Blog

Published March 5, 2021 
Edited July 28, 2021

Courses for the Fall 2021 semester will be offered mostly in a traditional, residential way, back on campus. Courses that will be offered remotely will have an assigned course attribute which indicates how content will be delivered, synchronously or asynchronously. The attributes assigned serve as a general basis for delivery modes, but do not include specific information for individual courses. Students will need to contact the department of instruction on specific course delivery as the Registrar’s Office is not equipped with that information.

As part of the fall plan, each remote course and section will be designated as synchronous or asynchronous. Most courses will be back on campus with regular, scheduled in-person attendance.

You may review live, up-to-date delivery mode information for Fall 2021 courses directly in OSCAR when the Schedule of Classes goes live on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Delivery mode may be subject to change at any time.

Schedule of Classes

Attributes:

“HYBR” [Hybrid Course] –  
Courses/sections offering a combination of in-person and online learning experiences. Regular and prescheduled in-person engagement as appropriate.

“SYNC” [Remote Synchronous Course] -  
Courses/sections offering online learning experiences with scheduled days/times for live, synchronous participation.

“ASYN” [Remote Asynchronous Course] -  
Courses/sections offering online learning experiences without scheduled days/times. Course instructors will provide more detail.

In addition to attributes, remote courses will carry instructional method codes indicating how they are being offered non-traditionally. Remote courses (SYNC and ASYN) will be coded as “F” – Fully at a Distance.

For instructions on how to view course attributes in Oscar, see Registration Videos.

How will Fall 2020 Final Examinations (or other final course assessments) operate?

Since students will not return to campus after the Thanksgiving holiday, all final exams for Fall 2020 will be conducted remotely.

Courses with residential (RESD), hybrid (HYBR), or remote synchronous modes (SYNC) will administer their remote final exams during their officially assigned block as published on the Fall 2020 Final Exam Matrix. These courses have scheduled days/times attached to the course record (as listed in OSCAR for students). Using the Fall Final Exam Schedule on the Registrar’s website (link is below) as a reference, these final exams are administered in the specific day/time block as published on the final exam schedule. As published on this schedule, the duration of the exam is limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes. Instructors may choose to allow more flexibility, offering the exam in an extended 24-hour period on the same exam date of the set exam block as published on the fall final exam matrix. The duration of the exam is still limited to a maximum of 2 hours and 50 minutes, but a student may complete the exam within the 24-hour period.

Courses with a remote asynchronous mode (ASYN) do not have scheduled days/times attached to the course record (as listed in OSCAR for students). These final exams are administered over a minimum of a 24-hour time period of the instructor's choosing. The duration of the exam is still limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes, but a student may complete the exam at any time within the established exam time period. Instructors should plan to provide at least a 24-hour time period between the time the final examination (or other final assessment) content is posted/made available to students and is due. If only 24-hours will be provided, it should be confined to a single exam date, and the duration of the exam is still limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes. The due date should be no later than the final day of the final exam period for the term.

Last Day of Final Exams for Fall 2020: Tuesday, December 8, 2020

The website links below provide information on the final examination matrix for Fall 2020 and the Schedule of Classes indicates whether course sections carry assigned days and times.

https://registrar.gatech.edu/faculty-and-staff/exams
https://registrar.gatech.edu/current-students/schedule-of-classes
 

Published July 20, 2020  
Edited August 7, 2020

All courses for the Fall 2020 semester have an assigned course attribute which indicates how content will be delivered. The attributes assigned serve as a general basis for delivery modes, but do not include specific information for individual courses. Students will need to contact the department of instruction on specific course delivery as the Registrar’s Office is not equipped with that information.

As part of the fall plan, each course and section will be designated as residential (in-person with physical distancing), hybrid with limited in-person attendance, or remote. The majority of courses will have some in-person attendance. The health and safety of our students and faculty are our top priority in setting all class modes. An important part of that is allowing for safe physical distancing in the classrooms where these courses are held. We are still working through some final details of each available classroom to ensure physical distancing can be maintained consistently, so class locations are still being finalized. They will be shared in early August ahead of the first day of classes.

You may review live, up-to-date delivery mode information for Fall 2020 courses directly in OSCAR. Delivery mode may be subject to change at any time.

Schedule of Classes

Attributes:

“RESD” [Residential Course] –   
Courses that will meet fully in the classroom with physical distancing measures in place.

“HYBR” [Hybrid Course] –   
Courses offered via a combination of remote delivery and in-person classroom time with physical distancing measures in place. Hybrid methods are set by each department. Students needing further information should contact the teaching department.

