Last update: 10/23/96

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

OBSERVANCE OF BULLETIN REQUIREMENTS

A student, except a classified graduate student, who remains in continuous attendance in regular sessions and continuing in the same curriculum at any campus, in any of the California community colleges or in any combination of California community colleges and campus of the California State University, may, for purposes of meeting graduation requirements, elect to meet the graduation requirements for San Francisco State University in effect (1) at the time they began their study, (2) at the time they entered the CSU campus from which they graduate, or (3) at the time they graduate from the CSU. Substitutions for discontinued courses may be authorized or required by the appropriate campus authority. Beginning Fall, 1986, students who change their major after being admitted to San Francisco State University, or who declare a major after being admitted with an undeclared major, must meet the major requirements in effect at the time they change or declare their major.
A student, except a classified graduate student, not in a period of continuous attendance at the time of filing for a degree and/or credential must meet the Bulletin requirements in effect at the time of filing. Continuous attendance for purposes of Bulletin requirements is defined as matriculated attendance in at least one semester or two quarters each calendar year.
All students may be required to meet new requirements imposed by the Trustees of the California State University or by the California State Legislature.
A classified graduate student must meet all requirements as stated on the Graduate Approved Program and the program must reflect the Bulletin requirements in effect at the time the student was officially admitted to classified status in the major department or those requirements in effect at the time the program is filed and approved by the Dean of the Graduate Division.

REGISTRATION POLICIES

All students who register at San Francisco State University in resident study for either the fall or spring semester must first be admitted to the university by the Admissions Office.
Registration is complete only when all fees, deposits, and charges are paid. Students are required to make all payments by the regularly announced deadlines. Students must pay for added units on their own initiative at the time they add additional units; the university is not responsible for billing students.
Students are granted credit only for those courses in which they are formally registered. Students are responsible for completing all courses entered on their official Program Verification (mailed after the second week of instruction). A change after receipt of Program Verification can be made by following the procedures outlined in the Class Schedule.
Registration procedures are mailed to all students and published in the Class Schedule.

CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS FOR REGISTRATION

Newly Admitted

Students who have never enrolled at San Francisco State University in a fall or spring semester and who have been admitted to the university for a specific semester, or students who have previously attended San Francisco State University and are returning to begin a new degree objective (e.g., a new graduate student who received a B.A. from SFSU).

Continuing

Students who were previously enrolled in this university in a regular semester and who have not been absent from the university for more than one complete semester (excluding summer sessions) and who have not attended another college or university during their absence from San Francisco State University.

Per immigration regulations, foreign students are required to be continuously enrolled every semester. Undergraduates must carry a minimum of twelve units and graduate students must carry a minimum of nine units.

In order to be considered in attendance for any semester, the student must be reported as enrolled in at least one class on the 20th day of instruction.

Readmitted

Students who have been absent from San Francisco State University for two full semesters (excluding summer session), or who have attended another college or university during their absence, have applied and been readmitted to the university by the Admissions Office.

USE OF UNIVERSITY RESOURCES

A graduate student must be officially enrolled with the university during any term in which s/he is utilizing university resources which are determined to be more than incidental by the major department and, if appropriate, by other units of the university. A student who was admitted to a graduate program at this campus before Fall 1990, and who maintains continuing registration eligibility, will not be subject to this requirement. S/he should follow the Bulletin in effect for the term
s/he was admitted to the graduate program.

CLASS LEVEL OF STUDENTS

The class level of students is determined according to units completed (earned units) as follows:

					Units
Class Level				Completed

Lower Division:
Freshmen				0-29
Sophomore				29-59

Upper Division:
Junior					60-89
Senior					90 or more

Graduate:

Holding a baccalaureate or master's degree from an accredited university or college.

ENROLLMENT LIMITATIONS

This university and the State of California are very supportive of individuals completing course work for degrees, credentials, and certificates offered by the university, as well as for professional growth, and for personal enrichment within reasonable limits. With the limitation of physical and personnel resources available, the university reserves the right to limit, or terminate, the enrollment of any individual it feels has been fairly served by educational opportunities at this institution or elsewhere, and where the enrollment needs of other individuals must be given higher priority in the context of the resources available.

