Visiting Students

A visiting student is currently enrolled in a degree program at another college or university and wants to take classes at OCC for a short period of time.

Visiting students:

  • Plan to transfer the credits earned at OCC back to their home institution
  • Are not pursuing a degree at OCC
  • Typically take classes for a summer, winter, or single semester

You are not a visiting student if:

  • You have already been admitted to OCC and plan to start in an upcoming semester
  • You are currently pursuing a degree or certificate at OCC
  • You are in high school, even if you are taking college classes in high school
  • You are not enrolled in a degree program at another institution

Registering for Classes as a Visiting Student

  1. Browse our course schedule to find the class(es) you want to take.
    • Be sure to check prerequisites, co-requisites, and seat availability!
  2. Create or login to a MyOCC account.
    • If you need to create a new account, click here.
    • If you already have an account but have forgotten your username or password, click here.
  3. Complete the Visiting Student Registration Form.

The Office of Registration & Records will respond to your form submission within 48 business hours. If the class you’ve requested has available seats, you will be registered for the class.  

Your registration request will not be processed if:

  • The class you’ve requested is full – if available, you will be added to the waitlist for the class. When you are on the waitlist, you will receive a notification to your OCC email account if a seat becomes available. At that time, you can choose whether to register for the class. You will have 48 hours to claim the seat. If you decide not to register, no action is needed.
  • Your form is filled out incorrectly – make sure you include section numbers and that you are copying the correct section names from OCC, not the equivalent course at your home institution.

If we cannot process your request, we will notify you of the reason.

Important Things to Know

  • Financial Responsibility: You are financially responsible for the classes you are registered for as a result of your Visiting Student Registration form. Visiting Students are not eligible for traditional financial aid and should plan to pay out of pocket.  
  • Requisites Still Apply: While OCC does not require transcripts for proof of prerequisites for visiting students, it is your responsibility to review course requirements and ensure you are prepared for the course.
  • Credit Transfer is Your Responsibility: Confirm with your home institution that the credits you take at OCC will transfer. OCC cannot guarantee transfer credit for other institutions.  
  • Limited Seats: Some classes may fill quickly or require additional special permission for registration.

Ready to Register?

Fill out the Visiting Student Registration Form.

Questions?

Contact the Office of Registration & Records:

(315) 498-2350 | registrar@sunyocc.edu

  • Cross registration opens when registration opens for new students each semester.
  • Cross registration requests close one week before the semester begins, so don’t wait until the last minute! Be mindful that semester start dates can be different at the Home and Host  schools.
  • You must be matriculated (officially accepted into a degree or certificate program) and in good academic standing. 
  • You must be registered at OCC during the same semester you're applying to cross register. 
  • If you have any holds on your OCC record, including financial holds, your request won’t be considered.
  • A grade of “C” or higher is required for the course to transfer back to OCC from the Host institution. Some programs require a higher grade than “C” to meet degree requirements.

If you're an OCC student and want to take a class at another SUNY school, here's how the cross registration process works:

Step One: Meet with your School Navigator or advisor. They'll help confirm that:

  • The class you want is either full or not offered at OCC.
  • You're a current OCC student in good academic standing.
  • The course fits your program and will transfer back to OCC.
  • You meet the prerequisites for the course.
  • You don’t have any holds on your student account.
  • If everything checks out, you'll be approved to move forward.

Step Two: Fill out the SUNY online cross-registration form (click on “Request Form”). 

  • It is your responsibility to complete this form and request registration at the other SUNY campus.
  • If you live in a different county than the Host  School, submit a certificate of residency to the Host  School, which helps determine your tuition rate.
  • If you live in Onondaga County, click here.  

Step Three: Registrar review

  • The OCC Registration & Records Office will complete the “Advisement” section and “Records Office” section and give a preliminary approval.

Step Four: Financial Aid review

  • If you're using financial aid, the OCC Financial Aid Office will complete the “Financial Aid” section of the form.
  • If you don’t complete the official cross registration form, you won’t be eligible to utilize available financial aid for that course. 

Step Five: Check Email

  • You may receive correspondence from the Host school regarding your registration. Check your email regularly to avoid any delays. 
  • Follow up with the Host school to determine registration steps.

If you skip the approval process or sign up for a course without letting OCC know, OCC has the right to deny the credits. Be sure to follow the steps!

 

If you're a student attending another institution that is your Home campus, and want to take a class with OCC as your Host campus, please see your advisor at your Home institution to discuss their cross registration process.

If you’re an OCC student taking a course at another SUNY school, OCC is considered your Home campus and is responsible for the following:

  1. Reviewing and approving your cross-registration request before you register for a course at another SUNY campus.
  2. Managing your financial aid, if you’re eligible.
  3. Keeping your academic records up to date, even for the class you’re taking elsewhere.
  4. Paying the other SUNY school for providing the course (when required by SUNY rules).
  5. Billing you for tuition and fees, you won’t be charged directly by the other SUNY campus.