Enrollment Regulations

Eight Term Rule

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within four academic years, or eight regular terms—including transfer terms for transfer students, terms abroad, off-campus field studies, internships, and the addition of one or more minors or additional majors, if any. Failure to follow the approved Curriculum Plan submitted as part of the Declaration of Primary Major process does not constitute a valid reason for needing an extension of terms. Students who, for good reason, are unable to complete degree requirements within eight regular terms may submit a Request for an Extension of Terms form, which includes a revised Curriculum Plan, and an accompanying letter to the Office of Academic Services. Requests for a one- or two-term extension not approved by Academic Services may be appealed to the Student Admissions and Academic Standing (SAAS) Committee. All requests for more than 10 terms of attendance are reviewed by the SAAS Committee.

Student Classification

Student classification is determined as follows:

Student Categories

Full-time Student

A student must register for at least a total of three (3) load credits during a regular term to be considered full-time. To maintain Progress Toward Graduation, the typical course load for Fall and Spring terms is four credits. No student may pre-register for more than four and one-half load credits without obtaining approval from his or her academic adviser for an overload. Approval also is required for fewer than a total of three load credits, which is an underload. (See Part-time Student, to follow, for more information on underloads.)
To qualify for an overload, a student should:

1. Have an overall 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 full course credits in the immediate preceding term and earned a minimum 3.3 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 10 hours per week for first-year students, or 15 hours per week for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, during the term in which a course overload is requested.
5. Request a total load of no more than five courses.
6. Have the approval signature of the academic adviser.

Part-time Student

A student registered for less than a total of three (3) load credits are considered part-time. To register for fewer than three (3) load credits, degree candidates must have permission 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. Part-time students may not participate in intercollegiate sports. (For information on how to request part-time status, see that section in the Student Handbook under Student Rights and Responsibilities.)

Degree Candidate

A student working toward the baccalaureate degree at Berea College. Degree candidates normally are full-time students. Part-time status is approved only in exceptional cases.

Domestic Exchange Student

A student enrolled at Berea full-time for a regular term or Short Term under an exchange agreement with another institution. Exchange students are subject to residence hall requirements for living arrangements.

Non-degree Student

A domestic (including Berea Community High School students, Madison Southern High School students, members of the community, and Berea College employees) or international student taking courses for personal enrichment or for limited educational gain and who is not pursuing a degree from Berea College. The course load of non-degree students may not exceed 2-1/4 per term without permission of the Director of Academic Services. High-school students are limited to two (2) courses per regular term.

No more than six (6) course credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward a Berea College degree. Non-degree students may participate in the College’s Labor Program. Non-degree students are not subject to the same financial restrictions for admission that apply to degree-seeking students; however, such restrictions are applied if the student applies to be a degree candidate. To be eligible to attend Berea as a non-degree student an individual must, at the time of application, reside in Madison, Garrard, Jackson, or Rockcastle counties; be 18 years or older; hold at least a high-school diploma or the equivalent at the time of enrollment; and meet the following additional criteria: High school non-degree students must be a junior or senior enrolled at Berea Community High School or Madison Southern High School, have a 3.0 GPA and the recommendation of the guidance counselor, submit an essay question response, have no outstanding student account balances, and have the concurrence of the Director of Academic Services. Though not competitive by nature, the admissions process for community non-degree students requires that they meet the same minimum standards for admission as a degree seeker—rank in the top 3/5ths of the high-school graduating class (or pass the GED with a total score of at least 2250 and no less than 410 on any of the five individual tests) and score a minimum of 17 on the ACT or 810 on the SAT. Exceptions to the stated criteria will be considered for international students and in cases where the non-degree student (either high school or community) can demonstrate basic proficiency in a discipline closely related to the course(s) of interest. Students who have earned more than 12 or more credit hours at a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 are exempt from the standard admissions criteria.

Berea College graduates or former degree-seeking students who did not complete a degree are eligible to enroll as non-degree students in on-campus courses. Work taken as a non-degree student in these circumstances may not count toward a degree at Berea College.

Regular full-time and part-time Berea College employees, with permission of their supervisor and the Director of People Services, may take one (1) course per term. College employees must be in good standing if they are former Berea College students.

International non-degree students and community non-degree students are not eligible to apply for degree status for three (3) years from the completion of the last term in which courses were taken as a non-degree student. (Berea Community High School and Madison Southern High School students and Berea College employees are exempt from the three-year policy.) Non-degree student applications are available in the Self-Serve Forms room (101 Lincoln Hall).

