Academic policies  

Majors (“Plans” or “Undergraduate Degrees”)

For a list of majors, please visit Degree Search or Undergraduate Degrees Offered.

To change majors, fill out the Major/Minor/Certificate Change form located on the Registrar’s WEB page at the following URL:  Registrar Forms and take it to the College of your major.

Adding and dropping a class

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Adding a Course or Dropping a Course.

Credit hours

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Course Credit.   

Academic Integrity

Please visit the Academic Catalog:  Academic Integrity Is Essential.

Course Enrollment

Please visit the Academic Catalog:  Course Enrollment.    

"A"—pass/fail policy

Please visit the Academic Catalog:  Grading: Pass/Fail and “A”–Pass/Fail. 

Auditing a class

Please visit the Academic Catalog:  Grading/Auditing a Course.

Class attendance

You are responsible for regularly attending all courses for which you are enrolled. 
Should an absence from class be unavoidable, you are responsible for reporting the reason to your instructors. (Be aware that Fronske Health Center does not provide documentation of your health problems.) In addition, you are responsible for making up any work you miss. Your instructors are under no obligation to make special arrangements for you if you are absent. 

You should know that Arizona Board of Regents’ policy forbids discrimination because of your religious beliefs or practices or any absences resulting from them. In addition, you cannot be discriminated against for seeking a religious accommodation pursuant to this policy.

The Office of Student Life and Campus Health Services do not issue excuses for health or personal reasons. Only the instructor may "excuse" an absence except for Institutional Excuses for activities such as athletic events or other university sponsored activities which are approved by the Office of the Associate Provost-Undergraduate Studies, or the Office of Student Life.

Please note that a student served through the office of Disability Resources may qualify for an attendance policy modification. View the Attendance Modification policy for more information.

Course overload

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Course Loads.

Incomplete policy

Please visit the Academic Catalog: In Progress/Incomplete.

Grade replacement policy

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Course Repeat Policy.

Credit by Exam

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Credit by Exam.

Advanced placement

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Advanced Placement.

Grade appeal 

A student has the right to petition for review of a course grade. Student Handbook Appendix H: Grade Appeal.

Probation (Probation - Academic)

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Academic Continuation Policy.

Probation - Disciplinary

Students whose behavior has been determined to be in violation of the Code of Conduct or local, state, or federal law, may be subject to a review of their relationship with the university. The Office of Student Life may impose disciplinary sanctions in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.

Honors program

Please visit the Academic Catalog: Honors Program.

End of term week policy

NAU is committed to the academic success of our students.  The following policy has been developed to insure that students are not overly burdened at the end of the term with non-academic activities, new course assignments, or evaluations of their work which are not in accord with generally accepted University practice, precedent or policy.  This policy applies to both graduate and undergraduate programs.

The End of Term Week Policy applies to the week preceding final examinations from 12:01 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. Friday.

  1. Student groups and organizations are not to schedule concerts, major social events, or any activity which might conflict with academic studies, except on weekends.  Events scheduled by parties external to the university which require attendance by NAU students are exempt from this policy.
  2. No off-campus Intercollegiate Athletic competitions may be scheduled during End of Term Week or Finals Week unless such competition is part of the approved Big Sky Conference scheduling or NCAA tournament or championship.  Exceptions to this policy must be granted by the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.
  3. No off-campus competitions involving student academic or student affairs organizations or Club Sport Athletic teams may be scheduled during End of Term Week or Finals Week unless such competition is scheduled by a regional or national organization of which the local organization is a member.  Exceptions to this policy must be granted by the College Dean and/or the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
  4. Faculty members are not to schedule field trips or major examinations during End of Term Week.
  5. Faculty members may schedule quizzes, laboratory examinations, capstone projects, recitals, clinical practica, presentations and internship reports (oral or written) during End of Term Week.  Individualized instruction courses that are self-paced and allow students to elect when to take the final exam may conduct the final examination during End of Term Week.  Academic Departments and Faculty may schedule make-up examinations during End of Term Week.
  6. Major research papers should be assigned as early as practical in the semester, but are due no later than Friday of the End of Term week for 15 week courses.  For 8 week courses ending at the same time as 15 week course, major research papers are due no later than Monday of finals week.
  7. Take-home final examinations, or their equivalent, are due at the time scheduled for the final examination or during final exam week if the course does not have a specific meeting time, e.g. web courses.
  8. Under no circumstances will a final exam in any course be moved to End of Term week, with or without the unanimous consent of the students in the course, except as noted in item 5 above.
  9. End of the Term Week policies relative to final exams do not apply to eight week or other short-format courses offered in the first part of the semester.  The policy does, however, apply to eight week courses with the same end date as 15 week courses.
  10. For the purposes of this policy quizzes (item 5 above) are defined as any testing evaluation composing 10 percent or less of the total points available in the course. 

