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The registration process begins with a conference between students and their advisors. The official registration period for each new semester usually begins in the last month of the previous semester. No student will be registered without the advisor’s online registration approval or signature; nor will any registrations be accepted after the official ending of the registration period without approval of the Office of Academic Affairs.
Summer Enrollment
Mercyhurst University limits the number of credits students may register for during the summer semester. Students who are registered for 6 credits in the summer semester (any combination of summer sessions) are considered fulltime and reported to the National Student Clearing House as such.
Registration Changes
Students may change their schedules during the designated Add/Drop period. All schedule changes processed by the Registrar’s Office must have the signed approval of the student’s faculty advisor.
Course Withdrawal
Students who withdraw from a course after the registration period will receive a grade of ‘W’ for the course. There will be no withdrawal after the published last to withdraw date in any semester. Students need to be aware that withdrawing from one or more courses can affect Satisfactory Academic Progress resulting in the loss of Financial Aid - details are available in the Student Financial Services section of this catalog.
Voluntary Withdrawal (Cease Enrollment) From the University
Students who wish to withdraw officially from the University must complete the cease enrollment form, available from the Office of Academic Affairs. Students may withdraw from the University without grade penalty until the last day of regular classes, but before final exams, in any semester. Tuition refunds will be calculated based on University policy. See TUITION AND FEE REFUND POLICY DUE TO TOTAL WITHDRAWAL for additional details. Students who have officially withdrawn and are in good academic standing may apply to the Office of Admissions for readmission during the next regularly scheduled semester or session.
Exceptions to Regulations/Missed Deadlines
Students who miss deadlines (drop/add, pass/fail, withdrawal, incomplete, etc.) and ask for an exception are required to obtain the written permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. These requests will be kept on file and will become part of the record for future decisions on requests for exceptions. Exceptions to the regulations for serious reasons and waivers on deadlines will only be granted where valid documentation is provided.
Special Registration Considerations
Course Overload
Freshmen are not permitted to take more than 18 credits per semester. Any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the Office of the Academic Affairs. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors need approval from either their academic advisor or academic counselor in order to take more than 18 credits per semester, and the Office of Academic Affairs must approve registration for 21 or more credits per semester. Typically, only students who maintain a 3.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters will be granted permission to take 21 or more credits per semester. Students should also consult with the Student Financial Services Office before attempting to register for more than 18 credits.
Audit
Students who audit a course do so without working for, or expecting to receive, formal university credit. Students may audit undergraduate courses; however, laboratory courses may not be taken as audit. A student may not change the audit course to credit (or a credit course to audit) after the Drop/Add period. Audit will be recorded on student transcripts as AU, which grade carries neither credit nor quality points. Permission of the instructor is required in order to register for the course.
Independent Study
Independent Study courses are reserved for students who have achieved a minimum of 70 credits, who have had substantial experience and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the chosen area of study, and who wish to pursue a specialized topic not offered in the regular program. Students enrolled in Independent Study courses must meet with the sponsoring faculty member at least one-hour weekly during the semester. Students who wish to study independently must first secure the approval of the department directors, their advisors, and faculty sponsors.
A formal plan of study must then be filed with the Office of Academic Affairs for final approval. Independent Study courses are taken only on a Pass-Fail basis unless the course is a major or minor requirement. Special applications for enrolling in Independent Study courses are available in the Office of Academic Affairs. Students cannot register for Independent Study until their applications have been approved.
Tutorial Study
Tutorial study is available only to students who have completed a minimum of 60 credits and cannot enroll in the regularly scheduled course. Tutorial courses differ from Independent Study courses in that they are a part of the regular program and require no more special knowledge than that expected of students enrolled in a regular semester course. Students who enroll in a tutorial course must meet the same requirements as those enrolled in the regular course, except that they must meet with the instructor two hours weekly during the semester. Because there are fewer contact hours with the instructor, students whose Grade Point Average is below 2.5 are not permitted to enroll in tutorial courses.
Permission to enroll in tutorial courses is reserved for students who are completing a program or who are meeting other requirements. It is expected that tutorial courses will not be taken simply as a matter of student convenience or preference. Under most circumstances a student may only enroll in two such courses during their period of matriculation. The application for tutorial study form is available in the Office of Academic Affairs and must be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs once written permission of the department chair, the faculty advisor, and the sponsoring faculty member have been obtained. Tutorial courses are graded on a Pass-Fail basis unless the course is a major or minor requirement. Students may not begin the course work until the tutorial application has been approved and registered.
OCICU
Students who are required to take a course and who are unable to fulfill the requirement with a Mercyhurst offering may be eligible to enroll in a class through the Online Consortium of Independent Colleges and Universities (OCICU). To be eligible, students must have earned a minimum of a 2.5 GPA, have permission from their Academic Counselor, and complete the OCICU course application form. Students can take no more than 1 OCICU course per year without special approval. All major courses must be approved by the Department Chair. The Senior Capstone, ETH 400, may not be taken through OCICU.
Course Examination
The academic calendar of the University provides for final examination periods in each semester. Faculty members are expected to provide an initial evaluation of student progress and notify the Academic Support Office by mid-term for all students in their class. All faculty are expected to give final examinations on the officially designated. examination days. Any deviation from the official schedule must be approved by the department chair and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty members may not give exams early or waive the final exam without the expressed consent of the department chair and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and then only under unusual circumstances.
