Academic Catalog

Undergraduate

POLICY STATEMENT

This policy is to identify and classify enrollment status for a given term. 

REASON FOR THIS POLICY

The minimum credit hours/units required for “full-time” designation for undergraduate students varies, depending on the term and the context.

ENTITIES AFFECTED BY THIS POLICY

• Enrollment Management
• Financial Aid
• Institutional Research and Analysis
• Office of the Registrar
• Student and Departmental Account Services
• Undergraduate students

WHO SHOULD KNOW THIS POLICY

• Enrollment Management
• Financial Aid
• Institutional Research and Analysis
• Office of the Registrar
• Student and Departmental Account Services
• Undergraduate students
• University Advising

DEFINITIONS

Full time status: Designation by the Northern Arizona University in which a student is classified as having minimum enrollment to be a full-time student.

Enrollment limit: A term/semester and/or session has a maximum enrollment limit in which the student information system will permit self-enrollment.

Term Overload: Under certain circumstances a student may receive special approval to enroll in more than the maximum enrollment limit for a term.

POLICY

Full-time status, as stated in this policy, is generally limited to an academic designation and is typically applicable only to academic requirements for the University. Requirements established by lending agencies, government regulations (including those that rule federal financial aid), employing entities, agencies sponsoring educational benefits, and certain insurance policies may utilize criteria that differ from this policy on what constitutes “full-time” enrollment. Students are responsible for knowing these criteria and should contact the proper agency or department (such as the NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid) for questions and clarification on those criteria.

Full-Time Status

Undergraduate students are considered “full-time” during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms/semesters if they are enrolled in 12 credit hours/units during that term. Withdrawing from a course may reduce enrollment status to less than “full-time.” 

In some situations, enrollment in fewer than 12 credits during the Fall, Spring, and Summer, can be considered “full-time” by NAU. These situations include, but are not limited to, undergraduate students participating in an approved or required cooperative educational program as part of their degree remaining. The NAU Registrar’s Office has the authority to approve a “full-time” status designation in these situations, as long as the student’s work satisfies ABOR’s policy criteria for full-time academic credit

Term/Semester Enrollment Limits and Overloads

The maximum number of credit hours/units allowed for self-enrollment by undergraduate students in a standard term-based program is 19 credit hours/units for Fall and Spring terms/semesters, 16 credit hours/units for Summer term, and 4 credit hours/units for Summer pre-session or Winter term.  

The maximum number of credit hours/units for mini-courses, sessions within a term and/ or dynamically dated courses varies depending on the length of the course. Contact the Registrar’s Office to seek the criteria governing overload approvals on these types of courses. 

Approval for a Term Overload

Students may carry a term/semester overload (exceed maximum credit hours/units in a term), if they meet the GPA miminum requirements below.  

• 2.95 cumulative GPA prior to carrying an overload for 20 units
• 3.20 cumulative GPA prior to carrying an overload for 21-23 units.

If a student does not meet the listed GPA requirements, then they must receive approval from their academic advisor and/or other appropriate unit administrator. Overloads above 24 credit hours/units for fall and spring terms/semesters, 17 hours for any summer term, or 5 hours for winter term will not be approved for undergraduate students. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Academic Advisor: Verifies and approves certain term overloads.
• Office of the Registrar: May approve exceptions to the full-time enrollment policy. 
• Students: will be responsible for any increase in tuition or fees related to the override;  Student and Departmental Account Services.

Personalized Learning

Full-time status, as stated in this policy, is generally limited to an academic designation and is typically applicable only to academic requirements for the University. Requirements established by lending agencies, government regulations (including those that rule federal financial aid), employing entities, agencies sponsoring educational benefits, and certain insurance policies may utilize criteria that differ from this policy on what constitutes “full-time” enrollment. Students are responsible for knowing these criteria and should contact the proper agency or department (such as the NAU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid) for questions and clarification on those criteria.

Full-Time Status

Undergraduate students are considered “full-time” during Fall, Spring, and Summer terms/semesters if they are enrolled in 12 credit hours/units during that term. Withdrawing from a course may reduce enrollment status to less than “full-time.” 

In some situations, enrollment in fewer than 12 credits during the Fall, Spring, and Summer, can be considered “full-time” by NAU. These situations include, but are not limited to, undergraduate students participating in an approved or required cooperative educational program as part of their degree remaining. The NAU Registrar’s Office has the authority to approve a “full-time” status designation in these situations, as long as the student’s work satisfies ABOR’s policy criteria for full-time academic credit

Students are not limited in the number of units that may be completed during a subscription and/or term/semester.

PROCEDURES FOR FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATE

To apply for enrollment in an overload, students must submit the appropriate approval form, with the required signatures/approvals, when they enroll. This form is available on the Registrar's website.

Forms or Tools

Any student requesting enrollment in more than the maximum units for a term/session may complete the Unit Overload form.
 

PROCEDURES FOR PERSONALIZED LEARNING

Students may refer to the Statement of Understanding linked to their student dashboard to view enrollment guidelines.