Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQs

  1. If I enroll in the Finish@UT program, can I finish my degree faster than a traditional program?
  2. How long does it take to complete the Finish@UT program?
  3. What is the length of Finish@UT courses?
  4. What courses are offered through the Finish@UT program?
  5. How many courses can I take per semester?
  6. What if I haven't completed the General Education Core Curriculum requirements yet?
  7. How can I tell if my previous coursework will transfer into a Finish@UT degree plan?
  8. What is the cost of Finish@UT courses?
  9. Is financial aid available for the Finish@UT program?

Student Portal FAQs

  1. What is the Student Portal?
  2. Why do I get a “Duplicate Person Found” error when I try to create my account?
  3. How do I submit a registration request in the Student Portal?
  4. What happens after I submit my registration request?
  5. How long does it take to process my registration request?
  6. What happens after my registration request is approved?
  7. What if my request is denied?

Definitions

Home Campus - the campus to which you are admitted and issues your diploma.

Host Campus - the campus offering the course in which you are registered.

Student Portal - the student information and registration system used to request registration in courses at UT campuses other than your Home Campus.

Resident Credit - also called institutional credit, is credit that counts toward your Home Campus residency requirement. These grades are factored into your Home Campus GPA.

Transfer Credit - credit that is awarded by another institution that does not count toward your residency requirement. These grades are not factored into your Home Campus GPA.

Residency Requirement - the number of credits you must earn from your Home Campus or the Finish@UT partner institutions in order to graduate.

General FAQ Answers
 

  1. If I enroll in the Finish@UT program, can I finish my degree faster than a traditional program?
    The session lengths for Finish@UT courses range from 7-, 8-, or 15-weeks. How fast you complete the required coursework for your degree depends on how many courses you are able to transfer into your program, as well as how many Finish@UT courses you are able to take each session.
  2. How long does it take to complete the Finish@UT program?
    Just like a traditional degree, a lot of that is up to you. You’ll work with your advisor to build a degree plan and determine how many courses per session are right for you. After that your advisor can help you determine when you can expect to graduate.
  3. What is the length of Finish@UT courses? Finish@UT courses are offered in 7-, 8-, and 15-week sessions. UTA and UTPB offer Finish@UT courses in 8- and 15-week sessions. UTEP offers Finish@UT courses in 7-, 8-, and 15-week sessions. UTRGV offers Finish@UT courses in 15-week sessions in the fall and spring, and 5-week sessions in the summer. See the Academic Calendars for each institution for more detailed information on the specific session dates.
  4. What courses are offered through the Finish@UT program?
    Finish@UT offers a variety of courses ranging from communications and social science to history and criminal justice. Visit the Finish@UT courses list for more information on courses currently offered through this program. To search the semester schedule for Finish@UT, go to the Student Portal. Please contact your advisor regarding taking courses outside of the Finish@UT program.
  5. How many courses can I take per semester?
    Students enrolled at UTA can take six credits per Finish@UT session. Students enrolled at UTPB and UTRGV can take 18 credits per session. Students enrolled at UTEP can take up to 21 credits in a semester. There are six Finish@UT sessions: two in fall (one at UTRGV), two in spring (one at UTRGV), and two in summer (two at UTEP and UTRGV, and one each at UTA and UTPB). Please visit the Academic Calendars for more information on session dates.
  6. What if I haven't completed the General Education Core Curriculum requirements yet?
    Once you are admitted to the university, your advisor will work with you to determine what courses you need to take before starting with your Finish@UT program. If you have not yet completed the requirements, additional online courses are offered by UT institutions via Finish@UT.
  7. How can I tell if my previous coursework will transfer into a Finish@UT degree plan?
    Your transcripts from previously attended schools will be evaluated once you apply for admission. Only courses in which you made a grade of C or higher will transfer. Finish@UT advisors are not able to review or evaluate students’ transcripts.
  8. What is the cost of Finish@UT courses?
    The cost of Finish@UT courses depends on the tuition and fees structures of the partner universities hosting them and is based on residency status. Visit the Cost Information page for more details.
  9. Is financial aid available for the Finish@UT program?
    In most cases, the same financial aid that is available to students for on-campus courses is also available for online courses. The financial aid process begins after you submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is highly recommended that you apply for financial aid as soon as possible after submitting your admission application. Refer to the Financial Aid Information page for more details.

TIS FAQ Answers
 

  1. What is the Student Portal?
    The Student Portal is the registration and student records management system for students taking online courses offered by University of Texas System institutions through the Finish@UT. It streamlines registration and the exchange of student information between students and campus advisors, registrars, and financial aid officers. Finish@UT students use the Student Portal to submit registration requests for courses offered by a different UT campus (Host Campus) than their Home Campus.
  2. Why do I get a “Duplicate Person Found” error when I try to create my account?
    If you have ever enrolled in an online course offered through Finish@UT (formerly UT Online Consortium), an account was created for you when the class roster was sent to the Student Portal by the Host Campus. Usernames and passwords are created using the following naming convention:
    • Student Portal Username = the first letter of your first name + the first four characters of your last name + the two digit month and two digit date of birth (mmdd)
    • Student Portal Password = your Home Campus student ID
  3. How do I submit a registration request in the Student Portal?
    • Once logged into the Student Portal, search for the course you’d like to take in the Search Course Schedule area.
    • Click the title of the course to view the course description, prerequisites, and faculty information. Be sure that you meet all prerequisites before adding the course to your cart.
    • Add the course to your cart by clicking the Add to Cart button at the bottom of the Course Details page or by clicking the on the shopping cart icon on the search results page.
    • Click the link in the Registration Cart box in the left navigation panel to view your cart.
    • Click the Continue button to start the request submission process and follow the prompts until you see the registration request successfully submitted message.
    • The Student Portal will also send you an e-mail when you have successfully submitted your registration request.
  4. What happens after I submit my registration request?
    After submitting your registration request you will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Student Portal. The request is routed to your Home Campus advisor and registrar, and the registrar at the Host Campus. You will receive an e-mail from the Student Portal when the request reaches final processing (approved or denied). You can track the status of your request in the Student Portal by clicking the Registration Requests link in the Account box in the left navigation panel, and then clicking the title of the course. The current status and Notes History are displayed at the top of the request.
  5. How long does it take to process my registration request?
    Generally, it takes about five business days for requests to be processed. It can take longer during busy registration periods. If your request has been pending for two weeks or more, contact finish@utsystem.edu.
  6. What happens after my registration request is approved?
    After your request is approved, the Student Portal will send you an e-mail with important information. The Host Campus registrar will enroll you in the course and send you information about your student account, as well as how to pay your fee bill and access your course. If you do not receive information from the Host Campus within two weeks of your request approval, contact the Registration contact at the Host Campus.
  7. What if my request is denied?
    If your registration request is denied, the Student Portal will send you an e-mail that will include the comment made by the campus staff at the time of denial. If you resolve the issue for which your request was denied, contact the campus staff member who denied it and ask for a revised decision. To view the name of the staff member who denied the request, log into the Student Portal, click the Registration Requests link in the Account box in the left navigation panel, click the title of the course, and the current status and Notes History are displayed at the top of the request.