We are here to support you! If the FAQs do not cover your question, send us an email at: advising@oldwestbury.edu
Q: How do I check who my advisor is?
A: Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Applications > Navigate > Appointments > Your Team
An advisor is assigned by several weeks into a semester for new students, students who changed a major, students who moved up from a class to another (First-Year to Sophomore and/or Sophomore to Junior).
If you don’t find an advisor assigned to you in Navigate, please contact advising@oldwestbury.edu. We will arrange to have an advisor assigned to you with an appropriate department.
Q: How can I make an appointment with my advisor?
A: The way you make appointments varies depending on where you are in your degree. First-Year and Sophomore students in the School of Arts & Sciences will receive an email with a link to schedule a meeting appointment. For the other students, please send email to your assigned advisor as to make an appointment.
Q: Do I have to come to the campus for academic advising?
A: Since Spring of 2020, meetings for Academic Planning/Advising are mostly done remotely, and you don’t have to come to the Campus. The Advisors in the Academic Planning Center use Microsoft Teams to which all OW students have access. You will receive a link for a meeting prior to your appointment.
Advisors in the other campus offices use MS Teams, Zoom, and/or OW Email.
Please contact your advisor and make an arrangement if you prefer to meet in person.
Q: Who should receive an academic advising?
A:
Required: First-Year Students, Students on Probation, and new Transfer Students
Not required but strongly recommended: Continuing Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors in Good Standing
Q: I'm a parent and wants to discuss my child's academic concerns with an advisor. Is it possible?
A: While we appreciate and welcome your involvement in your student's education, we are restricted to discuss student records with a third-party by the Federal Law. We encourage that you keep conversations open with your student. Your student may file a FERPA release form with the Office of the Registrar so that parents/guardians can gain access to speaking with an advisor. For more information, please read Resources and Information for Our Parents/Guardians.
Advisors at APC work flexibly when a parent/guardian joins our remote advising session as an observer when the student permits it. However, we appreciate your remaining as an observer; please speak only when your student or the advisor yield you to do so. It is important to respect student's space and have them get used to take an initiative in a decision-making process; let's nurture your student's ability to make own decisions based on the information we provide them.
Please help us support your student's success by encouraging them to check Campus Email regularly and take actions and reminding them that we are here to help.
MAJORS AND DEGREE PLANS
Q: How do i choose a major?
A: Choosing your best-fit Major takes a thoughtful process. What Can I Do With This Major can help you connect majors to careers. To view the contents, check under the Student Resource page > What Can I Do With This Major.
You can explore What-If for different majors/minors in Degree Audit: How to use “What-If”.
Q: How can I declare or change my major?
A: Declaration of Major can be done online:
Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Registrar Forms > Declaration of Major/Minor Form
Your form will be reviewed by the major department and processed by the Office of the Registrar. Please allow some time to reflect in your records. You can use Degree Audit What-If to view the requirements/progress under the new major in the meantime.
Q: I have all the boxes checked off in Degree Audit but Degree progress doesn't reach to 100%. Why?
A: Do you have 120 credits? Degree Audit does not have a dedicated section for general electives. Figuring out how many General Elective credits you need require a little math.
120 – (Credits Applied + Pending transfer credits + Courses still needed x 4 credits*) = General Electives needed
The highest percentage you would see before graduation is 98 or 99% since your courses are still in progress.
*Adjust if there are irregular credits courses
Q: I need Help on Degree Audit.
A: The Degree Audit shows your degree requirements and progress. You can also run a “What-If” scenario for different majors and minors. Please contact your assigned advisor to go over your requirements.
To Access: Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Applications> Degree Audit.
Q: I have an AA degree and was told that my general education was fulfilled. But my degree audit still shows 'still needed.'
A: Students with an AA or AS degree from CUNY or SUNY community colleges are considered ‘met’ for General Education requirements.* However, your official transcript must state the degree was awarded. Often students are admitted during their final semester at the community college and failed to submit the final official transcript. Please follow up with Transfer Student Services.
*Except Diversity and Math & Writing Proficiencies for those transferred prior to Fall 2023; or Except Math & Writing Proficiencies for those transferred in/after Fall 2023. Also, this policy is not applicable for AAS or AOS degrees or degrees earned at non-CUNY/SUNY colleges.
Q: I have met with my advisor but I need someone to help me create a schedule.
A: A Tip to make a schedule is identifying your priority. Usually, you want to find a class that is the most important to take in a given semester for your degree progress first, then schedule the other classes around the priority class. Your priority class can be a prerequisite course for your major such as an introductory course or a writing proficiency course such as EL22xx. Please contact your advisor if that was not discussed during your meeting.
Please try Navigate Academic Planner to build your schedule: Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Applications > Navigate > Planner (or Schedule Courses)
Q: How many classes should I take?
A: In general, we suggest four courses (16 credits) per semester to graduate in four years, but students who work long hours or have substantial personal commitments may wish to consider a 12-credit course load*.
Students are expected to spend two hours studying and preparing outside of class for every hour spent in the classroom. A 12-credit course load would require students to spend an additional 24 hours studying per week outside of class, while a 16-credit course load would require 32 hours of studying per week.
*The minimum number of credits to be a full-time student is 12, or three four-credit classes, but taking only 12 credits per semester will take longer to graduate unless making up by attending summer classes.
Q: can i take all my classes on two days?
A: Many students who commute and work outside of school wish to arrange their schedule so they are only coming to campus two days a week. While such an arrangement is tempting, it’s not without drawbacks. Students who try and spend 7-8 hours a day in class often have a very difficult time concentrating by the end of the day. Students also tend to feel more engaged in the Old Westbury community when they are coming to campus more than two days a week. While two day schedules are sometimes possible, we encourage students to schedule their classes throughout the week.
