Registration and Credits

Academic Regulations

Academic Year

Semesters

Each semester generally consists of 72 class days and four days of final examinations. Fall semester meets during the months of August, September, October, November and December; spring semester meets during January, February, March, April and May.

Class periods scheduled for Monday-Wednesday-Friday meetings are ordinarily 55 minutes long and class periods scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday meetings are ordinarily 80 minutes long. There are 15 minute intervals between class periods and start/end times are staggered between the two campuses to facilitate travel time to the other campus. Some classes may be scheduled for longer periods of time. An official class schedule is published before each term indicating the instructor, time and place of meeting for each course being offered.

Normal course load

Usually four 4-credit courses are taken each semester. A variation in this pattern may occur if students register for programs which combine 4-credit courses with some 1-, 2-or 3-credit courses. Course loads which exceed 18 credits in a semester incur additional tuition cost. Students whose cumulative GPA is below 2.00 may not register for more than 18 credits in a semester. Students in good academic standing may register for 19 credits. Permission of the Academic Advising Office is required for loads in excess of 19 credits.

The minimum load for full-time or "in-residence" classification is 12 credits per semester. However, the Minnesota Grant Program requires 15 credits per semester to be considered full time.

Registration

Registration materials are distributed to eligible students during the preceding semester. In order to register for courses students must have settled their accounts with the college, comply with Minnesota immunization regulations, and have an approved academic advisor. Juniors, seniors and second-semester sophomores must also have been accepted to upper division by a department to be eligible to register.

During the registration period, each student meets with a faculty advisor to discuss educational goals and determine appropriate course selection.  Once the meeting is complete, the advisor releases the student's registration PIN so that the student may register though the online system. Course registration for new students is completed by academic advisors who select appropriate schedules based on student interests and needs

Detailed procedures and regulations governing a change of registration are described in the official class schedule.