The CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO DEGREE GUARANTEE PROGRAM: A Four-Year Graduation Plan For Full-Time Freshman Entry Students (non-transfer)
California State University, Fresno pledges that a student may attain the baccalaureate degree in four years when a student follows the provisions and regulations in the University General Catalog and meets the conditions below.
To facilitate students’ graduation goals, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO extends to qualified students the opportunity to engage in a formal partnership that assures timely completion of a degree. Students enrolling in the “California State University, Fresno Degree Guarantee Program” are pledged certain advantages that will facilitate progress toward the degree. Among these advantages are:
A. Guaranteed Course Availability: Students enrolled in the Degree Guarantee Program will be provided all courses specifically required for completion of their degree and major as described in the General Catalog and as articulated in the “Four Year Program of Study” developed with their Degree Guarantee Program advisor.
B. Specialized Advising: Students will be eligible for advising every semester from specially designated Degree Guarantee Program Advisors in their respective major departments (or, for undeclared majors, in the Office of Advising Services).
C. Highest Level Priority Registration: Students will not have their academic progress or graduation impaired by a lack of space in essential courses.
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The Degree Guarantee Program is a partnership. Students share in the responsibility for timely graduation. To obtain a degree in 4 years students must fulfill the following conditions:
1. ADVISORS: Students must meet with their designated Degree Guarantee Program advisor every semester beginning in the first semester of their freshman year for the purpose of:
a) reaching agreement on/or updating their “Four Year Program of Study,”
b) considering available course offerings in relation to pertinent graduation requirements, and
c) confirming academic progress towards timely graduation.
2. FOUR YEAR PROGRAM OF STUDY: The “Four Year Program of Study” is a plan designed in consultation with a designated Degree Guarantee Program Advisor to ensure completion of all degree requirements within 4 years. The Four Year Program of Study form must be signed
jointly by the student and the advisor and placed on file in your major department (or temporarily, for undeclared majors, in the Office of Advising Services).
3. ENTRY LEVEL MATH (ELM) and ENGLISH PLACEMENT (EPT) TESTS: Unless exempted, students must have taken these exams during the senior year of high school or the summer prior to enrollment as a freshman. Scores must be at a level that allows the student to enroll in college level course work. Students who require remedial and/or developmental courses prior to enrollment in college level courses will require independent assessment as to eligibility for Degree Guarantee Program enrollment.
4. GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) and UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS: Students must fulfill in a timely manner all General Education and University requirements articulated in the University General Catalog for their year of entry. NOTE: Students not able to obtain their preferred course and/or their preferred section (days and hours) must be flexible in selecting available alternatives to maintain degree progress.
5. MAJOR: Students should select a major during the freshman year (unless advised otherwise) and must seek advising from the designated California State University, Fresno Degree Guarantee Program advisor in their major department so that degree obligations can be met. In many instances, changes of major will delay the completion of a degree. Students entering with an undeclared major should seek advising from the Office of Advising Services. NOTE: Students must be sure all prerequisite courses, including “Additional Requirements to the Major” are accounted for in the student’s academic plan for graduation (See “Four Year Program of Study,” above.).
6. MINOR: Minors can be highly desirable but must be carefully planned in close cooperation with a Degree Guarantee Program advisor. Pursuit of a minor may require an increased total unit load.
7. UNIT LOAD: Students must take a minimum of 12 units per semester (the minimum required to be a full time student) and complete an annual average of units appropriate for their degree program.
a) 120 Unit Programs: Students must complete an average of 30 units per year (which could include Summer Sessions) to finish in 4 years.
b) 124-128 Unit Programs: Students must complete an average of 31-32 units per year (which could include Summer Sessions) to finish in 4 years.
c) Programs Exceeding 128 units: In addition to an annual average of 32 units, students in these majors will be required to complete 3 to 7 additional units sometime during their 4 years of study.
8. GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA): The cumulative GPA, the cumulative California State University, Fresno GPA, and the GPA in a student’s major all must be at or above 2.0. NOTE: Students electing to repeat courses for purposes of grade substitution to improve their GPA must do so over and above the minimum articulated annual unit requirements if they expect to complete their Degree Guarantee Program within the originally planned time. CAUTION: Academically disqualified students are unlikely to complete their Degree Guarantee Program in 4 years.
9. REGISTRATION AND FEES: Students will use the Web for registration at http://my.csufresno.edu at the appropriate time window and will pay fees by the required deadlines.
10. COURSE ENROLLMENT: Students will enroll and attend California State University, Fresno at those times (including evenings and weekends) when courses are offered and available.12 NOTE: Prior approval by the student’s designated Degree Guarantee Program Advisor is required before registering at another institution for courses intended for transfer to California State University, Fresno.
11. DEGREE FILING: Students must file their application for graduation and pay the related fees by the University deadline.
12. ACCOUNTABILITY: Students must comply with all administrative, judicial, and academic policies and procedures as well as all aforementioned conditions of the Degree Guarantee Program.
Non-compliance with any of the above conditions 1 through 12 may result in voiding the student’s enrollment in the California State University, Fresno Degree Guarantee Program and the University’s pledge to award the student a degree within 4 years. Nonetheless, it is understood that all degree requirements still must be met before the University is able to award a degree.
Enrollment in the California State University, Fresno Degree Guarantee Program is initiated by a student filing an application. Signing of this document by a student, their designated Degree Guarantee Program advisor, major department chair, and School Dean confirms their mutual understanding of the respective obligations of the student/university partnership required for the achievement of a degree in 4 years.
Additional information about the California State University, Fresno Degree Guarantee Program, and applications, may be obtained by contacting the Office of Advising Services at (559) 2781787.
Recommended by the Academic Senate Approved by the President
October 1994 11/94; December 14, 2004
April 10, 2023 April 13, 2023
The CSUF Pledge:
A four-year graduation plan*
1. ELM and EPT: Unless exempt, these exams must be taken during the senior year of high school or summer prior to enrollment as a freshman and scores must be at a level that allows the student to enroll in college level coursework.
2. MAJOR: The student should select a major during the freshman year and seek advising from the faculty in the appropriate department so that degree obligations can be met. Changes of major will delay the completion of the degree. If you enter as an undeclared student, you should seek advising from the Office of Advising Services.
3. UNIT LOAD: For all 120 unit degree programs, students must take a minimum of 12 units a semester and complete on the average 30 units per year (including summers) to finish in four years. To finish in 4 and 1/2 years, students should complete an average of 28 units per year. Programs requiring the completion of 124-128 units will require an average of 31-32 units per year to finish in 4 years and 29 units to finish in 4 and 1/2 years.
4. GPA: The cumulative GPA and the GPA in your major must be at or above 2.0.
5. ADVISORS: Students must meet with their department advisor/chair every semester beginning in the freshman year for the purpose of: reaching agreement on “The Four-Year Course of Study”, and considering availability of course offerings as related to the graduation requirements.
6. REGISTRATION AND FEES: Students will use the Web for registration at http://my.csufresno.edu at the appropriate time window and will pay fees by the required deadlines.
7. ENROLL: Students will enroll and attend at those times (including evenings and weekends) when courses are offered and available.
8. FINANCIAL AID: If eligible for assistance, students must meet the appropriate deadlines each year and meet all academic progress requirements.
9. ACCOUNTABILITY: Students must comply with all administrative, judicial and academic policies and procedures.
Non-compliance with any of these conditions may result in the cancellation of this agreement between the student and the university. This agreement must be signed by both the student and the appropriate faculty advisor.
Name: ___________________________ PS ID Number:______________________
Term of Entry:_______________________
Major:____________________________ Expected Term of Graduation:__________
Student Signature Date Faculty Advisor Signature Date
*It is possible that the first two years of study may have been completed at a community college. Assuming all general education is completed, and a minimum of 52 units are transferable, work in the major will be completed within 2 to 2 1/2 years.
Original: Filed in academic department office
Copies: Student
Evaluations Office MS JA 57
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