“SYNC” [Remote Synchronous Course] -   
Courses that are completely remote and delivered online at the assigned meeting time listed in Oscar.

“ASYN” [Remote Asynchronous Course] -   
Courses that are completely remote and delivered online, but without a designated meeting time. Course instructors will provide more detail.

In addition to attributes, courses will carry instructional method codes indicating how they are being offered non-traditionally. Hybrid courses (HYBR) will be coded as “P” – Partially at a Distance and remote courses (SYNC and ASYN) will be coded as “F” – Fully at a Distance. While Residential courses (RESD) will be offered traditionally, they will carry a generic instructional method code in Fall 2020, "T" - Technology Enhanced.

For instructions on how to view course attributes in Oscar, see Registration Videos.

How will Summer 2020 Final Examinations (or other final course assessments) operate?

It depends on whether the course is operating synchronously or asynchronously.

If a course has scheduled days/times attached to the course record (as listed in OSCAR for students), including courses which may be operating either synchronously or asynchronously (fully or partially), instructors have two options for the administration of these final exams (or final assessments). Using the Summer Final Exam Schedule on the Registrar’s website (link is below) as a reference, these final exams are either administered:

1. in the specific day/time block as published on the summer final exam schedule for the course's part of term. As published on this schedule, the duration of the exam is limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes.
2. in a 24-hour time period on the same exam date as published on the summer final exam schedule for the course's part of term. The duration of the exam is still limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes, but a student may complete the exam within the 24-hour time period.

If a course is formally scheduled and operating truly asynchronously (carries null days/times), instructors should plan to provide up to a 24-hour time period between the time the final examination (or other final assessment) content is posted/made available to students and is due. The 24-hour time period should be confined to a single exam date, and the duration of the exam is still limited to a maximum of 2 hours 50 minutes. The due date should be no later than the final day of the final exam period for the respective Summer part of term in which the course is scheduled.

Last Day of Final Exams by Part of Term

The website links below provide information on the final examination matrices for all Summer sessions and the Schedule of Classes indicates whether course sections carry assigned days and times.

https://registrar.gatech.edu/faculty-and-staff/exams 
https://registrar.gatech.edu/current-students/schedule-of-classes 
 

Whether you are student, faculty or staff, everyone has engaged in technical communications here at Georgia Tech. Since the recent COVID-19 outbreak forced all Yellow Jackets inside to distant learning and remote work environments, it is essential to adapt to more troubleshooting and conversations with Tech Support. The following are tips to help keep your conversations clear and concise.

1. Don't contact Tech Support… yet

Before submitting a ticket or initiating a conversation with tech support, there are a few things you should do first. Try using a different browser or going incognito to see if it is a browser compatibility issue or a problem with cached data. Check your internet connections and if there is a FAQ page, try to find if you are having the same issue there.

2. Retrace your steps

Depending on the issue, it might be helpful to remember all the steps you did before arriving at the problem. If all you did was type in the web address then this tip isn't necessary, but if you had to login to a site or drill down to get to the page with the problem then it might be a good idea to explain where you are coming from in regards to the issue.

3. The more information the better

Now, let's be clear, you do not need to give the tech support agent your whole life story, but if you think it's relevant then you should include that information. Your username, the date and time it occurred, the browser you are using, and the url of the page you are using are all important to the tech support for understanding what is causing the issue. If any error message is displayed, copy and paste it verbatim.

4. Take screenshots if possible

As the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words, and a digital image is no different. Virtual images can show support agents more than your descriptions can, and the pictures can show vital information that you might have missed.

5. Be clear and concise

When speaking to Georgia Tech technical support staff, it can be easier to use the lingo to shorten your sentences. However, some support is conducted by Institute-wide service teams who do not understand the language and acronyms of your unit, which can muddle your communications. If you are uncertain, spell out the words and use clear language when chatting when with support.

6. Compress your thoughts

Tech Support agent gets a lot of emails every day. Multiple tickets mean multiple threads to follow, and while you might think dividing your issues into different tickets can help the problems get solved faster, it can often slow them down. Try to put all your complaints into one email unless you are told otherwise by the agent or support community.

7. Be Patient

Not all technical issues can be handled immediately. Being clear with your technical support staff is the best way for them to assign your problem a priority, but if it is not solved as quickly as you would like, be patient. Ask them up front for a timeframe and if the request is not addressed within that timeframe then you should feel free to ask for updates.

published March 20, 2020

The Spring Semester 2020 disruption in instruction and in campus functions due to the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the need to review policies related to grading and GPA requirements so that reasonable adjustments may be made to assist students and faculty in completing work for the term.

