Q: How do I find out who my adviser is?
A: You can check on eLion to find out who your adviser is.
Q: How and when can I add and/or drop a course?
A: Courses can be added and/or dropped during the regular Drop/Add period, which is during the first ten calendar days of the semester. You can either fill out a Drop/Add form and submit it to the Registrar's Office at your campus or go through eLion. If a course is dropped during the regular Drop/Add period, it will not show up on your transcript. After the tenth day of the semester, courses can be dropped, but not added.
Courses can be dropped, not added, during the Late Drop period, which is from the eleventh day of the semester to the end of the twelfth week of the semester. If a course is dropped during the Late Drop period, it will show up on your transcript as a withdrawal grade. Contact your adviser for details.
What is the difference between the regular Drop/Add period and the Late Drop period?
The regular Drop/Add period is during the first ten calendar days of the semester if the duration of the course is equal to the duration of the semester. During this period, you can drop and/or add courses as much as you want, as long as the course(s) is (are) open and fit(s) your schedule. Courses that are dropped during this period do not show up on your transcript. Please note that a fee will be assessed for each course that is added and/or dropped between the fifth day and the tenth day of the semester.
- The Late Drop period for a course begins with the first calendar day after the Course Drop period, and ends on the day when 80% of the duration of the course is attained. During this period, you can only drop courses, but you are limited as to how many courses you can drop. This is based on the number of Late Drop credits you have. All students are given a certain amount of Late Drop credits they can use during their entire time enrolled at Penn State. Associate (2-year degree), Provisional (PROV), and Non-Degree (NDEGR) students are given ten, while baccalaureate (4-year degree) students are given sixteen. Once you use them, you lose them, in that you can't get any more. When you Late Drop a course, instead of a regular grade, a withdraw grade will appear on your transcript instead. There are three kinds of withdrawal grades: "WP" (Withdrawal Passing), "WF" (Withdrawal Failing) and "WN" (Withdraw No Judgment). The instructor will assign this grade. Keep in mind that withdrawal grades do not factor into your GPA. Contact your adviser for details.
How do I register for an Independent Learning or online course?
Contact your adviser, the Registrar's Office, or check out the World Campus .
How do I transfer a course from another college and/or university to Penn State?
First, check with either the Admissions Office or an adviser in the Academic Advising Center to see if the course will transfer to Penn State. If the course transfers to Penn State, have the college or university send an official transcript to:
Penn State Admissions
201 Shields Building
Box 3000
University Park, PA 16804
Note: The final grade of the course must be a "C" or higher in order to transfer. Also, grades of transfer credits do not count towards your GPA.
How do I transfer to University Park or to another Penn State location?
Sometimes transferring to University Park is automatic, sometimes it is not. Contact your adviser to get information on how to complete a Change of Assignment form to change to another Penn State location. A Change of Assignment does not happen as a result of choosing a major. Change of Assignment and choosing a major are two distinct processes.
How do I move from Provisional (PROV) status to Degree status?
Contact the Admissions Office located in the Perkins Student Center, Rm. 14.
How do I move from Non-Degree (NDEGR) status to Degree status?
Contact the Admissions Office located in the Perkins Student Center, Rm. 14.
How do I get a Degree Audit for my major?
You can get one through eLion or contact the Registrar's Office in Franco, Rm. 125.
How do I get a Degree Audit for a different major?
You can get one through eLion or contact the Registrar's Office in Franco, Rm. 125.
How do I go about changing my major?
Contact the College Contact and Referral Representative (CCRR) of the college that has your intended major. A Change of Major form will need to be filled out and returned to the Registrar's Office at your campus.
How and when do I declare a major?
In most cases, majors are declared during your fourth semester through a process known as the Entrance to Major (ETM). Contact your adviser for details.
How and when do I declare a minor?
Although you may begin working on a minor, minors are usually declared beginning the junior year. Contact the department that offers the minor for details.
How can I learn more about financial aid?
Contact the Financial Aid office, located in the Perkins Student Center, Rm. 6.
How can I learn more about internships?
Contact the Career Services Office, located in the Perkins Student Center, Rm. 19.
How can I learn more about study abroad?
Contact the education abroad representative at your campus or check out the University Office of International Programs.
What do I have to do to take a semester off?
Contact your adviser or go to the Registrar's Office, located in Franco 125, to complete a Leave of Absence form.
How do I withdraw from the University?
Contact your adviser or go to the Registrar's Office to complete a Withdrawal form. You can also withdraw through eLion.
Can I withdraw from the University and come back?
Most of the time, yes, you can. When you are ready to return to the University, complete a Re-Enrollment form and submit it to the Registrar's Office. You can also change your major when you re-enroll. Contact your adviser or the Registrar's Office at the campus you wish to re-enroll for details.
What is Academic Renewal?
Contact an adviser in the Academic Advising Center to discuss if this option is right for you.
What is Academic Warning?
Students are placed on Academic Warning when they have earned Deficiency Points due to poor grades. If you continue to perform poorly on your grades, you may be dropped from the University for unsatisfactory scholarship. If you receive an Academic Warning letter, contact your adviser immediately to discuss your situation.
What are Deficiency Points?
Deficiency Points exists when a student's cumulative GPA is below a 2.00. The only way to remove deficiency points is to earn better grades and improve your cumulative GPA to a 2.00 or better.
What do I do if I find that I am failing some or all my classes?
Contact your adviser to discuss your options.
Do my cumulative credits include courses in which I've earned an "F"?
Cumulative credits include the number of credits scheduled at Penn State for a letter grade, even if a final grade of an "F" is earned.
If I repeat a course that I earned "D" or "F" in and got a better grade, will the "D" or "F" grade be replaced by the better grade?
All grades, including "D" and "F", remain on your transcript. If the course is repeated, the higher grade will also appear on the transcript with a notation stating that the course was repeated.
How can I get my final grades?
Check eLion --> "Grades" and/or "Mail Semester Grades".
Request for a paper copy of current semester grades must be completed before final exam period starts.
What do I have to do to register to graduate?
Contact the Registrar's Office at your campus or Go to eLion and select "Graduating this semester".
If I graduate with a 4-year degree from Penn State Berks, will my diploma say Penn State University?
Graduates of baccalaureate degree programs at Penn State Berks receive a Pennsylvania State University diploma-the same distinction received by graduates of Penn State University Park. The same renowned and respected diploma from The Pennsylvania State University ensures that graduates from Penn State Berks will receive the same consideration and respect in the job market.