bringing the form to the Registrar's Office for processing. If you are withdrawing from all courses,
you need to fill out a withdrawal form and obtain a dean's signature from the
Office of Undergraduate Studies. There may be other
signatures required. When all signatures are obtained, the form needs to be brought to the Registrar's Office for
processing. See also Withdrawals and Refunds.
I am an undergraduate student and need to change my address with the university. What should I do?
See Name and Address Changes.
How do I get my name changed on my university records?
See Name and Address Changes.
When is Spring Break? What about Thanksgiving Break?
See the Academic Calendar.
A potential employer needs a copy of my transcripts, but you can't release them because I owe
tuition from last semester. I can't pay until I can get a job. Can't you make an exception?
Like Case, most schools require full or at least partial payment before the semester starts, with the remainder
being due before the semester is over. Like most deliverers of goods and/or services, it is reasonable to require that
once the service has been delivered (in this case education), that the agreement to pay for the service (in this case,
a signed registration form or use of the on-line registration system) will be honored. Payment for these types of
agreements is not (and should not be) contingent upon future employment possibilities. Therefore, the policy to withhold
official transcripts due to outstanding financial obligations is necessary (and, in fact, generous considering that many
schools cancel registration for non-payment).
What times are classes scheduled?
The official class times slots are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 50 minutes or Tuesday and
Thursday for 75 minutes. This schedule applies to all undergraduate and many graduate courses (professional schools may
have their own schedules).
What is the "Provost's Hour" and when is it scheduled?
The "Provost's Hour" is a period of time between regularly scheduled courses in which no regular classes may be
scheduled. This time may be used for reviews, exams, and other academic events. This unscheduled time is on Thursdays
after 11:15a and before 1:15p.
What is the University Community Hour?
The University Community Hour begins with the Fall 2004 academic term. It is scheduled every Friday during the fall and spring semesters on Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. No required academic activities of any type may be scheduled during this period. Implementing the University Community Hour facilitates student and faculty attendance at campus-wide gatherings and special events, especially those that foster community building at Case Western Reserve University.
My e-mail address shows my entire first name. No one knows me by this name. Can I have my name changed to my nickname?
We do not make any changes to the name on your student record unless legal documentation is provided. However, you can request a change to your e-mail
address by sending a message to mail-admin@case.edu. Please see
ITS E-Mail Addressing Policy for further information.
What if I have three final exams scheduled for one day?
Please see a dean in the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
Has the university stopped using my Social Security number as my main identifier?
Yes. The university has converted to a new Student Information System (SIS) which uses a unique student number, not the SSN, as the main student identifier. The university will still need to collect Social Security numbers for services such as financial aid. We take many precautions to protect your Social Security number as private information. If you have a specific concern about Social Security number privacy, please e-mail the registrar's office.
I am a staff member, but I am also taking classes as a student. I have informed Human Resources that I want my address information suppressed from the university directory. When I look up myself in the directory, I can see my home address under my student listing and do not want it published there. What should I do?
Everyone taking courses at Case Western Reserve University is considered a student regardless of any other existing university affiliation. Therefore, if you wish your information to be suppressed from the student listing in the directory, you must follow the same procedure as for all students. Requests for suppression should be made in writing and directed to the University Registrar's Office. For more information on the law which governs student records privacy, see our information page. Please note that suppression of information from the directory is all-or-nothing and that once activated, not even the student's name will appear on the directory. Suppression also applies to other non-directory information release.
Please note that if you are a user of the university Oracle calendar system, your calendar data will also be removed unless you complete the calendar opt in process before we update your record as suppressed. The details for the calendar opt-in process can be found here.
I just got a notice that states that my student affiliation is lapsing, but I really am a student at Case Western Reserve University. Now what?
In order to have student status, you must be officially registered for classes. As soon as you register, your status will be updated to reflect your student affiliation with the university. In the mean time, ITS does not delete your account. The lapsing of student affiliation means that you will only be able to forward your Case e-mail to another account. To make sure that you can forward e-mail, you would have to inquire about setting up a Case Online Services account with the Office of Alumni Relations.
How do I request a grade report?
Grade reports are now available online through the Student Information System (SIS). Login using your Case ID and password. From the Student Center, choose "Transcript: View Unofficial" from the drop down menu under the heading Academics. On the page that appears, choose "Cumulative Grade Report" as the report type and click view report.
Does the university automatically cancel courses with low enrollments? Who decides?
The university does not automatically cancel courses with low enrollments for the fall and spring terms. The university does sometimes cancel summer term courses with low enrollments. Decisions regarding course cancellation are made by deans' offices and academic departments (i.e., such decisions are not made by the University Registrar's Office).
Why is the new course action form three pages long?
The University has a new student information system. Along with this system, there is new functionality and new data requirements. In order to update course information in the new system to take advantage of the new capabilities (e.g., enforced course pre-requisites) additional data is required. To learn more about the new student information system, please see http://www.case.edu/projects/erp/sis/. |