Following is information on how these rules and regulations related to grades and GPA requirements will be handled during this period to reduce stress on students and limit the additional workload for faculty and staff. This is a “hold harmless” approach that does not require us to suspend our policies. It is a temporary action and should not be viewed in any way as permanent action. Any change in policy would be handled in the normal manner through the Curriculum Committees and the Student Regulations Committee. This applies to online students as well as residential students and students at all GT locations around the world.

Further, the University System of Georgia has stated that there will be no change in policy including changes to deadlines related to pass/fail grading. This means that the deadline to change the grade mode for a course(s), which was March 11, 2020, has not been extended.

1. Deadline to Withdraw with a W grade from Individual Courses or Withdraw from all Courses
   • The deadline that was March 11, 2020 is being extended to May 2, 2020, the end of the Spring 2020 term as listed on the academic calendar.
   • It is important to note that there has been no change to the refund calendar. This is an academic decision and does not impact fees. Refunds for individual courses exist during the first week of the term only and that has not changed.
2. Deadline to Apply for Grade Substitution
   • The deadline was March 11, 2020. The deadline has been extended to May 2, 2020 the end of the term as listed on the academic calendar.
3. Deadline to Remove Incomplete Grades from the Fall 2019 Semester
   • The deadline is May 2, 2020, the end of the term, for Incompletes in Fall 2019 courses, assuming the student is enrolled Spring 2020. The Incomplete revision to F process will be run on May 7. This process will operate in the normal manner.
   • Faculty who wish to extend the incomplete deadline for making up an Incomplete grade from Fall 2019 should email Paul Senft at paul.senft@registrar.gatech.edu with the student’s name and GT ID, the course (course, subject, section or CRN), and a date (such as August 1, 2020) when the Incomplete is expected to be completed. We have to enter a date in Banner to prevent the Incomplete from reverting to F.
4. Incomplete Grades for Spring 2020 Courses
   • Incomplete grades are intended to be used when a student, for reasons that are not academic, is unable to complete work for the course. The related policy and guidance on the proper use of the Incomplete grade are on the Registrar’s website below.
   • It is recommended that instructional faculty not use Incomplete grades as a way to address the interruption in instruction that has occurred beginning March 16, 2020 except in cases of serious illness or other circumstances already outlined in the policy and guidance. Rather, it is recommended that faculty follow the guidelines in the Academic Continuity Plan and adapt as needed so that grades can be reported at the end of the term in the usual manner.
   • Assigning Incompletes may help address a problem in the short term, but our experience shows that students who enter the next term (in this case Summer or Fall) with Incomplete grades on the record and a new slate of courses to complete often struggle to handle the additional load. For students on Financial Aid, an Incomplete grade may interfere with eligibility for the next term. For students who are on scholarships or who have to complete a certain number of credits each term, such as student-athletes, Incomplete grades may create further problems. Incompletes should therefore be used sparingly and only if the student qualifies to have an Incomplete assigned in a course.
   • School Chairs can provide additional guidance on this as needed. Individual situations can be addressed on a one-on-one basis with the Registrar’s Office.
5. GPA of 2.0- Undergraduate, 2.7 – Master’s programs, 3.0-Doctoral programs Required to Graduate
   • Note that at the graduate level the minimum GPAs listed are Institute requirements. School or College GPAs required to graduate may be higher.
   • If students on the May 2020 degree list do not meet the cumulative grade point average to graduate, academic advisor, in consultation with the School Chair as needed, work with the Registrar’s Office to explore options. They would look at the individual courses and grades and determine if a petition to the faculty or other action could address the deficiency. It should be noted that at the undergraduate level the requirement of a 2.0 cumulative GPA is not waived. At the graduate level, it is recommended that the same process be followed.
   • It may be important to note that this is standard routine. When a student does not meet requirements to graduate, the academic advisor and the Registrar’s Office often work together to determine if a solution can be found. It is also the case that in this process, they confer with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to ensure that any solution is sought does not create other problems. A policy cannot anticipate all possible cases that may arise, because each case has distinct qualities. A team of individuals with the required knowledge will review questions and concerns.
6. Minimum Grade of C Required in Courses Required for the Major
   • Some majors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels require minimum grades in courses.
   • If a student graduating in Spring 2020 has not met the minimum required grade in a course/courses that the student is taking during Spring 2020, the School/College may determine whether an alternative may be found. Final degree audits will be conducted on May 5 and 6. Any updates to DegreeWorks would need to be reported to the Registrar’s Office by the close of Business on May 6 so that degrees can be awarded on May 7.
   • This might include a petition to the faculty. The decision lies within the School or College. See the examples in the Catalog.
7. Graduation with Academic Distinction
   • Tentative honors at graduation are determined based on grade point average as students enter their final semester. This information is listed in the commencement program and determines which honor cords are issued prior to commencement. At the end of the semester, when grades are reported and GPAs are calculated, the students receive Academic Distinction based on that information. It may be that a student who is awarded tentative “graduation with honor” does not achieve the required GPA, which means that the transcript and diploma does not indicate this distinction. Conversely, the GPA of a student who is not awarded tentative graduation with honor may improve and a higher level of distinction is then eventually awarded.
   • Tentative honors be recognized as final for Spring 2020. If the student, once grades are reported, improved their GPA, the higher level of honors would be awarded. The Registrar’s Office will apply the honors to the transcript and diploma as the final grades would require. It will then review those that were on the tentative list for “graduation with honor” and award that distinction regardless of whether the final GPA meets the minimum requirement.
8. Academic Standing – Warning, Probation, Dismissal
   • Academic standing is evaluated at the end of each term. Neither at the undergraduate nor graduate level will the policies be suspended. Rather, the academic advisors will work with the Registrar’s Office under the authority of the Student Regulations Committee to evaluate dismissals.
   • Standings of warning and probation will operate in the normal manner according to the policy.
   • Dismissals will be given extra scrutiny with the academic unit and the Registrar making prudent and appropriate decisions based on a thorough review of the records.
9. Dean’s List
   • Dean’s List awards will operate in the normal manner.
10. Faculty Honors
    • Faculty Honors will operate in the normal manner.

