PRP 3439 Undergraduate Student Scheduling Policy
Issued By: Patrick J. Schloss Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Effective Date: Fall 2003
NOTES: Approved by the Coordinating Committee on Academic Affairs, 12/8/82. Approved by RAX, 1/20/83. Approved by Representative Assembly, 2/2/83. Revised by BUCC 3/4/98. Presented to University Forum for information purposes only 3/18/98. Revised by BUCC 1/30/2002. Revised by BUCC January 29, 2003. Presented to the University Forum February 5, 2003.
The normal course load of an undergraduate student in any semester is 15 semester hours. A student in academic good standing is limited to 18 semester hours, unless he or she receives permission for an overload by his or her academic adviser. A quality point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher is required of the student before permission can be granted for an overload. If the GPA is less than 3.0, then approval of the department chairperson is required.
A student who is on academic probation may schedule no more than 15 semester hours. A student who has been reinstated upon appeal of academic dismissal is limited to scheduling 13 semester hours.
A scheduled class always constitutes an obligation. All scheduling and registration procedures shall not conflict with this obligation.
It is highly desirable for students to complete English Composition I and II (or their equivalent) by the end of their sophomore year. Advisors and students should make every effort to accomplish this goal.
Seniors will be scheduled first, followed by juniors, sophomores, and freshmen. During the initial scheduling period (period with assigned access times) students are limited to a maximum of five (5) courses of three (3) or more credits. Additional course(s) may be scheduled from the conclusion of the initial scheduling period through the drop/add period. This limitation does not apply to students who are eligible to graduate at the conclusion of said semester.
Incoming freshmen will be block-scheduled for their first two semesters of attendance. The second semester block will include at least 12 credits. An opportunity for academic advisement and schedule changes will be available during orientation and also during the first semester of enrollment.
Department Chairpersons will provide the Office of the Registrar with a list of courses in their respective major programs that they feel such freshmen should have during the first two (2) semesters in college.
Such block-scheduling of incoming freshmen for the first semester will be done by the Office of the Registrar prior to the respective orientation sessions. Second semester block-scheduling will be done just prior to the scheduling period for the next semester. Both block-schedules will be prepared by the Office of the Registrar. Changes to freshmen schedules will only be authorized for extenuating circumstances (see below).
Incoming transfer students are permitted to schedule for their first semester of attendance at any time during the scheduling period.
Students shall not be required to be at co-curricular activities Monday through Friday until after 3:30 p.m.
Students off-campus (e.g. student teaching, internships, etc) will prepare schedules that will be processed at the appointed time with those of their peers. Such students will need the supervisor's signature and must mail their schedules to the Office of the Registrar.
Extenuating Circumstances Justifying a Freshman Schedule Change:
- When a student repeats a course in which a grade of C-, D+, D or E has been recorded the previous term.
- When a student has withdrawn from college and re-enters the following term
- When a student has decided after the registration period to change the major or program of study.
- When a student has received an incomplete schedule.
- When changes are made in the master schedule (e.g. courses/sections deleted or added).
- When a student decides or is chosen to participate in legitimate co- curricular activities after the registration period but before the end of the schedule change period. (Social obligations do not constitute a valid reason for a schedule change.)
- When a student receives transfer of credit evaluation after the previous registration period.
- When other circumstances are deemed valid by the appropriate chairperson.