Procedure:
The Office of the University Registrar will inform nondegree students of the 30-credit maximum through a series of notifications. Warnings will be sent to students as they approach the 30-credit limit. Students who are in good academic standing either must apply and be accepted into a degree program, or self-identify as "enrichment course takers" (defined as students taking courses who do not intend to earn a degree) by informing the Registrar's office. Students who reach the 30-credit limit and take neither of these actions will be notified by the Registrar's office that they are no longer eligible to enroll in credit courses as a nondegree student. Future enrollment will be prevented by a registration hold.
Enrichment course takers who have earned more than 30 credits and who subsequently seek a degree must apply for admission. If the student is accepted for the degree, then the eligibility of coursework must be approved by the college of the intended major. Credits beyond 30 may not apply to the degree.
If a student in nondegree status is not eligible for a degree program after completing 30 credits in that status, he/she may continue to take credit courses at Penn State only as long as the student earns a semester grade point average greater than 2.00 and he/she has the written support of the associate dean, DAA, or designate of the college/major he/she intends to enter/re-enter.
Enrichment course takers may continue taking courses in nondegree status beyond the 30-credit limit as long as they maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. If their cumulative grade point average drops below a 2.00, they will be dropped from the University and notified by the Registrar's office.
Nondegree students must achieve a semester grade point average greater than 2.00 each semester they are enrolled in that status. The Registrar's Office will, at the end of each semester, notify nondegree students whose semester GPAs were 2.00 or lower that they have been dropped from the university and may only return under the provisions of academic renewal.
Approved: ACUE (8-2-07)
Revised: ACUE (6-5-08)
Revised: ACUE (10-4-12)
Revised: ACUE (6-4-15); Effective Fall 2016