Getting Back on Track Academically

Are you behind in credits?
Worried about graduating on time?
Not sure how to complete your general education, major, or minor requirements? 
Need to boost your GPA?

________________________________________________________________

To make up credits, you have a few options:

• Take additional units during a Fall or Spring semester. You may take up to 4.75 units in any semester. If you are in good academic standing, you may overload at no cost for up to 5.75 units, using an overload form found on the Registrar's Office website.

• Take courses during SLU's online summerterm. Summerterm courses are regular SLU courses, mostly worth 1 unit and potentially fulfilling gen ed and major requirements, and they contribute to your SLU GPA.

• Transfer courses taken at another college or university. Once you have matriculated at SLU, you may transfer in a maximum of 8 units of credit (note that 3-credit-hour courses are worth .83 units, while 4-credit-hour courses are worth 1.11 units). For information on the transfer credit process, see the detailed information on the Registrar's Office website.

• If you are a senior behind by more than 2 units, you may petition to participate in Senior Week and walk at Commencement. In your petition, you should clearly articulate your plan to complete all remaining units (and any other requirements).

If you are behind in major requirements...

  • Review your major requirements on the department website or in APR2.
  • Talk with your academic advisor to plan for when to take the needed courses.
  • Talk with the department chair about anything that seems unclear or incorrect.

If you are behind in gen ed requirements...

  • Check APR2 to see what you still need to fulfill.
  • When preparing for registration, check restrictions on specific courses (such as no-juniors/seniors). Seek instructor permission as needed (schedule a meeting or contact them via e-mail).
  • Talk with your academic advisor to plan for when to take needed courses.

If your GPA is low due to courses which you failed or earned low grades in...

  • Repeat a course that you failed or need a higher grade in as a requirement. The higher grade will replace the lower one in your GPA calculation. Note that if you passed the course the first time, you cannot earn additional units toward completion with the repeat attempt.
    • Consider repeating a course if you are on academic notice for your cumulative GPA or for your major GPA. Otherwise, it is generally not worth it.
  • To repeat a course, fill out a repeat course petition on the Registrar's Office website. Note that you must add the course with an add/drop form, also on the Registrar's Office website.

For general advice on getting back on track academically...

  • Meet with Academic Advising if you want help sketching out a plan for your remaining semesters and making sure everything fits in your schedule.
  • Meet with your academic advisor.