Academics and Advising

No, students cannot be required to meet outside of the times published in the class schedule.

If you have concerns about this, please contact the department chair for the department offering the course using the Colleges and Academic Departments page to find their contact information.

Most courses no longer need a permission number for enrollment during the first week of the semester. If seats are available and the course does not specify if permission is required, then you can enroll in the course like normal until the start of the second week of the semester. 

It's good practice to check the iLearn, SF State's learning management system, for information about your current classes. Typically, iLearn information will be posted prior to the start of the semester.

For online classes, if your iLearn doesn’t have any information and you haven’t been contacted by the faculty member by the start of the semester, reach out to them directly via email.

If you do not receive a response or the name of the instructor is not listed in the class schedule, email the department where the course is offered (for example for PHIL 110 you would email the Philosophy Department). Be sure to include specific information about your course including the department prefix and course number, title of the course, section number, faculty member’s name, and your name and student ID number. Someone from the department will assist you. Please refer to the Colleges and Academic Departments page.

Start by consulting the course syllabus and iLearn site to determine when office hours are held and how they will be offered, either in-person or online. If you're unable to locate the hours, please contact the department chair using the Colleges and Academic Departments page to find the right contact.

The AT Zoom Support Page covers the basics of Zoom, how to use Zoom in iLearn, and other additional Zoom features. Additional support is available from the Zoom Help Center.

Through iLearn, you can sign up for an online workshop sponsored by The Tutoring and Academic Support Center (TASC): Learning Online 101: How to Be an Effective Online Learner 

To support you in developing the study skills needed to be successful in remote learning modalities, TASC has launched a fully online course: Learning Online 101. You can work at your own pace through four modules, which aim to boost your confidence in learning online, equip you with the tools necessary to be a positive community member, and give you the opportunity to use the technology you will encounter in your courses. Students and faculty may self-enroll at: https://ilearn.sfsu.edu/collab/course/view.php?id=1775

In addition, please see the Keep Learning - Student Quickguide resource for assistance learning via remote modalities.

It is possible to change your grading option to CR/NC for classes that offer this grading option. It is important to keep in mind that not all classes have the CR/NC grading option. Please consult the Registrar's website for deadlines by semester.

You can view the grading option you are currently enrolled in for each of your courses in the Class Schedule section of your Student Center. Instructions on how to elect another valid grading option for any eligible course are available here. All valid grading options for the class will appear in the drop-down selection box. Not all classes have multiple grading options – some classes are offered only with a letter grade option, or only with a CR/NC grade option.

An undergraduate student who chooses to take a course with CR/NC grading, will earn a CR for a grade of C- and above and will earn a NC grade for a grade of D+ and below. A graduate student who chooses to take a course with CR/NC grading, will earn a CR for a grade of B- and above and will earn a NC grade for a grade of C+ and below. Grades of CR/NC are not calculated into your GPA and do not have a positive or negative effect on your GPA. When you earn a NC grade, this indicates that you did not pass the class. You do not receive units for NC grades.

It’s important to be sure that any class taken CR/NC will still meet your degree requirements and needed prerequisites. Some programs will only accept letter graded coursework to meet certain degree requirements. For undergraduate students, a maximum of 24 CR grade units earned at SF State can count toward your degree. Also, some programs require minimum letter grades earned to meet prerequisites that will allow you to enroll in subsequent coursework. (These limitations do not apply to coursework taken in Spring 2020.)

Advisors can help make sure your grading option meets your educational needs and goals. Undergraduate students can access advising resources through the Advising Hub. Graduate students can access advising resources with Graduate Studies (gradadv@sfsu.edu).

If you are a student in one of the groups below, please consult with these offices to be sure you understand the impact of your choice to change to CR/NC grading:

• Veteran and military students
• International students
• Student Athletes
• Students Receiving Financial Aid

J. Paul Leonard Library Access

• Access to the campus Library is available to students, for information regarding the Library schedule, click here.   
• The Ground Floor Study Commons is open with 90 desktop computers, public study space and reservable private study rooms. For information regarding reserving a private study room, click here. 
• When visiting the Library Study Commons, students are required to complete a health screening, show the green dot and have their student ID.
• In addition to the Ground Floor Study Commons, the 1^st Floor Lobby is open for studying, and access to 2^nd floor resources are available with required health screening (see above).

Laptop Loaner Requests

• Students enrolled for courses can request a loaner laptop for the session by submitting a request the library laptop request form by clicking here.
• For information regarding Library loaner laptops software, click here.

Internet Access Needs

• For students having internet connectivity or access issues and think you may need a hotspot, please use the following link to access a request form. The form will guide you through troubleshooting questions to determine the nature of your internet connection issues. One of the questions it asks relates to your internet connection speed. You can run an internet speed test. Note down what your upload and download speeds are to be able to answer the questions. Remember, a hotspot provides only limited bandwidth and is often not an ideal solution to many home internet issues. 
• If you feel you may benefit from a Hotspot, you can make a request using the "Request Assistance with Internet Access Form." Click here to access the form. 

**Below are some additional resources to help you address home internet issues or optimize your bandwidth:

• Tips to enhance your WiFi network
• Internet speed and bandwidth
• Troubleshooting your connection with your service provider

The Division of Graduate Studies team is here to support you. The division team is available in ADM 250 for drop-ins and general questions Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You may also connect with us during our Zoom drop-in hours, or book a one-on-one Zoom appointment at grad.sfsu.edu. Phone (415) 338-2234.

You can find information about how to change your major or minor on the Registrar's website.

If you need to file a course substitution to update a major or minor degree requirement on your Degree Progress Report or an authorization to amend major/minor courses to alter a previously submitted graduation application, please email your major advisor or contact your department using the Colleges and Academic Departments page to find the contact information.

Please follow the steps on our Undergraduate Graduation website.

The Disability Programs & Resource Center (DPRC) is open to support students. Please see our website for more information. General inquiries can be directed to dprc@sfsu.edu; employee accommodations inquiries can be directed to dprcemp@sfsu.edu.

Professional academic advisors in the Educational Opportunity and Pathways Program (EOPP) and the Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC) are available to assist students in-person and remotely. 

All freshmen and undeclared students have an assigned advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Center. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors with declared majors can meet with an advisor from their college advising team. These advisors also work in the Undergraduate Advising Center.  

Students can make advising appointments by accessing Navigator, SF State's student success platform. Drop-in advising hours are also available and can be viewed on the UAC website. 

If you need major/minor advising, please go to your major/minor department's website to find details about how to connect with a faculty advisor. You can reach out to the general department email if you do not see specific advising information on the department's website. Note - if you are student majoring in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, the Lam Family College of Business advising team supports your advising needs. They are located in the Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC).  

As an SF State student, you have access to free tutoring and academic support services. You can find more information about tutoring services and links to SF State’s learning support programs on the Tutoring and Academic Support Center’s website, which includes details on remote and in-person tutoring.