Credits

In accordance with accreditor and regulatory guidelines enforced by the Department of Education, students must start and complete all coursework within the published start and end dates of the term of enrollment as defined on the college Academic Calendar. Students may not extend coursework beyond the term, except under the explicit guidelines outlined in the Incomplete Grade Policy. In addition, the college is not permitted to enroll students in over lapping coursework or truncate the required enrollment period for any student, so all students are required to participate in their registered coursework from day 1 of the term through their exam week obligations. Students must enroll for coursework during the term the work is started and completed. This includes all credit-bearing and non-credit bearing, graded and ungraded, senior inquiry, internships, service learning, study away and all modalities and instructional delivery methods. Similarly, transfer credits are awarded according to the maximum credits displayed on an official transcript. See Policies on Awarding Transfer Credit. Credit will not be earned if they fall outside of these parameters. In accordance with these regulations, changes in enrollment for student error must be requested within the same academic year, students may not add coursework from prior academic year. For information on limitations on section registration and seat time see also Registration and Attendance.

Augustana understands that the foundation of our exceptional curriculum is rooted in the relationships developed in the classroom through meaningful dialog between students and faculty. Therefore, in accordance with our accreditation status, Augustana offers no online programs. All courses taught during the academic year are assigned a physical classroom and are taught in a face-to-face modality. However, Augustana students are expected to have regular access to technology and the internet in order to be successful. All Augustana courses will make use of Moodle, our online learning management system. Some courses may only use Moodle to post the syllabus, assignments and grades, while other courses may use it more broadly to engage students with supplemental reading, videos and/or discussion groups. Students should contact the faculty member to learn exactly how online resources and modalities will be used in the class. Starting in the summer 2015, Augustana began offering a few summer-only online courses. These offerings have increased each year, but continue to only be offered in summer session. These courses use Moodle and other course-specific technologies to deliver the course content.

NOTE! In March of 2020, Augustana was granted a temporary exception by the Department of Education and the Higher Learning Commission to offer courses online as a response to the Covid-19 global pandemic. In spring 2020, the second half of the semester (7 weeks) was taught 100% online for all courses. During the 2020-21 academic year approximately 7% of our courses were offered in an online modality and some students elected to be a remote learner for one or two semesters. Augustana cannot validate which courses or students were taught in a remote modality. Please contact the individual student or instructors for this information if it is needed. 

The college defines an enrolled student as an individual enrolled in 1 or more credits during the academic year (fall, J-term, Spring) or in a minimum of one 0 credit experience in the summer. A full-time student carries 12 or more credits per semester. Audit hours do not count toward full-time status, but are included among tuition charges. A part-time student carries fewer than 12 credits per semester.

The following classifications apply to students working toward a degree either full-time or part-time:

• A sophomore has 29 credits
• A junior has 61 credits
• A senior has 91 credits

Students not working toward a degree, such as post-baccalaureate students, are classified as special students.

(Credit Reuse Policy)

Augustana has carefully planned the degree requirements so that it may be completed in four years (eight semesters) if students stay on track and plan accordingly. Full-time tuition for a single academic year covers enrollment in 34 credits (includes credits for two semesters and one January-term in the same academic year.) In order to be considered full-time, students must register for a minimum of 12 credits in a semester. Coursework in J-term does not count toward Fall full-time enrollment status. Students may register for a maximum of one J-term experience per J-term. J-term courses are typically 4 credits, but some experiences may vary.

Students who register full-time (minimum of 12 credits) during the fall semester may register for one J-term course with no additional tuition (additional program or travel fees may apply.) Those credits in J-term are included in the 34 maximum for the year. The following limitations apply to overload fees:

1. Students who have previously enrolled full-time with the college for a minimum of 8 semesters have these limitations based on enrollment with regular full time tuition for a single semester:

• Enroll in Fall only: students have a maximum of 18 credits in fall alone before overload fees apply.
• Enroll in Fall + J: students have a maximum of 20 credits across that period (16 Fall + 4 J) before overload fees apply.
• Enroll in Spring only: students have a maximum of 18 credits in spring alone before overload fees apply.

2. Students who have enrolled in fewer than 8 semesters as a full time student have a maximum of 17 credits across a billing period (FALL: 13 Fall + 4 J or SPRING ONLY: 17 credits) before overload fees apply in their final semester of enrollment. (See also Transfer* below).

3. Any student enrolled part-time in the fall are billed a per-credit rate and are not eligible for J-term. Spring only, part-time students are also billed at the per-credit rate.

4. No students are permitted to begin enrollment in J-term or enroll in only J-term during an academic year. See the J-Term Policies for more information.

*Transfer students have special considerations based on the credits earned prior to enrollment to determine if they have met the 8 semester minimum. Overload fees will be charged for students who exceed these limits. Students may not register only for a J-term course during the academic year. Students must use their annual allotment of credits within the single academic year for which they are paid.

The overload credit reuse deadlines are published on the Academic Calendar for all 14-week and 7-week courses. J-term courses that remain on the schedule after the Add/Drop deadline will apply toward overload. Students who withdraw from coursework by the published deadlines may reuse those credits at a later time during the same academic year. Students who withdraw from a course after the overload credit reuse deadline has passed, have used the college resources to the point that they will not be able to reuse those credits. Private MULS lessons do not count in overload. Students who study away on an international program or with an off-campus program are bound to these same credit limits. While courtesy notifications will be sent to students in overload, it is the responsibility of the student to monitor their enrollment limits, drop courses according to published deadlines and make plans to pay for overload if they exceed the enrollment limitations noted above. Students who are required to take credit-bearing classes to become employed as a campus tutor will not have to pay for overload associated with those credits.

Students should consult the overload/per credit fee on the Schedule of Student Charges and consult the Business Office about payment plans. Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis for enrollment in fewer than 12 credits in any one semester or in more credits than the maximum covered by full-time tuition. Overload fees will be assessed and charged to the student bill during the spring semester. Some zero and .25 credit internships may be exempt from overload fees. See Internship policy for more information.

Students who wish to appeal the overload fees may complete the appeal form on the Office of the Registrar forms web page no later than a week before the published credit reuse deadline. Students should carefully consult the eligibility qualifications for an appeal before completing the appeal form. Appeals of institutional fees from third parties (instructors, advisors, parents, etc.) will not be considered. Please note that unused credits do not carry to summer term or carry over from year to year under any circumstances. 

Students are limited to 18 enrolled credits per semester. Students who wish to enroll in more than 18 credits in a semester should consult the Registration Surplus policy.

updated 5.2.23

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY: While the senior audit, program evaluation, academic support resources, as well as academic guidance from faculty and advisors are all available to every student at no additional cost, these resources are provided for use in planning only. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain an accurate schedule at all times and pay for all tuition and fees associated with their registration in accordance with all published fees and deadlines. Students must report any printed schedule error to the Office of the Registrar within two semesters. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests entirely with the student.

Students are making normal progress toward the Bachelor of Arts degree if they earn at least 29 credits after two semesters, 61 after four semesters, 91 after six semesters, and 120 after 8 semesters of enrollment.

To maintain normal progress toward the degree, students must file a Declaration of Major form after earning 61 credits. These forms are available on the Office of the Registrar forms page. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be restricted from registration at the point when they have earned 61 credits but have not declared a program of study.