Registration Policies

Registering for Classes

Students may register for courses during the authorized registration period up to one week prior to the class start date by utilizing the Academic Schedule Planner on the MySAU Portal. After the registration period closes, students must petition to register late. Exceptions will be made only under extreme and unavoidable circumstances or if the registration will prevent a course cancellation due to low enrollment. Students should contact their academic advisor who will work with the Office of Registration and Records and instructor to gain late registration authorization.

Course Load/Credit Limits

Students may not enroll in more than 30 credit hours per 12-month period in any Spring Arbor University graduate program or combination of graduate programs without the permission of the program administrators. Any schedule exceeding 15 credit hours in a six-month period (non-traditional semester calendars) must have permission of the program. (See specific programs for possible other course load requirements.)

Auditing a Course

Students who wish to audit a class (i.e., attend the class but not receive credit) must obtain approval from the program administrators. Students must pay the applicable audit fee and any course fees. To have the audit placed on their permanent record, students must meet the regular attendance policy of the course and any other requirements specified by the department or program. Registration for audit may not be changed to credit after the drop period for that course. If credit is desired subsequent to completing the course, the student must retake the course for credit, paying the applicable tuition and fees.

Auditing students will not be required to complete assignments and/or exams unless the instructor requests that assignments be completed as a necessary part of attending the class or as required by the program. An instructor has no obligation to meet with an auditing student after class or to correct assignments submitted by an auditing student unless the instructor has requested that the student complete the materials.

GPA Restart

Former Spring Arbor University graduate students with grades at SAU that fall below the minimum program or University grade standards may petition for their GPA to restart upon readmission to a graduate program at SAU. GPA restart petitions will be considered only under the following conditions:

1. Applications for readmission to SAU and petitions to restart GPA are subsequent to a minimum of five consecutive years of absence from the most recent last date of attendance in a graduate program at SAU.
2. The applicant has not taken any graduate courses at any other institution during the time of absence.
3. Applicants have previously attempted no more than 30% of the graduate program for which they are applying.
4. Applicants’ grades have not previously been restarted at SAU.
5. Applicants provide an explanation of their previous academic challenges and what measures they have taken or will take to overcome them.

GPA restart petitions are to be submitted with readmission application materials. The petition will be directed to and reviewed by the program administrators of the program to which the applicant is applying. All previous student information and records will be considered in the evaluation of the petition. Additionally, the program administrators may require an interview with the applicant before making a final decision.

If the student is accepted to the program and the program administrators grants the petition to restart the GPA, the student will be admitted on probation. The student must come off of probation at the culmination of the first semester after readmission with a semester GPA of 3.0 before the Office of Registration and Records will restart the GPA. The restart will begin from the date of reentry into the institution. The student’s transcript will note that the GPA was restarted and the date of restart. Students should be aware that the previous academic record will still appear on the transcript, and the restart applies to the GPA calculations at only SAU. Other institutions and employers may average all academic records together.

Students may need to retake courses or substitute courses for which grades were restarted, depending on the requirements of the program to which the student is admitted.

If the restart petition is not granted, students may appeal in writing to the school dean. The school dean’s decision is final.

Federal financial aid rules and limits apply regardless of the GPA restart. Students should seek guidance from the financial aid office to understand their financial responsibilities despite the GPA restart.

Repeating a Course

There is no limit to the number of repeated courses, but any given course may only be repeated once. When computing GPA, a higher grade replaces the lower grade and the credit hours count only once. All entries remain part of the student’s permanent academic record. Regular tuition charges and fees will be assessed for repeating a course.

Overlapping Courses

Students may apply credit hours successfully completed in one SAU master’s degree towards program requirements in another SAU master’s degree up to a maximum of 25% of the credit hours of the second master’s program (generally 9 credit hours).

Dropping a Course

Students who wish to drop a course during the authorized drop period must contact their academic advisor through SAU email requesting the drop. Students have seven calendar days, including the start day of the course, to drop a course voluntarily. The transcript will not reflect the student’s enrollment in the course. A drop occurring after the authorized drop period is considered a withdrawal and will be charged tuition for the course as indicated in Financial Information . (Also see Administrative Drop or Withdrawal Due to Nonparticipation.)

