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The iSchool is one of several schools at SU and has a unique blend of programs. The faculty and the courses in the iSchool, however, are not divided into traditional departments like most schools. Instead, we have a united faculty body made up of tenured faculty, leading industry practitioners, and scholars with diverse research and academic interests, committed to teaching all iSchool students. This means that in your experience as a graduate student there will be many courses in which your classmates will represent a mix of iSchool students and students from other degree programs, which allows students to learn from those pursuing other professional goals. While providing diversity in terms of coursework and faculty expertise, a common thread ties all the courses together to create technologically competent, people-oriented, creative information professionals.
Academic Resources
Faculty, Staff, and Peers
The iSchool firmly believes that advising is a cooperative and multifaceted process, and encourages students to seek input from a variety of sources. Faculty, staff, and peers are critical resources and all contribute to student success.
Information Resources
In addition to the information in this guide, Syracuse University, the Graduate School, and the iSchool provide services and resources to students that should be taken into account when planning a program of study. Some of the most important for students include:
Course Catalog
Refer to the Graduate Course Catalog, for SU rules and regulations, and program requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to be informed about program requirements, and students should consult their program director, program manager, or graduate academic advisors with any questions or uncertainties.
MySlice
MySlice is Syracuse University’s online portal to critical information resources for applicants, students, faculty, and staff. Here, students can view information on academics, advising, class schedules, enrollment, bursar account, financial aid, housing and meal plans, and parking and transit services.
Degree Works
Degree Works is a web-based tool to help students and advisors monitor a student's progress toward degree completion. Degree Works can be accessed by going to MySlice> Advising Tile> Degree Works.
Academic Calendar
The Syracuse University Academic Calendars provide information on registration dates, financial deadlines, withdrawal deadlines, degree award dates, and when to expect final grades. Students are expected to know these dates when adjusting their schedule or performing other processes. There are two academic calendars: an academic year calendar that lists important dates and deadlines for fall, spring and summer semesters, and a quarter term calendar that provides important dates and deadlines for online classes. Students are encouraged to look up deadlines in MySlice here:
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Financial Deadlines- Billing/Payments> Financial Deadlines
Class Search and Class Schedule
Students can perform a class search or find their class schedule by visiting MySlice and clicking on the Class Search or My Class Schedule tile.
Email and Listservs
Syracuse University established the @syr.edu email as a primary vehicle for official communication with students, and all email communications will be sent only to this address. The iSchool uses your SU email address to maintain a listserv for your program where students will be notified of new course offerings, internship and job opportunities, and other events. Students are responsible for monitoring their SU e-mail account for all email communications sent to the @syr.edu email address. Students will be added to their program listserv automatically once they are matriculated into the program. A list of available listservs can be found here: https://answerssu-jsm.syratlassian.edunet/wiki/display/ischool/Listservs.
Graduate School Website
Individual graduate programs are administered by departments or interdisciplinary committees and are subject to approval by the appropriate schools and colleges and by the University Senate. These policies and standards are administered by the Graduate School. Visit graduateschool.syr.edu for more information.
iSchool Website
The iSchool website will be your best resource as you figure out your academic career at Syracuse, and how to get involved in the iSchool community. Here, you can find iSchool directory, advising webpage, FAQs, and other student resources. Visit ischool.syr.edu/.
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The iSchool takes a unique approach to online learning. Our online students earn the same degree as campus students, and the only difference is the mode of learning. iSchool online classes are taught by the same faculty who teach campus classes, who work with world-class content developers, and are formally trained in online pedagogy. Our online students have access to a dedicated student support team that helps students acclimate to the virtual campus, guides academic planning, and offers additional support services specifically for online students. To learn more about our online programs, visit ischoolonline.syr.edu.
Academic Calendar
One difference between our campus and our online programs is the academic calendar . Campus programs are semester based and run three times per year for 15 weeks: one in the fall, which begins in August, one in the spring, which begins in January, and one in the summer, which begins in May. Courses offered in our online programs are quater term based andrun four times per year, for 11 weeks. Both academic calendars can be found at syracuse.edu/academics/calendars/quarter-term/. This academic calendar lists registration dates, financial deadlines, first day of asynchronous coursework, first day of live face-to-face classes, final examination dates, grade availability, etc.
Academic Support
Throughout their time in the program, online students will have access to one-on-one guidance from instructors, social and academic study groups, and university library resources. They will also be connected with a student success advisor who will assist them with academic and non-academic matters, such as time management. Once enrolled in the program, the iSchool’s student success team can help acclimate students to the virtual campus and offer technical support. Online student success advisors can be reached at studentsupport@ischoolonline.syr.edu.
