Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS)
Freshmen
Transfer Students
Now that I have been admitted to CSI, what’s the next step?
What is the credit evaluation process?
What is the maximum number of credits that can transfer?
What are Basic Requirements at CSI?
As a transfer student, am I required to take the CUNY Assessment Tests?
What should I do if I fail one or more of the CUNY Assessment Tests?
How do I know if I am exempt from the General Education requirements at CSI?
What are the General Education requirements at CSI?
Do I have to take the foreign language placement exam?
How can I check my degree progress from home?
What is the Advisement process for first-time incoming freshmen in the Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS)?
| Students will take part in an Advisement & Registration workshop on the second day of their mandatory two-day New Freshmen Orientation. The purpose of this workshop is to make certain you are aware of the requirements of the degrees offered at CSI and to ensure that you enroll in the appropriate courses in order to progress through your degree in a timely fashion. |
In this Advisement & Registration workshop, you will:
- learn the results of your CUNY Assessment examination
- receive a New Student Advisement Worksheet that details the General Education, prerequisite, pre-major and/or major requirements of your intended degree
- register for your classes electronically via the CUNY Portal and E-SIMS (Electronic Student Information Management System)
- At the conclusion, receive a bursar's bill indicating the classes you are registered for, any financial aid or scholarships you may be entitled to, your tuition balance, and the final bill due date.
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What is the New Student Orientation requirement?
The College of Staten Island requires that all first-year incoming students attend a mandatory two-day Orientation program. The two-day Orientation, advisement, and registration is a comprehensive program presented by multiple offices and departments on campus. The Office of New Student Orientation and the Center for Advising and Academic Success (CAAS) are central to this process. The Orientation will help you to become familiar with the CSI campus, our academic programs, and the many services that are available to you as a student. You will meet other freshmen, faculty, staff, and upperclassmen Orientation Leaders as you are introduced to life at CSI. At the end of Orientation, you will work with staff to select and register for your first semester classes. For more information visit http://www.csi.cuny.edu/CLUE/orientation.html.
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What will I need before coming to register with the College of Staten Island?What will I need before coming to register with the College of Staten Island?
As a brand new incoming freshman student there are a few things you will have to complete before beginning the registration process. It is essential for these items to be completed before you register so that you may fully benefit from New Student Orientation. For additional information visit the New Student Information Guide.
All first time incoming freshmen students are responsible for submitting their Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Immunization Certification and the Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Response Form to the Health and Wellness Center. The Health and Wellness Center is located in Building 1C, Room 112, Fax (718) 982.2966. If you do not submit your Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Immunization Certification and the Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Response Form prior to your registration date, it will delay the advisement and registration process.
All new incoming students entering CSI must take the entrance exams prior to registration. The entrance exams will demonstrate competence in three skills areas: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. In each of these areas, the University has set standards defining readiness to do college work. In some cases, due to an SAT exemption or high school Regents exemption a student may only be required to take a placement exam for Mathematics. For further information, you may contact the Office of College Testing in Building 1A, Room 104, (718) 982.2380.
The College of Staten Island (CSI) requires newly admitted undergraduate students to pay a non-refundable $100 deposit towards tuition and fee charges when they accept the offer of admission. By submitting your commitment deposit you secure your enrollment to CSI. This deposit will be applied toward your tuition charges and will allow you to be scheduled for Orientation, Academic Advisement, and Registration; therefore, you are strongly encouraged to send in your deposit as soon as possible.
Commitment deposit deadline for Fall 2011 semester: May 1
If you are admitted after May 1, your commitment deposit is due 30 days after the date indicated on your admission letter. You must pay your commitment deposit before attending your summer orientation, advisement and registration.
Payment for the commitment deposit can be paid in person or mailed to:
College of Staten Island/CUNY
Office of the Bursar
2800 Victory Boulevard
Building 2A, Room 105
Staten Island, New York 10314
The $100 commitment deposit can be satisfied by a check or money order made payable to the “College of Staten Island” or cash. (Please remember to print your commitment deposit payment form here and attach with your payment.)
*You may be eligible to have your commitment deposit waived if you applied for financial aid using the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) with an estimated family contribution (EFC) of $3000 or less. We strongly encourage you to apply by the March 31st priority deadline.
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What if I have failed one or more entrance exams?
Entering students who fail one or more of the CUNY Assessment Tests must take immediate steps to complete their remediation. It is best to participate in the free Summer or Winter Immersion Program prior to the start of the Fall or Spring term so that you will be eligible to register for a full-time load of college-level classes. Students who do not complete SIP or WIP successfully will be required to register for remedial (0-level) non-credit bearing classes in the spring term. Students are required to fulfill all remediation needs prior to the start of their third semester.
** ESL students have additional time to satisfy this requirement. Please speak with your advisor.
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What is Immersion?
The Immersion Programs are intensive workshops which provide an opportunity for students who need to demonstrate proficiency on the CUNY Assessment Tests to receive tuition-free instruction in reading, writing and mathematics during the summer and/or January intersession. Students will retake the CUNY Assessment Test(s) in the discipline(s) in which they receive instruction during the program.
