Registration

The university opens registration for Summer and Fall coursework the third week in April. Registration for Spring coursework is made available the third week of November. The university publishes a registration schedule for students in advance of opening enrollment. Students should consult with their Academic Advisor for advice on course selection. Registration is not complete until all fees are paid or fee payment arrangements have been made with the Bursar.

Registration Requirements

Medical Report

Students who wish to reside in Residence Hall, athletes, international students, and students in specialized programs requiring practicum experiences (e.g., health science and education majors) must submit a completed medical form, signed by a primary care provider. The medical examination forms are available in the Wellness/Health Center in the Cook Administration Building, Room 131.

Immunization Requirement

On August 5, 2016, the Illinois Department of Public Health has amended the college immunization code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 694) requirement for all students admitted. The following immunizations are required.

• Two measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines after the first birthday. The second vaccine must be given at least 28 days after the first. If students are unable to provide proof of vaccines, serologic evidence (IGG antibody titers), copy of lab report to prove positive immunity is acceptable.
• Three vaccines that contain tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis. One dose must be a Tdap. The last dose of vaccine must have been administered within 10 years.
• One meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required for all students 21 years of age and younger. A 2nd vaccine must be given if the 1st vaccine was given before age 16.

A professional health care provider must verify documentation of immunization and testing. A high school health record with proof of immunization, if properly noted and certified, is acceptable documentation. Individuals who are not properly immunized will not be allowed to register. Proof of proper immunization must be on file prior to registration. Students who fail to comply with the immunization requirements will be assessed a $25 non-compliance fee.

Evidence of tuberculin testing is recommended and may be required for students registered for courses in certain academic programs, as well as students occupying the residence hall.

Students who need to obtain immunizations or information regarding immunizations may contact their primary care providers, their local public health clinic, or federally qualified health center. Students who wish to prove immunization compliance must submit the student immunization form signed by their provider to the Wellness/Health Center, Chicago State University, 9501 S. King Drive, ADM 131, Chicago, Illinois 60628. Students can call the Wellness Center at 773-995-2010.

Academic Advisement

Upon admission to the university, students will be assigned academic advisors in their major fields of study. Students should contact their advisor to arrange for advising as soon as possible after admission. Students must meet with their academic advisors each term for advisement prior to registration for the next term. Students will only be able to register for courses when the advisor provides a PIN following the advising session. In addition to registration advisement, academic advisors will also meet with students to clarify career goals, track their progress toward graduation, and serve as resources for information about programs relevant to the major and to students’ personal growth.

Course Load

Course loads-i.e., how many credit hours students register for-in undergraduate studies are capped to ensure student success. This means undergraduate students may register for up to 16 credit hours in a 16-week semester or 12 credit hours in the Summer. Students whose CSU cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or better may register for up to 18 credit hours.

Additional hours beyond the 16-credit hour cap must be approved in writing by the academic department and sent to the Office of the Registrar. For more, please refer to the Academic Standing Student Responsibility policy.

Students whose CSU cumulative grade point average is 1.99 or less are limited to 12 credit hours or four courses in a 16-week semester or six credit hours in the Summer.

The following minimum credit-hour load is recommended: veterans receiving benefits under Public Law 89-358 (Veterans Re-adjustments Benefits Act of 1966) must carry 12 credit hours to be eligible for full subsistence allowances during the semester.

Student athletes must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours during the Fall and Spring terms to maintain eligibility status.

Concurrent Registration

In order to enroll for a course or courses at another college or university, a student following a degree sequence at Chicago State University must obtain written approval for concurrent attendance from the Office of Evaluations prior to registration. Students are cautioned to review university residence requirements (see graduation requirements  section of catalog for additional information). Transfer credit for work completed elsewhere will be accepted by the university only when the appropriate procedure is followed.

Change of Registration

Students may add classes to their schedule during open or late registration. The late registration period is the first two days after classes have begun. Specific dates for each term are published on the Academic Calendar. Students may drop a course for 100% refund, by the tenth day of regularly scheduled classes on CSU X-PRESS, which is accessible via Cougar Connect. After the 100% refund date, students may drop or withdraw from classes by completing the Add-Drop Form. The completed form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by published deadline dates in order to prevent academic penalty.

NOTE: Students are not allowed to drop their last class online in CSU X-PRESS (i.e. resulting in a complete withdrawal for the semester) after the term has begun. Because this is considered a complete withdrawal, students must instead submit a “Complete Withdrawal” request in CSU X-PRESS. Students are encouraged to participate in a short exit interview with Financial Aid prior to submitting their Complete Withdrawal. Please refer to the Withdrawal  section of the Catalog for more information.