Withdrawing from a Course

After the authorized drop period closes, students who wish to withdraw from a course must contact their academic advisor through SAU email requesting the withdrawal. Students may withdraw up to the 60% point of a course and receive a grade of “W,” which remains part of the student’s permanent record but does not affect the GPA. Withdrawal after the 60% point will result in a grade of “WF,” which is reflected in the GPA and acts the same as a “F” grade. The withdrawal date is determined as follows:

1. The date the student officially requests in writing a withdrawal to the academic advisor of the program, who then submits the withdrawal request to the Office of Registration and Records, and;
2. the last day of the student’s recorded attendance is determined by the last date work tied to the gradebook in the Learning Management System was submitted by the student, or
3. when a student is administratively withdrawn or is withdrawn for nonparticipation.

Withdrawing from a Program

Students who need to withdraw from a program must notify their academic advisor and program administrators in writing. Students should check with Student Financial Services to understand the consequences of withdrawal on state or federal financial aid and their student account. Academic status as determined at the end of semester of withdrawal will continue should the student wish to return to SAU to complete the program at a future date.

Administrative Drop or Withdrawal Due to Nonparticipation

A student who does not log in or attend the course by the end of seventh (7th) day of the course may be administratively dropped from the course. A student who ceases to actively participate in a registered course for 14 consecutive days may be administratively withdrawn from the course. An administrative drop or withdrawal that changes the credit hour load of a student may have significant financial repercussions. A potential tuition refund will be based on the date of the withdrawal. An administrative withdrawal from a course, after 60% point, will result in a “WF” on the student’s academic record and no tuition refund.

Academic programs may have requirements beyond those outlined in this policy for which a student will be accountable.

Transfer Policy for Graduate Programs-Institutional

Students may request programs to evaluate official transcripts to determine applicable transfer credit. An official transcript from the sending institution must be submitted to the program office along with the initial application and a written request to evaluate credit for transfer.

• Transfer credits must be from a regionally-accredited institution.
• Transfer credits must be graduate level.
• A maximum of 12 semester credit hours may be accepted for transfer. NOTE: quarter hours or contact hours will be converted to semester credit hours upon transfer.
• The transferred course grade(s) must be a “B” or better. Transfer grades are not used in the calculation of Spring Arbor University cumulative GPA. Only course credit is transferred.
• Transfer credit hours cannot be more than 10 years old at the time of matriculation for any program. Some programs may have stricter policies on allowable transfer credit age limits for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, current trends, new competencies required for the field, current technology, new theories and methods, etc.
• Programs may have program-specific transfer credit policies that further define what credits will be considered for transfer. These requirements are listed in program sections of this catalog.
• In all cases, program administrators have the discretion to determine whether allowed transfer credits will apply to the program requirements as a substitution for a required course or elective credit only.
• The Office of Registration and Records will make a final determination on transfer credits upon inspection of records and evaluation of adherence to institutional policy.

Students who have matriculated to a SAU graduate program and have not yet transferred the maximum 12 credit hours may seek written approval from the program administrators to attend another institution for additional transfer credit to fulfill SAU program requirements. The Office of Registration and Records must receive notification of the advanced approval from the program and official transcripts from the transferring institution in order to transfer the credit to the student’s SAU transcript.

Independent Study Courses

With program administrator approval, independent studies (numbered 590 or 690) can be used as an elective or a substitute for program requirements. These courses provide opportunities for students to research and/or complete special projects and/or read to enrich their academic experience. Independent studies are directed by the student with only preliminary guidance and final evaluation from the sponsoring instructor. Graded “P”/”F.” A maximum of two independent studies may be utilized to fulfill program requirements or electives, and students must have completed a minimum of 6 credit hours in the program prior to application for an independent study course. The registrar has final approval for independent study registration.

Prior Learning Assessment

In some programs, students with significant graduate-level learning and/or professional training that is not sponsored by a college or university may be granted academic credit by Spring Arbor University through the process of prior learning assessment. Up to 25 percent of a graduate program can be earned using prior learning assessment as approved by program administrators.

