Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. We will add to this list when we encounter other inquiries from both the academic advisers and advisees.
I know I have to use my.luther.edu for my initial registration for the next term, but how do I add and drop a class once the semester has started?
You may continue to use my.luther.edu to add a full semester course up to the eighth day of the semester, or the fourth day of the semester for first seven weeks courses. You should continue to use my.luther.edu to drop a course throughout the semester.
The January term timetable for add/drops is tighter due to the brevity of the term. Changes in registration may be made based on the following timeline:
2nd day of J-term: last day to add/change a course
5th day of J-term: last day to withdraw without record
10th day of J-term: last day to withdraw from a course
Where can I find all the important dates, such as when to drop a class without record, for the semester?
The academic calendar showing all the major events, dates, and deadlines.
Where should I look to track how I'm doing in completing my general and major requirements? Is this related to degree audit?
The college catalog under which you entered Luther is the one that will indicate what requirements you must fulfill. Since every student can access an unofficial transcript via myLuther, you can compare your completed courses against the requirements. Another means is to visit with your academic advisor to review your progress in fulfilling the general and major requirements.
The Program Evaluation (degree audit) is a program that allows students, and their advisers, the ability to track their progress toward their degree requirements. The evaluation, found on my.luther.edu, lists those requirements that have been completed, those in progress, and those that are still outstanding for each general education, major, and minor requirement.
How many credit hours do I need outside my major and who keeps track of that?
Those students who entered Luther prior to fall, 2007, must complete 76 hours outside of at least one major discipline. The student is responsible for keeping track of this requirement. This information can be found on each student's program evaluation. You can also confirm whether the requirement is fulfilled by visiting with your academic advisor or the Registrar's Office.
Those students who entered Luther in the fall of 2007 (other than transfer students) must complete 20 course equivalents (80 hours) outside of at least one major discipline.
Is my advisor or the instructor of the course responsible for registering me for a course?
Unless the course requires the consent of instructor, or is closed, you are responsible for ensuring that you are officially registered for the appropriate course and credit hours. Your academic advisor can assist in course selection but he/she is not responsible for your registration.
Luther requires that I attain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 in order to graduate. Does that GPA apply to other requirements?
Every student’s major and minor GPAs must also be 2.00. If you have two majors and one of them has a GPA of less than 2.00, for example, then only the major with the minimum GPA will be reflected on your record when you graduate.
Some majors require a higher cumulative and major gpa for the degree. This information can be found in the college catalog or on the program evaluation.
Do I need permission from The Registrar’s Office to switch to another adviser? Where can I locate the form for changing my academic adviser?
You have the right to switch to another adviser without seeking permission from any office. However, it is best that you visit with the new adviser to ascertain if it is appropriate for you to start working with him/her. It is also appropriate for you to inform your current adviser about your desire to switch to another adviser. Fill out the form here.
First-year students are to remain with their same adviser for at least one year.
When do I need to declare a major? How do I declare a major?
At the moment, there is no policy governing when a student must declare a major. However, you are encouraged to declare a major by the end of your second year because you probably have a much better idea of your academic inclination. However, this declaration does not mean that you cannot change your major at a later date. You can access the Registrar’s Office Web site to complete the form for declaring a major and/or minor.
I intend to enroll in a summer course at a community college near home this summer. The course approval form seems to suggest that a student of junior or senior status, which I am, must enroll in a course at a four-year college in order for the course to be considered for transfer. Is that true?
A student can enroll in a community college regardless of his class standing. What the form is trying to convey is that if a student intends to transfer an approved upper-level (300 and above) course back to Luther, that course must be completed at an accredited four-year college. Courses from community colleges cannot be transferred in as upper-level courses.
If I intend to complete a course at another college and transfer it back to Luther, who should I contact regarding transferability?
Please download and complete the course approval form and submit it to the Registrar for review before enrolling in any course at another college. We can determine the Luther equivalency and credit hours before you enroll in the course.
Over a year ago, I received a grade from Professor X for my Science course. I don’t agree with that grade. Who should I contact about changing the grade?
A student may contest a grade within 30 days after the grades are posted by the Registrar’s Office. The student should first contact the instructor regarding the grade. If necessary, the next person to contact is the department head of that instructor.
For my PE requirements, may I take PE 190 (First Aid) which is one credit or any two-credit PE class to fulfill that requirement?
No, PE 190 does not fulfill that requirement. Students are required to complete a PE 100 Fitness and Wellness class in addition to a regular PE 110 skills class. An exception is PE 180, Fitness and Wellness Abroad, offered during J-term which will fulfill both the wellness and skills requirement.
If I were to be placed on academic probation in the fall, could my J-term performance help me meet the minimum standards and thus be removed from probation?
