General Information

Office of the Registrar

For convenience, offices are located on all three campuses.

St. Petersburg Campus - Office of Records and Registration

Sarasota-Manatee Campus - Office of Records and Registration

The Office of the Registrar provides student, academic, and administrative services, and is responsible for maintaining each student’s academic record from the time of admission through graduation. Staff coordinate registration and drop/add activities, process grades, prepare transcripts, and process graduation applications. Staff also review and act on student requests for reclassification of residency, name changes and other student record information updates.

The Office of the Registrar provides information and services to students in the University’s Online Access Student Information System (OASIS). Using their Net ID and password, students can register and drop/add courses, process address changes, access registration appointment times and hold information, request privacy, view their grades and order transcripts

Although technology is leveraged to provide better service, staff provide service in-person and via phone and email. The Office of the Registrar maintains the official academic records for all students and course registrations for currently enrolled students.
 

Registration Information

Register 

To register for classes, students must first login to the MyUSF portal using their net id and password (http://netid.usf.edu/una) and choose OASIS from the Resource menu. Current course offerings and registration requirements are listed in the Schedule of Classes. Note that some courses may require permits from the department/school for registration.

Late Registration 

Degree-seeking students who do not register prior to the first day of classes may register late the first week of classes. A late registration fee is charged during this week. To avoid cancellation of registration, fees and tuition are due and payable for all registered courses of record on the fifth day of classes (end of drop/add period). Students are responsible for verifying the accuracy of their course registration before the end of the drop/add period (i.e. by the fifth day of classes). In the event there are courses incorrectly listed or missing on the record, students should go into OASIS and make the necessary corrections. Course registration not corrected by the end of the fifth day of classes will result in liability of tuition and fees. If courses need to be added or dropped after the fifth day of classes, refer to the Add and Drop sections of the Catalog.

Medical Requirements for Registration

Immunization Policy: University Immunization Policy, USF Regulation 33-002: https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy33-002

Forms: http://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/immunizations/index.aspx

Student Health Services is charged with the responsibility of evaluating and maintaining medical requirements for registration for all University of South Florida students. Florida law (Section 1006.69 Florida statute) requires that all admitted Florida university students be aware of MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS and HEPATITIS B, two diseases that may be prevented by vaccination. The vaccines for each of these diseases are available at the University of South Florida Student Health Services (with locations at the USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee campuses). Please refer to http://www.shs.usf.edu/immunizations.aspx for further information. In addition, students residing in on-campus housing must present (a) proof of vaccination against MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS, and (b) proof of vaccination against HEPATITIS B or sign a declination of HEPATITIS B document.

According to Florida Administrative Code Rule 6C-6.001(5) “Each student accepted for admissions shall, prior to registration, submit on a form, provided by the institution, a medical history signed by the student.” As a prerequisite to matriculation or registration, the State University System of Florida requires all students born after 1956 to present documented proof of immunity to MEASLES (Rubeola) and RUBELLA (German measles).

In addition, new admits (international students and US citizens living abroad) must show proof of screening for Tuberculosis (TB) within the past year. New admits who have not taken the TB test may do so when they arrive, but will not be allowed to register until the test has been taken. (Reference USF Policy 33.003 - https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy33-002)

All students new to USF are required to submit a signed copy of the official USF Medical History form and submit immunization documentation for the following:

1. Medical History Form: Sign the Mandatory Immunization Health History Form
2. Measles 1, Measles 2, Rubella (MMR): Vaccination (2 doses after 1st birthday) OR Titer (lab work) Date &Result
3. Hepatitis B-1: Vaccination OR Check the declination box OR Titer (lab work) Date & Result
4. Meningitis: Menactra/MCV4 vaccination at AGE 16 OR OLDER (if living on campus) OR check the declination (if not living on campus)
5. TB Screening: Tuberculosis Screening required for all International Students and U.S. born students residing at an address outside the U.S. at the time of application.

