The Academic Calendar                                                                           

Midland uses the traditional semester calendar which consists of two terms of 16 weeks followed by an optional summer term of 12 weeks. The Fall term begins in late August and is completed before the Christmas break in December, the Spring term begins in mid-January and ends in early May, and the Summer term begins late May and ends in mid-August. Additionally, 8-week terms (Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, and Late Spring) run concurrently with the traditional calendar. The graduate programs predominantly utilize these calendars. Summer courses may be offered in sessions shorter than the 12-week semester. The full Academic Calendar is posted online, is available at academiccalendar@midlandu.edu, or in the University Registrar’s Office for more details. The Academic Calendar is subject to change.

Registration

Registration involves enrolling for the student’s choice of classes and the payment of all term costs. Therefore, students are permitted to enter classes only after completing registration and meeting financial commitments in the Student Billing Office. Students may not register for and enter a course, section, or laboratory after the first week of a semester or session.

Change of Registration

During the standard, 16-week semesters (Fall or Spring), a student who desires to drop or change a course may do so during the first week of the term by contacting an advisor. Beginning the second week of the term, students may only drop courses without academic penalty by working with an advisor. The student must continue in the present class until the request for a change has been submitted. If a student is granted permission to drop a course during the first two weeks of the term, all evidence of the course will be removed from the academic record. If the student drops a course after this date, but prior to four weeks before the last day of classes in that term, a W (withdrawal) for each course dropped will appear on the record unless an AW (administrative withdrawal) has already been assigned.

During the non-standard, 8-week semesters (Early Fall, Late Fall, Early Spring, Late Spring), and the Summer semester students may adjust their schedule during the first 3 days of the semester by contacting an advisor. Courses may be dropped without academic penalty by the end of the first week.

Withdrawals during the last four weeks of Fall or Spring semesters, last three weeks of a non-standard semester, or last three weeks of the Summer semester, will result in a grade of F in the course(s) dropped. Non-standard length courses are subject to the same dates as the full term. All students should refer to the appropriate Academic Calendar for exact registration dates.

Classification of Students

Undergraduate students enrolled in courses, which accumulate to 12 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semester, are classified as full-time; the full-time/part-time designation is made after the Census Day, which is the first day of Academic Week 3 unless otherwise indicated on the Academic Calendar.

Academic Load

The typical load for an undergraduate student during the fall and spring term is 15-18 credit hours. A student may carry up to an 18 credit hour load in each of the regular terms without special permission or special charge. A student wishing to carry more than 18 credit hours must be approved by their advisor and Academic Affairs, must pay a special overload fee, and must qualify in accordance with the following overload policy. Nine (9) credit hours is the maximum load during the summer session.

Overload Policy

• 19 credit hours: 3.25 grade point average previous semester* and a 3.25 cumulative GPA

• 20-21 credit hours: 3.50 grade point average previous semester* and a 3.50 cumulative GPA

• *Based upon a minimum of 12 credit hours graded on the A-F scale

Graduate Courses

Undergraduate students desiring to take graduate classes require approval from Academic Affairs and the appropriate Graduate Program Dean.

Class Designation