Registration

Every student admitted to the university is classified and assigned to an academic advisor. The academic advisor is to help students schedule the courses that will meet the specific major requirements and personal interests of the student. The advisor must sign any drop/add forms and the application for graduation. The student, however, remains the one responsible to see that all catalog requirements are met and completed for the target major and degree, and in time to graduate. Official registration is completed in person during assigned registration days for each semester or session. Late registration is possible for a limited period but involves a late fee. The last day of late registration is given in the university calendar.

A full-time university student is enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. The usual load is 15 to 16 hours per semester. No student may enroll in more than 18 hours without permission from the academic services office, which will evaluate the student’s prior academic achievement before granting permission. Registration for more than 20 hours in a semester requires advance approval by the Vice President for Academic Services.

Numbering of Courses: Courses numbered 100-199 are primarily for freshmen. Courses numbered 200-299 are primarily for sophomores. Courses numbered 300-399 are primarily for juniors. Courses numbered 400-499 are primarily for seniors. Courses numbered 500 and above are primarily for graduate students. Students may not enroll in courses numbered more than one level above their academic classification.

Schedule of Classes: A SCHEDULE OF CLASSES to be offered in a given semester or session is printed and distributed in advance of each registration. The university reserves the right to withdraw or change any scheduled course.

Traditional Undergraduate Students Taking Adult and Graduate Studies Classes

Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS) classes are offered in an accelerated format developed for working adults who might choose to take one or two classes during a 7-week period. These accelerated classes combine well with other 7-week courses and second session courses, pacing the adult student differently than through a typical semester. For this reason, traditional undergraduate students taking 15-week semester classes should not be scheduled for 7-week AGS classes. Exceptions would be traditional undergraduate students who cannot complete their program in time for their planned graduation without taking a course offered in Bethel’s AGS programs. Students must seek approval through their advisor, and the dean of their division.

Adding / Dropping Classes

In order to add or withdraw from a course, the proper procedure must be followed to assure correct records. Academic Advisors are able to make registration changes online until the end of the first week after classes have begun. After this point in the semester, classes can no longer be added to a student’s schedule. Dropping a class will require completion of an Add/Drop form (available in the registrar’s office). Enrollment is not considered officially changed until the forms are completed, signed by the advisor, and filed in the registrar’s office. The amount of refund, if any, is determined by the week in which the forms are completed and filed in the registrar’s office. Unauthorized withdrawal from any class results in a grade of “F” on the permanent academic records.

Institutional Withdrawal Policy

Official Withdrawals

The date of withdrawal will be the date that the University is notified in writing of the student’s decision to withdraw (the date the student actually begins the withdrawal process). If there are extenuating circumstances determined to be beyond the student’s control such as illness, accident, or grievous personal loss, the dean can, prior to the last day of classes, set a withdrawal date based upon the last documented date of attendance at an academically-related activity.

A student has established an academic record once the student registers for a class. In order to complete the official withdrawal process, the dean of students will have the student complete the “Procedures for Withdrawal” form found in the office of student development. The student must complete the entire form and submit it to the registrar. A grade of W will be given for all courses. Withdrawal is not possible after the last day given in the university calendar (except in special emergencies).

Unofficial Withdrawals

For financial aid purposes, an unofficial withdrawal date will be set as the last date the student was involved in an academic related activity if the student “drops out” without notifying the dean of students of his/her intentions. It is also an unofficial withdrawal if the student does not pass at least one attempted class since the University cannot make a presumption that the student attended. Tuition, fees, or room and board charges will not be adjusted for unofficial withdrawals; however, Federal grants and loans, both student and parent, will be pro-rated per the Federal Return of Funds Policy.

No-Show Policy

Students who do not attend any of the classes for which they have registered will be granted a 100% refund of tuition paid. Each Adult 7-week session will be considered separately when applying Tuition and No-Show refunds. Students who do not attend any classes in one course but do attend one class or more in that semester will not be considered a no-show and will be subject to the applicable refund schedule.

Multiple Major Policy

Multiple majors will be awarded and recorded on a student’s official transcript upon fulfillment of all course work for each program under the conditions of the multiple major policy.

Bachelor’s Degree Policy

The student must pass 21 distinct hours of course work that are unique between the two majors earned. No course can be counted in both majors and count toward the 21 distinct hour rule.

Associate Degree Policy

The student must pass 15 distinct hours of course work that is unique to any other Associate major earned. No course can be counted in both majors and count toward the 15 distinct hour rule.

Minor Policy

The student must pass nine distinct hours of course work that are unique to any other major or minor earned. Only students earning a bachelor’s degree may be awarded a minor.

General Policies

Students must meet all Bethel Core requirements for each program.
Clarification: If one program requires a specific Bethel Core course, Introduction to World Civilization for example, and the other program lists only a history elective, the specified course in the first major will meet the history elective required for the other program.

If each program were to list specific, but different, general education courses for their major, the student would need to pass both classes.
The distinct hours requirement applies to courses within each major only, and do not include Bethel Core courses or free electives. A course listed as a Bethel Core requirement can meet specific major requirements in another program but cannot be used as distinct hours.
Example: Compare the Biology Major and the Science Education Major: General Chemistry I is listed as a Bethel Core requirement for the Biology Major but as a major requirement for Science Education. The class can be used to meet requirements for both majors but may not be used as a distinct hours class.

Clarification: No course can be used in both majors to meet the distinct hours requirement.

Courses can be used in both majors to meet major requirements of both programs, but again, cannot be used to meet the distinct hours requirement.
Students pursuing multiple majors in both bachelor and associate programs must meet the 21 distinct hour rule.
Multiple majors which include Liberal Studies also use the distinct hours rules listed above. There must be 21 distinct hours between the major and the concentration requirements.
Professional Education courses cannot be used to fulfill the distinct hour requirement.
The distinct hours requirement does not apply to completion of a B.A. and B.S.