Auditing Courses

The university does not permit students to audit courses. Attendance in course sessions is based on the assumption that the student has officially registered for the course(s). Students are not permitted to attend classes unless officially registered.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites for courses are listed in this Course Catalog and the Dynamic Schedule. Students may not register for courses if they do not meet the published prerequisites. If students do register, they may be required to drop the course or courses unless the appropriate academic department has granted special permission.

Registration Holds

Students with financial, immunization, or academic holds are prevented from registration until they are able to satisfy the terms of their hold. Students with holds should contact the department that initiated the hold prior to their scheduled registration date. Students cannot register online if they have a hold. Academic advisors can let students know if they have a hold on their record during their registration advisement session. Some holds that can affect registration are listed below. Students should contact the department listed if they have any of the identified hold codes.

• Bursar (BU/B3): students with a Bursar hold have a previous balance that must be paid with the Bursar’s Office before they can register for the current term. To resolve the hold, contact the Bursar’s Office at bursar@csu.edu or 773-995-2470.
  The Bursar’s Office is in the Cook Administration Building, Rm. 212 from 9 - 5 pm.
• Immunization (I2): if students have not submitted their shot record to the Wellness Center, they have an Immunization hold on their account. They may also be charged $25 if they fail to provide proof before classes start. Contact the Health & Wellness Center at wellness@csu.edu or 773-995-2011.
  The Immunization Office is in the Cook Administration Building, Rm. 131 from 9 - 5 pm.
• Academic Probation Status (PR): students who are on academic probation receive this hold. They must contact their Academic Advisor to complete an academic plan. Once completed, students submit their academic plan to the Office of Academic Support (OAS). To resolve, students can contact Constance Jackson-Upshaw at: cjacks35@csu.edu or 773-995-4510.
• Success U / University College (UC): this hold is for students who are a part of Success U. To remove the hold, students can contact Candy Bennett at: cbenne20@csu.edu or 773-995-4521.
• Undecided Major (UN): students must meet with their Academic Advisor to declare a major. Students can contact Constance Jackson-Upshaw at: cjacks35@csu.edu or 773-995-4510.
  The Office of Academic Support is in the Cordell Reed Student Union Building, Rm 180, from 9 - 5 pm.
• Athletics Hold (A1): this hold is used for student athletes to ensure they maintain Athletic eligibility for competition. Students can contact Jason Frank at: jfrank@csu.edu or 773-995-2295.
  The Athletics Office is in the Jones Convocation Center, Rm 1502.

If you have a hold that is not on this list, please contact your Academic Advisor to determine how to resolve the hold.

Financial Information

Residency

1. Definitions
   For the purpose of this regulation, the following definitions pertain: An “adult student” is a student who is 18 or more years of age.
   
   A “minor student” is a student who is less than 18 years of age.
   
   An “emancipated minor student” is a completely self-supporting student who is less than 18 years of age. Marriage or active military service shall be regarded as effecting the emancipation of minors, whether male or female, for the purposes of this regulation.
   