Finals Week policy

The Finals Week Policy applies from 12:01 a.m. Monday through 5:00  p.m. on Thursday of finals week:

  1. Student groups and organizations are not to schedule concerts, major social events, or any other activity that might conflict with academic studies, except on weekends.  Events scheduled by parties external to the university which require attendance by NAU students are exempt from this policy.
  2. No off-campus Intercollegiate Athletic competitions may be scheduled during End of Term Week or Finals Week unless such competition is part of the approved Big Sky Conference scheduling or NCAA tournament or championship.  Exceptions to this policy must be granted by the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.
  3. No off-campus competitions involving student academic or student affairs organizations or Club Sport Athletic teams may be scheduled during End of Term Week or Finals Week unless such competition is scheduled by a regional or national organization of which the local organization is a member.  Exceptions to this policy must be granted by the College Dean and/or the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
  4. Faculty members are not to schedule field trips unless the trip is the final examination for the course.  Exceptions to this policy may be granted by the dean of the college or school in cases when there are exceptional circumstances not under the control of the faculty member and where such exceptions would be in the best interest of the students. Requests for exception must be made at least three weeks in advance of finals week.
  5.  There will be a final examination in all undergraduate courses where a final exam is considered by the faculty of a department to be appropriate and must be scheduled at times that conform to the official scheduled published by the Registrar. Approval to move a final exam within finals week may be granted by the dean of the college or school in cases when there are exceptional circumstances and strong pedagogical reasons for the move, if all students enrolled in the class agree to the change, the change does not force any of the enrolled students to take three finals in a 24-hour period (see item 10, below), and such a change would be in the best interest of the students. Requests for approval must be made at least three weeks in advance of finals week.
  6. All class examinations for courses starting 5 p.m. or later must be scheduled for the first regular meeting time during examinations week as listed on the Registrar’s website.  For courses that meet daily, four days per week, or once a week, the examination may be held at the first scheduled period for the hour.
  7. Where the course objectives provide for a type of final examination that differs from the ordinary, a different type of exam or evaluation may be provided, with prior approval by the dean of the college by midterm. Students in IITV courses that don't fit the published exam schedule have their exams on the first regular meeting day at the regular time. Final Web exams will be given on the date and in the manner specified in the course syllabus. Examination times listed in the schedule will take precedence when there is a conflict on examination times.
  8. Take-home final examinations, or their equivalent, are due at the time scheduled for the final examination or during finals week if the course does not have a specific meeting time, such as web courses.
  9.  If there is difficulty fitting various courses into the published schedule, the instructor must choose the starting time of the closest examination period. A poll of the class should determine whether there would be an actual conflict. If insurmountable problems are encountered, the instructor must contact the department head or, if necessary, the dean.
  10. NAU's policy is that no student should be forced to take more than two final exams in a 24-hour period. If a student is scheduled for three or more exams within a 24-hour period, it is his/her responsibility to seek an alternative schedule. At least two weeks before the schedule exam(s), the student should first approach the faculty member about the exam(s) scheduled between the first and last exams of the 24-hour period.  Unless there are pedagogical scheduling problems with doing so (such as a common exam or the use of lab or other special equipment), the faculty member should provide an alternative date for the student to take the exam(s). In the event that such pedagogical reasons arise, the student should ask the other faculty members to accommodate an alternative date.  If such agreement cannot be reached between student and faculty member, the student should request the chair or the Dean to request an alternative date of one of the faculty members.
  11. Under no circumstances may a final exam be moved to End of Term Week, with or without the consent of the students in the course, except in the individualized instruction courses that are self-paced and allow students to elect when to take the final exam.

Equal opportunity/Affirmative Action/title IX/ADA

It is the official policy of Northern Arizona University to prohibit discrimination against or harassment of any individual on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. The Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy (SWALE) covers students, faculty, staff, administrators, contractors, vendors, visitors and guests. It includes procedures for filing a grievance alleging a policy violation.

This policy is based on Arizona Board of Regents Policy and state and federal laws, including, but not limited t the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and Executive Order 11246. The Director of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity is the institution affirmative action programs for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans. 

For more information, please visit the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity:

Northern Arizona University
Old Main, room 113
P.O. Box 408
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4083

Phone: 928-523-3312
Fax: 928-523-9977
TTY: 928-523-1006

Forums

Guidelines for Open Forums:
The university has provided the framework whereby issues may be discussed as long as certain conditions are met by those in charge. The purposes of any and all meetings should embody by action, as well as by direction, the enhancement of the university purposes as historically accepted. Such sessions should involve the presentations of various sides of any question being discussed. 

Discussion should be held in a scholarly and intellectual manner and in good taste in the eyes of the individuals who make up the university faculty. The chairperson of the forum or panel, and ultimately the officer(s) of the organization sponsoring such a forum, carry the responsibility to see that such procedures are carried out. 

It is believed that an open forum for discussing issues of this type provides freedom for the students and faculty to participate and express their views in a setting where many points of view may be presented.

Record holds

Holds are placed on student records because they have an outstanding financial obligation to the university, have not satisfied a condition of admission, or have an administrative or probationary hold. 

