Navigating Summer Semester Courses at Florida State University

Florida State University (FSU) offers a variety of summer semester courses for students looking to accelerate their academic progress, catch up on credits, or explore new subjects. This article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating summer courses at FSU, covering important dates, registration procedures, academic policies, and available resources.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Staying informed about important dates and deadlines is crucial for a successful summer semester. Note that the dates and times listed below are subject to change.

Registration for Currently Enrolled and Readmitted Degree-Seeking Students: Check the "Enrollment Appointments" section in the Registration Guide for specific details.
Last Day to Apply for Transient Student Status: Adhere to the deadline if you plan to take courses at another institution as a transient student.
Last Day to Submit Waivers or Billings for Financial Aid Early Disbursement: Ensure timely submission to receive financial aid early.
Financial Aid Early Disbursement: Federal, private, and institutional aid will be available via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
Residence Halls Open: Be aware of the move-in date if you plan to live on campus.
Drop/Add Period: Utilize this period to adjust your course schedule.
Classes Begin: Mark your calendar for the first day of classes.
Late Registration: Be aware of the late registration fee ($100.00).
Fourth Day of Classes: Important for deadlines related to dropping/adding courses and fee adjustments.
Last Day to Drop/Add and Have Fees Adjusted: Make any necessary changes to your schedule before this deadline to avoid financial penalties.
Last Day to Cancel Enrollment and Have Fees Removed: Cancel your enrollment by this date to have fees removed.
Last Day to Submit Department Waivers or Billings: Submit any department-related waivers or billings by this date.
First Day to Apply for Financial-Aid Deferments and Delayed-Delivery Loans: Apply for financial aid deferments and loans starting on this day.
Last Day to Pay or Defer Tuition, Housing, or Fees: Pay or defer your tuition, housing, or fees to avoid a late fee. Veterans should contact a VA representative with questions.
Memorial Day: No classes; the University is closed.
Prorated Seventh-Week Session Deadline: Pay attention to deadlines specific to prorated sessions.
Last Day to Reduce Course Load Without Permission of Academic Dean: Seek permission from your academic dean if you need to reduce your course load after this date.
Last Day to Withdraw from School Without Receiving a Grade: Withdraw from all courses before this date to avoid receiving grades.
Summer-Only Health Insurance Waiver Appeals End: Appeal any health insurance waiver denials before this deadline.
Deadline for a Late Drop with Dean’s Permission: Submit a late drop request with your dean's permission by this date.
Last Day to Submit Doctoral Dissertation or Treatise for Pre-Defense Format Review: Doctoral candidates should submit their dissertation or treatise for review by this deadline.
Last Day to Apply for AA Degree: Apply for your Associate of Arts (AA) degree at the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
Term Ends: The last day of the summer semester.
Grades Available Online: Check when grades will be available online.
Independence Day: No classes; the University is closed.
Last Day for Submission of Thesis, Dissertation, or Treatise: Submit your final, content-approved thesis, dissertation, or treatise and required forms by this date.
Financial Aid Deferments Expire: Financial aid deferments (excluding veterans deferments) expire on this date.
Full Tuition Payment Must Be Received: Ensure full tuition payment to avoid a late payment fee.
Non-Payment-of-Tuition Schedule Cancellations Processed: Students without a tuition deferment may have their schedules canceled for non-payment.
Veterans Financial Aid Deferments Expire: Veterans' financial aid deferments expire on this date.
Last Day for Community College and FSU Students to Submit Fall 2025 Transient Applications: Submit transient applications for the fall semester by this deadline.
Last Day to Officially Withdraw from the University: Officially withdraw from the University by this date.
Summer 2025 Diplomas Dated: Summer diplomas will be dated with this date.
Residence Halls Close: Be aware of the move-out date if you live in residence halls.

Registration and Enrollment

Enrollment Appointments

Your enrollment appointment, which determines when you can register for classes, is based on the number of credit hours you have earned toward graduation. You can register for, drop, or add classes using the myFSU portal during your assigned enrollment appointment.

Stellic Application

Undergraduate students are expected to use the Stellic application for reviewing their degree progress, course planning, and registration. Consult with your advisor if you have questions about your degree requirements in Stellic.

Course Load

FSU considers 14 to 15 credit hours a normal, full-time course load. Students carrying fewer than 12 credit hours are not considered full-time. Keep in mind the University requirement to complete nine credit hours during summer sessions to maintain pace for degree completion. A course load of more than 18 credit hours or less than 12 credit hours requires approval from your academic dean. Students on academic probation must enroll for no fewer than 12 and no more than 15 letter-graded credit hours.

Read also: Start Date: SUU Summer

Overloads and Underloads

The system does not allow you to register for more than 18 credit hours without your academic dean’s authorization. To register for overload hours, you must go to the Office of the University Registrar. The system also allows you to register for an underload, but you still must obtain authorization from your academic dean.

Priority Registration

Active-military students, student veterans, and military/veteran dependents using federal benefits are eligible for priority registration, allowing them to register for future-term classes during the first selection window of each class-registration cycle.

