Q. What does continuous enrollment mean? How is it different from registration?
A. Continuous enrollment is defined as registration during each semester (fall and spring) of the academic year until the degree is attained unless a leave of absence (or withdrawal) has been granted.
Q. Why has SOE adopted a CEP?
A. This policy was developed to support student academic success and to provide consistent, quality delivery of academic programs. The goals of the CEP are to improve student retention, degree program completion, and student and advisor engagement.
CEP aims to foster early communication between students, advisors, and their program faculty to ensure awareness of the need to be enrolled, and to plan leaves of absence. CEP encourages students and advisors to address and plan as issues are encountered instead of waiting until enrollment has lapsed.
CEP also aids SOE’s faculty and administration in the operational planning and delivery of academic programs in key areas such as enrollment forecasting, curriculum and course scheduling, and student support services.
Finally, a CEP requirement is a recognized best practice among many of JHU’s peer institutional members of the Association of American Universities (AAU). (Source: AAU Data Exchange; institutional websites)
Q. Do part-time program students have to register continuously?
A. Yes. Students enrolled part-time or full-time must enroll each fall and spring semester.
- Full-time status – enrollment of nine or more credits each semester.
- Part-time graduate – enrollment for less than nine credits each semester.
(To be considered for federal aid/graduate loans, a graduate student must be registered for a minimum of 4.5 credits each semester or term enrolled.)
Q. Under the CEP, are degree program students required to register during the summer term?
A. Summer term registration is not required unless it is part of a student’s program’s curriculum. The CEP will not be in effect during the summer term, which means that SOE degree students who don’t register for summer will not be updated to inactive status.
Q. How many credit hours must students register for to satisfy the CEP registration requirement each fall and spring semester?
A. All degree-seeking students must be registered for credit-bearing coursework each fall and spring semester until they reach their degree objective.
Q. What happens if I don’t register for a fall or spring semester and my student record is updated to inactive status?
A. Students not registering for credit-bearing courses on the 10th day of the start of the semester and who do not have an approved Leave of Absence are automatically updated to inactive status and must reapply for admission by completing the following steps:
1) Complete and submit the SOE online application form.
2) Email the SOE Admissions Office with your name, JHU ID number, or JHED ID, and your program of study.
Q. A required course to complete my degree program will not be offered in the fall or spring semester, so I cannot register. What steps should I take to ensure my student record stays active?
A. For domestic students (U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents only) – Complete and submit a voluntary leave of absence form citing the reason for the LOA as an academic pause.
International students enrolled in a residential, in-person degree program with F-1/J-1 visas must speak to their assigned advisor and the JHU Office of International Services. If you are an F-1/J-1 visa student, please do not complete a voluntary LOA form.
Q. I was on an approved voluntary Leave of Absence, but it has expired. I am trying to enroll in classes, but my student record is inactive. What steps must I take to reactivate my record and enroll?
A. If your Leave of Absence has expired and your student record is inactive, you must reapply to reinstate your student record to be eligible to enroll again in your degree program.
If you meet any of the following criteria, you must apply for readmission to the School of Education:
- If you have not registered or been enrolled continuously in consecutive semesters and have not been granted an approved leave of absence.
- If you officially withdrew from the School or have an expired leave of absence.
- Applicants who declined a previous offer of admission must submit a new application.
Note: Former School of Education students dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons are not eligible to reapply or be considered for readmission to any SOE degree program or graduate non-degree special status.
Q. I have a financial hold preventing me from registering for the upcoming semester. Do I need to complete a voluntary LOA?
A. Students with financial holds preventing them from registering for an upcoming term are strongly encouraged to contact and work with the JHU Office of Student Enrollment and Account Management to resolve an outstanding balance due before active registration ends and the fall or spring semester begins.
If a student determines that they cannot resolve the financial hold by the registration deadline, it is recommended that the student speak to their adviser and submit a voluntary leave of absence form.
Q. I plan to register for a course starting in the second eight weeks of the semester (fall or spring). If I wait to register closer to the start of the course, will my student record fall inactive?
A. Yes. Waiting to register for a second part-of-term course after the 10th day of the semester’s start may result in your student record being updated to inactive status. All SOE students are encouraged to register by the published deadlines listed on the academic calendar.
Q. Who can I speak to if I have questions about the CEP policy?
A. Please contact your assigned academic advisor or academic program support team staff.
To locate your academic adviser,
- Log in to the Student Information System (SIS) using your JHED ID.
- Navigate to the Registration tab and select Program of Study Info from the drop-down menu to locate your academic adviser’s name and email contact.
- Contact your academic adviser or academic program coordinator to receive a course plan for your program of study.
Q. Will my federal financial aid (graduate loans) be impacted if I fail to enroll continuously and my academic student record is updated to inactive status?
A. Federal law and the United States Department of Education guidelines require Johns Hopkins University to notify The National Student Clearinghouse of all students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment. Recipients of Federal Student Loans will then enter their loan grace period, and if they have previously used up their loan grace period, they will immediately enter into loan repayment.