Reduced Course Load
Students in F-1 status may be eligible to take a Reduced Course Load (RCL) under certain circumstances, but they must receive prior approval from an advisor at the ISSS office before dropping below full-time in the University system.
The following chart shows the acceptable reasons for a reduced course load and the documentation needed by ISSS in order to approve this action in SEVIS:
| Reduced Course Load Reason | Documentation Needed |
|---|---|
| Final Term: Undergraduate students who are in their final semester of study may take fewer than 12 credit hours, if the course credits taken are all they need to graduate at the end of that semester. Students authorized for RCL cannot enroll in only online courses in their last semester | Undergraduate students must apply for graduation, request a Senior Underload in that application, and receive approval for the Senior Underload. ISSS will need documentation from an academic advisor or the Office of the Registrar stating how many credit hours the student must take to complete their degree in the final term. |
| Academic Difficulties: Students experiencing improper course placement, initial difficulty with English language, and unfamiliarity with US teaching methods. An RCL can only be approved once per program level and the student must maintain enrollment for at least half the required number of credits for the semester. | ISSS will need specific documentation from an academic adviser or course instructor detailing the academic difficulty. |
| Illness or Medical Condition: An RCL can be approved if a student has a temporary illness or medical condition that prevents them from being registered full-time. This can be granted for no more than an aggregate of 12 months during a course of study. | ISSS will need documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist recommending the reduction in courseload. |
Requesting a Reduced Course Load
F-1 students must submit a Reduced Course Load Request in the ISSS Portal under “F-1 Student Services” and are advised to not drop below full-time status until the RCL is approved.