Graduate Academic Regulations and Procedures

Office of the University Registrar

University Registrar: Kimberly A. Barber; Associate Registrars: Jeremy Johnson, Robin Queen, Taylor Gomez

Location: A3900 University Center; phone: (850) 644-1050; e-mail: registrar@fsu.edu; Web: https://registrar.fsu.edu

The Office of the University Registrar is the official custodian of permanent academic records of all past and currently enrolled students at Florida State University. It is responsible for assisting departments and students with registration activities; maintaining student and departmental records for the term in progress; posting FSU credit, transfer credit, and grade changes; preparing FSU transcripts; scheduling academic space; maintaining and updating curricula; certifying eligibility to receive credit for Credit by Examination; certifying attendance for loan purposes; implementing and monitoring academic regulations; certifying eligibility to graduate; and providing services and information to students, faculty, and administration. Reports and certifications of attendance and grade point average are made to governmental agencies, such as the Veterans' Administration, with the student's permission.

Students should consult this office with questions concerning registration, locations and meeting times of courses, errors in registration records, dropping and adding courses, cancellation of registration, grade problems, application for graduation, and degree or enrollment verification.

All changes in permanent and local addresses, name, social security number, and residency should be made online or reported to this office immediately.

Persons with Disabilities. Any student in need of specific services and reasonable accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services, 108 Student Services Building, (850) 644-9566, or visit https://dsst.fsu.edu/oas/.

FloridaShines Information

All current and prospective students of higher education in the state of Florida can access the FloridaShines website, and FSU students can do so by logging in at https://www.floridashines.org using their University FSUID and password. At the site, you can perform a variety of tasks including the following:

view a map showing the location of every participating college or university
search course catalogs from all public and many private Florida colleges and universities
obtain answers to questions about financial aid
plan your course of study and compare majors and degree requirements
obtain a copy of your unofficial transcript
investigate career options through your institution's career center
learn general information about every participating college or university in the program

Student Catalog-Year

The General Bulletin (matriculation catalog) governs each student's graduation requirements. This catalog remains in effect for six years for the bachelor's degree unless the student elects to meet the requirement of any subsequent General Bulletin published during the period of enrollment.

The Registration Guide and Class Schedules

FSU's Office of the University Registrar publishes the Registration Guide, which contains a list of all registration deadlines, fee and payment information, and important announcements specific to the semester. This information is published online at https://registrar.fsu.edu.

Lists of class offerings, meeting times, locations, and instructors (when known) are available 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year online through the Class Search; however, the Class Search is only available to newly admitted and current students through the myFSU portal (https://my.fsu.edu).

Anyone else can access weekly “snapshots” of the class schedule as well as archival PDF listings of classes for the years spanning 2013 to the present at https://registrar.fsu.edu/class_search.

Types of Credit

Transfer Credit

The University accepts transfer credit from all nationally accredited institutions (or comparable institutions with certain limitations depending on the type of degree being pursued. See the “Graduate Degree Requirements” section of the Graduate Bulletin for details.

Supervised Research and Teaching

A student's department may grant credit for supervised research and supervised teaching. A student may register for such credit in more than one term, using the same numbers and, again at the option of the department, may count the hours toward meeting residency requirements for the degree program. No more than three credit hours of supervised research credit and three credit hours of supervised teaching credit may be counted toward the master's degree. The limit for candidates for doctoral degrees is five credit hours in each category.

Credit for Short Courses

Short courses are not regular curricular offerings, and credit is not given for any short course or any similar program in excess of the equivalent of one credit hour for each week of the program (provided that each week contains the equivalent of 15 contact hours). In no case shall credit be given for any short course (or similar institutional program) whose duration is less than two full weeks.

Individual Study Courses

A student registered for an individual study course must attend at least one conference a week on the campus. Directed individual studies are not permitted during an intersession period. The academic department determines if graduate-level directed individual study (DIS) is for S/U or letter-grade credit.

Academic Careers and Academic Levels

An “academic career” is composed of a student's status as degree-seeking or non-degree-seeking, plus the type and academic level of the degree being pursued.

The undergraduate academic level is calculated based on semester hours.
Where a student is non-degree-seeking, the academic career depends on the student's current degree status.
Students with a career of Law or Medicine are classified based on their year within the program.
Graduate students and various non-degree seeking students do not have specific academic levels or classification.

The University recognizes six academic careers: four degree-seeking and two non-degree-seeking. Rarely, a student may be simultaneously active in more than one career, subject to the academic policies and requirements of each career and the degree requirements.

Degree-Seeking Careers

Undergraduate: The Undergraduate academic career applies to students pursuing any type of baccalaureate degree.
Graduate: The Graduate academic career applies to students pursuing any type of master's degree, specialist degree, or doctorate degree, except the juris master, master of law letters, juris doctorate, or doctor of medicine degrees.
Law: The Law academic career applies to students pursuing the juris doctorate (JD) degree, juris master (JM), or master of laws (LLM).
Medicine: The Medicine academic career applies to students pursuing the doctor of medicine (MD) degree.

Non-Degree-Seeking Careers

Non-Degree without Baccalaureate: This academic career applies to students without a baccalaureate degree.
Non-Degree with Baccalaureate (post-baccalaureate): This academic career applies to students who have previously earned, at a minimum, one baccalaureate degree or higher-level degree.

Note to Graduate Students Only: Students with Law or Medicine careers are classified based on their program year (first, second, etc.). Graduate students and various non-degree students do not have specific academic levels or classifications.

Academic Levels

The University may record a student's advancement toward degree completion by tracking their academic level, which is calculated based on the number of hours the student has earned. Academic levels with their hour requirements are:

First-Year Student: zero through 29 credit hours
Sophomore: 30 credit hours
Junior: 60 credit hours
Senior: 90 credit hours
Post-Baccalaureate: previously earned bachelor's degree
Graduate: admitted to a graduate program
Law (JD degree): first through third year of program
Medicine (MD degree): first through fourth year of program
Non-Degree Seeking without Baccalaureate Degree
Non-Degree Seeking with Baccalaureate Degree
Transient Students
High School Students

Reclassification of Non-Degree-Seeking Student to Degree-Seeking Status

Non-degree-seeking students who want to change to degree-seeking-student status must apply for admission through the Office of Admissions. Refer to the “Admissions” chapter of this Graduate Bulletin for admission procedures and deadline dates.

Work taken as a non-degree-seeking student carries no degree credit. If the work is taken within the time limits prescribed by the degree program and approved by the department chair and dean at the time of formal admission or later, up to 12 hours of graduate-level credit with a grade of “B” or better in each course may count toward the degree, provided the student qualifies for admission to a graduate degree program.

Degree-Seeking Status at Two Separate Institutions

Under certain circumstances students may wish to pursue degrees at Florida State University and another institution simultaneously. In all cases students in this situation must consult their Florida State University academic advisor and academic dean to request approval in advance. If approval is granted, students may enroll at Florida State University and another institution under the following conditions:

Students are responsible for complying with all rules, regulations, and policies of both institutions, including but not limited to admission standards; academic rules; residency; fees; graduation requirements; university, college, and departmental deadlines; and student codes of conduct. Florida State University is under no obligation to waive or otherwise modify any policies, requirements, or deadlines to facilitate the student's enrollment at another institution.
Enrollment certification and degree verification issued by Florida State University will be based solely on current registration hours with Florida State University and any awards, honors, or degrees posted by Florida State University. The University will not combine enrollment or degree verification with another institution.
Students receiving financial aid must designate one institution as the primary institution for financial aid distribution. The primary institution will be responsible for monitoring awards and delivery of financial aid. Florida State University will not combine enrollment hours with another institution for financial aid purposes.
Students who are planning to transfer courses to Florida State University should seek advising in advance of doing so. The University limits the number of transfer hours a student may bring in depending on the type of degree and program. Hours used to satisfy a previous degree, either at Florida State or another institution, cannot be counted toward the current degree the student is pursuing.
Note: Different conditions, rules, and policies may apply if Florida State University has an approved consortia or cooperative agreement with the second institution. Students should be aware that approval by Florida State University to pursue degrees at Florida State and another institution in no way binds the other institution to a similar approval. Students are encouraged to consult with the second institution about its policies before enrolling in any courses.

Prior to Registration

Academic Advisement and Registration Responsibility

All degree-seeking students are expected to participate in academic advising before registering for classes each semester. Students should check their FSU email regularly, as that is the main mode of communication advisors use to contact their students.

