Nov 21, 2024

2022-2023 Catalog

2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Enrollment

Academic Calendar

Classes are offered during the daytime, evenings and weekends and are offered both in-person and online. Students should view the Course Schedule online for specific schedule information including class meeting locations, days, and times and availability of online classes. GGU offers both synchronous (same time/live) and asynchronous (own time/not live) instruction, as well as courses that combine these modes. Students may view GGU’s Instruction Modes for descriptions and additional information.

Registration and advising begin approximately eight weeks prior to the start of each trimester term. Students may enroll at the start of all academic terms for which courses are offered that are applicable to their degree programs. Some programs do not offer courses in the “B” and “C” terms, making the “A” terms the only available start terms for those programs. Students may attend year round, but are not required to do so. However, students must comply with the university’s Regular Enrollment Requirement policy.

Instruction Modes

GGU delivers instruction via the following modes:

Effective Spring 2023

Hybrid* (In-Person/Online) (Section Code: HSF): Instruction includes a combination of in-person and online (synchronous or asynchronous) coursework. In-person class meetings may not be attended remotely. In-person and synchronous online class meeting dates and times are listed on the schedule and course syllabus. Satisfies “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. May not satisfy requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
In-Person* (Section Codes: SF, SE): Instruction is delivered through in-person class meetings. Satisfies “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and residency requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
Online-Asynchronous† (Section Code: C): Instruction is delivered primarily through asynchronous coursework, but may include optional synchronous online class meetings. Does not satisfy “in residence” requirements for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. May not satisfy requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
Online-Synchronous† (Section Code: WC): Instruction is delivered primarily through live online class meetings, but may include asynchronous coursework. Does not satisfy “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. May not satisfy “in residence” requirements for international students (F-1 Visa holders).

*Satisfies the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs definition of a “hybrid” class for BAH benefits, so long as recipients attend the in-person class meeting(s).

†International students (F-1 Visa holders) may count a maximum of 1 course (or 3 units) of these instruction modes toward their “full course of study.”

GGU Holidays

When synchronous class meetings fall on GGU holidays, faculty have the following options:

Reschedule the class meeting within the term for a day and time when most of the students will be available.
Substitute online asynchronous coursework.

Effective for Summer and Fall 2022

Blended* (Synchronous/Asynchronous) (Section Code: BSF): Instruction alternates every other week between live synchronous class meetings and asynchronous class sessions delivered via GGU’s online learning platform. Students will have the option of attending synchronous meetings either on-site or remotely via web conference, depending on their preference. Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and counts toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders), so long as students attend class meetings on-site.
HyFlex*† (Synchronous) (Section Code: HSF): Instruction is always live and delivered through on-site class meetings. Students will have the option of attending synchronous meetings either on-site or remotely via web conference, depending on their preference. Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and counts toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders), so long as students attend class meetings on-site.
In-Person (Synchronous) (Section Codes: SF, SE): Instruction is always live and is delivered through on-site class meetings. Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits and “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
Mixed Mode*† (Asynchronous/Synchronous) (Section Code: MSF): Instruction is delivered through a combination of live synchronous class meetings and asynchronous class sessions via GGU’s online learning platform. The number of synchronous class meetings will vary depending on the section, but each section will have a minimum of one synchronous class meeting. Students should check the course syllabus for the exact schedule of class meetings. Students will have the option of attending synchronous meetings either on-site or remotely via web conference, depending on their preference. Counts toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits, so long as students attend class meeting(s) on-site. May not count toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
Online† (Asynchronous) (Section Code: C): Instruction is always asynchronous and is delivered entirely via GGU’s online learning platform. Does not count toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. May not count toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders).
Web Conference† (Synchronous) (Section Code: WC): Instruction is always live and is delivered entirely through remote web conference class meetings. Does not count toward “in residence” units for Veteran Affairs Education Benefits. May not count toward “full course of study” units for international students (F-1 Visa holders).

*Satisfies the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs definition of a “hybrid” class for BAH benefits, so long as recipients attend the on-site class meeting(s).

†International students (F-1 Visa holders) may count a maximum of 1 course (or 3 units) of these instruction modes toward their “full course of study.”

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Prerequisites are courses that must be successfully completed before students may attempt the courses for which they are required. Prerequisites, if any, are listed following the course description.

Corequisites are courses, which, if not successfully completed before the course for which they are required, must be taken at the same time as the course for which they are required. Like prerequisites, corequisites are listed following the course description.

Undergraduate Course Number System

Each undergraduate course is assigned a number according to the following plan:

1-99 Lower-division courses

100-199 Upper-division courses

Uppercase “A” and “B” following a number indicate related courses that may be taken out of sequence (unless prerequisites are noted).

Directed study courses are available with permission of the instructor, department chair or program director and the school’s dean.

Courses carry from one to six units of credit in one trimester or term, depending upon the number of semester hours assigned to that course. Primary focus and consideration are given to expected learning outcomes and the way in which they are affected. Generally, for traditional in-person instruction, academic credit is assigned based on one semester credit hour for each 15 hours of classroom contact. However, credit is not entirely derived by a simple arithmetic conversion of contact hours, but considers factors such as learning outcomes, course assignments and activities, course materials, and the nature of the learning experience, required outside preparation and assessment instruments. These factors are the sole factors for determining credit hours for classes involving distance learning.

Graduate Course Numbering System

Graduate courses are assigned numbers according to the following plan:

200-299 Foundation Program Courses

300-499 Advanced Program Courses

800-899 Doctoral Seminars

Only one directed study course may be applied toward a master’s degree program. The dean’s approval is required.

Courses carry from one to three units of credit in one trimester or term, depending upon the number of semester hours assigned to that course. Primary focus and consideration are given to expected learning outcomes and the way in which they are effected. Generally, for traditional in-person instruction, academic credit is assigned based on one semester credit hour for each 15 hours of classroom contact. However, credit is not entirely derived by a simple arithmetic conversion of contact hours, but considers factors such as learning outcomes, course assignments and activities, course materials, and the nature of the learning experience, required outside preparation and assessment instruments. These factors are the sole factors for determining credit hours for classes involving distance learning.

Enrollment Status Classifications and Reporting

The university classifies students’ enrollment statuses based on their academic levels (e.g., undergraduate, graduate, doctoral) and the number of units in which they are enrolled during an academic period. Academic periods include the fifteen-week (trimester) “A” terms and corresponding seven and a half-week “B” and “C” sub-terms.

Enrollment Status Classification	Less Than Half Time	Half Time	Three-quarter Time	Full Time
Undergraduate	5 or fewer units	6-8 units	9-11 units	12 or more units
Graduate	3 or fewer units	4-5 units	6-7 units	8 or more units
Doctoral	2 or fewer units	3-6 units	NA	7 or more units

For the purposes of awarding Federal Student Aid, these classifications do not apply to students who are registered in only one seven and a half-week term (e.g., Fall B). Students must also register for another term in the same academic period, which can be either the other seven and a half-week term or the fifteen-week trimester term, to be awarded financial aid. Otherwise, the student will be classified as “less than half time,” regardless of the number of registered units.