Following consultation with student leaders, faculty, and staff, the name “buzzport.gatech.edu” will be assigned to a new web application on Monday, February 3, 2020. The deprecated BuzzPort portal will become permanently unavailable at that time. Preview the redesigned BuzzPort. (link)

Background

According to “Georgia Tech’s BuzzPort Portal Usage Policy,” which was ratified in 2004, “BuzzPort is a gateway that facilitates easy access to a variety of web-based content,” and “it is designed to serve a diverse user population.” The Georgia Tech community discovered much value in the information and resources BuzzPort made available. Over the years, BuzzPort evolved to include new features, additional links, and different kinds of users. At its peak, BuzzPort was the single “go to” source for various services ranging from Financial Aid awards to student group message boards. Today, even though many services have been handed over to other technologies, many students, faculty, and staff still rely on BuzzPort.

Platform

What we Yellow Jackets know as “BuzzPort” is really Georgia Tech’s customized instance of the Luminis platform. At the end of 2015, the version of Luminis that runs BuzzPort entered its “de-support” phase, meaning that new functionality would not be developed and technical maintenance would be reduced to fixes for high priority, critical issues. Since that time, Georgia Tech has developed no new services within BuzzPort and has maintained its Luminis installation only to keep it running and make sure that hyperlinks remain up-to-date.

Maintaining a Luminis instance requires tremendous know-how across many technologies as well as a huge investment in technical resources. All in all, BuzzPort utilizes no fewer than 20 virtual machines. Preserving BuzzPort has become so costly and difficult that it is necessary to replace it.

Redesign

In Fall 2018, leaders and technical staff from Enrollment Management (EM) (formerly, Enrollment Services) met with members of OIT’s Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) team to discuss projects and problems. The status of BuzzPort was identified as a primary concern. Throughout 2019, this group collaborated around the development of a new web application. From this process arose an app that performs the most important functions of the existing BuzzPort portal:

1. directing users to specific views and self-service pages within the Oscar/Banner system,
2. assigning roles to users based on data captured at time of log-in,
3. showing timebound announcements to relevant audiences and hiding them from others, and
4. presenting links to essential services and resources.

Meanwhile, the group determined that several services have become so unused and/or buggy in the existing BuzzPort portal that they can be excluded from the new one:

1. student group organizations and messages,
2. JacketPages,
3. admissions processes now handled by Slate^TM,
4. student GPA planner/calculator, and
5. employee links to TechWorks items and to compliance campaigns.

The group also determined that the new app need not show Oscar/Banner views in inline frames when it is sufficient to open them in browser tabs.

