Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions webpage. We hope this page will help answer some questions that are frequently asked by students and parents. If you do not find the answer to your question(s) please feel free to call, e-mail or stop by our office.

Registration, Adding, and/or Dropping Classes

How do I register for classes? What is a Registration Access Code?

ALL engineering students must meet with your advisor each semester to discuss your classes for the next semester. When the courses are approved by your advisor then you will get your Registration Access Code for that semester. The Registration Access Code is the number you must enter each semester in order to register for classes. (**KEEP THIS CODE all semester in case you need to change, add or drop classes. The code changes every semester so you must meet with your advisor every semester to get your new Registration Access Code.) You will then get online and go to http://register.uah.edu, login with your Student ID number and PIN, choose the semester, enter your Registration Access Code and then register for classes. Step by Step instructions are available in the Schedule of Classes book or in the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education office.

What do I have to do to add a class after the registration period ends?

You will need to pick up a Registration/Schedule Adjustment form (in Charger Central (UC 118) or the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education office (EB 157) and get all of the required approvals/signatures. First you will have to get the approval of the Instructor for the class, then you will have to get approval from the Chair of the Department in which the course is taught, next you will need to get the Dean of Engineering’s approval and finally you will have to get approval from the Provost. After you get the required signatures, then you will need to take the form over to Charger Central (UC 118) for processing. **You must have extenuating circumstances to add a class after the registration period ends. Check the UAH Calendar online or in the Schedule of Classes book to find these deadlines.

How do I drop a class before the withdrawal deadline? After the withdrawal deadline?

To drop a class before the withdrawal deadline you go to http://register.uah.edu just like you did to register. Login with your Student ID number and PIN, choose the semester, enter your Registration Access Code for that semester and drop the class.To drop a class after the withdrawal deadline you must have extenuating circumstances (in writing with supporting documentation) and fill out a Late Drop Form and get approval from the Dean of Engineering. Check the UAH Calendar online at http://www.uah.edu/calendars/ or in the Schedule of Classes book (available in Charger Central (UC 118) or the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education office (EB 157) to find these deadlines.

Grades & GPA

Do I have to make a C or better in all of my classes?

ALL classes that are a pre-requisite for another class MUST be passed with a C or better grade. If you have questions about specific classes please contact the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office.

What is an NC grade?

An NC grade is basically the same thing as an F. The only difference is that a grade of NC does NOT affect your GPA, but an F WILL negatively affect your GPA.

What is a Course Repeat?

A course repeat is a policy that allows students to retake a class that they made a C, D, or an F in the first time and replace it with the second grade. (**You do not need to file a course repeat form if you received an NC in a class because the NC does not affect your GPA.) The first grade remains on the student’s transcripts, but it is no longer calculated in their GPA. Prerequisite courses for other higher-level courses in which the student has earned academic credit are ineligible for application of this course repeat policy. For example, MA 171 may not be repeated if the student has credit for MA 172.

When & where do Course Repeat forms need to be turned in?

Course Repeat forms MUST be filled out by the last day to add a class. Course repeat forms should be turned into the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office (EB 157) or Charger Central (UC 118).

How many Course Repeat forms are students allowed to use?

A maximum of five course repeats may be filed for undergraduate students.

If I drop/withdraw from a class does it show on my transcripts? Affect my GPA?

If you drop a class before the last day to drop with a refund it will not show up on your transcripts at all and will not affect your GPA. If you drop a class anytime after the last day to drop with a refund, then a grade of W will show on your transcripts. This does NOT affect your GPA.

How do employers view withdrawals and NC grades on transcripts?

If you only have a couple of W’s throughout your college career, then it probably will not bother potential employers. Multiple W’s or NC’s are viewed negatively by employers.

Advising

How do I know who will be my advisor?

All freshmen, sophomores and new transfer students are advised in the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office. Juniors and seniors are advised by a faculty member in their specific department.

When will my file be sent to my specific department (CHE, CE, ECE, ISE or MAE)?

Typically, a student’s file will be sent to their specific department when they sign up for Linear Algebra or Differential Equations. This usually puts students at about junior standing. A letter will be sent to the student to let them know their file has been sent to their department and who they need to contact.

Who do I contact to find out who will be my new faculty advisor?

Chemical Engineering – Contact Jennifer Perkins-Deaton in EB 130. Her phone number is (256) 824-6810 and her e-mail address is perkinsjl@uah.edu.

Civil Engineering – Contact Barbara Moore in TH S201. Her phone number is (256) 824-6854 and her e-mail address is bjmoore@cee.uah.edu.

Computer Engineering – Contact Linda Grubbs in EB 272. Her phone number is (256) 824-6316 and her e-mail address is grubbs@ece.uah.edu.

Electrical Engineering – Contact Linda Grubbs in EB 272. Her phone number is (256) 824-6316 and her e-mail address is grubbs@ece.uah.edu.

Industrial Engineering – Contact Kathy Gentry in TH N143. Her phone number is (256) 824-6256 and her e-mail address is gentryk@ise.uah.edu.

Mechanical Engineering – Contact Cindy Murphy or Beth Floyd in TH N274. Cindy Murphy’s phone number is (256) 824-6758 and her e-mail address is murphyc@uah.edu. Beth Floyd’s phone number is (256) 824-6758 and her e-mail address is beth@eng.uah.edu.

Mechanical Aerospace Engineering – Contact Cindy Murphy or Beth Floyd in TH N274. Cindy Murphy’s phone number is (256) 824-6154 and her e-mail address is murphyc@uah.edu. Beth Floyd’s phone number is (256) 824-6154 and her e-mail address is beth@eng.uah.edu.