Orientation
Prior to the start of classes, all online master’s students will participate in a Program Expectations webinar and complete an online iSchool Orientation Course. The Program Expectations webinar takes place in a live, online format and covers the topics of student support services, the three student interfaces: MySlice, 2U, and SU email. It also includes technical requirements, an introduction to the iSchool Orientation Course, and general course expectations. The iSchool Orientation Course is a self-paced, online course hosted on the 2U learning management system. The course allows students to become familiar with 2U, through which they will access all courses, grades, upcoming events, peer contacts, and specialized student groups, as well as to become oriented to the school and profession. Students have access to the 2U platform and iSchool Orientation Course upon matriculation, and cannot begin courses until the iSchool Orientation Course is completed.
WeWork Global Access
As an iSchool@Syracuse student, you will have access to all WeWork spaces through a Global Access membership. WeWork is a global community of more than 240 workspaces where you can focus on your studies, attend online classes, organize meetings, and learn on-the-go. In addition to these tools for successful online learning, the programs offer a wealth of support services and career guidance resources. Please email admissions@ischoolonline.syr.edu to learn more.
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The Certificates of Advanced Study at the iSchool are 15-credit graduate-level certificates that can be taken as stand-alone certificates or as part of a graduate degree program. With a little planning, it’s possible for students to receive both a master’s and a C.A.S. from the iSchool with little to no additional coursework necessary beyond the master’s degree. Students who consider an iSchool C.A.S. want to study the latest in information field trends, learn about emerging technologies, boost their workplace edge, freshen their resume, and keep current with changes in the profession.
How to Complete a C.A.S. with MS degree
If students wish to add a C.A.S., we strongly encourage them to add their chosen C.A.S. in their second semester of study by completing an application. For information on how to apply, please contact iadvising@syr.edu (campus students) or studentsupport@ischoolonline.syr.edu (online students).
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Points of Contact at the iSchool
Program Directors
Jeffrey Saltz is the program director for the on-campus and online M.S. Applied Data Science, M.S. Information Systems, M.S. Information Systems for Executives, and the C.A.S. in Information Security Management, Cloud Management, and Enterprise Technology Leadership. He acts as a central resource for questions regarding program requirements and as a liaison between individual programs and the iSchool. In this role, the program director is a student’s advocate for matters concerning policy, procedures, and special issues that might arise. He assists students with issues or questions related to courses and/or faculty.
Megan Oakleaf is the program director for the on-campus and online M.S. Library & Information Science, M.S. Library & Information Science: School Media and the C.A.S. in School Library Media.
Student Services
Kristyn Russell is an Academic Advisor for campus graduate students. Kristynassists all iSchool campus graduate students with questions regarding degree requirements and course registration.
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Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy and procedures are administered by the Academic Integrity Office (AIO) in the Division of Academic Affairs, and all schools and colleges. The AIO works with faculty, instructors, students, and staff to promote understanding of Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy and coordinate its administration. The office also maintains records of all academic integrity cases. Students must open a summary of Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity expectations in MySlice twice a year and provide their electronic signature agreeing to uphold the AI policy.
Academic Integrity Expectations
SU classifies academic integrity expectations in four broad categories which are designed for educational purposes: credit your sources, do your own work, communicate honestly, and support academic integrity. Neither the categories themselves nor the examples of violations are exhaustive. Any action that improperly influences the evaluation of a student’s academic work, gives one student unfair academic advantage over another, or encourages the violation of academic integrity by others constitutes a violation of this policy. SU sets general guidelines for University-wide academic integrity standards. In recognition that learning objectives vary across courses, SU also strongly encourages instructors to establish course-specific academic integrity expectations, particularly with regard to what forms of collaboration are allowed and prohibited. It is the responsibility of all instructors to communicate course-specific academic integrity expectations to students. Any student who is uncertain whether an action she or he is considering would violate academic integrity expectations is responsible for asking the instructor or consulting the AIO beforehand. Although most violations of academic integrity expectations will be course related, the SU has the authority and responsibility to respond to suspected violations in any context in which there is a threat to academic integrity at SU or involving SU students, courses, or programs.
To read the full Academic Integrity Policy, visit https://class.syr.edu/academic-integrity/policy/
Student Status
Full-Time and Part-Time
Maintaining full-time status can be important for a number of reasons including financial aid and visa status compliance. For information on how to maintain full-time status please visit the Course Catalog > Academic Rules> Student Status page.
Student Status for International Students
International students have a number of rules to consider to maintain their visa and I-20 status. Please visit Center for International Services to learn more.
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Students must be officially registered in order to attend, be evaluated, audit, and participate in classes. An instructor may not allow students to attend classes and/or submit work unless their name appears on the official class roster. The same rule also applies to internships taken for credit, independent studies, experience credit, and so on. Instructors have the option to administratively drop students who do not attend the first week of classes. Before registration, all holds need to be cleared. If outstanding bills are not paid, early registration for the next semester may be impacted. Please refer to the academic calendars to view registration dates for each semester or quarter terms. iSchool students will be limited to 13 credits without special permission per semester, and prerequisites of all courses will be enforced.