The Office of the Registrar reports the enrollment statuses for all students who are enrolled in each enrollment period to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) on a monthly basis. The report includes the beginning and ending dates of each student’s actual enrollment period and the student’s enrollment status (e.g., half time, full time, less-than full time, graduated, withdrawn). The NSC makes this information available to the U.S. Department of Education (NSLDS), lending institutions, prospective employers, verification agencies, and others seeking to verify a student’s enrollment.

The information reported to NSC includes directory information as defined under Student Rights Under FERPA policy. Students who do not want their directory information released by the NSC to inquirers (except to lenders), must submit a Request to Prevent Disclosure of Directory Information form to the Office of the Registrar. The form is available on GGU4YOU or from the Office of the Registrar.

Credit Hour (Academic Unit) Definition

All Golden Gate University courses must adhere to the federal definition of a credit hour below for calculating the number of academic units to be awarded per course.

Federal Credit Hour Definition

A credit-hour is defined as an amount of work that reasonably approximates, but is not less than:

One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for a semester or trimester hour (or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time);
Or at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) above for other academic activities such as laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, or other academic work leading to the award of credit-hours. (34 CFR 600.2)

eLearning

eLearning is GGU’s online learning platform. The online instruction mode allows students to complete coursework asynchronously, providing a great deal of flexibility to complete assignments and engage with the instructor and other students within a specified period of time (many of GGU’s online courses run on a week-to-week schedule). Through eLearning, students access course materials, view video or other multimedia content, submit assignments and participate in other course activities and projects. Students communicate with the instructor and with each other through threaded discussion forums, an essential part of every online course. Students are expected to contribute thoughtful, meaningful dialog in the threaded discussions at least once a week. In addition, opportunities for synchronous learning and collaboration via Zoom web conferencing software are increasingly available for office hours, tutoring and instructor-led review sessions.

Many entirely online courses (no in-person class meetings) will have at least one supervised (proctored) exam per term. The supervised exams are typically Web-based and can be supervised at the GGU San Francisco campus or by using ProctorU, an online proctoring service. Supervised exams are required for courses for which they are the most appropriate pedagogically means for assessing students’ learning. Some courses will require projects, papers, or other assessments in lieu of supervised exams.

Enrollment Minimum and Maximum Requirements

Fully Admitted Students

Fully admitted students may enroll in the maximum number of units per academic period indicated below:

Undergraduate: 17 units
Graduate: 14 units
Doctoral: 8 units

Students may be permitted to enroll in additional units with the approval of their dean. This approval must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar prior to enrolling in the excess units.

Conditionally Admitted Students

Conditionally admitted undergraduate students may enroll in a maximum of twelve (12) units per trimester period. Conditionally admitted graduate students may enroll in a maximum of nine (9) units per trimester period. It is strongly recommended that conditionally admitted students take no more than two courses per trimester period until their conditional admission requirements are satisfied.

Admitted Subject to Documentation

Students who were admitted with “subject to documentation” status may enroll in only one academic period while awaiting receipt of their official transcripts. These students may not enroll in subsequent academic periods until their official transcripts have been received and their records have been updated accordingly. See Subject to Documentation status for more information. These students have the same maximum unit enrollment limitations as fully admitted students.

International Students

U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations require international students residing in the U.S. with either F-1 (student) Visas or J-1 (scholar) Visas to enroll in a full course of study, meaning that these students must enroll at GGU on a full-time basis. The minimum number of units required to satisfy the full course of study requirement are dependent on students’ degree levels, as follows:

Undergraduate students are required to enroll in a minimum of twelve units per academic period.
Graduate students are required to enroll in a minimum of eight units per academic period.
Doctoral students must be enrolled in a minimum of seven units per academic period while they are completing their coursework and four units per academic period while completing their dissertations.

International students are eligible for vacation periods (equivalent to one academic period) after having completed two consecutive academic periods of full-time coursework. Note: grades of W (Withdrawal), WF (Withdrawal Failure), AU (Audit), NC (No Credit), UW (Unofficial Withdrawal), and I (Incomplete) are not calculated as earned units for full course of study requirement compliance purposes.

Golden Gate University operates on a trimester Academic Calendar and offers fifteen-week trimester terms (“A”) in the fall, spring, and summer, and two consecutive seven and a half-week sub terms (“B” and “C”) within each trimester term. An Academic Period consists of the trimester term and the two sub-trimester terms. To be deemed as enrolled on a full-time basis during a given period, international students must enroll in course sections (i.e., classes) with any of the following Instruction Modes: In-Person (i.e., on-site), Blended, or HyFlex that span the length of the “A” term. Students may satisfy this obligation by enrolling in “A” term course sections or a combination of “A” term and sub-term (i.e., “B” and “C” Term) course sections.

Per academic period, international students may use only one course of the online-type Instruction Modes (i.e., Online, Mixed-Mode, or Web Conference) toward satisfying the full-time enrollment requirement. International students may take more than one online-type course, but only during an approved vacation period or in addition to a full-time course load. Note: with the HyFlex mode, international students must attend at least 50% class meetings on-site to satisfy this requirement.

International students must obtain prior approval from their DSO (Designated School Official) before dropping or withdrawing from courses. International students who are unable to fulfill the full course of study requirement should contact their DSO without delay to prevent violation of their immigration status.

International students may be permitted to fulfill their enrollment requirements by taking courses at other institutions while they are pursuing their academic programs at GGU. Before enrolling elsewhere, students must first receive approval from their academic advisors and DSO by submitting “International Student Request To Take Courses At Another Institution” forms to their academic advisors.

International students in valid immigration status at other institutions may enroll in courses at Golden Gate University with written authorizations from their home institutions’ DSO. These students must meet the minimum enrollment requirements of their home institutions, and will be required to provide proof of having fulfilled GGU’s English Language Proficiency Admission Requirement .

Students Enrolling Concurrently at Other Institutions

Students may be permitted to fulfill some requirements of their academic programs by taking courses at other regionally accredited institutions. The courses will be transferred into Golden Gate University provided the following three conditions are met:

The student has not reached (and will not exceed) the maximum number of allowable transfer units; and
The student is in good academic standing; and
The student has no outstanding financial obligations to the University.

The Admissions Office publishes a list of courses that have been articulated with those offered at other institutions on the website at: http://www.ggu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/transfers/ (Note: click on “transfer tool” to access the list of courses.). Students are not required to petition for permission to take previously articulated courses if they meet the requirements above. GGU makes every effort to publish the most current information regarding articulated courses, and strongly recommends that students refer to the “transfer tool” listings before registering for courses at other institutions.

If the courses students want to take at other institutions are not listed on the “transfer tool” page, they are required to petition for permission to enroll in those courses. Before enrolling at other institutions, students must complete and submit the “Domestic Student Request to Take Courses at Other Institution” form to the Admission’s Office, if the student has not yet commenced taking courses at GGU, or to their academic advisors, if they have already commenced taking classes at GGU. Students must include adequate documentation (course descriptions, syllabus information, etc.) to support their requests. Students who wish to receive financial aid for courses taken concurrently at other institutions must submit a separate petition to the Financial Aid Office. International students must follow the policy for concurrent enrollment as described in the International Students section above.

