Academic Advising is a significant function at Gardner-Webb University. Advising is viewed as a developmental process of decision-making through which a student explores and seeks information from professionals in the campus community.
Undergraduate student advising is coordinated through the Academic Advising Center, located on the 3rd floor of Tucker Student Center. The Center is designed to coordinate the following:
The advisor helps students by providing information and advice concerning academic programs, policies and procedures, and campus resources which allow students to make informed decisions.
Gardner-Webb University advocates student responsibility in academic outcomes, and therefore, the ultimate responsibility for making decisions about educational plans rests with the individual student. Please visit the Gardner-Webb University website (www.gardner-webb.edu) to view your GWU Undergraduate catalog.
Gardner-Webb recognizes that students coming to college for the first time have much to adjust to when arriving on campus: living in a residence hall; separation from parents, friends and community; finding one’s place on campus; meeting new people; deciding on a major/career; and developing strategies for academic success are some of the issues faced by every first-time college student. In order to assist the student with these concerns, GWU assigns each first-time student to a Freshman Experience class, University 111. The primary role of the freshman experience instructor/advisor is to provide information, guidance and support along the way.
Release of private information is restricted to anyone other than the student, except under a few legally defined circumstances. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (20USC & 1232g), also known as the Buckley Amendment, governs how student records should be handled.
Private information may not be released to anyone other than the student. However, students can allow access for parents or guardians by completing a FERPA consent waiver. This waiver can be accessed through Webb Connect under the Maintain Information tab.
International students studying in the United States on an F-1 or J-1 visa are required to maintain full-time enrollment each academic semester in order to remain in compliance with federal immigration regulations and maintain their legal student status.Undergraduate students must enroll in and successfully maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters.Graduate students should consult their academic department or program director regarding full-time enrollment requirements, as the number of credits required may vary by program.Enrollment during the summer term is generally optional unless it is a student’s initial semester or last semester, required by their academic program, or otherwise mandated by immigration regulations.Students who anticipate difficulty maintaining full-time enrollment due to academic, medical, or other exceptional circumstances should contact the Office of Campus Unity and Connection before making any changes to their course schedule, as prior authorization may be required.
Federal regulations place restrictions on the number of online courses that international students on F-1 and J-1 visas may count toward their full-time enrollment requirements.Undergraduate students may count only one online or distance-learning course (up to three credit hours) toward the minimum 12 credit hours required for full-time status during the fall and spring semesters, summer if applicable. The remaining required credits must be completed through in-person, hybrid, or otherwise eligible instructional formats that satisfy federal immigration requirements.Because immigration regulations and course delivery classifications may change, students should consult the Office of Campus Unity and Connection before registering for online courses to ensure compliance with current visa regulations and maintain their immigration status.
If you are enrolled for the Spring semester and will continue to be enrolled in your program for the following Fall semester, then the summer semester in between is considered a “vacation” period.
F-1/J-1 students are not required to meet any specific enrollment requirements during summer, if it is a “vacation” period.
If the summer semester is your first or last semester at GWU, it is NOT considered a vacation period, and you must be enrolled full-time. A full course load for the summer consists of a minimum of 6 credit hours for both undergraduates and graduates. You cannot take more than 3 credits of online/online hybrid courses.
You are also limited to 20 hours per week for on-campus work during the Summer semester, if it is your first or last semester.
Doctoral students enrolled in designated dissertation, dissertation in practice, or doctoral project coursework are classified according to the credit hours for which they are registered during that semester.Please refer to the Graduate Studies Handbook for further information: https://gardner-webb.edu/about/policies-and-information/handbooks/grad-student-handbook/.
At Gardner-Webb University, every student is assigned a 9-digit identification number (GWU ID Number). A University Identification Card is required to borrow books from the library, make copies, use certain facilities or equipment, access your on-campus residence, and gain free access University athletic events. You can go to the University Police Office in Poston Center to obtain your ID card; your picture will be taken to process your ID Card.
The Registrar’s office sets specific dates for registration process. These dates are published each term and appear in a variety of University publications. Failure to meet these deadline dates may result in late fees. It is therefore important for you to adhere strictly to these deadline dates and ask questions if you have any doubts.
Academic Year: The academic year at the Gardner-Webb University is divided into two semesters (fall and spring) of approximately 16 weeks each. Typically, awards such as scholarships and assistantships or work study cover two semesters (fall and spring). At the end of each semester, there is a final exam period. There is a short break between each semester.
Note: International students are not required to enroll for summer classes; therefore you are not required to be full-time in summer as long as you are a continuing student. However, as long as summer is your first semester at Gardner-Webb University, you are required by USCIS to be a full-time student to be in status.
Major: The field in which you are trying to get your degree.
Grades: The quality of a student’s academic work is measured by letter grades; A (excellent), B (above average), C (average), D (lowest acceptable), F (failing). Under certain circumstances, letters such as IP (in- progress), N (no grade), WP (withdrew passing), WF (withdrew failing), S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory) may appear in grade reports. These letters are not grades and are not included in the calculation of a grade point average.
Mid-Term: A test given around the middle of each semester.
Final: An exam given at the end of a semester, usually on all the academic material covered in class. The final exam schedule is published online at www.gardner-webb.edu
Quiz: A test given during the semester, sometimes unannounced.
Assignment: Out-of-class work required by a professor; for example, reading books, writing papers, or doing a lab report. Your professor will expect the assignment by a certain date.
Vacations and Breaks: Starting with the fall semester, the first vacation comes during October. This is Fall Break. The next break is the Thanksgiving holiday. A long vacation comes during the Christmas to New Year’s holidays, usually averaging over three weeks in duration. Many students go home or visit with friends. The vacation comes to an end a few days after New Year’s Day.
During the spring, there is a weeklong break in mid-March. Many students head for Florida or other warm beach areas during this time. It is a time of freedom and enjoyment. The longest vacation occurs between spring commencement and the start of the fall semester. During the three months involved, many students travel, work (provided it is authorized or just relax and rejuvenate for the next academic year. More information may be found on the full Academic Calendar.
**Important Reminder: **Students who are considering either dropping a course or withdrawing from the course or from the University should consider the minimum course requirements for international students for maintaining their visa status.
