SASS Academic Policies

Registration Guidelines

All student- athletes must be registered for a minimum of 16 credit hours per semester. At no time should a student-athlete register only for the minimum of 12 credits hours required by the NCAA, with the exception of a student with a documented learning disability and the DRC’s approval to take a reduced course load, or graduation requirement (i.e. a student only needs 12-credit hour or less to graduate). Only taking 12 credits per semester will place the student behind on their graduation date. If a student-athlete takes it upon themselves to only register for 12 credit hours during any particular semester they will be responsible for the tuition of the make-up course that they will be required to take at a later date to remain on track for graduation.

Enrolling In Online Courses

Given the limited availability of on-line courses at NU, request and eligibility for an on-line enrollment will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Course Overload

• All student-athletes wishing to overload (20 or more credit hours) on classes must get prior approval from the Associate Athletic Director/SWA and your SASS academic advisor before registering for classes. Request forms can be picked up from the Compliance & Enrollment Coordinator, the SASS office, or on-line on your SASS Blackboard account.
• Student-Athletes may be requested to attach a copy of their academic plan showing the difference in graduation dates if the student takes an overload or does not take the overload.
• Student-athletes who request an overload will be contacted by the Athletic Department to inform them if they were approved or denied the request. Upon approval a student-athlete should then add the additional course to their schedule.
• If student-athletes register and take an overload without receiving prior approval, they will be responsible for paying the overload charge on their tuition bill and any blocks placed on their account due to the unpaid tuition bill.

Extra Semester Request

• All student-athletes wishing to take an extra semester which is not part of their academic curriculum plan must get prior approval from the Associate Athletic Director/SWA and your SASS academic advisor before registering for classes. The Extra Semester Request forms can be picked up from the Compliance & Enrollment Coordinator, the SASS office, or on-line on your SASS Blackboard account. Student-Athletes must attach a copy of their academic audit, unofficial transcript, and core curriculum guide showing the difference in graduation dates and the reason for the request. Student-Athletes must present the signed approval form to their SASS advisor and their head coach in order to register for an extra semester.

Class Attendance And Excused Absences

• Student-Athletes are expected to attend ALL classes while they are enrolled at Northeastern University. However, it is understood that an occasional class will be missed due to team travel arrangements scheduled for athletic competition.
• Student-Athletes must use the communication procedures listed below when classes will be missed due to athletic competition.
• Identify yourself to each of your professors after the first or second class meeting, providing your name and sport.
• At the beginning of the semester, the SASS office provides student-athletes with excuse letters outlining their
travel schedule. It is the student-athlete’s responsibility to present the excuse letter to each professor to sign.
At this time the student-athlete and professor determine which contests will conflict with class schedules.
• Assignments or work to be made up needs to be solicited from professors before a scheduled missed class.
• Before leaving the student must arrange with their professors make-up dates for exams and quizzes that will be administered while they are traveling. Student-Athletes must make every effort to arrange to take exams early, or immediately upon their return from road trips.
• Early communication is critically important if a final exam will be missed, especially if that final will be administered during final exam week.