Temporary Changes to Graduate Student Procedures and Forms

Graduate Studies
Current Graduate Students
COVID-19 and virtual instruction FAQs

COVID-19 and virtual instruction FAQs

Academic and Policy Changes, and Graduation Information

Q: Can I change the grading option for a course to credit/no credit, if I have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during Fall 2020?

For graduate students, a grade of "Credit" (CR) is awarded for work equivalent to a letter grade of a B or better. A grade of "No Credit" (NC) is awarded for work equivalent to a course letter grade of a B- or less. Courses with grades of Credit or No Credit are not used in any GPA calculations.
If the course is part of your degree AND a letter grade option is available, then a grade of Credit would not normally fulfill your degree requirements. (In other words, courses that are used for the degree must be taken for a letter grade, unless there is no letter grade option. If your graduate advisor approves an exception, they will need to petition Graduate Studies on your behalf using a PAAR form.
Per university policy, no more than 30% of the units in a master's degree can be graded as Credit. (Practica, field experience, and internship courses will not be included in the determination of the number of non-letter graded units allowable on the program of study.) If you are in danger of exceeding the number of allowable Credit units on your program of study, discuss this immediately with your graduate advisor, and ask them to contact Graduate Studies.
If you are receiving financial aid, it is possible that a grade of No Credit will impact your award this semester, or in a future semester. Seek guidance from a financial aid counselor at <[email protected]> if you are receiving financial aid and a grade of No Credit is likely this semester.
If you are a credential student, contact the Credential Office <[email protected]> before considering this petition. The use of Credit/NC courses towards your credential will need to be reviewed.

For students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a change in grading basis for Fall 2020 can be requested online: https://registrar.sdsu.edu/ students/academic_status/ grading-basis-credit-no-credit If approved, the petition will be forwarded to the Registrar's Office for final processing. SDSU has extended the deadline for submitting this petition to 11:59PM on December 10, 2020.

Q: As a graduate student, who should I contact if I am concerned about meeting graduation requirements?

Contact your program’s graduate advisor by email for questions about course substitutions, approval of electives, and other issues that they typically address. For general questions about graduation requirements or special petitions, please email Graduate Studies <[email protected]>.
Also, many university resources and policies are documented in the Orientation and Handbook for New Graduate Students.

Q: I was planning to attend the commencement ceremony in May. Will another ceremony be held?

Visit the Commencement Ceremony website for updated information on the celebration: https://commencement.sdsu.edu/

Q: I am graduating in 2020/2021 with a Master’s degree and need to submit certification paperwork to the State of California BBS. Is there a new process?

1. Upon awarding (official posting) of a students degree (confirmed via the last page on unofficial transcripts) students may email their Form A and B to Graduate Studies ([email protected]). Do not email your Form A and B until your degree has been awarded.

NOTE: that an email notice will be sent to students notifying them once their form has been forwarded to the Board of Behavioral Sciences. Graduate Studies will forward completed forms directly to the Board of Behavioral Sciences and will not be sending copies to students. Processing of forms may take 4-6 weeks.

2. Order official transcripts with the Office of the Registrar:

Log on to the SDSU WebPortal
Select Official Transcripts
Select certified electronic PDF version
Complete required information. Indicate electronic transcripts to be emailed to one of the following: (The corresponding email address should be in relation to appropriate licensure the student is to receive).

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
Make payment
Submit request

3. Students mail their completed package to BBS (excluding Form A, Form B and official transcripts).

Aid, Campus and Community Resources

Q: What resources does SDSU have to help students during the COVID-19 epidemic?

Most of the ongoing campus updates are organized and cross-posted on the Student Health Services COVID-19 website: https://sa.sdsu.edu/student-health-services/coronavirus-covid19-Information-for-students
Associated Students Food Pantry provides food and food program referral services for SDSU students experiencing food insecurity: https://as.sdsu.edu/foodinsecurity/foodpantry/
Students experiencing housing or food insecurity should contact the Economic Crisis Response Team for counseling and connection to services: https://sa.sdsu.edu/ecrt

* Note that the ECRT web site has guidebooks on general (off-campus) resources: http://bit.ly/sdsuresourcehelp and off-campus food resources: http://bit.ly/ecrtfoodresources

Q: What federal aid is available for graduate students affected by the current pandemic?

In a May 11 email, SDSU President de la Torre sent a campus email announcing that the U.S. Department of Education has granted SDSU $29 million in federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Support Act (CARES Act). A large portion of these funds is designated as grants to eligible students that have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.

Students who filed a FAFSA should have already received some CARES Act funds (approximately $250 to $800 per student). If you need additional assistance with food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, or child care, you may be eligible for some of the limited remaining CARES Act funds. Requests for additional funding can be directed to the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) with this form: SDSU CARES Act Additional Funds Application

Eligible students who have not filed a FAFSA but meet the Title IV eligibility requirements should immediately complete the FAFSA form online so that it can be reviewed for your eligibility for CARES Act funding. Students who file the FAFSA will then need to check their AidLink account for information regarding their eligibility.

Students that are not eligible for CARES Act funding but in need of immediate assistance can reach out to ECRT by filling out the online form to request assistance.

Finally, the Division of Student Affairs has introduced a connection and student support coaching group, called the SDSU CARES Team. This group is actively engaging students to provide information about class registration, assistance being offered virtually, housing, and to address other questions students have. Students may reach the team by emailing [email protected].

Thesis, Dissertation, Research and Employment Updates

Q: COVID-19 has interrupted my research. Is there a way to extend my status as a graduate student until I can restart that portion of my research?

Research programs at all universities have moved out of shared public facilities, and/or are severely restricted. Work with your research advisor and graduate advisor to establish a new research timeline and scope that balances your field’s expectations, your required degree and career outcomes, and the restrictions imposed by the current public health crisis. You can also get more information on the Research website: http://research.sdsu.edu/coronavirus

Q: How can I submit my thesis or dissertation to Montezuma Publishing for approval and publication?

Montezuma Publishing has changed its procedures to accommodate current campus policies. Please see the Montezuma Publishing web page for their "Electronic Signature Update" information.

Q: How do I get my Thesis Committee Packet reviewed and approved if the campus is closed?

Graduate Studies is modifying the normal workflows to continue documenting faculty approval, while minimizing unnecessary personal contact. Please see the Graduate Studies Forms page for current policies.

Q: Can I hold a TA/GA position in the Spring 2021 semester?

Contact your department regarding your TA/GA position, as TA/GA support is needed. Your department will give you important updates on how instruction will be offered. You can also find more information on the SDSU Flex website.