Registration FAQ for Current Students

As a student, you have a specific date and time when you can start to register for classes. Enrollment appointments are based on the number of credits you have earned at Arrupe College—the more course credits you have earned, the earlier you get to register.

To find your enrollment appointment, go to your Student Center in LOCUS. Look for the box that lists "enrollment appointment."

Choose classes that fit your degree requirements. If you have questions about your degree requirements, please talk to your faculty advisor.

What if there is a hold on my LOCUS account that stops me from registering for classes?

There are a variety of reasons why a hold might appear on your LOCUS account. Some holds appear because you need to complete an item from your LOCUS "To Do" List. If your hold is related to Financial Aid processing, please contact Viviana Arellano (varellano1@luc.edu / 312.915.8973), Associate Director, Financial Aid Office. If you have questions about how to solve your holds, your faculty advisor can help you identify the steps that you need to take.

Each college course is worth a certain number of "credits" or "credit hours." Most classes are worth three credit hours each.

Fall and Spring Semesters: A full-time course load typically means taking four courses (excluding ACUNI courses). These four courses will add up to a total of 12-14 credit hours, depending on whether each class is worth three or four credit hours.

Summer Semester: A full-time course load typically means taking two courses (excluding ACUNI courses). These four courses will add up to a total of 6-8 credit hours, depending on whether each class is worth three or four credit hours.

You may take an additional course as long as you earned a 2.0 term GPA in your most recent semester at Arrupe, and as long as you have no more than 7 credits worth of W, WF, or F grades.

In Fall or Spring, taking an additional course means taking five courses (excluding ACUNI courses) for a total of 15 or more credit hours. In Summer, it means taking three courses (excluding ACUNI courses) for a total of 9 or more credit hours.

If you want to take an additional course, please speak with your faculty advisor about your plan. Once your advisor approves your plan, there are two ways to request an additional course:

You can email Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Joe Drake (jdrake1@luc.edu) with the name and section number of the course you wish to add. Make sure to include your faculty advisor on the email. Your advisor can email Assistant Dean Joe Drake.

Please note that seats must be available in the requested class. If no seats are available, you will not be added.

At Arrupe, students are expected to attend college full-time. Part-time attendance is defined as fewer than 12 credits in Fall/Spring or fewer than 6 credits in Summer. Enrolling part-time can affect your financial aid, tuition charges, and date of anticipated graduation.

If you want to enroll part-time, please speak with your faculty advisor about your plan. Then submit the to the Associate Dean of Academics. Approval is at the discretion of the Associate Dean of Academics.

Talk to your faculty advisor about other courses that fit your schedule, use your tracking sheet as a guide. In the case that you absolutely need the course, please complete the "Closed Class Override Request Form." There are no guarantees that the override request will be met. Priority is given to students who need a class in order to complete their degree on time.

A college credit is a unit that measures learning at accredited U.S. colleges and universities. According to federal guidelines, one college credit hour “reasonably approximates” one hour of classroom learning plus two hours of independent work.

Arrupe College students are required to earn at least 62 credit hours in order to be awarded an associate’s degree.

Arrupe’s curriculum has three components:

1. IAI General Education Core Requirements (37 credit hours)
2. Mission-specific requirements transferable to Loyola University Chicago (9 credit hours)
3. Concentration and elective credit (15 credit hours)

To receive an Associates of Arts degree from Arrupe College, students must:

1. Complete all Core requirements, including The General Education Core and the Loyola Mission Core. Please see the Arrupe College website for a current list of classes that satisfy Core requirements.
2. Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours, including:

• At least nineteen courses worth 3 credits or more
• At least one lab course worth 4 credits, and c. one 1-credit-hour ACUNI seminar course.

Full-Time Enrollment Requirement

Students at the College are required to enroll in at least six credit hours (two courses) per Summer Session and at least 12 credit hours (four courses) per semester. Loyola’s Financial Aid Office also defines full-time enrollment as 12 credit hours per semester. Only students who follow this policy are eligible for maximum financial assistance. Though contiguous enrollment is a program requirement, students do not receive federal or state aid for the Summer session. Students may use institutional scholarship, out-of-pocket, borrowed, and/or semester refund monies to cover their Summer tuition obligation. If orchestrated with the Office of the Bursar in advance, students may schedule payments via an iPlan.

Part-Time Registration

Appeal Students who intend to enroll in fewer than two classes in a session or four classes in a semester must submit the to the Associate Dean of Academics the first of the registration month. Approval is at the discretion of the Associate Dean of Academics. Students who enroll part-time understand that transitioning to part-time status could affect financial aid, tuition charges, and date of anticipated graduation.

Note which office has applied the "hold" and follow up with that office. To view your "holds," log into LOCUS and view the list of "holds" in your Student Center, located on the right side of the screen.

All students register through Loyola's Online Connection to University Services (LOCUS). For information about classes, you can view course offerings via LOCUS, which has the most current information. If you have questions, first meet with your academic advisor, then register for classes via LOCUS.