Optical Engineering – Contact Linda Grubbs in EB 272. Her phone number is (256) 824-6316 and her e-mail address is grubbs@ece.uah.edu.

How do I set-up an appointment with my advisor?

If you are advised in the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education office then you can make an appointment by stopping by our office (EB 157) or calling us at (256) 824-6877. If you are being advised in your department then you will need to contact your faculty advisor to schedule an appointment.

Tutoring

Is tutoring available for engineering students?

The Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education office hires tutors every semester for math, chemistry, physics and some engineering classes. These tutors are located in EB 157. For additional information about specific courses, days and times for tutoring check the schedule in our office (EB 157) or call us at (256) 824-6877.

The Math Department has tutoring available for several math classes. Please contact Maryann Bierer in the Math Department (MDH 204; Phone (256) 824-6470; E-mail bierem@email.uah.edu) for times and locations.

The Physics Department has a Success Center to assist students. You can find more information about the Success Center by visiting http://successcenter.uah.edu/.

The Chemistry Department has a Chemistry Tutorial Room. Please contact Sharon Blair in the Chemistry Department (MSB 203C; Phone (256) 824-6153; E-mail sblair@matsci.uah.edu) for days, times and location.

The English Department has a Writing Center available to help students. The Writing Center is in MH 228. You can call them at (256) 824-2363, e-mail write2us@uah.edu or you can make an appointment online at http://www.uah.edu/writing/appt.htm.

Should you have any problems with a course that does not have a tutor, you can go to Student Development Services in the University Center and request a tutor. Once they receive three requests for a tutor for a specific course, they will hire a tutor to assist you. They are located in the University Center Room 113. You can contact them by phone (256) 824-6203 or by e-mail hallma@uah.edu.

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides programs and services to support UAH students in exploring achieving academic success. The office is in room 136, Madison Hall. For more infomation, visit http://arc.uah.edu or call (256)824-2478.

Location of Engineering Offices/Departments

Where is the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education (CUE²) Office?

The Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office is located in the Engineering Building in room 157. You can call (256) 824-6877 /or e-mail uahesa@eng.uah.edu.

Who and where is the Engineering Dean’s Office?

Dr. Shankar Mahalingam is the Dean of the College of Engineering. The Dean’s Office is located in the Engineering Building in room 102. You can call (256) 824-6474 /or e-mail dean@eng.uah.edu.

How do I get in touch with my specific Engineering Dept.?

CHE Department – Dr. C. P. Chen is the Chair of CHE. The main office is in EB 130. Phone number (256) 824-6810 or e-mail perkinsjl@uah.edu.

CEE Department – Dr. Houssam A. Toutanji is the Chair of CEE. The main office is in TH S201. Phone number (256) 824-6854 or e-mail bjmoore@cee.uah.edu.

ECE Department (CPE, EE, OPE) – Dr. Robert Lindquist is the Chair of ECE. The main office is in EB 272. Phone number (256) 824-6316 or e-mail grubbs@ece.uah.edu.

ISE Department – Dr. James Swain is the Chair of ISEEM. The main office is in TH N143. Phone number (256) 824-6256 or e-mail gentryk@ise.uah.edu.

MAE Department (MAE  ME) – Dr. Robert Frederick is the Interim Chair of MAE. The main office is in TH N274. Phone number (256) 824-6154 or e-mail murphyc@uah.edu or beth@eng.uah.edu.

General Information

Where is the Co-op Office located?

The Co-op Office is located in Madison Hall, in room 110. The phone number is (256) 824-6741 /or e-mail careers@uah.edu.

What are the requirements for co-op?

To be eligible to co-op engineering students must fulfill several requirements:

1. Students must have completed 24 hours total (this can include credit from AP scores, CLEP credit, transfer credit or classes completed at UAH).
2. A minimum of 12 hours must be completed at UAH.
3. Students must have taken at least MA 171 and CPE 112 (CHE 197 for CHE).
4. A minimum of a 2.5 GPA is required. (The higher the better as these are competitive jobs and UAH students are not the only ones applying for them.)
5. You can NOT have any D’s, F’s or NC’s for the previous 2 semesters prior to starting your co-op term.
6. Students are required to complete a minimum of 3 co-op terms.

How do I change my major? (Example: From EE to ME)

If you want to change your major from one type of engineering to another, then you will need to stop by the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office (EB 157) and fill out a Request for Change of Option within the College of Engineering form.

How do I change Colleges? (Example: From Liberal Arts to Engineering)

If you are changing from one college to another college, then you will need to get a Change of College form Charger Central (UC 118) or the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office (EB 157). The Dean of the College that you are changing into will have to approve the form and send it to Charger Central for processing.

Why do freshmen have to come in for special interviews?

The UAH College of Engineering is working hard to improve the success rate for our students, particularly those students in their first two years at UAH. As part of our efforts we are meeting with all freshmen three times during their freshman year. We usually try to meet with students twice in the fall and once in the spring to see how things are going and to discuss classes for future semesters. If you are having problems, please call our office at (256) 824-6877 or e-mail uahesa@eng.uah.edu to set-up an appointment with you advisor.

What is a Charger Chaser?

Charger Chasers (Engineering Ambassadors) are engineering juniors or seniors who have been selected to support the College by assisting with recruiting and retention activities. They help with the Engineering Picnic, Engineering Open House, Campus Visit Days and other activities during the academic year. Applications  Interviews for Charger Chaser positions are taken during spring semester. If you are interested in applying, please stop by the Center for Undergraduate Engineering Education Office middle to end of spring semester and pick up an application.