Frequently
Asked Questions for Students
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I am planning to graduate this semester. Is there
anything I need to do?
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When and where is the Department's graduation ceremony?
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How many people may I bring to graduation?
Advising Questions
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Who is my advisor?
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How do I make an appointment with my advisor?
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Whom do I talk to about changing my advisor?
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Why can't I keep my advisor all four years?
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If my advisor is not available, is there anyone
else who can sign official University forms for me?
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Who can talk to me about an internship?
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Do PINs stay the same?
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Why can't I get my PIN over the telephone?
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How do I get my PIN?
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What is an ADA?
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Where can I get a copy of my ADA when it's not
the advising period?
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Where do I go to transfer into the Communication
Department?
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I am thinking about changing my major to Communication. May I take Communication classes before I am accepted?
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Who can tell me if any of my classes transferred
from another college or university?
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What does it mean when the
Pack Tracks system says
a class is "restricted?"
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How do I get into a closed section?
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What are the curriculum requirements for the
Communication major?
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Where can I get answers to my questions about
the General Education Requirements?
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I've been out of school for a while. Will that
affect the curriculum I will be under when I am readmitted?
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If curriculums change, which one am I under?
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Who can explain my foreign language placement
to me?
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What is the last day to add or drop a class with
or without the instructor's permission?
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What is the deadline for turning in the
First
Year Course Repeat Form?
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I didn't get the grade I anticipated. Who can
talk to me about it?
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I received an academic warning letter. What do
I do now?
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What form do I ask for to . . .?
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Graduation Questions
I am planning to graduate this semester.
Is there anything I need to do?
Come to the main
office (Winston 201) to pick up the Application
for Degree card.
Make an
appointment to go over it with the Assistant Head for Advising,
Ms. Sandra Stallings, (Winston 208), within the first two weeks
of the semester in which you plan to graduate.
When and where is the Department's graduation
ceremony?
Information
about the
Department's graduation ceremonies is posted on the
Graduation Information page as
soon as it is available for the current semester.
How many people may I bring to graduation?
The Department of Communication does not limit the number of
guests that you may bring to graduation. However, seating is
limited, so arrive early to ensure seating for your guests.
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Advising Questions
Who is my advisor?
Advisors
are assigned each August by the Department of Communication's
Student Records Assistant. Freshmen, seniors, and transfers are
advised by the Assistant Head for Advising, Ms. Sandra
Stallings. Sophomores are advised by Mr. James Alchediak.
Juniors are advised by Ms. Melinda Sopher. LCD students above
the freshman level are advised by Ms. Cynthia Pullen. You may
always find the name of your advisor on your ADA, which is on
the
NCSU Registration and Records web site.
How do I make an appointment with my advisor?
All
Department of Communication advisors make their own
appointments. Contact them via voice mail or email. You may
always find the name of your advisor on your ADA, which is on
the NCSU
Registration and Records web site.
Whom do I talk to about changing my advisor?
The Assistant
Head for Advising, Ms. Sandra Stallings, changes advisors for students, but
only under extenuating circumstances.
Why can't I keep my advisor all four years?
The
advising system in use at the Department of Communication has
proven to be an excellent one for making sure that our majors
meet requirements for graduation. The current system insures
that you will have the same Advisor for an entire academic year.
If my advisor is not available, is there
anyone else who can sign official University forms for me?
Make every effort to see your advisor during his or her office
hours. The Assistant Head for Advising, Ms. Sandra Stallings, may
be able to sign your form, but you must sign up to see her.
The signup sheet is located outside her office (Winston 208).
Who can talk to me about an internship?
Ms.
Jill
Heaton is the Internship Director. Her office is Winston 026A.
PIN Questions
Do PINs stay the same?
No, PINs change every semester.
Why can't I get my PIN over the telephone?
A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a security code,
and as such, it is against University policy to give it to you
over the telephone.
How do I get my PIN?
PINs are
distributed during the fall and spring formal advising periods.
You are responsible for signing up for an appointment with your
advisor during this time to receive your PIN. Be sure to follow
your advisor's instructions when making the advising
appointment. If you lose your PIN after the registration
period, you must contact your advisor. The Student Records
Specialist can retrieve your PIN, but only if your advisor is
truly unavailable.
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ADA Questions
What is an ADA?
It is the Degree Audit and Advisement Report. The ADA allows
you to keep track of the requirements you have completed and
those that are remaining. While it is an important document
for your use in completing your degree on time, it is not a
transcript. Transcripts are available through
NCSU Registration
and Records.
Where can I get a copy of my ADA when it's
not the advising period?