You can change your course registration (i.e., drop, add, and/or swap courses) through the first week of the regular-session semester during the academic year (and through the first two days of the term during summer sessions or January terms) via LOCUS. During the academic term, this is known as the "Late and Change of Registration" period. After the first week of classes (i.e., after the end of the Late and Change of Registration period), you may withdraw from courses through LOCUS, but you may not add any other courses.

Note: If you have a "hold" on your LOCUS account and are blocked from withdrawing in LOCUS, please contact the Dean’s Office for assistance. However, please note that the Dean’s Office only has control over "academic" holds (e.g., probation hold, advising hold, etc.). If you have a Bursar's Office hold (due to an outstanding tuition balance or charges), an immunization records hold which is placed by the Wellness Center, a hold from the University’s Office of the Dean of Students (due to outdated or missing off-campus address and/or emergency contact information), or a "missing transcript" hold which is placed by the Undergraduate Admission Office or the Office of Registration and Records, you must contact those departments to resolve the hold on your LOCUS account.

Voluntary Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from a course or courses do so understanding that a change in registration status may impact financial aid (distributed and undistributed), tuition charges, and academic marks (W, WF, etc.).

Voluntary Withdrawal from Course(s)

If, during the academic session, a student wishes to withdraw from one or more of his or her current courses, he or she must submit a Request to Withdraw from Course(s) Form to his or her academic advisor within the Arrupe Student Academic Policies Handbook (10th ed.) first five weeks of the session. Final approval for withdrawal rests with the Associate Dean of Academics. Barring extenuating and documented circumstances, students who stop attending a class after its first day but prior to the “W” drop date but have not officially withdrawn will receive the final grade of "WF," which is an administrative penalty grade and equivalent to a grade of "F". Students will incur full financial obligation to the college. Repeated withdrawals from class may result in the student being barred from further attendance at the college. Students who are contemplating a “W” and receiving or expecting to receive financial assistance should consult with the Office of Student Financial Assistance prior to making the request.

Voluntary Withdrawal from an Academic Term

An enrolled student who wishes to withdraw from all of his or her coursework during an academic term must notify the Associate Dean of Academics in writing. A student is considered to be in attendance until such notice has been received by the Dean. All financial refunds or obligations are dated from the date of the formal notice of withdrawal and not from the date of the last class attended (see the Arrupe Academic Calendar for tuition refund timeline). It is the student's obligation to inform the Dean promptly of the intention to withdraw. Telephone messages and/or non-attendance in class are not official notification.

Voluntary Discontinuance

A student certain he or she would like to withdraw from Arrupe College should schedule a meeting with his or her advisor and the Associate Dean of Academics as soon as he or she reaches this decision. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the implications of attrition and to strategize for future success. At the conclusion of this meeting, the student will be withdrawn from all registered coursework and reimbursed for tuition based on the Office of the Bursar’s tuition recalculation schedule. The student understands a full withdrawal may trigger a Title IV financial aid review, which may result in a return of Title IV monies at term’s end. This means the student may attrite with an outstanding tuition balance, for which he or she will be held financially liable.

At this point, the student will be considered on "Leave of Absence" until the end of the open registration period. During this time, the student is encouraged to work with the Office of Student Success to develop and begin implementing a plan of action for life after Arrupe. If in good academic standing, the student may renege on his or her voluntary withdrawal from the College before the end of the open registration period and register for classes the subsequent term. Full deactivation will occur only at the end of the open registration period if the student remains unenrolled.

Questioning Continuance

A student considering permanent withdrawal from Arrupe College is first encouraged to schedule a meeting with his or her academic advisor as soon as he or she feels such action is imminent. The purpose of this meeting is to help the student evaluate his or her justification(s) for attrition, ensure he or she understands the full implications of such a choice, and strategize for future success.

The time between this initial meeting and the end of the term or session will be viewed as a period of discernment. Students in this phase are expected to continue tending to coursework in order to secure as many transferable credit hours as possible. Students in discernment will be asked to work closely with the Office of Student Success to develop and implement a plan for transition. At term’s end, the student will be asked to meet with the Associate Dean of Academics to make a final declaration of intent. If the student should decide that he or she wishes to continue at the College, the Associate Dean will coordinate with her staff to ensure the student is enrolled in classes the subsequent term. If the student declares discontinuance, he or she will be deactivated.

Students should keep instructors informed of absences well in advance if possible. If you will miss one week or more of class because of illness or a personal emergency, contact the University’s Dean of Students Office (DOS). DOS office staff will notify your instructors. Notification of an absence does not excuse the absence; upon returning to classes, you are responsible for contacting instructors, producing appropriate documentation for the absence, and completing any missed work.

Contact your instructor to find out what your options are.

You can access your grades and GPA through Loyola's Online Connection to University Services (LOCUS).