   “Residence” means legal domicile. Filing of tax returns, proper license and registration for driving or ownership of a vehicle, a copy of a rental lease agreement, and other such transactions may verify intent of residence in a state. Neither length of university attendance nor occupancy in Residence Hall shall be construed to be proof of Illinois residence. Except as otherwise provided in this regulation, no parent or legal natural guardian will be considered a resident unless the parent or guardian maintains a bona fide and permanent residence in Illinois, except when temporarily absent from Illinois, with no intention of changing his or her legal residence to some other state or country.
2. Residency Determination
   The university shall determine the residency status of each student enrolled in the university for the purpose of determining whether the student is assessed in-state or out-of-state tuition. Each applicant for admission to the university shall submit, at the time of application, evidence for determination of residency. The office responsible for admissions shall make a determination of residency status.
   If a nonresident is erroneously classified as a resident, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable beginning with the term following reclassification. If the erroneous resident classification is caused by false information submitted by the student, a change in tuition charges shall be applicable for each term in which tuition charges were based on such false information. In addition, the student who has submitted false information may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
   If a resident is erroneously classified as a nonresident, the student may file a written request for review and a change in tuition charges applicable to the term of reclassification.
3. Residency Requirements
   1. ADULT STUDENTS - To be considered a resident, an adult student must have been a bona fide resident of Illinois for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which the individual registers at the university and must continue to maintain a bona fide residence in Illinois. In the case of an adult student who resides with his or her parent(s), the student will be considered a resident if the parents have established and are maintaining a bona fide residence in Illinois.
   2. MINOR STUDENTS - The residence of a minor student shall be considered to be the same as and to change with the following:
      1. That of the minor’s parent(s) if they are living together, or
      2. If the parents are separated or divorced, that of the parent to whom custody of the minor has been awarded by court decree or order, or, in the absence of a court decree or order, that of the father unless the minor has continuously resided with the mother for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor’s registration at the university, in which latter case the minor’s residence shall be considered to be that of the mother, or
      3. If the minor has been legally adopted, that of the adoptive parents, and, in the event the adoptive parents become divorced or separated, that of the adoptive parent whose residence would govern under the foregoing rules if the parent had been a natural parent, or
      4. That of the legally appointed guardian of the person, or
      5. That of a “natural” guardian, such as a grandparent, adult brother or adult sister, adult uncle or aunt, or other adult with whom the minor has resided and by whom the minor has been supported for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the minor’s registration at the university for any term if the minor’s parents are deceased or have abandoned the minor and if no legal guardian of the minor has been appointed and qualified.
   3. EMANCIPATED MINORS - If emancipated minors reside in Illinois, such minors shall be considered residents even though their parents or guardians may not reside in Illinois. Emancipated minors who are completely self-supporting shall be considered residents if they have maintained a dwelling place within Illinois for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which they register at the university. Emancipated minors who reside with their parent(s) and whose parent(s) have established and are maintaining a bona fide Illinois residence shall be regarded as residents.
   4. Minor Children of Parents Transferred Outside the United States - The minor children of persons who have resided in Illinois for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to a transfer by their employers to some location outside of the United States shall be considered residents. This rule applies only when the minor children of such parents enroll in the university within five years of the employer transfer of their parent(s) to a location outside the United States.
   5. Married students - A nonresident student, whether minor or adult, who is married to a person who meets and complies with all of the applicable requirements of these regulations to establish residence status, shall be classified as a resident.
   6. Armed Forces Personnel - Nonresidents of Illinois who are on active duty with one of the services of the Armed Forces of the United States who are stationed in Illinois and who submit evidence of such service and station, as well as the spouses and dependent children of such persons, shall be considered residents as long as such persons remain stationed in Illinois and the spouses and/or dependent children of such persons also reside in Illinois. If such persons are transferred to a post outside the continental United States, but remain registered at the university, residency status shall continue until such time as these persons are stationed within a state other than Illinois within the continental United States.
   7. Staff Members of the University, Allied Agencies, and Faculties of State-Supported Institutions in Illinois - Staff members of the university and of allied agencies, and faculties of state-supported institutions of higher education in Illinois, holding appointments of at least one quarter time, and their spouses and dependent children, shall be treated as residents.
   8. Teachers in Public and Private Illinois Schools - Teachers in the private and public elementary and secondary schools in Illinois shall, if subject to the payment of tuition, be assessed at the resident rate during any term in which they hold an appointment of at least one-quarter time, including the summer session immediately following the term in which the appointment was effective.
   9. International Students-Students that are not United States citizens or permanent residents cannot be considered a resident of Illinois unless all of the following conditions are met (110 ILCS 660/5-88):
      1. The individual resided with his or her parent or guardian while attending a public or private high school in this State.
      2. The individual graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this State.
      3. The individual attended school in this State for at least 3 years as of the date the individual graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma.
      4. The individual registers as an entering student in the University not earlier than the 2003 fall semester.
      5. In the case of an individual who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, the individual provides the University with an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.
4. Residency Status Appeal Procedure
   Students who take exception to their residency status classification shall pay the tuition assessed but may file a claim in writing to the Office of the Registrar for reconsideration of residency status. The written claim must be filed within 30 calendar days from the date of the tuition bill, or the student loses the right to a change of residency status for the term in question. If the student is dissatisfied with the ruling in response to his or her written claim, the student may file a written appeal within 10 calendar days of receipt of the decision to the Office of the Registrar. Such written appeals shall be forwarded to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, who shall consider all evidence submitted in connection with the case and render a decision, which shall be final.

Special Situations

Upon recommendation of the President, the Board may, in special situations, grant residency status to categories of persons otherwise classified as nonresidents under this regulation.

In-State Tuition

Chicago State has extended in-state tuition to new undergraduate students that live in all domestic U.S. states. The University’s Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the out-of-state tuition rate effective January 7, 2019.