Advising and Registration

Academic Advising Philosophy

Academic advising at Columbia College is based on the belief that advising is a developmental process, recognizing such logical and sequential steps as exploration of life goals, exploration of career goals, selection of a major program of study, selection and scheduling of courses. The decision-making process of exploring, integrating, and synthesizing should be an ongoing and multifaceted responsibility of both the student and the advisor, the ultimate goal of which is student growth. Through such a person-centered approach, academic advising assists students in creating a personally relevant plan for educational, career, and life fulfillment.

Academic Advisor

While the College provides academic advising, the responsibility of meeting all degree requirements rests with the student. Students are strongly encouraged to officially declare their majors during the semester or session in which 48-60 semester hours are scheduled for completion. Students complete a Declaration of Major form via CougarTrack. A Change of Advisor Form may also be completed online via CougarTrack.

Main Campus Day

Individual relationships are maintained between students and instructors in the classroom and through informal conferences. Day Campus students are assigned a staff advisor during their first year at Columbia College. At the end of their first year, Day Campus students are assigned a faculty advisor in their major. Day Campus students must see their advisor during Advising Week, in order to be eligible to register for the next semester.

Main Campus Evening, Online and Nationwide Campuses

Students are assigned an academic advisor through their campus location. Students are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to enrolling in courses for the first time.

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to abide by the curriculum requirements, including course prerequisites, semester hour(s), upper-level/lower-level status, content, etc., based on the current academic year’s catalog.

Directed Study

Directed study is available in most academic disciplines but only for Main Campus Day and Main Campus Evening students. Its purpose is to allow students to undertake additional, in-depth study of a topic that transcends the existing coursework described in the academic catalog. Directed study is not available for audit (see Course Audit).

Students enrolling in these courses work closely with a selected faculty member, meeting on a regular basis and working toward a mutually agreed-upon goal. Students approach a faculty member with a written proposal. If the proposal is approved, the faculty member and the student then complete the application form. The proposal and form require approval by the supervising faculty member, the department chair, and the Dean for the student’s School.

This contract defines the title of the study, the learning objectives, resources to be used, evaluation methods to be employed and other academic information. The proposal must be completed on the college form that is available in the Enrollment Service Center.

To be eligible for directed study, students must meet the following requirements: (1) completion of at least 45 semester hours of coursework, (2) prior completion of at least 6 semester hours in the discipline of the proposed study and (3) a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Internships

Internships are in-depth, practical learning experiences wherein students are placed in various agencies and/or organizations compatible with their academic majors and educational interests. Internships are supported by the College’s academic mission and by the belief that theoretical knowledge is enhanced by and through the application of that knowledge.

As learning experiences, internships are coordinated by faculty working in conjunction with a designated supervisor in the agency or organization. A formal contract is developed in cooperation with the student, the faculty member, and the agency supervisor. This contract defines the nature and objectives of the learning experience and the responsibilities of each party involved. Specific requirements vary with the academic programs and agencies involved.

Internships are available in the junior or senior academic years. Two course numbers are assigned for internships: 399 and 499. Students enroll for credit during the term in which they undertake the internship. They may enroll for credit up to a maximum of 12 semester hours at each level; however, some departments may limit internship hours (see course descriptions  for information on hours limitation). Some programs require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for enrollment in internships.

Students are expected to work in an agency or organization for a minimum of 45 clock hours for every semester hour for which they enroll. In other words, if a student enrolls for an internship worth 9 semester hours, the student is expected to work 405 clock hours during the term in which enrollment takes place.

Evaluation of student performance is made by the faculty member and the agency supervisor. The successful completion of contracted papers, projects and tasks must occur before credit is given. If a student is dismissed from an internship position by the agency for legitimate reasons (a situation tantamount to being fired), the student fails the course. However, if a situation beyond the student’s control results in that student’s inability to complete the course, then the student must initiate action through the faculty member to find an alternative resolution.

Academic Load Policy

Definitions are based on a 16-week semester. A semester is defined as the sixteen-week term beginning in August, ending in December; the sixteen-week term beginning in January, ending in April or May; or the sixteen-week term beginning in May or June, ending in July or August. Full-time status is measured as enrollment in 12 hours or more per semester at Columbia College. Enrollment is determined after the add/drop period. Federal and state aid programs have varying requirements of eligibility in terms of required enrollment; please see individual aid types for more information.

Main Campus Day

Columbia College policy allows day students to enroll for a full-time course load of up to 18 semester hours of credit in any one semester. Semester enrollment status is calculated by adding all hours (day, evening, and online) for which students are properly registered. See Main Campus Day Overload Policy for information regarding enrolling in an overload of credits.