Non-Degree-Seeking Students

Non-degree-seeking students may register for up to 16 credit hours in the fall or spring terms; summer enrollment is limited to 15 credit hours. All registration by non-degree-seeking students is on a space-available basis. Non-degree-seeking students are limited to a maximum of 30 attempted hours under the non-degree designation. Students who wish to enroll beyond the attempted 30 hours may petition the Office of the University Registrar to continue. The Office of the University Registrar serves as the academic dean for all non-degree-seeking students, including students who audit classes.

Transient Students

Students from other institutions who wish to take courses at Florida State University should submit an approved Interinstitutional Transient Student application to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline.

State Employee Tuition Waiver

Full-time state employees may use the State Employee Tuition Waiver to register for classes at Florida State University on a space-available basis. Registration takes place during the regular registration appointment assigned to each student. FSU accepts only the official State Employee Tuition Waiver Form to process waivers.

Auditing Classes

Individuals choosing to audit classes are classified as non-degree-seeking students and are subject to non-degree-seeking student regulations and procedures. Registration requests are considered only after the end of the drop/add period for the term in question. Standard tuition costs apply.

Academic Policies

Immunization Requirements

All students are required to show proof of two MMRs, meningococcal meningitis, and hepatitis B vaccinations before they are permitted to register for classes. All students are required to complete and submit the Student Immunization Record to University Health Services before registration. Students born before 1/1/1957 must complete the form and decline the meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B vaccines.

Academic Advising

All degree-seeking students are expected to participate in academic advising before registering for classes each term. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have met prerequisites or corequisites for each class in which they are enrolled.

Permits and Approvals

All permits such as underloads, overloads, graduate class requests while an undergraduate, DIS, modified credit, and S/U grading should be discussed with an academic advisor. All such permits must then be approved by the student’s academic dean.

Health Insurance

All full-time students at Florida State University must show proof of health insurance coverage. Additionally, all non-United States citizens in F or J status, regardless of their credit load, are required to show proof of health insurance as a condition of their admission to the University. When the insurance waiver is successfully completed, it remains in effect for three terms.

Read also: Accelerate Your Studies at USU

Dropping and Adding Courses

During the first four days of the term, students can add or drop individual classes, or they may change one class section for another. Students are financially liable for all courses appearing on their schedule after the fourth day of classes. To add courses after the first four days of classes may require the academic dean's approval. Classes dropped during this period do not appear on the student's transcript.

Late Drop Policy for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students only may drop a cumulative maximum of two courses between the eighth and twelfth weeks of classes during the terms in which the student has earned fewer than 60 hours of college credit; tuition charges will remain. A student may only drop one course after earning 60 hours of college credit and until graduation; tuition charges remain.

Course Withdrawal

After the seventh week of classes, courses may be dropped only in exceptional circumstances. Approval is required by the advisor and the academic dean. Such courses will appear on the student's transcript with the notation “WD.” Students who register for courses but who do not attend the classes will receive grades of “F” if the courses are not officially dropped.

Class Attendance

Attendance at the first class meeting is mandatory unless properly excused by the class’s instructor. University-wide policy requires all students to attend the first class meeting of all classes for which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a class for which they are registered will be dropped from the class by the academic department that offers the class.

Summer Enrollment Requirement

All students entering a state university with fewer than 60-credit hours must earn at least nine-credit hours prior to graduation by attending one or more Summer terms at one of the state universities. The University President may waive application of this rule in cases of unusual hardship to the student.

Cancellation and Withdrawal

Undergraduate and non-degree-seeking students who cancel their registration and who are not enrolled for the following two terms (non-enrollment for three consecutive terms) must apply for readmission. Beyond the drop/add period, a student cannot voluntarily cancel registration but must apply for withdrawal from the University.

Refunds

Students who cancel their enrollment during the drop/add period are not held liable for tuition and registration fees. Those who have paid are eligible for a full refund. Students who withdraw after the drop/add period, but prior to the end of the fourth week of classes, are eligible for a twenty-five percent refund of tuition and registration fees, less the building and capital improvement fees; this deadline is adjusted for shorter summer-term sessions.

Special Programs and Opportunities

Interinstitutional Registration Program

Under a cooperative arrangement with Florida A&M University, Florida State University students may take courses at FAMU that will count as credit earned at Florida State University. Courses offered at Florida State University may not be taken at FAMU.

Resources and Support

Academic Advisors: Consult with your academic advisor for guidance on course selection, degree requirements, and academic planning.
Office of the University Registrar: Contact the Office of the University Registrar for assistance with registration, transcripts, and other academic records.
University Health Services: Visit University Health Services for information on immunization requirements and student health insurance.
Center for Global Engagement: International students can seek assistance from the Center for Global Engagement for immigration-related matters and reduced course load authorizations.
Withdrawal Services: Contact Withdrawal Services for assistance with withdrawing from the University.
FSU Athletics Department: Contact the FSU Athletics department for information about school-sponsored health insurance plans and their benefits for athletes.

tags: #summer #semester #fsu #courses