Written by: Vickie Hayes, Associate Registrar
Do you ever stop and ask yourself, “just what do those folks in the Office of the Registrar actually do?” Well, thanks for asking because though we stay busy, we’re never too busy to speak with you and answer any questions you might have. In fact, we love hearing from you!
Though we are here on campus in Orange Beach, we are very much aware that our students are scattered far and wide across the United States and most continents. It’s generally warm (you might call it hot!) here year-round, and humid, but we do enjoy a sea breeze from the Gulf. Our biggest threat is the possibility of hurricanes in summer and fall.
Wherever you are, we are here for you. If you’re in a time zone far from our own, shoot us an email or leave a message and we’ll get back to you promptly.
Our office houses three divisions, which together form one great team.
The evaluators determine eligibility for admission by reviewing transcripts from an applicant’s former colleges and appropriate professional training. This review determines transferability for credit that the applicant has already completed. We do our very best to maximize transfer credit. Many of our students are mid-career and need their degree to advance in their field, to change career paths or sometimes even to keep the position they currently hold. We understand that you have professional, personal and civic responsibilities and that you want to complete your degree as efficiently as possible while getting full benefit and preparing to meet your professional needs.
Our degree auditors are the folks you will love to hear from when you are approaching completion of your degree! As their title suggests, once you submit your petition to graduate form, which we recommend you do within your last 12 semester hours, these folks conduct an audit to confirm that you’ve met all academic requirements of your degree program and they alert you if you have classes left to complete. Once you’ve satisfied your academic and financial requirements, they will order your diploma, check that it’s perfect and mail it to you! Our registrar support specialists serve as the gateway to our office; they are the team who will answer your call. In addition to taking your calls, emails and live chats, they process incoming transcripts by the thousands and respond to your requests for CSU transcripts, getting them sent as quickly as possible. We are the recipient and processors of many of the forms you might submit, such as change of program, re-evaluations, course transfer requests, student contact information updates, education verifications for employers or other schools, course drops, withdrawals, reinstatements, academic warning and dismissals and a multitude of additional duties.
Our registrar is responsible for many university policies, including those for admission. Along with the entire leadership team, the registrar provides representation to numerous committees, including reinstatement requests, SAP appeals, withdrawal for special circumstances requests, admission denial appeals and admission status appeals.
If you’ve never visited the CSU campus and our surrounding area, come on down. We’re just minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. Orange Beach and its neighbor, Gulf Shores, share an island that we like to refer to as Pleasure Island. Pleasure abounds on Alabama’s thirty-two miles of beautiful, white sand beaches. Oh my! If you like staying active, you can swim, fish in fresh water or deep-sea fish in the Gulf, kayak, paddleboard, jet-ski, parasail or dive. You can feel history in the air at nearby Fort Morgan and take a ferry to Dauphin Island while you’re there. The OWA Amusement Complex in Foley is scheduled to open this summer with rides, shops and restaurants.
We have a great backcountry trails system right on the island where you may see ospreys, pelicans, herons and numerous migratory birds; you may even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle or alligator!
Plan your trip and visit the campus while you’re in town! In the meantime, if you need assistance from the Office of the Registrar, we are always pleased to hear from you because you are the reason we are here.
How do I obtain my AS diploma, as I have already received my official transcripts?
Hello, Gary! Thank you for your comment.
If you already have your transcripts, you are on the right track! Have you already completed an application with CSU? All of the information you need can be found here: http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/admissions/admissions
You can contact an admissions representative there as well to walk you through the next steps. We look forward to working with you and welcoming you into the Knight family!
Sincerely,
Libby Reilly
Communications Coordinator