The new web application erases the technical debt incurred by the Luminis platform and will be maintainable for many years. It eschews any complicated, proprietary platform in favor of foundational web technologies, and it presents information and resources in a clean, simplified user interface. Most importantly, it satisfies three basic needs. First, users will surely notice an increase in speed. Leveraging institutional identity services wisely and reducing the granularity of user roles allows for a much faster log-in process. Page load times are likewise faster because the app makes use of client-side programming and content delivery networks (CDNs). Second, users will enjoy viewing the app on phones and tablets. Because a responsive design framework has been thoroughly incorporated, it is easily viewable and completely functional no matter the device or screen size. Third, persons who rely on screen readers and anyone for whom website accessibility is priority will discover a fully accessible user experience when navigating the new app. It meets the WCAG standards set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium. This compliance ensures that all people, regardless of disability status, have the same access to services.

Launch

In December 2019, the developer moved the app to a publicly available location (link) to allow for testing by the quality assurance team and to gather feedback from the Student Information System Governance Committee (SIS Gov). A brief BuzzPort survey (link) was opened. It consists of 3 multiple choice questions. All are encouraged to participate.

The DNS entries shall be edited on Monday, February 3, 2020. At that time, the name “buzzport.gatech.edu” will be assigned to the new web application, and the original, Luminis-powered portal will become permanently unavailable.

Users who encounter technical problems in the new BuzzPort app should fill in the “Report a Problem” form. (link) Students, faculty, and staff who have additional questions or comments are invited email the developer at web@registrar.gatech.edu. (link)

To drop or not to drop.

If you find yourself asking this age-old question during your first week of class, you are not alone. Plenty of students find themselves pondering this option during Phase II, aka the add/drop period. To avoid becoming a ramblin’ mess rather than a Ramblin’ Wreck during this time, we recommend asking the following questions before taking action towards either option.

Reasons to stay -Things to consider

Although no student should put too much pressure on themselves, the decision of dropping a class should not be taken lightly. Depending on your situation, dropping a class could result in financial consequences and affect your college experience down the road.

Will this affect my finances?

Direct Student loans and most scholarships come with strings attached regarding your course load. Our Provost Scholarship, for example, recipients must be enrolled in 12 credit hours per semester. Review your financial aid award notice carefully before committing to any changes that could result in financial aid cancellation. This will cause you to have an outstanding account balance in the Bursar’s office and, if unpaid, will ultimately result in your classes being cancelled for the term.

Will you need this class later?

While your college experience may be an exciting time in your life, you don’t want to prolong it. Dropping a class that you will need later can disrupt your 4-year plan, especially if the course is a prerequisite for a future class. Consult with your academic advisor or view our course catalog to prepare your class schedule for the long-term. Keep in mind, some courses may only be offered at certain times of the year.

Has the deadline passed?

This is a simple one, if it is after 4 p.m., January 10, 2020, then the answer is yes. Don’t panic, there is still time to withdraw from a class if you feel it is too difficult but withdrawing from a class after the add/drop deadline will result in a W on your transcript. Too many W’s on your transcripts could be damaging to your educational and financial record. Thus, you should take the decision to withdraw seriously and keep in mind the withdrawal deadline, March 11, 2020.

Reasons to go – Things to consider

Not knowing anybody in class, disliking the teacher, or having to wake up earlier than you’d like are not recommended reasons to drop a class. However, it is understandable to have doubts about your first few days and answering the following questions will help you decide if you should change your schedule or not.

Are you having trouble coping with your schedule?

There is a reason every class has a syllabus - to let you know what’s coming. To call it a warning might sound ominous, but if you find yourself worrying that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, then you should consider it as such. If one class looks like it will take attention away from other courses that are more important, then you may need to change your schedule.

Do you need this class?

Unless you plan on competing with George P Burdell for most courses attended (don’t get any ideas), you shouldn’t take a class you don’t need. Maybe you signed up for a class only to later learn it isn’t part of your curriculum, or you realized an elective is a little (or a lot) more work than you anticipated. Whatever the reason, if you don’t need it and/or can’t handle the workload, then prioritize and make the changes needed.

Are you ready for this class?

While many of the more challenging courses require perquisites, you might find yourself struggling to keep up in the basic classes. If this is the case, then you must ask yourself another question: Do you just need a refresher on the material or does the work seem impossible? If you think you just need a little help, then make an appointment with one of our free tutors in Clough. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the course work in a certain class, then dropping it might be the best option.

Every student’s story is different, and under unique circumstances, further consideration is needed. You know what you can handle as a student and should trust your gut on how to put your best foot forward in this new semester.

