Registration

Students are required to register at the university according to the schedule published in the Class Schedule Bulletin. Registration is not complete until all fees are paid or fee payment arrangements have been made with the Bursar, and all registration materials are filed in the Office of the Registrar. Students should consult the Class Schedule Bulletin for specific details prior to registration.

Course Load

Course loads in undergraduate studies are limited. Students may register for a program of 16 credit hours in an 18-week semester or12 credit hours in a summer term.

Students whose CSU cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or better may register for a program of 18 credit hours in an 18-week semester or twelve credit hours in a summer term.

Students whose CSU cumulative grade point average is 1.99 or less are limited to 12 credit hours or four courses in an 18-week semester or six credit hours in a summer term.

F-1 international students must carry a minimum 12 credit hours during fall and spring terms to maintain lawful F-1 student status in the United States.

Concurrent Registration

In order to enroll for a course or courses at another college or university, a student following a degree sequence at Chicago State University must obtain written approval for concurrent attendance from the Office of Academic Evaluation and Advisement prior to registration. Students who have earned a cumulative total of 66 credit hours or more must attend a four year institution to earn credit. Students are also cautioned to review university residence requirements. Transfer credit for work taken elsewhere will be accepted by the university only when the appropriate procedure is followed.

Change of Registration

Students may add classes to their schedule during registration or the change-of-program period. The change-of-program period is the first three days of classes for a summer term and the first two days of classes of an 18-week semester. Specific dates for each term are published in the Class Schedule Bulletin. Students may drop a course on or before the tenth day of regularly scheduled classes on CSU X-PRESS. After this date, students must obtain the advisor’s approval for dropped course(s) on a Change of Program form. The completed form must be submitted for final approval in the Office of the Registrar. The requested change or changes do not become official until the form is submitted to the Office of the Registrar. Errors in completion of the Change of Program form are the student’s responsibility.

Auditing Courses

The university does not permit undergraduate students to audit courses. Attendance in course sessions is based on the assumption that the student has officially registered for the course(s).

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for courses are listed in this catalog and in the Course Schedule Bulletin published each semester. Students may not register for courses if they do not meet the published prerequisites. If students do register, they may be required to drop the course or courses unless special permission has been granted by the appropriate academic department.

Registration Holds

Students with financial or academic holds may not register until the department that initiated the hold processes a release. Please contact the department that has placed a hold on your record prior to your scheduled registration date. You cannot web register if you have a hold. Your academic advisor can let you know if you have a hold(s) on your record during your registration advisement session. Holds can be placed by: 

Bursar (Balance Due)

Wellness Center (immunization/records needed)

Registrar (Dropped for Poor Scholarship)

Examinations (exam(s) or courses required)

Payment of Fees

Students must have met all their financial obligations to the university before they are eligible to register for classes unless special arrangements for meeting such obligations have been made with the bursar. In addition, all financial accounts must be clear before a transcript of academic records can be issued.

Refunds

Students who have registered and who officially withdraw from the university in accordance with established university procedures, on or before the tenth day of regularly scheduled classes, shall receive a refund of all tuition, student activity, and University Center fees. For the summer term, the full refund period is effective through the sixth day of regularly scheduled classes.

Students who officially withdraw in accordance with established university procedures after the tenth day but before the 21st day of regularly scheduled classes will receive a refund of one half of tuition, student activity, and University Center fees. For the summer term, the one-half refund period is effective through the 12th day of regularly scheduled classes.

Students may receive a refund of mandatory fees if a scholarship is awarded which covers those fees. The application for refund must be made no later than 60 calendar days after the close of the session.

Students shall receive refunds of mandatory fees if the university declares them ineligible for enrolled status prior to the first day of regularly scheduled classes.

Students who change from full-time to part-time status prior to the tenth day (sixth day during the summer term) of regularly scheduled classes shall receive a refund of all mandatory fees not applicable to part-time status. Students receiving refunds of fees will not be eligible for activities and benefits covered by such fees.

Residency

1. Definitions

For the purpose of this regulation, the following definitions pertain:

1. An “adult student” is a student who is 18 or more years of age.
2. A “minor student” is a student who is less than 18 years of age.
3. An “emancipated minor student” is a completely self-supporting student who is less than 18 years of age. Marriage or active military service shall be regarded as effecting the emancipation of minors, whether male or female, for the purposes of this regulation.
4. “Residence” means legal domicile. Filing of tax returns, proper license and registration for driving or ownership of a vehicle, a copy of a rental lease agreement, and other such transactions may verify intent of residence in a state. Neither length of university attendance nor occupancy in Residence Hall shall be construed to be proof of Illinois residence. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, no parent or legal natural guardian will be considered a resident unless the parent or guardian maintains a bona fide and permanent residence in Illinois, except when temporarily absent from Illinois, with no intention of changing his or her legal residence to some other state or country.
   
   
1. Residency Determination

The university shall determine the residency status of each student enrolled in the university for the purpose of determining whether the students is assessed in-state or out-of-state tuition. Each applicant for admission to the university shall submit, at the time of application, evidence for determination of residency. The office responsible for admissions shall make a determination of residency status.

1. If a nonresident is classified by error as a resident, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable beginning with the term following reclassification. If the erroneous resident classification is caused by false information submitted by the student, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable for each term in which tuition charges were based on such false information. In addition, the student who has submitted false information may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
2. If a resident is classified by error as a nonresident, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable during the term in which the reclassification occurs, provided that the student has filed a written request for review in accordance with this regulation.
   
