CUPPA Undergraduate Student Policies and Procedures
Undergraduate Academic Policies and Procedures
ADD/DROP/REPEAT/OVERLOAD COURSES AND TERM WITHDRAWAL
Undergraduate students may drop courses using my.UIC through the end of the second week of classes for fall and spring semesters, the first Wednesday of Summer Session 1, or the first Friday of Summer Session 2. During weeks 3 through 10 of the fall and spring semesters (first Thursday through the third Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2) students may drop courses with the permission of their major college. If the drop occurs between 0 and 2 weeks in fall and spring, there will be no notation on the transcript. If the drop occurs during weeks 3 through 10 in fall and spring (first Thursday through the second Wednesday of Summer Session 1 or weeks 2 through 5 of Summer Session 2), a W is noted on the transcript. Undergraduate students may drop a maximum of 4 UIC individual courses that result in a W notation on their transcript during their entire undergraduate degree program.
LATE COURSE DROP
To drop a course during weeks 3-10, CUPPA students must submit a petition and select the appropriate petition from drop down menu. Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision. Requests to drop a course after the tenth week of the fall and spring semesters, or requests to drop a course within the approved exception period in excess of the four automatic drops are not routinely granted unless there are exceptional circumstances outside of the student’s control that can be documented.
TERM WITHDRAWAL
If you wish to submit a term withdrawal, please discuss with your advisor. Information about the implications of term withdrawal and the form to submit a term withdrawal are here.
REPEAT POLICY FOR STANDARD GRADED COURSE
The undergraduate programs require students to discuss any plan to repeat a course with their academic advisor before they register to repeat the course.
Courses with A or B grades may not be repeated. Normally, courses with a C grade may not be repeated. Courses with D or F grades may be repeated once without written permission. In all cases, the original grade for the course and the grade for each repeat will appear on the transcript. The original grade and the grade for each repeat will be calculated into the grade point average. Only one registration for the course counts toward the total number of credits required for graduation. A course cannot be repeated after receiving credit in a course for which the repeat course is a prerequisite.
To repeat a course more than once due to a grade of D or F requires written permission from the student’s college dean. Students who have been dismissed may not appeal on the grounds of intention to repeat courses. Certain courses may not be repeated; students should consult their college before repeating a course.
COURSE OVERLOAD
Students who wish to take more than 18 credit hours in the fall or spring semester, or more than 12 credit hours in the summer term, must submit a petition to request permission for a credit hour overload. Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision. Students may not request a credit overload unless they have completed at least one term and are in good academic standing.
COURSE EXCEPTIONS
To request an exception for a course required for the major or minor, please submit a petition and select “Request an exception to a required course” in the dropdown menu. Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision. When requesting a course exception, please include the following information in the description of your request:
- type of exception, i.e., substitution, waiver, other
- course you are requesting to be waived or substituted
- course you are requesting to be used to fulfill the requirement (if requesting a substitution)
- reason for requesting this exception
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
CLEP
To request CLEP credit
- Submit a petition and select “CLEP credit” in the dropdown menu.
- Register for the exam on the CLEP website and can determine the most convenient location for taking the test if it isn’t UIC.
- If you take a CLEP test at a testing center other than UIC, then you must submit official test scores to UIC. You can submit test scores to two institutions upon registration for the test on the CLEP website.
- Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision.
Seal of Biliteracy
To request Seal of Biliteracy credit
- Submit a petition and select “Seal of Biliteracy credit” in the dropdown menu.
- Upload appropriate documentation, i.e., official high school transcripts documenting State Seal of Biliteracy and the language earned and/or a signed and dated letter on the high school letter head from a designated school official which states the students name and language earned.
- Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision.
JOINT DEGREE
CUPPA has eight possible joint degree programs that allow students to earn a bachelors and a masters degree in a shorter amount of time by sharing courses between the undergraduate and graduate programs. Students interested in the CUPPA Accelerated programs should talk to their advisor about the process and requirements.
Students who intend to complete one of these programs should submit a CUPPA Accelerated Joint Degree Intent Form, preferably by the second semester of your junior year. Students are expected to apply to the graduate program of their choice while they are still completing their undergraduate coursework.
DECLARE/ CHANGE CUPPA MAJOR (for current CUPPA students)
CUPPA students must declare a major that leads to a degree after earning 45 semester hours. Failure to do so will result in a registration hold which will not be lifted until the student has changed their major to one that leads to a degree. Transfer students entering with 45 semester hours or more must declare a major by the end of their first term at UIC. Failure to do so will result in a registration hold which will not be lifted until the student has changed their major to one that leads to a degree. Students who have earned 45 semester hours or more may not change their major to an Undecided Major.
To declare a major, please submit this form to your advisor.
DECLARE A MINOR
CUPPA minors are open to all UIC students. To declare a minor, fill out a minor declaration form and the minor will be added to your curriculum if you are approved.
If you are a CUPPA student and you would like to declare a minor in another college at UIC you can get more information on the UIC minor declaration website.
***PLEASE CHECK THE UIC UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG FOR INFORMATION ON MAJORING AND MINORING IN CUPPA. There are limits to the number of courses that may count toward an undergraduate major and minor in CUPPA.