Georgia Tech has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for providing enrollment verifications for insurance purposes, student loans, future employment, military IDs, etc. This free service is available 24/7 to current students and alumni of Georgia Tech.

• Log into BuzzPort
• On the Home tab locate the "Registration and Student Services" channel
• Select the "Registration - OSCAR" link
• Select "Student Services & Financial Aid"
• Select "Student Records"
• Select "Verification Requests"
• Select "Access the Clearinghouse" Link in the "Enrollment Verification" section
• Log in to National Student Clearinghouse website
• Select from the following options:
  • Print a certificate of enrollment to be forwarded to a third party
  • View your enrollment information on file with the Clearinghouse
  • View your loan deferment information that the Clearinghouse has provided to loan providers
  • View information provided by the Clearinghouse to third parties on the student's behalf
  • View detailed information about your loans

On Friday, September 1, 2017, the Student Chosen/Preferred Name option will become available to students. Please help to make students, faculty, and staff aware of this new service.

Student Chosen/Preferred Name

An option for students to choose a chosen/preferred first name and/or middle name or initial in the student information system.

Georgia Tech recognizes that many of its students use a first name, and possibly a middle name or initial, other than their legal name. As long as the use of a chosen/preferred name is not for the purpose of misrepresentation, the Institute acknowledges that a chosen/preferred name should be used whenever possible in the course of conducting daily business and in the educational process.

For this reason, the Institute will permit any student who wishes to do so to identify themselves within the student information system with a chosen/preferred first name and/or a middle name or initial in addition to their legal name. It is further understood that the student's chosen/preferred name should be used in Institute communications and reporting, except where the use of the legal name is necessitated by Institute business practices or legal requirements. For example, the official academic record, the transcript, as well as financial aid documents must carry the legal name.

It is important to note that this option may be modified, changed, altered, or rescinded at the discretion of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

What is a Chosen/Preferred Name?

Students may opt to go by a chosen/preferred first name and/or middle name or initial that is different from their legal first name. This name will appear instead of legal name in the GT Directory online and may propagate to other systems on campus. How each system will handle this information may vary, so until a universal application of the use of a chosen/preferred name is realized, students and users of the information simply need to be aware.

Some records, such as paychecks or financial aid, as well as the academic record (transcript) that require the use of a legal name, will not change to chosen/preferred first name. However, whenever possible, chosen/preferred first name will be used.

The Institute allows students to specify a chosen/preferred first name and/or middle name or initial by filing with the Registrar's Office a change of name form. Once the change of name form is processed and the change entered in the student information system (Banner/OSCAR), it will appear on forms in Banner/OSCAR, including the class roster and the grade roster. This will not happen automatically, but it should update within 24-48 hours.

At the same time that the Registrar's Office enters the chosen/preferred name in Banner, it will also update the Georgia Tech Enterprise Directory (GTED) system which will allow the change to propagate into other GT systems. The changes may not appear in all places at the same time. After the changes are made by the Registrar's Office, it may require a day or so for the information to appear in other systems.

Campus Use of Chosen/Preferred Name

In public or semi-public systems where names are visible to other students, instructors, faculty, campus officials, and the general public, chosen/preferred name will be displayed if that system has been updated to interact with Banner or extracts name information from GTED.

Campus departments are encouraged to utilize chosen/preferred first name and/or middle name or initial in their business practices.

Additional Information

See the request form and answers to frequently asked questions.

More information about the Student Chosen/Preferred Name option is available on the Registrar's Office web site.

On Monday, August 21, 2017, we launch a new process for ensuring that student contact information is correct and up-to-date in the Student Information System.

Student Contact Information Verification

A New Process for Ensuring Student Contact Information is Up-to-Date

In order for the Institute to have current contact information on enrolled students, a process has been put into place for Fall 2017 Phase II registration. As of August 21, 2017, a hold will be placed on student records that will appear when they log into the registration system. The student will be required to verify contact information. As soon as any empty fields are filled and the information is verified, the system will automatically remove the hold and the student may continue the login process. If the student does not verify the information and enter any missing information that is required, the hold will not be removed and access to the registration system will be blocked.

Starting Fall 2017, this will be a standard process that is completed at the start of each term. The information will be required of all students registered for that term.

Questions may be directed to the Registrar’s Office at comments@registrar.gatech.edu.

Student Contact Agreement/Verification in OSCAR

Helpful Screenshots to Understand What Students Will See

A web page presents screenshots of the notification to students and the online forms they use to update and verify their contact information.

Thank you for your support as we implement this new process.