You are here: American University Provost Registrar Student Services Consortium Registration

Consortium Registration

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area combines the resources of area universities and colleges. In cooperation with the Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, Georgetown University, Howard University, Marymount University, Montgomery College, National Defense University, National Intelligence University, Northern Virginia Community College, Prince George's Community College, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Trinity Washington University, the University of the District of Columbia, the University of Maryland College Park, and the University of Maryland Global Campus. American University offers qualified degree students the opportunity to enroll for courses at any of these institutions.

With the appropriate approvals, undergraduate and graduate degree students may take courses for AU residence credit at one of the above mentioned member institutions, provided the course is not offered at AU. American University students pay the AU tuition rate and students registering for consortium courses at all universities will be billed for any special fees (such as lab fees) for the course.

Consortium registration is available during the first two weeks of classes, unless classes at the visited school begin before AU's classes. Consortium registration can be confirmed only after classes begin at the visited school.

For course eligibility and registration information, contact the student services unit in the Office of the Registrar at 202-885-2208 or registration_services@american.edu. Information on the Consortium is also available at the website for Consortium of Universities.

Consortium Registration Policies

  • Students who wish to enroll for a consortium course may do so during the first two weeks of classes. Only if classes start at the consortium school prior to the start date at American University will an exception be made.
  • To participate in consortium cross-registration, students must be eligible for enrollment at American University and accepted in a degree program. Non-degree students are not permitted to take courses through the consortium.
  • Students are not permitted to register for courses through the consortium which are offered at American University. Undergraduate and graduate students are not permitted to enroll in courses whose content are substantially the same as courses offered at AU.
  • Credits earned through the consortium are considered residence credits and thus fulfill academic requirements of the University (excluding General Education, University Mathematics, and College Writing requirement).
  • Courses that do not carry degree credit at the visited school will not be counted for degree credits at American University. American University will not honor credits earned through consortium cross registration for any course that is considered a non-credit course.
  • Auditing courses through the consortium is not permitted.
  • Independent study projects, tutorial, institute courses, off campus courses, courses in law and medicine and non-credit courses (except ROTC at Georgetown and Howard) are excluded from consortium cross-registration.
  • Faculty/staff tuition remission does not apply to courses taken through the consortium. However, with the approval of the respective Dean, graduate students awarded fellowships may use their tuition remission towards consortium registration.
  • AU students will be charged the American University tuition rate for consortium courses. All special fees for consortium courses must be paid by the student at the visited school.
  • Students are expected to follow the regulations governing academic integrity and personal conduct at visited institutions.
  • Students enrolled at two or more Consortium institutions are not eligible to participate in Consortium registration at those institutions.

Consortium Registration Procedures

  • The Consortium Registration Authorization form must be completely filled out with both the AU consortium course number and the visited school's complete course number, including section number and correct course title.
  • Students must obtain the signature of their advisor and the Dean/Department Chair who represents the field of the intended course (i.e., if wishing to take an economics course at another school, the student must obtain approval from the American University chair of the Department of Economics), and the Dean of their school.

  • Students are strongly advised to make prior arrangements with the visited school's department or instructor as all course prerequisites are strictly enforced. Students must obtain written permission from the visited institution's department or instructor to waive prerequisites. The visited institution may deny enrollment if permission is not obtained, even if the student has completed American University's registration procedures.

  • Students registering for consortium courses that require special fees must pay any additional fees at the visited school. (See the Consortium Calendar and the Schedule of Classes published by the visited school.)

  • Finally, each student must bring the completed Consortium Registration authorization form to the Office of the Registrar, where he/she will be issued a gold-colored consortium registration card by the Consortium Coordinator at the time of registration. Students should show this card to the instructor at the visited school and keep the card with them for identification purposes.