Acceleration
Completion of 120 credits and the residence requirement does not automatically qualify any student for a degree. See the Degree Requirements section of this handbook. Students who wish to accelerate are urged to discuss their options as early as possible with their dons. Students who seek to graduate in fewer than four years must submit a proposal to the Office of the Dean of Studies at deanofstudies@sarahlawrence.edu no earlier than a full year in advance of their proposed graduation date. The proposal, addressed to the Committee on Student Work, should be in the form of an essay articulating the student’s reason for wanting to graduate early and should constitute a statement of purpose as to the student’s current and future plans and how acceleration is related to those plans. The proposal must be accompanied by a statement of academic support from the don and at least one other faculty member, attesting to the student’s intellectual maturity and readiness to graduate early.
Reduced Course Load
Matriculated undergraduate students generally take an average of 15 credits per semester, but full-time tuition includes 12 to 18 credits each semester. In exceptional circumstances related to a medical condition or disability, students may request to take a reduced course load (fewer than 12 credits) and matriculate at part-time enrollment. Ideally, such a request should be made prior to the semester for which the status is requested. Whenever possible, but most especially during a semester, students considering a reduced course load should meet with their class dean to discuss the academic and other implications of such a decision.
If a student wishes to pursue a reduced course load for a health-related, disability-related, or other potential qualifying issue, a Reduced Course Load Request form, available on MySLC, must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Studies, along with approval from the appropriate department (Health & Wellness, Access and Disability Services, or Title IX Office). International F-1 students must also request permission from their DSO (designated school official) to maintain visa compliance. Reduced course loads for international students require engaging in a treatment plan to address issues interfering with their full-time academic status. If applicable, appropriate medical documentation may be requested by the Health & Wellness Center or Access and Disability Services. After review, either the director of counseling & psychological services, the director of medical services, or the assistant dean of access and disability services will make a recommendation to the Office of the Dean of Studies. The student is then notified via email of the decision.
If a reduced course load is granted prior to the end of the Add/Drop period, tuition is calculated on a per-credit basis, provided that arrangements are made prior to the semester deadlines for payment of fees. In applying for a reduced course load, students should consider implications for scholarships, loans, health insurance, and housing, some of which may require full-time status. Students may initiate a request for a reduced course load with the Office of the Dean of Studies up until the 10th week of the semester. The student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) may be notified. There is no tuition refund for reduced course loads approved after the Add/Drop Period ends.
In instances associated with sexual assault or harassment or with other violations of the policy on sexual violence, students may request to take a reduced course load. Such requests must be made to the Title IX coordinator at titleix@sarahlawrence.edu. The Title IX coordinator, along with the Office of the Dean of Studies, provides guidance for any student considering a reduced course load or leave of absence to assist the student with such an accommodation.
Guest Students
Guest students are nonmatriculated students who are not working toward a Sarah Lawrence degree but who have been admitted on a temporary basis (a semester or a year). These students normally take one or two courses per semester. Registration for guest students takes place during the Add/Drop period.
Guest students should consult with their home institutions about their academic programs to ensure that they receive credit and meet institutional requirements. A student previously enrolled as a degree candidate at Sarah Lawrence may not become a nonmatriculated student.