Dec 07, 2024  
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Registration and Records


All continuing students in good standing and all applicants accepted to MSU Denver are eligible to register each semester.

Students are responsible for ensuring that their address and phone number on file with the University are correct and up-to-date. Address changes may be made in-person with the Registrar’s Office, by faxing 303-556-3999, or through ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu.

Information on the registration procedure, registration dates, and student responsibilities and obligations related to registration is available on ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu.

Tuition Classification

A student is classified as an in-state or out-of-state student for tuition purposes at the time of admission. This classification is based on information supplied by the student on the application for admission and is made in accordance with the Colorado Tuition Classification Law (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado revised Statutes of 1973), as amended. Once determined, a student’s tuition classification status remains unchanged unless satisfactory evidence that a change should be made is presented. If a student believes that he or she is entitled to in-state status, the student must submit the In-state Tuition Classification form, along with evidence of in-state status to the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline dates.

The tuition classification statute requires that, in order to qualify for in-state status, a student (or the parents or legal guardian of the student in the case of students under 23 years of age who are not emancipated) must have been domiciled in Colorado for one year or more immediately preceding the first day of the semester for which such classification is sought.

Domicile for tuition purposes requires two inseparable elements: (1) a permanent place of habitation in Colorado and (2) intent to remain in Colorado with no intent to be domiciled elsewhere. Some examples of connections with the state that provide objective evidence of intent are: (1) payment of Colorado state income tax as a Colorado resident, (2) permanent employment in Colorado, (3) ownership of residential real estate property in Colorado, (4) compliance with laws imposing a mandatory duty on any domiciliary of the state, such as the drivers’ license law and the vehicle registration law and (5) registration to vote. Other factors unique to the individual can also be used to demonstrate the requisite intent.

Any questions regarding the tuition classification law should be directed to an admissions officer in the Office of Admissions or the Tuition Classification Officer with the Office of the Registrar. In order to qualify for in-state status for a particular semester, the student must prove that domicile began no later than one year prior to the first day of classes for that semester. Refer to the 2012-2013 Academic Calendar  for term deadlines and to submit petitions.

House Bill 1023 Verification of Lawful Presence

HB06S-1023, which was signed into law on July 31, 2006, requires institutions of higher education to verify lawful presence of all applicants for public post-secondary education benefits.  The bill requires all citizens who apply for state benefits to provide proof of lawful presence in the U.S.  These benefits include in-state tuition, the College Opportunity Fund, state and institutional funding, and any other state-funded benefits that entail any payment or financial assistance.

Any student whose lawful presence is verified through the process of completing a College Opportunity Fund (COF) application or who is verified through the FAFSA may be considered to have met the requirements. Students who are unable to be verified through FAFSA or COF must complete a HB 1023 Affidavit form and provide a copy of identification supporting lawful presence in the U.S. to the Office of the Registrar.

Applicants who fail to meet verification requirements will be subject to nonresident tuition and removal of state funding.

College Opportunity Fund (COF)

Every eligible Colorado resident who will be a student must apply for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) in order to authorize payment of the state’s contribution toward tuition at any public college or university in the State of Colorado, including Metropolitan State University of Denver.

These funds, called “stipends,” will be applied to a student’s college account each semester and are available for up to 145 credit hours of college-level, undergraduate study. The actual value of the stipend will be determined by the Colorado Legislature each year.

Students must apply online for the stipend at CollegeInColorado.org (select College Opportunity Fund). Students must authorize the use of the stipend each semester during registration in ConnectU.

The COF application requires students to submit their legal name, date of birth, Social Security Number, and Driver’s License Number only once in a student’s lifetime. The application must be completed before the stipend can be credited to a student’s tuition and fee bill.

Students who do not apply for and/or authorize COF will not be eligible for the stipend and will be responsible for paying the total in-state tuition – both the student’s share and the state’s share.

Eligibility: In-state, undergraduate students will be eligible for the stipend, up to 145 credit hours of college-level, undergraduate study, regardless of age, income or financial aid status. If a student goes over his or her 145-lifetime-credit hour cap, the student may apply for a one-time, one year waiver of up to 30 credits. All waiver requests must have an advisor’s signature and must include a personal statement demonstrating substantial economic hardship, as well as an explanation as to why more than 145 credits is needed in order to obtain the degree. 

For more information, visit the University’s Q&A section on COF at: msudenver.edu/cof.

