The undergraduate student body was notified on March 31 via Stevens Announcements email that there is now a different process for students registering for more than 20 credits in a given semester.
Dr. Costas Chassapis, Vice Provost for Academics, explained that the 20-credit limit was specifically chosen to encompass the normal loads for all programs available to students. “If you look at all 8 semesters, the maximum number of credits that the student takes represents the normal load,” said Chassapis. For example, a Chemical Biology student’s normal load is 18 credits, while a Chemical Engineering student’s normal load is 19 credits. Although students can register for up to 20 credits, any students taking additional credits beyond his or her normal load must go through the new process of registering for additional courses.
Students are now encouraged to prioritize classes when first registering online. Dr. Chassapis noted that this change in the registration process is not meant to be “prohibitive,” but encourages students to sign up for their required courses first for the upcoming semester.
Those who are eligible to take extra courses must wait must fill out the Credit Overload Enrollment Form, found under the Registrar’s website. “[For students] who want to take more courses, we look at their academic progress,” said Chassapis. The form prompts students to list their cumulative and prior semester GPA. Chassapis explained that the cumulative GPA does not always reflect the progress that a student might make, which is why the previous semester’s GPA is considered when granting approval for overloads.
As per Stevens policy, students with at least a 3.0 GPA for the previous semester can enroll in one extra course. Upperclassmen with at least a 3.3 GPA from the prior semester can take a second extra course, and juniors and seniors can take up to three extra courses if their GPA from the preceding semester is at least a 3.6. Dr. Chassapis noted that all “cost-related policies have remained the same.” Approval for credit overloads will not be granted the student has fulfilled the stated requirements inclusive of Spring 2016 final grades.
The Credit Overload Enrollment Form should be submitted in person to the Office of Undergraduate Academics in EAS 119 or emailed to UGOverload@stevens.edu.
