Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the minimum number of credit hours to be full time?

• What are the student classifications?

• What are the graduation requirements?

• What are the qualifications to be in good academic standing?

• How can I apply for an overload of courses?

• What are the guidelines for transfer of courses?

• Can I repeat a course to increase my GPA?

• How many courses can I repeat?

• How do I add or drop a course?

• What is the withdrawal policy?

• How do I change my major and/or my advisor?

• How can I take a directed study course?

• Can a traditional day student take an evening class?

• What must I do to graduate?

• Is there a recommended course sequence?

• Where can I get a copy of my course schedule or transcript?

• How do I obtain my student financial information?

·  What is the minimum number of credit hours to be full time?

Undergraduate students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours a semester to be full time (and no more than 21 credit hours).  If enrollment in less than 12 credit hours, it can impact financial aid and athletics participation.

Graduate students must carry a minimum of 9 credit hours to be full-time.

·  What are the student classifications?

Classification as freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior depends upon credit hours completed:

·  What are the graduation requirements?

Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 128 credits with the last 32 earned at Lenoir-Rhyne College.  Students transferring from 2-year institutions must complete a minimum of 64 credits with at least one-half of the major requirements at Lenoir-Rhyne College.  Students transferring from a 4-year institution must complete a minimum of 12 credits in the major and the last 32 credits at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

Graduate students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, but some programs require more.

· What are the qualifications to be in good academic standing?

Undergraduate students who fail to meet the following established academic criteria may be placed on academic probation or suspension and could lose eligibility for financial aid.  

·  How can I apply for an overload of courses?

Undergraduate students must complete the Petition for Overload Form available in the Registrar's Office or printed from the Forms page to enroll in more credit hours than normally are recommended. The Fall and Spring semester overload limits (totals include mini-terms) are:

·  What are the guidelines for transfer of courses?

For undergraduate students:
Credit from an accredited junior or community college is limited to a maximum of 64 semester or 96 quarter hours.  A maximum of 96 semester hours may be transferred from all institutions. Only course credit hours transfer, not the grades.  The grade point average for transfer students is calculated on work attempted at Lenoir-Rhyne College only.  Students already enrolled in the College should request permission from the Registrar prior to taking a course at another institution to ensure transferability.  The last 32 semester hours of course work must be completed at Lenoir-Rhyne College.

For graduate students:
The maximum amount a graduate students may transfer is 6 credit hours.

·  Can I repeat a course to increase my GPA?

Undergraduate students may retake courses in which grades if "D" or "F" were earned.  The most effective way to increase a grade point average is to retake failed courses.  When a course is repeated, the grade received on the second attempt is used for grade substitution.  Permission from the Executive Vice President & Dean is required to repeat a course with a grade of “C” or better.

Graduate students may repeat courses in which "F" grades were earned.

·  How many courses can I repeat?

An undergraduate student may repeat 18 credits for grade substitution.  If a student repeats more than 18 credits hours, only the first 18 credits will be considered for grade substitution and the remainder will be computed in the grade point average.

Graduate students may repeat no more than 6 credit hours.

·  How do I add or drop a course?

Add/Drop Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office or can be printed from the Forms page.  Students may add or drop a course during the first five calendar days of each term with advisor approval.  Students in courses that meet only once per week may add or drop a course during the first two weeks for a term.  A course that is dropped during this period will not be listed on the transcript.

· What is the withdrawal policy?

Students may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period and before mid-term or mid-semester with advisor approval.  Use the Add/Drop Form (see above) for the withdrawal.  A withdrawn course will be listed on your transcript with a grade of ‘W’.

A student may not withdraw from a course after mid-term except under extenuating circumstances.  Withdrawing from a course at this time requires approval of the student’s advisor and the Registrar. Forms to withdraw after the mid-term are available from the Director of Student Retention & Success in the Admissions Office or the Registrar in Lineberger.  The course instructor will assign a grade of ‘WP’ or ‘WF’ based on the student’s performance to date.  A grade of ‘WP’ will not count in calculating the GPA, however a ‘WF’ will count the same as an ‘F’ in calculating the GPA.

Withdrawal from the College involves dropping all courses, and the above policy applies to each individual course.

·  How do I change my major and/or my advisor?

Forms to change a major or an advisor are available in the Registrar’s Office or can be printed from the Forms page.  The student should begin this process with their current advisor or School Chair.  If you do not know your advisor, contact the Registrar’s Office.

·  How can I take a directed study course?

A directed study course is individual instruction of a course that is part of the regular curriculum.  Directed study courses are generally not encouraged except under extenuating circumstances.  Juniors and seniors must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0, and a graduate student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.  A student may register for only one directed study course per term.  Forms to request a directed study course are available in the Registrar’s Office or can be printed from the Forms page.  Registration for a directed study course must be completed by the end of the add/drop period.

·  Can a traditional day student take an evening class?

Although not encouraged to do so, day students may take evening courses in a space available basis.

·  What must I do to graduate?

All student must apply for graduation.  An Application for Degree card is available in the Registrar’s Office or can be printed from the Forms page.  Students are encouraged to complete the card at least a year before graduation.  Your application for graduation will initiate an audit of your academic record to check that all academic requirements are met.  This information will put you on the graduation list and on a mailing list for all graduation information.

·  Is there a recommended course sequence?

Generally courses numbered 100 and 200 are for freshman & sophomores.  Courses numbered 300 & 400 are for juniors & seniors and in most cases have prerequisites.  Courses numbered 500 & 600 are graduate level courses.  

Many programs have recommended course sequences for students to follow.  See you advisor for this information.

·  Where can I get a copy of my course schedule or transcript?

Student schedules and transcripts are available in the Registrar’s Office.  See " How to Request a Transcript" on the Request a Transcript page. 

·  How do I obtain my student financial information?

Student bills may be obtained from the Office of Student Accounts located in the Admissions House.  

Students should contact the Financial Aid Office about grants, loans, and other ways of paying for schooling.