Mandatory Immunization Requirement

Students must comply with the Immunization Policy requirements within their first semester of attendance, in order to be eligible to register for future semesters.  Non-compliant students will have registration holds put on their accounts if they have not completed the policy requirements by the published deadline during their first semester of attendance. The summer and fall enrollee deadline is October 1; the spring enrollee deadline is March 1.

Mandatory Health Insurance Requirement

All undergraduate and graduate students taking nine (9) credit hours or more in any given semester are required to submit proof of having health insurance that meets the University compliance standards, which include the current Federal requirements for health insurance. When submitting an “Insurance Selection” form students may select to participate in the University sponsored health insurance plan in order to fulfill this requirement or submit proof of existing outside health insurance that meets the University’s compliance standards.

Failure to comply with the University’s health insurance compliance requirement will result in having a registration hold placed on a student’s account which will prevent future registration. This hold will remain in effect until health insurance coverage that meets the University’s compliance standards has been submitted, audited and approved.

For more information, visit the Auraria Health Center website, msudenver.edu/healthcenter/health_insurance/.

Priority Registration

Priority registration allows current students who have completed a specified number of earned hours to register before other students. Earned hours include hours earned with a passing letter grade. Priority begins with seniors, followed by juniors, sophomores, continuing freshmen, non-degree-seeking students, and newly admitted freshmen.

Legitimate Academic Interest to Attend a Course

To attend a class, students must have a legitimate academic interest (e.g., be officially registered, waitlisted, auditing a course, enrolled through UC Denver pooled program, etc.). Individuals may not attend a class if they do not have a legitimate academic interest. Officially registered means that students have been accepted for admission by the University, and that the Course Reference Number (CRN) for the class is entered on the student’s registration record. The deadline to register for a full-semester class is the census date, specified on the Academic Calendar at msudenver.edu/MetroCal/tools/acal.jsp. There are pro-rated deadlines for all other courses outside of the full-term courses. Undergraduate students who qualify for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) and register after the census date will not be eligible to receive the COF stipend.

Late Registration Fee Policy

Metropolitan State University of Denver will administer a $100 service charge to students registering for Term 1 Fall and Spring semester classes past the posted late registration date on the Academic Calendar and the appropriate fall/spring schedule. Term 1 classes are those scheduled during the regular, full 16-week fall and spring semester, including online classes, classes at Metro North and Metro South and 2+2 courses. This does not apply to Winterim, Summer session courses or other parts of term classes. This fee is classified as a User Fee and Charge for Service under the Student Fee Plan and will be assessed at the time of registration. Exceptions include students registered only for non-Term 1 classes, MSU Denver employees who are taking advantage of the tuition-reimbursement benefit and not allowed to register prior to the first day of classes, and students who were placed on wait lists prior to late registration date yet absorbed later. Appeals will be handled initially through the Office of Enrollment Services and ultimately through Office of the Bursar whose decision will be final.

NOT included as exceptions:

  • Part-time students taking Term 1 classes
  • Non-degree students taking Term 1 classes
  • Any other students taking Term 1 classes other than those described as exceptions above

Changes in Registration

Enrolled students may adjust their schedules by dropping and/or adding classes. Students must add or drop classes before the drop deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to follow proper withdrawal procedures in the event that he or she does not attend a class. Failure to attend class does not constitute withdrawal. Students who do not officially withdraw or drop their classes will be assessed full tuition and fees.

Drop/refund or NC/Withdraw deadlines are located in ConnectU on the Student Detail Schedule.

Students who reduce their course load after the drop deadlines and before the withdrawal deadline will receive an “NC” notation for each course they have dropped. Refer to the NC notation policy in this catalog under Academic Policies and Procedures .

ALL STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REGISTRATION TRANSACTIONS. Students are also responsible for following all drop deadlines.

Selective Service Registration Certification

As of July 1, 1993, any male student who fails to register for the Selective Service will be ineligible for federal student aid, according to the Military Service Act (Public Law 97-252).

Colorado Revised Statute 23-5-118 (selective service registration prerequisite to enrollment) requires all males between the ages of 18 and 26 to certify that they have registered with Selective Service before enrolling in any state-supported institution in Colorado. Any male who has not registered by his 26th birthday will be ineligible to enroll at the University. A Selective Service registration hold will be placed on the student’s account until the student registers with Selective Service at sss.gov and provides a Selective Service Certification Form to the Office of the Registrar.

Concurrent Enrollment

Students who find it necessary to register at MSU Denver and another college at the same time should check with MSU Denver Transfer Services concerning the acceptance and application of transfer credits.

Special Registration

Pooled Registration

MSU Denver and the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) have formed a common pool of courses available to students at each institution. Students must register for pooled courses through their home institution.

