PAWS Student Center FAQ

PAWS_Student_Center_FAQ

Prepared by the HSS Student Advisory Council, Spring 2011

Access
How do I access PAWS?
What is the Student Center?

Academics
How do I search for classes?
How do I access my Shopping Cart?
How do I view my Planner?
How do I view my Registration Window?
How do I view my Class Schedule?
How do I view my Final Exam Schedule?
How do I view my Academic Requirements ?
How do I view my AP/Test Scores?
How do I view my Transfer Credit?
How do I verify my Enrollment?
How do I apply for Graduation?

Advising
How can I find my advisor(s)?
How can I email my advisor(s)?

Grades
When are grades posted?
Where are grades posted?

Negative Service Indicators (Holds)
What is a Negative Service Indicator?
How do I find out if I have any NSIs?

Personal/Demographic Information
How do I view my Campus Finances?
How do I view my Demographic Data?
How do I view and edit my Emergency Contact Information?
How do I change my personal information?
How do I sign up for text message/voicemail alerts about emergency information?

Transcript Requests
What is the difference between official and unofficial transcripts?
How do I view an Unofficial Transcript?
How do I request an Official Transcript?

What-If Reports
What is the What-If Report? When is it used?
How do I generate a What-If Report?

Troubleshooting
What are the recommended browsers for PAWS?
PAWS keeps logging me out automatically.
I am selecting links, and PAWS appears to be processing my request but nothing happens (example: Unofficial Transcript).

Access

How do I access PAWS?

Go to www.tcnj.edu
Click on the “myTCNJ” link in the top right hand corner
Click on the “PAWS” link
Enter your username and password, which are the same as the username and password used to access TCNJ email

What is the Student Center?

– The Student Center is the main page from which students may access PAWS and its
features. Quick links for the main sections of a student’s academics, finances,
personal information and admissions are available from this main screen.
There is additionally an access bar on the left-side of the screen which has an expansion of PAWS’ available features.

Academics

How do I search for classes?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the “Search” link in the Academics Section.
On this page, you can search by course subject, liberal learning criteria, and course time, among other criteria.
Additionally, from the Search for Classes page, you can select the Browse Course Catalog link to search through the entire catalog by subject.

How do I access my Shopping Cart?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
From the menu box on the left, click on Academic Planning.
Click on Enrollment Shopping Cart.
On this page, you must select the term for which you want to see your Shopping Cart and then hit Continue.
On this page, you can see the courses in your Shopping Cart, add courses by Class Number, remove courses from the cart, and find courses based on your requirements or planner.

How do I view my Planner?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the “Plan” link in the Academics Section.
On this page, you can browse the course catalog, plan your courses by your requirements, and view and edit the course list already in your planner.

How do I view my Registration Window?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
On the right, in the Enrollment Dates box, you may see your Shopping Cart Appointment and Enrollment Appointment if they are available.
For more specific information, select the “Details” link at the bottom of the box.

How do I view my Class Schedule?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select “Class Schedule” from the “Other
Academic” drop-down box in the Academics section.
Select the appropriate semester and click Continue
Classes may be filtered by “Enrolled” or “Dropped”or
From the left-side access bar, expand “Enrollment”
Select “My Class Schedule”
Select the appropriate semester, and click Continue
Classes may be filtered by “Enrolled” or “Dropped”

How do I view my Final Exam Schedule?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Click “Enrollment” in the left-side menu.
Click “View My Exam Schedule”.
Select the term to view and click “Continue”.

How do I view my Academic Requirements?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.

Select “Academic Requirements” from the “Other Academic…” drop-down box in the Academics Section of the Student Details, and click the “Go” button.
You can open individual sections, or by clicking “expand all” at the top of the page.

How do I view my AP/Test Scores?

From the Academic Requirements Report, click the bar “Total Units and GPA”
From the drop-down menu, click “Total Test Credit Units”

How do I view my Transfer Credit?

From the Academic Requirements Report, click the bar “Total Units and GPA”
From the drop-down menu, click “Total Transfer Units”

How do I verify my Enrollment?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Click “Enrollment Verification (NCS)”.
Read the options and select your preferences.

How do I apply for graduation?

Click “Degree Process/Graduation” in the left-side menu.
Click “TCNJ Graduation Application”.
Follow directions provided.

Advisor Details

How can I find my advisor(s)?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.

Your advisor (or advisors) will be listed on the right-side

*Phone number(s) will be listed here.

How can I email my advisor(s)?

Click on the link “details” under the advisor’s name
Click on the advisor’s name. This will launch an email to the advisor.

Grades

When are grades posted?

*Grades are posted individually by professors.

To find out when grades are due, visit the Academic & Registration Calendar page at http://www.tcnj.edu/~pa/calendars/academic.html

Select the appropriate term.
Locate the date on the calendar.

Where are grades posted?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.

Select “Grades” from the “Other Academic. . .” drop-down box in the Academics Section of the Student Details, and click the “Go” button .

From the Student Center, expand “Enrollment” from the left-side menu
Select “View My Grades”
1. You can adjust the term by clicking “Change Term” at the top of the page, and selecting a different term

From the Student Center, expand “Academic Planning” from the left-side menu
Select “My Course History” for a full view of all classes and grades

Negative Service Indicators (Holds)

What is a Negative Service Indicator?

