Registration - University of Pittsburgh

Full-Time and Part-Time Study

Full-time study is defined as enrollment for 12 to 18 credits per term, and part-time study is defined as enrollment for one to 11 credits per term. Students are charged a flat tuition rate for full-time study in the fall and spring terms. For part-time students, tuition payment is on a per-credit basis. Students may exceed the 18-credit limit with written permission from the dean of their school, but they will be billed on a per-credit basis for each additional credit. University fees and other applicable charges are assessed on student statements. Some schools within the University may also apply academic limitations on the number of credits for which a student is permitted to enroll each term. For instance, students in Arts and Sciences must get permission to enroll for more than 18 credits. During the summer term and summer sessions, all students (except co-op students who are doing an academic rotation) are billed on a per-credit basis regardless of the number of credits taken.

Registering for Classes

After being admitted to a school, students may register for classes after consultation with their academic advisors. The registration period for a term or session is published in the University’s Schedule of Classes, in course descriptions, on calendars (including the University’s Academic Calendar at www.pitt.edu/calendars.html), and in numerous other publications.

Many students have the convenience of submitting their registration forms online to a school’s or advisor’s office. Students may also process their registration forms in the Registration Office, G-3 Thackeray Hall. Students are required to have the signature of their academic advisors on the registration form. The student’s signature on the registration form creates a financial obligation to the University of Pittsburgh. Once students have registered, they may view their class schedules online via the University Portal at www.my.pitt.edu.

Adding and Dropping Courses

Students may add and drop course(s) only during the add/drop period. The dates for the add/drop period are published in University publications, in the University’s Schedule of Classes, in course descriptions, on calendars (including the University’s Academic Calendar at www.pitt.edu/calendars.html), and in numerous other publications. Students not enrolled in Arts and Sciences and students who are student athletes or participants in Academic Resource Center programs must have their academic advisors sign all add/drop forms. Students who no longer wish to remain enrolled in a course after the add/drop period has ended may withdraw from the course or resign from the University. See Monitored Withdrawal from a Course and Resigning from the University.

Cross-Registration

Cross-registration provides students with the opportunity to enroll in courses at member institutions of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education (PCHE). The designated colleges and universities at which undergraduate students may cross-register include Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, La Roche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park University, and Robert Morris University. Only full-time students may cross-register. Please note that students must maintain a full-time course load (at least 12 credits as an undergraduate) at Pitt while cross-registered. Students who cross-register do not pay tuition to the host institution; however, they are responsible for any additional fees associated with the course such as laboratory fees, books, and the like. Students normally may register for only one course off campus in a given term. The grades and credits earned at the host institution are transferred to the home school. The academic policies of the host institution prevail.

Cross-registration is only available in the fall and spring terms. During the summer, students may attend one of the above colleges as guest students, but they must pay that institution’s tuition and fees. Students are discouraged from cross-registering during their term of graduation to avoid any delays in the receipt of course credit needed to graduate. Students should meet with their advisors or a school representative before they cross-register. For more information on cross-registration, visit www.pche-pa.org.

Monitored Withdrawal from a Course

After the add/drop period has ended, students may withdraw from a course that they no longer wish to attend by completing a Monitored Withdrawal Request form in the office of the school offering the course. Students must process the Monitored Withdrawal Request form within the first nine weeks of the term in the fall and spring. Because summer sessions vary in length, students should check the summer Schedule of Classes for those deadlines. Students should check with the school offering the course for the last day to submit a Monitored Withdrawal Request form. The grade W will appear on the student’s grade report and transcript. There is no financial adjustment to students’ tuition or fee obligations involved in withdrawing from courses, but withdrawing may jeopardize satisfactory academic progress, financial aid, and athletic eligibility.

Resigning from the University/Termination of Registration

If students decide to drop all of their courses after the add/drop period has ended and before 60 percent of the term or session has been completed, they must resign from the University for that term. Official resignation from the University requires students to contact the Student Appeals Office. Students have several options. They may resign in person, by mail, or by calling 412-624-7585, where students may leave a message 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays. An R grade will appear on the student’s academic transcript for each course in the term of resignation. Tuition is prorated from the date of the student’s notification to the Student Appeals Office of the student’s desire to resign, unless 60 percent of the term has been completed, in which case there is no refund.

After the 60 percent point in time of the term or session has passed, students who wish to terminate their registration may process withdrawal from all classes only with the permission of the academic dean. If the reason for withdrawal is medical or psychological in nature, the academic dean may consult with the director of Student Health Service prior to making a determination. There is no financial adjustment associated with this procedure, which results in the assignment of W grades for the courses.