   
1. Residency Requirements
   
   
1. Adult Students. To be considered a resident, an adult student must have been a bona fide resident of Illinois for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which the individual registers at the university and must continue to maintain a bona fide residence in Illinois. In the case of an adult student who resides with his or her parent(s), the student will be considered a resident if the parents have established and are maintaining a bona fide residence in Illinois.
2. Minor Students. The residence of a minor student shall be considered to be the same as and to change with the following:
1. That of the minor’s parent(s) if they are living together;
2. If the parents are separated or divorced, that of the parent to whom custody of the minor has been awarded by court decree or order, or, in the absence of a court decree or order, that of the father unless the minor has continuously resided with the mother for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor’s registration at the university, in which latter case the minor’s residence shall be considered to be that of the mother; or
3. If the minor has been legally adopted, that of the adoptive parents, and, in the event the adoptive parents become divorced or separated, that of the adoptive parent whose residence would govern under the foregoing rules if the parent had been a natural parent; or
4. That of the legally appointed guardian of the person; or
5. That of a “natural” guardian, such as a grandparent, adult brother or adult sister, adult uncle or aunt, or other adult with whom the minor has resided and by whom the minor has been supported for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor’s registration at the university for any term if the minor’s parents are deceased or have abandoned the minor and if no legal guardian of the minor has been appointed and qualified.
3. Emancipated Minors. If emancipated minors actually reside in Illinois, such minors shall be considered residents even though their parents or guardians may not reside in Illinois. Emancipated minors who are completely self-supporting shall be considered residents if they have maintained a dwelling place within Illinois for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which they register at the university. Emancipated minors who reside with their parent(s) and whose parent(s) have established and are maintaining a bona fide Illinois residence shall be regarded as residents.
4. Minor Children of Parents Transferred Outside The United States. The minor children of persons who have resided in Illinois for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to a transfer by their employers to some location outside of the United States shall be considered residents. This rule shall apply, however, only when the minor children of such parents enroll in the university within five years of the time their parents are transferred by their employer to a location outside the United States.
5. Married students. A nonresident student, whether minor or adult, who is married to a person who meets and complies with all of the applicable requirements of these regulations to establish residence status, shall be classified as a resident.
6. Armed Forces Personnel. Nonresidents of Illinois who are on active duty with one of the services of the Armed Forces of the United States who are stationed in Illinois and who submit evidence of such service and station, as well as the spouses and dependent children of such persons, shall be considered residents as long as such persons remain stationed in Illinois and the spouses and/or dependent children of such persons also reside in Illinois. If such persons are transferred to a post outside the continental United States but such persons remain registered at the university, residency status shall continue until such time as these persons are stationed within a state other than Illinois within the continental United States.
7. Staff Members of the University, Allied Agencies, and Faculties of State-Supported Institutions in Illinois. Staff members of the university and of allied agencies, and faculties of state-supported institutions of higher education in Illinois, holding appointments of at least one quarter time, and their spouses and dependent children, shall be treated as residents.
8. Teachers in Public and Private Illinois Schools. Teachers in the private and public elementary and secondary schools in Illinois shall, if subject to the payment of tuition, be assessed at the resident rate during any term in which they hold an appointment of at least one-quarter time, including the summer session immediately following the term in which the appointment was effective.
9. International Students. To be considered a resident, a student who is not a United States citizen must have a “permanent resident” status or “refugee” status with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and must also comply with all other requirements of these regulations.
   
   
2. Residency Status Appeal Procedure

Students who take exception to their residency status classification shall pay the tuition assessed but may file a claim in writing to the Registrar’s Office for reconsideration of residency status. The written claim must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of the tuition bill or the student loses all rights to a change of residency status for the term in question. If the student is dissatisfied with the ruling in response to the written claim made within said period, the student may file a written appeal within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the decision to the Registrar’s Office. Such written appeals shall be forwarded to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, who shall consider all evidence submitted in connection with the case and render a decision which shall be final. 

1. Special Situations

Upon recommendation of the President, the Board may, in special situations, grant residency status to categories of persons otherwise classified as nonresidents under this regulation.

Transcripts

The Office of the Registrar will send a transcript of the academic record of a student upon request. Requests for transcripts may be submitted by letter, on the Transcript Request form supplied by the Office of the Registrar, or via the internet on the Registrar’s Office webpage.

All requests for transcripts must include the signature of the student and a mailing address indicating where the transcript is to be sent. All transcripts must be mailed by the Office of the Registrar and may not be given personally to the requester without prior approval of transcript personnel.

The time required for preparation and mailing of transcripts varies, depending upon when the request is made. During registration and term-ending periods there may be a delay of up to two weeks.

A fee of $5.00 is charged for requests submitted in person or by mail, and $7.25 for requests made on the internet. Transcripts will be issued only for students whose records are clear of all financial or other obligations to the university.

Diplomas

Diplomas are available approximately six to eight weeks after the date of graduation. Students will be notified by mail when the diplomas are available. Students must keep their address current through the Office of Records and Registration.

Duplicate diplomas will be furnished for a fee. Duplicate diplomas are ordered only twice a year by the Office of Academic Evaluation & Advisement.