Forms may be downloaded and printed from the Student Health Services Forms website:  https://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/immunizations/. In order to register, this form, including the required documentation, must be completed, signed, and returned to the Student Health Services Office.  For convenience, offices are located on all three campuses.

Tampa Campus:

Student Health Services
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue, SHS 100
Tampa, FL 33620-6750
Fax: (813) 974-5888
Telephone: (813) 974-4056

St. Petersburg Campus:

Administrative Holds

A student may be placed on administrative hold for failure to meet obligations to the University. When a student is placed on administrative hold, the student may not be allowed to register, receive a diploma, or receive a transcript.  A list of current holds and how to resolve them is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website (https://www.usf.edu/registrar/services/holds.aspx)

Cancellation of Registration for Non-Payment

USF Regulation USF4.010, https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation4010

Students who do not have a tuition deferment and fail to pay by the end of add/drop week (first week of classes) will be considered overdue and will be assessed a $100 Late Payment Fee. Students have until the deadlines listed on the website (https://www.usf.edu/registrar/register/lateadd_readd.aspx) to pay all tuition and fees or they will be cancelled from classes.

If cancelled, students are removed from class rosters and lose Canvas access and a Late Registration Fee of $100 will be assessed. Students who have a financial aid Tuition Deferment, Veteran’s deferment, Florida Prepaid Plan, or a graduate assistant tuition waiver will not be subject to cancellation.

More information on this process is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website.
 

Semester System

USF operates on a semester system. Semesters begin in August and January with Summer Sessions beginning in May and June. See Academic Calendar   for appropriate dates. For information on converting quarter hours to semester hours, for purposes such as transfer of credit and the required GPA for admissions, refer to: http://www.grad.usf.edu/inc/linked-files/gpa.pdf

Academic Load

See Enrollment Requirements  in the Academic Policies Section

Student Information

Academic Standing

Class Standing - A student’s class standing is determined by the number of credits the student has earned without relation to the student’s GPA.

Classification of Students

6M - Graduate student admitted to a major in a Master’s Degree Program
6A - Graduate student admitted to a major in a Specialist Degree Program
6D - Graduate student admitted to a major in a Doctoral Degree Program (not eligible to register for dissertation hours)
6C - Graduate student admitted to Doctoral Candidacy (eligible to register for dissertation hours)
7A-7D 1st-4th year professional Degree Program (M.D.) or post-doctoral status

Also see “In good standing ” in the Academic Policies Section

Student Definitions

Degree Seeking Students:
Students who have been accepted into a major within a degree program

Graduate Certificate Seeking Students:
Students who have been accepted into a Graduate Certificate, who are also not enrolled in a degree seeking program.  They are further classified as non-degree seeking students.  Students who are non-degree seeking, but who are admitted to a Graduate Certificate may register during the same registration period as Degree-Seeking Students. For more information about Graduate Certificates and specific requirements, refer to Graduate Certificates  .

Non-Degree-Seeking Students:
Students who have not been accepted into a major within a degree program or Graduate Certificate. Non-Degree-Seeking students may enroll and enter classes on a space available basis. Non-Degree-Seeking students must meet all prerequisites for courses in which they wish to enroll and should obtain appropriate approval from the academic unit in which the courses of interest are offered. Certain classes are available only to degree-seeking students and may not be available for Non-Degree-Seeking students.

Should a student be accepted into a graduate degree major, refer to the Application of USF credit policy for information on what credits may be applied to satisfy graduate degree requirements. Prior to completing twelve (12) hours in a specific major, it is strongly recommended that a Non-Degree-Seeking Student apply for admission and be accepted to the major to continue taking courses in the major. Majors may have additional requirements, so check with the major of interest for more information.

