Post Registration Academic "To Do" List
for New Transfer Students

The first-term program form you received at your advisement session is a provisional document based upon all the information Hofstra has received about you so far. If not all official transcripts from your previous school have been received, the final determination of credits may ultimately change. It is therefore important that during the beginning of the semester you meet again with your adviser to review all paperwork and discuss your program in further detail. To expedite that process make sure you do the following:

1. If your advisement was based on unofficial transcripts, check regularly with the Transfer Evaluation Office in Admissions to determine the status of your transcripts, and if necessary, contact your old school(s) to arrange for the transcripts to be sent.
2. Another important tool for you will be available online - your Degree Audit Report. This is a listing of all of the requirements for the major, and an indication of how your previous and current courses are meeting those requirements. This can be extremely useful for you to use in tracking your requirements. The DAR is only as accurate as the information in its database. Therefore, pay especial attention to:
   1. major: The DAR will reflect only the major you have told us you are pursuing. If you have changed your major since you applied, make sure you file the appropriate Change of Major form in the Office of Academic Records, room 207 Memorial Hall. In the meantime, you can do a "what if" Degree Audit Report on your Hofstra Portal account. Advisers in the Center for University Advisement can also help you obtain that information and discuss your options.
   2. credits earned: If the DAR does not reflect all the credits you transferred to Hofstra, the Admissions office has likely not received all of your transcripts from previous schools. This can obviously make a big difference in your major requirements and residency issues. Check again with the Transfer Evaluation Office to see what is missing.
3. Make a habit of checking your DAR after you have registered, but before the semester begins, so you can be sure that the courses you registered for are appropriate and are meeting requirements. Check it again if you have made any program changes or dropped any courses as the semester progresses. If you have any questions about it, be sure to meet with your adviser, well before the rush of pre-registration time. If you have a major, contact the appropriate department to be assigned a faculty adviser, and make an appointment with him/her. Bring a print-out of your DAR with you at that time. If you have not yet declared a major, call the Center for University Advisement at 516-463-6770 to set up an appointment with one of the deans.
4. Once schedule books for upcoming semesters appear on campus, you should be able to register for your upcoming courses according to the priority schedule posted in the materials, as long as you are in good academic standing. While you will not need specific clearance from an adviser before registering, it's always a good idea to meet with your adviser at least once each semester, so that you can discuss your academic progress. Make sure to meet with your major adviser for specific major-related questions.
5. Also spend some time reading the 2007-2008 Hofstra University Undergraduate Bulletin. Pages 62-175 describe the general degree requirements for each school, and specific major requirements are listed right before the course listings for each department. Other sections of the Undergraduate Bulletin detail several other issues covering campus life, academic policy, financial aid, and other areas.
6. Every school has academic policies unique to itself. At Hofstra, all changes to your academic program (drop/add, withdrawals, etc.) must be filed with the Office of Student Accounts. Simply ceasing to attend a class will not automatically withdraw you from class.
7. Hofstra is a large school, and fellow students in a variety of majors will also offer you assistance. Student information is often very helpful, but since requirements change, your friend with the same major will not necessarily have the same requirements that you do. Make it a habit to double-check with a major adviser regarding major-specific issues and with a Dean from University Advisement about general academic concerns.
8. If you have not already taken Hofstra's English Proficiency Exam, you must make arrangements to do so as soon as possible. Passage of this essay exam is a graduation requirement for all undergraduates, and if you delay taking the test you can hold up completion of your degree. Information on the scheduled exam times can be obtained from Ms. Carol Porr at the Writing Center in Mason Hall (516-463-5252).
9. Some majors require a foreign language. If you intend to complete the language that you took in High School here at Hofstra University and you have not completed any college courses in that language prior to your attendance at Hofstra, you are required to take a Foreign Language Placement Exam. Please call the Language Lab at 516-463-5653 for an appointment to take the exam.
10. The staff of the Center for University Advisement is always happy to help you with any general questions you have. We are here to assist you.