Student Course Transactions

Course Registration

Students must officially register for all courses for which they intend to earn semester-hour credit. Registration dates for students appear on the academic calendar.

• First-time undergraduate students will receive registration information from their Admissions Representative before the first term.
• All other first-time students and returning students can refer to the academic calendar(s) on my.lakeland.edu and receive reminders from their faculty and academic advisors.

Registration for each term involves these essential steps, though not necessarily in this order:

1. Apply for financial aid during spring term for the following academic year through the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office.
2. Rectify any financial obligations or holds through the Business Office.
3. Obtain parking permits via the Office of Campus Safety and Security if planning to attend/live on the home campus.
4. Students can obtain Campus Identification cards from the Campus Center.
   • ID photos are taken, and card activation takes place.
5. Academic advisors review academic progress and work with students to select and register for courses to complete remaining degree requirements each semester.
6. Students log on to my.lakeland.edu to reserve their courses and review progress on requirements for declared degree.
7. Academic advisors approve course registrations for their assigned students through my.LAKEAND.edu.
8. Apply for housing and make residence hall arrangements through the Residence Life Office, if applicable.

Each semester course schedule is posted on lakeland.edu and/or my.lakeland.edu.

Adding or Dropping Courses

• Students may add and drop courses in accordance with the published add/drop deadline schedule each term.
  • Students can complete this transaction online via my.lakeland.edu.
  • Added or dropped courses are then approved by the advisor.
  • A fillable PDF form is available, if used the same conditions apply.
• Students are responsible for adding and/or dropping courses within the stated deadlines.
• A student receives no grade for a dropped course.

Auditing a Course

• A student may audit any Lakeland course. No credit is earned toward an academic degree for an audited course.
  • Note:  Life and Career Studies (LCS) students may apply approved audited courses to their program requirements.
• The instructor will identify the expectations and course requirements of an audited course by completing the Course Audit Agreement form with the student submitting it to the registrar and the program director.
  • The minimal requirement for an audit is regular class attendance.
• Grades assigned:
  • AU/SA = Successful completion of the work assigned by the instructor
  • UAU/UAL = Failure to complete work assigned by instructor
  • WAU/WAL = Withdrawal from the course
• A student may convert a course to audit status at any time on or before withdrawal deadline date on the academic calendar.
• A reduced tuition rate may be available to a student who completes an audited course.
  • Students should refer to the tuition and fee schedule or their individual bills for specific rate information.
• There is no audit tuition or program fee reduction for a student who has enrolled in special registration programs, such as ECCP, PACE, LCS, internships, independent studies, or applied music lessons.

Independent Learning Experiences

Courses with low enrollment: On rare occasions, a course may need to be offered to one to four (1-4) students to ensure they maintain appropriate degree progress. If such a need is identified, the student’s advisor should contact the dean of the school to which the course is assigned. Together, they will review options and alternatives for the student. If the dean determines a special offering of a course is necessary, scheduling occurs via the normal scheduling and students enroll in the regular registration processes.

Courses designed for independent learning: Several Lakeland programs provide opportunities for students to complete their degree requirements through independent learning. Examples of these courses include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Cooperative Design
• Directed readings and research
• Independent study courses (numbered 490 in most programs)
• Senior projects
• Senior thesis

When the independent learning style course is required for completion of a graduate degree or concentration students should:

• Complete an Application for Independent Learning (available on my.lakeland.edu),
• Secure approvals from required university personnel (indicated on form), and
• Submit approved form to Registrar’s Office for enrollment processing.

If the course is an elective option for completion of a graduate degree or concentration students should consult with their academic advisor and the dean of the school before applying for enrollment in the course. If enrollment is a viable option for the student, the student completes the Application for Independent Learning. Students are limited to completion of two elective courses in any course subject area on an independent learning basis.

Repeating a Course

Students may repeat a course up to two times but will receive credit for the course only once. Lakeland uses the highest grade received to compute cumulative grade-point-average (GPA). All attempts of repeated courses, including the grades received, will remain on the transcript even though only the highest grade is included in the cumulative GPA.

A student who fails an undergraduate Core II course or a Core III course may take a different Core II course or Core III course to fulfill his/her graduation requirements. A passing grade in the subsequent course will replace the failing grade of the previous Core II or Core III attempt.

Withdrawing from a Course

• A student who wishes to withdraw from one, some or all courses must do so in accordance with the withdrawal dates published for each term.
  • Withdrawal dates may differ depending on the length of course.
• Official withdrawal from course(s) requires the student to secure approval from their academic advisor, bursar and completion of the add/drop/withdrawal form.
• Additional signatures/approvals are needed for athletes, international students, or those individuals receiving military benefits as withdrawn course may affect a student’s monetary benefits or enrollment eligibility status.
• Add/drop/withdrawal form is available to download from my.LAKELAND.edu. 
  • Students bring or send the approved form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.
• A student receives a W grade for a withdrawn course.

