CREDIT LIMITS FOR STUDENTS ON WARNING

Students in academic difficulty may think they need to "make up for lost time" or for failed subjects by taking a larger number of subjects and units in the next semester. Overloading, in fact, usually hinders academic recovery. Therefore, the Committee places a limit on the number of units for which a student on Warning may register during his or her next regular term at MIT.

The usual limit is four subjects (48 units for freshmen; 48-51 units in no more than four subjects for upperclass students). The student's home department may request (at the time of the Warning vote) a higher or lower limit to fit an individual situation. In consultation with the Communication Requirement Office, the CAP may vote a limit of 36 or 48 units plus a CI subject for students behind pace with the Communication Requirement.

Students on Warning whose next term record is unsatisfactory may be required to withdraw from the Institute. It is therefore in such students' best interest to register for and do well in a reasonable number of subjects during a recovery term. Missing units can usually be made up later, in future terms, over summers, or during IAP.

PETITIONING TO EXCEED A WARNING CREDIT LIMIT

If you expect to petition to exceed a Warning Credit Limit, register at the beginning of the term for the full load of subjects for which you hope to receive credit. Then, after Add Date and well before Drop Date, submit your petition to the CAP. It will be reviewed before Drop Date, so that you can adjust your registration if the petition is not approved. These dates are available in the Academic Calendar.

Petitions to exceed a Warning Credit Limit include several statements.

• Student Statement:
  
  Explain in specific terms why you need to exceed the limit and what leads you to believe that you can complete the term successfully with a heavier load. Explain how you have been finding time to meet all academic and other commitments.
  
  
• Advisor Statement:
  
  Your advisor should indicate the degree to which s/he supports your request, and provide any clarifying or corroborating information that may help the Committee's decision.
  
  
• Instructor Statements:
  
  The instructor of each subject for which you are registered (including any Listener subjects) should describe your performance in their subject to date. Is the student attending and participating in class, completing assignments, and doing well on graded work?

Note that the CAP rarely allows exceptions to Warning Credit Limits; an exception might be granted for a student needing one or two additional subjects to complete a degree during the term in which s/he is on Warning.

See the Petition Process section of this site for general information on signatures and statements, petition deadlines and petition review. You may also download the appropriate form from that section.