Frequently Asked Questions

General Advising Procedure Questions

How do I find out the name of my advisor?
Do I have to see my advisor every time I want to register?
Do I need to see my advisor if I want to add or drop a class?
I am a current student. When do I register for classes?
I am a transfer student or incoming freshman and have just been admitted. When and how do I register?
Register for my classes in person?
What programs are offered through the College of Continuing and Professional Studies?
How should I prepare for an advising meeting?
How do I declare or change my major?
How do I declare a minor?
Can I change my advisor?
Can I take a course at another school? How do I arrange it?

Core and Articulation Questions

If a course in my major can also fulfill a core course, can it double-count in both areas?
Do I need to take a foreign language?
Do I have to take SXU Seminar or Transfer Orientation?
What is an articulation agreement and how do I know if I have one?

Testing Questions

How do I find out the name of my advisor?
If you are a current student, you may come to the office of Advising and Educational Planning Services (WAC, Room A-206) or call (773) 298-3011 to find out the name of your advisor. You may also look on CLAWS by viewing the Registration link, "Has my advisor given me approval?" This will allow you to view your current advisor.

Do I have to see my advisor every time I want to register?
In most instances, you must have your own advisor submit electronic approval before you may register online (or, he/she must give you a signed form if you plan to register in person). You do not need advisor approval to register for Summer Term, except for education students.

Do I need to see my advisor if I want to add or drop a class?
In most cases, you do not need to get advisor approval to add or drop a class once you have initially registered. Athletes may need a coach's signature to drop (for eligibility purposes). If you are confident about the changes you would like to make, you do not need to see your advisor, but if you need assistance in determining such changes or if they are appropriate, a meeting with your advisor is recommended.

I am a current student. When do I register for classes?
Current students usually register for Spring classes Mid October, Summer Term registration begins approximately 3rd week of October and Fall registration begins late February, early March. CLAWS Registration is an on-going process and students will be notified through I-mail regarding their designated time slots prior to registration. Alll students will be allowed to register based on the credit hours earned, not the number of credits you will have after the current term. The following breakdown is used for determining status. Seniors (90 s.h.+) Juniors (60 s.h.+), Sophomores (30 s.h.+) and Freshman (<30 s.h.).

I am a transfer student or incoming freshman and have just been admitted. When and how do I register?
Transfer students can usually begin registering the week following current student registration. When a transfer student receives an admit letter, it will usually instruct the student to contact Advising (room A-206, (773) 298-3011) for an appointment to see an advisor. After selecting courses, the advisor will generally walk the student through the registration process. Freshman and their parents entering in the Fall will receive an invitation to a two day orientation called FOCUS, which is offered four times each summer. During this orientation, each student will receive a schedule of courses for his/her first semester.

Register for my classes in person?
The preferred method of registration is through the on-line system called CLAWS. Please contact the Office of Records and Registration (A-203 or (773) 298-3501) if an error message occurs. In order to remedy this situation they will need to know what the error message states. In-person registration is not available until following the week of on-line registration. Students that haven't received their CLAWS password on time for registration will need to make special arrangments with an adivsor.

What programs are offered through the College of Continuing and Professional Studies?
The School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers the following majors: Accounting, Business Administration, Clinical Counseling Psychology, Computer Studies, Criminal Justice, Generic Nursing, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Liberal Studies, LPN-BS Nursing, Nursing for Registered Nurse, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Professional Studies (Organizational Communicatio).

How should I prepare for an advising meeting?
You should go to an advising meeting with at least some idea of the courses you would like to take the following semester. If you know what you need to take, create a sample schedule to show your advisor. Make a list of any questions you would like to ask about your program or other policies and procedures. You will usually get more out of an advising meeting if you come in prepared and with a positive attitude.

How do I declare or change my major?
You may request a declaration/change of major form in the office of Advising and Educational Planning Services (A-206). Your advising file will be retrieved and transferred to the appropriate office, and you will be assigned a new advisor as necessary. You may return to the Advising and Educational Planning Services a few days later to find out the name of your new advisor.

How do I declare a minor?
You may pick up a declaration of minor form in the Office of Records and Registration, A-203, WAC. You will need to have it signed by the department chair.

Can I change my advisor?
Please speak with the secretary or office manager of your current advisor's department to see if you can be assigned a different advisor.

Can I take a course at another school? How do I arrange it?
Students may take courses at other schools, but must adhere to certain guidelines. After a student has been matriculated at SXU, if the student has fewer than sixty (60) s.h. completed, he/she may take a course at a community college. If the student has more than sixty hours completed, he/she must attend a four-year school or "senior" college. Additionally, students are generally not allowed to take a course elsewhere if it is being offered at SXU the same term. Before registering for the off-campus class, the student must obtain a permission form from the Office of Records and Registration and have it signed by their advisor,the chair of the department and dean of the school in which the course resides at SXU.

