So, you have questions? We've got answers.
Clicking
one of the topic areas below will send you to a list of the most
frequently asked questions that we receive. If you then click on the
question, you'll get sent to what we hope will be a good answer to your
question.
If you aren't able to cull the
information you're looking for from this FAQ, we'd be glad to help you
if you get in touch with our office. Please feel free to contact us by
phone at (651) 696-6200, by e-mail at registrar@macalester.edu or even
by post by addressing the Registrar's Office at the address listed at the
very bottom of this page.
Transcripts, Verifications, Diplomas, Graduation and the Grade Point Average
Registration, Grading, GPA, 1600grand and Contact Info
Majors, Minors and Concentrations
Requirements, General Education Requirements, Transferring Credits and AP/IBE/GCE
High School Students, Summer Classes and Senior Citizens
Faculty: Grading, Catalogue Copy, EPAG, Scheduling, Reservations
Transcripts, Verifications, Diplomas, Graduation
How do I get a transcript?
Can you verify my enrollment?
Can you verify my degree?
Are you able to certify my diploma or help me get an apostille?
Can I get a replacement diploma?
Can I participate in commencement?
Can I graduate early?
Registration, Grading, GPA, 1600grand and Contact Info
How can I find out my network password in order to log onto 1600grand?
When do I register for next semester?
How do I change my schedule?
How can I add or drop a class? When is the last day that I can do it?
When is the last day I can withdraw from a class?
Changing my grading option for a class--I can do that, right?
How do you figure my GPA?
Can I take a fifth course?
How do I audit a class?
How can I take an incomplete?
When is the last day that I can finish my incomplete?
How do I register for the Summer Physics Institute?
How do I get my grades each semester?
What's a J grade?
How do I get credit for PE activities or Music lessons/ensembles?
Can I get credit in January?
My parents moved. How do I let you know my new home address and phone number?
And how do I tell you about my summer contact information?
What is "Directory Restriction"? How do I get my information restricted? Or get the restriction removed?
Majors, Minors and Concentrations
How do I declare a major, minor or concentration? When should I do it and is there a deadline?
Do I need to update my major, minor or concentration plan?
So, how can I drop a major, minor or concentration?
What is a concentration?
Requirements, General Education Requirements, Transferring Credits and AP/IBE/GCE
Can I use "such and such a course" to satisfy domestic or international diversity requirements?
I
think I've met the second language requirement with coursework taken
outside of Macalester. Can I take an exam and get evaluated or can I
meet the requirement by transferring credits?
Can I get credit for AP/IB/GCE?
Can I get credit for college-level work done while I was still in high school?
High School Students, Summer Classes and Senior Citizens
How does a high school student register for a class at Macalester?
Does Macalester have summer school?
Is there a program at Macalester for senior citizens?
Faculty: Grading, Catalog Copy, EPAG and Scheduling
How do I change a grade?
When are final and midterm grades due?
When is catalog copy due?
How do I add or delete a course from the catalog?
What is EPAG?
When is the schedule for next year due?
How do I make changes to the schedule?
How do I reserve a classroom?
Which classrooms have "smart" technology?
Transcripts, Verifications, Replacement Diplomas and the Grade Point Average
How do I get a transcript?
Head over to our page all about how to obtain a transcript. The information there will get you on your way.
Can you verify my enrollment?
Yes!
You can download and print an enrollment verification form by clicking this link (will open as a .pdf). You can submit that in person,
through the mail or by fax. Our contact information is at the top of
the form.
Can you verify my degree?
Unlike
transcripts or verifications of enrollment, we can verify that you
graduated from Macalester without a signature--degree information is
public information. Give us a call, write us a note or send us an
e-mail requesting verification that you did indeed graduate from
Macalester College and we'll take care of that for you.
Are you able to certify my diploma or help me get an apostille?
Sure
we can help with that. You should e-mail Julie McEathron
(mceathron@macalester.edu) directly for assistance in this process.
Can I get a replacement diploma? (Mine was eaten by my neighbor's kid.)
