Frequently Asked Questions for Students
2009-2010 Academic Year
As a student, you are very likely to find registration this semester to be the most challenging that you have ever experienced at Cal State Fullerton. This is because of the unprecedented financial situation that the State of California is facing. How does this affect you? We have tried to anticipate some of your questions and have attempted to provide answers, advice and assistance during these challenging times.
Registering for Classes
1. Why was my class cancelled, and why can’t I find any open classes?
The State of California is experiencing unprecedented budget problems, and as a result, the CSU Board of Trustees finalized a plan to manage a $584 million budget deficit to the CSU that includes furloughs for employees, a fee increase for students, and enrollment reductions for the next two years. While every attempt has been made at Cal State Fullerton to preserve the quality of our academic programs and the services we provide to students, some reductions in courses and sections have occurred.
If one or more of your classes were cancelled or you are having difficulty finding an open class, discuss the following options with your major advisor or an advisor in the Academic Advisement Center (UH 123B): * .
- What is the most effective way to use Titan Online to find open general education and/or major courses?
- How can you use Titan Degree Audit as an academic planning tool?
- Discuss the option of taking courses during the 2010 Intersession or during 2010 Summer Session.
- If you are considering Study Abroad, determine if any of the courses taken through that program could be applied toward your major or GE requirements.
- What opportunities are there for Independent Study or Internship credit?
- Is taking a course(s) at a Community College an option for you?
* To contact a general education advisor in the Academic Advisement Center, students are welcome to walk-in or, send an e-mail to acadvise@fullerton.edu or visit the website at www.fullerton.edu/aac. Students are advised to first check the website for the center’s office hours.
Major advisors can be contacted through the appropriate academic department.
2. Given the reduced availability of courses and sections, how many units can students enroll in?
Due to limited course offerings and to protect all students’ ability to get the classes they need to graduate, CSUF has restricted the number of units in which students are allowed to register. Effective fall 2009, undergraduate and graduate students will be limited to 16 units on their registration date. Some courses will also be offered less frequently. Students should plan carefully to stay on track for graduation and follow their “major” academic plans along with their Titan Degree Audit. If you have questions, talk with your advisor.
3. I went into a class today and there were empty seats, but the instructor said he/she couldn’t add anyone. Why not?
Each course is assigned a maximum enrollment cap (the maximum number of students to be enrolled in a class). This cap is determined to maximize student learning and is based on a variety of factors, such as the type of instruction (e.g., lecture, seminar or laboratory) offered, and the kinds of assignments that will be required (e.g., intensive writing, lab sessions). Also, classrooms are often allocated on a space-available basis, so large rooms may be given to courses with smaller permissible enrollments. An additional and equally important factor that affects classroom seating is that each classroom has an official occupancy limit, set by the fire marshal, which may not be exceeded. Physically moving additional seats into a classroom may not be permissible, even though the room may appear capable of accommodating more.
4. How do I get permission to enroll in a class that is closed?
To obtain permission to add a class you must secure the consent of the instructor and obtain a “permit”. Depending on the department, the request to place the permit may happen in one of two ways. Either the instructor will notify department staff to place the permit, or students may be given a permission slip to present to department staff personally. After the permit is placed, students must complete the registration process through Titan Online, by 12 midnight on Tuesday, September 8. It is highly advisable to complete the on-line add process as soon as the permit is issued. Remember, however, all students will be limited to 16 units with a very few exceptions for critical needs such as completion of a degree in the current semester.
For more information about adding courses after Titan II has closed, visit the Admissions and Records website at http://www.fullerton.edu/admissions/ and click on fall 2009 Registration Information; then click on Adding Courses.
5. Can I get on a waiting list for the next available seat?
Decisions about how to add students as seats become available are made by individual academic departments. Wait listing gives students the opportunity to add a course with the possibility of getting into that course should a seat become available. This can only be done when registering through Titan Online.
You may waitlist for a maximum of 8 units, provided that the waitlist is not already full. (Note: Waitlisted units are not included toward your enrollment unit limit. Once you successfully get into the class, then these units will count towards your enrollment unit limit.) You must meet any requirements for the class before you can be placed on the waitlist, (e.g., course pre-requisites, section co-requisites, major and class level restrictions). For more information on wait listing at CSUF, refer to the fall 2009 Class Schedule that can be found at http://www.fullerton.edu/admissions/CurrentStudent/Fall2009/Fall2009.pdf
6. I can’t get into a major/general education course I need to graduate or to meet a prerequisite. What can I do?
While CSUF has reduced its enrollment to align demand for course sections, providing students with the courses they need to graduate continues to be a high priority. Below are suggestions to assist you in facilitating your time-to-degree:
- Make an appointment with your major or general education advisor to explore options. Sometimes, substitutions or equivalencies may be permitted and departments can suggest alternative ways to meet graduation requirements. You may be able to take needed classes at community colleges, other CSUs or online at other four-year universities.
- Check with ASSIST at http://www.assist.org/ to see if a course offered at another institution has been approved for transferability to CSUF. ASSIST is an official online student-transfer information system for public California colleges and universities. Please be aware that this option may not be possible because of accreditation or other academic issues that require certain courses to be taken only at CSUF. Always consult an advisor in your department (or for General Education related courses, an academic advisor in the Academic Advisement Center, UH 123B), before you officially enroll in such a course.
7. I am a graduating senior for fall 2009 or spring 2010 and I have already enrolled in the maximum number of units allowed for this semester (16 units). What do I do now?
