Class Scheduling Recommendations

The guidelines below are to be considered only in relation to your unique learning needs. In some cases, school and curriculum restrictions may prevent schedule changes. Financial Aid and agency sponsorship (E.g. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation) may limit the minimum number of credits per term allowed in order to remain in good standing. It is important that the student be in close contact with the sponsoring agency.

Back–to–back classes:

For students with physical, psychiatric, and/or cognitive processing disabilities, back-to-back classes are not recommended. Breaks between classes will allow the student time to get to the next class and can provide a breather between classes. Breaks between classes can also allow for lecture review from the previous class, or study time for the next class.

Number of credits per semester:

To be considered a full time student, a traditional undergraduate student must carry no less than 12 credits. For first term, it is recommended that the student carry no more than 15 credits. By reducing the number of credits per term, it is assumed that 1) the student will take additional semesters to graduate, and/or 2) the student may need to attend summer classes to keep current.

Financial Aid Implications:

If the student chooses to reduce his or her course load and the student is being sponsored by financial aid or an agency, the student needs to be in contact with those offices before he or she decides to decrease the course load. Decreasing the credit load without communicating with those agencies may put the student at risk for future financial aid assistance.

For non-traditional, College for Professional Studies, or College for Health Care Professions students working full time and/or taking accelerated coursework (five and eight week courses) it may be wise to consider a part time course load the first term in order to determine how to balance the fast pace of accelerated courses with life away from the classroom.

Balance of courses each term:

If the student has a cognitive disability (e.g. learning disability and/or Attention Deficit Disorder), he/she may want to adjust his or her course schedule to balance out reading intensive courses with writing or math intensive courses. Success, not frustration, should be the student’s goal.

Incompletes or withdrawal from classes:

Students with disabilities who withdraw from classes or ask for incompletes from their professors at the end of a term are treated the same as any student requesting the same. It is recommended that the student review the policy for withdrawals and incompletes for the School in which he or she is enrolled in.

Top of Page Printer Friendly Page