Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Registrar's Office open?

Monday through Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pm

PLEASE NOTE: The office is generally closed for Thanksgiving (Wednesday through Friday), the week of Christmas, January 1st, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

What does the Registrar's Office do?

The mission of the Registrar’s Office is to facilitate the official interactions among students, faculty, and staff through the execution and administration of academic policies and practices. In addition to the ongoing functions listed below, we strive to provide courteous and helpful service to those who request our assistance. Our goal is to help ensure that all students have a productive and successful academic experience before, during, and after attendance.

At Houghton University, students are equipped to “lead and labor as scholar-servants in a changing world,” and we strive to model that in our dealings with individuals. We join in the University's efforts to facilitate spiritual transformation in our students’ lives.

Primary Functions of the Registrar’s Office include:

• Administering academic policies
• Course selection and offerings
• Preparing the university catalog each year
• Degree audit and graduation certification
• Academic transcript evaluation and processing
• Custodial responsibility for academic records
• Data generation for agencies on and off campus
• Scheduling of courses and courses into classrooms

How do I add or drop a class?

BEFORE the beginning of the semester, please use Self-Service to make changes to your schedule.

AFTER the beginning of the semester, please use the Course Add/Drop form on the Forms for Students page.

ALL ATHLETES please mark "YES" on the Course Add/Drop Form to ensure that you remain eligible.

When can I add or drop a class?

Add/drop week is the first week of the semester. Please refer to the Important Dates document for information about first-half and second-half of the semester courses.

Remember: Students must take at least 12 credits each semester in order to be considered full-time.

What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing from a class?

A dropped course does not appear on your permanent record and will not be counted when calculating tuition-free Mayterm.

A withdrawn course will appear on your permanent record with a final grade of "W" and will be counted when calculating tuition-free Mayterm.

How do I withdraw from a class?

Please use the Course Withdraw Form located on the Forms for Students page.

ALL ATHLETES please mark "YES" on the Course Withdraw Form to ensure you remain eligible. 

How can I access my final grades online?

1. Sign in to Self-Service
2. Click on the “Grades” tab
3. Select “Unofficial Transcript” or “Grade Report”

How do I calculate my GPA in my major?

1. Look at your unofficial transcript on Self-Service
2. Add the Quality Points in your major courses
3. Divide the Quality Points by the GPA credits in those courses
4. Be sure that you do not count pre-requisites or co-requisites when calculating your major GPA

Can I improve my GPA by repeating a course?

Yes, but students may only repeat courses in which they received a “D+” or lower. When a course is repeated, only the higher grade will count in the calculation of the cumulative GPA. The hours count only once. Both courses and both grades remain on the transcript with an indication of which course is counted. Repeating a course may impact a student’s financial aid or sports eligibility. More information is located in the Houghton University Catalog.

How do I have my grades sent to my parent/guardian?

Incoming students should complete a FERPA Consent Form before they arrive on campus if they wish to have academic information, including grades, released to parents/guardians.

Grades will not automatically be sent to parents/guardians at the end of each semester. Parents/guardians must email the Registrar’s Office to obtain a grade report.

How do I declare a major?

Complete and submit the Major Declaration Form posted on the Forms for Students website page.

*BMus degree majors may use this form but must receive prior approval and acceptance into the Greatbatch School of Music.

PLEASE NOTE: It may take 4 to 5 business days for your new major to be declared.

How do I declare or change a minor after I have declared a major?

Complete and submit the Minor Declaration Form posted on the Forms for Students website page.

How can I order a transcript?

Please follow the instructions on our Transcripts page to request an official or unofficial transcript.

How do I know what year I am considered?

• Freshman: 0-27 cumulative credits
• Sophomore: 28-59 cumulative credits
• Junior: 60-89 cumulative credits
• Senior: 90+ cumulative credits

Can I take more than 18 credits in a semester?

Students intending to take more then 18 credits in a single semester must submit an Academic Petition.

What are the procedures for taking an Independent Study?

• Read the guidelines outlined in the Independent Study Procedures
• Complete the Independent Study form with the necessary signatures, and submit it to the Registrar's Office.

What if I forgot who my advisor is?

• Log in to Self-Service
• Click on the "View Schedule" link under "Students" on main Self-Service page.
• Be sure the current semester is selected and click "submit"
• Your advisor is listed under credit information with your curriculum, status as part/full time, and class level

How can I look up my Student ID?

• Follow these instructions provided by the Technology Services Office.

What should I do if I want to take a course at another school?

• To receive prior approval for a non-Houghton course to transfer, please use the Non-Houghton Course Prior Approval Form found on the Forms for Students page.
• Remember:
  • Credits will only be transferred in for courses in which the student receives a C- or above.
  • When the course is completed and grades are posted, the student needs to request an official transcript to be sent to the Houghton University Registrar's Office.
  • 18 of a student's last 24 credit hours must be completed at Houghton University in order to graduate.

I need proof of enrollment for my parents' insurance company or a scholarship. Who should I contact?

• For proof of enrollment in the current semester, please use this link to National Student Clearinghouse. You'll be able to generate an enrollment certificate after you sign in with your network credentials (student email username and password).
• For proof of registration in a future semester, please email your request to registrarsoffice@houghton.edu.

What are Houghton's graduation requirements?

Please see our Graduation Information page.

What are Houghton's residency requirements?

• A student must complete at least 30 credits, one-half of their major and 18 of the last 24 credits at Houghton
  • (except those under the senior-in-absentia privilege or those with special permission whose major or minor requires them to be off campus).
• Other cases require an academic petition.

When will I receive my diploma?

Diplomas will be mailed to the address specified on the Graduation Application after all grades have been received, the date of graduation has been set, and any outstanding student account balance has been paid.

Where can I find a graduation check list?

The graduation check list is located on the the Graduation Information page.

Who is eligible for graduation honors?

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.9 cumulative GPA or higher
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.7 cumulative GPA
• Cum Laude: 3.5 cumulative GPA

PLEASE NOTE: Students transferring from other colleges must complete 62 credits at Houghton University to be eligible for graduation honors.

• Graduation honors as published in the May Commencement bulletin are based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the fall semester prior to Commencement, including the valedictorian and salutatorian.
• To be eligible to be valedictorian or salutatorian, a student must be a main campus student, full-time in the spring, and a May graduate and must have earned a minimum of 90 Houghton University credits.

How do I request a replacement diploma?

Visit our Replacement Diploma page for instructions on how to place an order.

When does the Registrar's Office audit my file?

• The Registrar's Office is committed to completing 2 file audit updates for each student: when the student enrolls at Houghton, and when the student is in their junior or early senior year.

What should I do if I need an additional file audit update?

• You can complete a self-audit, following the self-audit guidelines (PDF).

How do I withdraw from the University?

Contact Academic Support and Accessibility Services to discuss your withdrawal and complete a Withdraw from the University form.