Academic Advising FAQs

How Can I Talk to My Graduate Academic Adviser During the Semester?

By Email
You may email questions to your academic adviser as needed. Advisers generally respond to emails within 24–48 hours, but during exceptionally busy times it may take longer. If you have a general question, you can email advising@stuart.iit.edu for assistance.

By Appointment
Students can schedule an individual appointment by signing up for an appointment. Typically, these appointments last about 20 minutes.

Virtual Group Advising Sessions
Get your questions answered with your friends and fellow students. Group advising sessions typically have 10–30 students in them and last for an hour. They are offered during high-peak times, such as pre-term and registration (registering for the next semester’s courses).

Are Classes in Session During U.S. Holidays?

There are some days/weeks when classes are not in session (and when the university is closed) to recognize U.S. holidays or semester “breaks.” Check out the university’s academic calendar to see these specific dates throughout the semester.

When Does Registration Begin?

You can find registration dates for each semester on the academic calendar. When course schedules are published, you can view them on myIIT. Remember that holds on your account may prevent registration, so be sure to check for holds on your myIIT portal.

When Is the Add/Drop Deadline?

The add/drop deadline for each semester can be found on the academic calendar. If you drop a class after the deadline, tuition refunds will not be available and you will still pay full tuition for that course. Additional policies and procedures can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website.

When Is Tuition Due?

You can find a full list of semester deadlines on the academic calendar and more specific information about paying your bills on the Office of Student Accounting website.

Do I Pay Tuition for Summer Courses?

Students will still be responsible for paying tuition for registered courses during summer sessions. However, mandatory fees will not be billed.

How Do I Register for a Waitlisted Course?

For instructions on how to register for a waitlisted course, you can view this waitlisting overview.

• Waitlist for a core course: If you are on the waitlist for a core class that must be completed in the upcoming semester, it is important that you check your @hawk.iit.edu email on a regular basis. The registrar will email you when a spot becomes available in the class, and you must register for it within 24–72 hours.
• Waitlist for an elective course: If you are on the waitlist for an elective course, you should check your @hawk.iit.edu email on a regular basis. However, you should also prepare an alternate plan in the event that you are not able to register for the class. Contact your academic adviser if you are not sure which elective to choose.

If you are waitlisted for a course, check your @hawk.iit.edu email on a regular basis as the Office of the Registrar will email you when a spot becomes available for either a core course or an elective course; you must register for it within 72 hours (or for 24 hours beginning the Monday before the first day of classes). Please check the waitlist notification for the expiration date and time. Prepare an alternate plan in the event that you are not able to register for the course.

Health insurance at Illinois Tech is mandatory for all students who are registered for one or more credit hours. Students will automatically be added to the Student Health Insurance Plan. However, students have the option to submit a health insurance waiver before the deadline if they have insurance coverage through a different provider.

Details, including a link to the health insurance waiver request form, can be found on the Student Health and Wellness Center website, and any questions regarding student health insurance should be directed to student.health@iit.edu.

The university publishes a graduation FAQs page to address all of the details surrounding the commencement ceremony. Below are some helpful answers to questions that the Stuart academic advisers would like you to know.

I Am Graduating. What Should I Do?

Graduating students should apply for graduation before the degree conferral application deadline for the semester in which they plan to graduate. Details on how to apply can be found in the questions below.

• If you are an international student graduating and taking only one or two classes in your final semester, you must complete a Reduced Course Load Form and have it signed by your academic adviser during open advising hours.
• If you are planning to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT), please review the International Center’s tutorial on the application process and necessary materials.

When Can I Participate in the Commencement Ceremony?

Students graduating in the current year fall (December), the following year spring (May), and the following year summer (August) are eligible to walk in the following year May commencement ceremony at Illinois Tech. For example, students graduating in fall (December) 2022, spring (May) 2023, and summer (August) 2023 are eligible to walk in the May 2023 commencement ceremony at Illinois Tech. There is only one commencement ceremony each year.

How Do I Apply to Graduate?

You must apply for graduation on myIIT. See instructions on how to apply for graduation by using our how-to guide. Students will not be awarded a degree if they do not apply to graduate.

Please note that there are fees associated with the graduation process. If you would like more information about fees, you can view fee details on the website or contact the Office of Student Accounting. Missing the application deadline will require students to contact their academic adviser to complete the application process. An automatic late fee will be assessed for students who apply late for graduation.

How Do I Get My Diploma?

Diplomas are printed at the end of the semester for which a student is graduating. Diplomas are distributed by the Office of the Registrar. Be sure to read Illinois Tech Today for the most up-to-date information about diploma printing and shipping.

You can submit a request to have your diploma shipped to a preferred address at no charge by completing the Diploma Shipping Request Form.