FAQ for Current Students - CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy

1. Can I audit a class?

Yes. Courses may be audited with instructor’s permission and based on availability. Students must formally register to audit courses in the same manner as any other course after receiving permission. The grade notation ‘AUD,’ which carries no earned credit, cannot be changed to any other credit-bearing grade. Audited courses will be included in the calculation of total credits to determine full- or part-time status. Audited courses cannot be used towards financial aid eligibility and therefore will not count towards financial aid load. Auditing is only available for currently active students. You can request to audit a class by filling out the Course Audit Request form.

2. The semester is over and I still haven’t received my grades. Who should I contact?

CHSS, EOGHS, and NUTR students should contact toya.cox@sph.cuny.edu.

HPM and EPI students should contact himani.sharma@sph.cuny.edu.

3. CUNYFirst won’t let me enroll in Capstone/independent study/fieldwork without department consent. Who should I contact?

CHSS, EOGHS, and NUTR students should contact toya.cox@sph.cuny.edu.

HPM and EPI students should contact himani.sharma@sph.cuny.edu.

4. How do I change my name/address/ID number?

Fill out the “Change of Name/Address/ID Request” form found on the Student Forms page and contact registrar@sph.cuny.edu.

5. Who is my department head?

Please see our department pages to see who is the head of each department.

6. I am having an issue with my student email/Blackboard/a school computer. Who should I contact?

Contact helpdesk@sph.cuny.edu.

7. I would like to reserve a room for a student event. Who should I contact?

Contact Velvet Brown (velvet.brown@sph.cuny.edu), Student Life Coordinator.

8. I would like to share an event relevant to public health with the CUNY SPH community. Who should I contact?

Please contact the Communications Office at communications@sph.cuny.edu.

9. How can I learn about events that are relevant to me as a student of public health?

If you are a current student, you will receive a weekly Events Roundup email to your SPH email on Fridays which lists CUNY SPH-sponsored events, as well as other events of interest to our community.

You can also check out the CUNY SPH Events Calendar and follow CUNY SPH on Facebook and Twitter for information on upcoming events.

10. How can I connect with other students outside of class?

You may request to join the CUNY SPH Student Group on Facebook. This is a closed group that is administered by the GSGA.

11. I would like to sell my textbooks from last semester to another student. Where can I advertise this?

You can sell your books via the SPH Online Bookstore. Or you can post about selling your textbooks in the CUNY SPH Student Group on Facebook. This is a closed group that is administered by the GSGA.

12. Is there a fee to have an official transcript sent from another CUNY school to CUNY SPH?

There is no fee for sending a transcript from another CUNY school to CUNY SPH. Please note that new applicants must send transcripts directly to SOPHAS, which will incur a fee.

13. Am I allowed to take an elective class at another CUNY school?

If the class is a graduate-level class that is relevant and you get approval from your department head and the registrar, you may be allowed to take the class.

14. I added a class to my schedule and the time of classes is listed as TBA. Does this mean that this class is online?

Yes.

15. Where can I get help for signing up for health insurance?

For information on signing up for health insurance, please visit: http://www2.cuny.edu/current-students/student-affairs/student-services/health-services/insurance/

16. Where can I find mental health counseling and health services?

Students seeking counseling sessions may contact the SPH Student Wellness Counselor Sherry Adams (sherry.adams@sph.cuny.edu) for individual and group counseling sessions. Find more info here.

17. Can I change my concentration?

We recommend that you complete all the core classes before attempting to change your concentration. To start the process, fill out the Change of Concentration/Track Request form. We cannot guarantee that your request will be approved. Please note that the same committee that reviewed your application will also review this request. Therefore, if you were rejected from the concentration that you would like to switch into, unless things have changed on your end (for example, you retook your GREs and scored higher or you got a new job related to the desired concentration), you may be rejected again. You may also be asked to provide additional documents such as a new personal statement.

18. Where can I find information about general academic advising?

Please visit Academic Advising for resources, FAQs, and additional information. You may also email advising@sph.cuny.edu.

19. How many credits do I need to take to be considered a full time student?

Full time status for certificate and MPH/MS students is 12 credits. For doctoral students, it is 7 credits. Only International and Veteran students are required to maintain full time status. If a student wants to get federal aid, then they need to register for 6 credits; all other students may register for the number of credits as they see fit.

20. Who should I contact if I need accommodation for testing?

Please email admissions@sph.cuny.edu.

21. Where can I find job postings?

You can find job postings for on campus positions as well as postings that organizations send us through the Career Services section of our website. You can also check out the websites of our centers and institutes, as they often have job postings. Feel free to reach out to faculty members who share your research interests and see if they or anyone they know is hiring.