A student who withdraws from one or more courses and adds an upcoming course to their schedule should note:

Lakeland University Home Campus students:

• Twelve to eighteen (12-18) semester hours is a full-time status for undergraduate level students in mostly day, on-campus, in person traditional academic programs at the home campus.
• Any student who wishes to add a new course after withdrawal and the cumulative semester total is above eighteen (18) semester hours, with the withdrawn hours as part of the eighteen (18), they need to submit an overload permission form.
  • Additional tuition and fees apply to any added courses.
• Example: fifteen (15) semester hours still enrolled, three (3) semester hours withdrawn, addition of a 7W2 course (3 semester hours), student petitions for an overload for the 7W2 additional semester hours.
  • Students have a total enrollment of twenty-one (21) semester hours (3 withdrawn semester hours of enrollment and owe tuition and fees for three (3) additional semester hours.

Lakeland University Center Locations:

• Undergraduate Students achieve full-time status after 12+ semester hours of enrollment for classification and pay tuition and fees per semester hour for courses offered mostly in the evening, at our Lakeland University Center locations (in multiple formats including online).
• Graduate Students achieve full-time status after 9+ semester hours of enrollment for classification and pay tuition and fees per semester hour for courses offered mostly in the evening, at our Lakeland University Center locations (in multiple formats including online). 

All Students:

• Undergraduate students may not exceed twenty-one (21) semester hours in a term.
• Graduate students may not exceed twelve (12) semester hours in a term.

Withdrawal from the University

• A student who wishes to withdraw from all courses needs to complete the withdrawal from institution process.
• Using the withdrawal from institution form consult with and collect the additional signatures/approvals needed from:
  • Academic Advisor - academic impact
  • Athletics - regarding athletic eligibility
  • Business Office/Bursar - to clear student account
  • Financial Aid or Veteran’s Coordinator - regarding impact on eligibility and current term benefits
  • International-SEVIS Designated School Official - regarding F1 visa status issues
  • Library Services - to return materials
  • Residence Hall - turn in keys and remove belongings
  • Starfish is used to send notices of intent to withdrawal for other transactions to take place.
  • A student receives a W grade for a withdrawn course if completed prior to the deadline.

Medical Withdrawal and Family Leave

Students may withdraw from one or more courses up to the published withdrawal deadline date. (See Withdrawing from a Course OR the University) If an extraordinary situation related to the physical or mental health of the student or an immediate family member emerges after the withdrawal deadline expires, a student may submit a request for medical withdrawal or family leave. 

Students seeking medical withdrawal or family leave must apply to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within six (6) months of the last day of the term for which the leave is requested. Applications must include two things:

A letter from the student outlining the student’s situation and credible documentation from supervising physician, caregiver, or authorized professional that includes:

• dates and duration of student or family member’s condition and accompanying treatment.
• assessment of whether the condition or treatment of it interfered with the student’s ability to attend classes or complete required coursework.

Notes:

• Successful applications for medical withdrawal or family leave require withdrawal from all courses within the term.  Students may not seek medical withdrawal or family for a single course when enrolled in multiple courses. 
• Incomplete applications will require additional time to process, which can delay applications for readmission or resolution of academic standing issues.
• Requests for refunds related to withdrawal for medical situations require a separate request to the Bursar’s office.

Military Student Mobilization Policy

Lakeland University provides reasonable accommodations to any student called to emergency national or other mandatory government service. In the event a Lakeland University student is mobilized into the armed forces of the United States, the National Guard, or other mandatory government service, the following policy shall pertain. Students receiving orders to report for active duty or other mandatory emergency government service should notify the Veterans Coordinator of the date for activation and the projected length of active service when known. Preliminary notice may be given by phone, email, or by letter, but must be followed by the submission of a copy of the government orders or notice of activation. This document will be forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for inclusion in the official record of the student.

Mobilization On or Prior to the Last Day to Withdraw

If a student is mobilized on or prior to the last day to withdraw from a course, the student will receive a “W” as the course grade and will be entitled to full refund of the course or courses enrolled for the term.

Mobilization Following the Last Day to Withdraw

If a student is mobilized after the last day to withdraw from a course, the student may elect one of the following:

1. With the full consent and cooperation of the instructor, receive an “I” (Incomplete) as the temporary course grade; and within 90 days of deactivation from mobilization, complete the course requirements, and receive a permanent course grade. Failure to complete the work within the prescribed time will result in the student receiving an “F” as the permanent course grade, or
2. Receive a “W” as the course grade and a full refund for the course(s).

It is the student’s responsibility to notify Lakeland University of his/her mobilization status and to contact the instructor to make appropriate arrangements if option 1 is chosen. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the student receiving an “F” for any course unofficially vacated.