Terms

Relay’s academic year is divided into three terms: summer, fall, and spring. Enrollment and participation in all three terms may be required for successful program completion depending on a program’s course, scope, and sequence. Eligible students’ individual enrollment is certified by the Registrar’s Office within the institutional term dates. Therefore, documents requiring proof of enrollment in the academic year, such as loan deferment forms, will only reflect the term dates in Table 3. Proof of enrollment can be provided after the census date of each term. For more information, see Census Dates.

 

Table 3

Census Dates

A census date is the point in a term at which students’ enrollments are final and credits are locked. Census dates coincide with the last date in a term that students can withdraw for a full tuition refund (please see Billing Due Dates and Refunds for more details), request a switch in major/area of study, submit a program-transfer request, and/or return to Relay from a leave of absence, withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, or program dismissal. Students returning from a medical leave may be permitted to return after the term census date if approved. Census dates for the academic year can be found in Table 4. 

 

Students who take leaves of absence, withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, or are dismissed on or before the term census date will not receive credit for assignments or assessments submitted during that term, even if they receive a grade in the course. 

 

Students who take leaves of absence, withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, or are dismissed after the term census date and before the end of the term will not earn grades and/or credit for courses taken that term. In this case, students’ transcripts will demonstrate a “W” in lieu of a course grade. Students who take a leave of absence, withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, or are dismissed on or after the last date of the term will earn the grades for the term they just completed (see Terms for more details).
 

 

Table 4: Census Dates

 

Credit Hours

The unit of credit used at Relay is the semester credit hour (referred to in this document as “credit(s)”). Relay utilizes the Carnegie Unit system to formulate, record, and interpret the amount of academic engagement or training earned within a semester credit hour and within a course. For every non-clinical course semester credit hour, a student should complete a minimum of 45 hours of academic engagement, instruction, and substantive interaction during the course. Using the Carnegie Unit formula, a non-clinical, 3-semester credit course requires a minimum of 135 hours of academic engagement, instruction, and substantive interaction during the course. For every clinical course semester credit hour, a student should complete between 45 and 60 hours of supervised and/or independent practice during the course. Using the Carnegie Unit formula, a clinical, 3-semester credit course requires between 135 and 180 hours of supervised and/or independent practice during the course.

 

Enrollment Load and Status

Enrollment Status

For students who remain enrolled in Relay’s original and discontinued program versions in the Summer 2024: Students’ status will automatically change from “accepted offer” to “enrolled” upon receipt of the completed Enrollment Agreement or reenrollment/transfer offer.

 

For all other students: Students’ status changes from “accepted offer” to “enrolled” when students attend class(es) and are marked present or participate in coursework online (e.g., submit an assignment, participate in a discussion forum).. Failure to attend classes after accepting admissions will result in students being classified as “no shows” and administratively withdrawn from Relay.

 

Enrollment Load

The number of credits students are registered for and enrolled in per term will determine students’ enrollment loads. Students’ enrollment loads are either classified as being enrolled as a full-time student (9+ credits) or as a part-time student. Students enrolled as part-time can be further classified as being enrolled as half-time (4–8.99 credits) or less-than-half-time (fewer than 4 credits). At Relay, most students will be enrolled as half-time. 

 

Table 5 demonstrates student enrollment loads by credit per term.

 

Table 5