We
would be glad to order a replacement diploma for you. Let's talk
details. We'll need a request (in writing) for a replacement. It must
bear your signature and should also include where you would like us to
send it once we have it ready. You will need to include $30 with your
request and then you can mark your calendar--once we receive your
request, it will take between six and eight weeks for you to receive
your new diploma. You can mail your request to Registrar's Office at
the address at the bottom of this page.
Can I participate in commencement?
If
you are not graduating, you can still participate in commencement if you will
be within eight credits of satisfying the requirements. If you
graduated in the December prior to commencement, you are definitely
welcome to walk with your classmates the following May. If this may be the case for you, you should schedule an appointment for you and the Registrar to discuss your situation--call our office and we'll be glad to set that up.
Can I graduate early?
If
you meet all of the requirements for graduation, sure you can. We
know that isn't as helpful as you might want, but we'd be glad to
schedule an appointment for you and the Registrar to meet and discuss
the possibility of graduating early. Making sure that all of the
requirements of graduation are met is sometimes tricky and it's best if
you take the time to sit down with the Registrar if you'd like to graduate early.
Registration, Grading, GPA, 1600grand and Contact Information
How can I find out my network password in order to log onto 1600grand?
You will need to contact the ITS Help Desk at 651.696.6525.
When do I register for next semester?
For the fall, for returning students, registration generally starts in April--for spring, it generally starts in November. Watch your e-mail for detailed instructions
on how to register for the upcoming semester. That e-mail will help you find the exact date and time you can begin to register. For general dates of the
registration process, take a glance at the Academic Calendar.
How can I add or drop a class? When is the last day that I can do it?
You
register in advance for the next semester and you can add and drop
classes through-out your pre-registration period. Once the semester
gets started you'll have time to add or drop classes. There's a
deadline--but do it ASAP so you get on class lists! You'll be able to
drop classes in 1600grand
and add classes in the Registrar's Office with a professor's signature--use the add/drop slips available in the hall outside of our office in 77 Mac.
If you miss the deadline (please don't) there is a three-day grace
period on the first three days of the week following the add/drop
deadline during which, with a $100 fee, you can still add or drop a
course.
You can get to the academic calendar here on our site. There you'll find the specific dates you'll need to know.
When is the last day I can withdraw from a class?
Approximately nine weeks into the semester. There is a deadline, so check out the academic calendar for that date!
Changing my grading option for a class--I can do that, right?
Oh
yeah. Come by and get a grading option form. You can change a graded
class to Macalester's version of "pass/fail" (S/D/NC) without the
instructor's signature, but keep in mind that you can take only
one course under this option in any given semester. The grading option
form also includes options for written evaluations and letter grades
for courses that are normally offered S/D/NC. If you do this and earn a D in the class, you'll see the grade SD on your record. If you fail the course, you'll see the grade N.
How do you figure my GPA?
The GPA is calculated by dividing total grade
points by the number of semester hours attempted on the regular grading
system.
Can I take a fifth course?
Well,
like most things, that depends. Keep in mind that as a full-time
student, you can take between 12 and 18 credit hours without paying an
additional fee. You can register for more than 18 credits if you
pay a per credit fee (click here for a schedule of fees)
and if you, in the other semester of that academic year, take between 12
and 14 credits, then you will be exempted from the per credit fee. In any semester, there is a maximum of 20 credits that you can be registered for.
Can I audit a class?
Yes!
You can audit one class each semester by completing the grading option form--auditing
is the fifth option on the form and requires a professor's signature.
Audited courses will appear on your transcript.
How can I take an incomplete?
You should (must!) review and complete with your professor the form called the Course Completion Agreement (available here).
Keep in mind that it must be submitted to the Registrar's Office on or
before the date that final grades are due to the office. Work is due for incompletes no later than the first day of the following semester.
When is the last day that I can finish my incomplete?
Work
is due for incompletes no later than the first day of classes of the
following semester--if you took an incomplete for a course you had toaken in the Spring semester of 2004, then the work would have been due for the
incomplete on or before the first day of classes in the Fall semester
of 2004. The professor may require you to finish by an earlier
date.
How do I register for the Summer Physics Institute?
In order to register, you should visit the Institute's site
and complete the registration process that they describe there. All
questions regarding the Institute should be referred to Dr. Kim, whose
contact information is also included on the site.
