Academic Resources, Policies & FAQs

The Academic Transition (AT) program is designed to assist first- and second-year students with transitioning to non-science majors and maintaining good academic standing. As an extension of the Exploratory Studies program, AT will support you with major exploration, academic recovery, and academic persistence.

Typically, students not in good academic standing with the university (less than a 2.0 GPA) and those who have completed three or fewer semesters are candidates for this program.

AT is not an option for juniors or seniors—however, we invite you to schedule a meeting with one of our academic advisors to discuss your options.

We're committed to helping you find the right major and complete your degree as soon as possible. That said, because the timeline for degree completion has multiple variables unique to each student, this answer will depend on your situation.

There are many caring faculty and staff you can turn to for guidance on your situation, from your academic advisor to the Office of Student Success and the Office of Career Design & Development. Email studentsuccess@widener.edu to start the conversation.

Absolutely. At Widener, we understand that your health and wellbeing plays a vital role in your academic and personal success which is why we offer many helpful resources free of charge to support you. Learn more about mental health, physical health, and spiritual wellness resources, such as our Student Health Services, Counseling & Psychological Services, as well as helpful Widener partnerships like TELUS Health, a confidential, 24/7 virtual counseling services for Chester campus students with immediate and short-term mental health and wellbeing needs.

There are quiet spots in all the academic buildings, the University Center, Wolfgram Library, and even in the Office of Student Success, where you'll find sofas, comfortable chairs, standing desks, and desktop computers.

Every student has one opportunity to appeal a dismissal. Contact your academic advisor, associate dean, or the executive director of student success to learn more about this process.

If you are unable to attend class due to illness, contact your professor. If you need to miss class for an extended period of time or are experiencing a situation that requires extra support please contact the Office of Student Success at studentsuccess@widener.edu for help navigating your challenge with you.

Your wellbeing is essential to your academic success, so seeking a quick resolution is important. You can talk with your classmate or instructor directly and try to resolve the issue. If you feel uncomfortable having these conversations, contact the Office of Student Success for help and guidance. We'll review university policies regarding conflict, harassment, and student conduct, and help you navigate what steps can be taken within the institution.

Widener is dedicated to cultivating a campus community of equal learning opportunities free of harassment and discrimination. You are encouraged to report any instances of harassment and/or discrimination by reaching out to the Title IX Office at titleix@widener.edu or completing the confidential Report It form. You can also contact the Office of Student Success for guidance at studentsuccess@widener.edu.

All Widener students have access to personalized support at no extra cost. 

Support includes academic advising, academic coaching with a trained professional, tutoring with a qualified student mentor, as well as access to Widener's Math Center and Writing Center. First-year students also have the option to participate in the PRIDE Mentors Program. 

Learn more about academic advising, tutoring, and coaching

Trained student tutors are available to provide personalized, one-on-one support and walk-in sessions to help you excel in your course material. Sessions can either be scheduled ahead with as assigned tutor or you may participate in walk-in tutoring hours.

With scheduled peer-to-peer tutoring sessions, students are assigned an individual tutor and they are free to work with the tutor as needed and at mutually agreed upon times. With walk-in hours, tutors are available weekly at designated days/times and appointments are not required.

To begin working with a tutor, please complete the tutor request form. 

Learn more about tutoring services

Academic coaching conversations empower you to further enrich your Widener experience. When you meet with an academic coach, you’ll partner to develop a plan that establishes a path to achieving your academic goal. Along the way, we’ll help you identify personal barriers that may be impacting your success and work with you navigate these challenges.  

The time you spend with an academic coach is personalized—it can be as long or as short as you need! With that said, an initial academic coaching conversation typically lasts between 30-60 minutes, depending on the academic support you need. Follow-up coaching conversations generally last 30 minutes. You can also meet with various coaches throughout the semester.

Request academic coaching

Academic advising plays a key role in helping you make informed decisions to meet their educational and career goals, such as helping you determine which courses to take and when to ensure you're on track to graduate on time, navigating the complexities of university policies such as program requirements, graduation criteria, adding and dropping courses, change of majors, and much more. 

Undergraduate students can find their personal academic advisor by going to Student Planning > Advising or by searching for "PSST" on My Widener.

