• Initial Course Registration
• Transfer Orientation
• Notable Transfer Policies
• Transfer Credit Evaluation
• Frequently Asked Questions

Undergraduate Advising Handbook Advising

New Transfer Students

Initial Course Registration

Upon receipt of the Course Preference Form (yellow sheet in the Transfer Registration Kit), the Office of Academic Affairs contacts new transfer students to schedule an advising appointment. Note that the Schools of Nursing and Education contacts their students rather than OAA.

All new transfer students receive the following items during their initial advising appointment:

• Review of transfer credit awarded (see "Transfer Credit Evaluation" below)
• Review of degree and graduation requirements
• Registration into courses
• Printed class schedule for the coming semester
• Contact information for the faculty advisor
• Tentative long range plan projecting the transfer student's course progression through graduation (unable to complete tentative plan for most part-time students)
• Important information about the the academic calendar, Transfer Orientation and billing

Questions about the initial registration appointment should be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Transfer Orientation

Prior to the start of the start of the semester all new transfer students are invited to attend and orientation designed to:

• Welcome you to the College
• Introduce you to the advising process at Fisher
• Make you aware of important academic resources and activities
• Help you obtain your student ID card, parking permit, e-mail access and campus tour

Notable Transfer Policies

Transfer students should be aware of the following policies:

• Up to 66 hours may be transferred from a 2-year school.
• At least 60 hours in transfer credit are awarded for the receipt of an associate's degree--an official transcript indicating receipt of degree must be on record with the Registrar. Transcripts must be received from all schools attended.
• Residency Requirement
  • A minimum of 30 graded credit hours must be taken at St. John Fisher College in order to earn a Bachelor’s degree. This requirement usually applies to students who have transferred in large amounts of credit, or students attending Fisher who have earned degrees elsewhere.
  • At least 30 of the last 36 credit hours must be earned in residence, unless waived in individual cases by the Committee on Academic Standing. This means that once a student has begun the last 36 hours of a particular degree program, only 6 of those hours may be taken in transfer credit.
  • At least 1/2 of the coursework required by your major must be completed at Fisher.

Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE)

New transfer students are given a Transfer Credit Evaluation identifying how many hours of transfer credit can be expected and how that transfer credit applies to the Fisher degree. View a 5-minute video tutorial that reviews a sample TCE.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I register for courses?
What are my liberal arts core requirements?
Do I have to attend orientation?
When do I meet with my academic advisor?
With whom do I speak if I am a veteran?
I'm a current student. How do I find out how a course transfers to Fisher?
Can I be eligible for academic honors as a transfer student?
How do I access SJFC Webmail?

When do I register for courses?
You must pay your deposit and return the Course Preference Form in order to be contacted to schedule a review of your course registration. Your registration will be based upon your remaining degree requirements and current course availability. Attempts to accommodate your scheduling preferences are always made when possible.

What are my liberal arts core requirements?
You core requirements are outlined on the College Core page.

Do I have to attend orientation?
A new student orientation session designed just for transfer students is offered each semester. Your formal "welcome" to the college, at orientation you will hear from faculty advisors, obtain your parking permit (vehicle registration paperwork required) and student ID card, learn how to access your online student information using Fish'R'Net and your Fisher e-mail account, and take a quick tour of the campus to help you find your classrooms and other campus resources. While not required, the College urges you to attend.

When do I meet with my academic advisor?
Your initial registration appointment will be with an academic advisor specially trained to work with transfer students. You will be assigned a faculty academic advisor from your academic department at your course registration appointment. While you need to meet with your academic advisor in order to schedule your next semester, you should introduce yourself to your advisor early in the semester.

With whom do I speak if I am a veteran?
Contact Mary Schild in the Registrar's Office (585-385-8015).

I'm a current student. How do I find out how a course transfers to Fisher?
Submit a Transfer Credit Request to the Registrar's Office. Completion of this form will specify how the coursework would apply to your Fisher degree. Complete this form PRIOR to taking the transfer course!

Can I be eligible for academic honors as a transfer student?
Yes, however you must complete 60 or more credit hours at Fisher to be eligible for academic honors. Details available on the Latin Honors page.

How do I access my SJFC Webmail account?
Please download the instructions on logging into your SJFC Webmail account (.PDF).