Students are responsible for meeting prerequisites and co-requisites for each course in which they are enrolled. Students who do not meet course prerequisites and co-requisites may be dropped by the academic department. Students are also responsible for any changes made to their schedule without an advisor's approval through the drop/add process. All permits such as underloads, overloads (see the “Student Course Load” section of this chapter), graduate class requests while an undergraduate, DIS, modified credit, and S/U grading should be discussed with an academic advisor. All such permits must then be approved by the student's academic dean. The student is responsible for ensuring that the Office of the University Registrar has copies of these permits on file.

Students may attend and receive credit only for those classes in which they are properly registered. Likewise, students will be held responsible for every class for which they register unless they officially drop the class or cancel registration.

Those students who register during late registration (normally the first four days of classes) will be assessed a $100.00 late registration fee.

Approval of Directed Individual Study Courses

Students may enroll in courses directed by an instructor for individual study of a particular area. Individual academic departments or programs determine directed individual study policies for students taking directed individual study courses in that department or program. The directed individual study course title must be approved in writing by the instructor offering the course and the departmental chair, or representative, and is posted on the student's record.

Guidelines for Field Placement Fitness

These guidelines apply to all student field-placements, including internships, practicum experiences, and student teaching. The University has the authority to determine both the fitness of its students to be placed in field placements and the suitability of particular field placement sites. The academic judgment of qualified faculty, on issues relevant to the professional requirements of a given field, is critical to this process.

Students may either be denied a field placement or removed from a placement on the basis of the academic judgment of qualified faculty. Students have the right to be informed of the academic and non-academic requirements for obtaining a field placement early in their majors. They also have the right, except in emergency cases, to receive notice of their deficiencies and an opportunity to correct those deficiencies prior to a final decision. Students should consult the information provided by each specific college, department, or academic program of interest for more detailed information.

Health Requirements

Health-Insurance

All full-time students at Florida State University must show proof of health insurance coverage. Additionally, all non-United States citizens in F or J status, regardless of their credit load, are required to show proof of health insurance as a condition of their admission to the University. You may elect the student health insurance plan or waive the insurance requirement by providing proof of comparable coverage through the student-insurance website at http://studentinsurance.fsu.edu. When the insurance waiver is successfully completed, it remains in effect for three semesters. Students who purchase semester-only policies will be required to elect or waive coverage at the end of the semester in which their policy expires.

If no action is taken, the student will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Policy and the premium will be added to their student account.

Students seeking degrees in majors where they are exposed to hazards associated with the major are required to carry health and accident insurance prior to registration every Fall.

Note: The insurance purchase clears the student for the length of the coverage purchased. You can purchase insurance for annual coverage, for Fall-term only, or for the Spring/Summer terms. No Spring-only coverage option is offered. Summer-only coverage is offered for full-time students taking classes during the Summer term.

Immunization

The State Board of Education requires all entering students born on or after 1/1/1957 to complete Florida State University's Student Immunization Record and show documented proof of immunization against measles (rubeola), German measles (rubella), and mumps prior to registration.

College-age individuals living in residence halls, shared apartments, and other group housing are at an increased risk for developing meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B—serious infections that can have devastating consequences. State of Florida law mandates that all University students be informed of the risks of infection. Students currently enrolled must either be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B or sign a waiver stating that they have declined to receive the vaccine.

All students are required to show proof of two MMRs, meningococcal meningitis, and hepatitis B vaccinations before they are permitted to register for classes. Information about these vaccinations may be obtained at University Health Services or online at https://studentinsurance.fsu.edu/ under the Immunization Requirements tab.

All main campus students are required to complete and submit the Student Immunization Record to University Health Services before registration. Students born before 1/1/1957 must complete the form and decline the meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B vaccines. The form with its specific instructions is available at http://studentinsurance.fsu.edu. Please call (850) 644-3608 if you need assistance.

Health Insurance Questions

Questions about basic health insurance coverage or purchasing school-sponsored health insurance can be addressed to the Health Compliance Office at healthcompliance@fsu.edu or (850) 644-3608. Questions about specific benefits included in the school-sponsored health insurance should be addressed directly to United HealthCare Student Resources, the University's health insurance carrier, at (800) 767-0700. Billing questions for services rendered at University Health Services should be addressed to the billing office at (850) 644-1640. The plan brochures and summaries of coverage and benefits for the student health plans are posted on the United HealthCare website (http://uhcsr.com/fsu). Contact the FSU Athletics department at (850) 645-2700 for more information for insurance for athletes. The student health plan does cover cheerleaders and members of the Golden Girls as sports club members.

Students insured by other carriers should contact their carriers for policy limitations and special requirements.

Registration

During each academic term, an official registration window is established for all currently enrolled, degree-seeking students who expect to enroll for the following term. Graduate students registering for their first term should consult with the departmental/program advisor prior to registering for classes. Please note that by registering, students accept both fee and grade liability.

Students are advised to organize their materials and plan their schedule before attempting to register online. Class listings for an upcoming term will be available one-to-two weeks prior to the first enrollment appointment for that term. Students must contact the appropriate departmental office for any clearances or authorization needed. Individual instructors should be contacted for courses requiring instructor permission. It is important to take care of any academic or administrative hold (stop) before attempting to register.

Student Course Load

Recipients of stipends from the University, whether holders of fellowships or assistantships, must be full-time students as defined below. Non-degree-seeking students are not required to obtain underload permission. The University reserves the right to determine full-time status based on course and/or research load and stage of degree completion.

Graduate assistantship holders of appointments that combine to a quarter-time or greater than nine credit hours per term is defined as a full-time load for those university policies that require a student to be considered full-time. Academic deans or designees may grant exceptions to this policy for teaching assistants in those departments which conform to national course load policies in their disciplines.

For graduate students receiving a university or externally funded fellowship as defined by the Office for Graduate Fellowships and Awards, nine credit hours per semester constitutes a full-time load.

A graduate student may not carry more than 15 credit hours without obtaining permission. A heavier load may be permitted by the student's academic dean or designee. Graduate credit hours outside of formal coursework (such as thesis or dissertation credit hours, directed individual study (DIS) credit hours, and hours spent in supervised research and/or teaching) are included in student-load calculation.

Students who wish to register for fewer than nine credit hours per term must initiate the request, have it approved by the student's faculty advisor, and it may require written approval from their academic dean or designee prior to registration. Guidelines for dean's level approval vary by college and are available at respective Dean's Offices. An approved Tuition Underload Form may be needed, when applicable.

Enrollment designation of full-time or half-time is a key element in determining eligibility for Financial Aid awards. Financial Aid eligibility is determined by the requirements set forth by the type of loan, scholarship, grant, fellowship, etc. and may require a student to enroll in more than nine hours to meet the eligibility requirement for full-time enrollment. To be eligible to receive Financial Aid, all graduate students must be enrolled for at least six credit hours per semester. To maintain eligibility for financial aid (federal, state, or institutional), students must be enrolled at least half-time. For financial aid purposes, graduate students at FSU must be enrolled for a minimum of six credit hours each semester to be eligible for financial aid.

Standard Full-Time Load and Underload Definitions

The standard full-time load for graduate students for certification purposes is nine credit hours per term unless otherwise noted.

Some departments may permit students to register for less than full-time enrollment, also called an underload. This part-time underload registration may consist of individualized graduate credit hours and must be initiated by the student, approved by the student's faculty advisor, and may require approval by the academic dean or designee. Guidelines for dean's level approval by college and are available at respective Dean's Offices. An approved Tuition Underload Form may be needed, when applicable.

Graduate Student Enrollment

Master's Students

Master's students completing a coursework-only program need to meet full-time or minimum enrollment requirements as described above. Master's students on the thesis- or project-track must complete a minimum of six thesis or project hours for the master's degree. They need not be enrolled in thesis or project hours continuously after completing six thesis or project hours if they meet the minimum university requirement for full-time enrollment through other coursework. Master's students may be able to register for the University minimum enrollment of two credit hours per semester. The decision to register for two credits must be initiated by the student, approved by the student's faculty advisor, and may require approval by the academic dean of designee. Guidelines for dean's approval vary by college and are available at respective Dean's Offices. An approved Tuition Underload Form may be needed, when applicable. Before registering, the student must consult with the major professor as to the proportion of time to be devoted to thesis or project work. A master's student must be enrolled in a minimum of two thesis or project hours in the semester of graduation.

Doctoral Students

After completing the required coursework, passing the Preliminary Examination, submitting an Admission to Candidacy to the Office of the Registrar, and continuing to use campus facilities and/or receiving faculty supervision, but not yet having been cleared by the Manuscript Clearance Office, a full-time doctoral student shall register for a minimum of two credit hours of dissertation (or treatise hours for College of Music doctoral students) per semester, including Summer term, plus additional credit hours adding up to the required full-time load, until completion of the degree. A doctoral student also must be enrolled in a minimum of two hours of dissertation (or treatise hours for College of Music doctoral students) in the semester of graduation as part of any full-time load or underload.

