Registration Policies

Students may add or drop courses in Banner Student self-service by the add/drop deadline for the term. A course that is dropped from a student’s registration will not hold an academic penalty nor appear on the student’s transcript. A student's final registration will determine their full-time or part-time enrollment status for the term. Tuition and fee charges, along with financial aid, will be adjusted according to this final status.

If a student experiences extraordinary circumstances that prevented them from adding or dropping a course, they may submit an Add/Drop Appeal to the College/School Dean where the course is offered to request late approval, within 1-week of the original deadline.

Regular class attendance is expected by the university and it is the responsibility of the student to understand the attendance policy in each course he or she takes, as outlined in each course syllabus. When absent, students remain responsible for finding out what class activities occurred during the absence and make up missed work if the instructor permits it. When a student knows in advance that it will be necessary to miss a class session, the student should inform the instructor.

When a student has missed a significant portion of coursework, which may be difficult or impossible to make up, the student should confer with the course instructor to explore options, including withdrawal from the course. The student may consult with an academic advisor or the Dean of Student Affairs Office to consider various options.

Absences occasioned by official University activities, such as participation in conferences, intercollegiate athletic events, musical performances, and other events, must be documented in advance through the Dean of Student Affairs Office. A student that knows that such absences will occur shall confer with the instructor in respect to such absences. Students may also contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office with questions about the University's policy on class attendance.

Non-Participation or Stopping Out

In order to ensure compliance with federal enrollment status and financial aid reporting requirements, Southern Connecticut State University monitors participation in all classes and adjusts enrollment as follows: 

• Students who have attended or participated in course must be reported to the Registrar’s Office as ‘Attended’ to confirm enrollment one-time at the start of each term.
• Students who have not attended or participated in a course by the end of the second week will be withdrawn from the roster and a grade of ‘N-Never Attended’ will be recorded on the transcript.
• Students who have not attended or participated in any course on thier schedule by the end of the second week will be dropped from the university, all tuition and fee charges are reversed, and the courses are removed from the student’s transcript.
• Students who have been removed from the roster may request reinstatement from the instructor and be approved in the third week.
• Full-time students do not receive a refund when withdrawn from individual courses for non-attendance. Part-time students are issued a 60% refund when withdrawn from individual courses for non-attendance.
• For courses less than 8 weeks, students must attend or participate by the end of the first week and, if removed from the roster for non-attendance, may be approved for reinstatement in the second week.
• When students stop attending a course, the instructor shall issue a midterm and final grade 'FS-Failure Due to Stop Out' along with a last date of attendance.

Students must discuss the criteria for a successful audit and receive written approval from their instructor. While no final grade is issued for an audited course, students do have the right to take exams, write papers, and have them evaluated. The Audit Contract must be approved by the instructor prior to the start of the 4th week of the fall or spring semester, or prior to the start of the 2nd week for courses in a shorter term.

Students who audit a course pay regular tuition and fees for the course, but the course is not eligible for financial aid, and it does not count towards a student's enrollment status of part-time or full-time. Once a student selects the audit option it will not be possible to revert to a graded option following the add/drop registration period for the course. 

The university reserves the right to cancel courses having insufficient registration and to make changes in the schedule of classes when necessary. Students will be notified of a course cancellation via their Southern e-mail account. A student's enrollment status will be adjusted to either full-time or part-time based on the cancellation. The university also reserves the right to change instructors when necessary.

Graduate courses are numbered 500 -999. See Course Descriptions for the list of courses by subject area that have been offered within the past five years. 

Full-Time Credit Load

To maintain full-time status, students must be admitted to a graduate program and registered for 9-15 semester credit hours.  Normally, a full-time student carries 12 credits each semester and students wishing to take more than 15 credits may request permission from their academic advisor by submitting a Petition for Irregular Schedule, which must also be approved by the Dean. There is an over-registration fee when registering for more than 18 credits (see Tuition and Fees).

Part-Time Credit Load

Part-time students registered in at least 6.75 credits are considered three-quarter time, at least 4.5 credits are half-time time, at least 2.25 credits are quarter time, and less than 2.25 credits are less than quarter time enrolled. Students may change their status through the end of add/drop of the semester based on registered credits, and should consult the Student Accounts Office and Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to discuss the impact of a status change on billed charges and financial aid awards.

Credit Hour Definition

Southern Connecticut State University follows the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) definition of the credit hour defined as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutional established equivalence that reasonably approximates not less than:

• One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of
  credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work
  over a different amount of time; or
• At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships,
  practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
• Our academic year is divided into two semesters, each approximately 16 weeks long, including
  finals week. Standard lecture courses are 3-credit hours and meet for either three 50-minute
  periods or two 75-minute periods per week (or at least 2.5 hours per week and 37.5 hours per semester). Laboratory courses follow a different schedule and may carry more or less credit.

Matriculated students who have completed at least 9 credits of graduate work and have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA ("B") or better are eligible to apply for an independent study with the support of their faculty adviser.  Students who are considering an independent study should first review the policies and guidelines on the Application for Independent Study located on the Graduate School's website.

Students who need to take time off from their studies, with the intention of returning, must submit a Leave of Absence form to remain matriculated at the University. Students may elect to take a leave of absence due to a variety of personal or professional reasons.  A student may consider taking a leave of absence if required course(s) are not being offered or if they are a graduate student completing a comprehensive exam in a later semester and will not be taking any additional coursework. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisor to discuss plans for degree completion.

