Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to your questions in this section.
» Accreditation
» Address, Email, or Telephone Number Changes
» Attendance
» Cancelled or Guaranteed Courses
» Courses: Numbering System, Full-time or Part-time status, Maximum Credits
» English as a Second Language
» English Placement
» Grades and Final Exams
» Grading Options
» Health Insurance
» Mathematics Assessment Exam
» UH Number, Username, Email and ID Card
» Residency Requirements
» TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
» Transcripts
» Transfer Credits
» Visas
Accreditation
Is UHM accredited?
Yes. UHM is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). address: Association of Senior Colleges and Universities, 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501, tel: (510) 748-9001, fax: (510) 748-9797, email: wascsr@wascsenior.org, web: www.wascweb.org.
Does UHM use the semester or quarter system?
UHM is on a semester system. One semester credit is the equivalent of 1.5 quarter credits.
Email, Mailing Address or Telephone Number Changes
How can I forward my email address?
Important information is sent to your UH email address. Check your email regularly. If you prefer to use another email address, don't forget to forward your hawaii.edu email.
To forward your hawaii.edu email to a preferred email address, go to the ITS web page. Enter your UH username and password. Then select Options, Settings and follow the instructions. If assistance is needed, contact the ITS Help Desk help@hawaii.edu.
How can I update my mailing address or telephone number?
To update your current or permanent mailing address and phone numbers:
- MyUH: Login. In the left column under Academic Services select VIEW/UPDATE ADDRESS, PHONE. Electronically submit your current mailing address and/or phone number. The Federal Tax Credit Form 1098-T is sent to your permanent mailing address in January. To update your permanent address submit the "Change of Student Data Form."
- Mail or Fax Web form: Download the "Change of Student Data Form" and fax (808-956-3752) or mail the updated information to: Outreach College; UH-Mānoa; 2440 Campus Rd., Box 447; Honolulu, HI 96822.
- In-person: Fill in the updated information on the "Change of Student Data Form" at the Outreach College Student Services Information Window, Krauss Hall 101.
Attendance
Would it be okay to miss the first day of class?
No. Plan to attend class from the first day of instruction. Attendance may affect your final course grade.
What happens if I cannot complete my course requirements? Can I get an Incomplete grade?
Request your instructor's approval for an Incomplete grade. If you receive an "I" grade, complete your work no later than:
November 1 for spring extension, summer, or summer extension courses
April 1 for fall extension courses
If the work is not completed by these dates, your undergraduate course "I" grade will be changed to an alternate grade assigned by the instructor.
Cancelled or Guaranteed Courses
During the summer, will a guaranteed course be cancelled?
Courses marked with a "G" in the "Guarat'd" (guaranteed) column of the pdf schedule of courses are generally not cancelled due to low enrollment. Although all efforts are made to hold classes as scheduled, under exceptional circumstances, a course may still be cancelled.
How will I know whether my course is cancelled by the University?
Check your schedule online on MyUH (http://myuhportal.hawaii.edu). If you are a visiting mainland student, do this BEFORE you commence travel to Hawaii. Checking your course schedule often for errors or updates is highly recommended.
If my course is cancelled, do I need to process paperwork to drop the course?
No.
If my course is cancelled, do I receive a refund?
If your course is cancelled, you may select an alternate course. Otherwise, a 100% tuition refund is issued in 4-6 weeks.
Courses: Numbering System, Full-Time or Part-Time Status, Maximum Credits
1-499 |
Undergraduate Courses |
|
1-99 |
Courses not applicable for credit toward a bachelor's degree |
|
100-199 |
Initial or introductory courses |
|
200-299 |
Second-year courses in a sequence or development in a field of study. 200-level courses that have an explicit college-level course prerequisite count toward the non-introductory credit requirement. |
|
300-499 |
Third- and fourth-year courses in a sequence or first courses in professional curricula. May be accepted by UHM Graduate Division to fulfill graduate degree requirements (petition may be required). Courses numbered 300 or above are upper-division and count toward the non-introductory credit requirement. |
|
500-800 |
Post-baccalaureate courses |
|
500 |
Directed Study (Master's Plan B) |
|
501-599 |
Courses applicable toward first professional degrees (e.g.law, medicine) and in-service training programs in education |
|
600-699 |
Graduate Courses |
|
700 |
Thesis Research (Master's Plan A) |
|
700-798 |
Advanced graduate courses |
|
800 |
Dissertation Research |
How many credits is considered full-time in the Summer?
For instructions on how to request an official verification of your student enrollment status contact the Records Office at (808) 956-8010 or email records@mail.admrec.hawaii.edu.
