Medical-Reduced Course Load

A course load reduction may benefit students managing health or personal circumstances that impact their academics. At RISD, the typical credit load is 12-15 credits per fall and spring semesters, and three credits during Wintersession. A medical reduced course load allows a student to drop below 12 credits without falling out of good academic standing.

Students with accommodations through our office may be considered for a medical course load if you provide documentation of your health needs and/or demonstrate need for support beyond what you already receive.

While considering a reduced course load, you should identify the potential impacts of taking fewer credits per semester. For example, students are typically charged full tuition and fees even when authorized to take a reduced credit load. Exceptions may be made in the case of medical or disability-related reductions. Please know that having a reduced course load may impact your financial aid.  If you have a reduced course load and want to know about its impact on financial aid, or have other financial concerns, please contact Student Financial Services.

Taking a reduced course load may impact the amount of time it takes for you to graduate. We  suggest reaching out to your advisor about future degree planning and making up your credits. If you are applying for a reduced course load, you must submit a coursework plan signed by the head of your academic department. Your advisor may help you acquire the necessary documents.

For first-year students, you must include with your request a coursework plan for completing your Experimental and Foundation Studies requirements. Please note that you must take all required first-year courses at RISD but may take electives elsewhere. All other undergraduate and graduate students must include a coursework plan for degree completion, signed and approved by your department head (for undergraduate students) or graduate program director (for graduate students) with their request.

If you think you may need more time away from campus than a reduced course load allows, you should contact Student Success to thoroughly consider your options and their potential impact. You should also review RISD’s official leave of absence policy.

To begin the reduced course load request process, complete a request for exception to academic policy form in Etrieve. After you submit the form, the academic standing committee will review your request. If you are making the request due to a disability, you must provide our office with supporting documentation, which we will review and endorse if confirmed.

In order to receive approval for a medical reduced course load, we must receive your request at least one month before the start of the upcoming semester.

Further required documentation includes a one-page letter from your licensed off-campus provider, on the provider’s official letterhead, stating:

• your diagnosis.
• your symptoms/limitations.
• your prognosis.
• plans for your care.
• the reasoning behind your need for a reduced course load.

Please note that neither Counseling and Psychological Services nor Health Services can provide documentation in support of a reduced course load.

If you are an international student, you need to provide documentation both to our office and to International Student and Scholar Affairs (ISSA). In addition to the above, it must include the specific start and end dates of your medical reduced course load.

International students should always talk with ISSA before discontinuing classroom attendance. Failure to consult with ISSA risks termination of your SEVIS record due to unauthorized withdrawal, resulting in your immediate departure from the United States, by law.