1. I received the email from my Advisor welcoming me to the program. What do I do next?
Now that you have been welcomed to the program, make sure to review the information provided by your academic advisor in your welcome email: attachments, hyperlinks within the email and your student log in information.
2. I am ready to register for classes. What do I do next?
If you are registering for an SPS class, visit the SPS Registration page to access instructions.
3. I do not know which classes I should be registering for the next term?
Your official degree audit is available to you through Degree Works. Please login to Degree Works through the Cardinal Apps portal. Degree Works will outline courses still needed to complete your degree. You may also email your Academic Advisor at any time to ask for class advice.
4. I visited the registration page and my class is not available and/or nothing is showing?
If the registration form does not appear, it means that registrations are currently closed. If the registration form is showing, but the class chosen is not showing, it means the class is full or not offered for the term. Full classes are removed from the registration drop down. Therefore, classes that have reached their capacity will no longer show in the drop down list.
5. I registered for a class but have not heard from my Advisor?
The registration page states that you will only receive communication about your registration if there is a problem. Otherwise, your registration has been approved. Remember that all official communication is only sent to your UIW email.
All SPS classes are offered in Canvas. If your registration has been approved and processed, you will see a link in Canvas to access your course(s). Please allow a minimum of twelve (12) hours from the day you register for courses to be viewable in Canvas.
6. I see the name of my class in Canvas, but I don't see any material available.
Professors are required to have all material available to the students by the Friday before the beginning of classes. Therefore, most of the links will be empty until the Friday before the beginning of the term.
7. How do I drop a course?
Students should communicate with their advisor before dropping a course. Deadlines for drops are noted on the Course Drop page. The decision to drop a course can greatly impact a student’s success in meeting their educational goals and graduation dates. Reaching out to an academic advisor will assist you in making the best decision for your enrollment. Advisors are available to meet with you in person at our Learning Centers, by phone and connect with you via email. If you are unsure of your assigned advisor, please login to your Degree Works audit tool within the Cardinal Apps portal and click on the "Advisor Name" listed within the Student View section or you may contact us through our general student email eapadvising@uiwtx.edu.
8. Do I need my advisor's signature to change my schedule/drop a class/withdraw from a class?
You do not need your advisor’s signature to change your schedule. However, you are encouraged to discuss the change with your advisor to ensure you are not impacting your graduation goals. You may change your schedule by self adding or self dropping before the deadlines listed for the first week of the term. After the add and drop deadlines, you must contact your advisor.
9. What is the last day to withdraw and receive a "W"?
The last day to drop a course within a term is the Friday of the sixth week of class, by 5 p.m. CST. Withdrawing from a course after the 100% deadline, will get you a 'W' grade for the course but you are still responsible for the full tuition for the course. Students should also contact Financial Aid to determine the impact this may have on their satisfactory progress regarding financial aid.
10. Can I take classes at UIW and SAC (or another college) at the same time?
You may take classes at UIW and SAC (or another college) at the same time if you receive approvals to do so. You must complete the "Request to Study at Another Institution" form and receive approval prior to enrolling elsewhere. Please be reminded that enrollment at UIW and another college (other than those approved through the inter-institutional) could affect your financial aid. Visit the Request to Study at Another Institution page and speak to your academic advisor.
11. How do I get a degree plan?
Your degree plan is available to you 24 hours a day through Degree Works. Login to the Cardinal Apps portal and click the Degree Works link to access. Degree Works is updated daily. Official degree audits are issued when the student has applied to graduate. Students should apply to graduate no less than one year prior to the anticipated date of graduation. If you are in your final year of enrollment, visit with your advisor to discuss your anticipated date of graduation.
12. How do I know what courses transferred and how they count toward a degree?
Degree Works will outline for you how your transferred courses applied to your degree plan. If you have any questions about the application of a course, please contact your academic advisor.
13. How are students classified?
- Freshman: 1 – 29 semester hours
- Sophom*ore: 30 – 59 semester hours
- Junior: 60 – 89 semester hours
- Senior: 90 or more semester hours
14. What are advanced hours?
Advanced hours are those courses that are considered junior or senior at UIW. The first number of the UIW course determines whether or not the course is considered advanced. At UIW, a number that starts with a "3 or 4" is considered advanced. All undergraduate degrees require 42 advanced hours. In no instance will a course taken at a junior/community/two-year college satisfy the advanced level requirement. While a course taken at a junior/community/two-year college may satisfy the degree requirements, thus substituting for the advanced course, it will not be used in the calculation of the required advanced hours.
15. When is the last day to register or add a class?
The Wednesday of the first week of class (week 1) is the last day to register for a course for that term. Please be advised that waiting until the first week of the term to register can place you at a disadvantage in selecting courses and/or missing parts of a course. Students are encouraged to register early to better prepare for classes.
16. How do I register for a class that is closed?
Each class has a limit on the number of students allowed to register for the class. The limit is based upon the space limitations of the room selected for the class. If the class you want is closed, your only option is to obtain over-ride approval signatures from the Dean of your school. Please contact your Academic Advisor for more information regarding this matter.
17. Can I take a course at another institution during my last semester at UIW?
Students must complete 36 of their last 45 hours at UIW. You may not take classes at another institution during your final semester at UIW.
18. I am not receiving all communication from UIW.
All official communication is emailed to your Cardinal email only (UIW email). It is the student’s responsibility to check their UIW email often.
19. Can I get my grades on the web?
You may view your semester grades or unofficial transcripts online using BannerWeb. If you have a hold in the Business Office, you will not be able to view your grades and must contact the Business Office to remove the hold. Grades are also available in Degree Works.
20. Can I get my grades or GPA over the phone?
Because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we cannot release your grades or your GPA over the phone. This information is available online through Cardinal Apps and BannerWeb.
21. Can I repeat a UIW course by taking the course at another institution?
No. Only UIW courses can replace courses recorded at UIW. Transfer work, CLEP or departmental examination cannot be used to repeat a course recorded at UIW. The last grade earned will be used in the calculation of the grade point average. Courses used to repeat recorded grades must be the exact course (i.e., same course number and title) of the original course for which the repeat is intended. While other courses may substitute for degree course requirements, they will not remove the original recorded grade from the grade point average calculation.
22. Can I protest a grade I received for a class?
The grades you receive each semester are considered final and are rarely over-turned. However, if you believe that you received a grade in error, you must contact your Academic Advisor to receive more information to initiate your appeal. All appeals must be in writing.
23. How long do I have to complete a grade of IP?
Undergraduates must complete their work for which an IP grade was recorded within the amount of time allocated by your instructor. Students who have applied to graduate must complete the IP course work by the last day to add or register for the semester during which they plan to graduate.