Regular Enrollment Requirement

Golden Gate University requires students to enroll in and complete courses on a regular basis to remain actively enrolled in their academic programs. At a minimum, students must enroll in and complete at least one unit of academic credit every third consecutive academic period (i.e., fall, spring, or summer). Domestic students may be absent for two consecutive academic periods without consequence. Note: international students attending GGU on F-1 or J-1 visas must comply with additional enrollment requirements as described in the International Students section above.

Students who fail to satisfy this enrollment requirement are deemed to be stopped-out and their academic programs are made inactive and they become ineligible to enroll in courses. Students whose academic programs become inactive under this policy are required to apply for readmission to resume their academic studies at GGU. See the Readmission Policies for more information.

Non-Enrolled Student Advising Requirement

Continuing students who have not enrolled for two or more consecutive academic periods following their last enrolled terms and admitted students who have not enrolled for two consecutive academic periods following their admission terms will have registration holds placed on their records. Consequently, these students will be required to meet with their academic advisors prior to registering for future academic periods to review their degree plans.

In addition, consistent with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regulations, VA education benefits recipients must consult with GGU’s VA certifying officer to determine whether their academic programs have reached the maximum capacity of VA students. If their programs are not at capacity, their registration holds will be lifted and they will be allowed to enroll. If their programs are at capacity, they will be placed on enrollment waitlists and will be allowed to enroll if seats become available. Note: the enrollment waitlists are managed on a first-come-first-served basis, with priority being given to students who have successfully completed courses applicable to their academic programs over those who have only been admitted to their programs.

Registration Policies and Procedures

Internet and Email Access Required of All Students

Golden Gate University expects all students who register for courses to have access to a computer and the Internet either at work, at home, or through the Business Library. Most, if not all, courses offered at GGU have some online content and tasks that must be completed online.

The University communicates registration, payment, and other administrative information by email, and expects all students to check their GGU-issued student email accounts regularly. Students must keep the University informed of their personal email addresses and other contact information. Changes may be submitted online via myGGU/Student Self-Service or by submitting a Change of Student Information form to the Office of the Registrar. The University will accept registration requests submitted by email but only if the email originates from an email address on record for the student.

Registration Request Submission Requirements

Students must submit all registration requests, including course drop/withdrawal requests in one of the following way(s):

Online via myGGU/Student Self-Service at https://portal.ggu.edu/;
Email (or phone call/text) to: Students’ enrollment counselors or academic advisors;
Email to: registration@ggu.edu (Note: Message must originate from one of the student’s email addresses on record at Golden Gate University.);
Fax to: 415-442-7223; or,
Mail to: Office of the Registrar, 536 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105.

The following kinds of requests are insufficient, and will not be acted upon:

Oral/spoken requests
Requests submitted to instructors, deans or academic department chairs or staff
Requests submitted by anyone other than the student, including family members

Students are not officially enrolled until tuition and fees have been paid for all registered courses or other acceptable payment arrangements have been made, such as enrolling in a deferred payment plan. Students must pay in full or make other arrangements by the payment due date for the term, as published in the Academic Calendar, or their registrations may be canceled. A student whose registration is canceled due to failure to pay who requests to be reinstated will be assessed a $100 Late Registration fee. Payment in full or other satisfactory payment arrangements must be made before a student’s registration will be reinstated.

Pre-Registration Academic Advising

The following students are required to have their schedules approved by their enrollment counselors or academic advisor prior to registering:

Students enrolling under open enrollment status (Note: Enrollment counselor or academic advisor approval is required.)
Students making the credit/no credit grade election
Students who have yet to satisfy the terms of their conditional admission
Students on academic probation

Undergraduate students must consult with their academic advisor in their first or returning trimester at GGU. Undergraduate students may register for subsequent terms without seeking approval, but are encouraged to consult with their academic advisors.

Graduate students either when beginning a new academic program or planning to graduate at the end of the term for which they are registering should consult with their academic advisor.

International Students (F-1 and J-1 Visa)

Before registering or dropping, international students will need the approval of their academic advisor if they:

Are registering for their first term.
Are seeking to drop/withdraw from a course.

Math or English Conditional Admissions

Students who have not satisfied the math or English admissions requirements must receive advising and obtain the approval of an academic advisor prior to registration.

Open Enrollment Status

Prospective degree-seeking students, who have applied for admission to the university but who have not yet been admitted, may enroll in courses through open enrollment status. In addition, students who desire to take courses from GGU to transfer back to their home institutions or for personal enrichment and who are not seeking to earn academic credentials may request to enroll through open enrollment status. Permission to register for individual courses is based on prior academic performance and preparation in appropriate prerequisites. See the Open Enrollment Status policies for more information.

Adding or Dropping Courses

Adding Before the Add Deadline

Students may register for course sections after they have begun during the Add Period. The Add Period extends through the first week of classes for both trimester (“A”) and sub-trimester terms (“B” and “C”). Students seeking to register after the applicable Add Period has ended may be able to do so by completing the Late Registration process. Students are not allowed to register for intensive courses (i.e., courses that are shorter than 7.5-weeks in length) after the first day instruction, without completing the Late Registration process. Specific Add Period end dates are published in the Academic Calendar. Students may submit add requests online through myGGU/Student Self-Service, in writing to registration@ggu.edu (or to their academic advisors), or by submitting Registration forms by fax, email, or in person to the Office of the Registrar. Making oral/spoken requests or submitting written requests to course instructors is insufficient.

Adding After the Add Deadline (Late Registration Process)

Students seeking to register for course sections after the “Last Day to Register/Add Course” as specified in the Academic Calendar may be allowed to do so by completing the Late Registration process. To initiate the process, students must submit all of the following with their registration requests:

Written or emailed approval from the course’s instructor
Written or emailed approval from a senior administrator of the school that is offering the course, such as the dean, program director, or department chair
A $100 late registration fee. This fee will be charged only once per academic period (fall, spring, or summer), regardless of whether students have already registered for courses in a timely manner within the same academic period. Each academic period includes the trimester “A” term and the two sub-trimester “B” and “C” terms. This fee will be waived only if students present written evidence of extenuating circumstances beyond their control that prevented them from registering before the end of the applicable Add Period. A school’s senior administrator can authorize a fee waiver, but courses instructors may not.

Drop “W” Grade Policy

After the “Last Day to Drop Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade,” courses that are dropped are automatically assigned “W” grades by the registrar; the only exceptions are for courses that are canceled by the university or when students change from one section to another section of the same course, and both of them are offered in the same academic term. Students are liable for the tuition for all courses dropped after the “Last Day to Drop Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade.” For specific dates, students should consult the Academic Calendar. Course sections that are dropped after the “Last Day to Drop Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade” are included in students’ attempted units for evaluating Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid recipients.

Dropping and Withdrawing from Course Sections

Students may withdraw from trimester (“A”) term course sections prior to their second to last week, sub-trimester (“B” and “C”) term course sections prior to their last week, in accordance with the deadlines published in the Academic Calendar. Different deadlines apply to course sections that do not conform to the standard academic terms published in the Academic Calendar. See the “Non-Standard Course Sections” documents published with the Academic Calendar for the deadlines applicable to these course sections. Students who have been conditionally admitted or placed on academic probation must consult with their academic advisors before dropping or withdrawing from courses or before withdrawing from the university completely.