Providing students with the courses they need to graduate is one of CSUF’s highest priorities. Below are some academic planning options that CSU, Fullerton faculty and staff recommend to assist you in facilitating your time to degree.
Appeal Process:
If the student is a candidate for graduation for the fall 2009 term:
- The student must speak to the advisor and get signature approval of the excess units on the appropriate form.
- Attach a letter to the form explaining the situation and a copy of the TDA confirming this is the remaining outstanding requirement for graduation.
- The excess unit forms will be reviewed for possible processing with confirmed fall 2009 candidates being given priority if the approved excess units will complete the final course requirements for graduation. All of this is subject to Academic Affairs approval of processing any of the excess unit forms.
- After Appeal is Approved: If it is a general education course, meet with an academic advisor in the Academic Advisement Center located in UH-123B. If it is a major course, consult with your major advisor to find an open major course, a course offered in Intersession or Summer Session, or an Internship or Independent study course.
Fees and Tuition
1. Did the CSU Board of Trustees raise fees again?
Yes, on July 21, 2009 the Board of Trustees increased the 2009-2010 State University Fee by an additional annual amount of $672 for California resident undergraduate students, $780 for California resident credential program students and $828 for California graduate and post-baccalaureate students. An additional per unit tuition increase of $33 for non-resident tuition was also approved. Please note that this increase is in addition to the 10% increase in fees announced in the spring. Additionally, a Graduate Business Professional Fee of $210 per semester unit will be applicable to some MBA and Master’s programs. The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU must reserve the right, even after initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify any listed fees, without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU listed fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by The Board of Trustees.
2. When will the increase in fees be due?
All fees, including fee increases, for fall 2009 are now due and payable.
3. How can you ensure your fees are paid on time and avoid disenrollment?
- Check both your financial aid application status and your student account regularly by logging into Titan Online via your student portal (http://www.fullerton.edu) and click on “Student Center”. Select “Account Inquiry” to view any current balances due.
- If you are offered a student loan to cover your fees, please view your account online to ensure your payment or loan acceptance is reflected on your account. If not, immediately follow all instructions to accept the loan and select a lender.
- If you decline your loan and do not have other financial aid, you are responsible for fee payment at the time you register. If you have any questions, you may contact the Office of Student Financial Services by e-mail at sfs@fullerton.edu (please include your full name and CWID) or by calling 657-278-2495.
Financial Aid Adjustments
1. Will my financial aid be adjusted to cover the increase in fees and tuition?
- Students with State University Grant (SUG) or Cal Grant awards will not be affected by the fee increase. The awards will be adjusted automatically to accommodate the increased fee. After census, students will receive an email informing them that their award was updated to cover the amount of their fees.
- Students with non-grant aid will have their financial aid award automatically reviewed during fall semester. Students who are eligible for additional aid will be notified of the options available to them. Students who have not yet accepted their non-grant aid such as loans may want to consider accepting a portion of a loan to cover the increased fee.
- Students do not need to contact the Office of Financial Aid as the staff will automatically make adjustments to maximize their aid eligibility.
2. Is it too late to apply for financial aid?
You can apply for financial aid for the 2009-2010 academic year at any time before the last day of Spring 2010 semester. Obviously, the sooner you apply the better. For information on applying for financial aid go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Furloughs
1. What is a furlough?
A furlough is a mandated period of time off without pay. Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status and benefits. Employees are not required to work on furlough days. The corresponding reduction in pay for most faculty, staff and administrators is approximately 10%. Public safety personnel in the CSU and at CSUF are not subject to furlough.
2. Will furloughs and closures of the campus affect classes and services to students?
Since employee salaries and benefits make up 85% of the CSU’s operating budget, and given the magnitude of the budget cuts for the CSU system, to meet the budget deficit, it was necessary to either lay off faculty and staff or implement the alternative solution of furloughs. During the summer, the CSU Board of Trustees approved changes to state regulations that would allow managers and non-represented employees to be furloughed two days per month beginning August 1. Subsequently, the California Faculty Association (CFA) voted for furloughs for full and part-time faculty and represented employees in the CSUEU, APC, and Physicians collective bargaining units also voted for furloughs. Complete information about the budget and these processes can be found at this website.
Faculty Furloughs
Unlike staff and administrators, only 3 furlough days have been designated for all faculty for Fall 2009.
For Fall 2009 the furlough days for all faculty are :
Tuesday, October 20
Wednesday, October 21
Thursday, October 22
On these designated furlough days , faculty will not teach classes or hold office hours. The remaining furlough days for faculty during Fall 2009 will be decided individually by faculty to minimize the impact on teaching and student learning. Faculty will include information about their individual furlough plans on course syllabi, to insure that students are aware of the dates when classes do not meet, and the availability of the faculty member for advisement, office hours, etc.
Staff and Management Furloughs
A Furlough Calendar was developed to schedule 24 furlough days for effected employees and managers. Of the designated employee furlough days, please note that:
- Five (5) of the scheduled 24 furlough days occur on days when classes are not scheduled (the week of Thanksgiving and one day each during the Winter Break and Spring Recess).
- The remaining 19 furlough days for employees occur on days when classes are scheduled. These are called “Campus Reduced Services” days. and minimal services will be provided. Most offices and departments will be closed. A listing of which departments will remain open or partially open is posted here. Students are advised to check the furlough calendar and to call offices and departments to determine if they are open. Questions about the furlough process or calendar may be sent to: furlough@fullerton.edu.
