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Terms to Semesters

Online Student Handbook

• Printable Handbook for Residential Students
• Printable Handbook for Adult Degree Program Students

Index

• Letter from the President
• Pledge to Students
• Conversion Terminology
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Sample Combined Term/Semester Transcript
• Academic Calendar 2010/2011
• Financial Aid and Tuition/Fee Information

Contents

The information contained in this handbook is to be used as a general guide for the terms to semesters conversion. It is to be used in conjunction with assistance from an Academic Advisor. This handbook supplements students' understanding of the conversion process and needs to be read carefully to determine if it is necessary to meet with an Academic Advisor.

Letter from the President

To the Students of Northwood University:

The semester calendar begins in the next academic year, Fall 2010.

It is our goal to make the change as seamless as possible for you. This handbook will serve as your guide for information on advising, planning, course equivalencies, and more. It has been prepared to answer many of your questions and help you plan your remaining courses to complete your degree.

Students who are seniors this year and complete the requirements to graduate by August 2010, will not see any changes in course delivery. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be impacted by the change. Faculty and staff at Northwood University are committed to helping each of you through this transition and many opportunities are available to answer your questions and advise you on your individual course of study. Up-to-date information will always be found at my.northwood.edu.

The most important way to make this transition successful is to begin your planning early. Careful assessment of your progress toward graduation, making sure you are on track with requirements, and pro-active efforts on your part are critical to ensuring your timely graduation. We will make every effort to guide you through the conversion and we will do our part to help you. You are in charge of the other part - learning about the conversion, talking with your advisor, and planning carefully.

Changing from terms to semesters will increase the value of a degree from Northwood University. Opportunities for in-depth study, expanded extracurricular and internship opportunities, more time for student involvement, increased opportunities for study abroad, easier transitions for transfer and guest students, and reduced processing for registration and financial aid are just a few of the advantages of semesters.

Your success, as a student and ultimately as a professional in your career, is our primary goal.

Keith A. Pretty, J.D.
President and CEO
Northwood University
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Pledge to Students

Northwood University is committed to a smooth transition from terms to semesters. Advisors are available to guide each student with an individual plan for completion of their degrees. It is the responsibility of the students to meet with their advisors in a timely manner. Those who do so can count on the following:

• No Loss of Academic Progress
  
  Students will not lose earned credit as a result of the semester conversion. Earned term hours will be converted to semester hours based on the following formula:
  
  Number of Term Hours x .6667 = Number of Semester Credit Hours.
  
  
• No Delay to Degree Completion
  
  This pledge ensures that those students who are on track to complete their curriculum requirements when the Fall Semester of 2010 begins, and who continue to adhere to their curriculum guide or degree completion plan after semester conversion, will not experience an extension of the time-to-degree completion.
  
  
• No Increased Costs for Degree Completion

Student tuition and fees under the semester system will not be greater than they would be under the term system for a two-semester academic year. The total full-time cost of two semesters equals the full-time cost of three terms. In addition, the total tuition and fees cost over the length of the degree program (based on two semesters per academic year) will be the same for students following an approved DCP under the semester-calendar system as it would have been under the term-calendar system. Tuition and fee payment schedules will be aligned with the semester calendar. The University, however, may implement annual tuition increases as deemed necessary and authorized by the Board of Trustees. Back to top

Conversion Terminology

• Terms to Semesters: Northwood University is changing its academic calendar from three 10-week + 1 week final exams terms to two 15 + 1 final exams week semesters beginning in August 2010.
• Transition Students: Active students who will complete requirements for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree after summer 2010.
• Degree Completion Plan (DCP): The document that results from the students meeting with their advisors which outlines the courses and schedule necessary to complete their degree.
• On-Track or On-Sequence Students: One who has followed his/her curriculum guide, articulation and/or degree completion program as defined. This means taking courses in the year and term when they were intended to be taken.
  For Northwood University's transition to semesters, students will experience the smoothest transition if they are completely current (exactly where they should be) in following their guide or plan.
• Off-Track or Off-Sequence Students: One who has taken courses in an order or sequence other than defined on their curriculum guide or degree completion plan. This may have happened for any number of reasons, including:
• Preparatory courses such as MTH 098 and/or ENG 090 were required
• Student withdrew from a class during a term or failed a class
• Student took fewer than the recommended 16 or 17 credits in a term or terms.

Students who are not current (exactly where they should be) in following their guide or plan should schedule a meeting with an Academic Advisor or Program Center Manager as early in the 2009-2010 academic year as possible so that a plan can be created which will minimize the difficulty in transitioning to the semester curriculum delivery.

