Student Classifications

The following sections state some of the specific criteria used for identifying Lakeland students in class level categories or tuition cost groups. In several cases, the sections include policies that apply only to the students classified in a specific category.

Changing My Major (Traditional On-Campus versus accessing a major at a Lakeland Center Location)

• Students who have not reached senior standing may change their major program location using the Change of Program Request Form, available in the Office of the Registrar.
  • A student at senior standing (90+ semester hours) must complete the requirements of the student’s current program location.
• Graduation requirements may be adjusted in accord with the student’s new program.
• Students may enroll in courses offered at any Lakeland University location, if able to participate in course modality and/or meeting type.
  • The student’s advisor must approve all registrations for any Lakeland University program.
• Students at senior standing, who have been away from Lakeland University for one semester or more and wish to return, must apply for readmission.
• Such students will be subject to the requirements of the academic catalog year under which they are readmitted to the University.
  • Tuition charges are assessed according to student status, program enrollment and term of enrollment.

Enrollment in other Course Modalities

• All students are eligible to enroll in any Lakeland University course offerings formats of face-to-face, online, hybrid or BlendEd®.
• Students should note they must participate in the course in the format in which it is offered, at the location offered (if in person) and follow all course policies.

Class Year Definition

All undergraduate students officially accepted by the university as candidates for the associate or bachelor’s degree will be classified as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors according to the following criteria:

Other Categories:

Full-Time and Part-Time Classification

• Undergraduate Students: are full-time at twelve (12+) undergraduate semester hours of enrollment. Part-time status if enrollment is eleven (11) semester hours or less.  
• Graduate Students: are full-time at nine (9+) graduate semester hours of enrollment. Part-time status if enrollment is eight (8) semester hours or less.  
  • Students participating in intercollegiate athletics must achieve full-time status at the appropriate degree level in the university and be classified as traditional on-campus or commuter undergraduate program student to maintain their eligibility to participate.
  • See the Athletic Eligibility section of this catalog for more details regarding undergraduate and graduate requirements and students within their last semester prior to graduation information.
• International students must enroll at a full-time status at either level (graduate or undergraduate) to remain eligible for F-1 Visa eligibility.

Special Student Registration

There are six other categories of enrolling students at Lakeland guided by unique registration policies and tuition rates. For specific details regarding tuition and fees, refer to the Schedule of Tuition and Fees available in the Admissions Office.

Categories:

Concurrent Academic Progress Program (CAPP):

• High school students may participate in courses at their high school location with their high school instructors granted Lakeland Adjunct Faculty Status.
• Each year, high school administrators in partnership with Lakeland’s academic deans approve offerings of Lakeland University academic courses.
• Students earn college credit hours applicable to a Lakeland University degree.
• High schools announce course offerings approximately four months before the semester begins.
• Interested students may contact their Guidance Office staff for details and deadlines.

Early College Credit Program (ECCP):

• High school students may attend courses at Lakeland University with written recommendation of a high school principal, guidance counselor, or teacher.
• Staff from Lakeland’s registrar’s office seek approval to enroll the student from the Lakeland instructor presenting the course.
• All early college courses are eligible for the semester hours published for the course and apply toward a Lakeland degree.
• Interested students may contact the Office of the Registrar for details and deadlines.

Program for Alumni Career Enhancement (PACE):

• The Program for Alumni Career Enhancement (PACE) offers Lakeland University bachelor’s degree graduates the opportunity to return to the undergraduate classroom to meet their evolving career goals.
• A Lakeland graduate can enroll in additional undergraduate courses to:
  • Complete additional courses related to a previously earned major or minor
  • Complete a new major or minor
  • Complete courses in a new area of interest
  • Complete professional certification requirements
• Students participating in this program pay tuition and fees based on number of semester hours enrolled.
• A student seeking to add a major or minor through the PACE opportunity must complete an application for admission and the additional coursework at Lakeland.
• If required coursework is no longer offered, the university may consider granting enrollment in two (2) new transfer courses to the major or minor requirements applicable within the university’s standard transfer policy.
• A PACE program student does not receive a second degree and will not receive another diploma if the degree designation of the majors is the same.
  • A new major and/or minor will appear on the student’s transcript on the date the additional credential is completed.

Senior citizens, age 60 or older:

• Senior aged students are offered the same enrollment opportunities as Lakeland University alumni and may enroll in courses for academic credit under the PACE tuition plan (described above).
• If interested in auditing a course (instead of taking it for academic credit) and seats are available, a senior citizen may do so under the following conditions:
  • Instructor approval is secured on behalf of the student by the registrar’s office staff.
  • No more than two courses (excluding applied music) are audited at a rate of $310.00 per course.
  • The auditor bears the cost of books and/or supplies. 
  • Course(s) available for audit are only available in the traditional undergraduate program.

Life and Career Studies (LCS):

• Life and Career Studies is a full-time program of enrollment for students with intellectual disabilities. Students must meet the program’s admission requirements and be accepted into the program to enroll. Students also reside on campus and participate in programming available as residential students.
• Students accepted into the Life and Career Studies program elect university coursework on an audit basis in consultation with the program director, who serves as the student’s advisor. They have the same access to coursework including class selections and enrollment priority as degree-seeking students and are subject to the same coursework pre-requisites. LCS students may elect a course for credit based on policies established for other non-degree students.
• Students in the Life and Career Studies program are required to maintain full-time enrollment status as defined by the program’s policy. As full-time students, they pay the LCS program fee for instruction. Additionally, they pay for housing and meal fees, course fees, and other standard university fees while living on campus.
• Life and Career Studies students earn a diploma certificate by completing the defined 96 credit-equivalent program as well as institutionally endorsed certificates in a subject area and cooperative education, but not an academic degree.
• Students are subject to the Life and Career studies Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, which governs continued enrollment as well as eligibility for financial aid, if applicable. Once the program’s 96 semester hour curriculum has been completed, students must reapply to the university for admission if they wish to continue coursework.

Special Student Registration:

• A special student applicant who enrolls in course(s) or special programs offered by Lakeland University is a non-degree-seeking student who is not pursuing completion of a degree, major or minor.
• Students in this category may enroll under one of the plans identified above.
• For more information about these special enrollment programs, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
• Traditional undergraduate program students enrolling in Lakeland Center class formats retain their traditional student program classification.
• Students in CAPP, ECCP, PACE, and senior citizen special student registration categories are subject to the following unique policies. (These policies do not apply to LCS students):
  • Enrollment in courses is on a space-available or standby basis.
    • Degree-seeking students paying full tuition and fees receive priority enrollment in all courses.
  • Cooperative education experiences, CPA/CMA, field experiences, independent study, internships, and practicum courses are not available in these registration categories.

Undergraduate Students Enrolling in Graduate Courses

• Undergraduate students with senior standing, a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and the appropriate foundation coursework may enroll in nine (9) semester hours of approved Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development coursework as part of their undergraduate degree.
• Students with senior standing, a GPA of 3.0, whose undergraduate work meets prerequisite requirements or who have the consent of the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling director may enroll in nine (9) semester hours of approved Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling coursework as part of their undergraduate degree.
  • All nine (9) semester hours may be applied later to the semester hours required for a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree, the semester hours required for a Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development degree, or the semester hours required for a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling degree.
• Students must complete an undergraduate degree prior to enrolling in coursework in the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program.