Reduced Courseload Recommendation
In limited circumstances, students may request approval from the ISSO for an exception to the full-time registration requirement.
If you as an advisor or university administrator become aware that an international student is struggling academically or medically to maintain full-time registration, or if the student is in their final semester of study, the ISSO may be able to authorize a reduced courseload.
Supporting documentation is required for any reduced courseload request, as follows:
- Academic – If a student is experiencing (1) initial difficulties with the English language and/or initial difficulty with reading requirements, (2) unfamiliarity with American teaching methods, or (3) improper course level placement, a recommendation letter to the ISSO from an academic advisor is required in order to consider a student’s request for part-time enrollment.
The letter must briefly explain the academic concern and how it meets one of the three academic exceptions above and must specifically recommend that the student be permitted to drop below full-time. If the reason is “improper course level placement,” the letter should explain the missing prerequisite courses or skills that prevented the student from being academic successful.
An academic reduced courseload allows a student to drop to half-time registration (6 credit minimum) and can only be authorized one time per academic program. - Medical – If a student is requesting a reduced courseload for medical reasons, as student must submit a written recommendation from a medical professional (by F-1 regulation, this professional must be a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist). The letter must be on professional letterhead and include the medical professional’s full name, title and medical credentials. It must specify the estimated length of the recommended reduced courseload and whether the student is being recommended for part-time study or a complete medical leave (no coursework).
A medical reduced courseload includes both part-time study and medical leave of absence and is limited to a total of 12 months during a student’s academic program. - Final Term – If a student is requesting a reduced courseload for the final semester of study, the student must first register with their academic department for graduation (or program completion) and the expected graduation date must appear in their UIS record. Alternatively, the ISSO will accept a letter from the academic department indicating that the student has filed for graduation and is expected to complete all degree requirements in the current term.
If a student is granted permission for part-time enrollment in their final term, they must then graduate that term. If the student learns that they will not graduate as expected, they must contact their ISSO advisor before the expiration of their I-20 or DS-2019 immigration document to determine if an extension can be approved.
If you have any questions about whether a student may qualify for a reduced courseload or about what documentation is necessary, please contact the student’s ISSO advisor directly.