Q: do I meet the prerequisites for the classes I want?
A: When looking at available classes, students should also pay close attention to the prerequisites listed in the course details. Students who have not yet earned proficiency in writing (OW WRIT 50) need to pay special attention to the writing placement courses require. Most introductory science classes require proficiency in Math. Usually, upper division courses in a department require some introductory coursework as a prerequisite. If there is a class you need but lack the prerequisites for, an advisor can help you plan your coursework so you fill those prerequisites in a timely manner.
Q: Can I graduate with Online or Remote classes only?
A: While Old Westbury offers some online and remote classes, students should not count on taking all of their coursework online. According to the New York State Education department, unless a degree program is approved for online delivery, only half (50%) of a student’s total credits can be completed online.
The only undergraduate programs at Old Westbury that are approved for a 100% online delivery are the BPS in Professional Studies and BS in General Studies. [as of Spring 2024]
REGISTRATION
Q: how can i get my pin?
A: New students should first sign up for an Orientation session. Once your Orientation date is confirmed, your name will be added to the list for academic advising invitations. Your advisor will give you a PIN for registration upon completion of the advising appointment.
Q: Can i drop a course and add another?
A: Add means registering. You can add and/or drop courses until the end of Add/Drop period set in the first week of each semester. Beyond the period, you can still remove a course by Withdrawal up to a certain date but cannot add another course. Refer Dates, Deadlines and General Information.
Q: How can i remove registration holds?
A: You need to contact the Office which placed a hold to your account except "Seek an Academic Advising" Hold (see the table below) and E-Filing Hold. E-filing Hold won't affect your ability to register for classes, so no action is necessary.
Common Holds
| Hold | Issued by | Contact |
| Bursar | Bursar | bursar@oldwestbury.edu Campus Center Student Solution Center (above Atrium) |
| High School Graduation Proof | Admissions | enroll@oldwestbury.edu Student Union Lower Level |
| Immunization | Student Health | studenthealth@oldwestbury.edu Campus Center 1st Floor of I-Wing |
| Seek an Academic Advising | Academic Planning Center | Contact your assigned advisor to schedule an appointment. Your advisor will request APC to remove the hold after speaking with you. |
For more information, check FAQ by the Office of the Registrar
Q: how can i check if i have a registration hold?
A: You can check if you have a hold and what it relates to in
Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Banner SSB > Registration > Prepare for Registration > Select Term
Q: how can i register for courses?
A: First, understand your requirements by meeting with your advisor and/or reviewing Degree Audit:
- Meeting with an advisor is required for First-Year Students, Students on Probation, and new Transfer Students.
- Continuing Students: we strongly recommend that you schedule an advising appointment with your advisor. Plan ahead so that you can see your advisor with ample time prior to registration. If you are in Good Standing, you may register prior to meeting with your advisor.
- New Students: an email invitation to make an advising appointment will be sent after your orientation date is confirmed. Please make sure to sign up for orientation. Advisor cannot give you a PIN without advising.
There are a few different ways to register for courses, but all are accessible via Connect OW.
Option 1: Connect OW > Banner SSB Registration > Register for Classes
- Registration Guide (Revised: April 2023)
Option 2: Connect OW > Applications > Navigate > Schedule Courses (or Planner)
Q: I got an error message when I tried to register.
Q: I attended ow in the past, and i would like to return.
A: If you didn’t attend two or more semesters, you need to submit a Readmission Form.
Once you are reinstated, contact your advisor via OW Email* for an advising appointment.
If you didn't attend for 5 years or more, you need to reapply through SUNY Application Form.
For more information, please read Readmissions to SUNY Old Westbury.
*We cannot discuss details of student records over the telephone or through non-SUNY email. OW email is the official mode of communication for our University.
Q: I was suspended. why? how does it affect me?
A: Students who were already on Probation and earned a GPA below 2.0 for both Semester and Cumulative are placed on Suspension.
Suspended students cannot attend the subsequent semester. However, Suspended students may appeal in the Academic Hearing for an uninterrupted return. Contact the Office of Registrar for an appointment.
Suspended students who sat out for a semester and wish to return should contact their assigned advisor to discuss the academic plans prior to the course registration. Suspended students who took a pause out for two semesters or more should submit a Readmissions Form.
Q: My record says i am on probation. why? what does it mean to me?
A: Academic standing is defined by your GPAs after each semester ends. You are on Probation when either a semester GPA or cumulative GPA is below2.0.
You are not restricted to the number of credits you can take in the following semester but restricted for participation in extracurricular activities. Also, an Advising hold will be placed on your account, and you are required to seek an academic advising prior to registration.
Q: How do I withdraw from a course?
A: You can withdraw from a course by the deadline. You do not need Instructor approval up to the 10th week into a semester. Instructor approval is required beyond it. Check Academic Calendars in the Registrar’s webpage for the dates.
To Withdraw: Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Registrar Forms > Withdrawal Form
To Check CRNs: Connect.Oldwestbury.edu > Banner SSB Registration - Add/Drop Classes > Registration Information > Schedule Details
Q: what's the impact on my records if i withdraw from a course?
A: When you withdraw from a course, you will receive a W grade which will not impact on your GPA. However, habitual Withdrawals will give a negative impression on the future application for internships, graduate schools, and/or employment. Speak to your instructor and/or advisor to explore your options before withdrawing. Contact your Financial Aid Advisor prior to withdrawing because withdrawal from a course may affect your eligibility.