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Reduced Course Load

Understand the Full Course of Study Requirements

  • Every international student must enroll in a certain number of credit hours to maintain their visa status.
  • If your enrollment drops below full-time, the U.S. government will force the OIE to terminate your I-20 or DS-2019.
  • Terminated I-20 or DS-2019 = Your stay in the U.S. is illegal. You must leave the country immediately. 
  • Summer semester enrollment is optional.

Undergraduate Students
  • You must take at least 12 credit hours at all times in Spring and Fall semesters
  • You must take at least 9 credit hours of face-to-face classes

Graduate Students
  • You must take at least 9 credit hours at all times in Spring and Fall semesters
  • You must take at least 6 credit hours of face-to-face classes
  • If you are awarded a Graduate Assistantship, 6 credit hours is considered full-time. 3 credit hours must be face-to-face
 

Reduced Course Load

We understand that under certain circumstances, students are not able to meet the Full Course of Study Requirements. In such a situation, the OIE can consider giving you an approval for the Reduced Course Load. Reduced Course Load, or RCL, is an official approval that allows students to take less than their required minimum credit hours. Please see the following categories to see if you are eligible for the Reduced Course Load approval. 
 
Final Semester
 
Who is this for? How can I request? What do I need to know?
  • Students who are in their final semester \who can complete their program with fewer classes
 
  • This includes students in the IEP, Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. programs                                                                                                                                                            
  • Ask your academic advisor to email the OIE (oisa@emporia.edu) to confirm that you do not need to take full-time's worth of credit hours to complete your degree in your last semester                                                                                                              
  • OIE must receive the email from your advisor before the first day of class of your last semester
  • You must be enrolled in at least one required class
 
  • You must be enrolled in at least one face-to-face class.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Illness or Medical Condition
 
Who is this for? How can I request? What do I need to know?
  • Students who have medical conditions                                                                                                                              
  • Get a note from a licensed medical doctor or a clinical psychologist recommending the RCL for specific semester                                                                                                                 
  • The doctor's note must be on a letterhead, signed by the doctor or the psychologist                                                              
  • The doctor's note must have your name, date of birth, and the semester you're suggested to take fewer classes
 
  • This type of RCL cannot exceed 12 month aggregate per program level
Academic Difficulties
 
Who is this for? How can I request? What do I need to know?
Students who are in the first semester experiencing academic difficulties for one of the following reasons;
  • Improper course level placement
  • Initial difficulty with reading requirements
  • Initial difficulty with the English language
  • Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
  • Contact the OIE at oisa@emporia.edu BEFORE you drop classes                                                                                     
  • You must enroll in at least half of the required full course of study                                                         
  • You must enroll full-time in the following semester
 
  • This type of RCL can be only given once per program level 

Important

  • You MUST communicate with the OIE BEFORE you drop below full-time
  • While you're on the Reduced Course Load, you might not be eligible for the following:
    • Working on and/or off campus
    • Receiving scholarships 
    • Receiving other student benefits in accordance with university policies