There is a prior learning assessment fee for evaluation and processing. This fee is based on the number of credit hours requested to be assessed, not the number of credit hours awarded. Students approved for prior learning assessment may contact the Coordinator of Prior Learning Assessment for guidance.

Course Equivalencies

Course equivalencies are evaluated by the Office of Registration and Records on a case-by-case basis at the point of transfer or through the petition process. Course equivalencies are typically assigned to transfer courses or to replacement courses when there are changes to SAU curriculum. To be equivalent, the description and content or objectives of the two courses must show significant similarity. Equivalent courses are taught at the same level.

Course Substitutions

Course substitutions are evaluated by the Office of Registration and Records on a case-by-case basis at the point of transfer or through the petition process and in consultation with or by recommendation of academic program faculty. Course substitutions may be approved when an equivalent course is not available or upon transfer of a course that meets academic requirements of the program, such as a curriculum elective. If a required course is being replaced, the substitution course must be the same or closely related academic discipline as the required course, and strong justification must be provided for the substitution to be approved. Graduate course substitutions must be at the graduate level.

Course Waivers

Certain courses in the SAU curriculum have standing waiver policies (see program information). Other courses without a policy may be waived by petition as recommended by discipline faculty and approved by the registrar. Course waivers do not carry credit hours, so students may need to take elective courses to fulfill credit hour requirements of the academic program or for graduation. Waivers are not granted in cases where the student has non-course experience or existing knowledge of course content. In these cases, students may opt for credit by exam or participate in prior learning assessment to validate their learning or competence.

For a course with no standing waiver policy to be eligible for a waiver, there must be no equivalent or substitution course available, or the course is being eliminated from the program and shortages in resources make it impossible to teach the course by tutorial. The integrity and rigor of the academic program will be strongly considered in the approval of waivers. Course equivalencies, substitutions and tutorials are preferred over waivers.

Undergraduate Dual Enrollment

Undergraduate dual enrollment may be granted to undergraduate’s who will have completed 58 credit hours before registration into desired graduate courses. To be eligible, students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the minimum number of credit hours or courses specified or required by the program. There is a limit of 12 credit hours unless the graduate program is specifically designed as an accelerated program. Dual enrollees may register only by petition and only for graduate-level courses approved by the department chair of the student’s undergraduate major/s and the graduate program administrators, dean, or designee and are subject to review by the Graduate Council.

For students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, graduate courses may not be eligible for federal financial aid unless the graduate courses are being used to meet requirements of the bachelor’s degree. If the graduate courses are not clearly listed as requirements for undergraduate program completion in the academic catalog, students must petition the registrar’s office to consider a substitution as approved by the department chair and graduate program prior to registration for federal financial aid eligibility.

Students who take graduate courses at SAU to complete an undergraduate degree may request for those graduate credits to apply to an SAU graduate program. Requests will be evaluated by graduate program personnel to determine course transferability and applicability to the desired graduate program at SAU. Not all graduate programs permit courses taken as dual enrollment to count toward the graduate degree. Those programs that do allow dual enrollment courses may require students to meet additional criteria before considering dual enrolled course credit.

For fast-track bachelor’s to master’s programs, see the appropriate section of the catalog for program-specific information.

Graduation Requirements for Graduate Degrees

• Students must complete all curriculum and program requirements.
• Students in all graduate programs must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA to graduate from any of Spring Arbor University’s graduate programs.
• Some graduate programs have residency or other specific graduation requirements that students will need to complete before the degree can be conferred. (See Program  sections of this catalog or program handbook for details).

Certificate Awarding Policies

See description of a certificate in the Glossary of Academic Terminology  section of this catalog.

For a certificate to be awarded at SAU, the following requirements must be satisfied.

