Navigating Teachers College Cross-Registration Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Cross-registration offers students opportunities to broaden their academic horizons by taking courses at institutions other than their home school. This article provides a detailed overview of the cross-registration requirements for Teachers College (TC), Columbia University, and other affiliated institutions. It aims to guide students through the process, covering eligibility, procedures, and important considerations.

Cross-Registration Fundamentals

Cross-registration allows degree-seeking students to enroll in courses at other institutions, expanding their access to diverse academic resources and perspectives. This arrangement fosters intellectual growth and collaboration among different academic communities.

Benefits of Cross-Registration

Expanded Course Options: Access courses not available at the home institution.
Diverse Perspectives: Exposure to different teaching styles and academic environments.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with faculty and students from other institutions.
Intellectual Enrichment: Broaden academic horizons and explore new fields of study.

General Requirements and Guidelines

Advisor Consultation: Students should consult with their academic advisor or department chairperson before cross-registering to ensure the courses align with their academic goals.
Approval Processes: Obtaining necessary approvals from both the home and host institutions is crucial.
Deadlines: Adhering to the add/drop and withdrawal deadlines of the host institution is mandatory.
Academic Calendar: Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the academic calendar of the host institution.
Course Restrictions: Some courses may have restrictions or require instructor approval.
Tuition and Fees: Understanding tuition responsibilities and potential course fees is essential.

Cross-Registration with Columbia University

Teachers College has a unique cross-registration agreement with Columbia University, offering TC students access to a wide array of courses. However, it's crucial to understand the specific procedures and requirements.

Key Information

Timing: Cross-registration with Columbia University typically opens later than registration for TC courses, usually about one week before the start of the semester.
Course Directory: Students can search for Columbia courses in the Columbia's directory of classes.
Approval: CU courses generally require approval from the course instructor. Students should obtain written, signed permission from the instructor.
Registration: After obtaining all necessary approvals, students can register for Columbia courses online through the myTC Portal. They should enter the five-digit Columbia call number in the same space where they would enter the CRN of a TC course.
Online Registration: Registration for all Columbia courses must be completed online through myTC or by contacting the TC Registrar's Office.

Columbia University School-Specific Procedures

Certain Columbia schools have specific procedures for granting approval for cross-registrants.

School of Architecture: Approval is granted in the 4th Floor of Avery Hall, Admissions. Written approval is required from the School of Architecture.
School of Engineering: Written approval is required from the Engineering department that sponsors the course. For courses sponsored by the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) department, students need to apply for approval.
School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA): Each term, SIPA opens certain courses to cross-registrants. TC students can usually register freely for these open courses via myTC, adhering to standard TC registration deadlines. Some courses may require instructor's registration approval.
School of Journalism: Students should visit the School of Journalism cross-registration site for information. Journalism will inform Teachers College of any approvals granted, and TC will prompt students to complete registration in the myTC Portal. Registration for Journalism courses must be done through myTC.
School of Law: Approval is granted in the Law School Registrar's Office, 5th Floor of William and June Warren Hall. Written approval is required from the School of Law. The TC Registrar will manually register students for Law School courses.
School of Social Work: Students should pursue approval online through the School's cross-registration site. The School of Social Work will inform Teachers College of any approvals granted, and TC will prompt students to complete registration in the myTC Portal.
Any 0-point CU course: Special approval is required from the TC Registrar.

Important Notes for Columbia University Cross-Registration

System Issues: Occasionally, Columbia courses may not load properly in TC's system, preventing online registration.
Tuition Rates: Students will be billed according to Columbia's tuition rates based on the school in which they register.
Grades: Course instructors will submit grades to the Columbia Registrar. The TC Registrar will obtain course grades from Columbia near the end of each semester.

Cross-Registration with Other Institutions

Besides Columbia University, Teachers College has cross-registration agreements with other institutions, including those within the New York Theological Consortium.

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New York Theological Consortium

The New York Theological Consortium includes:

Fordham University
The General Theological Seminary (GTS) of the Episcopal Church
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS)
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

Specific Information for Consortium Schools

Fordham University: Union students can take courses in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS).
General Theological Seminary: The academic calendar and catalog are available on the Registrar’s page, and contact information is available on each professor’s bio.
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion: Confirm that the course you want to take is offered in New York, as HUC has campuses in multiple locations.
Jewish Theological Seminary: Search for course offerings, academic calendar, and staff directory online.
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: View class schedules, the academic catalog, and the academic calendar online.

Other Institutions

Drew Theological Seminary: Students seeking ordination in the United Methodist Church may take classes at Drew to meet those ordination requirements.
Boston Theological Institute (BTI): Includes Boston University School of Theology, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hartford Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, Hebrew College, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and St. John's Seminary. Some BTI courses may require instructor approval at the host institution.

General Guidelines for Other Institutions

Course Limits: Students are generally limited to one course a semester at other schools.
Credit Limits: The total number of cross-registration credits permitted varies by degree program.
Course Level: Only graduate-level courses are typically eligible for cross-registration.
Academic Calendar: Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the academic calendar of the school at which they are taking a class, including school holidays and withdrawal deadlines.
Electronic Resources: Visiting students from other institutions (with the exception of Columbia) generally do not have access to electronic resources through the Burke library at Union.

Interuniversity Doctoral Consortium (IUDC)

The Interuniversity Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) registration is exclusively for TC doctoral students, with member schools including Fordham University, CUNY Graduate Center, New York University, New School for Social Research, Princeton University, Rutgers University, and Stony Brook University. TC students cannot register at Columbia through the IUDC registration process.

IUDC Registration Process

Obtain the IUDC registration form.
Have the form signed by the appropriate parties at TC, including your advisor and a representative of TC's administration.
Take the form to the host institution.
Obtain the signature of the course instructor and the host school's IUDC Coordinator.
When registering through IUDC, students will pay TC's current tuition rate and remit tuition payment to TC.

Special Considerations

Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality

Graduate students enrolled in degree programs at Boston College may, with the permission of their department, apply to participate in the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Gender, Culture, Women, and Sexuality. This inter-institutional enterprise includes faculty and students from Boston College, Brandeis, Harvard, Northeastern, MIT, and Tufts. Non-BC students enrolled in Boston College courses must follow Boston College’s academic calendar and add/drop/withdrawal deadlines.

College of the Fenway Cross Registration

Cross Registration provides full time undergraduates of College of the Fenway with the opportunity to take two courses per semester at any of the six institutions at no additional tuition charge. This enables students to broaden both their intellectual and social capacities, and introduces them to faculty, research, colleagues and curricula they would not otherwise have experienced. There are some restrictions on cross registration for first-year students, check with your individual college for specifics.

Special Course Fees

Be aware that you may be liable for any special course fees. These fees are assessed for some courses to cover the costs of required instructional materials. Special fee amounts are listed on the TC course schedule next to individual sections that require fee payment. If you do have a balance due for special fee charges, please send payment to the Teachers College Office of the Bursar.

UNI Activation

Your UNI consists of two or three letters (based on your initials) and a number: E.g., zxq1234. Once you have your UNI, click “Activate a new UNI account” and follow the prompts.

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