International Exchange Student

An international student who attends Berea College as a non-degree student for a term or academic year through reciprocal exchange programs. Reciprocal exchange relationships between Berea College and institutions abroad are based on signed agreements that define the conditions of the exchange for the international students attending Berea College through the exchange and for the Berea College students who attend the partner institution abroad. Exchange students are selected by their home institution to participate in the exchange and meet the admission requirements established for international degree students at Berea College including evidence of sufficient proficiency in English to have a successful academic experience at Berea. International Exchange students are enrolled as full-time students at Berea College and transfer credit to their home institutions. Exchange students are required to participate in the College’s Labor Program. Applications for International Exchange Students are provided to the exchange coordinator at their home institution by the Francis and Louise Hutchins Center for International Education.

Transient Students

Students in this category currently are matriculated in a degree program at another college and taking one or more courses at Berea College. Transient students are subject to the same financial restrictions for admission that apply to degree-seeking students. Transient students are restricted to two and one-fourth (2-1/4) credits per term of enrollment, not to exceed three consecutive terms. Students interested in this category should contact the Office of Academic Services.

Auditors

Students who wish to audit a course are permitted to do so with approval of the instructor. Course credit is not earned when auditing. Ordinarily participation courses, i.e., Keyboarding, Art Studio, etc., may not be audited. No transcript record is kept of courses audited.

Domestic and International Exchange Programs

In an effort to further diversify its educational offerings, Berea College has established exchange agreements with a number of other colleges and universities in its region. During the January Short Term, Berea students are allowed to enroll in a class at one of the other institutions on a tuition-exchange basis. Students should consult with the Office of Academic Services for a current list of colleges participating in this program.

Students interested in personally experiencing a culture and learning environment in another country have the opportunity to study abroad through an arrangement with a growing list of universities outside the United States. Students should consult with the Francis and Louise Hutchins Center for International Education for the current list of those universities and the regulations governing the programs.

Credit by Examination

There are three options for receiving credit by examination—College Board Advanced Placement examinations, the College Level Examination Program, and Advanced Standing examinations. Students are encouraged to take advantage of any of these, as is applicable.

No examination or transfer credit can be used to satisfy any of the five core classes within the General Education Program (i.e., GSTR 110, 210, 310, 332, and 410). The Writing Competency Requirement must be met by passing an examination administered by Berea College.

Advanced Placement and College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students may earn credit by examination from Advanced Placement (AP) and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test scores. Students, including transfers, who have taken AP or CLEP examinations should have scores sent to the Office of Academic Services, CPO 2205. Students will receive AP or CLEP credit, as follows or as approved by future Faculty action.

AP & CLEP credit is recorded as transfer credit and does not count in the GPA.

College Board AP Examinations

To receive AP credit, the student must have taken AP courses in high school and must sit for AP examinations at a high school or college, or at a college testing center location.

Credit will be earned as follows:

1. Automatic credit is given for a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the same basis as transfer credit from other colleges;
2. No placement or credit is given for a score of 2 or below.

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

By Faculty action, students will receive credit for CLEP scores at the level determined by the department. The action further provided that, if the department has not established a passing score, the student will receive credit if his or her score is at the mean for national private liberal-arts colleges.

1. Credit is limited to introductory courses; exceptions must be approved by the appropriate Department Chairperson and the Director of Academic Services.
2. Credit is granted at or above a score that correlates to a final course grade of “B,” unless additional departmental requirements have been established.
3. No credit for a subject in which the student is required to take a basic (non-credit) course.
4. No credit after college work has been attempted in the same subject area.

Berea College Advanced Standing Examination

Students may receive credit for most courses at Berea by obtaining an Advanced Standing Examination application form in the Student Service Center’s Self Serve Room (101 Lincoln Hall) and arranging for the examination with the Department Chairperson. Upon the student’s request and the Department Chairperson’s approval, an instructor develops and/or administers an examination. Course credit may be granted by Advanced Standing Examinations administered by the departmental faculty. Portfolios of student accomplishments also may be submitted to help show evidence of skills in a particular field of study. If awarded, the credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript under “Advanced Standing Examination,” with the course name and an assigned grade. A student may not receive credit by Advanced Standing Examination in language courses numbered below the fourth level if the course is in the student’s first language. In addition, Advanced Standing Examinations are not given for any of the five (5) core GSTR courses.

Leaves of Absence

On occasion, students may be well advised to take temporary leave of the College community. Leaves of absence may be granted for a variety of reasons: personal, financial, medical, or family related. Some may be related to travel, educational or vocational goals, or to undertake a work experience that is not possible in Summer or Short terms. Students on leave of absence are withdrawn from the College with automatic readmission at the end of the leave. Leaves of absence may be no longer than one regular term plus a Short Term. Students on any type of probation are not eligible for a leave of absence. Procedures for applying for a leave of absence are described in the Student Handbook. Students who withdraw two times from the College for any reason, including leave of absence, normally would not be readmitted.

College credit earned while on leave is transferable to Berea under the stipulations for transfer credit set forth in the Berea College Catalog. Because students enrolled elsewhere are ineligible for participation in the Berea College Financial Aid Program, any application for student aid must be administered through the other institution.