• Students must be enrolled in a certificate program at SAU to be awarded a certificate credential. Dual enrollment in a certificate program and a degree program is not permitted.
• Students must take the final course of the certificate program while enrolled in the certificate program.
• Up to 50% of certificate credit hours may be transferred to SAU on a case-by-case review by the registrar’s office in consultation with program academic personnel. Programs may further limit the number of credit hours allowed to transfer. All transfer policies apply.
• Credit earned through prior learning assessment is not eligible for certificate programs.
• Courses taken as a part of a certificate program at SAU may satisfy the requirements for a subsequent degree or certificate at SAU upon the approval of the academic program and the registrar. Similarly, courses taken in a degree program at SAU may satisfy requirements of a subsequent certificate program upon approval of the degree program and registrar.
• The certificate credential will be awarded on the SAU transcript. No paper certificate will be issued by the registrar’s office. Program administrators have the latitude to determine other appropriate documentation of the certificate credential.
• Certificate students do not participate in Commencement.
• GPA and course grade requirements for certificate programs follow institutional policies for the college level of the certificate, but stricter policies may be set by program administrators.
• All institutional policies apply to certificate students, including but not limited to academic status, student conduct, attendance policies, academic integrity, time limits, etc.
• Certificate programs may have special admission requirements or other policies that are detailed in the program sections of this catalog.
• Financial aid may not be available for certificate programs. Students interested in a certificate program should consult with the financial aid office to determine funding.

Commencement Information

Graduation Application

Participation in Commencement requires a graduation application to be submitted by the established deadline communicated to students and no later than 4 weeks prior to the anticipated ceremony in which the student is eligible to participate. Application does not guarantee eligibility to participate in Commencement. If a graduation application has been made and requirements are not finished as stated, students must reapply after they successfully complete requirements. 

Commencement Participation Eligibility

Students are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony immediately following the completion of all degree and graduation requirements if they are completed by the published deadlines of the institution or program.

Early Participation in Commencement

Graduate students who are enrolled in their final semester of coursework at SAU may be permitted early participation in a Commencement ceremony prior to meeting eligibility requirements on the following conditions:

• The student has requested early participation from the advisor in writing within six (6) weeks prior to the Commencement ceremony.
• The student has submitted the graduation application by the application deadline.
• The student has maintained a 3.0 from the point of matriculation into the program.
• The student meets all program-specific Commencement participation eligibility criteria and is cleared by the advisor. (If the advisor does not clear the student for participation, the student may petition the Office of Registration and Records for further consideration.)
• The student is cleared by the Office of Registration and Records.

Early participation does not mean degrees will be conferred early. It means only that students can celebrate early the anticipated degree conferral. Degrees will be conferred for students who are granted early Commencement participation on the first day of the month after completion of degree requirements, and those students will receive a diploma up to eight weeks after the degree is conferred. 

Degree Conferral

The Office of Registration and Records notes the conferral of degrees on the transcript on the first of the month following the completion of all degree and graduation requirements, including final grades and any other required paperwork necessary to determine requirement completion. Students are considered graduated when the degree is conferred and not before, even if the student participated in a Commencement ceremony.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates within eight weeks after the degree is conferred. Diplomas will not be released to graduates with outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Posthumous Degrees

A student who has passed away while a student at SAU can be eligible for a posthumous degree. SAU offers both posthumous degrees and honorary posthumous degrees. The procedure and policy for each follow.

Posthumous Degree Policy

A student may be nominated for a posthumous degree by his department when the student has completed 85% of the needed credit hours for graduation. To nominate someone, the department chair should write a paragraph or two describing why the student is deserving and send it to the appropriate dean for approval. The dean would then send it to the Academic Affairs office. Upon verification that the student is in good academic standing, the chief academic officer will decide on accepting the nomination and will inform the department and the registrar office of that decision.

Honorary Posthumous Degree

A student may be nominated for an honorary posthumous degree by the department when the student has at least 50% of the credit hours completed for the degree. To nominate someone, the department chair should submit the request in writing describing why the student is deserving and send it to the appropriate dean/division chair for approval. The dean/division chair would then send it to the Academic Affairs office. Upon verification that the student is in good academic standing, the chief academic officer will decide on accepting the nomination and will inform the department and the registrar office of that decision.

SAU Transcripts

Transcript requests must be made online at https://www.arbor.edu/about/offices-and-schools/registration-and-records/request-a-transcript/. It is expected that final transcripts denoting the degree conferral will be available within two weeks after the degree is conferred. Complete transcripts can be released for students with no remaining financial obligations to SAU. Partial transcripts may be released for students with outstanding financial obligations to the University according to federal regulations.