Core and Articulation Questions

If a course in my major can also fulfill a core course, can it double-count in both areas?
Such a course may be used to fulfill both the requirement in the core as well as the major; however, you will not receive double credit for the course. For example, if you are a Business major, you may use Macro- and Micro-economics to fulfill two social science requirements as well as the economics requirement in the major; but, you will still only receive six (6) credit hours for the classes, not twelve (12).

Do I need to take a foreign language?
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to complete two foreign language or foreign culture classes (FL/FC) as part of the core, unless you are in the School for Continuing and Professional Studies. One other exception is if you have the Illinois Articulation Agreement, have earned an A.A. or A.S. from an Illinois Community College, the FL/FC is not required. Students pursuing a Bachelor of Science take two additional math and/or science classes in place of the foreign language/culture courses.

Do I have to take SXU Seminar/Transitions or Transfer Student Orientation?
All students must complete SXU Seminar/Transitions or Transfer Student Orientation as a graduation requirement. Students transferring in at least forty-five (45) credit hours or a course equivalent to SXU Seminar/Transitions, are eligible to take the 2 1/2 hour non-credit Transfer Student Orientation (ACSU 101). New freshman or students transferring in fewer than forty-five credit hours take the one-credit hour SXU Seminar/Transitions course (ACSU 100 or FOSEM 100).

What is an articulation agreement and how do I know if I have one?
An articulation agreement applies to transfer students who have completed an approved associate's degree program. This applies to those students who have completed an A.A. or A.S. degree from any Illinois Community College (August, 2000 to present). Those students transferring in under the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), have an articulation agreement with SXU. Students with articulation need to take one Philosophy and one Religious Studies class to be taken at St.Xavier to complete SXU core. The remainder of their coursework applies to their program of study (major courses, supportive courses, certification courses, etc.). Students under articulation still need 120 credit hours to graduate. Please call or stop by the Advising and Educational Planning Services (A-206) for additional information on articulation agreements.

Testing Questions

CLEP®

Can I take a CLEP test anywhere that offers them?
Candidates may take a CLEP exam at any testing institution listed as an "open" test center. Before taking the exam, you will have the opportunity to select your score recipient (the school that will recieve your score). You do not need to take a CLEP at SXU but you need to indicate SXU as the score receipient in order to receive credit at SXU. If you attend Saint Xavier, you are subject to its credit-granting policies; however, you must follow the registration procedures of the test center at which you plan to take the exam. Learn more about CLEP by visiting the CLEP Web site.

How often does SXU offer CLEP test dates?
SXU's office of Advising and Educational Planning Services offers the CLEP exam almost every week throughout the calendar year. You may call (773) 298-3011 to register for a CLEP exam. You will need to pay the $20 registration fee when you secure a date.

Can I take more than one CLEP test during a particular exam session?
You may not take more than one exam a day.

Excelsior®

What are Excelsior Exams?
Excelsior examinations are published by Excelsior (formerly Regents) College. Excelsior examinations are available for selected courses. Students may repeat an Excelsior examination 60 days after the first failure and 120 days after each subsequent failure. Students should contact the Advising and Educational Planning Services (A-206) for information about credit granted, acceptable score levels, eligibility for specific examinations, and information on test registration. Saint Xavier University is not a test site. Candidates generally make an individual appointment for an exam at an Excelsior testing location.

Is Excelsior the same as Regents College Exams or ACT-PEP?
ACT-PEP exams were taken over by Regents College, and in January, 2001, Regents changed its name to Excelsior College. The appropriate name for the former ACT-PEP exams is Excelsior College Exams.

Placement

How does placement testing work for Freshmen and Transfer students?
English placement and math placement are determined by ACT scores and prior work in those subject areas. Students have the opportunity to take a math placement test if they wish to be reassessed (or if they were not required to submit ACT scores when applying). Students transferring in appropriate college English and/or Math coursework may be exempt from these guidelines. Please contact Advising and Educational Planning Services for more information ((773) 298-3011 Room A-206.)

Do I need to follow the Math Department's placement recommendation?
If the Math Department has outlined a series of remedial courses, you must take your Math coursework in the sequence it indicates. The Department also recommends courses based on your major; if you changed your major, you may need to consult with the Math Department becker@sxu.edu for new recommendations.

How do I arrange to take placement tests?
Register for placement tests in the Advising and Educational Planning Services (773) 298-3011.