MSU Denver Students:

  • Must comply with all MSU Denver policies, procedures and deadlines when registering for, withdrawing from or dropping UCD pooled courses;

  • May not be placed on a wait list for any UCD pooled course; and 

  • Must comply with UCD course prerequisites. Prerequisite courses are provided at UC Denver.

UCD pooled course titles and grades will appear on the MSU Denver transcript and will count in the GPA and hours toward graduation; however, UCD pooled courses will not satisfy academic residence requirements for degrees from MSU Denver. This restriction applies to the residence requirements of the overall degree (30 semester hours minimum), the major (8 upper-division semester hours minimum), and the minor (3 upper-division semester hours minimum). This restriction does not apply to Physics (PHY) courses.  Credit for UCD pooled courses will not count towards the 50 resident credit hours required for Honors.

MSU Denver/UCD Nonpooled Courses

Students wishing to register for UCD courses not listed in the common pool must follow concurrent registration procedures:

  • Complete a UCD admission application.

  • Register and pay for UCD courses at UCD.

  • Send official UCD transcripts to MSU Denver at the end of the semester.

Students are advised:

  • To consult with their academic advisor at MSU Denver to determine the transferability of courses.

  • To consult with MSU Denver’s Financial Aid Office if receiving financial aid.

Interinstitutional Registration

Interinstitutional registration applies to MSU Denver students taking courses at the Community College of Denver (CCD) and to CCD students taking courses at MSU Denver. Interinstitutional application deadlines are published on the academic calendar.

For MSU Denver students:

MSU Denver students may register interinstitutionally for a maximum of 9 credits; however, students may not register for more interinstitutional credits than they are taking at the home institution.

MSU Denver students wishing to enroll at CCD must obtain the Interinstitutional Application and registration forms from the Office of the Registrar (SSB 160). Students should ensure that the coursework is transferable to MSU Denver by receiving approval from their academic department.

MSU Denver students are restricted from registering for certain Colorado Community College (CCC) Online classes at CCD.

MSU Denver students are restricted from registered for online classes or off campus classes at CCD.

MSU Denver students are restricted from registering for remedial classes through the interinstitutional registration process.

Interinstitutional courses will not satisfy academic residence requirements for a degree from MSU Denver. The total number of community college credits applicable to a degree from MSU Denver is 64, which includes interinstitutional and transfer credit. Only courses transferable to MSU Denver will apply toward a degree.

For CCD students:

Students from CCD are not eligible to register for online courses or off-campus courses offered at Metro North and Metro South, including correspondence and tele-courses.

CCD students may not place their names on waitlists for closed classes at MSU Denver.

CCD students are restricted from registering for UC Denver Pooled Courses.

Interinstitutional students enrolled at MSU Denver will be charged all extra fees such as additional class fees, etc.

Community College of Denver (CCD) - Basic Skills Courses

The Community College of Denver offers college Basic Skills Classes available to MSU Denver students needing additional preparation in the areas of English, mathematics, and reading.

CCD basic skills courses will not apply toward MSU Denver degree requirements or GPA.

MSU Denver students registering, withdrawing or dropping CCD basic skills courses are expected to comply with all MSU Denver policies and deadlines.

  1. Prior to registering for any preparatory CCD classes, students must consult with their MSU Denver academic advisor to determine appropriateness of the class(es). 

  2. Students taking CCD courses are required to take the Accuplacer test and to place into the appropriate courses based on their test results. 

  3. Classes will be posted on your MSU Denver academic record and will include credit hours and the grade/notation earned. CCD will also post the course, credit hours and grade earned on the CCD academic record.

  4. Tuition and fees for these classes will be paid to MSU Denver.

Tuition Information for Special Registrations

Financial Aid: After accumulating 30 credit hours of coursework that does not apply towards MSU Denver graduation, a student no longer can count these credits towards financial aid eligibility.

Veterans’ Benefits: Students receiving VA educational benefits must document their referral to CCD classes. Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35 and 1606 may include these documented classes in their total credit hours to be counted for payment of benefits. Contact the Office of the Registrar (303-556-2993) for more information.

House Bill 1023 Verification of Lawful Presence

HB06S-1023, which was signed into law on July 31, 2006, requires institutions of higher education to verify lawful presence of all applicants for public post-secondary education benefits. The bill requires all citizens who apply for state benefits to provide proof of lawful presence in the U.S. These benefits include in-state tuition, the College Opportunity Fund, state and institutional funding, and any other state-funded benefits that entail any payment or financial assistance.

