Student Status
How many credits do I have to register?
Do I have to be registered for Summer classes?
How long do I have to finish my program?
What is Student Status?
American University requires that each graduate student have some sort of academic status each Fall and Spring semester until he/she completes his/her program. As such, every student needs to be registered for at least 1 credit each Fall and Spring semester (or where applicable, be on a leave of absence). The University refers to this as maintaining matriculation. A student whom fails to account for his/her academic status in a Fall or Spring semester is subject to administrative withdrawal.
How many credits do I have to register?
In order to maintain student status, you'll need to register at least 1 credit each Fall and Spring.
To mantain full-time student status, you'll need to register at least 9 credits in a Fall or Spring semester or 6 credits in a Summer semester.
To maintain half-time student status, you'll need to register for 6-8 credits in a Fall or Spring semester. There is no half-time status in summer.
Domestic students must be registered for at least 6 credits in a Fall, Spring, or Summer semester in order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid and/or deferment of current student loan repayment unless certain conditions exist to exempt them from this.
Maintain Matriculation
If a student has registered for all credits required for his/her degree but has not yet met all degree requirements (e.g. unfinished SRP, not satisfied the language requirement), he/she still needs to be registered for at least one credit each Fall and Spring until the degree is completed. In this case, a student can register for a skills institute or other one credit course, or he/she can register for SIS-099 Maintain Matriculation. Maintain Matriculation has no credit bearing or requirements-it costs the same as one credit with no other fees or expenses. This registration maintains a student's status with the University and provides him/her with access to campus resources (library, fitness center, faculty, my.american.edu, etc.).
If you do not resolve all of your work at the end of what you expected to be your last semester (e.g. taking an incomplete or an in progress on an SRP or other course), you WILL need to maintain matriculation for the following semester in order to maintain your student status and resolve your remaining work.
Leave of Absence
A student is permitted under the academic regulations to take a leave of absence for up to one academic year (i.e. two consecutive semesters) provided that he/she will be making no academic progress during that semester. A student cannot take a leave if he/she has any incomplete, in progress, or ungraded work pending, and a student cannot transfer in any credits completed elsewhere while on leave (i.e. you cannot take a leave of absence to take a course elsewhere with plans to transfer in the credits).
During a leave the student is not entitled to use the services of the university and will not have access to my.american.edu, the library, or other campus resources.
To request a leave of absence, a student must submit a written/e-mail request to his/her academic advisor that indicates the semester(s) for which leave is requested and a brief explanation for the leave request. A student on leave for one semester can add a second consecutive semester of leave by submitting a written request for an extension of leave.
In addition to standard leaves of absence, a student can request leave for a medical condition that will prevent him/her from making academic progress. Medical documentation may be required to process request for medical leave, and medical leave is not limited to two semesters in the way a standard leave is, nor do semesters of medical leave need to be consecutive.
Active military personnel can receive military leave if they are being deployed or otherwise have their studies interrupted by their military service commitment.
For more information about leave for medical or military reasons contact your academic advisor.
For International Students
International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa a required to maintain full-time student status each Fall and Spring semester. In certain instances a student may be eligible to carry fewer than 9 credits. International Student and Scholar Services has more information for F-1 and J-1 visa holders regarding enrollment and maintaining necessary status to comply with their visa requirements.
Do I have to be registered for Summer classes?
American University does not require students to register for summer semesters. Students have the option to pursue study during summer terms but a student does not need to maintain matriculation or in any other way have an active status during a summer semester. And international students do not need to be registered during a summer semester in order to maintain their visa status.
By extension, if you were attempting to graduate for Spring and were unable to complete all requirements, it is possible (with faculty approval) to continue to work on and resolve all outstanding projects and graduate for Summer without incurring additional costs. A student seeking to do this will need to reapply to graduate for Summer.
How long do I have to finish my program?
We understand that different people need to work at their own pace and that full-time study is not an option for everyone. SIS does not rush students on completion dates while they are registering for degree credits. Once a student has registered for all required credits, he/she is given up to two semesters to maintain matriculation to resolve any outstanding requirements. A student may request a third semester of maintain matriculation provided that he/she has developed a work plan and strategy to complete his/her degree.
Withdrawals: Types, Meanings
A student not otherwise in status is considered to be withdrawn from American University. There are several kinds of withdrawals, all with different ramifications:
- Voluntary Withdrawal occurs if a student decides not to complete his/her current academic program. A student can withdraw immediately or at the conclusion of a semester. In these cases, the student completes a Request for Voluntary Withdrawal (available from the SIS Graduate Advising Office or via e-mail from sisgradadvising@american.edu) and completes and submits it to his/her academic advisor. A student considering withdrawing should contact his/her advisor to discuss options. A student who withdraws voluntarily may reapply to the program after one calendar year.
- Administrative Withdrawal occurs when a student has not registered for the current Fall or Spring semester and is not on leave. This can be rescinded by the student registering or going on leave to account for any semester(s) for which the student was not in status. Contact your academic advisor for more information.
- Financial Dismissal occurs if a student's tuition and fees have not been paid (this usually occurs on or just after mid-term). The student's registration for the semester is cancelled and he/she is financially dismissed. This can be rescinded by remitting payment for all outstanding charges plus a reinstatement fee.
- Academic Dismissal occurs if a student has failed to make satisfactory academic progress or for a violation of the Academic Integrity Code. Unless otherwise indicated at the time of dismissal, a student who is academically dismissed can reapply to the program after one calendar year.
Last updated 21 December 2009
