TESU Cornerstone Deadline

[davewill]

Want to make sure I understand this.

Example:  Student has completed 45 hours towards degree.  (Still hasn't decided on BALS or BSBA GM; leaning towards BALS)

Does the student have to complete all 117 hours before enrolling at TESU and being able to take the cornerstone?

Or can the student, for example, have completed 72 hours and then apply to TESU in May 2019.  Take the cornerstone in June 2019.  Then spend the next 6 to 9 months finishing up the remaining 45 credits.  Register to take the capstone in Jan 2020.

Does that sound correct?

Do I understand correctly that the capstone is a semester long course?

That scenario would work fine. One could also apply and take the cornerstone without having a single credit, then start collecting other credits. The main reason for taking the cornerstone would be to become "enrolled".  Here's the low-down on enrollment status:

• Admitted: You become "admitted" by filling out the application, paying the fee, and being accepted. This gives you an student account at TESU. You get limited access to advising and two "evaluations." An evaluation consists of a "batch" of transcripts they process into your academic evaluation. It also locks in the catalog for a year so that degree requirements can't change on you. If you don't become enrolled before the year is up, the status lapses, and you have to reapply and move to the latest catalog.
  
• Enrolled: You become enrolled by registering for and starting a course (GS, ePack, Online, or TECEP). Now that the cornerstone is required for all students, that will likely be the first course. You get full access to advising and can send in as many transcripts as you like. You are now a student and get other perks like membership at the NJ State Library. Your enrollment is good for a year, by which time you either need to graduate, do another course or TECEP to extend your enrollment another year, or request a catalog extension. If you don't, then your enrollment lapses and you have to reapply and move to the latest catalog.
  

I usually recommend that folks apply as soon as they are ready to commit to the process, and maintain enrollment until they graduate. There are plenty of cheap TECEPs that will fit into any degree plan, so there's no reason not to. Sooner or later we all have a question to ask advising, and it's a big help to be able to send in transcripts whenever you feel the need to see that they have actually transferred into your degree plan successfully. Also, it's a bit of a lift to have a student ID in your pocket and know the process is a little more real.

It's also important to know that although the university recommends you take the capstone last, it's not any sort of actual requirement. If it suits your schedule to take it earlier (vacation, summer break, avoiding busy time at work) by all means do so. You should definitely have your writing courses under your belt, and it wouldn't hurt to have most of your AOS completed, but you can take it any time you feel ready to tackle it.