Course sections that are dropped before the “Last Day to Drop Course Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade,” as published in the Academic Calendar, which is approximately the end of the third week of the course section, will not be recorded on students’ transcripts and the tuition charges will be credited in-full to their accounts. Course sections from which students withdraw after this deadline will be recorded on their transcripts with “W” grades and they will be financially liable for the tuition charges.

To officially withdraw from courses, students must drop (or withdraw) from them online via myGGU/Student Self-Service or submit drop (or withdrawal) requests in writing by email, fax, or in-person to the Office of the Registrar. Making oral/spoken requests or submitting written requests to their instructors or any other university office is insufficient. Requests for withdrawal or change-to-audit status will not be approved after the “Last Day to Withdraw from Course, Change to Audit Status, or Elect CR/NC (pass/fail) Grading” as published in the Academic Calendar. Students will receive grades for all courses in which they remain enrolled after this deadline.

Last Date of Attendance (LDA)

When students withdraw from courses after the “Last Day to Drop Course without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade,” as published in the Academic Calendar, their withdrawal dates will be recorded as their last dates of attendance (LDA) for these courses. When students cease to attend class meetings or participate in online courses without officially withdrawing from them, their instructors will assign them “F” grades, and will submit their last dates of attendance (LDA) to the Registrar’s Office. When applicable, the university will report students’ LDAs to 3rd parties that have provided funding for their education, such as the U.S. Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

When determining students’ LDAs for submission in association with “F” grades, instructors will select the latest of either: 1. Students’ last dates of physical presence in the classroom; or 2. Students’ last dates of participation in academically related activities.

Academically related activities include but are not limited to the following:

physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students;
submitting an academic assignment;
taking an exam, completing an interactive tutorial, or participating in computer-assisted instruction;
attending a study group that is assigned by the school;
participating in an online discussion about academic matters; and
initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course.

Academically related activities do not include activities where students may be present but not academically engaged, such as:

logging into an online course without active participation,
participating in academic counseling or advisement.

See the Attendance Requirements policy for more information regarding the potential consequences of “Last Dates of Attendance” for Federal Student Aid and VA Education Benefits recipients.

Changing to Audit Status

Students may change to audit status for a trimester term course section through two weeks before its end date and a 7.5-week course section through one week before its end date. For specific dates, students should consult the Academic Calendar. Doctoral courses may not be audited.

Students who register for courses in credit status (i.e., non-audit status) and later change to audit status will not receive the audit discount.

Requests for changes to audit status must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar. An oral/spoken request or a written request submitted to the instructor is insufficient.

Students who elect audit status may not change their registration status later to receive a letter grade or a “CR” (Credit) grade without the approval of the dean, program director, or department chair that oversees the student’s academic program. Refer to Auditing Courses for additional policies relating to auditing courses.

Financial Aid Recipients Who Withdraw Completely From All Courses

Financial aid recipients who withdraw from all courses during a financial aid award period (fall, spring, summer) must notify the Financial Aid Office by email at finaid@ggu.edu after submitting the proper withdrawal request to the registrar. Complete withdrawal may be accomplished by dropping or withdrawing from all enrolled courses.

International Students

International students (F-1 or J-1 visa) must contact their academic advisors before dropping or withdrawing from courses. The advisor will advise the student about compliance with U.S. immigration policies, Department of Homeland Security regulations.

Refunds

If students drop courses before the “Last Day to Drop Course Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade,” the tuition charge for the dropped courses will be reversed, and their accounts will be credited. If this results in students having credit balances due to their having paid their registration charges, the credits will be applied toward their future registration charges. If, instead, students would like their credit balances refunded to them, they should send a written request to Student Accounting Services via fax at 415-442-7819 or email to sas@ggu.edu. Oral/spoken requests will not be processed.

Section Waitlists

Students attempting to register for full/closed course section(s) will be given the option of placing themselves on the section’s waitlist. Tuition is not assessed when students are added to a waitlist. Students may remove themselves from course waitlists via myGGU/Student Self-Service if they no longer want to be enrolled in the waitlisted course.

Course waitlists are managed by each school or academic department. Students are registered from the waitlist if seats become available or the section capacity is expanded. Students who are already registered for another section of the same course or who are registered for a conflicting course section will not be registered from the waitlist. Students will be notified by email if they are registered from the waitlist. Students who do not want to be enrolled in the previously waitlisted course must drop it using myGGU/Student Self-Service or by contacting the school or department that added them to the course.

A course section may have a waitlist even though the capacity of the section may be greater than the number of students currently registered. This situation may occur when the course section was full at a prior time and a waitlist was created, after which students dropped the course section, making seats available. However, students may not bypass the waitlist, as there may still be students ahead of them on it. Students who seek to register for a closed course section should add themselves to the waitlist and wait for the school or department to respond.

Course Cancellation

The university reserves the right to cancel any course section in which the number of students enrolled is deemed insufficient or for which an instructor cannot be secured. All tuition and any associated fees for canceled course sections are immediately credited to students’ accounts at the time of cancellation. Students affected by course cancellations are notified via their myGGU email accounts. Students affected by course cancellations may adjust their enrollment via myGGU/Student Self-Service in accordance with the deadlines published in the Academic Calendar.

Administrative Withdrawal

The university reserves the right to administratively withdraw a student from courses in the event of any of the following:

Failure to meet financial obligations with the university
Course prerequisites are not met
Violations of academic or administrative policies

If a student is administratively withdrawn, the student’s withdrawal date will be recorded as the first day of the term. All registration charges (tuition and fees) associated with the course will be reversed. Golden Gate University must return the funds for students who are administratively withdrawn who have received any form of Federal Student Aid , including loans, if the withdrawal results in complete withdrawal from the trimester term. The Return of Title IV Funds may result in a balance due on the student’s account.

See Unofficial Withdrawal for the consequences of failing to begin attending class meetings or participating in online courses.

Directed Study

Students may study a topic not offered in the course catalog individually under the guidance of a faculty member by requesting a directed study. To register for a directed study class, the student must obtain the approval of the supervising faculty member and the appropriate school administrator, and submit the approvals and a Registration form to the Office of the Registrar. Directed study classes are subject to the following restrictions:

Undergraduate students may register for only three units of directed study coursework per term.
Graduate students may register for only three units of directed study coursework per degree program.
Directed study classes must be taken for letter grades only; making a credit/no credit election and auditing are not allowed.

Directed study classes may be substituted for requirements in an academic program and are subject to the same administrative and academic policies as regular courses.

Custom Study

On rare occasion, the university will need to alter the meeting times of a course section from those that were published in the course schedule or on the GGU website. Students registered for the course will be offered the option of dropping the course along with a full tuition credit, or continuing with an altered schedule that is agreed upon by the instructor and all of the students. This course section is referred to as a “custom study,” as its meeting dates and times are customized by the participants. This change may result in less frequent contact between the instructor and students, but in no way alters the course’s learning objectives, unit load, tuition amount or administrative requirements.

