Navigating the Academic Calendar at UWF: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding the academic calendar is crucial for students at the University of West Florida (UWF) to effectively plan their academic journey and stay informed about important dates, deadlines, and policies. This guide provides a detailed overview of the UWF academic calendar, encompassing key terms, procedures, and resources.
Understanding University Calendars
The university calendars section is your gateway to essential academic and campus life schedules. Here, you can find information about official term schedules for upcoming academic years.
Approved Academic Calendars
These calendars offer access to official term schedules for upcoming academic years.
Fall Semester Innovation
The fall 2025 semester, similar to fall 2024 and the spring semester, will feature days incorporated into the university calendar where the campus remains open, but no classes, instruction, or assignments (like examinations) will occur. This initiative stems from the Student Government Association's pursuit of providing students with a break from their courses to promote overall health and wellbeing.
Previously, students faced approximately 60 straight weekdays of classes in fall academic calendars. To accommodate the two-day break, classes will commence on Tuesday, Sept. 2, and Wednesday, Nov. 26, will also be an instructional day.
Read also: Cornell University Semester Guide
A committee, spearheaded by Faculty Senate and comprising three faculty members from each college and a representative from each shared governance group, gathered input from various campus constituents and stakeholders to determine the optimal dates for the break.
It's important to note that these fall break dates are not recognized holidays approved by the Universities of Wisconsin or UW-River Falls.
Academic Day Reimagined
Academic Day, traditionally observed on the Tuesday following Labor Day, has been reimagined due to the conversion of that Tuesday into an instructional day. A group of stakeholders on campus collaborated to redefine the purpose and activities of Academic Day. New students will now meet with their academic programs on Wednesday, Sept.
Operational Campus
Campus offices and departments will remain open during normal operating hours. Employees wishing to take time off on either day should use their appropriate vacation allotment. Students with on-campus employment should discuss any schedule changes with their supervisors well in advance of the fall break.
Faculty Academic Freedom
Faculty and instructional staff maintain full academic freedom within their courses and can work through the process during initial course scheduling to identify the mode of instruction.
Read also: GMU Calendar Explained
Balanced Calendar Policy
UW-River Falls adheres to a local balanced calendar policy, ensuring an equal number of meetings for each day of the week. The policy also allows for the “renaming” of days to meet this requirement. During Thanksgiving week, Tuesday, Nov. 25, will follow the normal Thursday class schedule, and Wednesday, Nov. 26, will follow the normal Friday class schedule.
Essential Academic Terms and Definitions
Navigating college requires understanding specific terminology. Here's a glossary of essential academic terms at UWF:
Academic Standing
This is a formal notification of a student's academic progress. The rules define the university's expectations for students and provide an opportunity to meet those expectations. A student's academic standing is reviewed at the end of each semester (fall, spring, summer).
Academic Year
This refers to the period during which an educational institution holds classes. At UWF, the academic year consists of the fall semester, spring semester, and summer term.
Advanced Placement (AP) Credit
This encompasses any coursework or credit earned by examination prior to a student's first enrollment at UWF that is used to accelerate their progress toward a degree. More information can be found in the UWF Catalog.
Read also: Understanding Swinburne's Academic Year
Audit
Students may choose to audit a course, but instructors are not required to grade the work of students auditing a course. No credit is earned for an audit course. Students can change from the audit option to the conventional letter grade system on or before the end of the fourth week of a fall or spring semester. Out-of-state fees are not assessed for audit courses.
Catalog Year
This determines the set of academic requirements (general education and the major) that must be fulfilled for graduation. Policies and degree programs may change with each new catalog year, so it's crucial to consult the academic catalog corresponding to your catalog year to ensure compliance with the appropriate policies.
Closed Course
If a course has reached its maximum enrollment capacity, registration is not possible without approval from the instructor. The academic department offering the course can provide additional information, but overrides are often limited due to classroom space.
Co-requisite
A course that must be taken concurrently with another course. These two courses cannot be taken separately.
Credit Hours
This measures progress toward a degree. UWF requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate. A course is usually worth 3 semester hours of credit. The Degree Audit, accessible through MyUWF, allows students to check their progress toward earning their degree.
Adding and Dropping Courses
A course can be added or dropped during Early Registration, Regular Registration, or the official Drop/Add period (the first week of classes for that term).
eLearning
This is the online access point for courses. Access in eLearning varies, ranging from fully online courses to those with only course grades or minimal course information available.
Early Alert
This is a notification from the Advising Center to students, indicating that a professor has recommended them for intervention due to potential serious academic difficulty.
Excess Hours Surcharge
Implemented by the Florida Legislature in 2009, this surcharge encourages students to complete their baccalaureate degree as efficiently as possible.
