Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Quick Reference Guide

Transfer Students 

Incoming transfer students fall under the rules for the semester that they entered HWS, not their class year status.

Fulfillment of Goals

Students entering HWS prior to Fall 2016: All students must complete a Baccalaureate Plan with their Primary Advisors. D-range grades may be used to address the goals.

Students entering HWS Fall 2016 and later: NO Baccalaureate Plan is required. The new curriculum automatically notes goal completion via PeopleSoft using the Aspirational Goals course list approved by the Committee on Academic Affairs (CoAA). D-range grades may be used to address the goals for all students. At least five different courses must be used to fulfill the six Aspirational Goals.

Transfer credit for Goals: Any enrolled HWS student wishing to take a course at another institution in order to address a goal must have that course approved by the chair of the appropriate department by using the Transfer Credit Request Form. For example, someone wishing to use a Biology course to address the Scientific Inquiry goal would need the signature of the chair of the Biology department, while someone wishing to use a Physics course would need the signature of the chair of the Physics department instead.  Dean’s and primary advisor’s consents are also required.

Abroad courses for Goals: HWS Global Education courses which already have an HWS course number may have been reviewed for goals when they were approved; students must abide by the designated goals for that course. Students wishing to use an HWS Global Education course which does not have an HWS course number (for instance, the course has a dummy 4xx or 9xx number) for a goal may use the Course Substitution Request Form to obtain approval from the chair of the appropriate department as described above. The Course Substitution form may also be used to request approval of the course from the appropriate department chair for major or minor requirements.

How do Credit/D-Credit/No Credit Courses Work?

Students entering HWS Fall 2018 or later, except final semester seniors: ALL courses are taken for a grade and may not be changed to the CR/NC/DCR option until after final grades are posted. The deadline for submission is two weeks after Incomplete grades are due. Fall courses: Students may change to the CR/NC/DCR option until the 8th week of the immediately following spring semester. Spring courses: Students may change to the CR/NC/DCR option until the 4th week of the immediately following fall semester. Final semester seniors: Students may change to the CR/NC/DCR option until the end of the 11th week of the same semester the course is taken. Changes are not reversible. Students may use the Change of Grading Option up to 4 times throughout their studies. Note that many majors and minors do not accept CR grades, even when the course has been successfully completed.

Voluntary Withdrawals

Beginning Fall 2018 for all students, except final semester seniors: Students may withdraw from a course up to and including the last day of classes of the same semester. Final semester seniors: Students may withdraw from a course through the end of the 11th week of the same semester. 

Transfer Credit Form vs. Course Substitution Form

What’s the Difference? The Transfer Credit Request Form has a section for Dean’s approval after review of both the course and the institution the course is from. HWS only accepts transfer credit from accredited institutions. Students wishing to take a course from an international institution should speak with their Dean, as there are additional steps needed for ensuring the course is appropriate. The Course Substitution Form does not have a section for the Deans. This form is used for internal HWS courses which are not in a pre-approved list for a particular requirement to be approved for a student’s major or minor by the appropriate advisor and chair. It may also be used for HWS Global Education courses, which are pre-approved by the Colleges for general credit and do not need Dean’s approval for use in a major or minor. It may additionally be used for a transfer course which is already listed in the student’s HWS transcript, as the Deans have already approved that course for incoming credit and only the department review for the major or minor is outstanding.