Visiting Graduate Students

Graduate students enrolled at another College or University who want to complete coursework at USF are considered Non-Degree Seeking Students and should follow the process for Non-Degree Seeking Student Admission (https://www.usf.edu/registrar/services/non-degree-admission/index.aspx).  Students should consult their home institution for transfer of credit eligibility of USF courses toward their degrees at that institution.  

Graduate students enrolled at USF who want to complete coursework at another College or University should consult that Institution’s policies for how to enroll and should also receive confirmation in advance from their USF department to confirm transfer of credit eligibility.  Refer to the Transfer of Credit Policy for more information.

GA/RA/TA Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships (GA), Research Assistantships (RA), and Teaching Assistantships (TA): Graduate Assistantships are intended to recruit quality students to graduate study at USF and to enhance the graduate learning experience. Graduate assistantships exist within academic departments or other university offices on campus. Graduate assistants may teach, conduct research, or perform other tasks that contribute to the student’s professional development. Graduate students may be classified as Graduate Assistants (GAs), Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates (GTAs), Graduate Instructional Assistants (GIAs), and/or Graduate Research Assistants/Associates (GRAs). All graduate assistants at USF work under a contract negotiated by the Graduate Assistants United (GAU) and the USF Board of Trustees. The GAU is the labor union certified as the exclusive bargaining agent for graduate assistants at USF. To receive an assistantship, the graduate student must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Accepted in a graduate major;
• Maintain an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) and major GPA of 3.00;
• Enrolled full-time during the semester(s) appointed as a graduate assistant;
• For teaching assistantships, demonstrate proficiency in spoken English (if student is not from an English-Speaking country).
• Maintain a satisfactory work performance evaluation for all previous work performed as a Graduate Assistant.

Full-time enrollment is considered nine (9) graduate credit hours in the fall semesters and six (6) graduate credit hours in the summer semester. If a graduate assistant is enrolled in the last semester of his/her program of study, the number of registered semester hours may be less than the full-time requirement. Graduate assistants must comply with all Office of Graduate Studies enrollment requirements to retain their assistantship as stated in the Graduate Catalog.

For specifics regarding Graduate Assistantship requirements, guidelines, and policies, refer to the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center online at: http://www.grad.usf.edu/assistantships.php, https://www.usfsp.edu/graduate-studies/graduate- assistantships/,the Graduate Catalog Academic Policies Section, and also the Graduate Assistants Policies and Guidelines Handbook.

Student Identification Card (USFCard and ID Badge) Policy

Policy Reference: USF 0-517 - https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy0-517

University policy requires all students obtain and carry the USFCard while on campus. The USFCard is primarily used for identification, for verification of USF status, and for using University services, such as the Library, the purchase of parking decals, obtaining passes for University sporting and theatrical events, and other related events/services.  Legal Identification (passport, driver’s license, or State/ Government Photo Identification card) must be presented to obtain a USFCard. For the issuance of a family card, the student (with their USFCard) must accompany the family member(s) who must also provide legal identification. All privileges extended to the family(s) are discontinued when the Sponsor is no longer a student. Use of the USFCard by anyone other than the person to whom it was issued is strictly prohibited. The cardholder is responsible for any and all losses associated with their card. Fees for issuance of the first and replacement cards are in accordance with USF 5.018. The initial cost of the card is $10.00. Refer to the fee schedule for costs of each additional family member card. Financial services, long distance telephone services, and other features are options available at the user’s discretion. USFCards are the property of the University of South Florida and must be returned on request.

St. Petersburg Campus:
Nelson Poynter Memorial Library-POY 221
(727) 873-4409
http://www.dl.usf.edu/npml/usfid.html

Sarasota-Manatee Campus
Parking Services
(941)359-4220
http://www.usfsm.edu/campus-life/campus-resources/parking-services/index.aspx

Student Records Policy

Reference: USF2.0021 - https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation20021

Student Record

Upon enrollment at USF, students become responsible for all actions taken on their student records. All changes to a student’s record must be made by the student via their USF email or in writing. Students are not permitted to share their usernames or passwords to USF-assigned accounts. This ensures that students’ online identity remains both protected and authenticated. 