LIMITATION OF TOTAL UNITS

The Senior Director for Enrollment Services reviews the records of students who have earned sufficient units of credit to graduate, but have not applied for graduation. When the student has met all requirements for graduation, the Senior Director, after conference with the student, may take the necessary action to have the student graduated. In those cases where the requirements for graduation can be completed in one additional semester, the Senior Director, after conference with the student, the appropriate department chair, and either the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Dean of the Graduate Division, may notify the student that he has only one additional semester in which to complete the graduation requirements. If graduation requirements are not completed in the time designated, future registration in the university may not be permitted or may be subject to conditions mutually agreed upon by the student and the Senior Director for Enrollment Services.

TOUCH TONE REGISTRATION

Registration for all students is by telephone, using a Touch Tone Registration system. Touch Tone appointments and fee payment instructions are sent to all eligible students prior to the first available touch tone date. Registration fees must be paid prior to using the touch tone system. Please refer to the Class Schedule for specific dates and details.

Adding Courses after Initial Touch Tone. If the student has paid sufficient fees and has instructor approval, s/he may submit a signed add form to the Admissions and Records Counter. Add forms are available at the Admissions and Records forms table on the second floor of the Administration Building.

Dropping Courses after Initial Touch Tone. The student must use the Touch Tone system to drop individual classes until the 20th day of instruction. After that point, s/he may withdraw from a course or courses only for serious and compelling reasons. Petitions for withdrawal are available at the Admissions and Records Counter, and must be signed by the instructor and department chair. (College dean approval is required if withdrawal is in the last three weeks of the semester.)

Touch Tone Enrollment Verification. A student may verify his/her enrollment via the Touch Tone Registration system through the 20th day of instruction. A Touch Tone program verification will be mailed prior to the first day of classes, and a second verification will be sent at the end of the second week of the semester.

AUDITING COURSES

A student who wishes to audit a course instead of enrolling for credit must be admitted to the university, register and pay fees in the same manner as s/he would for credit courses. A student registers as an auditor by receiving permission from the instructor during the first two weeks of instruction on an Add/Drop form which is available from and must be turned in to the Registrar's Office prior to the end of the second week of instruction.

Any student admitted to a class as an auditor will not be permitted to obtain credit by examination for that class. A student registered as an auditor may be required to participate in any or all classroom activities at the discretion of the instructor.

A student may change his/her status from audit to credit or from credit to audit during the first two weeks of instruction, if the change is approved by the course instructor.

ACADEMIC LOAD

The normal academic load for undergraduates is fifteen units per semester. For graduates, the normal load is from nine to twelve units per semester. Two hours of preparation for each hour of regular class work should be expected. For international students, immigration regulations require a minimum academic load of twelve units for undergraduates and eight units for graduates.

Verification for enrollment is calculated as follows:

Undergraduates

Full Time				12 units
Half Time				6-11 units
Less than Half Time			1-5 units

Graduates

Full Time			9 units or
Full Time			8 units in which all courses are
				upper division or graduate level
				courses (300 and above)
Half Time			8 units in which any courses are
				lower division (less than 300
				level) or
Half Time			4.5 units or
Half Time			4 units of all upper division or
				graduate level courses (300 or
				above)
Less than Half Time		4 units of courses in which any
				class is lower division (less than
				300 level)

In planning programs, students should observe Veterans Administration regulations concerning minimum academic loads. For certification under the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-358), undergraduates must register for twelve or more semester units of credit to receive maximum benefits. Graduate students must register and complete eight or more upper division or graduate-level semester units of credit each term to receive maximum benefits. Additional information may be obtained from the Registrar's Office.

All students requesting and accepting financial aid through San Francisco State University must register for and complete twelve or more semester units as an undergraduate and eight or more semester units as a graduate. Some financial aid programs allow a reduced unit requirement.

Students who wish to enroll in extension work with this university and/or to enroll in courses at other institutions at the same time as they are registered for courses at this university, should plan the combined program with their major adviser. Under no circumstances is the total unit load for all course registrations in all institutions being attended to exceed the maximum unit load restrictions for this institution without written approval in advance from either the Dean of Undergraduate Studies or the Dean of the Graduate Division. Failure to obtain such approval in advance will subject the student to possible loss of units taken here and/or a restriction of units for transfer from the other institutions.