Any student whose lawful presence is verified through the process of completing a College Opportunity Fund (COF) application or who is verified through the FAFSA may be considered to have met the requirements. Students who are unable to be verified through FAFSA or COF must complete a HB 1023 Affidavit form and provide a copy of identification supporting lawful presence in the U.S. to the Office of the Registrar.

Applicants who fail to meet verification requirements will be subject to nonresident tuition and removal of state funding.

Course Audit Policy

Students may audit a class with the permission of the instructor, if space is available. Academic credit is not awarded for an audited course, and no academic record is maintained. The cost for auditing a course is based on regular tuition. Audit approval forms are available in deans’ and academic department offices and online at msudenver.edu/registrar/student/forms.

Definition of Full-time and Half-time Status

The following chart outlines the number of semester hours required to meet full-time and half-time status:

FALL and SPRING

 

Full-time

12 or more semester hours

Half-time

6 - 11 semester hours

Less than Half-time

5 hours or less

 

 

Summer (10-week term)

 

Full-time

8 or more semester hours

Half-time

4 - 8 semester hours

Less than half-time

3 hours or less

To complete a degree in four years or eight semesters, students may need to take at least 15 credit hours per semester.  For financial aid purposes, 12 semester hours is the full-time standard for the summer semester.  Please check the financial aid portion of this catalog for detailed requirements.  To be eligible for health insurance coverage, students must be enrolled in ten semester hours in the fall and spring and eight semester hours in the summer.  Enrollment verification may be requested through ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu.

Official Transcripts (Official Academic Record)

The official transcript is a certified copy of the student’s permanent academic record. It contains the official signature of the Registrar and the official seal of the University. Students may order transcripts by logging in to ConnectU, connectu.msudenver.edu. There is no charge for transcripts, except for transcripts that must be faxed to the recipient. Students requesting to have a transcript faxed will be charged $6.00. Requests may be delayed, depending on end-of-term grading and the posting of degrees. Transcripts will only be issued upon written request, which must include:

  • Student’s full, legal name as recorded while attending MSU Denver;
  • Student’s identification number;
  • Birth date;
  • Last term of attendance;
  • To whom and where the transcripts are to be sent;
  • Number of copies desired; and
  • Student signature authorizing the release of records.

Transcripts will be withheld due to indebtedness to the University or for other appropriate reasons. Students from other institutions taking MSU Denver courses under the state college system or interinstitutional registration programs must request transcripts from their home institution.

Falsified Transcripts and Diplomas

Altering, modifying, tampering with, or in any way falsifying an official Metropolitan State University of Denver transcript or diploma is a crime. The University has implemented multiple measures to detect such conduct. To protect the integrity and value of an MSU Denver degree, the Attorney General will vigorously prosecute, through the criminal justice system, those who commit these crimes.

In addition, students found responsible for falsifying an official MSU Denver transcript or diploma will face a University judicial hearing and appropriate sanctions may be imposed, including suspension, dismissal, and loss of credit, which could affect the student’s permanent record.

Withdrawal/Emergency

In times of emergency, certain students (e.g., reserve military units, individuals with specialized skills, or firefighters) are called to provide services to the state or country. When the call for services or emergency deployment is issued, it is often necessary for students to interrupt their coursework in mid-semester without advance notice. The University recognizes that normal refund and withdrawal policies may not be appropriate and, therefore, will make the following provisions for individuals who leave the institution mid-semester to respond to a national emergency.

  1. Students called for emergency deployment will be reimbursed for the tuition and fees that they have paid. Follow-up documentation will be required to substantiate the call for services or emergency deployment.
  2. Students may be given the option of:
    1. Administrative withdrawal (no record of enrollment remains on the student’s academic record).
    2. Receiving an NC for the classes in which they are registered.
    3. Administrative withdrawal from selected classes if instructors of remaining classes agree to allow the student to complete or make up work in these classes. This option may entail the student being granted an Incomplete (I) with an opportunity to complete the coursework within one year.
  3. The Office of the Registrar will make the final determination for administrative withdrawal on a case-by-case basis.
  4. Each instructor and the department chair will be notified by the Office of the Registrar of a student’s administrative withdrawal due to his or her call for service or emergency deployment.

Students who must withdraw from all classes during a semester due to a military or state call to action should contact Veterans’ Services, SSB 160 or call 303-556-2993, for assistance.

Students who must withdraw from all classes during a semester due to a serious personal or medical emergency should contact the Office of the Bursar, SSB 150, 303-556-6188 for assistance and information on emergency withdrawal procedures.