Maintaining Student Status

The Graduate School requires that you are an actively enrolled student every fall and spring term from the time you enter the program until you earn your degree. This means you must be enrolled in coursework or dissertation credits. If you are not enrolling for courses or dissertation credits then you must enroll in the Continuous Enrollment “course” (GRADSCH 999) and pay the program fee.

Additionally, if you are an international student, you are required to be a full-time student. If you are not enrolled full-time (9 credits) in any semester but are working on research, the Graduate Programs Coordinator can override your academic status to full-time. It is your responsibility to seek permission from the Graduate Program Director for such overrides. Failure to do so may result in visa complications.
 

Please note that this may affect you even if you are not an international student. Taken from the Graduate School website: “To be eligible for a loan deferment, a graduate student must be studying at a pace equivalent to taking 6 or 9 graduate credits in a given semester.” Moreover, “Health insurance for students who register for less than 5 credits (or who pay the Continuous Enrollment fee) is not automatic.” If you are covered by the Student Health Benefit Plan and taking less than 5 credits, then you should contact University Health Services to verify coverage.
The Graduate School webpage, Graduate Student Services Center, IPO, Financial Aid Services, and Health Services are all good resources for information about your individual situations. Financial Aid Services and Health Services are included because your financial aid and health benefits can be affected by your academic status.