Some students may be eligible to register for an underload. Such an underload may consist of two credit hours of dissertation (or treatise hours for College of Music doctoral students) per semester (or term) until completion of degree, plus any additional credit hours deemed necessary by the student's major professor, adding up to less than a full-time load. Such an underload constitutes minimum enrollment on a part-time basis and does not equate to full-time enrollment. Underload requests must be initiated by the student, approved by the student's faculty advisor, and may require approval by the academic dean or designee. Guidelines for dean's level approval vary by college and are available at respective Dean's Offices. An approved Tuition Underload Form may be needed, when applicable. Before registering for dissertation hours (or treatise hours for College of Music doctoral students), the student must consult the major professor as to the proportion of time to be devoted to dissertation work.

F-1 and J-1 International Graduate Students

The “Standard Full-Time Load and Underload Definitions” and the “Doctoral Students” sections above do not apply to F-1 and J-1 students, except where specified. F-1 or J-1 international students meet federal enrollment requirements with enrollment in a minimum of nine credit hours in the fall and spring semesters while completing required course work and the university's required minimum number of thesis (6), project (6), or dissertation (24) credit hours. After completion of required course work and the required minimum number of thesis, project, or dissertation credit hours, F-1 or J-1 graduate students may be able to register for the University minimum enrollment requirement of two credit hours per semester until completion of degree after consulting with the academic advisor or the major professor as to the proportion of time to be devoted to thesis, project, or dissertation work. For F-1 or J-1 doctoral students, the minimum enrollment requirement of two hours per semester or term must be fulfilled by registering for a minimum of two dissertation hours per semester or term until graduation. F-1 and J-1 master's students should follow the “Master's Students” section above. Minimum enrollment registration requests must be initiated by the student, approved by the student's faculty advisor, and may require approval by the academic dean or designee. Guidelines for dean's level approval vary by college and are available at respective Dean's Offices. The student's academic advisor, academic dean or designee, assistantship, department, or scholarship may require additional enrollment or course/credit modification

Graduate students who are seeking to modify course credit downward should consult with their supervising committee and academic dean before contacting the unit teaching the course. Course credit may be modified downward with the approval of the chair of the department that is offering the course and the appropriate academic dean. No course may be modified upward. Any student wishing to modify credit may obtain the necessary forms in the Office of the University Registrar.

Changing of Major Department

Admission to graduate study is contingent on approval by the department in which the student proposes to major. Therefore, an enrolled student is not free to change major departments at will. A change must have the approval of the chair of the department into which the student proposes to transfer and of the academic dean of that department. The appropriate signed documentation should be forwarded to the Office of the University Registrar.

Faculty Members Seeking Advanced Degree

No faculty member in a tenure-earning position (e.g., assistant professor, associate professor, or professor) may work toward an advanced degree at the University. Exceptions are made when the faculty member already holds the terminal degree in their field and wants to pursue either another PhD in a different field or a less advanced degree than they already hold (e.g., a faculty member holding a PhD may pursue a master's degree).

Stops to Registration

A student cannot register if they have not fulfilled all their academic and/or administrative requirements prior to the term. A stop may be placed on the student's record if any of the following deficiencies exist:

academic dismissal
incomplete admissions documents
fiscal deficiency
failure to process readmission papers after a withdrawal, or
failure to process readmission papers after a two-term absence (including the summer term) from the University (graduate, law, and medical students).

Also, failure to meet specific requirements of a University college, school, or department, or the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, may result in a stop in registration activities, the release of transcripts, or the release of diplomas.

A stop is placed on all students who have outstanding University charges. Students who owe any fees cannot register for classes, and they are not permitted to register until the debt is cleared.

Students notified of a stop should contact the notifying office immediately to arrange for removal so they can register for classes, receive official transcripts, and/or receive a diploma.

If students with a stop on their record are allowed to register in error, they are considered illegally enrolled in the University. If the stop is not removed after notification of such an error, the student's registration is subject to cancellation.

For additional information, see the section in this chapter below titled “Cancellation-of-Schedule Policies.”

Registration/Enrollment by Student Categories

Non-Degree-Seeking Student Regulations

All non-degree-seeking students may register for up to 18-credit hours; enrollment beyond this limit may be subject to approval by the Registrar. All registration by non-degree-seeking students is on a space-available basis. Because of excessive demand for some undergraduate and graduate classes, non-degree-seeking students may be enrolled in such classes only with the permission of the unit.

Non-Degree-Seeking Student Regulations

The Office of the University Registrar serves as the academic dean for all non-degree-seeking students. Academic rules governing regular students (e.g., fees, drop/add, withdrawal, grading policies) also apply to non-degree-seeking students with the following exceptions:

Non-degree-seeking students may enroll for fewer than 12-credit hours (underload) and up to 18-credit hours without permission.
Non-degree-seeking students may register for any class or classes on an S/U basis.
Non-degree-seeking students selecting classes for enrichment or other reasons where grades are not essential are advised to register on an S/U basis or on an audit basis. in this Bulletin.
In place of the retention schedule for regular students, non-degree-seeking students without a baccalaureate degree must meet the following requirement:
- After attempting 15 credit hours, non-degree-seeking students without a baccalaureate degree must have achieved and maintained a 2.0 (“C”) average in all courses attempted.
- In place of the retention schedule for regular students, non-degree-seeking students with a baccalaureate degree must meet the following requirement:
- After attempting 12 credit hours, non-degree-seeking students with a baccalaureate degree must have achieved and maintained a 3.0 (“B”) average in all courses attempted.

Failure to achieve or maintain the appropriate grade point average (GPA) will result in a loss of registration privileges and dismissal from the University.

Consult the “Academic Regulations and Procedures” chapter of the General Bulletin for policies relating to non-degree seeking student status at the undergraduate level. Consult the “Academic Regulations and Procedures” chapter of the Graduate Bulletin for policies relating to non-degree-seeking student status at the graduate level.

Veterans Priority Registration

Active-military students, student veterans, and military/veteran dependents using federal benefits are eligible for priority registration, which allows these students to register for future-semester class during the first selection window of each class-registration cycle. However, each of these students must first be coded as receiving federal benefits before they are eligible for priority registration and should contact the Student Veterans Center at (850) 644-9562 or veteran@admin.fsu.edu to make sure they are properly coded. After registering for their classes, each of these students must submit the university's online Request for Benefits form to have their benefit-certification documents submitted within the required timeframe.

Military Short-Term Absence or Call to Active Duty

For policies pertaining to accommodations for short-term absence of call to active duty, please see the “Student Veteran Information” chapter.

Interinstitutional Transient-Student Registration

This program enables students to take advantage of special resources and/or programs not available at their home institution. An interinstitutional transient student, by mutual agreement of the appropriate academic authorities in both the sponsoring and hosting institution, will receive a waiver of admission requirements of the host institution and a guarantee of acceptance of earned resident credits by the sponsoring institution except in the case of international credits. An official course-by-course evaluation is required for all academic records from non-U.S. institutions. We recommend the evaluation be done by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (https://www.naces.org).

Interinstitutional transient students must be recommended by their own academic dean, who will initiate a visiting arrangement with the appropriate dean at the host institution. Students will register at the host institution, paying tuition and/or registration fees established by that institution. The approval of one institution does not bind the other to comply.

Students from other institutions who wish to take courses at Florida State University should submit an approved Interinstitutional Transient Student application to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline. (Consult the “University Calendar” chapter for specific application deadlines.) Students may complete the transient form online at https://www.floridashines.org.

Note: Academic rules governing regular students (e.g., fees, drop/add, withdrawal, grading policies) also apply to transient students. Transient students attending Florida State University are, by definition, classified as non-degree-seeking students.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University–Florida State University Interinstitutional Registration (FAMU–FSU Cooperative Program)

A full-time student at one institution may enroll in one or more courses at the other institution under the following conditions:

The academic dean of the student's home university must grant permission.
Courses taken at the host university should be those normally not offered at the student's home university.
Students taking courses at the host university on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis will be held to the home institution's policies regarding the total number of courses allowed on S/U basis or in a specific degree or major. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor about any limitations prior to registration.
The student's final grade is directly reported to the student's home university for entering on the student's transcript. Grades, credits, and quality points are treated as home-institution work.
All tuition and fees are paid to the home institution.
Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative Florida State University GPA to be eligible to participate in the co-op program. Prior to attempting 12 credit hours, students who fail to maintain the 3.0 GPA may consider themselves on probation, although no entry will be placed on their transcript. They may continue to enroll, assuming they meet all other conditions of eligibility. After attempting 12 credit hours, students must meet and maintain the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA to continue enrolling through the program.

To register, see the FAMU–FSU Cooperative Program representative in the Office of the University Registrar. You may also obtain additional information and forms at http://registrar.fsu.edu/records/services/co_op. For engineering requirements, see the “FAMU–FSU College of Engineering” chapter of this Graduate Bulletin.

Before students can register for classes, they must provide proof of immunizations. Immunization compliance requirements are listed at https://uhs.fsu.edu/. If the immunization document being submitted is the FAMU immunization form, two copies of the form are required.

Note: Faculty and full-time students at either institution have equal access to the library facilities at both institutions

Registration for FSU Employees

Employees of Florida State University intending to take Florida State University classes may do so through the FSU Employee Scholarship program. See the Human Resources website at http://www.hr.fsu.edu/index.cfm?page=benefits/benefits_perks/benefits_perks_employee_scholarship for details, restrictions, and deadlines.

Registration by State Employee Tuition Waiver

Full-time state employees may use the State Employee Tuition Waiver to register for classes at Florida State University on a space-available basis. Registration takes place during the regular registration appointment assigned to each student. FSU accepts only the official State Employee Tuition Waiver Form to process waivers. Individuals using the waiver must be fully admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students. The form is available online at http://registrar.fsu.edu/records/waivers/state_employee. Agencies may require additional paperwork or forms that will not be accepted at FSU unless accompanied by the State Employee Tuition Waiver Form. State employees using a tuition waiver must obtain supervisor signatures and academic-department approval on the tuition waiver form and then scan and e-mail the signed and completed document to CTL-StateEmployee@fsu.edu by the tuition payment deadline. State employees using a tuition waiver must complete the registration process and submit the tuition waiver to the Office of Student Finance.

Registration in classes using the state employee tuition waiver is limited to a space-available basis. Individuals using the state tuition waiver must be fully admitted, degree-seeking or non-degree students. Florida State University does not consider the following to be space-available classes: audited classes, approved undergraduate specialized admissions programs, remedial classes; dissertation, thesis, and directed individual study (DIS) classes; internship classes; Center for Academic and Professional Development (CAPD) classes; College of Medicine classes; College of Law classes; other one-to-one instruction classes; and all non-state-funded classes (including some distance learning classes that are funded solely by student tuition and fees). As such, state employee tuition waivers may not be used for these classes. Please contact the academic department to inquire about a class's funding type.

Additional restrictions and deadlines apply. For more information, including the link to download the State Employee Tuition Waiver Form, visit the Office of the University Registrar's website at http://registrar.fsu.edu/records/services.

Registering for Auditor Seating Privileges

All regularly enrolled students and persons not enrolled in the University are afforded seating privileges after registration on a space-available basis with permission of the instructor, presentation and approval of the appropriate form obtained from the Office of the University Registrar, and payment of the prescribed fee for each class. The Office of the University Registrar serves as the academic dean for all non-degree students, including those individuals enrolling in classes on an audit basis. Since no credit is allowed for attendance via auditor seating privilege, formal admission to the University is not required; however, minimal demographic data must be provided as part of the approval and enrollment process. The class(es) taken will not appear on the student's permanent record.

Students are cautioned not to pre-register for any class they intend to audit. They will have to drop the class(es) from their official schedule and will incur additional financial liability.

Note: Standard tuition costs apply. All individuals auditing classes may register for up to 18-credit hours; enrollment beyond this limit in a single term is not permitted. Seating-privilege fee-information for citizens 60 years of age or older is found below under “Registration for Floridians over 60 Years of Age.”

Procedures

During the first week of classes, obtain the audit approval form online at http://registrar.fsu.edu/forms/audit_registration.pdf, or you may pick up an audit approval form from the Office of the University Registrar.

Fill out the form and obtain both the instructor's approval and clearance from University Health Services.
Return the approved form to the Office of the University Registrar for final approval and class registration. Registration must be completed to attend a class.
Pay fees during the fee payment period at A1500 University Center. No waivers or deferments may be used by anyone under 60 years of age.
Present the form to your instructor at the next class meeting.

Note: If you have already registered for the class you wish to audit, you must drop it within the drop/add period before the audit request can be processed. For the policy for audited-class refunds please refer to the “Financial Information” chapter of this Bulletin.

Registration for Floridians over 60 Years of Age

All fees are waived for persons sixty years of age or older who are Florida residents and who attend credit classes. Under this tuition-free option, registration is allowed on a space-available, audit-basis only and does not include thesis, dissertation, applied music classes, or other classes requiring individual instruction. No credit will be given, and no permanent record will be maintained. Audit forms are available online or from the Office of the University Registrar. Proof of age and Florida residency must be presented to the Office of the University Registrar to validate audit-waiver eligibility.

Drop/Add, Schedule Changes or Cancellation of Schedule

Drop/Add

During the first four days of the term, students can add or drop individual classes, or they may change one class section for another. Students are financially liable for all courses appearing on their schedule after the fourth day of classes. To add courses after the first four days of classes may require the academic dean's approval. Classes dropped during this period do not appear on the student's transcript. Individual courses may be dropped through the seventh week of classes except for mandated college preparatory courses, freshman composition, and courses involved in allegations of academic dishonesty; however, tuition charges remain. Approval by the student's academic dean is required to:

reduce the academic load below nine credit hours;
increase an undergraduate academic load above 18 credit hours (to a maximum of 21 credit hours); or
increase a graduate academic load above 15 credit hours (to a maximum of 21 credit hours).

Dean's approval for an overload or underload must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. If the student is appointed as a graduate assistant or is supported on a fellowship, an underload request form mut be completed and submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval.

After the seventh week of classes, courses may be dropped only in exceptional circumstances. Approval is required by the advisor and the academic dean. Such courses will appear on the student's transcript with the notation “WD.” Students who register for courses but who do not attend the classes will receive grades of “F” if the courses are not officially dropped. Students changing from a previous Bulletin year should consult their academic dean regarding limitations concerning the policy described above.

Note: Students who have a bachelor's degree and return for a second bachelor's degree may petition for a late drop within the same semester timelines as noted above.

Forgiveness Policy

Effective Fall 2004, Florida State University discontinued the “forgiveness policy” for all students.

Policies for Cancellation of Student Schedules

Student Cancellation of Schedule

To cancel scheduled class enrollment, a student can drop all classes during the first four days (the drop/add period) of any term; any semester; or in the case of summer term, any session, through the online student portal. Alternately, students can submit a written request to the Office of the University Registrar (Office of the University Registrar, Florida State University, Room A3900 UCA, 282 Champions Way,
P.O. Box 3062480, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2480) or to Withdrawal Services. Notification may also be sent from the student's official e-mail account to Office of the University Registrar at registrar@fsu.edu. Students who cancel their registration during the official drop/add period are not fee liable for tuition; if tuition has been paid, such students should request a full refund of fees. Undergraduate and non-degree-seeking students who cancel their registration and are not enrolled for the following two semesters (non-enrollment for three consecutive semesters) must apply for readmission.

Beyond the fourth day of classes, a student cannot voluntarily cancel registration but must apply for withdrawal from the University. Students who must drop all classes after the official drop/add period should contact Withdrawal Services, A4300 University Center Tallahassee, FL 32306; (850) 644-1741. Panama City students should contact Student Affairs, Barron Building, Panama City, FL 32405; (850) 770-2172.

International students who wish to cancel their registration or withdraw from the term must request and receive prior authorization from a Center for Global Engagement advisor.

Note: Students who have received some or all financial aid prior to the end of a term's drop/add period may be subject to repayment of financial aid if there is a change in their financial aid eligibility. Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, reduction of course load below required levels, cancellation of schedule, failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and other conditions required to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Registrar Cancellation of Schedule

Students allowed to register in error are cancelled by the Office of the University Registrar.

Students who are dropped or deleted from their last or only course by an academic department because of nonattendance on the first day of class are cancelled by the Office of the University Registrar. This cancellation is without liability for tuition. Undergraduate and non-degree-seeking students whose registration is cancelled by the University Registrar must apply for readmission if they have not been enrolled for three consecutive terms. For this policy, the cancellation term is considered a non-enrolled term for the student.

Graduate, law, and medical students whose registration is cancelled by the University Registrar must apply for readmission if they have not been enrolled for two consecutive terms. For this policy, the cancellation term is considered a term of non-enrollment.

