Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering where to go, who to ask, what to do?
Hokie Questions
The following are some questions that our students often bring to their University Studies' advisors. You may find answers to your questions right here on this web page. However, if the answers we have provided are not sufficient, or your question is not listed here, please call our office or email your advisor.
Who is my Dean, what is my major, and what is my college?
I don’t know who my
advisor is. How do I find out?
How do I make an appointment with my advisor?
What is the Curriculum for Liberal Education (formerly the University Core Curriculum)?
What is a force-add, how do I force-add, and where do I get a force-add form?
I tried to add a class but got an error saying “major restriction.” What is wrong?
I’m failing one of my classes. How do I drop it?
I want to take classes at a college/university near my home. What do I do?
What is a transcript and where can I get one?
I had a great semester. Did I achieve Dean’s List?
I don’t want to be at
Virginia Tech this semester but Hokie Spa will not allow me to drop all my
classes. What do I do?
What is the
difference between withdrawing and resigning?
How do I know if my course withdrawal request has been processed?
****************************************
Who is my Dean, what is my major, and what is my college?
Kimberly Brown serves as the Dean of University Studies. "University Studies" is your major and "UAAC" is your college. "UAAC" is the acronym for University Academic Advising Center. [top of page]
I don’t know who my
advisor is. How do I find out?
Advisor information is found on Hokie Spa, under "View your General Student Information." [top of page]
How do I make an
appointment with my advisor?
You can make an appointment with your advisor by calling
231-8440 or by coming by the University Studies office in 117 Femoyer
Hall. DO NOT EMAIL YOUR ADVISOR TO MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT.
What is the Curriculum for Liberal Education (formerly the
University Core Curriculum)?
The Curriculum for Liberal Education is a group of courses that must be completed by every student who graduates from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree. Students should follow the requirements for the year in which they entered Virginia Tech. Curriculum Guides are published online each academic year, and they explain the requirements. [top of page]
What is a force-add, how do I force-add, and where do I get a force-add form?
When a class is full, the only way you can add it is by force-adding. Whether or not you are able to force-add is up to either the Department offering the class or the instructor who teaches the class.
Some departments have specific force-add procedures, and these are always posted on the University Studies website under "Events" at the beginning of the semester. If the department does not have its own procedure, then see the instructor of the class. If he/she agrees to add you to the class, you must get that instructor's signature on a force-add form (forms are available from any academic department).
Once the instructor signs the form, turn it in to the department of the class for processing (e.g., if it is a PSYC class, turn the form in to the Psychology department). You do not need your advisor to sign the form. Force-add forms are turned in to the Dean’s office only after the official “add” deadline has passed. [top of page]
I tried to add a
class but got an error saying “major restriction.” What is wrong?
The section of the class that you tried to add is only available to students in a specific major. There may be other sections available that are not restricted, but you will need to check by going to Hokie Spa and looking in the on-line Timetable. To find out if a section is restricted, look up the class in the Timetable and double click the section's CRN number. You can attempt to force-add a major-restricted class by following the force-add procedures outlined above. [top of page]
I’m failing one of my
classes. How do I drop it?
You can drop a class using Hokie Spa through the University’s posted deadline (usually about six weeks into the semester). The class is removed from your schedule and your transcript.
See your advisor to discuss whether other options are available to you, and read the questions below about Course Withdrawal. [top of page]
I want to take
classes at a college/university near my home. What do I do?
Complete the University Studies' Authorization to Take Courses at Another University. If you receive authorization, then register for the class(es) at the institution you want to attend.
After the coursework has been completed, you are responsible for requesting that an official transcript from the school where you took the class(es) be sent to Virginia Tech’s Office of the Registrar. [top of page]
What is a transcript
and where can I get one?
A transcript is an official record of your coursework at Virginia Tech. Transcripts may be required when you apply to other colleges or universities and often when you apply for employment. You may obtain copies of your OFFICIAL transcript either in person from the Office of the Registrar, Room 250, Student Services Building, or by mail or online; instructions are on the Registrar's website. There is a charge for an official transcript, and there is usually a waiting period for preparing it; most institutions that require a transcript will also require that it be sent to them directly by the Registrar’s office.
An UNOFFICIAL copy of your transcript can be obtained from Hokie Spa anytime. [top of page]
I had a great semester. Did I achieve Dean’s List?
Students who earn a 3.4 GPA on 12 or more hours attempted A-F achieve Dean’s List. Pass/Fail hours do not count toward Dean’s list eligibility and summer sessions are not included in Dean’s list eligibility. Students who achieve Dean’s List will receive an email invitation to request a Dean’s List Certificate. [top of page]
I don’t want to be at
Virginia Tech this semester but Hokie Spa will not allow me to drop all my
classes. What do I do?
You need to withdraw or resign. See the next question for more information. [top of page]
What is the
difference between withdrawing and resigning?
A student withdraws no later than the first day of the semester; no dean’s signature is required.
Beyond the first day, a student resigns, and a signature is required from the University Studies office. The form for withdrawing and resigning is the same. [top of page]
Course Withdrawal is a policy whereby you can drop a maximum of 6 hours during your academic career at Virginia Tech. Course Withdrawal is not available until after the normal six-week drop deadline date for a semester. The deadline for using course withdrawal is always the Friday of the week before the last regular day of classes for a semester, and you must meet with your advisor to initiate a course withdrawal. Courses for which you have applied course withdrawal remain on your transcript with a “W” grade. [top of page]
How do I know if my
course withdrawal request has been processed?
During the semester, look at your class schedule (NOT your transcript) on Hokie Spa.
Once grades for the semester are posted, look at your transcript on Hokie Spa. [top of page]
I’m in University
Studies, and I keep getting emails saying that I need to find a major. How long can I stay in University Studies?
You can stay in University Studies until you have completed 60 hours toward graduation, or until you have attempted 72 hours, even if some of those hours do not apply toward graduation. [top of page]
I transferred
out of University Studies into a major, but my new department does not have my advising
records and University Studies is still showing as my major on Hokie Spa. What’s wrong?
If you have allowed an appropriate amount of time for the
change to have taken place (at least 5 working days), you should contact your new Dean’s Office. By that time, your records will have been sent from University Studies to the office of the Dean of your new College. It is then their
responsibility to officially change your major so that it shows correctly on
Hokie Spa and to forward your advising records to your new Department. Following is a
list of Dean’s office contacts:
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Dove
Robertson, robertld@vt.edu
Pamplin College of Business, Julia Acton, jacton@vt.edu
{ECON:
Chris LaPlante, chrisl@vt.edu}