Students with an active universal ID and password can login to LOCUS to enroll in courses, view and process financial information, change addresses and phone numbers, update their preferred or diploma name, request official transcripts and more.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is defined by the college as a 2.0 minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA). Your SAP is assessed by the college at the end of each session. Separately, to remain eligible for financial aid, students must meet the 2.0 GPA requirement while successfully completing at least 67% of attempted coursework in an academic year. The Office of Financial Aid assesses student academic progress at the end of each semester and will place students falling below this target on probation. Students who do not meet the Office’s standards by the end of the subsequent semester must file an appeal with Financial Aid. If the appeal is granted, students have until the end of their second semester on Financial Aid probation to meet SAP. Students who fail to do this will lose their financial aid package permanently.

At the end of each term, students with a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 are placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation will have a registration hold placed on their account. Only after the student completes an Academic Probation Improvement Plan and meets with their advisor will the hold be lifted. Students will then be placed on Dean’s Probation with Registration (DPR), which allows students to register for courses for the subsequent term.

First Probation

The first time that a student is placed on academic probation, they must participate in the following process. The goal of this process is to help students raise their GPA and leave academic probation.

1. Student receives an academic probation notification letter.
2. Student independently completes Part 1 of the Academic Improvement Plan (Reflection, Plans for Success, and Availability). Student forwards the completed form to their academic advisor.
3. Student contacts their  to schedule an Academic Progress Appointment held within the first two weeks of the subsequent term. At this appointment, student and advisor discuss Part 1 of the Academic Improvement Plan. They also complete Part 2 (Advisor Input). The completed form must be forwarded to the Retention and Learning Coordinator, Jackie Molina (jmolina2@luc.edu).
4. Student schedules at least one appointment with the Retention and Learning Coordinator. In this meeting, the student and Coordinator will review the student’s academic progress in each current course, the goals created in theAcademic Improvement Plan, and establish new academic goals as necessary.

Multiple Probations

Students on academic probation for more than one term do not need to complete the Academic Improvement Plan a second time. However, they must meet with their academic advisor within the first two weeks of the subsequent term to discuss their goals and progress. They must also continue to schedule at least one Academic Progress Appointment per semester with the .

Who Can Apply?

Arrupe College students who have earned at least 30 credit hours by the end of the Fall semester are able to apply for graduation in the Summer term. To be eligible to graduate, you must complete a Graduation Application. The application is available online through LOCUS.

When to Apply

Arrupe College students typically complete in the Summer academic term and that is the only option you will see available in LOCUS. If you complete a different term, please contact the Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs to ensure that the correct term is reflected; Fall, Spring, or Summer. Apply by October 1st for Summer graduation.

How to Apply

Please follow these steps to complete your application:

1. Log into LOCUS
2. Enter your ‘Student Center’
3. Use the drop-down menu to select ‘Apply for Graduation’
4. Select your desired program
5. Select your desired graduation term
6. Press ‘Continue’ and proofread the application information
7. Verify or update your name as it will appear on your diploma
8. Verify or update your permanent address
9. Indicate whether you will attend the graduation ceremony
10. Press ‘Save Changes’
11. Press ‘Continue’
12. Press ‘Submit Application’

For a visual step-by-step, please review the Self Service Graduation LOCUS.

Commencement Ceremony

Arrupe College only offers a Commencement Ceremony once a year. This takes place after the Summer term, typically the second week of August. In order to be eligible to walk at commencement, you must have earned 48 credit hours and earned a 2.0 GPA by the end of the Summer term.

Requirements to Complete

Arrupe’s curriculum has three components:

1. Illinois Articulation Initiative ( IAI) General Education Core Requirements (37-38 credit hours)
2. Arrupe mission core requirements transferable to Loyola University Chicago (10 credit hours)
3. Concentration and elective credit (15-21 credit hours)

To receive an Associates of Arts degree from Arrupe College, you must:

1. Earn a GPA of at least 2.0
2. Complete all required courses, including the IAI General Education Core, the Arrupe mission core, and electives. Please see the Arrupe College website for a current list of classes that satisfy core requirements.
3. Earn a minimum of 62 credit hours, including:

• At least nineteen courses worth 3 credits or more
• At least one lab course worth 4 credits
• One 1-credit-hour ACUNI seminar course

Who is eligible to walk across the stage at Commencement?

Students need at least a cumulative “C” average (2.00) to meet graduation requirements for an Associate’s degree. Students preparing to transfer should understand that, although the policy permits a course in which they earned a grade of “D” to count towards an Associate’s, admission to most degree-granting institutions – and to specific bachelor degree majors – is often highly competitive. ‌

FAQs

What if my major is not correctly identified in LOCUS?

Please complete a Change of Degree Form.

What if my legal name has changed?

The name that will appear on your diploma will be your Primary Name recorded in LOCUS. If any changes are required, you are asked to enter those changes in LOCUS. If your Diploma Name differs significantly from your Primary Name, a notarized Name Change Request must be filed at the Office of Registration and Records.

What if I wish to have my diploma mailed to another address?

If you wish to have your diploma mailed to another address, please complete the Temporary Diploma Mailing Address form (PDF) and email if to diploma@luc.edu.

What grade point average is needed to be eligible for laudatory honors?

This outstanding accomplishment will be noted on the student's diploma and official transcript.

Note: GPA is not rounded for laudatory honors.