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1. How can I change my major?
Students who are considering a change of major into one of the departments in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) should contact the proposed major department or the CAED Advising Center in Bldg. 05, Room 221 for information and program requirements. CAED students who are considering a change of major outside of the college will need to contact the proposed department for information and program requirements and then make an appointment with Ellen Notermann in the CAED Advising Center (756-1325). Students who are not sure which major would best suit their interests and abilities should contact the Career Services office in Bldg. 124, Room 114.
2. How can I get into a required class that is closed?
You should keep checking class availability via POWER or CAPTURE because new sections may have been added. If the course is being offered by your own department, you may want to contact the department to advise them of your inability to register for the course and to see if a list is being kept of students who are requesting the class. If that doesn't work, then you will have to "crash" the course on the first day of the class. If you are still unable to enroll in the class, you should see your faculty advisor to review your schedule of courses.
3. How do I interpret my evaluation form?
What classes did I get credit for?
Credit has been given for any course listed on the evaluation form which has the unit value marked off (/ or x), regardless if there is a "+" or " - " sign after the unit value. Courses which are "in progress" are marked with a circle around the unit value. Contact either the CAED Advising Center for any questions regarding your evaluation or the Evaluations office in Bldg. 01, Room 218.
4. What kind of computer will I need?
You should contact your department office for information.
5. How can I substitute one course requirement for another?
To substitute either a major or support course or a general education course you will need to get a petition from the CAED Advising Center and obtain the appropriate signatures.
6. What do I need to do to take a leave from my studies?
If you are in good academic standing (not on academic probation), you may take an Educational Leave for up to two years. A Petition for Educational Leave can be picked up at the Office of Academic Records.
8. How does the university know when I want to graduate?
Four quarters before you plan to graduate, you will need to pick up a Request for Graduation Evaluation form from the Office of Academic Records. Completion of this form will initiate a final evaluation of your program requirements and set the process in motion for your graduation.
9. I am having academic difficulty in one or more of my classes.
What should I do?
You should contact the faculty member(s) who is teaching the course to discuss any problems you are having. You should also contact your faculty advisor or the CAED Advising Center as soon as you realize you are in academic difficulty. There are many campus resources available to you including the Academic Skills Center, Writing Lab, tutoring, etc.
10. I am having personal or health problems this quarter which are affecting my academics. What should I do?
You should contact the CAED Advising Center for referral to campus resources such as Health Services, Psychological Services, Financial Aid, etc.
11. Which catalog should I follow?
Students may elect to follow either the catalog in effect at the time they entered Cal Poly, or any catalog in effect during the time they are in attendance through graduation, provided they have been in continuous enrollment. Transfer students may be eligible to graduate under the catalog requirements in effect at the time they began attendance at a California community college, California State University campus, or any combination of California community colleges and campuses of the California State University provided they have been in continuous enrollment.
12. How do I find a part-time job while going to school?
The Career Services office has a Student Employment office which has listings of many part-time jobs.
13. How do I fulfill the U.S. Cultural Pluralism Requirement?
Refer to the list of courses in the current quarter's Schedule of Classes booklet which fulfill the USCP requirement. Many courses do "double duty" and fulfill both a General Education course requirement and the USCP. English 345 and English 346 do "triple duty" and fulfill the C.3 General Education requirement, the USCP and the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR). View the USCP listings online at: http://www.calpoly.edu/~acadprog/USCP.html.
14. How do I fulfill the Graduation Writing Requirement?
Students who have completed 90 units may fulfill the Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) either by enrolling in a specified upper-division literature or writing course (see quarterly Schedule of Classes booklet) or by passing the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) which is normally given once each quarter on a Saturday morning. Contact either the CAED Advising Center for dates of the examinations or call the Writing Skills Program Office at 756-2067.
15. I need help with my writing skills. What should I do?
The Writing Skills Office located in Bldg. 10, room 130 can assist you in improving your writing skills and in preparing for the Writing Proficiency Examination.
16. Who is my faculty advisor?
You will need to contact your major department office for information about who has been assigned as your faculty advisor. For Architecture majors, a group of faculty advise all students and are available on a walk-in basis according to a posted schedule in Bldg 05, Room 216.
17. How do I withdraw from a course?
To withdraw from a course after the drop deadline, you must pick up a Course Withdrawal form from the Office of Academic Records and obtain the appropriate signatures. The W grading symbol will be assigned to the course and is not used in calculating grade point averages. Withdrawals are permitted only if there are serious and compelling reasons for withdrawal.
18. How can I be sure that courses taken at a community college are equivalent to Cal Poly courses?
Articulation agreements between Cal Poly and all California community colleges, California State University campuses and most University of California campuses are available to be referenced in the CAED Advising Center in Bldg. 05, Room 221.
19. Where would I go to find a tutor?
Tutoring information is posted on the bulletin board outside Bldg. 05, Room 212.
20. How do I find out about competitions or scholarships?
Information about scholarships and student competitions is available on the bulletin board outside of Bldg. 05, Room 212.
21. Where can I review the contents of my student file folder?
Your student file folder is located in the CAED Advising Center in Bldg. 05, room 221, and can be looked out anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
22. Where can I get information about General Education Requirements?
Information about General Education Requirements for the majors in the CAED can be found in the Cal Poly catalog, on the Curriculum Sheets for each major.
25. What do I do if I am on Academic Probation?
If you are placed on academic probation as a result of your last quarter's grades, you will receive a letter from the dean of the CAED stating the academic conditions you will need to meet during the current quarter. In addition, you will need to complete a three-quarter academic plan with your faculty advisor to avoid a "hold" being placed on your next quarter's registration. The CAED's Academic Probation Policy is available on the Web
26. What are the curriculum requirements for my major?
Curriculum requirements are listed on the departmental curriculum sheets which are available in the CAED Advising Center, in the Cal Poly catalog.
27. How do I find out when courses will be offered?
Tentative course offerings for the following winter and spring quarters are listed in the back of the fall quarter schedule of classes booklet. For majors in the CAED, courses are generally offered according to the plan on the departmental "flowchart" of courses.
28. What is the minimum passing grade for a major or support course?
Except for the major of Architectural Engineering (ArcE), a "D-" is the minimum passing grade for major or support courses. Architectural Engineering majors must earn at least a "C-" in major and support courses.
29. How do I find out about Financial Aid?
Contact the Financial Aid Office in Bldg. 01, Room 212. Financial Aid information is also available online at: http://www.calpoly.edu/~finaid/
30. How can I get a list of my departmental/professional electives?
You can get a copy of your program's professional electives in your major department's office, in the CAED Advising Center or from our site.
31. How do I get information about restricted classes?
You will need to contact the academic department which is offering the restricted class.
32. How do I find out my grades at the end of the quarter?
Grades are available on the Web: http://www.MustangInfo.calpoly.edu and on the telephone by calling CAPTURE at 756-7777 between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. beginning the Wednesday after finals.