Adding and/or Dropping Courses
Registration and schedule adjustment takes place in MySlice up until the class add/drop deadlines. Please consult the academic calendar on SU’s website or in MySlice as stated above in the Academic Calendar section. Adding or dropping courses after the stated deadline is not permitted. Withdrawing after the financial drop deadline has severe financial consequences. Tuition will not be refunded after that date and your financial aid may be affected.
Auditing Courses
Students may only audit a course with the instructor’s approval. Audited courses do not earn academic credit and are not counted toward enrollment status. Financial information about auditing can be found on the Office of the Bursar website. Online courses may not be audited.
Incomplete Grades
An incomplete grade may be granted to a student only if it can be demonstrated that it would be unfair to hold the student to the normal limits of the course. Illness or other exceptional circumstances are the usual basis for consideration. Students requesting an incomplete must discuss their options with the instructor before grades are submitted for the semester. For more information on incompletes please visit the Course Catalog Rules and Regulations page.
Minimum GPA to Continue Graduate Work
Graduate students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing and cannot earn a degree with a GPA below a 3.0. If students do not maintain a 3.0 GPA, they will be placed on academic probation. Students who repeatedly withdraw from classes or do not successfully complete course(s) will be put on probation due to lack of academic progress. After one semester, if students have not returned to good academic standing, they may be suspended from the program.
Minimum GPA to Graduate
In order to graduate, graduate students must earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Retaking Courses
Graduate students may retake a course in which they earned a grade of C+, C, C-, or F, with the approval of their department/college and the Graduate School. Graduate courses may be retaken only once. A repeated course replaces the original course on the student’s degree program of study, but both the original course and the repeated course will appear on the student’s transcript and both courses will calculate in the GPA unless the original course is flagged. For information on how to flag a course, please speak to your academic advisor.
Time to Degree
Students must complete their degree requirements for their master’s within seven years from the time the student registers for the first course to be used in the master’s degree program. If a student does not meet this requirement, the student may petition their school/ college for reinstatement of credits that were completed outside the seven-year time frame.
Transcripts
SU maintains a permanent academic transcript showing a complete list of courses and grades earned by each student, matriculated or non- matriculated, who takes credit-bearing coursework through any SU program. The transcript may not be modified or selectively altered for any reason, including ignorance of deadlines or academic rules. Once a degree is conferred, the transcript may not be changed except in cases of subsequently discovered fraud or academic dishonesty, when assessments that more accurately represent academic work completed prior to degree certification are discovered, or to correct administrative errors. In extreme cases, such changes may include the rescinding of a degree. Transcripts may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office. SU reserves the right to withhold copies of transcripts of students who have not fulfilled their financial obligations to the University or by request of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Transfer Credit
Many students transfer into the iSchool from another graduate program within SU, or another institution. As an incoming transfer student, there are a few items to keep in mind:
- No scholarships awarded to students by another school will transfer into the iSchool
- International students with a non-STEM visa who are coming into a STEM program, and international students who are transferring into a program with a higher or lower number of credits needed to graduate, must notify the Center for International Services so that they can report the facts of their present situation to immigration services for potential visa adjustment
- Students may petition to transfer a maximum of 6 credits of elective courses into their master’s program from outside of the iSchool or from another institution. Students who want to transfer in courses from other Universities are required to submit a Petition to Transfer Credits form. Students who want to count courses from other SU programs are required to submit a Petition to Faculty form. All classes being transferred in, whether from SU or outside of SU require a minimum grade of B, the course completed must be graduate level, and credits must have been earned within seven years of when the student graduates from the iSchool. Petition forms can be found here: and must be submitted to (campus students) or (online students).
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Please contact your academic advisor for more information.
Applying for Graduation
File Diploma Request
Graduating students must notify SU that they intend to graduate through the File Diploma Request process, accessed through MySlice. Only students who complete this process are included in degree certification review, have their name included in the iSchool’s Convocation booklet, and will receive information about Commencement. Please visit Academics tile in MySlice to file your diploma request. Specify the term, and provide information for the diploma, including a mailing address. Each semester, an e-mail will be sent to students informing them of the deadline to file the diploma request.
Commencement and Convocation
SU has one graduation ceremony each May, called Commencement. Commencement includes all SU students: undergraduates, graduates, and Ph.D. students, and it is a celebratory event, not a requirement. Individual schools and colleges host celebratory Convocations on a separate day from Commencement, to individually recognize each degree candidate on stage and to present special awards. For more information on eligibility, dates, and activities, visit Commencement website.