How do I get my grades each semester?
You can get your grades online through 1600grand.
What's a J grade?
A
J grade is assigned only during midterm grading. It means that the
professor for the course did not have enough information to assign you
a midterm grade. Say you're taking a course where the grade is derived
from the grades on a final paper and a final exam--come midterm, the
professor still does not have any grading information to use in
assigning a midterm grade.
How do I get credit for Music lessons/ensembles?
To
receive credit for ensemble or private instruction participation, you
must take the same class in two consecutive semesters. Take African
Music Ensemble in two consecutive semesters and you get the credit for
both at the end of the second semester. You can earn a maximum of eight credits through ensemble and private instruction--additional participation is noted on your record, but not for credit.
Can I get credit in January?
Yes,
you can. You can register for either one or two credits for
January--sign up for a sponsored program, independent study or
internship. The deadline is in early December--don't miss it! There is
no drop/add in January!
My parents moved. How do I let you know my new home address and phone number?
You can come by the Registrar's Office and ask for a change of address form that you can fill out and return to us.
And how do I tell you about my summer contact information?
Sometime
near the end of the Spring semester, there will be a stack of summer
contact information forms at the Post Office in the Campus
Center. Fill out that form and return it to the Post Office. We
receive that information from them.
What is "Directory Restriction?" How do I get my information restricted? Or get the restriction removed?
Certain
information is made publicly available unless you request that it be
otherwise. For instance, if someone (an insurer, an old friend, a
current or potential employer, or anyone who might be curious) calls up
and asks if Johan Smith is in attendance at Macalester, we can confirm
or deny that and provide whatever information is available on the
college directory, which might include your e-mail address and
telephone number. If you are on Directory Restriction, then we
will not release any information regarding your status at
Macalester. We cannot answer questions about you if you are on
Directory Restriction, unless it is for internal Macalester use only.
Feel like having directory restriction removed? Come into the Registrar's Office and let us know.
Majors, Minors and Concentrations
How do I declare a major, minor or concentration? When should I do it and is there a deadline?
First,
you will want to come by the Registrar's Office and grab a form for
each major, minor or concentration you intend to declare. You will fill
that out, observing the requirements of the majors, which you can find
in the Catalog (print copies are available in the hallway
outside of the Registrar's Office) and then review it with both a
faculty member in the concerned department and the chair of that
department. They will each need to sign off on your plan before you
submit it to the Registrar's Office.
You should
declare your major as soon as you know what it will be, but you will be
required to declare one as a second semester sophomore.
You won't be allowed to register for classes for the first semester of your Junior year until you have declared a major.
Do I need to update my major, minor or concentration plan?
Keep
in mind that these are some of the documents that will determine your
graduation eligibility--you will want to keep these up-to-date. If you
are making changes in the courses that you want to use in fulfilling
your major, you can come by and get a copy of your major plan, take it
to revise it and have it signed off on again. If you're making
substantial changes or your form is messy and difficult to read, you can just use a new form.
So, how can I drop a major, minor or concentration plan?
This
is maybe the easiest thing you can do at Macalester College! Come by
the Registrar's Office and tell us you'd like to drop a major. We'll
give you your major plan to cancel for us and then you're done. We will not cancel your only major plan--you have to have one.
What is a concentration?
Concentrations are interdepartmental programs--among them are African Studies and Urban Studies, as examples.
Requirements, General Education Requirements, Transferring Credits and AP/IBE/GCE
Can I use "such and such a course" to satisfy domestic or international diversity requirements? (NOTE: This does not apply to you if you entered Macalester Fall 2007 or later.)
If
the course in question wasn't already approved to satisfy a diversity
requirement there are two ways that you can go about attempting to have
it count. Neither is guaranteed to be approved. One is to request that
the department seek retroactive approval from the Educational Policy and Governance (EPAG)
committee that would cause it to satisfy such a requirement for all
students who have taken the course. The other way is to submit a
request to EPAG that would ask for a requirement (such as domestic
diversity), for one student, to be satisfied by a particular course--that
request should be submitted in the Registrar's Office.