Yes, your J-term performance can help you meet the minimum standards specified in the catalog under the Academic Progress and Probation section. The same applies to a student placed on probation after the spring semester; he/she can use his/her summer performance to meet the minimum requirements.
When I fail a course, will that grade be removed from my transcript when I complete that course successfully the second time? Can I use a course from another college to remove that failing grade?
When you complete the course successfully at Luther, both the new grade and the failing grade will show on your transcript. However, the failing grade will no longer affect your GPA. As for taking a course elsewhere after you have failed the Luther course, the failing grade will continue to affect your GPA even though we would transfer in the course from another college.
When a class is closed, may I sit in the class hoping that someone will drop the class? What if nobody drops the class but I continue to stay in the class? Will I get credit at the end of the semester?
When a class is closed, you should approach your advisor about whether you really need to be in that class. Can it wait until the following semester? If it is crucial for you to be in that class now, your advisor must make a compelling case to the department head concerned. Only department heads can authorized additions to closed classes.You are NOT to attend a class without registering for it because you will not receive credit for the work done.
Where can I get an unofficial and official transcript? Do I have to pay for them?
You can get all transcripts at the Registrar’s Office. Fill out the form here:www.luther.edu/academics/registrar/transcript/ An unofficial transcript can be given to you the same day and official ones will take approximately 48 hours. Additonal time may be required at the end of each term. There is no charge for either when you are still enrolled at Luther.
Where can I get a verification for enrollment for my scholarship application and car insurance?
The Registrar’s Office can provide verification to you.
I would like to study abroad next year. Should I talk to the Registrar?
You should visit the Study Abroad office located in Larsen Hall for information and guidance. You should also visit with your advisor to determine how the study abroad experience will fit into your academic plan.
Do I need to be a full-time student to be enrolled at Luther?
International students must be full-time (minimum of 12 credits per semester) students as required by the immigration laws. Other students can be part-time at Luther but they must ensure that it will not affect their financial aid and other non-Luther requirements.
If I have a learning disability, can some general requirements be waived?
You should visit with the Student Academic Support Center (SASC, Preus 108) to ascertain the type of disability you have. Requirements will be not waived but SASC may request appropriate accommodations and substitutions on your behalf after ascertaining your situation.
I was prevented from registering for classes when my assigned time came. Should I see the Registrar’s Office for assistance?
When you tried to registered for class via myLuther, the message on the screen should indicate which office needs to visit with you before you are allowed to register. Offices that can put a hold on your registration are the Office of Financial Services (Main 118), Student Financial Planning (Main 32). Health Service (Larsen Hall), and your adviser.
When my parents call the Registrar’s Office for my grade report, will you give it to them?
We will always encourage your parents to talk to you about your academic performance since you can access that information on the Web. Unless we receive written authorization from you or can ascertain that you are a dependent on your parents’ income tax return, we could not release any of your academic record to them.
How many credit hours do I need in order to participate in commencement activities?
You need to be on track to complete 116 credit hours by end of the spring semester before commencement in order to participate.
How many transfer credit will Luther accept from a community college?
Only 64 creidts will apply towards the 128 required for graduation.
Will I receive my diploma during commencement?
Since the faculty won’t be submitting final grades for the spring semester after commencement, no students will graduate before commencement and so no diploma will be awarded during commencement. After the final grades are processed after commencement and all the requirements have been verified, we will graduate the students and mail the diplomas to the graduates.
Why must I complete the Application for Senior Status form and return to the Registrar’s Office?
The form is sent to all juniors during the spring semester and MUST be completed and returned to the Registrar's Office. This form allows you to indicate when you intend to graduate and participate in the commencement activities, and how your name should appear in the commencement program and your diploma.
Am I allow to participate in sports, such as wrestling, if I am on academic probation?
Only when you are removed from probation can you train and compete with the team.
If I have completed all the general education and major requirements but still short of three credits to meet the 128 credits requirement, may I complete a course at another accredited college and transfer the credits back to Luther to complete my degree?
Yes, that is feasible. However, that course should be pre-approved by the Registrar Office before you enroll in it. After completing the approved course, please request an official transcript be sent to the Registrar’s Office at Luther so that we may update your record. Only then can we graduate you. Your graduation date will depend on when the coursework was completed and when we received the official transcript.
Do I have to register for internship credits if I intend to pursue an internship for next summer?
You may register for internship credits if you choose to. It is not a requirement for pursuing an internship. If you intend to register for credit, please visit the Career Center (Centennial Union) to complete the forms before the internship. There must be a supervisor at the internship site and a faculty supervisor at Luther. Even if you are not registering for credits, it is still advisable for you to visit the Career Center for assistance.