An international student advisor from the office of International Student and Scholar Services must authorize a drop below full course load (commonly referred to as a "reduced course load," or RCL) and update SEVIS prior to the student reducing his or her course load.

A student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of International Student and Scholar Services will be considered out of status.

Note:

  • The only exception to the requirement that a student be registered full-time before submitting this form is a student in his/her final semester of study. Undergraduate or graduate students may enroll in a part- time course load during final semester of degree program, but we need to have an academic advisor confirm that the student is, in fact, in her/his final semester.
  • Your final semester of  study cannot consist of only one on-line course. There  must be at least one class where your physical participation is required.

A reduced course load can be approved due to “academic difficulty” only once while pursuing a course of study at a particular program level.

  • Academic Difficulty includes the following:
  • Initial Difficulties with difficulty with reading requirements;
  • Initial Difficulties with the English Language;
  • Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods and;
  • Improper Course level placement (student didn’t take a pre-requisite to a course s/he is registered for now)

A student requesting authorization for a reduced course load due to initial difficulty or improper course placement must remain enrolled for no fewer than six (6) semester hours, or half the clock hours required for a full curse of study.