Yes. Student Accessibility Services is committed to ensuring you can equally access everything Widener has to offer to make the most of your college experience. Academic accommodations include, but are not limited to:

• Test taking support
• Note taking assistance
• Accessible text requests

Learn more about requesting accessibility accommodations

It is highly recommended to make appointments at the Writing Center and with your Librarian Liaison.

The Writing Center has faculty members that can help you brainstorm ideas, get organized, and edit your papers—including lab reports. 

A dedicated librarian is assigned to support every degree program. They can help you navigate how to find the most up-to-date and relevant information for your research your topic. Your personal librarian can also teach you how to correctly reference your work, so you don't lose unnecessary points on your paper!

Student Planning allows you to search and register for courses, find your annual tax and financial information, and petition to graduate. Here, your future courses are also mapped out to match your curriculum ladder. Following this course sequence will help you graduate on time! As always, consult with your academic advisor to make any changes to ensure timely degree completion.

Access Student Planning

When is Course Registration

• First-year students schedule their classes during Summer Registration
• First-year pre-advising day for spring registration is in October
• Spring registration begins November
• Fall registration begins in April

For additional support with course registration, view the additional FAQs below or contact the Office of Student Success.

Every degree program includes a unique curriculum of required courses, and many include specific curriculum sequences that help you determine which courses to take semester-to-semester. In addition to your program-specific course requirements, undergraduate students are also required to complete Foundation & Transformation general education coursework.

How to Find Your Requirements

1. To see what classes you have left to take, view your academic progress in student planning by clicking on the checklist icon. 
2. From here, all remaining requirements will be shown in red as "Not Started".
3. To view courses that will fulfill the requirement, click the Search button to be taken to the course catalog.

To learn more about Foundations & Transformations general education requirements, review the Academic Catalog for the year you started your Widener journey and select either "General Education" or "Academic Policies".

As always, if you're unsure, contact your academic advisor or the Office of Student Success for guidance.

Once you know which courses to register for, it's time to add them into your personal Student Planning portal. This will help make reviewing your academic plan with your advisor and taking the next steps for course registration a breeze. 

1. Log into Student Planning. You can access Student Planning by searching for Student Planning on myWidener. 
2. Click "Plan Your Degree & Register for Classes". 
3. Address any holds on your account.
4. Search for classes by typing the course name or number in the search bar. 
   • For a list of all classes offered by subject, click the graduate cap icon on the left-side navigation and select Course Catalog. Here, you can browse by course subject. 
   • Click "Advanced Search", to filter by semester (term), location, academic level, and more.
5. Add classes to Student Planning by clicking the white "Add Course to Plan" bar, selecting the term, and then clicking the "Add Course to Plan" bar once again when it has turned green.
6. Select your preferred class section by tabbing through the "View Other Sections" option. This will help you find a class time that works best for your schedule. When finished, click the green "Register
   • If red, the course section conflicts with another class on your schedule.
   • If yellow, the course is available and does not conflict with other classes.
   • If green, this designates you have already confirmed this class for your schedule.
7. When finished, click the "Register Now" button. If you do not click this button, your classes have not been submitted for official registration.

As always, if you're unsure, contact your academic advisor or the Office of Student Success for guidance.

About Foundation & Transformation

Strategies for Exploring Courses

By mindfully exploring course options, you can strategically select gen ed courses to gain new perspectives, interests, and valuable skills.

• Start By Knowing Your Requirements: Follow the steps above to see what courses you need to take and the courses that fulfill the requirement. 
• Search By Interest: All undergraduate students are required to complete coursework in core focus areas. You can easily filter by Subject or Course Type to find exactly what you need or are interested in.
  • Humanities: Art History, Art Studio, Creative Writing, Dance, English, Fine Arts, French, History, Humanities, Italian, Music, Philosophy, Spanish, Theater, and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies or African and African American Studies
  • Science: Astronomy, Biology, Biological Psychology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Space Science, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Physics, and Science
  • Social Science: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Communication Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies or African and African American Studies courses when taught by an instructor in the Social Sciences
• Work Towards a Minor or Certificate: Strategize the courses you take to go towards completing a minor or certificate that adds value to your major, sparks your curiosity, and will make your resume stand out.
• Ask for Recommendations: Get the insider scoop on which courses to take by asking your friends, professors, ASC 101 faculty, and advisors.
• Explore What's New: Every semester, a series of special topics are available. View the latest special topics courses. 