Main Campus Evening, Online, and Nationwide Campuses

Columbia College policy allows students enrolled in an accelerated (8-week session) to enroll for a full-time course load of up to 12 semester hours of credit in any one semester. This includes courses taken through Main Campus Evening, Online, and Nationwide campuses. Semester enrollment status is calculated by adding all hours (day, evening, and online) for which students are properly registered. See Main Campus Evening, Online, and Nationwide Campuses Overload Policy for information regarding enrolling in an overload of credits.

Overload

Main Campus Day

Students are charged an overload fee calculated from their semester enrollment status for hours above the attempted eighteen-hour maximum. The Dean of the student’s School must approve overloads, which may not exceed three semester hours per semester. Students requesting an overload must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Exceptions to the overload tuition fee are overloads resulting from choir, resident-assistant class for one credit, ROTC and college-sponsored activities. The fee for three hours of overload credit is waived for students with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or higher, only if such students have accumulated at least 30 semester hours from Columbia College.

Main Campus Evening, Online and Nationwide Campuses

Long experience in administering accelerated (8 week academic term) college programs has taught us that it is generally not in the student’s best interest to enroll in more than 9 credit hours per session. Due to the fast pace of the course and the reduced time for reading, research, writing and reflection, a student’s academic performance will generally suffer if an overload of credit is attempted.

Students are required to obtain permission to enroll in ten hours or more during an eight-week session. This includes courses taken through Main Campus Evening, Online, and Nationwide Campuses. Only those students close to graduating from Columbia College, with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average and a compelling reason to take a course overload in an eight-week session may apply to their Home Campus director. Students must first visit with their advisor to discuss all available alternative options. If an overload is approved, there will be no overload fee charged.

An overload is approved on a semester basis, allowing students to enroll in either or both 8-week modules during that semester as an overload. However, the overload in the second module is contingent on outcomes (grades) in the first module (poor outcomes may result in a student’s overload approval being revoked). Systematically, this will require an overload be entered for both modules (it cannot be done on a semester basis).

Course Prerequisites

Course prerequisites are established to ensure that a student has adequate academic preparation to succeed in a particular course. Electronic prerequisite enforcement helps ensure that students meet prerequisite requirements. However, it is the student’s responsibility to closely examine the course descriptions to determine if prerequisites exist and enroll in courses in the proper sequence. In some exceptional cases it may be apparent that the student possesses the required skills and knowledge to succeed in a particular course, even though s/he has not taken the prerequisite course. Waiver of a course prerequisite does not remove the requirement to complete the course if it is a requirement for the student’s degree program.

AHE students’ prerequisite courses may be waived by the Campus Director with approval of the appropriate faculty member. Day Campus students may have their prerequisite courses waived by the course instructor or department chair.

Main Campus Day Registration Policies

A student who registers in a Day class has all other semester hours registered during that 16 week period classified as Day semester hours, regardless of the Program (Evening, Online or Nationwide) in which the semester hours are taken. All hours, regardless of course venue, are charged at the Day Campus rate for the total hours registered.

Students register for courses prior to the beginning of each semester. If they are unable to register during the regular period, they may register late, upon payment of a late-registration fee. No registration is accepted after the first week of classes.

Columbia College policy allows day students to enroll for a full-time course load of up to 18 semester hours of credit in any one semester. A semester is defined as the sixteen-week term beginning in August, ending in December or the sixteen-week term beginning in January, ending in April or May. Semester hours are based on the number of hours per week students attend classes. A three semester hour course requires students to go to classes approximately three hours a week for the entire semester. Semester enrollment status is calculated by adding all hours (day, evening and online) for which students are properly registered.

Registration Processes

Day students must meet with their advisor to choose an appropriate schedule of classes prior to registration. Prerequisites and other eligibility criteria, as listed in the catalog, are required. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites have been met prior to enrolling and if eligibility criteria have not been met, they will be unable to register for the course. Students who are behind in payment for the current or previous term will be blocked from registering until their account is cleared.

Students may register through CougarTrack or by visiting the Enrollment Service Center located in Missouri Hall. Students without full financial aid are required to set up a payment plan or pay in full at the time of registration. Payment in full or the first deferred payment must be paid by August 1 (Fall semester) or January 1 (Spring semester). Failure to make this payment will result in the student’s schedule and on-campus housing being cancelled.

Cancellation of Registration

Students may cancel registration any time through the close of official registration by submitting a drop/add form to the Enrollment Service Center. Once classes have started, students wishing to discontinue enrollment must complete formal withdrawal procedures with the Dean for Student Affairs.