Summer
Undergraduate Students: 6 credits
Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Students: 4 graduate-level credits
How many credits is considered full-time in the Fall and Spring Extension terms?
For instructions on how to request an official verification of your student enrollment status contact the Records Office at (808) 956-8010 or email records@mail.admrec.hawaii.edu.
Fall and Spring Extension
Undergraduate Students: 12 credits
Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Students: 8 graduate-level credits
What are the recommended maximum number of credits?
UH-Mānoa undergraduate students enrolled in regular Fall or Spring courses and/or Outreach College Fall extension or Spring extension term courses should not register for more than 19 total credits in the Fall or Spring regular and/or extension terms. Graduate students should not enroll in more than 16 total credits.
Summer courses are accelerated and often meet every day. We strongly recommend enrollment in no more than 9 credits per 6-week session.
English as a Second Language
If English is not my native language, may I enroll in Outreach College?
If English is not your native language and you have never attended a regular term (fall or spring) at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, we evaluate your English skills before you enroll. Please send a document to Outreach College Student Services that verifies one of the following:
- You have taken the UHM English Language Institute placement examination indicating that you qualified for enrollment;
- You have a score of 500+ (paper-based), 61+ (internet), or 173+ (computer-based) TOEFL exam taken within the last two years;
- You have a score of 460 or higher on the verbal section of the GRE;
- You have a score of 510 or higher on the Critical Reading AND Writing sections of the SAT;
- You have an Associate of Arts degree from a community college within the University of Hawai'i system;
- You have completed 60 transferable semester credits with a GPA of 2.0 or higher from a university whose academic standing is recognized by the University of Hawai'i and where English is the primary language of instruction;
- You have completed 6 years of full-time schooling with English as the medium of instruction at a middle school, high school, college, or university in Australia, Britain, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand or the United States;
- You have a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited university in the U.S. or a recognized university in Australia, Britain, Canada (excluding Quebec), Ireland or New Zealand.
Send the appropriate document(s) to Outreach College Student Services with your UHM Outreach College Credit Application Form, or if not possible, send transcripts or grade reports separately as needed.
Grades and Final Exams
When are final exams scheduled?
Final examinations are given during the last week of classes for the Extension terms or the last class meeting for the Summer Sessions.
How do I receive my grades?
After the end of the Fall, Spring, or Summer extension term or a Summer 6-week session, instructors enter grades online via MyUH. To view your grade(s) go to MyUH (http://myuhportal.hawaii.edu) Login. In the left column under the Home tab, Academic Services, Student Records, select "View Grades." or "View Transcript." Give the instructor a few days to get the grade posted. If your grade does not appear on MyUH, your instructor may not have entered it into the system. If you have any questions about your grade, contact the instructor. If you don't have your instructor's email address, contact the academic department.
How long can the instructor wait to enter my grade?
All Outreach College courses' grades should be entered no later than 30 days after the grade entry deadline. Failure by the instructor to enter the grade may result in a "F" or "NC" default grade. If you cannot see your grade on MyUH, contact the instructor or the academic department.
Grade Options—Credit/No Credit, Audit
What are my grading options for UHM courses?
With a few exceptions MyUH automatically selects the letter grade option when you register online. However for many courses you may select one of three grading options:
- Letter Grade (+/- grade system); See the UHM catalog for more information.
- Credit/No Credit (CR/NC= no letter grade given, but credit earned if at least C, not C-, caliber work is performed)
- Audit (L grade on Transcript)
How much time do I have to change my grading option?
Not much. View the academic calendar for your course. The last date to register (add) is the last day to change grading options.
If I select the CR/NC grading option, can I use the course for my major or as a core course?
No. UHM classified students should note that the CR/NC option is limited to elective courses and is not allowed for any course taken to fulfill UHM college, school, or department nonelective requirements in your major. (Exception: Courses offered for mandatory Credit/No Credit)
Can I transfer a CR/NC course to another college or university?
Contact an advisor at the school you want to transfer the courses to. Before you select the "CR/NC" option for a course, understand that many colleges and universities will not accept CR/NC course grades or will not apply them to degree requirements. Some colleges, graduate and professional schools, employers, and scholarship awarding agencies evaluate a "CR" grade as a "C"grade and a "NC" grade as a "F" grade.
May I audit a course?