The leave of absence will be effective upon receipt of the form by the Registrar’s Office, or as indicated by the student if completing the semester, whichever is later.  Leave of absence requests are not retroactive and will not be accepted after the last day of the semester.  Students may take a leave of absence for up to two consecutive semesters (12 months) without the need to reapply for admission when they return (see Readmission Policy). Students who attend another institution while on leave must submit a Transfer Credit Request form and receive prior approval.  Students who fail to return within the approved 12-month time frame will be withdrawn from the University. Graduate students must complete all degree requirements within six years, or seven years for doctoral students, including any periods of leave.

Students who take a leave prior to the end of the 12th week of the semester will receive grades of "W " (Withdrawn); thereafter, students will receive grades as assigned by the instructors.  Tuition and fee charges may be adjusted based on the student's effective date of the leave of absence if it falls within a withdrawal refund period.  Financial Aid recipients should contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, as this change in enrollment status may reduce financial aid awards, which could result in a balance due to the University and/or government.  

Appeal Process

The appeal process offers students the ability to request an adjustment to their effective date of withdrawal due or billed charges for a leave of absence prompted by extraordinary circumstances. Students may file an Appeal to request a review of their circumstances within 30 days following the end of the semester under appeal. Please be advised that submitting this request does not change any current academic or financial responsibilities, though a review associated charges and financial aid will be conducted. Any reduction to charges authorized by the University President, or designee, will be calculated after any grant or scholarship aid retained.

A course may be repeated but credit will only be earned once toward degree requirements, unless specifically noted otherwise in the course description. Grades for all attempted courses are recorded on the student transcript and will be used in determining the cumulative GPA, unless eligible for Grade Replacement. Students should also review Financial Aid Repeated Coursework policy for more information about aid eligibility for repeated courses.

A matriculated graduate student may obtain approval from their Graduate Coordinator to enroll in a maximum of 6 credits of undergraduate coursework at the 300 or 400-level to fulfill requirements towards a master's degree. Undergraduate courses can only be applied to master's degree programs and shall not fulfill requirements for any other graduate program.  Students in a master's degree program must still complete a minimum of 30 credits of graduate level coursework at the 500-level or above, in addition to completing all program specific requirements, to earn their degree.  All courses must fulfill a student’s current program requirements to be eligible for financial aid.

Competency-based waiver exams may be available for graduate students who have the requisite skills and/or prior coursework necessary to waive one or more courses in their programs of study. These exams provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate competencies and receive credit for a particular course requirement. Graduate students seeking a waiver exam are encouraged to contact their department to determine if this option is available, for a particular program, or course.

The following graduate students may be eligible to petition to take a waiver exam:

1. Working professionals with a strong academic and employment background in their field who can demonstrate competency for the waiver of a course requirement in their program of study.
2. Those who have taken relevant coursework more than six (6) years ago that is equivalent to a course requirement in their program of study.

A graduate student who receives a satisfactory grade on a waiver exam as determined by the program, earns three (3) credits or the equivalent credit(s) of the course, and the course is waived from the student's program of study. 

Waiver credits are not considered when calculating a student's GPA. An "EP" is recorded on a student's transcript to indicate credit received through successful completion of a waiver exam.  A waiver exam may be taken only once. The Waiver Exam Fee for a waiver exam is $250.  

Course Withdrawal

Students considering a course withdrawal should confer with their instructor and academic adviser to understand their class standing prior to making this decision. To receive a ‘W’ grade, students must withdraw from courses in Banner Student self-service prior to the end of the 12th week of classes, or for an eight-week course, prior to the end of the 6th week of classes. The withdrawal is effective upon the date submitted. For shorter terms, specific dates, and refund deadlines, please visit the full Academic Calendar. Financial aid recipients should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, as the withdrawn course(s) may reduce financial aid awards, which could result in the student owing funds to the University and/or government.

Course Withdrawal Appeal

If a student experiences extraordinary circumstances that prevented them from withdrawing from a course by the deadline, a Course Withdrawal Appeal may be submitted to the instructor up to the last day of classes. If the instructor has determined a late withdrawal is justified, the instructor must submit the form for approval to the department chairperson.  If the instructor teaching the course is the department chairperson, the Dean for the college or school where the course is offered may approve the withdrawal. In addition, the Dean may also approve any appeals received after the appeal deadline.

University Withdrawal

Students who wish to withdraw from the university without the intention of returning must submit a University Withdrawal form. University Withdrawal will be effective upon receipt of the form or upon the date a student completes withdrawal from all courses.  

Students who withdraw prior to the end of the 12th week of the semester will receive grades of ‘W’; thereafter, students will receive grades as assigned by the instructors.  Tuition and fee charges may be adjusted based on the student's effective date of withdrawal if it falls within a refund period.  Financial Aid recipients should contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, as this change in enrollment status may reduce financial aid awards, which could result in a balance due to the University and/or government, and to discuss loan repayment and exit counseling requirements.

Students who stop attending the university without notification will be withdrawn at the end of the semester and will receive grades as assigned by their instructors.  Financial aid return calculations will be performed as of the midpoint of the semester, or the last reported date of attendance, whichever is later.  Students who do not return the following semester will also be withdrawn from the university. 

University Withdrawal Appeal

The appeal process offers students the ability to request an adjustment to their effective date of withdrawal due or billed charges for a leave of absence prompted by extraordinary circumstances. Students may file an Appeal to request a review of their circumstances within 30 days following the end of the semester under appeal. Please be advised that submitting this request does not change any current academic or financial responsibilities, though a review associated charges and financial aid will be conducted. Any reduction to charges authorized by the University President, or designee, will be calculated after any grant or scholarship aid retained.