Policy R-13

Title: ACADEMIC LOAD
Number: R-13
Date of Inception: May 25, 1984

Purpose: To academically define full-time versus part-time student status and to provide for maximum number of hours allowable in each academic term.

Fall and Spring Semesters By academic definition, a full-time undergraduate student is one who is enrolled for twelve (12) or more credit hours during a Fall or Spring semester, and a full-time graduate student is one who is enrolled for six (6) or more graduate credit hours. The normal load for graduate students is six (6) to nine (9) graduate credit hours.
An undergraduate student's normal load is fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) credit hours. For undergraduate students, permission must be obtained to enroll in 19 - 21 hours from the Academic Dean of the student's major.

The maximum undergraduate course load allowed in any semester is twenty-one (21) hours. Any exception to this must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Graduate students enrolling in more than nine (9) hours per semester must obtain the permission of the graduate director of their program.

Extended Maymester

Since Extended Maymester runs concurrently with the existing Maymester, Summer I, and Summer II terms, students could register for various combinations of courses among the four terms. Therefore, the following guidelines will apply.

a) A student cannot take more than three courses concurrently without permission of the Program Director. For example, a student registered for two Extended Maymester courses could not also take two Summer I courses. 

b) A student cannot take more than five courses total during the four terms. For example, a student could not take one Extended Maymester course, one course in Maymester, two in Summer I, and then two in Summer II, since the total would be six.

c) A student cannot take a 3-week Maymester course and one or more Extended Maymester courses at the same time.

Maymester

The maximum course load allowed during "Maymester" (session held during the month of May) is four (4) credit hours for undergraduate or graduate students. No exceptions.

Summer Sessions

The normal academic load for each Summer session is two courses or six semester hours. The maximum course load allowed in each Summer term is seven (7) credit hours. Any exception to this must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

By action of the Academic Council and the President's Cabinet on July 21, 1984, revised on February 4, 2002, by the approval of the Provost, revised on January 24, 2006, by action of the Faculty Senate and revised September 28, 2010.