Registration: Policies and Procedures

Registration: Policies and Procedures

Registration: Registration for new students is held during the first five days of semester. Returning students typically preregister near the end of each semester for the following semester. Students who decide not to attend a term for which they have registered must drop their classes for that term to avoid having grades of “F” recorded for those classes.

Late Registration: A late fee and approval by the registrar are required for late registration. The deadline for late registration varies according to the term:

• 16 week term: Third Monday of the term
• 8 week term: Second day of the term
• 6 week term: Second day of the term
• 4 week term: Second day of the term
• 2 week term: Second day of the term

Academic Advising: Faculty members serve as academic advisers and should be consulted about all course schedules.

Degree Audit Requirements: When a graduate student is within 9 hours of degree completion, he or she is required to submit an official degree audit to the Office of the Registrar. The official audit must include the signature of the student, adviser and registrar. Students who do not submit the official degree audit within 9 hours of program completion will have a hold placed on their registration account until the document is received.

When students apply for graduation, which should occur prior to the beginning of the final term, the student should meet with the adviser to complete and sign the graduation audit. Signatures of the student, adviser, and registrar should be obtained, and the student should submit the signed graduation audit and the application for graduation to the Office of the Registrar. The signed graduation audit will be used by the Registrar as a checklist to assist with the verification of the student’s graduation requirements. Lack of knowledge or incorrect interpretation of University policies and regulations does not remove the student from the obligation to satisfy all requirements for a degree. The student bears the ultimate responsibility for completing a degree program.

Information on how to generate a degree audit may be found at www.harding.edu/registrar.

Adding Classes: During the first three days of classes in the traditional fall and spring semesters, students may make changes to their schedules with no fee charged. However, if a student wants to add a class after the first three days of classes, he or she must submit to the registrar a Drop/Add Notice signed by the instructor. For nontraditional terms, see listing above under “Late Registration.”

For both currently enrolled and new students, the final day to add a class is the last day of registration for the term; no class can be added following the close of registration for any term.

Withdrawal from Classes: During the first three days of classes in the traditional fall and spring semesters, students may make changes to their schedules with no fee charged. However, if a student wants to drop a class after the first three days of classes, he or she must submit to the registrar a Drop/Add Notice signed by the instructor. In such a case a prorated refund will be made according to an established refund schedule that takes into account the particular characteristics of each course. (See “Refunds,” below.)

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that withdrawals are submitted in a timely manner. Any class dropped without official University approval is recorded as a grade of “F,” and the failing grade counts in the student’s GPA and will subject the student to a return of federal financial aid. A student considering dropping a class should contact the Financial Aid office to determine the impact of such a decision.

The last day to drop a class is determined by the term:

• 16 week term: Friday of the thirteenth week
• 8 week term: Friday of the sixth week
• 6 week term: Wednesday of the fifth week
• 4 week term: Friday of the third week
• 2 week term: Wednesday of the second week

Refunds: Students are granted admission with the understanding that they are to remain for a full term. A student who enrolls in a class but does not attend or stops attending and does not officially withdraw may not receive a refund.

An official withdrawal from the University begins with the respective graduate office. Please note that the Business Office manages the refund policy, not the individual programs. A prorated refund will be made according to an established refund schedule that takes into account the particular characteristics of each course (traditional, online, nontraditional term, etc.) Please contact the Business Office for more information.