Office of Academic Services
Adviser Guide

CPO Box 2205
110 Lincoln Hall
Berea, Kentucky 40404
Phone: 859-985-3208
Fax: 859-985-3918 or 3921

Office Hours:
M–F, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Contact:

Credit Loads
 

Requests for Part-Time Status

All Berea College students are expected to be enrolled full time. To register for or drop below fewer than three (3) course load credits, also referred to as an underload, a degree candidate must have the approval of the Student Admissions and Academic Standing (SAAS) Committee. Ordinarily, part-time status is approved only for debilitating illness, family responsibilities, approved off-campus employment, or for College employees. The financial aid of part-time students may be affected by an underload. Part-time students may not participate in intercollegiate sports. Applications for part-time status are available in the Student Service Center’s Self Serve Room (101 Lincoln Hall) and should be submitted to the Director of Academic Services (110 Lincoln Hall).

Considerations of an Overload

Excessive course loads may contribute to individual stress and poor academic performance, as well as to an institutional problem of numerous withdrawals from courses. Such withdrawals often mean that other students have been unfairly denied space in those classes. Berea’s course load limits are set in order to provide healthy challenges for almost all students; however, some students may desire to take courses in excess of the normal limit. Approval for course overloads may be granted if the student meets certain conditions and if space is available.

Policy for Course Overloads:

The typical course load for Fall and Spring terms is four (4) course credits. No student may pre-register for more than four-and-one-half (4.5) course credits, including Developmental Mathematics. To qualify to carry more than four-and-one-half (4.5) course credits, a student should:

  1. Have an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 or higher.

    This provision does not apply to students who are within two terms of graduation.
  2. Have completed at least four (4) full courses in the immediate preceding term and earned a 3.3 minimum GPA for all courses completed in that term.
  3. Have a consistent record of completing courses, once enrolled.
  4. Have a labor assignment of no more than ten (10) hours per week for first-year students or fifteen (15) hours per week for upper-classification students, during the term in which a course overload is taken.
  5. Request a total load of no more than five (5) course credits.

Procedure for Requesting a Course Overload:

  1. The student obtains the overload Course Registration form from the Student Service Center’s Self-Serve Room in Lincoln Hall (Room 101) or the Office of Academic Services (110 Lincoln Hall).
  2. The student confers with her/his Academic Adviser. If the Adviser approves the overload, she/he signs the overload section of the form, which has been completed by the student.
  3. If the Adviser has approved the overload, the student presents the signed registration form to the Office of Academic Services prior to the date of Registration at the beginning of the term.
  4. If the Adviser approves the overload, the Office of Academic Services will add the course after the period of BONd registration has ended at the beginning of the term. However, if the class has closed by this time, the student would not be admitted without instructor approval.

Notes:

  1. If the student does not meet policy guidelines 1-5 above, s/he must present a petition to her/his Adviser. The petition must explain the rationale for the overload, as well as show evidence that the student will be able to carry the overload successfully. This petition must be signed by the Adviser and presented to the Director of Academic Services along with the completed overload drop-add form and the Student Course Overload Application, as in procedural step 3 above.
  2. If the overload request is approved, the course will be added by Academic Services at the end of the Registration period at the beginning of the term, or through the deadlines for adding a course. Students proposing overloads should attend the first class meeting of any course for which they wish to register.

Course Load and Athletic Eligibility Certification

Students who wish to compete in intercollegiate athletics must meet NAIA eligibility requirements, including the NAIA’s definition of full-time status for their current and previous regular terms at the time they are being certified. Students requiring Developmental Mathematics must ALSO enroll in a minimum of three (3) earned credits during a regular term. If you have questions about athletic eligibility, please contact Connie Gardner in the Office of Academic Services, at 985-3209 or by e-mail at .

The responsibility for certifying athletic eligibility in 2008-2009 may be performed by someone else, but Connie Gardner will be able to direct you to that person in that case.