Forms and Policies
Drop/Add (Individual Courses)
Schedule changes for individual courses can be made using the electronic Drop/Add form when the portal is not open to make changes or if a circumstance prevents the portal from being able to be utilized (time conflict exists, instructor approval is needed, etc.) The Drop/Add form can be found electronically under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Drop/Add Request. This form will automatically be routed to your advisor first for approval before arriving at the Registrar’s Office for processing.
Declaration of Major/Minor
Each student must declare an area of concentration before the end of the sophomore year. This area of concentration may be a departmental major, interdepartmental major, or a program of emphasis (POE). Major and Minor Declaration forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>>Major Declaration (or Minor Declaration).
Independent Study/Thesis
Alma College has developed certain courses which require supervised activity planned with a member of the faculty, but where coursework is completed independently by the student. The student and faculty supervisor must establish the criteria for satisfactory completion of such study. Independent Study/Thesis forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Record of Independent Study or Thesis.
Practicum/ Internship
Students planning a Practicum or Internship should first discuss the possibility with a faculty member with whom they would like to work. The Practicum form and Supervisor form are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Record of Practicum
Change of Advisor
Upon enrollment students are assigned to a faculty member who will serve as their academic advisor. Students can elect to change their academic advisor at any point in their academic career at Alma by submitting a Change of Advisor Form to the Registrar’s Office. Change of Advisor forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Change Advisor.
Satisfactory Grade Option (Pass/Fail)
Students may elect the Satisfactory Grade Option (“S” or “F”) by filing the approved form with the instructor’s consent at the Registrar’s Office before the deadline to drop the class. If the student elects this option, evaluation of the course work is recorded as “S” (equivalent to a “C” or better) or as “F” (failing, no credit). Neither grade is computed in the GPA. Satisfactory Grade Option forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Course Pass/Fail Application.
Transfer Credit Approval
Current Alma College students are encouraged to have transfer courses approved prior to enrolling as a guest student at another institution. Students must submit a completed Transfer Credit Approval form to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation. Transfer Credit Approval forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Transfer Credit Approval. The following Michigan Undergraduate Guest Application has been created in a fillable PDF format.
Course Substitution
A course substitution may be used to fulfill an Alma College academic requirement with approval of the relevant academic department. Course Substitution forms are available electronically through the Student Portal under forms.alma.edu>> Registrar>> Course Substitution.
Tuition Exempt Credits
Students are permitted to enroll in a maximum of two credits, from the approved overload exempt class list, above the normal load of 18 credits without incurring a tuition overload charge.
Earning a Bachelor of Science Degree
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree, a student must earn 68 credits in courses approved to count toward the Bachelor of Science degree. All other major and degree requirements, as outlined in the Alma College academic catalog, must be completed as well to earn a degree.
Course Fees
An additional course fee may be present with some courses taken at Alma College. Please see the following List of Course Fees for information on current course fees.
Dual Enrollment Information for High School Students
Students interested in taking Alma College courses while in high school should review the dual enrollment information packet through Admissions. The completed application may be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in the lower level of Hamilton Commons on campus, emailed to registrar@alma.edu, or faxed to (989) 463-7578. The deadline to apply for fall term is August 1 and for winter term is December 1.
Withdrawing from Alma College
Students who do not intend to register for the upcoming semester or who want to completely withdraw from all of their courses during the semester should contact Phil Andre, Interim Director of Academic Support for support in completing the withdrawal process. Students who choose to withdraw can do so at any time. If a student withdraws during the semester before the withdrawal deadline (usually the final week of a 14-week class), the student will earn the grade of a “W” for all courses, which will not factor into the student’s cumulative GPA.
To initiate the withdrawal process please complete the following steps:
1. Contact Phil Andre, Interim Director of Academic Support, at andre@alma.edu or 989-463-7430 for an overview of the process.
2. Complete the withdrawal form, which can be found on the Inside Alma Portal or here.
3. Complete the withdrawal survey, which can be found here.
4. Contact Phil Andre to complete an exit interview. (Note: The withdrawal will be processed only after these first three required steps are completed).
5. Complete the items on the withdrawal checklist, which can be found here.
Renewed Student Enrollment Form
Students who have withdrawn for more than one semester and would like to re-enroll for the upcoming semester should fill out a Renewed Student Enrollment form and email it to registrar@alma.edu. If a student has been withdrawn for less than one complete semester, please email registrar@alma.edu indicating your interest to re-enroll, no form is needed.