• Intersessions (formerly called mini sessions): The accelerated courses, like those currently offered in the traditional term programs known as mini sessions, will exist in the semester system, however there will be some changes in their timing and length. Due to these changes, these accelerated courses will be known as inter- sessions in the semester format.

Intersessions will be at least 45 hours in length and will occur at the end of Fall semester, during Spring break in the middle of the Spring semester, at the end of the Spring semester and during the Summer semester. In-term intersessions, accelerated ADP courses and alternative course delivery options may be available within each semester. Students should refer to the 2010-2011 academic calendar and campus course offerings for specific information.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Undergraduate Residential Students
• Adult Degree Program Students

Sample Transcript for Students Graduating during the Transition

GPA - A student's GPA will be combined and weighted proportionally for term and semester credit. Back to top

Jane A. Student

Academic Calendar 2010-2011

Accelerated course offerings will be available between semesters and within each semester. One-week intersessions will be offered between Fall and Spring semester, during Spring break and following the Spring semester.

In-term intersessions, accelerated ADP courses and alternative course delivery options may be available within each semester. Specific offerings will be determined by each Northwood location.Back to top

Financial Aid

The semester transition does not affect the availability of financial aid programs or the amount of funding in those programs. In order to apply for aid, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as you have done in the past. The Financial Aid Office will use the results of your FAFSA to determine your eligibility. The fact you are enrolled in semesters, rather than quarters/terms does not impact the way eligibility is determined. However, you will notice some changes.

The most obvious change you will see is the frequency of your student aid disbursements. When the Financial Aid Office determines your award amount, the award will be based on a full academic year; then split across the terms. Your academic year will now have two semesters, rather than three quarters/terms. Your annual award amount will be disbursed in halves, rather than thirds. For example: Let's assume you qualify for a $6,000 award. Rather than receiving $2,000 for three quarters/terms, you receive $3,000 for two semesters. All of your financial aid awards will be viewable at my.northwood.edu.

Another important change is the definition of your grade level: freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. Your grade level is one factor in determining the amount of your student loan eligibility. The new grade level definitions have been changed to reflect the semester structure. This change will not affect your current grade level* status. Therefore it will not affect your student loan eligibility. As long as you stay on track with your academic program, your grade level will change at the same pace in the semester structure. The Financial Aid Office will use these new definitions when determining student loan eligibility.

Students must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as one requirement to receive student aid. The current SAP policy is based on progress in a quarter/term - based academic year. This policy is being re-evaluated to address the change in academic year structure and grade level progression. You will be advised of the new policy as soon as it has been finalized. As always, you may contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions.

One thing that has not changed is how your enrollment status is defined. Enrollment status is determined by the number of credits you are enrolled during a term. You need to be enrolled 12 or more credits each semester to remain full-time. All Northwood grants and scholarships require full-time enrollment. Federal and state aid awards may vary.

If you have a student loan, you must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify for your in-school deferment. This means you must maintain at least 6 credits per semester. If you do not, your student loan lender will contact you about repayment of your loan. You will be able to continue to view the enrollment information we have provided to your lender at the Student Clearinghouse link on my.northwood.edu.

In the new semester structure, students may find more types of course offerings, such as compressed coursework (courses offered within the semester, but not as long as the semester). The types and combination of coursework you choose may impact your aid eligibility. If you plan on enrolling in a course that does not span the entire 16-week semester, check with the Financial Aid Office to find out how it may impact your aid.

With the change in the structure of the summer term and the availability of different course types, you may find summer enrollment more attractive. Discuss any summer enrollment plans with the Financial Aid Office to ensure you qualify for the maximum awards.
Please monitor the Northwood website and my.northwood.edu to stay informed about these and other financial aid related topics. The Financial Aid Office is available to assist.

• Florida Campus Financial Aid
• Michigan Campus Financial Aid
• Texas Campus Financial Aid
• Adult Degree Program Financial Aid

*Freshman: less than 30 semester hours, Sophomore: 30-59 semester hours, Junior: 60-89 semester hours, Senior: 90 or greater semester hours
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Tuition & Fees

There are no increased costs to tuition and fees due to the semester transition. If there is a change in costs, it is not a direct result of the transition. The University may implement increases, as deemed necessary. All tuition and fees are set annually and authorized by the Board of Trustees.

When the annual costs are set, the annual amount will be divided in halves. In the past, the annual amount was divided in thirds. The tuition and fee payments will be aligned with the semesters. Financial aid awards will be credited by semester. Your current payment options will still be available. To learn more about your payment options, please visit the Northwood website, my.northwood.edu, or your Business Office.

Questions on semester conversion information or referral to program-specific advising can be answered at:

Florida Campus: 561.478.5570
Michigan Campus: 989.837.4125
Texas Campus: 972.293.5411
Adult Degree Programs: Contact your Program Center Manager