St. Lawrence University Registrar's Office Major and Minor Approvals for Chairs

Major/Minor Approvals for Department Chairs

What:
Major/minor approval processing is the mechanism by which a student’s major or minor requirements are approved for graduation by the Chairperson of each Academic Department or Program.

When:
Unofficial transcripts are generally emailed (.pdf) shortly after add/drop during the last semester of each student’s senior year, though other approvals may be sent on a case by case basis as necessary.

How:
The Registrar’s Office emails unofficial transcripts for each student based on their major or minor. The email includes an explanation of the procedure including term of anticipated graduation, due date to the Registrar’s Office and reviews steps 1-6 below:

1. Check each student’s transcript against the catalog requirements for their major or minor.
2. Note either “approved”, “denied” or “pending…” on each transcript with any deficiencies or “approval pending…” comments.
3. Sign and date each transcript (Signatures are required from each chairperson on each transcript) OR email a list of students with approval/denial/pending, comments and departmental honors. Note: Email approvals can only be accepted when sent from your St. Lawrence University email account. Approvals become part of each student’s cumulative record folder.
4. Note whether or not each student meets departmental honors requirements. “Approval pending…” comments may be noted for honors as well.
5. Return the transcript to the Registrar’s Office by the due date.
6. Special note regarding Combined Majors:

a. Signatures are required from the chair of EACH department of a combined major. A single chair cannot sign for both sides of the major. Transcripts are sent to each chair of a combined major.
b. Combined major and honors: A student is only recognized for departmental honors when BOTH chairs of a combined major indicate departmental honors in their respective department.