Foreign Language Requirement
This is required for all students to graduate with either an AA or Bachelor's degree. Some majors may have an additional foreign language requirement as part of their program.
General Education Requirements
All students (except those holding an A.A. or certification of the completion of general studies requirements from a Florida public university or college) who enter UWF must complete the specified General Education requirements. These requirements provide students with a broad educational foundation and are essential for all A.A. and baccalaureate degree programs.
Grade Forgiveness and Repeat Courses
Grade Forgiveness is allowed three times within an undergraduate career. The Office of the Registrar automatically applies Grade Forgiveness to all eligible course repeats at the end of each semester, including the summer semester, after all grades are posted. Students can opt out of Grade Forgiveness by submitting a Grade Forgiveness Exception Request.
GPA (Grade Point Average)
This is a numerical value assigned to the grades received in all courses attempted at UWF. Each letter grade has a numerical value assigned.
Holds
A hold can be placed on a student's record for various reasons, and certain holds can prevent registration. It is the student's responsibility to monitor their holds in MyUWF.
Incomplete Grade
An incomplete (“I”) grade signifies that all course requirements have not been met. An "I" grade may be awarded if circumstances exist beyond the student's control, as determined by the instructor.
Minor
An area of interest that can be pursued alongside the major. Some majors require a minor, and most minors consist of 12-18 semester hours. Check your Degree Works audit and program requirements for specific details.
MyUWF
This is the web portal containing all the information and online services needed to be an active member of the UWF community.
Pass/Fail Option
Students may elect to take a course on the pass/fail option and must sign up for this option at the time of initial registration for each semester. A grade of pass "P" is not computed into the student's grade point average, while a grade of fail "F" does count against the grade point average. This option cannot be used to meet General Studies or Gordon Rule requirements.
Prerequisite
A beginning course that prepares students for a more difficult or advanced course. Students may not take the advanced course without the appropriate prerequisite. Prerequisites are listed with the course description in the UWF Academic Catalog and in the course search during registration. The registration system will prevent registration if the prerequisite has not been met. Contact the department of the course with any questions.
Registration PIN (Advising PIN)
An advising PIN is required to process and finalize class registration. This PIN must be released by your academic advisor after discussing your schedule for the upcoming term.
Repeat Course Policy
A student may receive credit for a course only once, regardless of how many times it is taken in transfer or at UWF. All attempts at UWF count in the GPA unless grade forgiveness is used. Per the Undergraduate Student Progress to Degree policy, the highest grade will be counted for credit. Florida public institutions require a repeat course surcharge for students who take a state-funded undergraduate course for the third time.
Semester
The period of time within the academic calendar (usually 16 weeks) during which academic courses are offered. The University has three semesters per academic year: Fall (beginning in August), Spring (beginning in January), and Summer (beginning in May). A semester can also have separate terms within it, some running the entire semester and others for a shorter period.
Semester Hour
A unit of academic credit (abbreviated as "SH"). Generally, one semester hour is awarded for each hour in class per week. Labs may differ, with 2-4 hours in a lab potentially earning only one semester hour of credit.
Summer Session Requirement
All students entering a university in the State University System with fewer than 60 semester hours of credit must earn at least 9 semester hours prior to graduation by attending one or more summer sessions at one of the state universities. This requirement can be satisfied through online courses at UWF or any other UWF courses.
Suspension
A student on Academic Probation whose cumulative UWF GPA remains below a 2.00, and who does not earn at least a UWF semester GPA of 2.30, and achieve the minimum cumulative UWF GPA listed below will be subject to Academic Suspension from the University. Departments may establish a GPA requirement higher than a 2.30 and other criteria such as completing a minimum number of hours and minimum course grade. Criteria above the University GPA minimums are stated in the program.
Term
This can be used synonymously with Semester.
Transfer Credit
Any coursework that is not UWF coursework. Official transcripts must be received by UWF Admissions, which will determine overall and General Studies credit. Courses transferred to UWF may or may not meet specific course/major requirements, even if they have been granted overall transfer credit.
Transient Student
A student is considered a transient student when taking coursework at an institution other than UWF, with UWF remaining the home institution. UWF students should consult with their advisors before enrolling in courses at other institutions to ensure transferability of credit. Students wishing to earn credit at a Florida private institution or an institution outside the State of Florida, to transfer back to a UWF degree program, MUST obtain prior departmental approval for specific courses from the department, school, or college advising office.
Withdrawal
After the drop/add period, a student may withdraw from individual courses or all courses through approximately the thirteenth week of instruction of any fall or spring semester. A grade of “W” will be assigned during this period. Refunds are not issued for individual course withdrawals. Students may process withdrawals online through the "Registration Menu" app in MyUWF. An instructor will not drop you from the class if you stop going.
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