I
think I've met the second language requirement with coursework taken
outside of Macalester. Can I taken an exam and get evaluated or can I
meet the requirement by transferring credits?
If
you'd like to take an exam, you could take the SAT II (with listening)
for the language in question. Otherwise, you can have a transcript sent
from the institution you attended. As long as the transcript clearly
relays that you completed what would be equivalent to a fourth
semester (Intermediate II) in the language, your record will be marked as having met the
second language requirement.
Can I get credit for AP/IB/GCE?
You can, in many instances, get credit. Head over to our page that is exclusively on the topic and if you have any questions after reviewing that, please be in touch!
Can I get credit for college-level work done while I was still in high school?
Yes. You'll need for that coursework to meet a few conditions though. The coursework cannot have been used to satisfy any graduation requirements at your high school (there's a form we use to confirm that) and it must have been offered as regular, undergraduate coursework at the institution you took the course from. The course(s) must have been taught on the college campus--we don't grant credit for "College in the Schools" programs. If the course meets those requirements, contact that institution and have them send a transcript directly to the Registrar's Office here at Macalester. You can transfer a maximum of 20 credits to Macalester. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us.
High School Students, Summer Classes, Senior Citizens
How does a high school student register for a class at Macalester?
Students that are interested in taking classes at Macalester while in high school should be in touch with the Admissions Office--they will give you the details of eligibility.
Does Macalester have summer school?
The
general answer to this is that we do not offer regular summer classes.
Current and former students who didn't earn a degree may register for
independent projects and internships. That said, Macalester is home to
the Summer Physics Institute, which is run by Professor Sung Kyu Kim in the Physics Department. More information on the Institute is available on their website.
Is there a program at Macalester for Senior Citizens?
There
is no program exclusively for senior citizens at Macalester College,
but there are opportunities that are open to anyone, such as auditing
regular courses or taking them for credit. Contact the Registrar's
Office to find out how to go about registering for a course and to
check on current fees.
Faculty: Grading, Catalog Copy, EPAG and Scheduling
How do I change a grade?
You can change a grade
you have already assigned by submitting a request (by e-mail, in person
or in writing) to the Registrar's Office--you may not change the grade
through 1600grand. The request should include which course, which
student, what grade you would like for her to receive and why you would
like to change the grade. As mentioned in Macalester's grade change
policy, it is only acceptable to change a grade when correcting a grade
calculation error and when a professor locates a student's work, paper,
project, etc. that was previously considered missing.
When are final and midterm grades due?
Check out our page of Academic Calendars, which
lists the grade deadlines. Be sure you've selected the academic
year that you're interested in.
When is catalog copy due?
Requests for catalog copy are sent out in early
November and copy is generally due back on the first Friday of
January; the deadline will be printed on the
materials sent out to the departments in December.
How do I add or delete a course from the catalog?
A request to add or delete a course from the catalog should be made in advance to EPAG. Use the course change proposal form and submit that to the Registrar.
What is EPAG?
EPAG is the Educational Policy and Governance Committee. You can find the minutes of their meetings on their webpage.
Who is on EPAG and who is the chair?
That information is kept up-to-date on the EPAG webpage.
When is the schedule for next year due?
We'll send out a request for the next academic
year's schedule in early December and that request will include a more
specific deadline, but generally speaking, that deadline will be around
the end of the first week of classes in the spring term.
How do I make changes to the schedule?
The chair should summarize and submit schedule
changes to the Registrar's Office. If you are making changes on the
spreadsheet of courses for your department, please highlight those
changes for us.
How do I reserve a classroom?
First, when do you need the room? The
Registrar's Office handles classroom reservations for times through 4:30pm,
Monday through Friday, during the academic year and even then we only
handle reservations for classrooms in academic buildings--for other
buildings or rooms during that time frame, contact Campus Programs. For reservations at any other time, one should contact Campus Programs to reserve a room.
Which classrooms have "smart" technology?
So you're looking for a
room where you could hook-up a laptop to a digital projector so that
your class can follow along with a slideshow, Power Point presentation,
or the like? Check out the Media Services website to see which rooms have what you're looking for.
Last Updated: 9/10/2008
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