DECLARE A CONCENTRATION (FOR URBAN STUDIES STUDENTS ONLY)
Urban Studies undergraduates using the 24/25 Catalog are required to declare an urban studies concentration by Spring semester of their junior year in one of the following areas:
- Urban Data Analytics
- Urban Environments and Climate Change
- City Design and Infrastructure
- Healthy Cities and Social Welfare
- Diverse and Just Cities
- Urban Economics
- Community Building and Organizing
- Urban Studies: Self-Designed (Students must receive prior approval for self‐designed concentration from advisor and DUS. Four courses required, at least 3 must be 200-level and above.)
NOTE: If you are declaring a self-designed concentration, your concentration is pending until you receive notification from your advisor that the Director of Urban Studies has approved your proposed course plan.
DUAL DEGREE
CUPPA students who wish to pursue a second degree in another college need to contact the college for application information as each college has different policies. Your advisor can help you navigate this process.
Double Major
This option is not available in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.
Double Degrees
Double degrees consist of two bachelor’s degrees completed concurrently. Double degrees may be possible. Students should consult the college section of the catalog for the second degree program to determine if this option is available.
Students seeking two bachelor’s degrees concurrently must formally request acceptance into the second degree program. Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond those required for the first degree and all requirements for each of the degree programs as specified by the college and major department. All students interested in double degrees should discuss this option with an advisor.
Double degrees are not permitted when there is substantial course overlap between the first and second degrees.
Students who obtain double degrees receive a diploma for each degree. No more than two bachelor’s degrees may be awarded concurrently.
Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree at UIC or another institution are required to follow the same application procedures as all other applicants in order to pursue a second bachelor’s degree. Students must complete all requirements for the second degree as specified by the college and the major department, including a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond those required for the first degree. The UIC enrollment residence requirement must also be met, i.e., the last 30 semester hours for the second degree must be taken at UIC. A second bachelor’s degree is not permitted when there is substantial course overlap between the first and second degrees.
GRADUATION
Use this checklist to determine if you are ready to graduate.
If you would like to graduate and have confirmed you have completed the requirements to graduate, you must submit your intent to graduate by the end of the third week of the semester in which you intend to graduate. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.
If you have completed coursework leading to a minor, please make sure the minor is listed on your record.
ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES
To file an academic grievance, please follow the procedures outlined on the Office of the Dean of Students website. This process should only be used for academic grievances (e..g., grades) and not for other issues of access or equity. The Academic Grievance form for UIC can be found here.
INTERCOLLEGE TRANSFER
Current UIC students who are enrolled in a another college but wish to transfer to CUPPA must submit an Intercollege Transfer Petition. Students are also encouraged to discuss their interest in CUPPA with a CUPPA advisor.
Current CUPPA students who wish to transfer to another college at UIC need to apply for an intercollege transfer. Each college has unique selection requirements and you will need to ensure that you are aware of the specific application processes for your intended college.
Many of UIC’s colleges host info sessions for prospective intercollege transfer students and provide information online.
If you are considering an intercollege transfer, your CUPPA advisor can help you navigate this process.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
If you need to take a semester off, please inform your advisor.
If you need to take more than a semester off you will need to submit a Leave of Absence Form and submit it to the College for approval. When you are ready to return, please email your advisor or submit a petition so that your record can be updated with the registrar. If you are absent for more than two semesters without a Leave of Absence on file then you will need to apply for readmission.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Resources about paying for college, financial aid, and other scholarship opportunities are available here.
STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
The Student Ambassador Program in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) is an opportunity for undergraduate students who are dedicated to serving and playing a special role in CUPPA. Student Ambassadors provide campus tours, serve as CUPPA representatives, and perform duties at various campus and community events. Student Ambassadors also perform duties within the Office of Academic Affairs over two-semesters with a commitment to a minimum of 40 hours of service.
Applications are open until May 1 for the following academic year. Additional information and eligibility criteria can be found on the Ambassador Program website.
TAKE A COURSE OUTSIDE OF UIC
To request permission to take a course outside of UIC, please submit a petition and select “take a course outside of UIC” in the dropdown menu. Your request will be reviewed by the college and the department and your advisor will inform you of the decision.
PROBATION, DISMISSAL, AND SAP CANCELLATION
Students who maintain a term GPA of at least 2.0 and an overall GPA of at least 2.0 are considered to be in Good Academic Standing. A student whose term GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on term notice. A student whose cumulative or UIC GPA falls below 2.0, will be placed on Academic Notice. Please see the CUPPA Catalog for information on deficit points, term notice, academic notice, and dismissal in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Students will receive notice after final grades have been released in any semester for which they are placed on term or academic notice with instructions on next steps. Term or academic notice does NOT mean you will be dismissed but if you are on academic notice for two or more semesters or have deficit points that will make it difficult for you to recover academically then you MAY be dismissed from the college with the option to submit an application for readmission after two semesters.
SAP (Satisfactory Academic Progress) Cancellation – Students who have received notification of a SAP cancellation may appeal the decision. Please schedule an appointment with your advisor to discuss your academic progress and steps you might take to submit an appeal.