Information from SDA Colleges & Universities

I have heard from six SDA colleges and universities in North America (AUC, CaUC, CoUC, OC, SAU, and UC). Here is my list of questions:

1. What is the maximum course load (credits, units, or hours) per term for students in regular (but not above regular) standing?
2. What minimum cumulative GPA is required for students to be in regular standing?
3. What is the maximum course load for students below regular standing?
4. What is the maximum course load (i.e., overload) for students above regular standing?
5. What minimum cumulative GPA is required for students to qualify for an overload?
6. What is the maximum course load for student in regular standing or above during the last YEAR of residence?
7. What is the maximum course load for student in regular standing or above during the last TERM of residence?

Here is a summary of the replies:

1. Regular load per term
16 units: 2
17 units: 1
18 units: 3
2. Minimum regular load GPA
2.00: all
3. Maximum load below regular standing
11 units: 1
13 units: 5
4. Maximum load above regular standing
19 units: 1
21 units: 2
no maximum: 3
5. Minimum overload GPA
2.00: 2
3.00: 3
variable: 1 (set by committee)
6. Maximum load during last year
18 units per term: 1
19 units per term: 1
21 units per term: 1
same as other years: 1
no policy: 2
7. Maximum load during last term
19 units: 1
21 units: 1
no maximum: 1
same as other terms: 1
no policy: 2

In addition to the above results, one school limits the load to 10 units for students below a cumulative GPA of 1.5. Another requires a student to have a GPA above 1.67 in the previous term in addition to a cumulative GPA of 2.00 to remain in regular standing.

Blog Launch

As promised, here is the blog for our committee. The current issue for our consideration concerns academic loads for undergraduates. In our meeting today we discussed some general issues, e.g., whether or not we should set a maximum load for all students regardless of their GPA and current policies and practices of several local colleges and universities.

I have begun to receive the requested input from the SDA institutions in Canada and the US. I hope to have full results in a few days. At that point I will share them here.

WT