Requirements for Registration

Registration Enrollment Dates

Enrollment for each semester begins on or around the following:

• Summer/ Fall Semester: First week of April
• Spring Semester: First week of November

Military Veterans*, Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen have specific dates and time for registration referred to as Enrollment Appointments. To view the enrollment date and time assigned, login to the Student Center via myNSC or the NSC Portal.

*Veterans receiving VA benefits who self identify to Nevada State College as a veteran will be placed in a priority registration status and will be allowed to register the first week of registration.

Policy on Credit Hour

Credit hour is the unit by which an institution measures its course work. The number of credit hours assigned to a course quantitatively reflects the outcomes expected, the mode of instruction, the amount of time spent in class, and the amount of outside preparatory work expected for the class.

Nevada State College (NSC) measures students learning in accordance with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and University (NWCCU) Policy on Credit Hour, which relies on federal regulations on the definition and assignment of credit hours.

Federal regulation mandate that all candidate and accredited institution comply with the definition of the credit hour as set forth in section 600.2, which defines the credit hour as:

An amount of work represent in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit or ten-to-twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

In general, unit value for course offerings is governed by the NSC Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee and Common Course Numbering Committee. Schools and departments are responsible for submitting course approval requests that include a detailed description of how unit value is justified. In addition, periodic compliance review of the credit hour policy will be incorporated into each school’s established curriculum review schedule to ensure a course’s credit hours reflect the amount of work required to earn those credits.

Review Policy for Compliance with College Credit Hour Requirements

The Office of the Registrar regularly audits scheduled courses offerings to ensure compliance with the credit hour requirements through its processes for class scheduling each semester. This review is conducted across all schools, disciplines, courses levels, and modes of instruction. The Office of the Registrar maintains a historical method of its review of each semester.

Placement Policy

The placement policies of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) can be found in the Board of Regents Handbook, Title 4, Chapter 16, Section 1. 

TITLE 4 - Codification of Board Policy Statements - CHAPTER 16

Section 1. NSHE Placement Policy

The placement policies of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) are intended to ensure a foundation of knowledge and competencies that will assist students in successfully pursuing and attaining an academic degree. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the rigors of higher education prior to entering the NSHE.

1. Pursuant to federal regulations, institutions may make ability-to-benefit determinations using federally approved tests and passing scores to receive federal student aid. The NSHE reserves the right to cancel the admission or registration of any individual whose attendance at a university or college, in the opinion of the appropriate administrative officer and the President, would not be mutually beneficial, as determined by the ability-to-benefit test, to that individual and the university or college.
2. Initial Placement of Students into English and Mathematics Courses.
   1. Exception from Remedial Instruction: Degree-seeking students who meet or exceed the minimum English or mathematics scores on any one of the college readiness assessments listed below must be placed into a college-level course in that subject and are exempt from being placed into any form of remedial instruction.
      1. Was continuously enrolled in an English course and a mathematics course in his or her senior year of high school unless an exception is approved by an NSHE institution; and
      2. Enrolls in an NSHE institution after high school in any term(summer/fall/winter/spring) during the academic year following high school graduation.

      Institutions may use other factors including high school transcript, grade point average, or additional testing to determine the appropriate first college-level course. Institutions are not required to honor initial placement decisions pursuant to this subsection for students who fail to remain continuously enrolled in required mathematics and English courses until the core mathematics and English requirements are completed.

      College Readiness Assessment - English
      Test	Minimum Score
      ACT English or ACT English Language Arts (ELA)	18 (English) or 20 (ELA)
      SAT Critical Reading - SAT Test Date Prior to March 2016	500
      SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing - SAT Test Date March 2016 and later	480
      Smarter Balanced	2583 (Achievement Level 3)
      PARCC	Level 4 Score
      College Readiness Assessment - Mathematics
      Test	Minimum Score
      ACT Mathematics	22
      SAT Math - SAT Test Date Prior to March 2016	500
      SAT Math - SAT Test Date March 2016 and later	530
      Smarter Balanced	2628 (Achievement Level 3)
      PARCC	Level 4 Score

   2. Placement of Students without an Exemption from Remedial Instruction. For degreeseeking students who have not met the English or mathematics college readiness assessment score on one of the tests in subsection a or who have not taken any of the tests in subsection a, institutions must develop an assessment and placement policy that ensures students who place at high school or above levels have an opportunity to enroll in and complete gateway college courses in mathematics and English within one academic year. The assessment and placement policy may use multiple measures, including, but not limited to placement exams; high school GPA; course selection and performance in the senior year of high school; and intended postsecondary program of study to determine appropriate placement into one the following options:
      1. Placement into college-level courses without any additional academic support or remediation;
      2. Placement into a co-requisite course where academic support is provided to students while enrolled in college-level gateway courses;
      3. Placement into a single semester of remedial education that is followed by either a gateway college-level course or co-requisite gateway course option; or
      4. For students who are seeking a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) degree or program of study that requires college algebra or pre-calculus and who place at the high school Algebra 1 level (e.g. Math095), placement into a three-semester sequence culminating in the gateway college algebra course. The sequence may include co-requisite coursework.
3. To promote completion of gateway courses within the first academic year, all degree seeking students must be continuously enrolled in appropriate mathematics and English courses until the institutional core curriculum mathematics and English requirements are completed. Institutions may authorize exceptions to this requirement if the exception does not affect the student’s ability to complete the gateway course within the first academic year.
4. Requirements for college readiness and college-level course enrollment shall be publicized by each institution to the appropriate Nevada school districts. In addition, the Chancellor will work with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to publicize these requirements to all Nevada school districts and to establish educational strategies to encourage high school standards, graduation requirements, and assessments that are aligned with college and workforce readiness expectations.
5. For purposes of this section, "college-level" means courses that are numbered 100-level and above.

