Registration Policies

A student taking 12 or more credit hours during the fall or spring semester is considered full-time. A student taking less than 12 credit hours is considered part-time. A student taking six or more credit hours but less than 12 is considered half-time. For summer term full-time is six credit hours or more, part-time is less than six credit hours and half-time is less than six credit hours..

A student who wishes to audit a course will be required to pay full tuition and fees and must obtain approval from the instructor, department chair or dean prior to enrollment in the course. Registration for audit status may be completed only during the first week of the class and must be the original enrollment in the class. Changes from credit to audit are not permitted. Students taking a course for credit are given priority in registration. Upon completion of the course, the instructor will assign an H grade. This grade does not count in cumulative hours or grade point average.

Download the Application for Chargeback Approval PDF

Resident students desiring to pursue a certificate or degree program not available through Harper College may apply for chargeback or joint agreement tuition if they attend another public community college in Illinois which offers that program.

Students approved for chargeback will pay the resident tuition of the receiving institution; the Harper College District will reimburse the college for the remainder of the non-district tuition cost. Unless there is a reciprocal agreement between the schools, a Joint Agreement will be issued. Application for chargeback tuition must be made in the Registrar's Office 30 days prior to the beginning of the term in which the student wishes to enroll.

If the application is approved, the student will be able to receive in-district rates. For further information call 847.925.6282.  

Employers, background search firms and recruiters may require verification that a degree or certificate has been earned.

Our institution has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for all verifications of student enrollment. Please visit the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or contact them by phone at 703.742.4200. 

If you, the student, decide not to attend classes, it is your responsibility to officially drop/withdraw from class(es) by the prescribed date. If you do not drop/withdraw officially from the class(es) listed on the registration confirmation statement, you will be responsible for the tuition and fees for that semester. There is a $15 non-refundable registration fee.

The following withdrawal guidelines apply to 16-week classes only. The deadline to withdraw from 16-week classes is printed in the Academic Calendar for the semester in question. 

Classes of other duration will be prorated. Consult the Registrar's Office for the official date to withdraw from a particular class. 

Withdrawals can be made in writing to the Registrar's Office or on the MyHarper Student Portal.  (A fax with a signature is acceptable but e-mail is NOT acceptable).

Classes dropped prior to the second week of classes in a 16-week term will not become a part of the student's permanent record.

A "W" grade will be assigned for withdrawal from classes after the beginning of the second week and prior to the thirteenth academic week. A grade of "F" will be assigned to a class dropped after the twelfth week of a full semester course.

Loan agencies, insurance companies, and other organizations may require you to verify that you are an enrolled student in order to be eligible for certain benefits. Our institution has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to act as our agent for all verifications of student enrollment. Please visit the Clearinghouse online at www.studentclearinghouse.org or contact them by phone at 703.742.4200.

The Registrar's Office provides letters of verification when academic information such as grade point averages and student course schedules is requested by the student. Download the Request for Verification Form PDF

Applications for medical withdrawals are reviewed after the semester withdrawal date has passed. A medical withdrawal does not provide a tuition refund or credit.

Medical withdrawals are done to assist students in withdrawing from a class due to an incapacitating medical or psychological illness or a personal crisis, such as the death of an immediate family (mother, father, sister or brother) member or the required extended care of an ill/injured family member.

Specific documentation is required to obtain a medical withdrawal and time constraints exist. The student is responsible for completing all necessary documentation. 

Students requesting a medical withdrawal should contact Health Services at 847.925.6268.

In support of America’s call to military action, the College will offer full refunds of tuition and mandatory fees to all military reservists, National Guardsmen and active-duty military personnel who receive emergency orders preventing them from attending classes after they have enrolled at the College. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for additional information at 847.925.6500.

The maximum load that a student in good standing can carry is 18 credit hours during the fall and spring terms and 9 hours in summer. Under certain circumstances a student may receive permission to carry a heavier load. Loads of 19 credit hours can be approved by the Coordinator of Registration. Loads of 20 hours or more must be approved by the Registrar. The Request for Overload form may be submitted in person to the Registrar's Office or by fax at 847.925.6064. The student will be notified once the decision is made.

Tuition refund requests must be made in writing (fax at 847.925.6064 is acceptable) to the Registrar's Office. E-mail is NOT acceptable. Refunds for 16 week classes will be made according to the schedule listed on the Academic Calendar as Important Refund and Withdrawal Dates.

Students can register for classes several months prior to the start of each semester.  The college offers a full-semester term as well as several late-start terms with varying start dates each semester.  Registration ends the third day of the starting week of each term. After the third day and once a class has started, an override from the instructor is required in order to register.

A student who feels they have extenuating circumstances that would permit the issuance of late withdrawal for a course may apply for relief, by submitting the Registration Appeal Form.

Please review this information before submitting the appeal:

1. Students are strongly advised to discuss the academic impact of withdrawing from classes with a counselor and with the Office of Student Financial Assistance if receiving financial aid. Dropping or withdrawing from classes may have an adverse effect on your financial aid. Students who receive financial assistance in the term associated with the request may be required to repay financial aid funds, and may result in not being eligible to receive financial aid in future terms.
2. The college reserves the right to make the final decision on all refunds or late withdrawals.
3. Appeals must be made prior to the end of the term in which the late drop occurred or refund is requested.
4. Documentation supporting your request must be attached to the appeal. If the committee cannot verify the circumstances of the appeal, the appeal will be denied. If additional documentation is necessary, you will be notified through your Harper email.
5. For refund requests involving instructional or academic issue(s) including grades, students must contact the appropriate faculty member to receive their recommendation.  Students have 10 school days from the time of the occurrence to file an appeal (see the Student Handbook for additional information).
6. If you have questions about this form and/or the appeal process, contact the Registrar’s Office at 847.925.6500

PLEASE NOTE: This form is not to be used to withdraw from a class for medical reasons. A medical withdrawal is a withdrawal from a class(es) due to medical/psychological illness or personal crisis. Contact Health and Psychological Services at 847.925,6268 (Room A364) to determine if you meet the criteria for medical withdrawal application.

The Registrar's Office maintains student addresses for mailing purposes, telephone numbers for College use, student major area of study for advising purposes and corrects social security number errors. If any of this information changes, be sure to notify us. Failure to do so might mean you would not receive an important mailing or communication affecting your college studies. Address, phone and major area of study updates will be accepted by e-mail but students will be required to provide documentation before receiving resident tuition. Social security number changes also require documentation.