Spring Break
Confusion cleared up: 12 credit hours constitute full-time status
BRITTANY COFER
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
University students can breathe a sigh of relief. Students taking 12 credit hours will maintain full-time status in the fall - regardless of their status under the "Fixed for Four" plan.
"You're still considered a full-time student for financial aid, NCAA, insurance and all those things that others set the standards for," John Millsaps, spokesman for the Board of Regents, said in a phone interview Thursday.
Confusion erupted after the Regents created a new tuition model for the University, which mandates a 15-hour tuition charge for full-time students.
The Red & Black spoke with sources, but the information available Tuesday and Wednesday was unclear of any changes to full-time status requirements for students.
Vice president for public affairs Tom Jackson said Wednesday that the "definition of a full-time student is going to be 15 hours."
But on Thursday Registrar Rebecca Macon said the University will measure full-time status based on 12 credit hours. An e-mail was sent to University faculty and students explaining the changes.
"Hopefully this will alleviate concern," Macon said in a phone interview Thursday. "We encourage everybody to register for 15 hours, but it will not be necessary to gain full-time status."
Macon said the plan affects only undergraduates. Rates for the Graduate School will be on the Bursar's Office Website next week, she said.
Millsaps said the Regents have no authority in setting full-time student status requirements, and the decision Tuesday affected only tuition rates.
"All we're saying is we're going to charge students for 15 hours," Millsaps said Thursday. "It encourages students to take more than 12, but you're still full-time if you take 12 hours."
What this means is students will still be covered under insurance and scholarships if they decide to take 12 credit hours - but they will be paying for 15 hours.
Before the change, students taking 12 to 15 hours paid the same tuition rate - essentially giving students three "free" hours if they chose to take 15 hours.
"You're still considered a full-time student for financial aid, NCAA, insurance and all those things that others set the standards for," John Millsaps, spokesman for the Board of Regents, said in a phone interview Thursday.
Confusion erupted after the Regents created a new tuition model for the University, which mandates a 15-hour tuition charge for full-time students.
The Red & Black spoke with sources, but the information available Tuesday and Wednesday was unclear of any changes to full-time status requirements for students.
Vice president for public affairs Tom Jackson said Wednesday that the "definition of a full-time student is going to be 15 hours."
But on Thursday Registrar Rebecca Macon said the University will measure full-time status based on 12 credit hours. An e-mail was sent to University faculty and students explaining the changes.
"Hopefully this will alleviate concern," Macon said in a phone interview Thursday. "We encourage everybody to register for 15 hours, but it will not be necessary to gain full-time status."
Macon said the plan affects only undergraduates. Rates for the Graduate School will be on the Bursar's Office Website next week, she said.
Millsaps said the Regents have no authority in setting full-time student status requirements, and the decision Tuesday affected only tuition rates.
"All we're saying is we're going to charge students for 15 hours," Millsaps said Thursday. "It encourages students to take more than 12, but you're still full-time if you take 12 hours."
What this means is students will still be covered under insurance and scholarships if they decide to take 12 credit hours - but they will be paying for 15 hours.
Before the change, students taking 12 to 15 hours paid the same tuition rate - essentially giving students three "free" hours if they chose to take 15 hours.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Kyle
posted 4/17/09 @ 9:09 AM EST
Got a question for someone.
As of now, I have 13 hours left the graduate. After that, I plan on starting graduate school. Graduate school can not be started only but in the fall. (Continued…)
DJ
posted 4/17/09 @ 12:34 PM EST
Kyle,
You do not have to pay full time tuition if you're not full time. Currently you do not have to pay for 12 hrs if you are taking less.... come on dude you've been in college for 3 years already (I assume)! and you don't know that??
Liz
posted 4/17/09 @ 2:31 PM EST
What he's asking is if he'll have to pay the "charges [for] in-state students not on the 'Fixed for Four' plan," which is $1,800 for up to six hours. Obviously he would not be paying full time tuition for 1 credit hour. (Continued…)
Marc
posted 4/17/09 @ 11:18 PM EST
Dude, why are you asking a newspaper the cost of your tuition?
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