Records & Registration
Academic Load
Full-Time Students
Students enrolled in twelve (12) semester hours of coursework or more during the fall, winterim, spring, or summer terms are considered full time. The summer term consists of Summer Session I and Summer Session II. The total number of semester hours taken in Summer Session I and Summer Session II determines the enrollment classification for the summer term.
The recommended maximum academic load is:
- Fall or spring semesters: 18 credit hours
- Summer Session I: seven (7) credit hours
- Summer Session II: nine (9) credit hours
- Winterim: seven (7) credit hours
Registration for any additional hours must be approved by Advising & Records.
A petition for an academic overload is required and may be obtained from the Academic, Career, and Transfer Advising Office on the second floor of the Stenstrom Student Center on the Main Campus.
Part-Time Students
Students enrolled in one to eleven (1–11) semester hours of coursework during the fall, spring, or summer terms are considered part time. Students enrolled in fewer than six (6) semester hours during any term are considered less than half time.
Auditing a Class
Students who wish to audit a course without receiving credit must visit the Records and Registration Office. Auditing students pay full Tuition and Fees.
Students should contact the Records and Registration Office to verify any required prerequisites for the course.
Changes may be made from credit to audit, or vice versa, prior to the first day of class. Audits are not allowed for non-credit courses. Students will receive a final grade of “AU.”
Withdrawal from a Class
Rock Valley College reserves the right to administratively withdraw students who are not actively attending or participating in a course, as determined by the instructor. Students may also be withdrawn for emergency or disciplinary reasons or if they are enrolled in courses not consistent with placement testing and course prerequisites.
Students are responsible for officially withdrawing from courses they are no longer attending. These withdrawals do not remove any financial obligations incurred for the course. Withdrawal forms are available by contacting the Records and Registration Office. Course withdrawal is available only through the Records and Registration Office.
Students are encouraged to consult with their instructor, an Academic, Career, or Transfer Advisor, and the Financial Aid Office (if receiving aid) before withdrawing from a course.
Withdrawal after the last day for tuition refunds will result in a “W” grade on the student’s transcript. Deadlines for shorter-term courses are listed on the Rock Valley College Calendar.
Grades of “W” (withdrawal) are not used in calculating GPA or semester hours attempted but do count toward financial aid eligibility. No withdrawals are accepted after the deadline except in cases of extenuating circumstances. Refer to the course syllabus for specific withdrawal deadlines.
Students called to military active duty must contact the Veterans Services Office at (815) 921-4163.
Students with extenuating circumstances (military activation, death of an immediate family member, or serious medical condition) must submit an Enrollment Appeal to the Records and Registration Office by calling (815) 921-4250. Appeal forms are available in the Records and Registration Office. All appeals must include supporting documentation or they will be denied. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval.