Academic Policies and Standards

The Academic Calendar                                                                           

Midland uses the traditional semester calendar which consists of two terms of 16 weeks followed by an optional summer term of 12 weeks. The Fall term begins in late August and is completed before the Christmas break in December, the Spring term begins in mid-January and ends in early May, and the Summer term begins late May and ends in mid-August. Additionally, 8-week terms (Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, and Late Spring) run concurrently with the traditional calendar. The graduate programs predominantly utilize these calendars. Summer courses may be offered in sessions shorter than the 12-week semester. The full Academic Calendar is posted online, is available at academiccalendar@midlandu.edu, or in the University Registrar’s Office for more details. The Academic Calendar is subject to change.

Registration

Registration involves enrolling for the student’s choice of classes and the payment of all term costs. Therefore, students are permitted to enter classes only after completing registration and meeting financial commitments in the Student Billing Office. Students may not register for and enter a course, section, or laboratory after the first week of a semester or session.

Change of Registration

During the standard, 16-week semesters (Fall or Spring), a student who desires to drop or change a course may do so during the first week of the term by contacting an advisor. Beginning the second week of the term, students may only drop courses without academic penalty by working with an advisor. The student must continue in the present class until the request for a change has been submitted. If a student is granted permission to drop a course during the first two weeks of the term, all evidence of the course will be removed from the academic record. If the student drops a course after this date, but prior to four weeks before the last day of classes in that term, a W (withdrawal) for each course dropped will appear on the record unless an AW (administrative withdrawal) has already been assigned.

During the non-standard, 8-week sessions/modules (Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, Late Spring), and the Summer semester students may adjust their schedule during the first 3 days of the semester by contacting an advisor. Courses may be dropped without academic penalty by the end of the first week.

Withdrawals during the last four weeks of Fall or Spring semesters, last three weeks of a non-standard semester, or last three weeks of the Summer semester, will result in a grade of F in the course(s) dropped. Non-standard length courses are subject to the same dates as the full term. All students should refer to the appropriate Academic Calendar for exact registration dates.

Classification of Students

Undergraduate students enrolled in courses, which accumulate to 12 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semester, are classified as full-time; the full-time/part-time designation is made after the Census Day, which is the first day of Academic Week 3 unless otherwise indicated on the Academic Calendar.

Academic Load and Classification of Students

(9) credits of graduate coursework on the 16-week term is considered full-time. Nine (9) credits of graduate coursework from the combined eight-week sessions/modules within the 16-week term is considered full-time. Six (6) credits is considered half time. Six (6) credits of graduate coursework during the summer term will be considered full time. Classification will be determined by Week 2 on the 8-week sessions/modules and Week 3 on the 16-week term. It is recommended for students to be registered for both consecutive 8-week sessions/modules before the beginning of the 16 week term.

To be considered full-time for financial aid purposes, a graduate student must be enrolled in a total of 9 credit hours in the 16-week term. This can be any combination of credits in the early and late sessions/modules during the 16 week term (i.e. Early Fall and Late Fall, or Early Spring and Late Spring). To qualify for federal financial aid, graduate students and students with baccalaureate degrees need to be at least half time during the 16-week term.

Students using Veterans Education benefits from the Veterans Administration must be enrolled at a minimum of half time. Half time is a total of 6 credits or more in the 16-week term. For certification purposes, it is ideal for students to be registered for both 8-week sessions/modules before the beginning of the 16-week term. Contact the School Certifying Official for questions about your enrollment status.

A traditional undergraduate student may enroll in no more than six credits of 500-level graduate course work per semester. A traditional student interested in taking 500-level graduate courses on the eight- week session/module must first be enrolled in twelve credits on the traditional 16-week term and is limited to 6 credits of 500 level graduate coursework per 16-week term/semester. Undergraduate students may not enroll in 600-level courses.

Course Offerings                                                                                                                      

Courses which are included in the regular curriculum of the University are listed in this Catalog. Courses below 500 are considered undergraduate courses and are found in the Undergraduate Catalog. Graduate level courses are numbered in the 500s and 600s.

Course Sequencing

Some courses are offered on alternate years or terms. The University Registrar will post the current list of course offerings and the most updated course rotation online. The schedule of classes must be consulted to obtain the most current information about term-by-term course availability. Although it is the responsibility of the student to take the initiative in determining and meeting graduation and major requirements, faculty, advisors, and administrative staff will work with students to the extent necessary to assist them in attaining educational objectives. Course sequencing is subject to change.

Credit Hour Policy                                                                                                                    

Generally, Midland University will follow the federal credit hour definition of one hour of classroom or direct faculty/qualified instructor instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks, or the equivalent engagement over a different time-period.

Alternatively, a credit hour will be defined as the learning that takes place in at least 45 hours of learning activities, which include:

1. Time in lectures or class meetings in-person or online

2. Laboratories

3. Examinations

4.  Presentations, tutorials, preparation, reading, or studying

5. Hands-on experiences

6. Other learning activities

7. A demonstration by the student of learning equivalent to that established as the expected product of such a period of study.

In all cases, learning in for-credit courses is guided by a qualified instructor and includes regular and substantive student-instructor interaction.