Note: Students who have received some or all their financial aid prior to the end of drop/add for a term, may be subject to repayment of financial aid if there is a change in their financial aid eligibility. Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, reduction of course load below required levels, cancellation of schedule, failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and other conditions required to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Cancellation of Student Schedules for Non-Payment of Tuition and Fees

In accordance with Florida State University Regulation 5.081 Tuition, Fees, Payment, students who do not pay tuition and fees or make arrangements to pay tuition and fees by the end of the established fee payment deadline may have their schedules cancelled and academic progress discontinued for the semester. Student's whose schedules have been cancelled may not attend class or receive grades. Students will be notified using their FSU e-mail account concerning outstanding tuition delinquencies and given an opportunity to pay tuition and fees or make arrangements for tuition and fee payment with the Office of Student Finance prior to cancellation. For more information, please reference https://regulations.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/imported/storage/original/application/f63ce880bfa04fa18f1d2103e0fd4ec9.pdf.

Reinstatement of Student Schedules Cancelled for Non-Payment of Tuition and Fees

Students whose schedules are cancelled for non-payment of tuition and fees may submit a written appeal to the University Registrar for reinstatement and continuation of academic progress for the term. A written appeal must be submitted to the University Registrar no later than the end of the seventh week of classes as identified in the University Academic Calendar (consult the Registration Guide for term deadlines). Prior to a student's appeal being approved, the Office of Student Finance must verify that payment for the current term has been received or that appropriate arrangements have been made for tuition and fee payment. Students whose schedules are reinstated are subject to a $100.00 late-registration fee and a $100.00 late-payment fee. Check or credit card payments that are returned or refused will negate any tuition payment agreement for the reinstatement of a student's schedule. The University reserves the right to deny reinstatement when a demonstrated pattern of tuition delinquencies over two or more semesters has occurred.

Note: The appeal must be submitted by the seventh-week deadline for the term that was cancelled. Appeals received during the next term for a prior term's cancellation will be deemed to have missed the deadline and may not be considered.

Cancellation of Student Health Insurance

Cancellation of a student's full class schedule does not trigger the termination of the insurance policy or the premium. The student must contact the Health Compliance Office of University Health Services via e-mail at healthcompliance@fsu.edu to advise of the cancellation of schedule and request termination of the insurance. If the student has attended the first 31 calendar days of classes for the term for which coverage was purchased, the student has met the eligibility requirement to retain the coverage through the termination date and the cost of the insurance premium must be paid. Students leaving the University to enter the military may receive a prorated premium refund. The student must contact the Health Compliance Office of University Health Services via e-mail at healthcompliance@fsu.edu.

After Registration—Class Attendance, Grades, and Transcripts

Attendance and Enrollment Policies

Required First Class Meeting Attendance Policy

Attendance at the first class meeting is mandatory unless properly excused by the class's instructor. University-wide policy requires all students to attend the first class meeting of all classes for which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a class for which they are registered will be dropped from the class by the academic department that offers the class. This policy applies to all levels of classes and to all campuses and study centers. This policy does not apply to any class added after its first official meeting. It remains the student's responsibility to verify class drops and check that fees are adjusted.

Note: Students who have received some or all their financial aid prior to the end of the drop/add period for a term may be subject to repayment of financial aid if there is a change in their financial aid eligibility. Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, reduction of class load below required levels, cancellation of schedule, failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and other conditions required to maintain financial aid eligibility.

General Class Attendance

All students are expected to abide by the class attendance policy set forth by the instructor in each class in accordance with the Faculty Handbook. When possible, students also must provide advance notice of absences, as well as relevant documentation regarding absences, to the instructor as soon as possible following the illness or event that led to the absence. Any arrangement to make up work because of class absence is the responsibility of the student. The instructor, who will explain the evaluation (grading) statement at the beginning of the term, determines the effect of absences upon grades.

Students must attend the section of the course for which they are registered. No instructor has the authority to permit a student to shift from one section of the course to another without following official drop/add procedures. No student may drop a course after the seventh week of classes without the permission of his or her academic dean.

Until a student is officially enrolled in a course, they are not permitted to attend class, submit assignments, or take tests. Exceptions are limited to students auditing the course or making up work for a prior incomplete grade in the course. Students who are not officially registered for a course or do not appear on the course roster after the end of the second week of the semester should be referred to the appropriate office for approval to continue attending class. That may be the Office of Financial Aid, Student Finance, the Office of the University Registrar, the Office of Admissions, etc. Students may contact the Office of the University Registrar if they are unsure of which office they need to contact for documentation.

University Health Services will issue “Provider Visit Verifications” to students if requested. Such verification may include, at the discretion of the medical provider (Physician, PA, APRN, LCSW, or Physical Therapist), recommendations about bed rest, restricted activity, and follow-ups. Students who need notes for class excuses will be unable to obtain them from University Health Services if they have not been seen by a provider at UHS. Ultimately, the authority for deciding whether the student is excused for medical reasons rests with the instructor.

Students who are members of an intercollegiate team are required to attend all scheduled class meeting times or scheduled online activities associated with the course delivery. Absences due to illness, personal/family emergencies, or injury must be documented. Failure to adhere to the attendance policy may result in sanctions up to and including suspension from the athlete's sport for the remainder of the season. Student-athletes must remain eligible to enroll in order to maintain eligibility for all intercollegiate competition. Arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence is the responsibility of the student.

Within the University there are several categories of students that are expected to exhibit behavior that conforms to the group to which they belong. These units include, but are not limited to: ROTC cadets, academic honor societies, veterans, athletes, medicine, and nursing majors. Membership within these units implies that the student agrees to fulfill the obligations of the organization.

Continuous Enrollment

Continuous enrollment at Florida State University is defined as enrollment without an interruption of two or more consecutive semesters (including summer term). Credits earned at other institutions during any semester while not registered at Florida State University will not constitute continuous enrollment at the University. Graduate, law, and medical students who are not enrolled at the University for two or more consecutive semesters (or consecutive semester and summer term), and who are not on approved leave of absence, must apply for readmission before resuming their studies.

Grading Practices

At the end of each term, student's grades are made available at https://my.fsu.edu.

Once a final grade in a course has been reported by the instructor to the Office of the University Registrar, it cannot be changed by the instructor except in cases of error in recording with permission of the department chair and the dean of the college, or because of a final determination from a formal grade appeal.

The University will not automatically expire “I” grades earned prior to fall term 2010 or “NG” grades earned for any semester. Students must work with faculty and academic deans to resolve any outstanding “I” or “NG” grades prior to graduation. Outstanding “I” or “NG” grades that are not resolved prior to the degree posting will not be changed except in cases of recording error. Faculty and academic deans reserve the right to expire an “I” or “NG grade to “IE” or “GE” respectively. These grades are considered final grades and will calculate as an “F” in the student's overall GPA. In cases where the “I” or “NG” grade was earned in a course approved for numeric grades or “S/U”, the grade will expire to the lowest possible value, generally a 60 or “U”. Grades of “I” are not assigned to any courses if a student withdraws from the University. A grade of “I” or “NG” in a course that is approved for “S/U” or numeric grades will follow the same grading and expiration policy.

Grades earned at another institution cannot be used to improve a grade point average or eliminate a quality point deficiency at Florida State University.

Grading System

Definition	Grade	Quality Points Per Credit Hour
Excellent	A+	4.33 (Law only)
	A	4.00
	A–	3.75
	A–	3.67 (Law only)
Good	B+	3.33 (Law only)
	B+	3.25
	B	3.00
	B–	2.75
	B–	2.67 (Law only)
Average	C+	2.33 (Law only)
	C+	2.25
	C	2.00
	C–	1.75
	C–	1.67 (Law only)
Poor	D+	1.33 (Law only)
	D+	1.25
	D	1.00
	D–	0.75
	D–	0.67 (Law only)
Failure	F	0.00
Honors Medicine	HM	4.00
Pass Medicine	PM	3.00
Administrative Failure Law	AF	N/A
Administrative Disenrollment Law	AD	N/A
Pass	P	N/A
Satisfactory	S	N/A
Unsatisfactory	U	N/A
Incomplete	I	N/A
Incomplete Expired	IE	0.00
No Grade Received from Instructor	NG	N/A
No Grade Expired	GE	0.00
Withdrawn while Passing	W	N/A
Withdrawn with Dean's Permission	WD	N/A
Examination Credit	EC	N/A
Departmental Examination	ED	N/A

Grade Point Average

Florida State University reports three types of grade point averages (GPAs) on the transcript: 1) term (or FSU Cumulative) GPA; 2) transfer credit; and 3) combined overall. Quality points are assigned for each semester hour as listed above. In computation of the required grade point average for retention and conferral of a degree, the total number of quality points is divided by the total number of credit hours for which letter grades are received. A student will not be allowed additional credit in subsequent attempts unless the course is specifically designated as repeatable to allow additional credit.

Repeatable courses may be taken to a maximum number of times or hours as spelled out in the course description. Course enrollment beyond these limits may not be counted towards the student's earned credit hours. Should a student enroll in a non-repeatable course, the quality points associated with the subsequent enrollment will be calculated into the FSU cumulative GPA.

