Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals within the established academic policies and procedures of the University. The three main responsibilities of this office are:

overseeing the academic advising program;
maintaining the registration and student records systems; and
monitoring student academic standing and compliance with academic policies.

The Office of Academic Affairs endeavors to ensure that students follow their degree program, register for required courses in the degree, and fulfill their graduation requirements in time for their expected graduation date.

It is very important to recognize, however, that primary responsibility for awareness of degree requirements lies with each individual student. Degree requirements are published in the catalog and on the Richmond website, and while advisers offer a great deal of assistance in this regard, ultimately students are responsible for monitoring their own progress throughout their degree program.

The University Email System

The University email system is the official channel of communication. Students must attend an orientation session to activate a University email account. Once active, it should be checked for important messages daily. Students either log on via a University computer or access through the web at http://webmail.richmond.ac.uk. Students must also use the university system to communicate with instructors or university staff; the university is not responsible for messages sent from non-university email addresses that are filtered out as spam.

Orientation

The Orientation program, which takes place during the week prior to the beginning of classes each semester, includes a number of activities specifically designed to ease the transition of new students into the Richmond academic program and life in London. It is very important that all new students attend the full Orientation period. All new undergraduates take English and mathematics placements tests, unless they have received exemption from the Dean of Academic Affairs. During Orientation students learn about the academic policies and procedures of the University, participate in useful information sessions where the technology and library systems of the University are explained, and meet with a full-time faculty member to register for the courses they will take in their first semester. (See Student Affairs: Orientation for more information.)

Graduate students meet with the director of their MA program and receive an academic induction to the requirements specific to their course of study.

Academic Advising

At their initial registration, students are advised by the faculty member assigned to teach the First Year Seminar course selected by the student. The student will keep this adviser during the entire first year. During the second year of study, students will be assigned a full-time academic adviser in the area of their declared major. Likewise, those transfer students who are exempted from the First Year Seminar are assigned a full-time academic adviser in their major upon entry to the university. For any student who has not decided on a major, a special adviser is assigned to assist in developing an academic plan until a major has been chosen. Students meet with their advisers to review their academic progress, choose courses for the following semester, and plan their course of study. Advisers welcome the opportunity to help students to gain the maximum benefit from their educational experience.

The Director of Study Abroad, who is also a Richmond faculty member, acts as the academic adviser for all study abroad students.

The Director of each MA program acts as the academic advisor for all graduate students on his/her program.

Registration

Registration for New Students
New students register for classes during the orientation period preceding their first semester of attendance. If for reasons acceptable to the Admissions and Academic Affairs Offices a new student must arrive late, the last day to register is the Friday of the first week of classes; fees must be paid, placement tests taken, and registration for classes completed by 5.00 PM on that day.

Registration for Transfer Students
Transfer students register for classes during the orientation period preceding their first semester of attendance. All documents required for the evaluation of transfer credit must be presented to the Admissions Office prior to registration. If for reasons acceptable to the Admissions and Academic Affairs Offices a new student must arrive late, the last day to register is the Friday of the first week of classes; fees must be paid, placement tests taken, and registration for classes completed by 5.00 PM on that day.

Registration for Study Abroad Students
Study abroad students are registered as their course selections are received by the Study Abroad Office, beginning the seventh week of the semester before the intended semester of study. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the courses submitted have been approved by the home institution. Study Abroad students are required to indicate at least ten course preferences on their application forms (five first choices and five alternatives) in case they are unable to take one of their first choices due to scheduling conflicts or full or cancelled courses.

Registration for Continuing Students
Continuing students are those in current attendance who plan to study in the next semester. Priority registration for continuing students takes place during the sixth week of the semester for the semester following. (See the Academic Calendar for dates.) Students are advised to register at this time to ensure they are accepted into the courses needed for graduation. A late registration fee will be charged for registration after the Priority Registration period. Failure to pay tuition fees by the deadline date will result in the cancellation of registration. Late payment of fees, including applicable penalties, will restore registration to courses originally chosen provided spaces are available.

Registration for Returning Students
Returning students are those on an approved leave of absence who wish to resume their studies prior to the expiration of their leave. Returning students may register for the semester in which they plan to return during the Priority Registration period by contacting their adviser or the Office of Academic Affairs.

Registration for Readmitted Students
Students who have left the University without being granted a leave of absence, or who have been away from the University past the expiration date of their leave of absence, must apply to the Office of Academic Affairs for readmission. Applications for readmission must be received no later than six weeks before the first day of classes of the semester for which readmission is sought. Readmitted students may register with the assistance of the Office of Academic Affairs at any time after readmission, provided this is after the Priority Registration period.

Student Status

Credit is earned on a semester-hour basis, and is calculated according to formal classroom instructional time, apart from internships and the graduate thesis.

A full-time undergraduate student is one taking at least nine credits in a semester. Richmond degree-course students on internships are the exception to this rule – although the internship only carries 3 credits, they are also categorized as full-time students. This is due to the hours spent in the work place, and the additional academic work required.

A part-time undergraduate student is one taking fewer than nine credits in a semester.

NOTE: International students admitted to the UK on a Tier 4 visa must be full-time students in order to be in compliance with UK immigration regulations. The attendance of such students will be rigorously monitored. The university is obliged to report any Tier 4 students who fall below full-time enrolment to the UK Borders Agency. The university reserves the right to alter its policies and procedures in accordance with changes in UKBA regulations.

A graduate student is subject to the requirements of the graduate program in which they are enrolled. See for specific graduate academic policies and procedures.

A study abroad student is a student matriculated for a degree in another college or university. This classification may be held for a maximum of one calendar year. It is assumed that study abroad students have the approval of their home institutions to take the courses they are registered for at Richmond. A study abroad student who wishes to transfer to Richmond as a degree-seeking student must apply for admission through the Office of Admissions. Study abroad students who are at Richmond through the American Institute for Foreign Study are not eligible to apply for admission as a degree-seeking student until they have entered their second semester as a study abroad student.

An applicant may wish to be admitted as a non-degree or visiting student through the normal admissions process. Such students are not usually required to take the English and mathematics placement tests before registration, and they may select and register for courses without the approval of an academic adviser. The maxiumum number of semester credits that a student may accumulate whilst enrolled under non-degree status is 15. Note: Non-degree students take full responsibility for their choice of courses.

After completing a semester at Richmond, if a non-degree student wishes to apply for degree-seeking status, they must contact the Admissions Office and follow the usual admissions process. If accepted on to a degree program, the student will be required to take the English and mathematics placement tests, unless granted an exemption by the Dean of Academic Affairs.

A freshman is a student who has earned fewer than 30 credits.

A sophomore has earned between 30 and 59 credits.

A junior has earned between 60 and 89 credits.

A senior has earned 90 or more credits.

Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/s/205.aspx