Students are required to notify the Office of the Registrar when there are record changes involving preferred or legal name, social security number, addresses, telephone numbers, and external email addresses, even after leaving USF. The best way to update information is in OASIS. If a student needs help making an update, students should send the request to AskTheRegistrar@usf.edu from their USF email address.

Release of Student Information

If a student wants to provide ongoing access for a parent, spouse, or other third party to review your student record information: Submit the Student Record Access Authorization form to the Office of the Registrar from your USF email to privacy@usf.edu. By filling out this form, the student will designate people the ability to request information from the student’s record, but remember: When working with third parties, USF retains the right to determine if a need to know exists. Please understand that this permission doesn’t include the ability to register a student for courses, or complete forms on a student’s behalf. Students remain responsible for initiating all changes to their student records.

Students  concerned about safeguarding student record information, should visit visit Archivum to request that USF excludes the release of your directory information. USF currently defines directory information as:

• The student’s name.
• The student’s classification and major field of study.
• The student’s participation in officially recognized activities and sports.
• The weight and height of members of athletic teams.
• The student’s dates of attendance, part-time or full-time status, and degrees and awards received.
• The student’s photographic image independent of any additional personal identifiers.

In addition, USF publishes an internal, password-protected Student Contact List online that contains the following items:  Name, USF e-mail address, institutional affiliations (major, work-study location), college, campus, campus phone, campus mailstop.

This online Contact List is available to any member of the University community with an active Net ID. Students may request to be excluded from this published Contact List as well as any Directory Information by visiting Archivum.

Requests for additional privacy remain in place until a student sends a rescind request to Privacy@usf.edu. 

• Privacy requests become effective within two business days of submission and remain in effect until the student provides authorization to the Office of the Registrar to end the request.
• Students with active privacy requests will be excluded from USF’s internal, password protected directory if the request is received by the Office of the Registrar by the end of the second week of classes in the academic term. No public disclosures will be made before these deadlines. Students may continue to request privacy throughout the year, but USF assumes no responsibility for disclosures made prior to receipt of a request.
• It is difficult to authenticate a student on the phone without discussing directory information; students with privacy requested may find that the majority of contact with USF faculty and staff will need to be in person with photo identification or via official USF email.
• Students will not be excluded from reporting to the National Student Clearinghouse or the National Student Loan Data System due to federal reporting requirements. However, when we do send information to these agencies, it will be done so with the privacy flag. These two reporting entities recognize Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (1974) (FERPA) and will maintain that confidentiality. 

Exclusions

Members or former members of the faculty who hold or have held the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor are not eligible to be granted degrees from USF, except upon prior authorization of the Office of Graduate Studies and the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee.

In cases where a member of the immediate family of a faculty member is enrolled in a graduate major, the faculty member may not serve on any advisory or examination committee or be involved in any determination of academic or financial status of that individual.

Academic Record

The student’s academic record shall not be changed after the student has graduated. Except in cases of administrative error, the student’s academic record shall not be changed once the semester has rolled.

Course Information

Academic Credit hours

Academic credit provides the basis for quantifying the amount of engaged learning time expected of a typical student enrolled in traditional classroom settings, laboratories, studios, internships and other forms of experiential learning, and distance and correspondence education. Credit hours are a measure of learning, and support a wide range of activities, including the transfer of students from one institution to another, awarding financial aid, and credentialing for employment. Because of the significance of awarding credit hours, an institution is obligated to ensure that credit hours for courses and majors conform to the commonly accepted standards of higher education, as stated in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Federal Requirements 4.9 (Definition of Credit Hour) and the SACSCOC Credit Hours Policy Statement. This Policy is intended to ensure that all credit-bearing courses and programs offered by the University of South Florida (USF) meet the requirements of the Federal definition of a credit hour and the Credit Hours Policy Statement issued by the SACSCOC.

