Chapter IV: Academic Policies and Procedures The policies and procedures described in this chapter govern the conduct of academic matters affecting students enrolled in the College. Exceptions to these policies may be granted only upon written petition to the Academic Standards Board. Honors students petition the Honors Academic Board; Residential College students petition the RC Counseling Office. General College Policies and Procedures Academic Load and Normal Degree Progress In defining a normal academic load, a distinction must be made between what load students are permitted to elect and what is recommended. Except for first-term freshmen and transfer and Honors students, undergraduates may elect, without special approval, academic loads of 8 to 18 credits for a term, or 1 to 9 credits for a half term (spring or summer). Generally, a program of four or five courses totaling 13 to 17 credits is considered normal, and freshmen are usually advised to elect four courses (14 to 16 credits). Since the considerations for determining academic loads are often complex and personal, the College encourages students to discuss each term's elections with an academic advisor. University of Michigan | College of LS&A | Student Academic Affairs | LS&A Bulletin Index This page maintained by LS&A Academic Information and Publications, 1228 Angell Hall Copyright © 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA +1 734 764-1817 Trademarks of the University of Michigan may not be electronically or otherwise altered or separated from this document or used for any non-University purpose.