Change of Level (COL)
There are three main reasons you may need to submit a Change of Level request.
- You are going to complete your current degree program and begin a new degree at another level. For example, you are completing a Bachelor’s degree and beginning a Master’s degree, or completing a Master’s degree and beginning a PhD.
- You are going to complete your current degree program and begin a new degree at the same level. For example, you are completing an MBA and beginning a Master’s in Technology.
- You are a Pathway student, and you will progress from your pathway program into your degree program. You will be notified via email that you must also attend a Progression Orientation meeting. During the meeting, ISSS will explain the Change of Level process and how to submit the request.
If any of the three scenarios above apply to you, you will need to submit a Change of Level Request.
Submitting Your Change of Level Request
Log in to the ISSS Portal and go to the Control Center tab to find the Change of Level Request. It looks like this.
Read through the request carefully and fill out the questionnaire with your current program information and your new program information.
You will need to show proof of finances for a certain amount of time depending on how long you will continue in your new program. Section five of the request will help you determine how much funding you need to show. Your total estimated expenses will be the number given to you for your semester(s) depending on your level plus the expenses of your dependents if applicable .
Now you will need to report if you are providing your own funding (personal funding), if you have an outside funding sponsor, or both. If you are providing any funding of your own, indicate this in the Change of Level Request by uploading a bank statement or other personal funding document. It must be dated within the last three months as of the date of your submission. If you are not providing any personal funding, please upload a Word Document that indicates this.
Graduate assistantships are considered personal funding. Please upload your GA contract/offer letter in the designated field if applicable.
In the Approval section, please enter the name and email of your current academic advisor or graduate coordinator. A list of all graduate coordinators can be found here .
Once you have completed and submitted your Change of Level Request , please move on to the Secondary Advisor Approval Request.
Submitting Your Secondary Advisor Approval Request
The request looks like this. It is used to confirm that the advisor of your new program has approved your enrollment and change of level.
Indicate that you have submitted a Change of Level Request and fill in the appropriate fields. In the Approval section, enter the graduate coordinator or academic advisor for your new program. A list of all graduate coordinators can be found here . Then submit the request.
If you have outside funding such as support from a relative or sponsor, you must then submit a Funding Sponsor Request.
Submitting Your Funding Sponsor Request
The request looks like this, and it can be found with the others in your Control Center. It is used to confirm that an outside source will be financially supporting your studies at the next level.
Please read the request carefully and fill in the questionnaire with the information about your outside funding sponsor. In many cases, this is a parent, and you will need to provide their first and last name.
Upload documents that provide proof of funding such as a bank statement or business sponsorship letter with the name of the person who will be sponsoring you. Your documents must be dated within the last three months as of the date of your submission. If you have more than one document, you may use the additional documents field to upload another document.
In the Approval section, enter the name and email address of your outside funding sponsor. Please do not enter your own email address or the name and email of your academic advisor. Submit the request and follow up with your funding sponsor to make sure they received the email.
Processing Times
Please allow up to ten business days after your requests have been approved for ISSS to process them. If any of your approvers are slow to approve the requests, processing may be delayed. It is likely you will receive an email if your request has been sitting in approver review for more than a week, prompting you to check in with your approvers.