Adding Classes

Matriculated (active) Fresno State students may register through MyFresnoState once registration begins. There is no priority registration for Summer Session. You may add Summer Session classes without a permission number until instruction begins (unless the class has restricted enrollment, at the request of the instructor or department). After instruction begins, you may still add most classes until the fourth calendar day if you obtain a permission number from the instructor. You may not add face-to-face classes after instruction begins if they meet for fewer than five times or five calendar days.

If you are not a student at Fresno State or another California State University Campus, please review the registration instructions.

Non-Fresno State students: registration in Summer Session does not constitute admission to California State University, Fresno; nor should it be interpreted as acceptance to any degree or credential program. If you are interested in formal admission to the University, you may contact the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Dropping Classes

You may drop classes online using MyFresnoState or by submitting a Schedule Change/Refund Form. You may drop most classes until the fourth calendar day. If a face-to-face class meets fewer than five times or for fewer than five calendar days, you may not drop after instruction begins.

WARNING: After the fourth calendar day, there are NO DROPS OR REFUNDS unless you have a serious and compelling reason (see below). You will receive a failing grade if you do not attend class or attempt to drop.

If you wish to drop a class after the deadline for a serious and compelling reason, you may petition for an exemption. Examples of serious and compelling reasons include: medical emergencies, family emergencies, military service, or jury duty. The Associate Dean of Continuing and Global Education will review your petition. Submit your petition on the Schedule Change/Refund Form and include a detailed explanation (attach additional pages if needed). Please also include supporting documentation (e.g. a doctor's note for a medical emergency) to substantiate your request. If approved, you will be dropped from your class with a grade of "W."

Grading Options

You may select grading options (e.g. letter grade, credit/no credit, or audit) when enrolling online or with a registration form. Some courses require a specific grading options (this will be noted on the class in the MyFresnoState Class Schedule). The grading option you designate will be used on your transcript.

Changes to your grading option must be made no later than Friday of the first week of class. For classes lasting four or fewer days, changes in grading option must be made prior to the class start date. You may change your grading option on MyFresnoState or with a Schedule Change/Refund Form. 

A student can elect to audit a class by obtaining the instructor signature on an Administrative Change Form and submitting it to the Division of Continuing and Global Education office no later than Friday of the first week of class. For classes lasting four or fewer days, an audit request must be made prior to the class start date.

Grade Posting

Official grades for summer classes will be posted to transcripts in mid-August. If your class ends earlier in the summer, you may view your grade in your MyFresnoState Student Center under "My Grades."

Please note that summer grades are not considered "official" by the University until they are posted to transcripts.

Summer Session grades will be averaged into the your Fresno State GPA, just like any other class.

Permission Numbers

Permission numbers are required for students who do not meet prerequisites (see above) or who wish to enroll in a class after the first day of instruction. Some classes are also completely restricted and all students who wish to enroll must request permission numbers. Contact the instructor or department office to request a permission number.

Non-Fresno State students: you will likely need to obtain a permission number to enroll in any class with a prerequisite if your transcripts are not part of the University's records.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are now in effect for Summer Session classes. If you have not met prerequisites at the time of registration, or if you met the prerequisites at another institution, you may not be able to enroll in a class without a permission number. You may contact the instructor or department office to request a permission number. 

Refer to the University Catalog or contact the department office for more information about prerequisites for individual classes. If you met the prerequisite at another institution, be prepared to provide evidence upon request, such as a copy of your transcript from that institution. 

Schedule Updates

The Summer Session schedule is occasionally changed. You will be promptly notified if your class is affected by any changes.

Wait Lists

Wait lists are available in Summer Session for full classes. If you are placed on a wait list, check your Fresno State email regularly to see if you have been enrolled.

WARNING: During Immediate Pay registration (May 9 - beginning of class), you will have a short window in which to pay for your class. If you are on a wait list, check your email daily to see if you have been moved onto the class roster!

Wish Lists

You may add Summer Session classes to your wish list in MyFresnoState. Wish lists may be available before  registration begins.

Zero-Cost Course Materials

Some Summer Session classes will be taught with zero-cost course materials. Classes will be designated as zero-cost in late spring. To identify classes with zero-cost course materials:

1. Access the official class schedule on MyFresnoState.
2. Use "Class Search."
3. Select "Additional Search Criteria."
4. Select "Zero Cost Course Materials" from the "Course Attributes" menu.

Administrative Withdrawals

If for some reason you need to request withdrawal of a student from your class, please complete the Continuing and Global Education Administrative Change Form (found on the Forms page).  Please submit this form within three days of the class start date.