With the approval of the department, the academic dean, and the Dean of The Graduate School, some graduate coursework taken at Florida State University will be excluded from the student's GPA. Permission for the Florida State University GPA to begin as a new calculation for graduate students shall be granted in the following admission/readmission circumstances:

When seven or more years have elapsed since a student was actively enrolled in a graduate degree program at Florida State University;
A student has earned a master's/specialist/doctoral degree from Florida State University and is seeking a second master's/specialist/doctorate; or
A student has earned a master's/specialist degree from Florida State University and is seeking a doctorate in a different major.

Aside from these exceptions, the Florida State University GPA will not begin as a new calculation for graduate students in the following circumstances:

During any period of time fewer than seven years in which the student was not actively enrolled in a graduate degree program at Florida State University; or
A student has earned a master's/specialist degree from Florida State University and is seeking a doctorate in the same major.
A student who transfers from one degree program and/or major to another.

All requests for exception to this policy and its specifications must be endorsed by the students' academic dean and submitted to the Dean of The Graduate School (or designee) for approval.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading

With the permission of the major professor or chair of the student's major department, a student may enroll in as many as six credit hours during the master's degree program, or up to nine credit hours during the doctoral program, on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A student's registration in a class under the S/U option must be indicated on the proper form to the Office of the University Registrar from the major professor or chair of the student's major department. A student may change to a letter-grade (A, B, C) or S/U basis during the first seven weeks of the Fall/Spring term or, in the case of Summer terms, by the prorated deadlines published in the Summer ‘Academic Calendar' in the Registration Guide. Please note that some courses are offered for S/U grade only and are not available for a letter grade.

Credit hour restrictions as stated above on the S/U option do not apply to classes normally offered on the basis of the S/U grading system, including classes in the College of Law for students of other graduate programs. Such hours are exempt from the total stipulated as permissible in the preceding paragraph.

In individual study, thesis, dissertation, recital, supervised research, and internship credit, as well as for classes taken with the S/U option, the assigned grade will be “S” (satisfactory) or “U” (unsatisfactory). Although class hours with a grade of “S” will be credited toward a degree, the “S” and “U” grades are not used in determining grade averages for admission to candidacy or for conferral of a degree.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Incomplete (“I”) grades should be recorded only in exceptional cases when a student, who has completed a substantial portion of the course and who is otherwise passing, is unable to complete a well-defined portion of a course for reasons beyond the student's control. Students in these circumstances must petition the instructor and should be prepared to present documentation that substantiates their case. Incomplete grades should not be granted to allow students to do extra coursework in an effort to increase their grade.

Even under these circumstances, the authority for determining whether to grant an incomplete rests solely with the instructor. A graduate teaching assistant must have approval from a supervising faculty member to grant an incomplete. One exception to this guideline occurs when an incomplete is applied because of allegations of academic dishonesty that have not been resolved by the end of a semester. Deans' offices can often provide guidance to instructors regarding the appropriateness of an incomplete grade in individual cases.

To assign an incomplete, an instructor is required to indicate on the grade roster the time frame for resolution of the grade and the default grade to be assigned if the student does not complete the remaining academic work. Some departments also require that an incomplete grade be documented with an “Incomplete Grade Agreement.” It is the student's responsibility to complete the remaining academic work within the agreed-upon time frame.

Under University policy, an incomplete grade automatically reverts to the predetermined default grade at the end of the semester that has been specified by the instructor as the time frame for resolution, unless one of two conditions is met:

Upon completion of the agreed-upon work, the instructor submits a grade-change form that replaces the “I” with the final grade for the course;
The instructor submits a separate “Incomplete Extension of Time” form to the Evaluation and Posting Section of Admissions and Records before the end of the semester in which the “I” is set to expire.

In cases where no default grade or instructor-determined expiration semester exists, incomplete grades will expire to an IE (Incomplete Expired) at the end of the next term of enrollment unless the instructor submits a grade change form prior to the official grade posting deadline. An incomplete grade should not be set as the default grade for an existing incomplete. Furthermore, grades are awarded based on progress of work completed during a set semester/term and as such, a graduate student should not receive several semesters of incomplete grades for thesis, treatise and/or dissertation hours until completion of the defense. No grade changes will be made to default grades or unresolved “I” grades after the degree has been granted. Thus, it is critical that an instructor work closely with the student and department staff regarding the clearance of an incomplete grade.

Grade Changes to Courses Completed Prior to Posted Degree

Once a degree has been awarded, all coursework leading to that degree is considered final and not subject to change. Grade changes or withdrawals for coursework that apply to the awarded degree may be considered only in cases of documented University error or in cases where the courses in question are documented as applying to a degree that is still in progress. Courses that are designated as “shared” between degree programs, such as those used in combined or joint degree pathways may not be changed unless both degrees are still in progress.

Transcripts

The Office of the University Registrar issues official transcripts upon a student's request. Individuals requiring official transcripts are encouraged to submit their request online at https://my.fsu.edu. In cases where a student is unable to submit an online request, a written request may be made directly to the Transcript Section of the Office of the University Registrar.

Transcript service may be denied if a financial or judicial stop has been placed on a student's record. Clearance from the Controller's Office or the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities must be obtained prior to the release of the transcript. Transcript service may also be denied if the request is made by a third party without the student's written consent.

A charge of $10.00 will be assessed for each official transcript issued.

The University reserves the right to issue transcripts to other state of Florida schools for those students who attend the University under the state transient process. Students are responsible for any transcript fees incurred for providing these transcripts as required by the transient application process. Unofficial transcripts are available to students free of charge.

Academic Standing and Retention Policies

The University reserves the right to exclude at any time a student whose conduct is deemed improper or prejudicial to the interest of the University community or whose academic performance is substandard, regardless of GPA.

Students in graduate or professional degree programs, excluding College of Law students and MD candidates in the College of Medicine, whose cumulative grade point average for graduate courses (5000 and above) taken at Florida State University falls below 3.0 at the end of a term (not counting courses for which “S” or “U” grades may be given) will be considered not in good standing by the University and will be placed on academic probation. If a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is not attained by the end of the next full term of enrollment, the student will be placed on academic dismissal. Academic dismissal constitutes a separation of the student from the University for academic reasons. Students on dismissal will not be permitted to register for courses, including registering as a non-degree student.

In any term where a student 1) enrolls in classes having only “S/U” or “P/F” grade types; or 2) completes a full-term withdrawal; or 3) is a graduate student enrolled in undergraduate classes excluded from their GPA, the student will receive no quality points and a 0.00 GPA at the end of that term.

When a student’s circumstances meet any of the criteria outlined above, under the University’s retention policy the student’s standing in that academic career remains what it was as of their last term of enrollment in that career.
If a student’s circumstances meet any of the criteria outlined above during their first term of enrollment in the academic career, under the University’s retention policy the student will remain in good academic-standing status.

NOTE: Other criteria, including but not limited to 1) conditional admission; 2) academic degree progression or degree requirements; or 3) additional department or discipline-specific requirements may prevent a student from remaining in good academic standing.

Policy for Dismissing a Graduate Student for Reasons Other Than GPA

The University reserves the right to dismiss graduate students and terminate their enrollment in an academic program based on a number of different criteria, beyond that of GPA alone. Oversight is provided by The Graduate School, Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, and Office of the Registrar. Additional details on the steps involved in the process are available for faculty and administrators from the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and for graduate students at the Graduate School.

Dismissed students will not be permitted to register for further graduate study, including registering as non-degree students, in the degree program or college from which they had enrollment terminated.

Graduate students who have been dismissed from one degree program may seek admission to another degree program but will not be readmitted or allowed to add the dismissed degree program back as a second major or degree. This includes seeking admission into a different degree program that shared a joint pathway with the dismissed degree program.

Program terminations (dismissal for a reason other than GPA) are generally identified by the faculty with support from the Department Chair (or unit head) in the department/unit or single-unit college level and may occur for a number of different reasons.

As specified by university policy, Graduate policy, or within the unit's Graduate Student handbook, reasons may include but are not limited to:

Inability to conduct independent research in a fashion appropriate with the accepted norms of a discipline.
Inability to function within a team environment to the extent that it negatively affects the learning, practice and/or research of fellow graduate students.
Behavior that does not meet the professional standards of a discipline (typically clinical, social work or school settings, but also including Motion Picture Arts, internship work, etc.).
Failure to meet artistic or creative performance standards.
Failure to be approved for an Extension of Time (EOT).
Failure to complete important degree milestone requirements within a reasonable period of time.
Inability to pass the doctoral diagnostic exam, preliminary exam for admission to candidacy in, etc.
Failure to complete the doctoral degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their treatise or dissertation.
Failure to complete the master's degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their thesis, or the production of their thesis-equivalent creative project.

