AUE Student Resources

Registration & Class Schedules

These are common during peak registration times in the fall (for the Spring semester) and the spring and summer (for the Fall semester ). Depending on what your issue is in iRoar, here’s how you handle it:

• Questions about registration timings, best practices, and what to expect?
  • Consult our Registration Best Practices material
• Facing a registration error?
  • Email the Student Services Coordinator with the following. Emailing these items will significantly reduce the time it takes to override the error.
    • Screenshot of the error you are facing on iRoar
    • Your CUID
    • The CRN of the course you are trying to register for
• iRoar not functioning properly or having technical issues?
  • o Submit a help ticket to IThelp@clemson.edu and describe what is happening

If you have issues with class offerings (or lack thereof) or class timings, follow the steps below in the order listed. If these steps are not taken, faculty and staff cannot get a grasp of what is truly a need or what is a frivolous desire. At the end of the day, class offerings are not guaranteed, and class schedules are not guaranteed to move in order to fit with your personal schedule, although large problems can possibly be addressed if these steps are followed.

Things to Keep in Mind When Addressing Class Schedule/Offerings Issues:

1. There is strength in numbers. A lot of students with the same problem are more likely to change something than just one student with a random issue. However, that does not mean to start a petition without guidance.
2. Approach people listed in the steps below with possible solutions and ideas, not just complaints.
3. Whatever decision is made, even if it goes against what you were trying to get, you must live with it. There are many factors that go into a class schedule, including faculty availability, room size, fire code, VTC capability, other course offerings, etc. It is not as easy to change something as it may seem on paper.

Problem Severity | Incremental Steps to Take

High - As a very last resort, and only if you have discussed with the appropriate AUE staff, approach the faculty member of the course with the issue.

Medium - Try to get a rough number of students with the issue. Then take it to the Student Services Coordinator, who can run it by the necessary faculty and GRC.

Low - Discuss with other students. If a large group has the same issue, then proceed. If you’re the only one with the issue, not much can be done. *If you are the only one facing an issue, you are welcome to still talk to the Student Services Coordinator and see what can be done; it’s just that wholesale changes are not likely.

Grades

Issues with the grade you received should be taken up with the instructor first. It is the policy of Clemson University that students cannot appeal grades, although you may file an official grievance under certain circumstances (you may not file a grievance for a faculty member’s use of a particular grading system) with the Academic Grievance Policy. Note that staff members do not have input on what your grade or GPA should be.

Problem Severity | Incremental Steps to Take

High - If you have discussed with the Student Services Coordinator and the Graduate Program Coordinator, and they have confirmed the possibility of an Academic Grievance, you may file one

Medium - If you believe an Academic Grievance may have been committed, discuss with the Student Services Coordinator and our Graduate Program Coordinator

Low - Talk to your instructor about your grade

Student Billing

Questions often arise about deadlines, payment plans, specific charges on bills, refunds, and fellowship and assistantship coverage and/or fees.

Problem Severity | Incremental Steps to Take

High - For bill questions, email studentbillquestions@clemson.edu
For loan, fellowship, scholarship, or assistantship items, email finaid@clemson.edu

Medium - If the question/issue persists after 24 hours, email a screenshot of your bill to the Student Services Coordinator (mjfarme@clemson.edu). AUE Staff do not have access to your bill on their own.

Low - Give it 24 hours, and then check your bill again.

Assisstantships

For assistantship opportunities, whether RA or TA, please do not approach faculty unwarranted with requests. When the time comes, and a position is available, the professor or the department will make an announcement.

As a general rule, assistantships in Automotive Engineering are awarded to Ph.D. students rather than to M.S. students.

Internships Issues

For questions/concerns regarding internship opportunities, availability, and applications, follow the process:

Problem Severity | Incremental Steps to Take

High - As a last resort, you may reach out to the industry contact if AUE has provided it to you and the company has confirmed that it's okay.

Medium - For questions/concerns about whether the internship will count, is long enough, etc., discuss with your academic advisor.

