Semester and Session Credit Hour Limits - Instruction Policy - 60260

This policy covers the number of credits in which a student may enroll per semester and session. Credit limits per semester adhere to VCCS Policy 5.6.4 Academic Load. The Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development or designee is responsible for this policy.

Semester Limits to Academic Load

The maximum full-time student load is 18 credits in the fall and spring semesters and 13 credits in the summer semester. Students wishing to carry an academic load of more than the semester maximum load must have the approval of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development or designee, and ordinarily, should have a minimum grade point average of 3.5.

Session Limits to Academic Load

The maximum number of credits a student may take within each separate session is dependent on the session length. The maximum credit limit per session is outlined below.

Maximum Credit Hours per Session

• 15-Week Session – 19 credits
• 10-Week Session – 13 credits
• Each 7-Week Session - 9 credits per session
• Each 5-Week Session – 7 credits per session

Within any one semester, students may enroll in courses across multiple sessions. However, the total number of credits taken across all sessions must not exceed the semester maximum student load in accordance with the Statement of Academic Load Policy (Policy 60200).

Accelerated Online Degree Program

Students completing a degree path through the Accelerated Online Degree Program (i.e., College Everywhere) will also follow this policy to ensure a manageable course load. No pathway in this program will require more than the maximum credit hours in an individual session.

Students seeking to enroll in more credits than the maximum per session or semester should meet with an advisor to complete the request. The request permission is submitted to the Program Dean. The Dean will evaluate the request and will submit approvals to Enrollment Services for processing.

Student requests will be evaluated by the Office of Academic Affairs or their designee.

Full-time student: a student enrolled in courses totaling 12 or more credit hours per semester.

Part-time student: a student enrolled in courses totaling less than 12 credit hours per semester.

Semester: A period of defined time in which the academic year is divided. The college’s academic calendar includes three semesters: fall, spring and summer.

Session: A period of time within a semester that defines the number of weeks that a class spans. A session may stretch across an entire semester (e.g., 15-Week Session in the fall semester) or may be shorter in duration (e.g., Seven Week 1 (7W1), Seven Week 2 (7W2), Five Week 2 (5W2)). The college offers various session lengths within each semester.

Student Load/Academic Load: The number of credit hours a student takes within a defined period of time.

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Approval Date: 5/30/2024