Students who are attending the Immersion programs may e-mail the Immersion Counselor at vanessa.rozzelle@csi.cuny.edu to schedule individual appointments to discuss their schedules, registration, degree requirements, study skills, time management techniques, test anxiety and strategies for student success.
Students participating in an Immersion workshop during the summer are strongly encouraged to register for and complete an Orientation session before they begin the Immersion program. Those who fail to do so must register for and complete an Orientation session immediately following completion of the Immersion program.
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How do I know what majors and courses the College of Staten Island offers?
In order to explore the degree requirements for each Associate degree and Bachelors degree that the College of Staten Island offers, it is essential for one to read the online Academic Catalog. The catalog will explain CSI academic policies, degree requirements as well as programs and course descriptions.
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What are the guidelines for New York State TAP?
Please refer to the Student Financial Aid Office TAP/APTS Information.
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What do I do if I have taken a College Now course or have AP Credits from high school?
If you have completed any College Now courses while you attended high school and wish to have the credit evaluated at the College of Staten Island please complete the following:
Send a letter to the Registrar of the college that you took the course with (include your name and Social Security Number) and request that the transcript be sent to:
College of Staten Island
Office of Recruitment and Admissions
2800 Victory Boulevard
Building 2A, Room 103
Staten Island, N.Y. 10314
For AP (Advanced Placement) Credits please contact your AP Program and request a Grade Report to be sent to the College of Staten Island.
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What are the General Requirements?
Students in American colleges and universities are required to take courses categorized as General Education. General Education provides students with the skills and knowledge expected of educated persons. Depending upon your major, you may be required to register for specific courses in order to complete one or more of these General Education categories.
At CSI, General Education requirements are arranged in seven categories:
- Required Courses (ENG 111, ENG 151, COR 100, PED 190)
- Scientific Analysis
- Social Scientific Analysis
- Contemporary World
- Textual, Aesthetic, and Linguistic Analysis
- Pluralism and Diversity
- Foreign Language
The degree and the major you select determine the number of credits required in each category.
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What classes do freshmen take?
The typical courses a first-time student attempts will differ depending upon that individual’s intended major and remedial status.
A typical schedule may include courses that will:
An advisor will review the various requirements of your degree and assist you with selecting eligible courses that will provide you with a solid foundation for success for in first semester at the College of Staten Island.
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Am I exempt from Foreign Language because I passed the regent in high school?
All students must take a placement exam before registering for a foreign language unless the student did not study that particular language in high school. Students who have been out of school for a number of years may also be exempt from the placement exam but not the language requirement. Students do not receive credit of any kind based on the results of the exam. Students who graduated from high school in a non-English-speaking foreign country are exempt from the language requirement.
The test is administered by the Modern Language Department in Building 2S, Room 114C. For more information, please call (718) 982.3711.
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What is the Biology Placement Exam?
Students entering Health Science programs in which BIO 150, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, is a pre-major requirement may take the Biology Placement Examination to determine placement at the appropriate course level.
The test is administered by the Office of College Testing, Building 1A, Room 104,
(718) 982.2380.
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What is the CUNY Portal?
The CUNY Portal is a gateway to all CUNY information and resources. With your new CUNY Portal account you can register for your classes, access Blackboard courses, use e-Permit and save your money by shopping at e-Mall. The online link for the CUNY Portal may be accessed through the College of Staten Island’s website under ‘Quick Links’ or directly using www.cuny.edu.
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I’ve already completed an advisement and registration session but would like to change my schedule.
If you have already attended NSO and completed your advisement and registration and wish to change your schedule you will need to sign onto your CUNY Portal account to access e-SIMS. If you do not remember your username and password please see the Help Desk, located in building 2A, room 206, or call ( 718) 982.3695.
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Now that I have been admitted to CSI, what’s the next step?
Now that you have been admitted into the College of Staten Island (CSI), you are probably anxious to know your next step. If you attended a college or university the semester prior to entering CSI, you should have an updated official transcript sent directly to us. Please refer tothe New Student Information Guide for additional information regarding admission requirements.
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What is the credit evaluation process?
Transfer students must have their transfer credits evaluated prior to receiving advisement to ensure that they are placed into appropriate courses and are not repeating courses previously completed. Vito Zajda, Assistant Registrar, is the transfer evaluator at CSI. Mr. Zajda’s office is located in Building 2A, Room 110.
Some courses taken at other institutions may not be equivalent to courses offered at CSI. Only blanket (general) credit may be granted for courses for which there is no CSI equivalent.
Several academic departments require that the transfer evaluator grant only blanket credit in particular disciplines, such as the sciences. To get these blanket credits evaluated, the student must bring the appropriate course description(s) to the Registrar’s Office Transfer Unit (Building 2A, Room 110). The Transfer Unit will send the description(s) and transcript evaluation to the appropriate academic department(s) for further review.
