Student Classifications

Matriculated Students

Matriculated students have completed the SUNY Potsdam application form, paid an application fee, had credentials reviewed by the Admission Office, been accepted as degree candidates in a particular curriculum, registered for classes and attended them at least one day. Such students are considered to be matriculated until they graduate or are dismissed.

Non-Matriculated Students

Non-matriculated students also go by other informal names (e.g., casual, guest, special, non-degree). They have not been formally admitted to the College as degree candidates. Normally 30 credit hours taken at SUNY Potsdam as a non-matriculated undergraduate may be applied toward the requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Acceptance of more than 30 credit hours taken as a student in this status may be approved by the dean of the School in which the student is accepted for matriculation.

Full-Time Students

Students who are registered for 12 or more credit hours in a given semester are considered full-time. Full-time students pay a uniform tuition and College fee. Full-time students may subsequently become part-time students and vice versa.

Part-Time Students

Students who are registered for fewer than 12 credit hours in a given semester are considered part-time. Part-time students pay tuition and fees by the semester hour. Part-time students may subsequently become full-time students and vice versa.

Class Standing

Matriculated students are classified according to the number of credit hours earned:

Lower Division

Students who have earned fewer than 57 credit hours are classified as Freshmen or Sophomores. Such students typically register for coursework at either the 100 or 200 levels. Likewise, courses offered at the 100 or 200 levels are described as lower-division offerings. It should be noted that all work taken at a two-year, community or junior college is considered lower-division work.

Upper Division

Students who have earned 57 or more credit hours are classified as juniors or seniors. Such students typically register for courses at the 300 and 400 levels and occasionally (with special permission) may register for courses at the 500 level. Likewise, courses offered at the 300 and 400 levels are described upper-division offerings. It should be noted that graduation requirements mandate completion of at least 45 credit hours of upper-division work, 15 of which must be in the major.

Transfer Students

Students completing a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework at another accredited college or university subsequent to high school graduation are considered transfer students. Every student accepted in a SUNY Potsdam baccalaureate degree program, regardless of whether enrolling as a Freshman or transfer is bound by the same academic policies and procedures and must satisfactorily complete all specified requirements for the degree. Requirements for graduation are binding for six years from the date of one’s initial college matriculation. For transfer students, this date coincides with the initial matriculation date at the first college attended. This assures continuity of the academic advising process between two- and four-year programs. Every student pursuing a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Potsdam must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of SUNY Potsdam coursework, which includes at least 15 upper-division credits in each academic major. Forty-five upper-division hours are also required for the bachelor’s degree. (Music majors should consult requirements specified for the Bachelor of Music degree.)

Transfer students who complete the Associate in Arts degree (A.A.) or Associate in Science degree (A.S.), including an academic program considered parallel to that which they pursue at SUNY Potsdam, will be guaranteed the opportunity to complete the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree within four semesters of full-time enrollment, assuming satisfactory progress. Students who pursue New York State teacher certification may, in some cases, need to enroll for one additional semester in order to complete the professional semester component of student teaching.

Class standing is determined by the number of credit hours completed by an individual (this includes both SUNY Potsdam and transfer coursework). Transfer students entering SUNY Potsdam upon completion of the A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. degree are granted full Junior class standing.