To learn more about Foundations & Transformations general education requirements, review the Academic Catalog for the year you started your Widener journey and select either "General Education" or "Academic Policies".

There are a few reasons Student Planning may not be approving your registration requests. Read the message explaining why your registration could not be processed. If one course is impacting registration, remove the course that flagged an issue and register for the remaining courses.

Course registration may be blocked because:

• A course is closed/full
• Course pre-requisites have not been met
• Repeating a course previously taken
• Timing conflicts with your schedule
• Holds on your account (Bursar, Registrar, Student Health Services, Advisor, or Judiciary)

What to Do if You Have a "Hold":

A financial hold is often placed on a student’s account if there is a balance or a need for a supportive financial conversation. If there is a hold on your account, you’ll be alerted when you log into Student Planning. Contact the Bursar’s Office at 610-499-4161, email busoffmc@widener.edu, or visit Lipka Hall for an in-person conversation. The Bursar’s Office will work with you to release the hold so registration can occur.

What to Do if a Course is Full:

Your first step is to see if the course is being held multiple times by clicking "View Other Sections". If no other sections are available, talk with your academic advisor, who may be able to share information on how to get into the class. You can also go to your professor or department chair and ask if it’s possible to be added into a closed section—but, be sure to keep your advisor in the loop. If it’s doable, the department will send the Registrar’s Office special permission to place you into the section.

If you are unable to get the section you want, speak with your advisor to see what other options you have to make sure another course will count toward graduation.

For further assistance, please contact the Office of Student Success.

You can add or drop a course during the first week of each semester. After this add/drop period, withdrawals are most often processed during a supportive conversation with your academic advisor, whom you must meet with before modifying your course schedule.

To drop a course in Student Planning, select the "Drop" button next to the course in the Schedule tab on the Plan & Schedule page.

Some instructors may “publish” the course a week or two before the semester begins, so you have time to purchase books and review the syllabus.  View required textbooks—even if the course is not yet published—through the Widener bookstore. 

Your academic advisor will provide approval to add a minor or certificate. Widener hosts minor and certificate fairs in the University Center each fall and spring, during which you can explore all our academic areas and the many opportunities available to enrich your educational experience.

You can also explore minor and certificate offerings on widener.edu:

• Undergraduate minors and certificates
• Adult and continuing studies minors and certificates

Grading policies and procedures differ depending if you are an undergraduate, graduate, or adult and continuing studies student. Information about grading systems can be found in your relevant academic catalog. 

Information on grading policies for a particular course will be listed on the syllabus, and any questions about a specific assignment should go directly to your professor. 

You can also talk to your academic advisor about how your grades impact your plan of study.

You can access your grades via the Student Planning portal or in your active Canvas course.

Widener faculty are here to support your learning. We encourage you to first speak directly with your course instructor for questions related to grades, assignments and assessments, and overall course progress. You can then connect with your assistant/associate dean for additional support if the situation remains unresolved.

If you feel uncomfortable having these conversations, email studentsuccess@widener.edu to have a confidential conversation on navigating difficult conversations and identifying next steps.

To calculate your GPA based on the given letter grades and their corresponding grade points, follow these steps:

1. List Courses: Write down each course you've taken.
2. Credit Hours: Write down the number of credit hours each course is worth.
3. Assign Grade Points: Assign the appropriate grade points to each letter grade based on the scale provided:

   1. Letter grades and their equivalents in grade points are:

      A = 4.0
      A– = 3.7
      B+ = 3.3
      B = 3.0
      B– = 2.7
      C+ = 2.3
      C = 2.0
      C– = 1.7
      D+ = 1.3
      D (Passing) = 1.0
      F (Failure) = 0.0
      I (Incomplete) = 0.0
      W (Withdrawn) = 0.0  

4. Total Quality Points: Add up all the quality points from step 
5. Total Credit Hours: Add up all the credit hours from step 2.
6. Calculate GPA: Divide the total quality points by the total credit hours.
    

Example:

39.1 Total Quality Points ÷ 16 Total Credits = 2.44