Reduced Course Load Authorization

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Reduced Course Load Authorization

F-1 students must enroll full time during Fall and Spring semester in order to maintain their non-immigrant status. Full time credit load is 12 for undergraduate and 8 for graduate students. However, in certain situations, students may apply to drop below full course load. Please fill out this form to request Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization.

Important Notes

You may lose eligibility for financial aid/grant/scholarship if you are not a full-time student. Please check with Student Financial Services for your case.

Residential Life requires students to be full-time to be eligible to live on campus (12 credits or more for undergraduates and 8 credits or more for graduate students). If you have an on-campus housing assignment for the semester in which you will be under-enrolled, please contact Residential Life to be approved to live on campus.

Do NOT drop below full time without receiving prior RCL authorization from ISS. This will result in termination of your SEVIS record.

Academic difficulty RCL can only be approved once per academic level.

Final term RCL can only be approved twice.

I understand. I don't understand, I will ask more questions to ISS.

Student Information

First Name*

Last Name*

Student ID*

SEVIS ID*

PLU Email*

Which semester/ year are you requesting to be under-enrolled?*

Which of the following reasons apply to you in order to request RCL?*

Illness or Medical Condition Academic Difficulty: Initial Difficulty with English Language (first semester student only) Academic Difficulty: Initial Difficulty with Reading Requirements (first semester student only) Academic Difficulty: Unfamiliarity with American Teaching Methods Academic Difficulty: Improper Course Level Placement Final Term: To Complete Course of Study in Current Term (graduating students only)

Supporting Evidence Requirement

In order for your request to be approved, you will need to provide proof as specified below.

For Final Term

Provide a statement from an academic advisor confirming that you have applied for graduation and completing your program of study at the end of the semester which you are applying for RCL. The statement can be in the form of an email sent to iss@plu.edu from a PLU email account. You may copy the template below and email it to your academic advisor as an example.

TEMPLATE

TO: iss@plu.edu

RE: Reduced Course Load Authorization for <<Name of the Student>>

I am an academic advisor of the above student. The student <<is/ is NOT>> expected to complete all degree requirements at the end of <<Fall/ Spring>> Semester 20__.

I <<support/ do NOT support>> the student's request for Reduced Course Load because the student <<will/ will NOT>> complete all degree requirements necessary for graduation at the end of the semester for which <<he/she>> is applying for RCL.

Final term supporting evidence requirements:

I understand. I don't understand, I will ask more questions to ISS.

For Illness or Medical Condition

Provide a statement from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist to substantiate the illness or medical condition. The statement can be in the form of a letter using office letterhead or in the form of an email with a signature. The letter does not need to be a original. It can be faxed, copied or scanned and emailed to ISS.

We do not require doctors or students to tell us what the medical condition is. The statement can be as simple as "STUDENT NAME is under my professional care for a medical condition which requires him/her to have a reduced course load (or be absent from school) until DATE."

Illness/medical condition supporting evidence requirements:

I understand. I don't understand, I will ask more questions to ISS.

For Academic Difficulty

Provide statement(s) of support from professor(s) or an academic advisor regarding your situation in class(es) that you wish to withdraw from. The statement can be in the form of an email sent to iss@plu.edu from a PLU email account. You may copy the template below and email it to your academic advisor as an example.

TEMPLATE

TO: iss@plu.edu

RE: Reduced Course Load Authorization for <<Name of the Student>>

I am an academic advisor/professor of the above student. The student has informed me of their desire to withdraw from <<Course Number>> due to the following academic difficulty: (please describe the academic difficulty the student has identified).

I <<agree/ do NOT agree>> that the student is experiencing this type of academic difficulty and would benefit from dropping this course.

Academic difficulty supporting evidence requirements:

I understand. I don't understand, I will ask more questions to ISS.

The Drop Form

If you are requesting RCL in the midst of the academic semester for illness, medical or academic difficulty reasons, once your RCL is approved by ISS, you need to turn in the Drop Form to the Office of The Registrar. The form may require a signature from your course instructor. Be sure to check the deadline for last day to submit this form. The Registrar's Office will charge $100 for this process.

I understand. I don't understand, I will ask more questions to ISS. This does not apply to me.

Request Submission

By pressing submit below, I am submitting a RCL Authorization Request. I understand that this request requires supporting evidence(s). I will drop off supporting evidence(s) at International Student Center front desk (Harstad 112) or have my supporters email them to iss@plu.edu. I will NOT drop below full course load before receiving an approval notification by email from ISS.