Internships

Internships are structured learning experiences that allow students to work while attending the university. The internship program at Golden Gate University integrates students’ academic and career interests with work experience. The objectives of the program are to provide students with opportunities to apply academic theory in their major to the work world by gaining relevant field experience, earn academic credit toward degree requirements, and further their career and professional growth. Internships may be either paid or unpaid. Internships are subject to the same registration, financial and grading policies as regular courses.

Units earned may be applied to fulfill degree requirements; students may complete one or more academic internships per degree program. Students should contact their academic advisor or school or academic department for more information. Office of Career Planning staff members, deans, department chairs and faculty are available to help students identify internship opportunities that match their academic program and career interests. Students can learn more about the internship program and how to locate and prepare and register for an internship by accessing the Internship Information webpage via GGU4YOU. All internship course registrations must be approved by the department chair or the designated faculty internship supervisor and the academic advisor for international students.

Internship Academic Credit (Varies by Academic Program)*

3 units = 11 to 12 hours (minimum) per week for 15 weeks (180 minimum total hours; weekly hours are flexible)
2 units = 7 to 8 hours per week for 15 weeks (120 minimum total hours; weekly hours are flexible)
1 unit = 3 to 4 hours per week for 15 weeks (60 minimum total hours; weekly hours are flexible)

*Your academic department will determine the maximum number of internship hours and units applicable toward degree and certificate programs. Contact your school or department for more information. All students approved for internships must complete the minimum required work hours within the dates of the term in which the course is taken, unless otherwise approved by the department.

Internship Grading Criteria

The schools and departments will determine the criteria used for grading. The department chairs or the designated faculty internship supervisor will provide students with their internship assignments and inform them of the grading criteria when they receive approval for the internship.

Internship Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduate Degree Students

Must have accumulated at least 60 units
Must have successfully completed at least 12 units at Golden Gate with a 2.50 GGU GPA or higher
Must have completed major subject area requirements
Must be fully admitted
Undergraduate students must receive a letter grade (A-F) for internship units taken to satisfy “Required for the Major” courses or “Business Core” courses.
Must meet departmental guidelines for qualifications for the internship

Internship Eligibility Requirements for Graduate-Degree Students

Must have successfully completed at least nine graduate units at Golden Gate University
Must be in good standing
Must have completed degree graduate proficiency and foundation program requirements. Since individual degree programs have exceptions, the appropriate catalog sections should be consulted.
Must be fully admitted
Must meet departmental guidelines for qualifications for the internship

Internship Eligibility Requirements for Certificate Students

Fully admitted certificate-seeking students should consult with their department for specific eligibility requirements and application of internship units to their certificate programs.

Internship Eligibility Requirements for International Students

United States federal regulations govern the ability of international students and other international visitors to be employed in the United States. Internships, training and education programs that enable international visitors to provide services are generally considered as employment. Students in these programs are required to comply with the immigration laws and regulations pertaining to employment. Any activity performed by an international student or visitor for which the student or visitor receives any type of pay, remuneration, compensation, bonus or gift may be considered as employment under the regulations. Examples of compensation include, but are not limited to, the receipt of any type of benefit to the student such as money, meals, lodging and gifts of any type.

Students residing in the United States under any type of nonimmigrant visa status who intend to participate in the internship program at Golden Gate University may be eligible to participate if they are maintaining their immigration status and have permission in writing from their academic advisors. Specific information regarding all of the eligibility requirements is available from students’ academic advisors.

Immigration rules and regulations generally control the following:

The length of time the student must be present in the US before being eligible for an internship
The relationship between the degree level, major, concentration or field of study and the internship field
The number of hours the student may be employed each week
The number of credit hours the student must be enrolled - in addition to the internship credit hours
The length of time permissible for each internship period

International students should consult the resources provided by their academic or international advisors to determine their eligibility and to obtain detailed information concerning immigration regulations for the internship program.

Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students enrolling in their final term prior to graduation may concurrently register for both undergraduate and graduate courses, provided they are within six units of earning the bachelor’s degree and are in good academic standing. An exception is made to this restriction if students are enrolled in established Pathway Programs. Such students may take graduate courses at any time, with the approval of their academic advisor or the department chair. Except for students in a Pathway Programs , students must have been admitted to a graduate program or apply for open enrollment at the graduate level prior to registration. Tuition is based on the academic level of the course, and not the student’s academic level. Academic credit for a course is granted for either the graduate level or the undergraduate level, but not both, except for certain Pathway Programs . This policy does not apply to graduate proficiency, foundation program courses, or accounting foundation courses.

Grading Policies and Procedures

Grading Scale

Final course grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

GRADE	PERCENTAGE
A	93% - 100%
A-	90% - 92.9%
B+	87% - 89.9%
B	83% - 86.9%
B-	80% - 82.9%
C+	77% - 79.9%
C	73% - 76.9%
C-	70% - 72.9%
D+	67% - 69.9%
D	63% - 66.9%
D-	60% - 62.9%
F	0% - 59.5%

Students should also review the following which may affect the calculation of their final grades:

The weighted grading policy for coursework and activities as indicated by the instructor in the course syllabus.
The Online Discussion Forum Participation grading policy that is applicable to online-asynchronous courses.

Grading System

The university uses a four-point scale, including plus (+) and minus (-), to calculate a grade point average (GPA). Grade point values are assigned as follows:

GRADE	DESCRIPTION	POINTS PER UNIT
A+	Outstanding	4.0
A	Outstanding	4.0
A-	Outstanding	3.7
B+	Good	3.3
B	Good	3.0
B-	Good	2.7
C+	Fair	2.3
C	Fair	2.0
C-	Fair	1.7
D+	Poor	1.3
D	Poor	1.0
D-	Poor	0.7
F	Failure	0.0
IF	Incomplete Failure	0.0

The following symbols have no grade point value and are not used in the calculation of students’ grade point average: AU (Audit), I (Incomplete), CR (Credit), NC (No Credit), W (Withdrawal), UW (Unofficial Withdrawal).

Grade Point Average Calculation

Students’ grade point averages (GPAs) are calculated by dividing the total grade points they have earned by the total letter-graded units they have completed. Only Golden Gate University courses are used in the calculation of students’ GPAs. Courses completed at other institutions that are transferred into GGU are recorded with “CR” grades on students’ GGU transcripts and are therefore excluded from their GGU GPA calculations. In addition, courses that are graded on a CR/NC (pass/fail) basis are not included in students’ GPA calculations.

The table below illustrates how a student’s GPA would be calculated in accordance with these policies and the grading system above:

COURSE	GRADE	UNITS	GRADE POINTS	GRADE POINT AVERAGE
Course 1	A-	3.0	11.1
Course 2	B+	3.0	9.9
Course 3	A	1.0	4.0
TOTAL		7.0	25.0	GPA = 3.57

GGU’s courses are assigned one of the following default academic levels: undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral. However, when a student enrolls in a course, the default level that is recorded in the student’s academic record may be overridden by the academic level corresponding to the student’s academic program. For example, the default academic level for MATH 30 is “undergraduate” and if the course is taken by a student who is pursuing an undergraduate program, the course will be assigned the “undergraduate” academic level; however, if the course is taken by a student who is pursuing a graduate program, it will be assigned the “graduate” academic level.