If you wish to enroll in a course with "Audit" as the grading option, call Outreach College Student Services office at (808) 956-7221 or email ochelp@hawaii.edu to find out whether the course can be taken for the audit grade option, then get an Audit Approval Form available from the department offering the course. Obtain the instructor's approval on this form. The extent of your classroom participation is determined by the instructor. Audit registration is not accepted by web. You need to register in person, by mail, or fax at the Outreach College Information window, Krauss Hall 101. See Contact Information (www.outreach.hawaii.edu/summer/contact) for details.
How much does it cost to audit a course?
Auditing a course costs the same as taking it for credit.
Do audited courses appear on transcript records?
Yes. Audited courses are recorded on UHM transcripts with an "L" grade.
Do audited course credits count towards full-time/part-time status for academic purposes?
No. Audited course credits are not counted when verification of enrollment status forms are processed.
Health Insurance
Do I need to have health insurance?
Health Insurance is required for all international students enrolled at the University of Hawai'i. Health insurance may be purchased in your native country or at the University Health Services, Mānoa office. You can also contact UHSM at (808) 956-8965 or uhsm@hawaii.edu.
UH Number, Username, Email address, and ID Card
How do I get an UH Number, Username and email address?
After your application is processed you are assigned a UH number, which Outreach College emails or mails to you. It is mandatory to create a UH Username, password, and a hawaii.edu email address (eg janedoe = Username for a janedoe@hawaii.edu email address) to register, view your grades, use WebCT, and to keep your contact information up to date. Go to MyUH, click on "Get a UH username" and follow instructions. If you need assistance creating your password or with your UH username contact the ITS Help Desk by phone at (808) 956-8883 or 1-800-558-2669 or email help@hawaii.edu.
Important information from University administrators and instructors will be sent to your UH email address. Email sent to your UH email account is considered an official channel of communication by the University. Check your email regularly.
Where do I get a UH Student identification (ID) card?
Summer students who have paid their summer tuition and term fee(s) are issued a UHM student identification card at the Campus Center Ticket, Information & ID office. Use the student ID card to borrow books; use computer labs, buy discount tickets, and for other privileges. Continuing students may use their Spring ID cards throughout the summer unless otherwise noted by the organization.
Students registered for Outreach College extension terms or noncredit courses who have not paid a term fee may be eligible for a UHM Guest ID card. Visit the Outreach College Sudent Services office at Krauss Hall Information window, Room 101 to request a guest id memo. Take the memo to the Campus Center Ticket, Information, ID office. There is a $5.00 processing fee and a picture ID is required. Guest ID cards must be approved by the ID office and will not be issued until the first day of the course.
View more information about student ID cards on the Campus Center Ticket, Information & ID office web site.
Placement in Summer Courses
Do I need to take any Placement Exams?
LANGUAGE COURSE LEVEL PLACEMENT
If you need assistance selecting the correct course level for a language course (eg. Chinese, French, Hawaiian etc.), contact the academic department (see Academic Department Contact).
ENGLISH (ENG 100) PLACEMENT
Students no longer need to have placement to register for English 100 over the summer. Students who get a "pre-req" error when they try to register for the course should contact the Mānoa Writing Program at (808) 956-6660 or email:mwp@hawaii.edu. for assistance.
For more information about Mānoa's Foundations-Written Communication (FW) requirement, please visit the Mānoa Writing Program website.
MATHEMATICS
ASSESSMENT EXAMS ARE REQUIRED FOR MATH 140, 203, 215, AND 241:
Students who wish to take these courses in the summer may register for their courses BEFORE taking the assessment exam. However, those students who do not pass the exam are expected to drop their math class. In order to receive a full refund the drop must be done before the last day to drop.
Some students may be waived from taking the exam. See the Mathematics department's website for exceptions and more detailed information.
Any questions, contact the Mathematics Department at 956-4679, 956-7951, or email shirley@math.hawaii.edu.
Students no longer need to have placement to register for English 100 over the summer. Students who get a "pre-req" error when they try to register for the course should contact the Mānoa Writing Program at (808) 956-6660 or email:mwp@hawaii.edu. for assistance.For more information about Mānoa's Foundations-Written Communication (FW) requirement, please visit the Mānoa Writing Program website.
RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED. WALK-INS ARE WELCOME. STUDENTS MAY SIGN UP FOR A SUMMER SESSIONS 2009 EXAM BEGINNING APRIL 13, 2009
| Exam Date | Exam Time |
| Monday, April 27, 2009 | 9:30-10:30 am and 10:30-11:30 am |
| Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 3:00-4:00 pm and 4:00-5:00 pm |
| Friday, June 5, 2009 | 10:00-11:00 am |
| Monday, June 8, 2009 | 8:30-9:30 am and 2:00-3:00 pm |
| Tuesday, June 9, 2009 | 1:00-2:00 pm |
Residency Requirements
I am a Hawai'i resident attending school on the mainland. Do I need to fill out the Residency Section of the Credit Application and possibly the Residency Exemptions Form?