– Also known as a Hold, a Negative Service Indicator is a marker that appears on a student’s record to alert the student, staff, or faculty of an issue that needs attention. The Service Indicator symbol is as follows:

– Negative Service Indicators can prevent a student from receiving certain services or accessing certain features in PAWS (such as official transcript requests or enrollment).

– There are three different types of negative service indicators: Financial, Health Services, or Advising.

How do I find out if I have any Negative Service Indicators?

Holds may be viewed on the right column of the Student Center front page.

From the Student Center, expand “Campus Personal Information” from the left-side menu
Click “Holds” to access the Negative Service Indicator page.

Personal/Demographic Information

How do I view my Campus Finances?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select “Campus Finances” from the left-side menu.

How do I view my Demographic Data?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the “Demographic Data” in the Personal Information section of the Student Center page.

How do I view and edit my Emergency Contact Information?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the “Emergency Contact” link in the Personal Information section of the Student Center page.
On this page, you can view, add, edit, and delete emergency contacts.

How do I change my personal information?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the desired link in the Personal Information section of the Student Center page.
Permanent Address, Names, Phone Numbers, Email Addresses, Emergency Contacts, and Ethnicity can all be edited online.
Demographic Information can only be viewed online. To change Demographic Information, you must contact an administrative office.

How do I sign up for text message/voice mail alerts about emergency information?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
Select the “Mobile and Other Phones” link in the Contact Information box in the Personal Information section of the Student Center page.
Click “Add a Phone Number”.
Select “Text Alert” or “Voice Alert” as the Phone Type and enter the desired phone number.
Check off “Preferred” in the given box.
Click Save.

Transcript Requests

What is the difference between unofficial and official transcripts?

– There are two different types of transcripts available from the College; Unofficial Transcripts and Official Transcripts. Unofficial Transcripts are for student records only, and will not be accepted as documentation at other institutions (i.e. Grad Schools, Law School Admission Council, etc.). Unofficial Transcripts display on screen and are used for reference. Official Transcripts are requested and sent from the College directly to the desired recipient. For an Official Transcript to be valid at other institutions, it often must be sent directly to the institution without passing through the student’s possession. Some institutions additionally require a supplemental transcript request form to accompany the Official Transcript in the same package (refer individually to institutions to find out more).

How do I view an Unofficial Transcript?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.
1. Previously requested reports can be viewed from this section as well, by clicking “View All Requested Reports”
2. A list of all requested Unofficial Transcripts will appear. Click the “view report” with the most recent date adjacently listed.

Select “Transcript: View Unofficial” from the “Other Academic. . .” drop-down box in the Academics Section of the Student Details, and click the “Go” button .
Select “Unofficial Transcript” from the “Report Type” drop-down box, and click “view report”.

How do I request an Official Transcript?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.

Select “Transcript: Request Official” from the “Other Academic. . .” drop-down box in the Academics Section of Student Details, and click the “Go” button .
Adjust the Quantity and Selection Option in the respective drop-down boxes
Insert the Address to send the transcript to

Permanent/Semester Addresses can be selected by clicking on the “Send To My Address”, and adjusting the option in the “Address Type” drop-down box.

Click Submit to send the request

What-If Report

What is the What-If Report? When is it used?

– The What-If Report is a feature in PAWS that can be used by students and advisors to determine how changes to major, minor, or program would affect a student’s course of study. It enables users to view how completed or in-progress coursework would fit into another program and plan. The report lists the requirements that would be satisfied (based on courses the student has taken) and would not be satisfied if the student were to make a change.

How do I generate a What-If Report?

Access the Student Center from the PAWS starting menu.

Select “What-If Reports” from the “Other Academic. . .” drop-down box in the Academics Section of the Student Details, and click the “Go” button .
On the next page, click the “Create New Report” button to set up your what-if scenario.
Select a career from the Career drop-down. In Program Scenario, the student’s current academic information is displayed by default. Use the fields to set up a What-if scenario based on one or more programs of study. You can define up to three scenarios.
Select only one program when using the “What If” report. Select the program associated with the primary major. To choose additional majors, select those with a prefix of “Second Major”.
Click the Submit Request button when finished.

Troubleshooting

What are the recommended browsers for PAWS?

– Users are strongly encouraged to use any of the following browsers:

Operating System	Recommended Browser
Windows XP	Firefox 3.0; Internet Explorer 6 or 7
Windows Vista	Internet Explorer 7
Mac OS X	Firefox 3.0; Safari 3.0.4

PAWS keeps logging me out automatically.

– We suggest deleting cookies/clearing cache and restarting your browser. For instructions on how to delete cookies/clear cache, go to: pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/Cache_Cookies1.pdf

I am selecting links, and PAWS appears to be processing my request but nothing happens (example: Unofficial Transcript)

– Pop-ups must be enabled to use PAWS. If pop-ups are blocked, certain features may not function properly. If pop-ups are not enabled, the system will continue to appear as if it is “processing”, even if the pop-up has been blocked.

To enable pop-ups in pop-ups in Internet Explorer and Firefox:

Internet Explorer
1) From Tools point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click on Pop-up Blocker Settings.
2) Type paws.tcnj.edu in the box ‘Address of Web site to Allow’ and Click ‘Add’.
3) Click Close.
Firefox
1) From Tools select Options.
2) Select the Content icon.
3) If the Block Pop-up Windows is selected, click Exceptions.
4) Type paws.tcnj.edu into the field.
5) Click Allow.

Prepared by the HSS Student Advisory Council, Spring 2011