In determining the maximum number of credits that may be assigned to a course, the following guidelines apply.

• For courses taught in a “traditional” classroom format in a 15-week semester, the maximum number of credits to be assigned is limited to the weekly number of 50-minute contact periods (or their equivalent) with the instructor. Underlying this statement is an assumption that each 50-minute contact period requires a minimum additional two hours of student work outside of the class involving reading, exercises, etc. Where this assumption does not hold true (as may be the case with some laboratories, for example), then the maximum number of credits may be significantly less than the weekly number of 50-minute contact periods.
  • For a lecture class, one unit is considered to be one hour of lecture class time and two hours per week of homework. For the typical three-unit class, a student spends three hours per week in class and should do six hours per week of homework. The total number of class contact hours per semester equals the credit hours multiplied by 15 weeks.
  • For a laboratory class, the hours per week are considered to be all in class with no outside assignments. Thus, one unit is three hours per week of laboratory time.
  • Where a course includes “by arrangement lab hours,” these generally take the place of the hours assigned to homework, since the student is required to use supervised college facilities to do assignments related to homework. An example might be a 3-unit lecture course which requires the student also to work two hours per week in the computer lab. There would be only four hours per week of additional homework required.
• In all cases, but particularly in cases such as online learning where seat time is non-verifiable, credit hours are awarded on the basis of documented student learning outcomes that reflect the amount of academically engaged time for a typical student in a traditional format, and on the basis of documentation of the amount and type of work a typical student is expected to complete within a specified period of academically engaged time. The number of credit hours awarded is based on the number and/or rigor of student learning outcomes, with the higher number of credit hours awarded yielding greater number and/or rigor of outcomes.

Availability of Courses

USF does not commit itself to offer all the courses, majors, and majors listed in this catalog unless there is sufficient demand to justify them. Some courses may be offered only in alternate semesters or years, or even less frequently if there is little demand.

Mandatory First-Day Attendance Policy

All students are required to attend class the first day a class meets, for both online and on-campus courses. Students unable to attend must contact the instructor prior to the first day to ensure they are not dropped from the course. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.).   To avoid fee liability and academic penalty, the student is responsible for insuring that he/she has dropped or been dropped from all undesired courses by the end of the fifth (5th) day of classes. (See USF Regulation – Registration – 4.0101,https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation40101

Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students

In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10) (g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy10-045

Students are expected to notify their instructors at the beginning of each academic term if they intend to be absent for a class or announced examination, in accordance with this policy. Students absent for religious reasons, as noticed to the instructor at the beginning of each academic term, will be given reasonable opportunities to make up any work missed. In the event that a student is absent for religious reasons on a day when the instructor collects work for purposes of grading (homework, pop quiz, etc.), the student shall be given a reasonable opportunity to make up such work or shall not have that work averaged into the student’s grade at the discretion of the instructor.

Cross-listing 4000/6000 Courses

It is expected that the 4000 and 6000 courses will have distinct syllabi demonstrating different depth and breadth of the subject matter as reflected in the course requirements. The courses presuppose different audiences, and the intention is to offer them at distinct levels.

Course Currency

All courses, with the exception of those approved for transfer of credit, should meet the time limit specified for the degree and be academically relevant as determined by the faculty in the graduate major. Courses used for the graduate degree requirements can be no more than ten years old at the time the degree is conferred.

Course Descriptions

For a listing of the most current, approved course descriptions refer to the USF Course Inventory Database available online at https://www.systemacademics.usf.edu/course-inventory/ or in the course description listing in the Graduate Catalog.

Course Syllabi Policy

Refer to USF Policy 11-008

Adds

After a student has completed his/her registration on the date assigned, he/she may add a course(s) during the drop/add week (i.e. through the fifth day of classes) through the OASIS system. Courses may be added with instructor approval and verification up to the last day to withdraw without academic penalty. See Academic Calendar  for deadlines. 