Request for Certification of Degree Letter
A student who has fulfilled all of the degree requirements before the next conferral date may need certification for employment or to meet visa requirements. To request a degree certification letter, contact your advisor at iadvising@syr.edu (campus students) or studentsupport@ischoolonline.syr.edu (online students).
When You Receive Your Diploma
Each school and college at SU certifies the completion of its students’ degree requirements. The certification process generally takes four to six weeks after the completion of requirements (this timeline may differ for online students). Once certification is complete, the Registrar’s Office posts the award and orders the diploma. When posted, the degree appears on the academic transcript. SU awards degrees and certificates four times per year for both online and campus students: in May, June, August, and December. Students’ degrees are awarded for the award date that falls on or after the date on which all degree requirements were completed. For example, online students who complete their degree requirements in March, after the Winter term, will not have their degree certified until May. Only students who have filed their Diploma Request will have their degree certified.
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Other Policies and Procedures
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs both the access to and release of those records, known as education records, and the information they contain. Under FERPA, faculty and staff have a legal responsibility to protect the confidentiality of student records. For additional information about FERPA and SU’s FERPA policy, visit Registrar’s Office website, or contact the Registrar’s Office at 315.443.2422.
Health Insurance
Each year, all full-time, matriculated undergraduate students are required to demonstrate proof of qualifying health insurance coverage or enroll into the Student Health Insurance Plan. For more information, visit healthinsurance.syr.edu.
Religious Observances
SU recognizes the diversity of faiths represented in its campus community and supports and protects the rights of faculty, staff, and students to observe religious holy days according to their traditions. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance, provided they notify their instructors no later than the end of the second week of classes. Student deadlines are posted in My Slice. For more information, review the Religious Observation Policy.
Orange Alert
Orange Alert is the campus crisis alert notification system directed by SU’S Department of Public Safety, designed to provide rapid notification and instruction to SU students, faculty, and staff in the event of a crisis in progress-an instance in which there is an immediate threat of physical harm to members of the campus community. When activated, Orange Alert uses email, text messaging, and cell/landline phone calls to send a brief notice about the situation and instructions for what to do. A typical message might read: “There is a (type of crisis) on campus at (a specific location); evacuate the area immediately and remain away until further instructed.”
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Student Populations at the iSchool
International Students
The iSchool educates students from more than 30 countries and all corners of the globe. We take pride in our rich diversity, which is reflected in the range of nationalities, experiences, and backgrounds of our students and faculty members, and the career opportunities available to our graduates. From faculty research to international study abroad experiences, global collaborations to alumni placement, the iSchool has a strong international presence to complement the extensive international network at Syracuse University.
Center for International Services (CIS)
New students coming to SU for the first time may be filled with anxiety and questions about their first day. What should you bring? Who will meet you? How do you get to campus from the airport? For international students, CIS is the first and possibly most important place you will visit on campus. CIS works closely with the Graduate School and all academic departments to assure that international graduate students enrolled at SU can achieve their academic objectives and become an integral part of the SU academic community. CIS’ primary objective is to assist international students in maintaining compliance with U.S. immigration laws, and provides information and updates on immigration regulations, seminars on immigration topics, and walk-in appointments with an advisor. CIS is the place to go on campus if you have questions regarding curricular practical training (CPT), employment, health insurance, immigration regulations and status, optional practical training (OPT), passports, travel, the I-20, and visas. CIS staff is also the best resource for important check-in documents, information about different offices and points of contact around campus, and information about housing, banking, driving, taxes, and technology. If you have personal, social, academic, health, housing, or financial problems, the CIS staff offers advice and counseling.
CIS provides all students with an orientation program designed and conducted especially for new international students. This mandatory orientation program is held the weekend prior to the opening weekend of the University. Check the website for the exact time, date, and location of orientation. To ensure you do not miss any important information, be sure to check your syr.edu email account on a regular basis. For more information, visit Center for International Services website.
Syracuse University Resources for Military Personnel and Veterans
There are a number of resources available to military and veteran students and families, beginning with the initial program inquiry and continuing through degree program completion and beyond. Students can find all of the information below and more at https://veterans.syr.edu/ or ivmf.syracuse.edu.
Career Services
The iSchool believes in teaching students the skills they need to be successful on the job market. We house our very own Career Services to assist students across all of our programs in their career development by providing individual counseling, strategic job search resources, resume and interview preparation, and professional development events. More information on iSchool Career Services can be found on our website: ischool.syr.edu/careers/career-services/. Online students can contact careerservices@datascience.syr.edu.
Student Groups
Expand your professional and social networks through our Student Organizations.
Domestic Experiential Learning
Visit our Experiential Learning page to learn more about the experiential courses, road trips and immersion opportunities we offer.
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