I recently discovered that I have forgotten a transcript for a three hour credit course that is more than 22 years old. I foolishly tried to take this course when I was pregnant with my son. I worked at a university, and we were allowed to take courses at a discount. However, I was also very sick during the pregnancy. I had to withdraw. The pregnancy and my life circumstances-then and later, as my son was diagnosed with autism and I with cancer- were so traumatizing at that point until I think I must have blocked everything out. I did not remember until this past week that I had even taking that class. To make a long story short, the transcript is available for me to order. I am currently in an MA program and have been accepted to the PhD program at the same university. I submitted for transcripts of the courses and classes I remember taking. I will be graduating from the MA program in May. Today, earlier, I was fully prepared to admit my wrong doings and face possible program expulsion. Nervously, I called my graduate advisor and told her that I now remember taking this other class and that I had not turned in the transcripts for it. I told her that I could do so if she wanted me to. However… and this is where the twist comes in… she told me not to worry about it! She almost mocked me for wanting to turn in a transcript that was 22 years old and only for three credits and not even in the field in which I am getting my Masters. She said that if the graduate school had not caught it yet then we should not worry about it. Here’s my question: I am concerned because I am in the PhD program and I do not want to be kicked out at some point because I did not turn in this transcript. On the other hand, I do not want to send the transcript and start a possible problem when the graduate advisor has already told me not to do so . I should say, too, that the PhD program is at the same university but technically in another department. I don’t know if I should speak to that advisor as well and let him know what’s going on or just let it lie. Any advice that you could give me would be helpful.
You withdrew from the class? I wouldn’t worry about it.
Formally, you are obligated to provide all of your transcripts. What your department chooses to make of any of them is up to them. As far as your advisor is concerned, this ancient transcript is meaningless. However, you are correct that the other department might not feel quite the same way.
In the end though, the people who are in charge of the files that get pulled and audited when the accreditation team comes are the ones who matter. Go have a chat with the folks in the Registrars Office. I expect that they will want a copy. If so, get one for them. They can file it and be happy to know that your file is in perfect order. Then it will be there in case the PhD program ever cares.
How do I know this stuff? I almost got booted from a grad program because of a missing 30 year old transcript. A routine pre-accreditation visit audit found the credit transferred to my undergrad college but no original transcript. So I had it sent, they received it, then they lost it. Then I had it sent again and they received it and didn’t lose it. Whew!