In addition, please note that suspension or expulsion from the university may result if a student is found responsible in a formal Academic Honor Policy (AHP) hearing for an egregious AHP violation, or as an outcome from a Student Conduct Code charge for which a student is found responsible.

Graduate program handbooks MUST provide information about failure to meet specific milestone or behavioral requirements. Students who are dismissed for reasons other than grades may follow the General Academic Appeals process if they have evidence that academic regulations and procedures have been improperly applied.

Reinstatement After Dismissal

At the time of dismissal, the major professor and/or department chair/director may petition the academic dean for consideration of special circumstances that the professor thinks constitute justification for an exception to this regulation. If approved for reinstatement, the student will have one term to earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and return to good academic standing. The academic dean is the final authority for reinstatement considerations.

NOTE: Under no circumstances will a graduate student be allowed more than one additional term of probation after reinstatement. Owing to the differential uses of the designation, “academic probation” shall not appear on permanent records of regular graduate students. Statuses of “academic warning,” “probation,” or “reinstated from dismissal” do not specifically prohibit a student from participating in extracurricular activities unless otherwise specified by University policy, rules, or by-laws governing the activity or organization. Consideration of the academic dismissal takes priority over any readmission application and must be resolved first. Students on dismissal are not eligible for readmission or the readmission appeal process unless they have first been reinstated by the academic dean.

Students pursuing multiple degrees under different careers (i.e., graduate and undergraduate simultaneously) are subject to the retention standards of the career associated with each degree. Dismissal from one career does not automatically constitute dismissal from the second career when those careers are different (undergraduate and graduate).

Dismissal and Reinstatement for Specific Professional Colleges

Any program classified as a professional program in the FSU Degree Program Inventory (DPI) can apply to the Graduate Policy Committee (GPC) to be excluded from the general retention or dismissal policy.

Retention and dismissal policies of the College of Law are described in the College of Law's Academic Rules, Policies, Procedures, and Bylaws.

The policies for promotion, remediation, probation, and dismissal for the College of Medicine (MD) are specified in the College of Medicine's Student Handbook.

Leave of Absence

Under special circumstances, graduate students may apply for a leave of absence from the University for a specific period of up to three consecutive semesters (includes Summer term). The circumstances justifying a leave include but are not limited to: personal or family medical conditions, call to active military duty, parental leave, death in immediate family, or completion of an off-campus internship. The student must provide appropriate documentation and a rationale for the leave request.

To apply for a leave of absence, a student must complete the Request for Leave of Absence Form at https://gradschool.fsu.edu and submit it together with appropriate documentation to the major professor/advisor/Program Director. If the major professor/advisor/Program Director approves the application, it should then be forwarded to the department head and subsequently to the college's academic dean for consideration. If approved at all of these levels, the college academic dean should notify the Registrar's Office and the Dean of the Graduate School (or designee) of the decision. The college academic dean should also notify the student of the decision (approved or denied). The Registrar's Office will place a notation on the student's record. A student who is denied a request for leave at any step may appeal the decision to the Dean of The Graduate School (or designee). Retroactive Leave of Absence Requests are not permissible nor are Leave of Absences Requests for the semester of admission or readmission. A leave of absence is not meant for one semester or term of non-enrollment.

An approved leave of absence preserves the student's academic status in his or her degree program, and the time off will not be counted against the time limits for awarding degrees. Consequently, registration is not required during the leave period and the student need not re-apply to the program to return to active status at the end of the approved leave period. A leave may be extended for additional consecutive semesters (includes Summer term). A student should apply for the leave extension no later than four weeks prior to the end of the final semester/term of his or her initial leave to allow time to consider and process the request. Extension of a leave is subject to approval of the program, college, and the Graduate School. The cumulative number of consecutive leave semesters (including summer term) shall not exceed six. The total consecutive or non-consecutive leave time a student is not registered in the program shall not exceed twenty-four months. At the conclusion of the approved leave, a student must enroll at Florida State University and return to active status no later than the start of the next academic semester. Students cannot be on leave during their semester of graduation and must be registered for a minimum of two hours that semester.

A student on a leave of absence may terminate the leave at any time prior to the approved ending date. In such cases the student would be immediately subject to the continuous enrollment and registration policies. Students returning from a leave of absence of more than one year will be required to disclose any legal or campus disciplinary charges that arose during the leave and provide updated contact and mailing address, residency documentation, and other biographical information as required by the University for reporting and processing purposes.

Programs may have more strict leave of absence and registration policies. For example, a program may decide that under no circumstances would it allow a formal leave of absence or a program may choose to only allow a leave of not more than three consecutive semesters. Such policies shall be detailed in the program's graduate student handbook.

While on leave a student will not have access to campus facilities and personnel. This means a student will not have access to labs, libraries, and online resources that require an FSUID. Students on leave cannot remain in student housing. There is no guarantee that financial aid will be continued.

Students with financial aid or student loans should confer with the Financial Aid Office and review their loan agreements prior to requesting a leave of absence to ascertain the consequences a leave will have on their loan status. University assistantship and fellowship support will be discontinued for the duration of the leave. Programs are not obligated to reinstate funding support that was provided prior to the leave though they are encouraged to do so if funds are available. Students receiving external support, e.g., an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, should check the terms of the award to determine the impact of being on leave. In-state residency status may be impacted if the student moves out of the State of Florida, and then returns to resume the degree program. Students should seek guidance from the Registrar on the potential impact on in-state residency. International students should check with the Center for Global Engagement to determine if a leave would adversely affect their visa status. Students should also consider other factors that might impact their circumstances upon their return to active status. For example, a major professor might depart the University, or under extreme circumstances a degree program might be suspended or terminated. The University has an obligation to provide a path to completion for enrolled students as well as students on a formally approved leave of absence.

Note: If allowed by the student's academic program and University policy, an alternative to taking an official leave could involve reducing the standard course load temporarily because of exceptional personal circumstances.

Readmission

Please refer to the “Admissions” chapter in this Graduate Bulletin for readmission policies for returning students who have not been dismissed.

Withdrawal Policies

Withdrawal from the University

All graduate, law, or medicine (MD degree) students who wish to leave the University after the close of the drop/add period for a term must formally withdraw. Dropping all classes does not constitute formal withdrawal. Students who do not attend classes and fail to withdraw will be assigned grades of “F” for each course.

Withdrawal requests are not automatically approved but must be requested. Withdrawals are initiated in the withdrawal services section of the Department of Student Support and Transitions located in the University Center. The statement “Withdrew from the University” will appear on the transcripts of students who properly withdraw within the first seven weeks of class. Under documented exceptional circumstances (beyond the student's control), as determined by the appropriate academic dean, a student withdrawing from the University may receive “WD” grades in all courses taken that term.

Students who cancel their enrollment during the first four days of classes for a term are not held liable for tuition and registration fees. Those who have paid are eligible for a full refund. Students who withdraw after the first four days of classes but prior to the end of the fourth week of classes are eligible for a twenty-five percent refund of tuition and registration fees, less the building and capital improvement fees; this deadline is adjusted for shorter Summer terms. Students who withdraw after this deadline are fully liable for fees and are not eligible for a refund, except as provided in policies set forth by the State Board of Education and Florida State University. Students who receive Title IV funds and who decide to withdraw from the University may be required to repay some or all the funds received.

A graduate, law, or medicine (MD degree) student wishing to reenter the University for the following two semesters after withdrawal must have the approval of their academic dean on the ‘Application for Withdrawal and Reentry' form. For degree-seeking students wishing to reenter the University after two semesters, an application for readmission must be submitted to the Office of Admissions. Formal application must be made to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline. Students who left the University on dismissal must resolve that and be reinstated by the academic dean before any decision can be made on the readmission application. (Consult the “University Calendar” chapter of this Graduate Bulletin for specific application deadlines.)

International students who wish to withdraw must request and receive prior authorization from a Center for Global Engagement advisor.

For further information on refunds, see the ‘Refunds of Fees' section in the “Financial Information” chapter of this Graduate Bulletin.

Student-athletes who wish to withdraw must receive prior authorization from Student-Athlete Academic Support.

Students who are withdrawing and who have purchased student health insurance through the University should contact the Health Compliance Office at University Health Services for information about their health insurance and whether they are eligible to retain or cancel coverage.

University Withdrawal/Reinstatement Committee and
Deadlines for Requesting and Processing Withdrawals

Students petitioning for a withdrawal are expected to submit their requests and documentation in a timely fashion following the date the withdrawal is initiated. There are three types of withdrawals (see below). Depending on the type of withdrawal the academic dean may review the withdrawal or it may be required to be submitted to the University Withdrawal/Reinstatement Committee. Students considering a withdrawal should discuss their options with their academic advisor or dean prior to any deadlines.