Drops

Withdrawal (Course Withdrawal)

A student may withdraw from a course(s) between the second and tenth week of the semester (except for summer sessions - see the Important Dates and Deadlines on the Office of the Registrar’s website for dates). However, tuition and fees will be assessed for any course(s) withdrawn by the student after the first week. The student’s academic record will reflect a “W” grade for any course(s) withdrawn between the second and tenth week of the semester. Under specific conditions, consideration for refund of tuition and fees may be requested if a Fee Adjustment Request form accompanied by verifiable supporting documentation is submitted to the Office of the Registrar within six (6) months from the end of the semester to which any refund would be applicable. Students who withdraw may not continue to attend classes.

All graduate students will be limited to a total of two course withdrawals while enrolled as a degree-seeking or a non-degree seeking taking graduate courses at USF. Only in extenuating circumstances will approval be granted for more than two course withdrawals. Appeals for additional course withdrawals due to extenuating circumstances must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies via the Graduate Petition process.

Fee Adjustment Options

Students who withdraw from a course during the second through tenth week of classes are liable for tuition and fees. However, the student may apply for a Fee Adjustment through the Registrar’s Office if the student has experienced exceptional circumstances (see form for information: https://www.usf.edu/registrar/documents/forms/uro-far.pdf). The Registrar will determine if a fee/tuition refund is applicable.

Retroactive Actions

Requests for retroactive actions will no longer be considered/approved. Also see Academic Record.

Auditing Privileges and Fees

A student who wishes to sit in on a class to review the course material may do so; however, the student is not allowed to take exams, earn grades, or receive credit. The student’s status for that class is an audit and his/her presence in the classroom is as a listener. Audit status must be obtained only during the first five days of the term by filing an Audit Form and a date-stamped permit from the college/department on the campus where the course is being offered, with the Office of the Registrar. Audit forms should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Office of Records and Registration at the St. Petersburg or Sarasota Campus .  IN-STATE fees are assessed for all audit courses. The form for requesting to audit is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website: http://www.registrar.usf.edu/: Course Audit Form.

Cancellation of Registration before First Class Meeting

Students may cancel their registration by dropping their courses in Student OASIS prior to the first day of classes.

Voluntary Withdrawal (from the Major)

A student may voluntarily withdraw from their graduate major. The effective date of the withdrawal will be entered into the student’s record by the Office of the Registrar as the last day of the last class that the student attended.  Students who wish to withdraw must submit a Voluntary Withdrawal Form, available from the Office of Graduate Studies:  https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/forms.aspx

Once processed, the student’s status will be changed from Graduate Degree Seeking to Non-Degree Seeking. A change to Non-Degree Seeking status could adversely impact financial aid. Questions regarding the impact on financial aid should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid. For convenience, offices are located on all three campuses:

Academic Dismissal

Students may be academically dismissed from their graduate major for a variety of reasons. Once processed, the student’s status will be changed from Graduate Degree Seeking to Non-Degree Seeking. A change to Non-Degree Seeking status could adversely impact financial aid. Dismissal cannot be retroactive. The effective date will be the last day of the term in which the student is academically dismissed, except in cases of academic dismissal due to academic dishonesty or disruption of academic process. Some of the reasons for academic dismissal include*:

• Failure to successfully satisfy requirements to meet Conditional Admission by the deadline established by the major.
• Receiving an “FF” grade
• Failure to maintain “good standing”
• Failure to make satisfactory progress
• Failure to satisfy clinical or professional standards

*students may be dismissed for other reasons, such as violations of student conduct. Refer to the USF Policy – 6.0021 Code of Student Conduct USF (https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfregulation60021) for more information.

To be readmitted, the student will need to reapply for admission, meeting the admission criteria in place at the time. Graduate students who are assigned an “FF” grade will be academically dismissed from the University and will not be eligible to apply to any graduate major at USF.