Enrollment in the University

A full-time student is one who is working full-time toward his or her degree objective. The student’s department is responsible for determining who is a full-time student, and who is otherwise a part-time student.

All degree-seeking students are expected to maintain full-time status and to devote full time to graduate study. No degree student may hold a job, on or off campus, without the express permission of his or her department and the Graduate School.

A non-degree student must register for at least nine credit hours per semester, or six in the summer session, to claim full-time status.

Continuation in a graduate degree program or in non-degree status, admission to degree candidacy, and graduation require maintenance of at least a 3.0 (B) cumulative grade point average (GPA). A student may be dismissed from the department or program if the GPA in any one semester is below 2.5 or if the GPA is below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters. Some departments require higher averages for enrollment and support continuance.

An adequate GPA is only one factor taken into consideration in determining a student’s qualifications for an advanced degree. Degree students should be aware of their department’s performance criteria. The department and the Graduate School annually evaluate each graduate student’s overall performance on the basis of these criteria.

A student must be in academic good standing to be eligible for new or continued financial support.

All students must enroll each semester in the academic year and register for at least one credit hour per semester to maintain student status. Continuous enrollment is met normally by both enrollment in the University and registration in a graduate-level course relevant to the student’s program. A student who is concurrently pursuing degrees in the Graduate School and in another school in the University meets the continuous enrollment requirement by registering for a course in either program. Any exception to this rule, including a leave of absence, must be approved by the Graduate School. (See “Leave of Absence,” below.) Degree students who have completed the coursework requirement for their degree must register for at least one credit hour per semester, including the final semester or summer session in which they receive their degree. This credit hour should consist of either resident or nonresident thesis or dissertation research within their department. These students may be considered full-time students whether or not they are in residence. Students not in residence and taking one credit hour pursuant to continuous enrollment requirements are charged a special registration fee.

A student who fails to enroll and register for one semester or more must apply for readmission upon return.

Continuing students (i.e., degree-seeking students who are eligible to continue their studies in the fall semester) may have access to University facilities and services from May through August without enrolling and registering for academic credit in the summer session.

Students enrolled in the Notre Dame Graduate School who wish to temporarily interrupt their programs for medical reasons must apply to the Graduate School. Students are eligible under this policy if they have a “serious medical condition.” For purposes of this policy, “serious medical condition” means a medical condition that (1) requires multiple-day hospitalization OR (2) renders the student unable to engage in coursework and all other Graduate School-related duties for a period of at least 10 calendar days. Certification by a physician that the student has a serious medical condition as defined in this policy must be submitted to the Graduate School no less than three months prior to the separation period (for childbirth and other predictable requests) or as soon as the need is foreseen (for emergency requests). In situations involving childbirth, the separation period will generally begin on the actual date of childbirth; in all cases, regardless of the nature of the medical condition, the duration of the separation will be as certified by the physician up to a maximum of six weeks. Students may utilize this medical separation policy two nonconsecutive times during their graduate studies. Should students need more than six weeks at any one time, they must withdraw from the University. Leaves of absence for one semester or more for medical or other reasons are governed by the Graduate School Leave of Absence policy.

Full-time degree-seeking students in their sixth year of study or less who are receiving financial aid from the Graduate School or external funds will receive a stipend equal to their normal stipend during their period of separation, for a maximum of six weeks paid by the Graduate School. Students will retain their tuition scholarships, access to on-campus medical facilities, and all other resources available to students during the entire separation period (up to six weeks). Students also will be deemed “continuously enrolled” at the University during the entire period of separation.

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant duties will cease, at least during the period of separation. Students are responsible for making arrangements, through their departments, to cover their duties. Students taking classes will be required to make arrangements with individual course instructors for completion of any courses in progress during the leave. Students will be granted the option to reschedule exams or extend candidacy deadlines or other deadlines not discussed herein. Students are responsible for making arrangements to reschedule exams, extend deadlines, and to make up other work not discussed herein. Unlike a regular one-semester leave, time off in conjunction with this policy will count toward the students’ degree time limit of eight years and University-sponsored funding cap of six years.

The University of Notre Dame NetID accounts and related services are intended for faculty, staff, and currently registered and enrolled students. “A student must register and enroll at the dates and times announced by the Registrar” (Academic Code 4.1). A student who fails to register and enroll by the announced date will forfeit the right to access his or her NetID account and related services. University computing resources supplied by way of the NetID are normally available to a student for up to 60 days after his or her graduation date. A student granted a leave-of-absence would normally retain access to University computing services for up to two semesters. A student who is separated from the University due to an academic suspension, academic dismissal, or withdrawal will no longer have access to University computing services unless an extension has been approved by the dean of his or her college. A student attending Notre Dame for the summer only, with a non-degree seeking status, will normally retain access to University computing service for up to 60 days after the August graduation date. A student who is separated from the University for other reasons will no longer have access to University computing services.