Academics

Academic Programs 

 

Academic Year

The Holy Cross academic year consists of the Fall and Spring semesters. Registration, advisement and orientation periods prior to each semester vary in length according to the requirements for the semester. At the end of each semester, there is a reading and examination period.

Registration

Registration takes place in three steps, all of which must be completed before registration can be considered valid. To register, students should:

  1. Obtain a financial clearance from the Finance Office.
  2. Meet with their academic advisor to choose courses from the current list of offerings.
  3. Submit the registration form to the Registrar.

Late Registration

Any student who fails to register during the scheduled time is assessed a late registration fee of $100.00 as determined by the Registrar’s Office.

Add/Drop period

Students are allowed to make course adjustments within the first ten academic days of each semester. An add/drop form must be obtained from the Registrar’s Office signed by the involved professor(s) and the academic advisor and returned to the Registrar within the ten day designated time period. Any course dropped after this time is considered a withdrawal. Information about applicable refunds is available in the Financial Aid section.

Withdrawal from a Course

Withdrawal takes place after the confirmation of registration. Students should:

  1. Obtain a course withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office.
  2. Have it approved by their professor, their academic advisor, and the Dean.
  3. Return it to the Registrar’s Office.

Withdrawals after the designated add/drop period will be recorded as “W” (withdrawn), which will also be reflected in the student’s transcript. This notation has no bearing upon the calculation of the grade point average. Information about applicable refunds is available in the Financial Aid section.

Auditing

A student may audit a course if space is available and the permission of the instructor is obtained. A full-time student may audit a course for no additional charge, provided that his or her semester course load is no more than 18 credits. Part-time students and students carrying more than 18 credits are charged 50% of regular tuition per credit hour. Auditors are required to attend three-fourths of all class sessions at minimum.

Leave of Absence

A leave of absence will be granted for one semester, and up to a total of two semesters subject to review by the academic dean. No student may have a leave of absence longer than two semesters during his/her years at the school. A request for a leave of absence for a semester or for a full academic year must be filed with the Registrar’s Office before the end of the semester preceding the leave. If a student does not return after one year, he or she must repeat the full process of admission.

Withdrawal from School

If a student desires to withdraw voluntarily from the school, he/she must:

  1. Secure an application for withdrawal from the Registrar’s Office.
  2. Obtain the required signatures.
  3. File the application with the Registrar.

If withdrawal takes place after the tenth academic day of the semester, a mark of “W” (withdrawn) will be entered on the student’s transcript, and credit will not be granted. Any student who fails to withdraw in the prescribed manner, as stated above, will not be entitled to an honorable dismissal or to any refund, and will receive a grade of “F” on all courses carried.

Reinstatement after withdrawal must be made through the Office of Admissions. Students who have been absent from the institution may be eligible for readmission by a simplified application process. To be eligible, one must have withdrawn voluntarily or requested a leave of absence. In this case, the following documents must be submitted:

  1. A petition for readmission form (available from the Registrar’s Office).
  2. A letter addressed to the President detailing the reasons for seeking readmission.
  3. A one- to two-page update to the original Autobiographical Statement recounting one’s activities since leaving Holy Cross.
  4. Official transcripts documenting all academic work undertaken since leaving Holy Cross.
  5. International petitioners must submit anew the following forms: Affidavit of Support, Immigration Status Declaration, and Dependent Family Visa Request and Affidavit (if applicable).

If it has been two years or less since the student withdrew or filed for a Leave of Absence, the President and Dean will decide on the petition after reviewing the original application dossier together with the student’s record and the autobiographical update. If one has been away from HC/HC for more than two years or up to five years, the President, Dean, and Faculty (through the Admissions Committee) will need to approve the readmission. Students who have been absent for five years or more must reapply.

Time Limitations

Credits earned more than ten years before admission or readmission to a degree program in the School of Theology may not be applied toward a degree. The faculty reserves the right to determine the number of credits which may be applied to a degree program.

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