Undergraduate students’ cumulative GPAs are calculated using all their GGU coursework that is used to satisfy their degree program requirements. This coursework is not typically used to satisfy the requirements of any subsequent graduate academic programs that they may pursue, and it is not typically included in their graduate program GPA calculations, except for certain Pathway Programs. Undergraduate students’ cumulative GPAs are used for evaluating them for academic standing and for degree conferral purposes, and they are recorded on students’ transcripts when their degrees are conferred. See Undergraduate Student Academic Standing Standards for more information.

Graduate and doctoral students’ GPAs are calculated by academic level and academic program, and they may have more than one graduate-level GPA if they pursue more than one graduate program. Graduate students’ program GPAs are used for evaluating them for academic standing and for degree conferral purposes on a program-by-program basis, but they are not recorded on students’ transcripts. See Graduate Student Academic Standing Standards for more information.

Students’ GPA calculations are frozen at the point in time when their degrees are awarded. Courses taken after their degrees are awarded are not included in their degree program GPAs, even if they are associated with the same academic level for which their degrees were conferred. For example, if students go on to take undergraduate-level courses after having been awarded undergraduate degrees, the grades from those courses will not be retroactively included in their undergraduate degree program GPAs.

Auditing Courses

Students who audit courses are not required to participate in class or to take examinations and do not receive academic credit or grades for the courses. An “AU” grade is recorded on the student’s transcript and has no effect on the student’s grade point average. Students may initially register to audit a course or change their registration to audit status through two weeks before the end of trimester term course, or one week before the end of a 7.5-week term course. For specific dates, students should consult the Academic Calendar. Doctoral courses may not be audited.

However, if the student registers for a course in non-audit status and later changes to audit, no audit discount will be given. Doctoral courses may not be audited. Requests for changes to audit status should be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar. An oral (spoken) request or a written request submitted to the instructor is insufficient. Students who elect to audit courses may not change their registration status later to receive a letter grade or make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election without the approval of the dean, program director, or department chair that oversees the student’s academic program.

The tuition assessed for audited courses is two-thirds of the tuition for non-audited courses. This discount is only available at the time of initial registration, and students who change to audit status after initial registration are not eligible for this discount. Consequently, a change to “audit” status after initial registration will not result in a reduced tuition charge.

International students (F and J visa) with a student or scholar visa may audit courses; however, these units are not included in their full-time unit load calculation.

Credit/No Credit Grade Election

Under certain circumstances, students may elect to receive Credit/No Credit (pass/fail) grades instead of letter grades. Neither a “CR” (credit) grade nor an “NC” (no credit) grade is used in the student’s grade point average calculation. However, a “CR” grade counts as academic credit, whereas an “NC” grade does not.

To make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election, students must obtain the permission of their academic advisor. Students may make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election at the time of registration by forwarding their advisor’s approval to registration@ggu.edu. Students must make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election no later than two weeks prior to the end of an A Term course, or one week prior to the end of a B or C Term course. For specific dates, students should consult the Academic Calendar.

Once a student has made the Credit/No Credit Grade Election, the decision may not be revoked unless a grade of “NC” (no credit) is received. Students receiving a grade of “NC” may submit a written request to restore the actual letter grade received. Requests should be submitted to records@ggu.edu.

The following restrictions apply to the Credit/No Credit Grade Election:

Undergraduate students may make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election for general elective courses only. A grade of “C-” or better must be earned to receive a “CR” grade and to earn academic credit for the course.
Graduate students may make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election for 200-level foundation courses or courses used to fulfill proficiency requirements only. A grade of “C-” or better must be earned to receive a “CR” grade and to earn academic credit.
Doctoral students may make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election for DBA 899 Dissertation Research only.
Doctors students who register for DBA 899 Dissertation Research for zero units are always graded on a Credit/No Credit basis.
Students who were conditionally admitted or who are on academic probation are not allowed to make the Credit/No Credit Grade Election. See the Academic Standing standards for Conditionally Admitted Students/Academic Probation Students for more information.

Failing (F) Grades

When a student fails to earn academic credit for a course, and does not withdraw by the “Last Day to Withdraw from Course” as published in the Academic Calendar, the instructor will assign an “F” grade. In addition, the instructor will record the student’s last date of attendance (LDA) in class or participation online. When applicable, the student’s LDA will be reported to 3rd parties that have provided funding for the student’s education, such as the U.S. Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Incomplete (I) Grades

A student may request an instructor to assign a temporary “I” (Incomplete) grade for a course. The instructor has full discretion as to whether to grant an incomplete grade request. The instructor should not assign an incomplete grade unless the student explicitly requests it. The assignment of an incomplete is allowed only if all the following criteria are met:

The student is making satisfactory course progress as evidenced by a passing grade.
The student has completed the majority of the academic coursework.
The student is unable to complete the remaining course material because of unforeseen - but fully justifiable - circumstances.

Coursework must be completed and the grade submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline date established by the instructor, which can be no later than the end of the following trimester term.

If the coursework is not completed by the established deadline, the “I” grade will convert automatically to “IF” (Incomplete Failure), which counts the same as an “F” in the student’s GPA. If eligible to enroll, and the student chooses to repeat the same course in a subsequent academic period, he/she will be required to pay all applicable tuition and fees.

International Students (F and J Visa) with student or scholar visas may receive “I” grades; however, these units are not included in their full-time unit load calculations.

Graduation applicants may not have their degrees conferred so long as they have any “I” grades in their academic records (as reflected on their transcripts) even if the courses for which they have received those grades are not required to complete their degree programs.

Unofficial Withdrawal (UW) Grades

Students who fail to attend at least one in-person class meeting or participate in online courses by the end of the second week of instruction, and whose absences have not been approved by their instructors, may be assigned temporary “UW” grades (Unofficial Withdrawal) by their instructors. (These grades have no effect on students’ GPAs.) As a consequence of receiving “UW” grades, the registrar will administratively drop these students from those courses. When students are administratively dropped, the registrar will delete the “UW” grades from students’ academic transcripts and will credit students’ accounts for the full amount of the tuition charges. See Last Date of Attendance (LDA) for more information regarding “academically related activities” that constitute attendance and/or participation.

Withdrawal (W) Grades

A student, who ceases to attend a course after the “Last Day to Drop Course Without Tuition Charge or ‘W’ Grade” has passed, as published in the Academic Calendar, may withdraw from the course by dropping it online via myGGU/Student Self-Service or by submitting a withdrawal request to the Office of the Registrar. The student must withdraw from the course prior to the “Last Day to Withdraw from Course” as published in the Academic Calendar, which is approximately the end of the fourteenth week of the trimester term or the end of the seventh week of an eight-week term. The registrar will automatically assign the grade of “W” for courses from which students withdraw. The instructor may not assign the grade of “W” to students. The grade of “W” has no effect on the student’s GPA. If eligible to enroll, and the student chooses to repeat the same course in a subsequent academic period, he/she will be required to pay all applicable tuition and fees.