ADAs are now available on the Web at the
NCSU
Registration and Records site. You must have a Unity account
to retrieve your ADA.
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Transfer Questions
Where do I go to transfer into the Communication
Department?
Students accepted into CHASS and who desire to transfer into the
Department of Communication may apply for entrance if they have
completed 12 hours, have GPAs between 2.5-3.0, and have completed ST
311, FL 201, and PHI 221 or LOG 201 with a grade of B- or better.
Application deadlines are February 15, June 15, and September 15. To
begin the application process, go to the Dean's Office, Caldwell 106.
Please understand that admission is competitive and meeting these
requirements does not guarantee admission into the Department. Students will be notified within a month as to whether they have
been accepted.
I am thinking about changing my major to
Communication. May I take Communication classes before I am accepted?
In some
cases, you may. However, some of our classes are restricted to
majors, some have a certain number of seats restricted to
majors, and some require prerequisites. Check restrictions in
the Pack Tracks system. Check prerequisites in the Course
Description Catalog.
Only COM
majors may enroll in COM 230, COM 240, and COM 250.
Who can tell me if any of my classes transferred
from another college or university?
You can
check this yourself by viewing your
ADA
on line. If you have questions, contact your advisor or go to
the CHASS Dean's Office (Fall 2005 – 1911 Building, Room 216;
Spring 2006 – Caldwell Hall, Room 106). In the Dean's Office,
ask for either Ms. Johnson or Ms. Blankenhorn.
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Pack Tracks Questions
What does it mean when the Pack Tracks system
says a class is "restricted?"
All
courses taught at NCSU have a maximum number of seats. Some
courses are restricted entirely to majors or other special
populations. Other courses may have a percentage of seats
restricted to majors. Pack Tracks always identifies all the
available and restricted seats. If the unrestricted seats are
full, the computer will not allow a student who does not meet
the restrictions to sign up for one of the restricted seats.
How do I get into a closed section?
Closed
sections have no remaining seats. In most cases, only faculty
teaching the specific sections can add students to closed
sections.
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Curriculum Questions
What are the curriculum requirements for
the Communication major?
General
Education Requirements sheets (GER) and Departmental curriculum
guides are available in the wall display next to the main office
(Winston 201)and on the
Registration
and Records web site.
Where can I get answers to my questions
about the General Education Requirements?
Specific answers to questions about General Education Requirements
can be found in a number of places: on the
CHASS
web site; on the Keypoints of Information handout
you were given at orientation;
on the
Department handout Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in
Communication (available outside Winston 201); and in the
on-line version of the
COM 230 Handbook for COM Students and
Parents. If you still cannot find the answer to your
question, contact your advisor or the
Assistant
Head for Advising.
I've been out of school for a while. Will
that affect the curriculum I will be under when I am readmitted?
If you
leave the University (become inactive), you could be subject to
a new curriculum when you are readmitted. Meet with the
Assistant Head for Advising to discuss your situation.
If curriculums change, which one am I under?
You are
responsible for completing the curriculum under which you
entered the University as a degree-seeking student (as opposed
to Undergraduate Studies, or UGS) for the first time. If you
leave the University and the curriculum changes during the
interim, meet with the Assistant Head for Advising.
Who can explain my foreign language placement
to me?
Make an appointment with the Coordinator of Advising in the
Department of Foreign Languages and Literature.
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Policy Questions
What is the last day to add
or drop a class with or without the instructor's permission?
Refer to
the University calendar at the
Registration
and Records web site.
What is the deadline for turning in the
First Year Course Repeat Form?
You must
be enrolled in the class for the second time and turn in the
form to NCSU Registration and Records by that semester's drop
deadline. Read the instructions on the First Year Course
Repeat Form to determine if you are eligible to use it.
I didn't get the grade I anticipated. Who
can talk to me about it?
The first step is to speak with your professor. If this is
unsatisfactory, make an appointment with the Associate Department
Head for Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Ken Zagacki (Winston 201).
I received an academic warning letter.
What do I do now?
Instructions for ensuring that you will not be placed on Academic
Hold for the next registration advising period are in the letter.
Please read the letter carefully.
What form do I ask for to . . .
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Drop or add a class after the deadline?
Schedule
Revision Form
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Change a course to Credit Only after the deadline?
Schedule Revision Form
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Change a course from Credit Only to regular grading
after the deadline? Schedule Revision Form
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Take more than 18 hours (more than 7 in a summer session)?
Schedule Revision Form
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Repeat a course without penalty?
First
Year Course Repeat Form
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Do an Independent Study? Special Projects
Form
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