(B/R 9/18)

Returning Students

Students returning to the college after an absence of one year are required to reapply.

Students who have attended another educational institution since last enrolling at the college must submit official transcripts from each school attended, whether credit was earned or not. If transferring from another college, any disciplinary sanction must be declared.

If an ineligible student is approved for registration on the basis of incomplete or fraudulent credentials, or misrepresentations in written application for registration:

• Registration will be cancelled without refund of any fees
• The total credits earned following readmission will be rescinded
• Future registration at the college will be prohibited.

Late Registration

Students who enroll once instruction begins are charged late registration fees.

Clearance of Accounts

Students who have a prior unpaid balance on their account are not allowed to register, receive a transcript of record, receive their diploma, or certification of enrollment.

Credit Load

The maximum number of credits that a degree-seeking student may take each semester is 21 credits. Noncredit courses are considered as credit equivalents. Any exception to these regulations requires the advance written approval by the Dean of the student's school. Non-degree students may take a maximum of 15 credits per semester and are not eligible for overload.

Adding Courses

Students may add courses/classes up until the last day of registration. See Academic Calendar for specific dates.

Auditing Courses

Students who wish to attend a class without being graded or receiving credit may choose to audit the course. Changes to credits status may be made in the Office of the Registrar. See Academic Calendar for specific deadlines.

Cancellation of Courses

The college reserves the right to cancel any course in which the enrollment is insufficient to warrant offering the course.

Dropping/Withdrawing Courses

Students may drop or withdraw from a course(s) and receive a 100 percent refund up until the last day of registration. Dropping a course(s) may affect a student’s financial aid.

After the last day of registration and up until 60 percent of the course instruction has occurred, students may drop or withdraw a course(s) with a “W” grade posted on the transcript. Refer to the academic calendar and your student center on myNSC for 50 percent refund dates.

Students are not permitted to drop/withdraw from courses after 60 percent of the course instruction has occurred. A grade of “F” will be assigned for the unofficial drop/withdrawal.

Students with extenuating circumstances may file a petition for a “W” or “I” grade on one or more courses or withdraw completely from the college in lieu of the “F” grade assigned for unofficial drop or withdrawal. In both cases, students must follow the rules regarding policy for incomplete grade and complete withdrawal from the college.

 

Extenuating circumstances include but are not limited to:

1. Deployment of the student in the United States Armed Forces;

2. Death or incapacitation resulting from an illness or injury of the student or the student’s spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian that prevents the student from returning to the school for the remainder of the semester;

3. Involuntary job transfer outside of the service area of the institution as documented by employer; or

4. Other exceptional circumstance beyond the control of the institution or the student.

Withdrawal from the College

Students wishing to withdraw from the college for the semester should contact the advising staff for an exit withdrawal interview and assistance in finalizing their withdrawal from the college. Students who withdraw from the college after 60 percent of the course instruction has occurred and are passing, will receive grades of W on their transcript. Students who withdraw after 60 percent of the course instruction has occurred and are not passing, receive a grade of F.

Students who leave the college without officially withdrawing receive a failing grade in all courses.

 

Change of Major

Students wishing to change their major may submit a change of major request via the NSC Portal.

Removal from a Major

Students on disqualification are removed from a major status by the Office of the Registrar. Students may also be removed from a major at any time if they are not making satisfactory progress toward a degree or are in violation of college conduct regulations or ethical standards of the professional program in which they are majoring. This action must be approved in writing by the Provost, upon recommendation of the Academic Deans, and filed with the Office of the Registrar.

Change of Name

A student may change his or her name by completing a Name Change form in the Office of the Registrar. Certain types of identification (i.e. driver’s license, marriage license) are required depending on the type of name change (i.e. clerical error, legal change).

Class Absences

There are no official absences from any college class. It is the personal responsibility of the student to consult with the professor regarding absence from class.

Religious Holiday Policy: It is the policy of NSHE to be sensitive to the religious obligations of its students. Any student missing class, quizzes, examinations, or any other class or lab work because of observance of religious holidays shall, whenever possible, be given an opportunity during that semester to make up the missed work. The make-up will apply to religious holiday absence only. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor in writing if the student intends to participate in a religious holiday which does not fall on state holidays or periods of class recess. This policy shall not apply in the event that administering the assignment at an alternate time would impose an undue hardship on the instructor or the institution which could not have reasonably been avoided. Any student who is denied a make-up option after appropriately notifying the instructor shall have the right to appeal that decision through the normal appeal mechanism in place at the college. A student must make the initial appeal to the department chair or coordinator of the program in which the class is offered. If it is not resolved at that level, the student may appeal to the Dean or Director.