Low - For generic questions about opportunities and openings, discuss with the AUE staff at automotive@clemson.edu

CPT/OPT Concerns

When an international student receives a job/internship related to their studies, they must complete the CPT paperwork. Numerous questions can arise regarding the CPT approval process, forms, and iStart Portal items.

Problem Severity | Incremental Steps to Take

High - Complex, time-sensitive, and most important issues should be asked of the Office of Global Engagement.

Medium - More in-depth, but still relatively common CPT/OPT questions can be asked of the Student Services Coordinator

Low - For small generic problems, talk to your academic advisor. They can assist with very common CPT/OPT questions

Graduating students who wish to apply for OPT should begin the process at least 60 days before graduation. To get the process started or to ask questions, email International Services at IS@clemson.edu.

Congratulations! If you are reading this page, graduation is in your future. This is one of the most exciting times in your life, but it can also be a bit hectic given the number of forms and looming deadlines. The links below will help you plan ahead so you can reduce your stress and make the most out of this special time.

Graduation Deadline Information
This page lists the steps that must be completed before graduation, including specific deadlines, the campus offices involved in each step, and a checklist of graduate school procedures. This information is very useful. Please read it carefully.

Forms for Graduating Students
You will find fillable PDF versions of forms that must be completed before graduation. It is a student's responsibility to make sure that his/her graduation forms are completed. For questions, please contact automotive@clemson.edu.

OPT Application Instructions for International Students

These OPT instructions are for international students who plan to graduate. Ideally, your materials will be in 60 days before graduation.

E-mail is preferred, but if you would rather use the mail, please send it to
Office of International Services
E-301 Martin Hall
Box 345714
Clemson, SC 29634-5714

After your OPT application documents have been processed, the international office will issue a new I-20 with an OPT recommendation on the third page. With this, you will submit the necessary paperwork and payment to USCIS.

If you have any questions about this process, please contact IS@clemson.edu.

Final Graduation Procedures

Graduation Items
The Clemson University Barnes and Noble Bookstore has information for those who plan to attend graduation and need to purchase a cap and gown (M.S. graduates) or rent a gown and hood (Ph.D. students).

Department of Automotive Engineering Graduation Survey
All graduating students will be contacted and asked to complete the graduation survey. The information gathered through the survey helps us compile statistics on the program and stay in touch with you as an alumnus.

As they near graduation, you will also receive information on other check-out procedures required by the department. These will be sent via email from the graduate student services coordinator.

As a general rule, students should not have packages addressed to them delivered to the Campbell Graduate Engineering Center (e.g., magazines, subscriptions, important bills), but rather have them sent to their home personal address. While students working under a professor are welcome to have items related to their research delivered here, general mail should be sent to their homes.

Inevitably, we have several things that students may or may not have signed up for that are addressed to them here. Sometimes, if our student workers recognize the recipient as having a cubicle, they will put the mail on that desk. However, that is not to be expected. Mail addressed to students is placed in the Student Mail Tray, located on the 3rd floor near Office 329 in our cubby/mail center. Mail addressed to students will be left there for 1 month before it is discarded. Students are encouraged to come up and go through that mail from time to time and see if anything belongs to them.

Filing taxes is always a complicated procedure, which may become more complicated with the addition of a Visa, etc.

Clemson University employees are not allowed to give tax advice. However, the Clemson Human Resources Department has compiled a comprehensive page on tax information for international students and employees.

• How to Determine if You Are a “Resident” or “Non-Resident” for Tax Purposes
• What to Do Before You File Taxes
• Free Clemson Area Tax Prep Locations Offered Through the United Way
• And More Info!

NOTE: Any questions or concerns regarding taxes should be directed to a certified tax preparer or a local IRS field office.

For International students, please also see the following note from Clemson University’s International Services office:

International Services cannot offer individual tax assistance in the U.S., as we are not tax professionals. Students who need tax advice are strongly encouraged to consult a tax preparation specialist. You can also hire a tax professional or certified tax accountant who charges for services.

Information regarding F-1 and J-1 Visa holders filing taxes can be found on the Employment Resources page.