Considerations if dropping below full-time enrollment status
  1.  Students may withdraw from courses until the end of the 9th week of the semester with an endorsement of their faculty adviser.  After the end of the 9th week and before final day of classes, students may petition to withdraw under the Emergency Course Withdrawal policy -http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/studentaffairs/shb/academicpolicies/classregpolicies/emergencycoursewithdrawal.
  2. No student may drop below 8 credits.
  3. There is no reduction in tuition cost.  Students will pay the full semester’s tuition even if enrolled less than full-time.   (The only exceptions are occasional 9th semester students who are allowed to complete their degrees while being charged per credit hour.)
  4.   Students who do not make normal academic progress – i.e., earn fewer than 12 credits – during the semester will have their grades and credits reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standing.  If deficient, this can result in a student being warned, placed on academic probation or academically suspended.
  5. There may be implications for your Financial Aid.  Talk with a staff member in the Financial Aid Office to review your situation, x3250.
  6.  There may be implications for your health insurance.  Grinnell College’s Student Assurance will allow you to be less-than-full time, but your personal policy (if you have one), may not allow this.  Talk with your insurance carrier.
  7.  If you are participating on a varsity athletic team, NCAA rules do not allow students who are less than full time to compete.  Talk with your coach about this.
  8.  To live in the residence halls, students must be full time.  To have your situation reviewed, contact Andrea Conner, x3713.
  9. If you have been approved to study off campus in a future semester, you were approved on the basis of the four-year plan that you submitted when you applied, and changes to that plan may make you ineligible to participate in your off-campus program.  Talk with the Director of Off-Campus Study to review your situation, x4850.
  10.  If you are an international student holding F-1 status,  a drop below full course load is allowed in limited circumstances only.  It requires pre-authorization, so contact the OISA prior to a drop below full course load.  Contact Karen Edwards or Brenda Strong, x3703, for more info.
  11.  Students need to maintain full-time enrollment status – both before and after the summer internship – to be eligible to receive internship funding.  Consult with the Megan Crawford at the Career Development Office, x4940 to discuss your situation, if this applies.