For courses taken at non-CUNY colleges, credit will be granted for courses in which a grade of C or better has been earned. For courses taken at CUNY colleges, credit will be granted for courses in which a grade of D or better has been earned. Students will only receive a grade of “P” when credit is granted.
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What is the maximum number of credits that can transfer?
The maximum number of credits that can transfer is 90 credits.
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What are Basic Requirements at CSI?
Basic Requirements are non-credit requirements that must be fulfilled by all students, including:
1) New Student Orientation/CLUE: Students who transfer in 6 or more credits to CSI are not required to fulfill the New Student Orientation/ CLUE requirement. Students who transfer fewer than 6 credits should speak to the New Student Orientation/CLUE Office in Building 2A, Room 208 to discuss this graduation requirement. Please refer to New Student Orientation for additional information.
2) Passing all three CUNY Assessment Tests in Writing, Reading, and Math.
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As a transfer student, am I required to take the CUNY entrance exams?
The following is a summary of the CUNY testing requirements for all students. For further information, you may contact the
Office of College Testing in Building 1A, Room 104,
(718) 982.2380 or visit their website.
As part of the admissions process at CUNY, students are required to demonstrate their competence in reading and writing. Students may fulfill these requirements in one of four ways:
- Transfer students who have taken a 3 credit Freshman Composition course at an accredited college and earned a grade of “C” or higher;
- An SAT Verbal score of 480 and above; or an ACT Verbal score of 20 and above;
- A grade of 75 or higher on the New York State Regents Examination in English;
- A passing score on the CUNY/ACT Basic Skills Examinations in Reading (score of 70 or higher) and Writing (score of 7 or higher).
As part of the admissions process at CUNY, students are required to demonstrate their competence in mathematics. Students may fulfill this requirement in one of four ways:
- Transfer students who have taken a 3 credit college-level math course at an accredited college and earned a grade of “C” or higher;
- An SAT Mathematics score of 500 or higher; or an ACT Math score of 21 and above;
- A grade of 75 or higher on the New York State Regents Examination in Mathematics A, Mathematics B, Sequential II, or Sequential III;
- A score of 35 or higher on Part I and a score of 30 or higher on Part II of the CUNY COMPASS Mathematics Test.
Students who have passed the CUNY COMPASS Mathematics Test upon entrance to CSI, or are exempt from Part I on the CUNY COMPASS Mathematics Test based on SAT or NYS Regents, are still required to take Parts ll, III, and V of the test, also known as the Math Placement Exam, for placement into appropriate levels of mathematics courses. Note: It is possible to be placed in a remedial math course by virtue of the score achieved on Part II, even if you were exempt from or passed Part I of the COMPASS Mathematics Test.
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What should I do if I fail one or more of the CUNY Assessment Tests?
Entering students who fail one or more of the CUNY Assessment Tests must take immediate steps to complete their remediation.
It is best to participate in the free Winter Immersion Programs (WIP) prior to the start of the spring term or the free Summer Immersion Program (SIP) prior to the start of the fall term so that you will be eligible to register for a full-time load of college-level classes. Students who do not complete WIP successfully will be required to register for remedial (0-level) non-credit bearing classes in the spring term. Students who do not complete SIP successfully will be required to register for remedial (0-level) non-credit bearing classes in the fall term.
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How do I know if I am exempt from the general education requirements at CSI?
Students who enter CSI with certain degrees from accredited post-secondary institutions are exempt from the general education requirements at CSI.
The following degrees granted from accredited post-secondary institutions will exempt the student from all general education requirements at CSI:
- Bachelor’s Degree (BA or BS)
- Associate of Arts Degree (AA)
- Associate of Science Degree (AS)
No other degrees will exempt a student from the general education requirements, including the associate’s of applied science (AAS) or a bachelor’s degree from foreign countries.
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What are the General Education requirements at CSI?
Students who are not exempt from the general education requirements at CSI will be required to satisfy the following categories of coursework. General Education provides students with the skills and knowledge expected of educated persons. The CSI faculty is committed to a rigorous general education policy and views general education to be an integral complement to the major. At CSI, General Education requirements are arranged in seven categories:
- Required Courses (ENG 111, ENG 151, COR 100, PED 190)
- Scientific Analysis
- Social Scientific Analysis
- Contemporary World
- Textual, Aesthetic, Linguistic Analysis
- Pluralism and Diversity
- Foreign Language
The number of credits required in each category is determined by the degree and the major you select.
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Do I have to take the foreign language placement exam?
All students must take a placement exam before registering for a foreign language, unless the student did not previously study that particular language. Students who have been out of school for a number of years may also be exempt from the placement exam, but not the language requirement. Students who graduated from high school in a non-English-speaking foreign country are exempt from the language requirement.
The test is administered by the Modern Language Department (Building 2S, Room 109). For more information regarding the foreign language proficiency examination, please call
(718) 982.3711.
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How can I check my degree progress from home?
Degree Worksis an easy to use, web-based degree audit and academic advisement tool intended to enhance the advisement process for students. Students can access their Degree Works account through the CUNY Portal and then click on Student Advisement/Degree Audit.
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