Frequently Asked Questions – Students
Where I can find add and drop deadlines and important academic dates?
The academic calendar contains all major term dates: registration timelines, term start dates, drop deadlines, break periods, etc. Always begin by referencing the academic calendar for the appropriate year/term to determine dates and deadlines.
Within the academic calendar, a student can view specific “drop deadlines” that indicate the cutoff for dropping a course before a W or WF grade will be received.
Why can’t I add a class in Self-Service?
You may not be able to register for a class in Self Service for a variety of reasons. They include but are limited to an advisor or financial hold, the course is full, adding the class will put you over 16 credits for that term (or five credits for Jan Term), the class has a prerequisite course you haven't completed or the class is restricted to certain majors only.
- For holds, follow the instructions in Self-Service to have the hold released.
- For classes that are full, you can often add yourself to the class waitlist, to see if a spot opens up before the term begins or ask the instructor to add you over the cap by signing an Add/Drop Form and bringing it to the office of the university registrar.
- For classes that must be taken concurrently (e.g., a chemistry course and the associated chemistry lab section that must be taken in the same term), you must register for classes that are meant to be taken together at the exact same time. In Self-Service, plan the classes you want to register for and click the blue “Register Now” button, in the top right corner of the screen. This should add the courses to your schedule at the same time.
- For unmet prerequisite courses and courses restricted by major, you can inquire directly with a course instructor or department chair about class registration, despite not having all necessary prerequisites or not being in the correct program/major. If they choose to let you take the class, you will need to turn in an Add/Drop Form with their signature(s) to the office of the university registrar.
Why can’t I drop a class in Self-Service?
If the drop deadline without signatures for a class has passed, you will not be able to drop that course via your Self-Service account. If it is still before the drop with signatures deadline, then you can drop the class by bringing a compete and signed Add/Drop Form to the office of the university registrar during business hours. Please refer to the academic calendar for your specific term’s deadlines and dates.
How do I get advisor clearance to register for my classes?
Each term before class registration, you should meet with your advisor to discuss your schedule and degree completion plan for your program at Whitworth. Your advisor must then “clear” you to register for classes in Self-Service. It is your responsibility to obtain advisor clearance before your registration time.
What does it mean to be "in academic overload"?
An undergraduate day student is considered to be in “overload” for the semester if they are registered for more than 16 credits. Approval from the student’s advisor is required before a student can register for a class or classes that will put them over 16 credits for a given term. Students on academic warning or suspension may not go into overload. Overload credits may lead to additional fees.
I am planning to go into overload this semester (enroll in more than 16 credits), but Self-Service won’t let me register for those credits. What do I do?
All students attempting more than 16 credits for a given semester will be in academic overload. To register for more than 16 credits, an Overload Request Form with required signatures must be submitted to the office of the university registrar in conjunction with an Add/Drop Form. The overload form requires signatures from a student’s advisor and the student accounts office. Overload applies to ALL course types – there are no exempt courses.
My professor gave me the wrong grade for a class. What can I do?
The office of the university registrar records grades as they are submitted by the instructor. Please reach out directly to your course instructor regarding any questions you have about your grade. Grading policies can be found in the academic catalog.
What is a WW/WF/W grade?
WW: Withdrawal Without Permission (stopped attending or never attended the course), computed as an "F" in the GPA
WF: Withdrawal Failing (past the acceptable time limit for a “W” grade), computed as an “F” in the GPA.
W: Official Withdrawal; does not affect GPA
A full key for grading at Whitworth can be found in the academic catalog.
Can I remove a grade from my transcript?
A grades cannot be removed from your transcript. However, if you retake the class and earn a higher grade, that higher grade will now be calculated in your GPA in place of the failing grade. Please note that certain courses cannot be retaken for a replacement grade. More detailed information on grading can be found in the academic catalog.
How do I change my major or minor?
You may change your major or minor by filling out the "Declaration of Major(s) & Minor(s)” which is located in Forms & Resources on Pirate Port
When are my finals?
The final exam schedule can be located on the Whitworth website, under Academic Calendars & Schedules. Each final exam date and time is determined by the day of the week and the time that the course meets, as indicated in the final exam schedule. Faculty may also include the date and time of the final exam in their course syllabus.
I need to make changes to my final exam schedule – what do I do?
All requests for changes to a student’s finals schedule must be made through academic affairs. Please review the final exam change policies and processes by viewing the final exam schedule found on the academic calendar page.
What is the difference between a guided study and an independent study?
Guided studies are based on an existing course that is offered at Whitworth and listed in the catalog. Students will be registered for a "Guided Study" section of the regularly offered course. Follow this link to the application.
Independent studies cover topics that are not covered in standard course offerings. Students will be registered for the independent study course number (-191, -291, -391, -491, or -591). Follow this link to the application.
Additional information about guided studies, independent studies and other directed studies can be found in the academic catalog.
How do I register for a teaching assistantship?
Complete the Teaching Assistantship Proposal found at this link.
How do I get credit for an internship?
Work with the center for career & professional development to complete an internship contract. Information from their office can be found by following this link. The office of the university registrar will receive the completed contract from the center for career & professional development and complete your registration. Registration deadlines still apply.