When a hold is placed on a record, official transcripts will not be issued for that student and graduation and all registration privileges will be automatically suspended. The hold remains on the student's record until it is removed by the initiating office. Financial holds are cleared by the Bursar's Office. Manual holds are to be cleared by the office of origination (i.e. Fronske, library, Recreation Center, Student Life, etc). It is the student's responsibility to clear the conditions causing the hold.

Religious observation and practice, accomodation of

Look in "Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual, Chapter 1-Academic Policies"  under #119 Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment.

Residency classification for tuition purposes

You must establish residency in Arizona before you can pay resident tuition rates. To obtain resident status for tuition purposes, you must meet three requirements:

  • You must physically reside in Arizona for at least twelve consecutive months immediately before the term for which you plan to request residency classification. 
  • You must demonstrate your intent to establish your home in Arizona. Objective evidence of intent to be a resident of Arizona is demonstrated by an absence of ties to your former state of residence for at least twelve months.
  • You must demonstrate your financial independence. For purposes of residency determination, financial independence means you are able to meet your expenses from self-generated funds under your own control. Generally, you will be considered financially independent if you have been supporting yourself for two consecutive years prior to the term for which you plan to request residency classification and have not been claimed as a tax deduction on anyone else’s tax return during that time or if you are a veteran of the United States military. 

Please be aware that you do not gain or lose resident status by attending an out-of-state educational institution. Also be aware that any act considered inconsistent with becoming an Arizona resident (such as voting or maintaining a driver’s license in another state) will result in your being classified as a nonresident.

Please Note: In accordance with Arizona law, any person who is a citizen or legal resident of the US or who is lawfully present in the US may be eligible for specified financial aid from the university.  Arizona law classifies any person who is a US citizen or who has lawful immigration status and is an Arizona resident as an in-state student for tuition purposes.
Click here to see the ABOR Policy on Residency.
Proceed to Exceptions

Transcripts--Registrar's Office

Gammage Administrative Services, 108
Transcript Hotline: 928-523-2108, Option 3

A transcript is the student's official academic record. Transcript copies are available at the Office of the Registrar. Unofficial transcripts are available on Louie.

Tuition/fees

Tuition and registration fees are that amount paid by the student which supports a portion of total costs. Part of the fees go to the State of Arizona and part remain at the university for services and activities. 

There are times when it is necessary for students to cancel their enrollment or withdraw from the university. Under most circumstances the Registrar will coordinate the withdrawal process. 

In some instances the withdrawal will result in a refund of the balance of fees to the student, based upon the calculated refund schedule. Therefore, it is important to note the following policy on refunds: 

All refunds to the student will be issues less any amounts due the University. This includes charges such as: housing, promissory notes, financial aid, health center, parking, etc.

Withdrawing from the University

Withdrawing from any given term (fall, winter, spring, or summer) at Northern Arizona University means reducing your course load to zero units only for that specific term.  It does not necessarily denote an entire withdrawal from NAU.  In most cases, students who withdraw from one term are eligible to enroll for the next term. Timelines (dates) for individual terms are published on the Enrollment Calendar

LOUIE on-line service

If you are enrolled and wish to withdraw from the term prior to the drop with a “W” deadline, you can officially withdraw by dropping all your classes using the on-line LOUIE system and no additional paperwork is necessary.

  • After drop with "W" deadline:
    • If you withdraw after the drop with a “W” deadline through the last day to officially withdraw from the university you will need to complete the NAU Withdrawal form.  To locate this form, select FORMS.  No additional documentation is required through the last day to officially withdraw from the university.  You must submit your form to the Registrar’s office in person, or fax it to 928-523-1414, or mail to the Registrar’s Office at:

       P.O. Box 4103
      Flagstaff, AZ  86011-4103

  • After University withdrawal deadline:
    •  If you withdraw from the university after the last day to officially withdraw you will need to complete the Northern Arizona University withdrawal form.  To locate this form, select Forms.  After the deadline to officially withdraw from the university, the student must provide supporting documentation to substantiate the reason for withdrawing after the deadline.  You must submit your form and supporting documentation to the Registrar’s Office in person or fax it to 928-523-1414, or mail to the Registrar’s Office at: 

      P.O. Box 4103
      Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4103

    • If you have any questions, please call 928-523-5490 or 928-523-5491.
    • Note: If you fail to officially withdraw, you may receive a grade of F in all of your classes and forfeit any or all deposits.  Not attending courses for which you are enrolled does not constitute an official withdrawal nor does it constitute an official drop.
    • You must be prepared to check out of campus housing within twenty-four hours after you withdraw. The university automatically pro-rates rebates for housing, if applicable, and mails them to you. You are also responsible for contacting the Meal Planning Office, the Mountain Campus Express Card Office and the Bookstore for appropriate refunds. 
    • Students withdrawing from mini-courses will receive the appropriate refund based on a pro-rated schedule. Students who complete mini-courses prior to withdrawing from the university, will receive credit for the mini-course even though other classes may be withdrawn for that same semester. Term Withdrawal request must be filed no later than one year from the last day of the term being petitioned.