Current term. Students may request a withdrawal for the current term at any point during the term after the official drop/add period. Withdrawals submitted prior to the last day of classes for the same term are considered current term withdrawals. Students should check the Academic Calendar for the date of the last day of classes for the term in question. The academic dean may render decisions to approve or deny withdrawal requests in accordance with University and college policies and procedures. Students are held grade liable for all classes for withdrawals requested after the 7th week of the term. Current term withdrawals may result in a “WD” grade appearing on the transcript

Retroactive withdrawals initiated within one year (three terms, including the current term and summer): These withdrawals are considered retroactive withdrawals and are reviewed by the academic dean in a fashion similar to current term withdrawals. Students should first meet with their academic dean to determine the steps to petition for a retroactive withdrawal. Students' academic deans may require additional documentation for retroactive withdrawals. The academic dean may render decisions to approve or deny withdrawal requests in accordance with University and college policies and procedures. No petitions will be accepted after the student's degree has posted.

Retroactive withdrawal over one year. Withdrawals initiated, but not completed or approved within one year, are only considered by a student's dean's office in extraordinary circumstances. Students should first meet with their academic dean to determine if their request for a withdrawal over one year will be considered and then if so, they should submit any required supporting documentation of extenuating circumstances. The academic dean may render decisions to approve or deny withdrawal requests in accordance with University and college policies and procedures. No petitions will be accepted after the student's degree has posted. If approved, retroactive withdrawals will have “WD” grades assigned.

Note: Withdrawal petitions initiated for terms older than the one year limit, or not completed, are considered exceptional and must be reviewed by committee. The decision of the University Withdrawal/Reinstatement Committee constitutes final university action.

Readmission after Multiple Withdrawals

When any student (undergraduate, graduate, law, or medicine [MD degree]) student has withdrawn from the University three or more times, subsequent readmission must first be considered by the University Withdrawal/Reinstatement Committee whose charge is to assess the student's capability of making satisfactory progress toward degree. This committee, appointed by the Council of Associate and Assistant Deans, will then make a recommendation to the dean of the student's college, who will make the final decision in cases where a student's Florida State University GPA is less than 12 quality points deficient. In cases where the student has excessive withdrawals or dismissals or has a Florida State University GPA that is more than 12 quality points deficient, the University Withdrawal Reinstatement Committee will make the final determination.

Medical Course Drop/Withdrawal

Medical course drops are generally recommended for approval by the dean where unforeseeable illnesses or injuries have interfered with the student's ability to complete specific course(s). Similarly, medical withdrawals (all courses dropped) may be approved for acute, severe illnesses or injuries that incapacitate the student. Chronic conditions generally do not qualify unless the student has been stable for a sustained length of time and then experiences an unexpected change in health status. Students with chronic or recurring health problems should consult with their clinicians and carefully assess a realistic class schedule based on their condition and their likelihood of relapses. Courses approved to be dropped or withdrawn under these circumstances may be noted on the transcript with “WD” grades.

Note: For information regarding medical course drops and medical withdrawals, visit https://dsst.fsu.edu or call the Office of Withdrawal Services at (850) 644-1741.

Types of FSU Identification and Contact Information

Student Addresses and Contact Information

Students must maintain their current local and permanent addresses with the University. Address updates may be done through the online portal at https://my.fsu.edu or in person at the Office of the University Registrar, 3900 University Center A. Students are strongly encouraged to provide emergency text numbers and contact information.

The Florida State University EMPLID

To better protect the identity of individuals within our campus community, Florida State University creates a unique nine-digit number identifier for each student and employee called the EMPLID. You can find your EMPLID by logging in at http://my.fsu.edu. It is displayed in My Info.

The FSUCard

The FSUCard is your official University identification card, and it's used across campus for all things FSU. To be identified as an FSU student, you must always have your FSUCard with you. Keep your FSUCard safe, and don't share your FSUCard information with others. Think of it as your license for campus living.

The FSUCard grants access to University libraries; residence halls; buses and other transportation services; campus recreation facilities; the testing center; and other campus and athletic events.

There is no charge for your initial card. However, if you should lose or damage the card, the FSUCard Center will replace it for a fee. An FSUCard semi-annual fee of $5.00 applies to students each Fall and Spring semesters. For more information, please visit https://fsucard.fsu.edu. From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, you can talk to a staff person by dialing (850) 644-7777, or you can email fsucard@fsu.edu.

FSUCash

All FSUCard holders including students, faculty, and staff automatically receive a FSUCash account. FSUCash is an on-campus “pocket change” account, offering a convenient payment option for on-campus services such as student laundry, copy/print services, vending machine purchases, use at Seminole Dining locations, the FSU Bookstore, the UPS Store, and more. FSUCash is the only tender accepted at the Center for Testing and Assessment, student laundry, and student copy/printing.

FSUCash rolls over from semester to semester and year to year. However, after 12 months of inactivity, a monthly deduction will be taken from the FSUCash account. This fee will not result in a negative balance or affect the card's other functions. To avoid the automatic deduction, a transaction such as a purchase or deposit must be made within a 12-month timeframe. FSUCash refunds are available upon request by e-mailing fsucard@fsu.edu.

Current FSUCash balances can be checked using http://my.fsu.edu, or by downloading the eAccounts mobile app. For more information, please visit https://fsucard.fsu.edu. From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, you can talk to a staff person at the FSUCard Center by dialing (850) 644-7777, or you can email fsucard@fsu.edu.

Your FSUCard Is Your Library Card

You must have your FSUCard to enter and exit campus libraries, so make sure to always keep it handy. From borrowing books and equipment to reserving study rooms, your FSUCard does everything a regular library card does, and more. For more information, visit https://lib.fsu.edu.

Official Email Accounts for All Students at Florida State University

The official method of communication at Florida State University is your FSU email account. To stay informed and aware, you are required to set up and maintain your account and check it regularly. If you choose to have your official FSU account forwarded to another email account, FSU cannot guarantee the delivery to your alternate email address, and you are still held responsible for all information distributed by the university to your FSU account.

Florida State University's Information Technology Services offers a suite of email and online collaboration services for students, which includes:

Cloud-based mailbox
Digital calendar and contacts
Mobile access to FSU email via Outlook app
Integration with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
Access to Microsoft 365 services, including OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams

For more information, visit its.fsu.edu/services/fsu-email.

Questions regarding FSU email accounts can be answered by contacting the ITS Service Desk at 850-644-4357 or its.fsu.edu/help.

Student Communications and Records—Privacy and Access

Students have the right to access their student records that are on file in the Office of the University Registrar. Students requesting access to their file information, or a third party requesting information held in a student's file, have the right to a response from the Office of the University Registrar within 30 days if the student provides written consent. Should the record include information about more than one student, only the information pertaining to the student making the request will be given.

IMPORTANT: The disclosure or publication of student information is governed by the policies of Florida State University and the State of Education within the framework of state and federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Student have the right to obtain a copy of Florida State University's student record policy from the Office of the University Registrar, A3900 University Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2480. For comprehensive information regarding FERPA and all policies related to the release of student information, please reference the ‘Notification of Students' Rights under FERPA' and the ‘Release of Student Information' sections in the “University Notices” chapter of this General Bulletin.

Please refer to the following headings in the “University Notices” section of this Bulletin for:

Notification of Students' Rights under (FERPA),
Release of Student Information, and
Request to Prevent Publication of Directory Information.

Phone Monitoring

Students should be aware that phone calls placed to Florida State University's interactive telephone network may be periodically monitored to ensure that the appropriate quality control is maintained.

Parental or Third-Party Access to Records

Students may give a designated parent(s)/guardian(s), or other third parties (i.e., sibling, spouse, etc.), authority to review their University financial status, grades, transcript, student profile. Granting access to a parent/guardian or third party to view information in this manner also authorizes University personnel to discuss those records with the designated individual(s). Students should be aware that any individuals granted such access may see the selected student's academic records, including but not limited to preferred name, gender identity, personal pronouns, classes, grades, billings, etc.

Enrollment Verification

Student enrollment verification is granted only through the submission of an official request. Students who require enrollment verification should visit https://registrar.fsu.edu/records/certification for further instructions. Written requests may be submitted directly to:

Office of the University Registrar
Florida State University
A3900 University Center
282 Champions Way
P.O. Box 3062480
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2480.

Former students or outside agencies may request an enrollment verification or degree verification online from the National Student Clearinghouse at https://nscverifications.org/welcome-to-verification-services.

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2024-2025 GRADUATE BULLETIN