What do I do if I started at Whitworth before the fall of 2025 and did not earn credit for SC-125, SC-126 or SC-325?
These Habits of Flourishing courses must be fulfilled in order to complete your degree. If you received a non-satisfactory grade in one of these courses, you must fulfill it by substituting another shared curriculum course not already being used to fulfill another program requirement. Please reach out to acadprogress@whitworth.edu for more information.
Can I take a class at another school and transfer the credit back to Whitworth?
Before you attempt to take a class at another college or university, visit Transferology to see whether the classes you want to take will transfer to credit at Whitworth. After reviewing the equivalent courses, a student can fill out the Transfer Credit Application Form located in Forms & Resources on Pirate Port and submit it to the office of the university registrar. The form will be reviewed and approved or denied. This process is done manually and will take time to complete.
If your transfer credit application is approved and you complete the transfer course, request an official transcript from the college or university to be sent to Whitworth, and any applicable credits will be added to your record.
How can I view transfer credit I have taken elsewhere?
All transfer credit will appear in Self-Service under the Transfer Summary tab. If you have recently requested a transcript be sent to Whitworth, please allow time for the processing and evaluation of those credits.
Why do my transfer credits not appear as expected?
Whitworth will accept applicable undergraduate and graduate work transferred from regionally accredited institutions. Whitworth's academic departments determine how each transfer course is accepted and what equivalent course can be assigned. Please direct all course-specific transfer credit questions to our academic progress team at acadprogress@whitworth.edu.
How long does it take for the office of the university registrar to process my forms?
Processing time for forms will vary, based both on the type of form being processed and the time of year. Please understand that high-volume periods, such as the start of a term, will often have longer processing times. Most updates can be viewed in Self-Service, once completed.
How can I change my address?
Incoming students should reach out to Whitworth's admissions team by following this link for info or reaching out by phone or email at 509.777.4786 or admissions@whitworth.edu.
Current students should complete the Address Change Form found on Forms & Resources in Pirate Port.
Former students and alumni should reach out to institutional advancement at updates@whitworth.edu.
I am a current student, and I need to verify my enrollment at Whitworth. How do I do that?
You can access the Enrollment Verification Form in Forms & Resources on Pirate Port and submit the completed form in person or via email at registrar@whitworth.edu. If you have a special verification form from another organization that needs to be filled out by the office of the university registrar, please submit it alongside the internal Whitworth Enrollment Verification Form.
I am an incoming student to Whitworth, and I need an enrollment verification. How do I obtain one?
For incoming students, registration will take place in the months prior to the start of your first semester. Verification of enrollment cannot be provided until you are registered for courses. For documentation of pre-registration or applicant status, please reach out to the admissions team at admissionsoperations@whitworth.edu or 509.777.4786.
Once you are registered for your courses, the Enrollment Verification Form located in Forms & Resources on Pirate Port can be filled out and sent to registrar@whitworth.edu. Important note: Requests for enrollment verification must be sent directly from a student's Whitworth email address.
How much will this class cost?
For questions related to cost, billing or scholarships, please contact the student accounts office (located across the hall from the office of the registrar) in person, by phone at 509.7773215, or by emailing studentaccounts@whitworth.edu.
What do I do if I want to graduate earlier than the anticipated completion date shown in Self-Service?
Your anticipated completion date is very important for a variety of reasons including federal reporting, financial aid, academic progress tracking and important communication. If you anticipate completing your degree earlier (or later) than the anticipated completion date found in Self-Service, email acadprogress@whitworth.edu to discuss your plans.
How can I obtain an unofficial or official transcript?
Please follow this link for more information on transcript orders (both official and unofficial).
Frequently Asked Questions – Alumni
How long after graduation does my degree get posted or conferred?
The posting of a degree does not have any correlation to a student's participation in commencement. Rather, a student’s degree will be posted within 30 days of a student completing all degree requirements.
How long will it take for me to get my diploma after graduation?
Diplomas are mailed out six to eight weeks after the student’s degree is complete. The timeline for degree conferral can vary depending on when a specific instructor submits final grades for their students.
I participated in commencement, but I’m being told that my degree is not complete. What's going on?
Participating in the commencement ceremony (Whitworth’s celebration of students) is not the same as completing your degree. There are several circumstances under which students will participate in commencement without first completing their degree.
These reasons include, but are not limited to:
- Student is planning on completing their degree in the summer term after commencement.
- Student failed a class that was necessary to complete their degree, after participating in the commencement ceremony.
- Student received a non-passing grade in a class that brought their cumulative or major GPA down below a 2.0, after participating in the commencement ceremony.
For questions about your outstanding degree requirements, contact acadprogress@whitworth.edu.
I lost my diploma – can I order another?
A diploma reprint can be requested by submitting a Diploma Reorder Form to the office of the university registrar. Diploma reprints cost $50. Please contact registrar@whitworth.edu for more information.
How can I change my address?
Former students and alumni should reach out to institutional advancement at updates@whitworth.edu.
How can I obtain an unofficial or official transcript?
Please follow this link for more information on transcript orders (both official and unofficial).