Navigating University of Minnesota Transcripts: A Comprehensive Guide

Your University of Minnesota (UMN) transcript is a comprehensive record of your academic journey. It's a vital document that follows you, whether you're continuing your education at UMN, transferring to another institution, or seeking employment. This guide provides detailed information on understanding, obtaining, and utilizing your UMN transcript effectively.

Understanding Your UMN Transcript

A UMN transcript is an official record of your academic history at the University. It includes:

Courses taken
Grades received
Credits earned
Degrees awarded (if applicable)

For students who participated in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program, the UMN transcript reflects the college-level coursework completed during high school. It's crucial to understand that changing the grading scale from A-F to S-N is not allowed for PSEO students, as high schools require the A-F grading scale for appropriate weighting of the grade for high school transcripts.

Accessing Your Grades

Final grades are typically posted by UMD faculty approximately one and a half weeks following the course's final exam. You can view your grades by:

Logging into MyU.
Clicking on the "Academics" tab on the left-hand side.
Clicking on the "Grades" tab along the top.

Obtaining Official Transcripts

An official transcript is a certified copy of your academic record, bearing the University's seal and signature of the registrar. It is required for various purposes, including:

Applying to other colleges or universities
Applying to graduate school
Submitting to employers
Personal record-keeping

The University of Minnesota uses Parchment, a secure online service, to process official transcript requests.

Ordering Through Parchment

Login: Access Parchment through the University's website or directly through the Parchment platform.
- Current Students: Log in using your active UMN internet ID.
- Former Students or Third-Party Users: Log in using your Parchment account. You may need to create an account if you don't already have one.
Request Type: Choose between an electronic (PDF) or paper transcript.
Recipient Information: Specify the recipient's name, institution, or organization to which you want to send the transcript.
Payment: Pay the required fee using a credit or debit card.

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Delivery:
- Electronic Transcripts: The recipient will receive an email with instructions on how to download the transcript.
- Paper Transcripts: The transcript will be mailed to the recipient in a sealed envelope.

Electronic vs. Paper Transcripts

Electronic Transcripts:
- Delivered as a secure, certified PDF.
- Considered "official" in its electronic form as long as it remains unaltered.
- Each time the file is opened, it is certified electronically (internet connection required) to ensure its integrity.
- Available for the recipient to download for 30 days. After 30 days, the document will no longer be accessible. It is your responsibility to ensure the recipient downloads the transcript within this timeframe.
- A printed copy of an electronic PDF transcript is not official.
- While widely accepted, it's essential to confirm with the recipient that they accept this format before ordering.
Paper Transcripts:
- Considered "official" only as long as it remains in its sealed white envelope.
- If forwarding the transcript to another party, do not open the sealed envelope.
- Open the envelope only if you have ordered the transcript for personal use.

Account Assistance

If you encounter issues with your Parchment account, contact Parchment Learner Support for assistance. If you receive an error signing in to the Parchment site, you can change your password by clicking the "Forgot your password?" link under the sign in area.

Accessing Unofficial Transcripts

An unofficial transcript provides a convenient way to review your academic record without the formality of an official document. It's often used for personal reference, advising appointments, and preliminary applications.

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Obtaining an Unofficial Transcript

Online: Your unofficial transcript is available for free in MyU.
In Person: Visit any One Stop office and present a picture ID (University of Minnesota ID card, driver’s license, state ID, or passport).

Reactivating Your Internet Account

If you don't remember if your internet account is active, but know your Social Security number or your seven-digit Student ID number, you can call the Technology Helpline at 612-301-4357 to reactivate your account. If you do not have your Social Security number or do not have your seven-digit Student ID number, or do not feel comfortable sharing that information, you may follow the instructions provided by the University.

Utilizing Your Transcript for Transferring Credits

If you are applying to another institution, you will need to send your official UMD transcripts to that institution by ordering them through One Stop. Remember that accepting transfer credits is always a decision made by the individual institution. In the majority of cases, your PSEO credits will transfer to other colleges and universities.

Most states, however, do not have programs like Minnesota’s PSEO program, so some out-of-state schools may not understand that you have done regular college-level course work before being an undergraduate. In talking with officials at your college, stress that the program allows high school students to take regular on-campus University classes. Always keep the syllabi from the classes you have taken in case there are any questions about the content.

There are a few schools that simply will not accept PSEO credits. If you are concerned about the transfer of credits, contact the admissions offices of colleges to which you will be applying.

If the college or university you are attending (or will be attending) requires you to obtain written verification about your time in PSEO, send such request(s) directly to the PSEO Office.

Unofficial Credentials for Application

When applying for admission, upload unofficial transcripts/academic records/credentials to your application.

Upload documents for all post-secondary (college/University) institutions you have attended.

Please include all incomplete or partial academic records.

International credentials must include both the original language document and an English translation. Include original language diplomas if a degree was conferred. The Graduate Admissions Office reserves the right to request official documents if needed for verification. Do not send official transcripts/academic records/credentials unless we request them.

Please note: all credentials uploaded by an applicant to an application are considered unofficial.

Records from Closed Institutions

The Office of Higher Education maintains student records from closed or formerly regulated post-secondary institutions, which includes:

Closed private colleges located in Minnesota
Closed out-of-state colleges that were licensed or registered with the State of Minnesota
Closed schools which may have been regulated by other Minnesota state agencies but used the term College, University, Academy, or Institute in their name

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education does not maintain records for all closed private colleges and training programs as other schools or entities may hold the records on behalf of the closed school. Below you will find a list of schools for which OHE does have student academic records.

If your school is not on the list below, OHE does not have your academic records. Please reference this list of institutions for the contact information of schools that have closed or changed ownership. Similarly, if your school is still open, OHE does not have your academic records. Please contact your institution to request your records. For records maintained by the Office, you can request transcripts online. There is a $15 fee charged per transaction, and you can order up to 5 copies per transaction. This request process IS NOT for closed high school records.

Key Considerations for PSEO Students

PSEO students earn college credit while still in high school, creating a unique transcript situation. Here's what you need to know:

Transferability: While most colleges and universities accept PSEO credits, it's crucial to confirm with the specific institution you plan to attend. Some institutions may have specific policies or limitations on accepting these credits.
Out-of-State Institutions: Be prepared to explain the PSEO program to out-of-state colleges, as they may not be familiar with it. Emphasize that you took regular on-campus University classes.
Syllabi: Always retain syllabi from your PSEO courses. These documents can be helpful in demonstrating the course content and rigor to institutions evaluating your credits.
Building on Your Transcript: Official transcript upon graduating from high school Your University of Minnesota transcript and the grades on it will follow you wherever you go. After you graduate from high school you may decide to apply to UMD. If this is the case, you won’t need to worry about transferring credits; you will simply build on the transcript you started as a PSEO student.

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