By the end of January, the University Registrar will make a new official electronic transcript available to students and alumni and introduce a slightly changed official paper transcript.

Assistant Registrar Shohreh Harris said the change is in response to students who have requested official electronic transcripts and an increase in other institutions that prefer electronic transcripts to paper ones. "Also there are instances when students and alumni urgently need a transcript," wrote Harris in an email to the Justice. "With the ability to provide electronic transcripts, students and alumni will be able to obtain ... transcripts within one hour of making the request."

As a result of the move to electronic transcripts, the technology used to produce the paper transcript also had to be updated. The paper transcript will change from landscape to portrait and it will feature longer course descriptions than currently available.

The transcript will also now be able to combine Brandeis careers, both undergraduate and graduate, in a single transcript, and it will include graduate student grade point averages. "The change towards one standard official transcript which consolidates all careers puts us in line with standard practices at other universities," said Harris.

While the new paper version will continue to be free to students and alumni, the electronic transcript will cost four dollars in most instances, and $2.25 for transcripts being sent to institutions such as the Law School Admissions Council and the American Medical College Application Service. The University's third-party electronic transcript provider, the National Student Clearinghouse, will provide the electronic transcripts. According to the Registrar's office, Brandeis does not receive any revenue from the charge.

"Brandeis will continue to remain one of the few universities that do not charge students and alumni for official paper transcripts," wrote Harris. "The cost for official e-transcripts is the base fee as assessed by The National Student Clearinghouse. While most schools add additional fees on top of the NSC fee, Brandeis has chosen not to do so."

Harris said that the Registrar and Library and Technology Services have been working to develop this project for about two years. The Registrar expects to release the new paper transcript by the end of this semester, while the electronic version will be available in mid to late January.

-Andrew Wingens