ProjectAdvance

Note to Instructor: Transferring credit is a new and occasionally frustrating experience for new college students. For the first time, they have to initiate the transfer of their educational records. Hence, the information below should be reviewed carefully with the students. Students are responsible for ensuring that the college or university they choose receives an official Syracuse University transcript to evaluate their coursework.

Procedures for transferring credit are as follows:

A. Transcript request forms are provided by Syracuse University for teachers, guidance staff, and high school administrators to distribute to students. If a transcript request form is unavailable, refer to the transcript request letter sample. Students should give their full name; Social Security number; address; high school; SU courses taken; and the name, title, and address of the college official to whom the transcript should be sent.

B. Students should find out from their college catalogs where transcripts should be sent (registrar, admissions, etc.), as this differs among institutions.

C. Students should wait until they receive their final SU grade reports before mailing a transcript request. All parts of the transcript request form or letter should be sent to this address:

Syracuse University
Transcript Office
109 Steele Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-1120

Transcript request forms may also be faxed to 315-443-7994. Transcripts will not be sent when the request is made by telephone, e-mail, or an individual other than the student.

D. Students are advised to check with the college to which they are applying to confirm receipt of the transcript. If the transcript has not been received within six weeks of a request, students should contact the Syracuse University Transcript Office at the address listed above, or by calling 315-443-2422.

Occasionally students seeking credit and advanced standing at colleges and universities other than SU find that people misunderstand the term "Project Advance." They assume the term indicates courses especially designed by SU for high school students. In fact, the courses are regular SU courses, identical in every important respect to those taught in the colleges on the University campus, i.e. the same textbooks and curriculum are used.

Moreover, Project Advance administers its courses entirely in accordance with the framework, rules, and academic guidelines covering all courses offered by SU. With this in mind, we suggest that instructors, guidance counselors, and all others who speak with students about these courses refer to them as SU or Syracuse University courses and use the course name and number (e.g. WRT 105, ETS 141, MAT 295). We also suggest the following procedure for students seeking recognition in college:

• College applications often question whether the applicant has ever enrolled at, or down coursework with, another college or university. Students should answer "Yes" and explain that they were enrolled as part-time, non-matriculated students in the College of Arts and Sciences, L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science, Whitman School of Management, etc. at Syracuse University.

• In both correspondence and discussion with college officials, students should refer to the course(s) taken by name and number (e.g., PSY 205).

• Students should be sure they have requested, and the college has received, an official Syracuse University transcript of all coursework taken through the University.

• If the question of transfer of credit or advanced standing depends on showing a similarity between course content at the institution the student will attend and the Syracuse University course, the student should request that the faculty or other college officials making the decision review the course syllabi or manuals, course descriptions, and student portfolios as appropriate. Brief course descriptions also appear in the official Syracuse University Bulletin: Undergraduate Course Catalog. More extensive course descriptions are available on this website.

• Some colleges require or make available a validating examination to evaluate transfer students' preparation for advanced coursework. Alternatively, students may have the opportunity to register for the advanced course at their own risk. If a question arises about their preparation, they should request an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for advanced work.

• If, after a student has followed the preceding steps, faculty or officials at the college have questions the student cannot answer, the student should request assistance from the Project Advance office by contacting the director in writing, by phone, or by e-mail:
  
  Director
  Syracuse University Project Advance
  400 Ostrom Avenue
  Syracuse, NY 13244-3250
  315-443-2404
  help@supa.syr.edu
  
  

The student should communicate the name, title address, and phone number of the faculty member or the official, and the nature of his or her questions.

G. Above all, students should not give up if their college or university is initially unwilling to recognize their college or university is initially unwilling to recognize their SU coursework for credit and/or replacement. Most colleges want to give students proper placement based on their achievement. If the institution needs further clarification or evidence of the work completed, students should ask Project Advance for assistance and encourage college officials to do so at any time.