Main Campus Day Students Enrolling in Main Campus Evening, Online or Nationwide Classes

1. Students enrolled in the Day Program may be eligible to enroll in Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus courses, but only under special circumstances. Day students may enroll at any Columbia College Campus for the summer session without special permission.
2. Eligibility. Day students requesting permission to enroll in Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus course(s) (during fall or spring) must meet the following eligibility criteria:
   • Day students enrolling in a minimum of twelve semester hours of traditional day in-seat courses may also take an additional three hours of credit in another Columbia College venue during that semester.
   • Must have an overall minimum GPA of 2.5.
   • Academic departments may impose additional restrictions.
   • First year students in first semester not eligible.
3. Requirements. Students applying for enrollment in Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus courses may be required to submit written evidence documenting why the course is not and was not available in the daytime. Students requesting permission to take a course other than those offered through the Day Program must complete a Day Student Enrollment for Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus Classes Form and obtain written approval from their advisor, the Department Chair of their major and the Department Chair of the course.
   Students paying at the per-hour tuition rate, may not exceed a combined total of 11.9 semester hours during any one term (a 16-week semester, or 8-week session, or a combination of both). If a student wishes to enroll and his or her total number of semester hours exceeds 11.9, then that student must pay the full-time tuition rate. Students enrolled part-time (less than 12 semester hours when all hours, regardless of the class location, are combined) will be charged the appropriate part-time Day tuition rate.
4. Highest priority for enrollment in Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus courses is accorded students who have completed at least 84 hours toward a degree at Columbia College and who, through no fault of their own, cannot satisfy all graduation requirements during the Day and for whom no other options are available and therefore request to enroll in an Evening, Online or Nationwide Campus course to graduate.

Changes in Registration

Final dates for courses to be added or dropped are listed for each semester on the Academic Calendar.

Adding a Course

Day students may add courses through Wednesday of the first week of the semester. Students can add or drop classes via CougarTrack or obtain an add/drop form in the Enrollment Service Center. The forms must be returned to the Enrollment Service Center before the end of the add period to be registered for the courses. It is recommended that students obtain advisor approval prior to adding or dropping courses. At that time, courses are added to the students’ schedules if class space is available.

Dropping a Course

Day students may drop courses through the first business day of the second week of the semester without financial liability and academic penalty (not applicable to total withdrawal). After the drop period, students are financially and academically liable for all courses. If a student withdraws from school (drops all classes) then he/she may be eligible for pro-rated tuition credit depending on the completion date of the total withdrawal process (see Total Withdrawal, below). Students can drop classes via CougarTrack or obtain a drop form in Enrollment Service Center. It is recommended that students obtain advisor approval prior to adding or dropping courses. At that time, courses are added to the students’ schedules if class space is available.

Total Withdrawal from Columbia College

The Dean for Student Affairs establishes the official date of withdrawal for day students based upon the date the student initiates the process by visiting Student Affairs. Information regarding academic and financial liability is available in the Student Affairs Office.

All withdrawals by Day students for extraordinary circumstances must be approved by Academic Affairs. Requests for approval must be submitted in writing when withdrawal procedures are initiated. A request for a grade(s) of WE (Withdrawal/Excused) must be accompanied by a letter from the student explaining the circumstances with substantiating documentation. Grades of WE may be requested through the last day of class (finals week excluded). It is not automatic and is subject to review and approval.

A WE grade cannot be granted unless all courses in which the student is enrolled are dropped.

If a student is administratively withdrawn from school, the withdrawal date will be established by the office responsible for the action. Tuition, room and board will be prorated according to the Total Withdrawal Time Frame Schedule on the Main Campus Day Tuition and Fee Structure page. No credit will be given for nonrefundable deposits, laboratory or course fees, etc.

Cooperative Cross-Enrollment

Columbia College participates with the University of Missouri-Columbia and Stephens College in a cooperative cross-enrollment program. The intent of the program is to facilitate students’ educational needs when a desired course or its equivalent is not available at the home institution during the semester of enrollment. Students must meet the course prerequisites prescribed and all coursework must be for academic credit.

Enrollment is on a space-available basis on the first day of classes during the Fall and Spring/Winter semesters on the Columbia, Missouri campuses of the respective institutions. Each institution reserves the right to close courses in certain programs to cross enrollment and to prohibit its students from enrolling in courses in designated programs at the other institutions. Tuition will be paid at the student’s home institution at the home institution rate. Each institution will waive the admission application fee.

To be eligible to enroll in the Cooperative Cross-Enrollment Program, Columbia College students must:

1. Be enrolled as full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate Day Program students (includes hours taken at both the home and host institution) during the semester of cross-enrollment.
2. Be in good academic standing. Students who are dismissed for low academic achievement from one Cooperative institution and subsequently accepted at another Cooperative institution may not cross-register at the institution of dismissal until they are eligible for readmission.
3. Receive the approval of the appropriate faculty advisor.
4. Receive the approval of the Registrar.

