International Student Services WVU Tech

To Request Authorization for Reduced Course Load

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

Box 54 Old Main  *304-442-3143

From      Anne K. Repaire, Director, International Student Services

Re          Enrollment Status of an International Student

Your assistance is requested in evaluating an international student's eligibility to register for or drop below a full time credit load and to document compliance with the Student/Exchange Information Visitor System (SEVIS), the immigration data tracking program.  Please complete all sections below.  Only Section 1 of this form should be completed by the student him/herself. 

 I. GENERAL INFORMATION – to be completed by the student

    Student's Name____________________________________________________________

Student's ID#  ________________Student's e-mail address  _________________        

Student's Address_____________________________________

________________________

Student's Telephone  __________________________

                   undergraduate student_____          graduate student____

Student's Major  _____________________

                   ALL STUDENTS, PLEASE NOTE:

·          Students taking a reduced course load for medical or 1^st-semester academic difficulty reasons may not engage in employment during the applicable semester(s).

·          Students experiencing language difficulties may be required to enroll in at least one English language class or take other appropriate action

·          Students taking a reduced credit load may lose eligibility for on-campus housing and must check with the Residence Life Office to determine their eligibility to remain in university housing.

·          Prior to requesting advisor/chair/graduate program director certification of this form, students should review conditions and restrictions for each exception category to ensure their eligibility.

II  STUDENT'S CURRENT ACADEMIC STATUS/ANTICIPATED ACADEMIC PROGRESS – to be completed by academic chair or graduate program director

Regulations stipulate that all F-1 students make "normal progress" towards their degree at all times.

A.      Is the student named on the top of this form considered to be making "normal progress" towards his/her degree (progressing at the rate expected of all students in the student's program?)

Yes_______

No (explain)________________________________________________________________

                     B.  Based on "normal academic progress" in this student's program, please provide information on when this

                      student reached or is reasonably expected to reach the following stages of his/her academic program as

                      noted:

·Completion of all coursework for the degree:  (semester/year)  _____________

·Completion of all degree requirements (including defense, where applicable):  (semester/year) _________

·Receipt of diploma dated (month/year) ___________________

(Please see reverse side for advisor/chair/graduate program director's certification of reason for reduced credit load)

  III.  REASON FOR REDUCED CREDIT OR COURSE LOAD (CHECK ONE)  - to be completed by chair or graduate director

 Regulations stipulate that all F-1students must be enrolled full time (12 credits for most students) at all times unless they meet one of the regulatory exceptions to this requirement.

As academic advisor, chair, or graduate program director, I certify that I have checked the appropriate regulatory exception below for this student's reduced credit or course load and have noted the applicable conditions for that reason:

·          Permitted for maximum of 12 months while student is pursuing any one degree program level

·          Must be certified in writing by a physician (M.D.), doctor of osteopathy (D.O.) or licensed clinical psychologist; 

·          Must submit a new form every semester needed;

·          May not be employed on- or off-campus during semesters authorized for medically-necessitated reduced credits

________  ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES (choose ONE reason) – Regulatory conditions and restrictions for this

exception:

·          Permitted only one semester per degree program level;

·       May not be employed on- or off-campus during first semester in U.S., if approved for reduced credits in that semester;

·     Must fall into one of the four categories listed below (please check ONLY ONE)

    ____ Initial difficulty with the English language (first semester in U.S. only)

    ____ Initial difficulty with reading requirements (first semester in U.S. only)

    ____ Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods (first semester in U.S. only)

    ____ Improper course level placement (at any point while student pursues current degree program level)

COMPLETION OF COURSE OF STUDY (OR COURSEWORK, FOR CERTAIN

     GRADUATE STUDENTS - Regulatory conditions and restrictions for this exception:

·          Must fall into one of the two categories listed below (please check ONLY ONE)

____ Master's students who have completed all coursework and are now engaged in thesis research (permitted for a maximum of 2 semesters, barring exceptional circumstances):

____ Undergraduate student in final term of studies

                Please note the risk a student takes in using the "final term only" exception: once the INS is notified of this reason, if the student subsequently is unable to complete studies by the end of the applicable term, he/she will automatically be considered "out of status" by the INS and will have to apply to the INS for "reinstatement" to status to continue studies.  When applying for "reinstatement," the student will have to convince the INS that his/her inability to complete in the expected semester does NOT constitute failure to meet the requirement of "making normal progress" towards the degree.  If the recommendation is for any reason other than one of the three specified above, the chair/graduate program director should NOT complete    this form, but  should instead consult Anne Repaire, International Student Services, (442-3143).

 IV. SEMESTER TO WHICH THIS FORM APPLIES – to be completed by the chair, academic advisor, or  graduate director

     Fall        or              Spring          Year:  __________ (only one semester per form)

 Number of credits student will take in the semester noted above _________

Number of credits that will remain for degree completion after the semester in question ________

 V.  ADVISOR/CHAIR/GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION AND CONTACT

                INFORMATION

I certify that all information provided on this form is accurate to the best of my knowledge and judgment.

Advisor/Chair/Graduate Program Director  Name________________________

Program ___________________

Signature  __________________________________________Telephone  _________________________

Note: Sample document DO NOT print.

For Word document click here.

International Student Services WVU Tech.