Advising FAQS

Russell Sage College, Office of Academic Advising, academicadvising@sage.edu

Welcome to... Frequently Asked *Advising* Questions

Who is my FACULTY ADVISOR?
Faculty Advisor (major) name and contact information is listed in your Self Service account.
→ In Self Service - Student Planning go to My Progress. On the My Progress main page in the At a Glance section, click on the blue Show Program Notes link.
→ The Faculty Advisor (major) is your primary advisor and a helpful resource on academic planning topics (academic advising, registration, and graduation planning). Undergraduate students work with their assigned faculty member from their major department.
→ Undergraduate day students must be cleared for registration each semester by their Faculty Advisor (major). Go to Passport – Self Service – Student Planning – My Progress – Show Program Notes link. Click on the link to see Faculty Advisor (major) name & contact information. Image: Self Service > Student Planning > My Progress main page.

How do I request… Major Change or Add a Minor or an Advisor change?
→ The Office of Academic Advising (academicadvising@sage.edu) assists students with: changing their major, catalog year, adding a minor, or with faculty advisor change requests.
→ Students wishing to change their major program may do so by sending an email to, academicadvising@sage.edu, with their name, student ID#,  and brief statement listing the change or changes they are seeking. Note: some major change requests require meeting with the Advising Office. Some major programs have specific admission GPA requirements.
→ Students who are undecided also work with the Advising Office. See the resources page for more information
→ Students wishing to change their assigned faculty advisor may do so by sending an email to academicadvising@sage.edu.
→ All academic program changes require the approval of the Advising Office.
→ Requests to drop a minor may be sent to the Registrar’s Office, registrar@sage.edu.
→ Change of Major/add a Minor policy information: catalog.sage.edu/change-of-major-minor-or-advisor

How to Withdraw from a Class?
→ Submit the Undergraduate Course Withdrawal Request Form by 4:59pm on the Last day to Withdraw from a Class (W grade) listed on the Academic Calendar.
→ Important: discuss if course withdrawal is necessary or recommended with the Course Instructor. If you learn you need to withdraw from the course, discuss with your Faculty Advisor-major how course withdrawal affects degree progress and graduation. Next, discuss and review with the Financial Aid Office how course withdrawal will affect your current and future financial aid and scholarship status.

How is my Grade Point Average (GPA) calculated?
→ See the Catalog for an example: catalog.sage.edu/calculating-grade-point-average-gpa
→ GPA Formula: Total Quality Points ÷ Total GPA credits = GPA. GPA is based on credits completed and grades earned at Russell Sage College. RSC grade point averages are calculated to the third decimal place.
→ GPA calculator: https://www.sage.edu/academics/academic-resources/registrar/gpa-calculator/

When do I Register for Classes?
Students register for class sections each term using Student Planning - Plan & Schedule
→ See the Registration Timeline: sage.edu/academics/academic-resources/registrar/registration-timeline/
→ Registration Instructions & Video: sage.edu/academics/academic-resources/registrar/registration-instructions/

How to request the Pass/Fail Grade for a non-major or non-minor course?
→ The completed P/F request form is due by the Last Day to Opt for Pass/Fail deadline as listed on the Academic Calendar. Note: if you earn an F grade, it is a real grade that goes on the transcript and is included in GPA calculation.
→ Pass/Fail Request Form (Registrar’s Office Google Form)
→ Pass/Fail grade policy: catalog.sage.edu/evaluation-of-academic-work

I am on a Wait-list. How do I get in the class?
→ The waitlist process is an automated process and is handled by the Registrar’s Office. You will receive an email from registrar@sage.edu when a seat becomes available with instructions and a deadline to register for the class in Student Planning. Once the email is sent you have approximately 48 hours to register for the class.
• If you miss the deadline, you will lose your seat and you will have to put yourself back on the class section waitlist.
• Note: course instructors cannot approve or give you a seat or register you for the class. Department chairperson permission is required.

Transfer credits: Can I take a summer or winter session transfer course?
→ Yes. Prior approval is required for current matriculated degree students to transfer new credits to their Sage record. See the Catalog for policy on transfer of credit after matriculation.

1) Current students must complete the Student Transfer Credit Approval Form (Registrar’s Office google form) for each course they wish to transfer. The student's Faculty Advisor (major) will be contacted for approval. Form: https://forms.gle/w7kHPRt1NrxNc8kHA

2) Student requests an official transcript be sent directly to Sage when class/term ends. Note: a course grade of C- or higher (1.700) is required for credits to transfer. The transfer college Registrar’s Office mails to Sage an official transcript in a sealed envelope (US mail) to: Russell Sage College, Office of Admission, 65 First Street, Troy, NY 12180. Or - electronic transcripts may be emailed from the transfer college directly to Sage: admprocessing@sage.edu

3) Transferring Credits to Sage overview [Guide - PDF]

When do Newly Enrolled Students register?
→ See the New UG Student Advising Notes page [Link]

Helpful Links: Advising Forms (Faculty)|Advising Forms (Student)|Passport|Self Service|Moodle|Catalog|Sage Offices|Campus Directory|New Student Advising Notes|Registrar's Office FAQS

Russell Sage College | Office of Academic Advising | academicadvising@sage.edu | sage.edu/advising