Class Format and Contact Hours

Your class may meet at any time during Summer Session (June 12 - August 11). No class meetings, exams, or activities may occur before or after that period. Although scheduling is highly flexible, "W" courses must meet for a minimum of 6-weeks during the 9-week Summer Session term. 

Summer Session includes up to 44 days of instruction, plus weekends if needed. Courses may be offered face-to-face, online or as a hybrid. The specific minimum numbers of contact hours required for a class are as follows:

• 1 unit of credit—15 contact hours
• 2 units of credit—30 contact hours
• 3 units of credit—45 contact hours
• 4 units of credit—60 contact hours

Independence Day Holiday: The University is closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. No schedule adjustment is necessary to account for the holiday if your class is regularly scheduled to meet on this day.

Faculty may choose how to schedule contact hours. While most Summer Session classes are scheduled in 3-, 6-, or 9-weeks.

Classroom Access (Keys)

Most of the classrooms on campus will be unlocked by the University Police department if a class is scheduled. Rooms with specialized equipment, such as computer or science labs, may have different unlocking requirements. Please also note that rooms in the Peters Business Building are not unlocked by University Police. Please take note of your room assignment in the MyFresnoState Faculty Center and contact your department office at least six weeks prior to the start of your class to request a key, if needed.

Course Materials

Summer Session instructors must use the Kennel Bookstore ordering system to document required course materials and textbooks, including zero-cost course materials. Information must be submitted by April 3, 2023. Contact the Course Materials department at 559.278.4278 with any questions.

Evaluations

Per campus policy, course evaluations are handled by the department offices. Not all departments require evaluations for Summer Session classes. Please contact your department office for more information.

Faculty Salary

Under Article 21 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CSU and the CFA, Summer Session pay utilizes the 2357 salary schedule, “Instructional Faculty, Summer Session – Extension.” This schedule is colloquially known as the 1/30th model. 

If you are a current faculty member and need help determining your potential summer pay, please email the Summer Session Coordinator. Pay for Summer Session classes is determined by the number of enrollments on the finalized class roster:

NOTE: Summer Session classes with fewer than 20 enrollments may be removed from the schedule if there are not enough paid enrollments to cover all expenses.

Final instructor pay is calculated after the conclusion of each class. Pay will be disbursed in a lump sum according to your preferred method on file with Payroll Services (e.g. by mail, direct deposit, or available for pickup at the Joyal cashiers' windows).

PAY DISTRIBUTION: (NOTE: the following dates are estimates based on prior summers; the actual pay date may be later) Summer Session pay for Unit 3 faculty will be disbursed around August 1 for classes that end within the first four weeks of Summer Session. Pay for all later classes will be disbursed around August 31. 

TAs teaching in Summer Session may contact the Summer Session Coordinator for more information on pay disbursement dates for their specific classes.

Faculty Workload

Faculty teaching courses through the Division of Continuing and Global Education must be in compliance with the 125% workload limit. Most faculty do not teach more than 2-3 classes in Summer Session.

Grade Submission

Please submit all class grades through MyFresnoState within one week of the class end date. Contact the Summer Session Coordinator if you are having trouble accessing your grade book.

Marketing

Students may view Summer Session courses in MyFresnoState Class Search. In addition:

• A course list will be available here on the Summer Session website.
• Posters will be distributed to each Summer Session instructor in late March. We recommend displaying these in areas frequented by students.
• Students will be emailed about Summer Session class opportunities.

For best enrollment results, we advise instructors and department chairs to consider the following:

• Inform students EARLY: Make sure that students know about your classes as early as possible so they can plan their summer schedules and funding.
• Schedule with care: Schedule your course for days and times that will attract as many students as possible. Remember, Summer Session courses can be scheduled anytime within the 9-week term.
• Offer high-demand courses: General Education and “W” courses are often popular, but so are “bottleneck” courses, such as core requirements for degree programs. However, students cannot be required to enroll in Summer Session to graduate (i.e. they must also have a class option in the fall or spring).
• Keep external populations in mind: Summer Session is open to all individuals who meet course prerequisites, including community members and students from other universities. If the class you intend to offer has prerequisites, external students (including students from other CSUs) will need permission numbers to enroll.

Permission Numbers

All faculty will receive 10 permission numbers to distribute as needed. If you offer class that is fully restricted (i.e. closed to general enrollment), you will receive enough permission numbers for the entire class. Contact the Summer Session Coordinator for additional permission numbers, if needed.