The Daily Bulletin Archive

At its March 9, 2012, meeting, the College Senate voted to forward to the president a recommendation to change the wording of the policy regarding students wishing to change majors. The following wording change was agreed upon by the Standards for Students Committee with input from Provost Ponton (March 16, 2012):

Changing a Major
Incoming first-year students who want to change their major before the start of their first semester may initiate the major change process with the University College Dean’s Office. First-year students who want to change their major after the start of their first semester may initiate the major-change process by contacting the department office of the new major to gain the approval of the department chair.

Continuing students who want to change their major may initiate the major change process by contacting the department office of the new major to gain the approval of the department chair. 

If the department chair of the new department approves the change, a Change of Major Form will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for recording. Change requests should be made at least four weeks before registration for the next semester to allow students to register for courses in the new major. Departments may refuse a student's request for acceptance to a major based on published requirements and prerequisites. 

A student on probation will not be permitted to transfer to a new major without the approval of the associate dean of the new major.

The original catalog entry was worded:

Changing a Major
Students who have completed at least one semester at Buffalo State may change their major by going to the department office of the new major and filling out a Change of Major form. It is recommended that students seek the advice of the department chair before deciding to change a major. If the chair approves the change, the form will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for recording. Such changes should be made at least four weeks before registration for the next semester so that students are not restricted from registering for any course in their new major.

A student on probation will not be permitted to transfer to a new major without the approval of the associate dean of the new major.

Originally presented to the Senate for wording change on February 10, 2012.

The College Senate Standards for Students Committee put forth the following motion for consideration by the College Senate as new business at the February 10, 2012, meeting, and to be voted on at the March 2012 College Senate meeting:

WHEREAS, the current catalog entry for “Changing a Major” is out of date with respect to common practice on campus; and

WHEREAS, data from the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange (CSRDE) suggests that earlier declaration of a major aids in retention; and

WHEREAS, given the changes to the first-year orientation model in 2009, which now bring students to campus for intensive department advisement the week before classes begin, incoming freshmen may need to update their choice of major before orientation so that proper advisement and registration can occur; and

WHEREAS, University College is facilitating these major changes in large numbers for admitted incoming students, when requested, during the summer before their first semester at Buffalo State, with departmental approval,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the college update its change of major policy to read:

Changing a Major
It is recommended that a student seek the advice of the department chair for the new department in which the student wants to become a major before deciding to change a major. Incoming first?year students who want to change their major before the start of their first semester should initiate the major-change process with the University College Dean’s Office. Current students should initiate the major-change process at the departmental office of their intended major.

If the department chair of the new department approves the change, the Change of Major form will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office for recording. Such changes should be made at least four weeks before registration for the next semester so that students are not restricted from registering for any course in their new major. Departments retain the right to refuse a student's request for acceptance to a major based on published major requirements and prerequisites.

A student on probation will not be permitted to transfer to a new major without the approval of the associate dean of the new major.

I hereby approve the changes to the catalog recommended by the College Senate. I charge the provost with the responsibility for overseeing the implementation of these changes and for notifying all appropriate individuals.