Academic Policies and Standards
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 and Classification of Students
Six (6) credits of graduate course work on the eight-week calendars is considered full-time and nine (9) credits of graduate coursework on the 16-week calendar is considered full-time. Six (6) credits of graduate coursework during the summer term will be considered full time. Classification will be determined by Week 2 on the 8-week calendars and Week 3 on the 16-week calendar.
Undergraduate students associated with the eight-week calendar may take up to six graduate credits per eight-week calendar session. A traditional undergraduate student may enroll in no more than six credits of 500-level graduate course work per semester. A traditional student interested in taking 500-level graduate courses on the eight- week calendar must first be enrolled in 12 credits on the traditional 16-week calendar and is limited to 6 credits of 500 level graduate coursework per semester. Undergraduate students may not enroll in 600-level courses.
Course Offerings
Courses which are included in the regular curriculum of the University are listed in this Catalog. Courses below 500 are considered undergraduate courses and are found in the Undergraduate Catalog. Graduate level courses are numbered in the 500s and 600s.
Course Sequencing
Some courses are offered on alternate years or terms. The University Registrar will post the current list of course offerings and the most updated course rotation online. The schedule of classes must be consulted to obtain the most current information about term-by-term course availability. Although it is the responsibility of the student to take the initiative in determining and meeting graduation and major requirements, faculty, advisors, and administrative staff will work with students to the extent necessary to assist them in attaining educational objectives. Course sequencing is subject to change.
Credit Hour Policy
Generally, Midland University will follow the federal credit hour definition of one hour of classroom or direct faculty/qualified instructor instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks, or the equivalent engagement over a different time-period.
Alternatively, a credit hour will be defined as the learning that takes place in at least 45 hours of learning activities, which include:
Time in lectures or class meetings in-person or online
Laboratories
Examinations
Presentations, tutorials, preparation, reading, or studying
Hands-on experiences
Other learning activities
A demonstration by the student of learning equivalent to that established as the expected product of such a period of study.
In all cases, learning in for-credit courses is guided by a qualified instructor and includes regular and substantive student-instructor interaction.