Federal Student Aid recipients are advised that “W” grades affect their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) evaluation, a regulation established by the U.S. Department of Education. The Department authorizes Golden Gate University to award federally subsidized loans. It requires that Federal Student Aid recipients satisfy the following completion rates: undergraduate students must complete at least 67% of attempted units; graduate and doctoral students must complete at least 75% of attempted units. Courses graded with “W” grades count toward the attempted units, but do not count toward completed units. Students who do not meet the SAP requirement will not be eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. International Students (F and J Visa) with a student or scholar visa may receive “W” grades; however, these units are not included in their full-time unit load calculation.

Transferability of Credits

The transferability of credits earned at Golden Gate University is at the discretion of the receiving college, university, or other educational institution. Students considering transferring to any institution should not assume that credits earned in any program of study at Golden Gate University will be accepted by the receiving institution. Similarly, the ability of a degree, certificate, diploma, or other academic credential earned at Golden Gate University to satisfy an admission requirement of another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Accreditation does not guarantee credentials or credits earned at Golden Gate University will be accepted by or transferred to another institution. To minimize the risk of having to repeat coursework, students should contact the receiving institution in advance for evaluation and determination of transferability of credits and/or acceptability of degrees, diplomas, or certificates earned.

Course Repeat Policy

Students may repeat courses to improve their grades by enrolling in the same courses (or equivalent courses) one time without their dean’s permission. Students must obtain their dean’s permission to repeat courses a second time (i.e., third attempt).

When students repeat courses, the original and the subsequent grades earned will appear on their academic transcripts. However, only the most recent graded attempts will be used to fulfill students’ academic program requirements, and only those grades will be used in their cumulative grade point average (GPA) calculations.

When GGU grants transfer credit for external coursework (including CLEP or DSST exams) that is equivalent to courses that students have previously completed at GGU, the “CR” (credit) grades recorded for the transfer credit will not replace the grades they have earned at GGU in their cumulative grade point average (GPA) calculations.

There is no discount in tuition or fees for repeated courses. Note: there are restrictions on the number of course attempts that students may use for Federal Student Aid eligibility. See Eligibility Requirements for more information.

Grade Grievance Policy

Golden Gate University subscribes to principles of fairness of academic decisions. The grade grievance process can be used to dispute or appeal a course grade that a student believes was given unfairly or in error, other than in situations where a reduced grade was given as a result of a student having violated the Academic Integrity Policy. In that situation, the appropriate appeal process is detailed in the Academic Integrity Policy .

In all other situations where the student wishes to appeal a course grade, the student is encouraged to contact the course instructor. Students must contact the instructor within 15 calendar days of the beginning of the term following the term in which the grade in question was received. It is hoped that a satisfactory resolution can be reached through meaningful and respectful dialog between the student and faculty member. However, in cases where a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved, a student may file a formal grade grievance using the grade grievance form within 45 calendar days of the beginning of the term following the term in which the grade in question was received. In cases where a student wishes to grieve a grade for a class in which an incomplete was initially awarded, the grievance must be filed within 45 calendar days of the date the letter grade for the course is recorded by the Office of the Registrar.

A student who is academically disqualified as a result of not meeting GPA requirements will be withdrawn from the university. Should the student wish to file a grade grievance, the student will remain withdrawn and ineligible to enroll in classes while the grade grievance is under review. If the approval of a grade grievance results in a higher grade, and the student’s GPA subsequently meets the university’s standard, the student will be readmitted the term after the grade grievance is resolved, and the academic disqualification notation will be removed from the student’s record.

A submitted grade grievance form will be forwarded to the appropriate review committee. The committee’s decision will be communicated to the student and instructor within 20 working days of receipt of the form.

The decision of the review committee is final and is not subject to further appeal.

Grade Submission Deadlines

All instructors are required to submit grades within five (5) business days after the end of the term. The Office of the Registrar notifies the schools regarding instructors who have not submitted grades by this deadline. Students who do not see their grades via myGGU/Student Self-Service after this deadline should contact the school that offered the course for assistance. When the instructor fails to submit a final grade by a reasonable amount of time after the deadline, the university registrar records an administrative “NC” grade. The instructor may change the administrative “NC” grade to an “I” grade or the grade earned by the student if the student completed the course.

Grade Reports

Students may view grades online through myGGU/Student Self-Service within one business day after the instructor submits them. The Office of the Registrar will mail out grade reports only upon individual request from the student, and will mail them only to the address on record as the student’s preferred address. To request a grade report, students should email records@ggu.edu or call 415-442-7200. The Office of Records & Registration will not fax grade reports, nor give out grades or grade point averages over the telephone.

Dean’s List

Dean’s List for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students who have matriculated into a degree or certificate program who demonstrate academic excellence are included on the School of Undergraduate Studies’ Dean’s List. The Dean’s List notation appears on the academic transcript when the student has met the following criteria:

Achievement of at least a 3.50 grade point average (GPA) in one academic period (e.g., fall, spring, summer) when completing a minimum of six units for that period;
Students’ course grades for the trimester term and its corresponding sub-trimester term course grades are included in their GPA calculations for the academic period.

Only courses completed at Golden Gate University are considered for the Dean’s List. Eligible students will receive a letter from the Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies and their names will be posted on the Golden Gate University website.

Dean’s List for Graduate Students*

Graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence are included on the Dean’s List for the respective school in which they are enrolled. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a graduate student must have completed at least six units per trimester term period for the previous two trimester term periods and maintained a 4.00 grade point average. Eligible students will receive a letter of recognition from the dean of their school after all grades have been posted.

*Non-law students only

Chosen Names

Golden Gate University recognizes that some students prefer to be known by chosen or preferred names rather than their legal names. The university strives to use and display chosen names wherever and whenever possible in its student records, learning management systems, and communications information systems. To that end, once declared, chosen names will appear in Self-Service, GGU4YOU, eLearning and other information systems where students’ instructors or classmates can see their names. In addition, if students have declared preferred pronouns, they too will appear on instructors’ GGU4YOU class rosters. In addition to declaring their chosen names and preferred pronouns, students may enter their nicknames and gender identities via the Personal Identity form by following the steps below.

To declare chosen names and pronouns, students should complete the following steps:

Login to myGGU.
Click on the Self-Service resource icon.
Click on the User Profile icon, located in the upper-right hand corner of the page.
Click on the Edit Personal Identity button.

The following policies apply to the declaration of chosen names:

When entering chosen names into Self-Service, the first letter of each declared name must be capitalized, i.e., all lower-case names are not allowed.
Students who want to be known by two first names, name (e.g., Mary Beth), should enter them together into the First Name field.
After students have declared their chosen names by entering them into Self-Service, they may obtain student ID cards showing their chosen names from the GGU Hub, free of charge.
Submitting a chosen name via Student Self-Service will automatically generate a new GGU student email address. Consequently, it is recommended that students enter their chosen names between academic periods to ensure there is no disruption in communications.
Chosen names will not be used where legal names are required by law or institutional policy, such as: financial aid records, official transcripts, payroll records, and federal immigration records.
Chosen names may appear on students’ diplomas so long as they have been entered by the students into Self-Service. However, if students need copies of their diplomas with their legal names, they will be required to pay for additional copies of their diplomas. Notarized copies of diplomas must display the student’s legal name on record.
Students may change their chosen names or delete them from their records by updating the Personal Identity form via Self-Service.
The use of chosen names for purposes of misrepresentation or fraud will be considered a violation of the student code of conduct.