Yes. We need to determine your current residency status. If you have been attending a mainland school as a resident of that state, you are not considered a Hawai'i resident. Official residency can be claimed only in one state.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Do I need to take a TOEFL exam?
TOEFL scores are highly recommended for international students interested in attending Outreach College. If you have taken the TOEFL exam within the past two years and earned a score of 500+ (paper-based), or 61+ (internet), 173+ (computer-based), provide an official copy of your TOEFL score. See more international student information on this web page http://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/summer/student/international.asp.
How do I find out more about the TOEFL?
For on campus TOEFL testing information contact the UH-Mānoa Testing office at (808) 956-3454. For up-to-date world-wide TOEFL information, view the TOEFL website (http://www.toefl.org); call: (609) 771-7100; fax: (609) 771-7500; email: toefl@ets.org; or write to: TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151.
TRANSCRIPTS
Do I need to send a transcript to take Outreach College courses?
Send official transcript(s) only if:
- English is not your first language and
- Your TOEFL score is less than 500+ (paper-based), 61+ internet, or 173+ (computer-based)
Send your transcript to:
Registrar
Outreach College
University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2440 Campus Road, Box 447
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822
Do not send your transcript to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Admissions and Records office.
How do I get a transcript of my Outreach College course record?
Transcript request forms are available at the Cashier's Office in the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services, First Floor, Room 105. For more information view this web site http://www.hawaii.edu/admrec/records.html, or contact the University of Hawaii at Mānoa Admissions & and Records office. Call (808) 956-8010 or email records@mail.admrec.hawaii.edu.
How much do transcripts cost?
Transcripts are $5.00 per copy for a regular request, processed within 5 business days, or $15.00 for a "rush" request processed within 2 business days.
Transfer Credits
How do I know whether UHM credits will transfer to my home college or university?
Consult your home school advisor. Credits earned at UHM are applicable toward degrees only as determined by your school. Your school may ask for a copy of the course description from the UHM General Catalog (http://www.catalog.hawaii.edu). If you need a more detailed course description or syllabus, contact the instructor. You can get the instructor's email address through the academic department or Outreach College, ochelp@hawaii.edu.
How do I transfer my Outreach College course records to my home college or university?
Ask your home school advisor. Usually, you need to send a transcript to your home school. Go to the UHM Cashier's Office, Student Services Center, First Floor, Room 105, and fill out a transcript request form. Provide your home school mailing address and transcript fee. A University HOLD may prevent your transcript from being issued. Hold information is available on the MyUH web site (http://myuhportal.hawaii.edu).
VISA Regulations
I'm a foreign citizen from abroad. I am planning to attend the UHM Summer Sessions. Do I need a visa? Do I need an I-20?
Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy in your country for VISA information. Regulations are constantly being changed; the U.S. Embassy will have the most current information available. They will advise you of the proper documents needed to travel to Hawaii.
I-20 Request
Due to efforts to improve homeland security and control immigration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has imposed a policy which requires many if not all international students to obtain an F-1 visa to enter the U.S. You will also be subject to a background check as well as an interview by the U.S. Embassy in your country. To obtain an F-1 visa, you must first be issued a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status (I-20) from the University of Hawaii, Outreach College.
Due to the length of time needed by the U.S. Embassy to process visa requests and regulations unique for each country, we strongly recommend that you request an I-20 no later than two months prior to the date the academic term begins.
Example: For summer courses that begin in May, contact us for an I-20 no later than March 1. For some countries requests for an I-20 less than four months in advance may result in your visa being denied.
Notify Outreach College that you need an I-20 by writing "Need I-20" under "List Visa Type" on your application form or calling 1-800-862-6628, 808-956-7221, or emailing us at ochelp@hawaii.edu. An I-20 Request pdf form will be emailed to you. We will process and issue an I-20 if you have been accepted for admission and you have faxed your Outreach college I-20 Request form, bank statement, passport and MMR immunization information to Vivian Murata at (808) 956-3752.
For more information about obtaining an I-20 to attend University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Summer Sessions or UH Mānoa Outreach College fall or spring extension terms, click on Visiting International Students web page (http://www.catalog.hawaii.edu) or contact our visa specialist:
- Ms. Lisa Nakandakari
- 808-956-7753
- nakandak@hawaii.edu or ochelp@hawaii.edu