Students shall be subject to the rules, regulations, and standards of conduct of the institution offering the course during the time of actual attendance.

Students must be in good financial standing at the cooperating institution in order for a transcript showing course grades and credits earned to be sent to the parent institution.

No earlier than two weeks prior to classes starting:

• Columbia College students should send an email to studentrecords@ccis.edu with their name, ID number and the class(es) they wish to take at MU or Stephens.
• The Office of the Registrar will determine eligibility and return to the student the completed and signed Cooperative Cross Enrollment Form along with detailed instructions for registering at MU or Stephens.
• Eligible students will take the required forms to MU or Stephens and register for classes on the host institution’s first day of classes (MU allows registration beginning the Friday before classes start. The earliest visiting students can register at Stephens is on the first day of class.)
• Once the student has registered at the host institution, they will return the signed Cooperative Cross Enrollment Form and verification of registration at the host institution, to Columbia College’s Office of the Registrar via email at studentrecords@ccis.edu. Registrar’s staff will then register the student in the placeholder course(s) at Columbia College.

Students may also request library privileges at Ellis Library on the University of Missouri-Columbia campus, participate in University of Missouri-Columbia study abroad programs and may use Education Career Services at University of Missouri-Columbia.

Main Campus Evening Registration Policies

Official registration is completed only after submission of a registration form. Students may register using eRegistration through CougarTrack or by visiting the Enrollment Service Center located in Missouri Hall. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites have been met prior to enrolling and if eligibility criteria have not been met, they will be unable to register for the course. Registration constitutes an agreement that a student will be held academically and financially liable for the course. Students without full financial aid are required to set up a payment plan or pay in full at the time of registration. Students who are behind in payment for the current or previous term will be blocked from registering until their account is cleared. Prerequisites and other eligibility criteria, as listed in the catalog, are required. Contact personnel at the Evening Campus for details and deadlines of registration.

Adding a Course

Evening students may add courses through Wednesday of the first week of the session. Forms are available on CougarTrack or in the Enrollment Service Center. The forms must be submitted through CougarTrack or returned to the Enrollment Service Center before the end of the add period for the courses. At that time, courses are added to the students’ schedules if space is available in the class.

Dropping a Course

A student may drop a course or courses during the first week of a session for any reason. No punitive grade or financial liability will be issued PROVIDED the student drops through CougarTrack OR an Add/Drop/Withdrawal form is received at the campus prior to close-of-business on the first business day of the second week of the session.

Once enrolled in a class, a student is considered a member of that class until he or she officially drops or withdraws in accordance with institutional policy. A failure to attend class, or advising a fellow student, staff, or adjunct faculty member of an intent to drop from class does not constitute official drop. Requests to drop from a course will not be accepted by telephone. Students are required to personally complete all drop information. Confirmation of receipt is the responsibility of the student. Should circumstances prevent a student from physically completing the drop form, the student should contact their campus immediately.

Online and Nationwide Registration Policies

Official registration is completed only after submission of a registration form. eRegistration and assisted registration are available to students. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all prerequisites have been met prior to enrolling and if eligibility criteria have not been met, they may be unable to register for the course. Registration constitutes an agreement that a student will be held academically and financially liable for the course. Students without full financial aid are required to set up a payment plan or pay in full at the time of registration. Students who are behind in payment for the current or previous term will be blocked from registering until their account is cleared. Contact personnel at your extended campus for details and deadlines of registration at each campus.

Adding a Course

Nationwide and Online students may add courses through Wednesday of the first week of the session. Forms are available on CougarTrack or at individual campuses, and must be submitted before the end of the add period for the courses. Registration forms must be submitted through CougarTrack or returned to the student’s campus before the end of the add period for the courses. 

Dropping a Course

A student may drop a course or courses during the first week of a session for any reason. No punitive grade or financial liability will be issued PROVIDED the student drops through CougarTrack or an Add/Drop form is received at the campus prior to close-of-business on the first business day of the second week of the session.

Once enrolled in a class, a student is considered a member of that class until he or she officially drops or withdraws in accordance with institutional policy. A failure to attend class, or advising a fellow student, staff, or adjunct faculty member of an intent to drop from class does not constitute official drop. Requests to drop from a course will not be accepted by telephone. Students are required to personally complete, sign and date all drop information. Confirmation of receipt is the responsibility of the student. Should circumstances prevent a student from physically completing the drop form, the student should contact their campus immediately.