Official Academic Transcripts

An official academic transcript is a legal document, and therefore, student’s’ legal names (not their chosen names) must appear on their Golden Gate University transcripts. Students may change their legal names by submitting the Student Information Change Request form along with supporting legal documentation, such as a birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, diver license, passport, or court order to records@ggu.edu.

An official academic transcript is a copy of a student’s permanent academic record, which includes all graded academic work attempted and/or completed at GGU or accepted as transfer credit from other post-secondary institutions, credit awarded for tests such as CLEP, honors received, and certificates or degrees earned. Only those courses completed at GGU will appear with letter-grades and will be used in the student’s grade point average (GPA) calculations. Academic records are listed chronologically by trimester term. Transcripts are issued only in their entirety. However, students who enroll in both the School of Law and in the School of Undergraduate Studies or any of the graduate schools will be issued separate transcripts for their School of Law and university coursework. Consequently, students who complete the JD/MBA program will be issued two separate transcripts, one that shows their JD program coursework and the other that shows their MBA program coursework. GGU does not issue unofficial transcripts, but they are available for current students to download via myGGU/Student Self-Service.

Golden Gate University has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to provide an online transcript ordering service. Students can order transcripts using any major credit card; the credit card will only be charged after the order has been completed. The Clearinghouse website will walk students through placing orders, including processing options, delivery options, and fees. Students can order as many copies of their transcripts as they like in a single order, but an order may have only one recipient. A processing fee of $2.50 will be charged per order. Order updates will be sent to the student via email as the order is processed. Students can also track their orders online.

Transcript orders should be submitted online via myGGU/Student Self-Service using the “Order an Official Transcript” link in the left side menu. Students who do not have a myGGU account may submit requests online at studentclearinghouse.org. Students unable to submit an online request may submit an offline PDF request form† for an additional charge. Offline PDF request forms may be submitted via email, mailed to the Office of the Registrar, Golden Gate University, 536 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105-2968, or sent by fax to 415-442-7223. The student must sign and date the request and provide payment in the form of cash, check, or money order (made out to “Golden Gate University”) or a credit card number with expiration date and billing address. Students submitting the form via email should phone the office at 415-442-7260 to provide the credit card payment information rather than entering it into the form.

The Registrar’s Office offers the following delivery options:

Type of Delivery	Estimated Processing and Delivery Time Frames	Transcript Fee (non-refundable)	Delivery Fee (non-refundable)
PDF via Email	Order must be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse. Transcript will be sent to the recipient via email within one business day of the order date, unless it has to be recreated* from archived records.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee	Per address: $0
U.S. Postal Service	Order may be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse or offline via PDF request form. Transcript will be mailed to the recipient via first-class U.S. mail within one business day of the order date, unless it has to be recreated* from archived records.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee Offline† order: $15 per transcript	Per address: $0
Hold for Pickup	Order may be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse or offline via PDF request form. Transcript will be available for pickup at the Registrar’s Office within one business day of the order date, unless it has to be recreated from archived records, in which case it will be available within ten business days of the order. You must present photo identification at the time of pick up.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee Offline† order: $15 per transcript	Per address: $0
Express United States	Order may be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse or offline via PDF request form. Transcripts that do not have to be recreated* will be sent to recipients in accordance with the following time frames: Express orders requested on Monday-Friday by 10:00 am, will be mailed the same day for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail. Express orders requested on Monday-Friday after 10:00 am, will be mailed the next day (Monday-Saturday) for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee Offline† order: $15 per transcript	Per address: $27
Express Canada and Mexico	Order may be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse or offline via PDF request form. Transcripts that do not have to be recreated* will be sent to recipients in accordance with the following time frames: Express orders requested on Monday-Friday by 10:00 am, will be mailed the same day for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail. Express orders requested on Monday-Friday after 10:00 am, will be mailed the next day (Monday-Saturday) for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail. Delivery time may vary for international destinations.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee Offline† order: $15 per transcript	Per address: $47
Express Other International	Order may be submitted via the National Student Clearinghouse or offline via PDF request form. Transcripts that do not have to be recreated* will be sent to recipients in accordance with the following time frames: Express orders requested on Monday-Friday by 10:00 am, will be mailed the same day for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail. Express orders requested on Monday-Friday after 10:00 am, will be mailed the next day (Monday-Saturday) for delivery the next business day via U.S. mail. Delivery time may vary for international destinations.	Online order: $10 per transcript + $2.50 online processing fee Offline† order: $15 per transcript	Per address: $60

*Transcripts for students who first enrolled at GGU in the year 2000 or later are typically complete and generally do not require additional processing time. Transcripts for students who enrolled at GGU prior to the year 2000 require archival review and may have to be recreated from archived records, which may require up to ten business days processing time.

†The PDF Transcript Request Form is available upon request from the Registrar’s Office.

The Office of the Registrar will mail out, free of charge, one transcript per student to all certificate and degree recipients upon completion of their programs. These copies cannot be requested or individually expedited. Students wanting copies of their transcripts before receiving their free copies must submit orders and pay the applicable fees, as shown above.

Transcript, processing, and delivery fees are subject to change without notice.

Student Records Retention Plan

The Office of the Registrar follows the records retention plan below, which is based on recommendations developed by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers’ (AACRAO) as published in the Retention, Disposal, and Archive of Student Records (2014 Edition).

Many of the student records covered by this retention plan contain confidential information protected by federal and state law. The office staff is required to dispose of these confidential records appropriately to protect student privacy. This retention plan provides a schedule for the length of time these records are to be maintained.

Records not Maintained by the Records Office:

Letters of recommendation

Records Maintained by the Records Office After Admission:

Record Type	Retention Period
Application for Admission	One year if student does not enroll after admission or readmission Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Other schools’ transcripts	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Change of degree program forms	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Academic petitions	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Certificate of completion request forms (certificate programs)	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Advanced placement and other placement tests reports	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Standardized test score reports (GMAT, TOEFL, CLEP, etc.)	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Withdrawal request forms	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Transfer credit evaluation	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Program evaluation reports (degree audit)	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Registration records	Five years after graduation or last attendance date
Golden Gate University Transcript	Permanent

Student Completion and Graduation Rates (Enrollment Retention Rate)

The information is provided in compliance with the Federal Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990. Questions should be directed to the director of planning, resources and analysis.

Golden Gate University admits very few first-time freshmen. The completion or graduation rate is a projection based on actual enrollment retention data for a defined group of newly matriculated students (including those who transferred in credit from other institutions). This information for undergraduate students can be found at http://www.ggu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/student-success/retention-and-graduation/. The information for graduate students is available at http://www.ggu.edu/admissions/graduate/student-success/retention-and-graduation/.