Combined Enrollment

2025-2026 Academic Policies proposal for Graduate Program

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General Catalog Information
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  • Institutional Policy for Graduate Programs*
    This form may only be used for updating academic policies or introducing new policies at the graduate level.
  • Title*
    Combined Enrollment
    Combined Enrollment
    The title identified here refers to the title of an existing policy or a new policy to be added to the graduate catalog
  • Is this an existing policy?
  • Does this policy need to be reciprocated at the undergraduate level?*
    To ensure consistency in our policies at the undergraduate and graduate level, this question is designed to direct the attention of the author and councils to this important issue. When appropriate changes that necessitate update/new policies at both levels require two proposals to go through governance; one for each level.
The Proposed Policy
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  • Rationale for the new/update policy proposal*
    Currently the combined enrollment policy in the Graduate Catalog does not match the combined enrollment policy in the Undergraduate Catalog. This proposal puts forward a singular policy that would be identical in both the Graduate and Undergraduate catalogs. Here is a summary of key changes between existing policies and the proposed policy to improve the process and remove barriers to utilizing this opportunity: Policy name proposed to change from “Combined Enrollment” to “Taking Graduate Courses as an Undergraduate Student” to clarify what the policy is and to distinguish it from “Dual Enrollment” Change requirement from “senior who need nine hours or fewer” to senior standing. Many graduate courses are only offered spring or fall and not both, so this change reflects the current process where we often allow students to take a course as a first semester senior because it won’t be offered in their final semester. This change may also help students utilize financial aid for a graduate course as an undergraduate student. Remove final approval from the Graduate Studies Office. The advisor, instructor and chair of the department the course is in should be sufficient oversight as to whether or not the student is ready for graduate level work and if the graduate program has capacity in a specific course. Remove the requirement to not exceed 12 credit hours without additional permission. Students who want to take a single graduate course and use financial aid typically would need to take more than 12 credit hours. Streamline the GPA requirement to be a 3.0, which is also the graduate admissions criteria and what would be “good standing” at the graduate level. Currently students must have a 3.25 GPA in their major, which may not coincide with the disciplinary area they would like to take graduate courses in. Change “Granting of combined enrollment graduate credit is contingent upon completion of undergraduate degree requirements. Should, for any reason, a student taking courses for combined enrollment not graduate at the end of the semester, all graduate credit will automatically revert to undergraduate credit.” from the undergraduate catalog to “Petitions that would delay completion of the Undergraduate Degree will not be approved.” This is a more active approach that works better with the proposed ability to take a graduate level course as a senior rather than when they only have 9 undergraduate credits remaining.
    Please explain the rationale for this proposal.
  • Current Policy (if one exists)

    Current Policy in Graduate Catalog

    Combined Enrollment

    Undergraduate students in their senior year who need nine hours or fewer to graduate may petition for combined enrollment if they meet the terms and conditions outlined on the Petition for Approval of Combined Enrollment Form.

    The student’s total class load cannot exceed twelve credit hours unless permission is requested by the student’s advisor and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The total number of graduate credits an undergraduate student is allowed to enroll in prior to receiving the bachelor’s degree is nine. (Students are billed the undergraduate tuition rate.) These nine credits count toward the total of nine hours allowed prior to admission to a program. The completed enrollment form with signatures from the student’s advisor and department chair must be submitted to the Graduate Office, 606 Culkin Hall, for final approval.

    This field should only be completed if an existing policy is proposed to be updated. Please copy the exact wording of the policy from the graduate catalog into this text area.
    New Policy*

    Taking Graduate Courses as an Undergraduate Student

    Undergraduate students with senior standing may petition to take graduate courses for graduate credit if the student has at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. To do so, the advisor must complete the Petition for Approval of Combined Enrollment Form via the Registrar’s Website on behalf of the student. The petition is sent to the course instructor and the chair of the department the course sits within for approval. Petitions that would delay completion of the Undergraduate Degree will not be approved.

    In exceptional circumstances a student who does not meet these requirements may petition, through the chair of the department in which the course is offered, to the appropriate dean for permission to enroll in graduate level courses.

    A graduate course used for undergraduate credit cannot also be used for graduate credit. A student must elect at the time of the petition whether or not to take the course for graduate credit. 

    The total number of graduate credits an undergraduate student is allowed to enroll in prior to receiving the bachelor’s degree is nine (students are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate).

    Please provide catalog copy of the policy to be considered.

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