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COURSE SELECTION AND SCHEDULING
Registration and Course Adjustments
Registration
Instructions and dates for registration are available on Populi. Upon enrollment, all students will receive their Populi login credentials, including a unique ID and password. Students will also be notified by email with detailed registration instructions and the deadline for registration. For any questions, students should contact the Office of the Registrar.
Students are required to register for Chapel each term they are enrolled. Failure to register for Chapel may result in administrative withdrawal from all courses for the corresponding term, along with possible disciplinary actions.
Returning students eligible for re-enrollment who have indicated their intent to attend Hesed University will also receive registration instructions and updates via email.
Adding and Dropping Courses
Students may officially add or drop courses without incurring a clerical fee until the designated add/drop deadline. After this deadline, a $15 clerical fee will be charged for each course added or dropped.
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Additional fees owed will be calculated based on the adjusted schedule.
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Refunds will be issued according to the university’s refund policy and based on the adjusted schedule.
To add or drop a class, students must submit a Drop/Add Class Form to the Registrar’s Office. They are also responsible for obtaining permission from the course instructor and their academic advisor.
Students wishing to withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline must complete a Drop Class Form through the Office of the Registrar. They are also required to pay any associated fees and obtain approval from the course instructor and their academic advisor.
If a student’s schedule adjustment results in dropping below full-time status, express permission from the Academic Dean and the relevant Program Director is required. This is because the change may impact the student’s financial status with the university.
Dropping vs. Withdrawing
Dropping
Students may drop a class during the official add/drop period at the start of each quarter. This process is completed online through the Populi system. If a class is dropped during this period, there will be no official record of the student’s enrollment in the course at the end of the quarter.
Withdrawal (Class Withdrawal)
Students may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period has ended and up until the seventh week of the quarter. In this case, a grade of "W" (Withdrawal) will be recorded on the student’s
Withdrawal Policies
Class Withdrawal
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During the first week of the quarter (fall, winter, or spring), students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on their transcript.
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From weeks three through seven, students may withdraw with the advisor’s permission. A grade of "W" (Withdrawal) will be recorded on the transcript.
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After week seven, students may not withdraw from courses.
Limitations on Withdrawal
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Students may not withdraw from more than five courses during their entire program of study for a degree.
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Withdrawal from the same course more than once is not permitted.
Withdrawal Procedure
Withdrawal from a course is completed using the Add/Drop Class Form, which must be processed through the Registrar’s Office.College Withdrawal (Complete Withdrawal) Policy
If a student plans to leave Hesed University permanently or be absent for more than one year (four quarters), they must file the Leave of Absence/College Withdrawal Form.
To maintain good academic standing and eligibility for readmission, students must complete the withdrawal process officially.
Upon returning, students must reapply for admission and may be subject to updated program requirements.
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Transfer Credit Policy: Courses taken at another institution during the absence will be evaluated for potential transfer credit upon readmission.
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Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to the criteria in place at the time of reapplication.
Refunds for Withdrawals
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Course Withdrawal Refunds:
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Students can drop a course with no fees during the first two weeks of the quarter.
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After this, a $15 drop fee applies for each course withdrawal, up until the end of the fourth week. After week four, course withdrawal is no longer possible.
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Tuition Refunds:
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A 90% tuition refund is available if the withdrawal form is processed by the end of the second week of classes.
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Refunds are provided for fees paid for which instruction was not received, up to 60% completion of the course or term.
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No refunds are issued after 60% of the term has elapsed.
Repeating Courses
Courses for which grades of “D” or better have been earned cannot be repeated for credit.
Courses for which grades of “F” have been received may be repeated for credit.
Only the grade for the repeated attempt will count toward the student’s grade point average (GPA).
All entries, including original grades, will remain on the student’s permanent academic record and transcript.
Students are not allowed to register for a course in which they have already received a passing grade.
Quarter System
Hesed University operates on a quarter system, and courses of study are offered with credit for satisfactory completion granted on this basis.
The academic year is divided into three regular quarters:
Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Each regular quarter includes 10 weeks of instruction, not including final exams. The Summer Quarter provides 42 days of instruction.
Credit Hour Definition
The basic unit of credit is the quarter hour, representing one hour of classroom instruction per week for 10 weeks.
Modes of Instruction
The "Mode of Instruction" refers to the method through which a course is delivered during a specific academic quarter. Hesed University is committed to providing high-quality education while accommodating the needs of its students. Currently, Hesed University offers courses exclusively through online delivery, as the Elkins Park, PA campus is undergoing renovations in preparation for future onsite programs.
At present, Hesed University offers the following mode of instruction:
Online
The "online" mode of instruction at Hesed University utilizes advanced digital tools and resources to deliver a fully virtual learning experience. Courses in this mode feature:
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Pre-recorded video lectures
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Audio lectures
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Online tests and quizzes
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Interactive assignments and projects
All course materials are made accessible through the University’s learning management system, enabling students to engage with the content at any time that fits their schedules. Faculty members maintain consistent and substantial interaction with students through communication channels such as chat rooms, discussion boards, and virtual office hours.
While the University is committed to enhancing its online programs, plans for onsite instruction at the Elkins Park campus are under development. Once renovations are complete, Hesed University aims to introduce additional instructional modes, including:
Onsite (Future Offering)
The "onsite" mode of instruction will designate courses that take place exclusively in a face-to-face setting, requiring students to attend classes in person on the Hesed University campus. These courses will emphasize real-time discussions, collaborative activities, and personalized feedback within a traditional classroom environment.
Plans for Additional Modes (Hybrid and Blended)
As Hesed University expands, it envisions introducing hybrid and blended modes of instruction, combining online and in-person elements to offer flexibility and engagement tailored to diverse student needs.
Class Schedules
Class schedules listing courses offered each quarter are available on Hesed University’s online course management system. After receiving their ID and password, students may log in to the platform to view and register for courses.
Class Attendance
Students at Hesed University are expected to be punctual and regular in their participation in online classes, including real-time lectures, discussions, and group activities. Attendance and engagement are integral parts of academic success. The following policies apply:
Attendance Requirements: Any student who misses one-third or more of the scheduled sessions for an online course (including real-time lectures and assignments) will have failed the course.
Each instructor will provide their attendance policy at the start of the term, which may include requirements for attending live sessions, submitting assignments on time, and participating in discussions.Absence Notifications:
Students unable to attend live online sessions due to illness or other legitimate reasons must notify their instructor promptly and arrange to complete missed work.
If a student is forced to miss classes for an extended period, they must inform the Office of Academic Affairs of their absence and the reason for it.
Students who are absent for two consecutive weeks without notifying the university will be considered to have unofficially withdrawn from the course and will receive a grade of “F.”
Absence Limits: Accumulated absences totaling 70% or more of any course—whether spread out over the term or consecutive—will result in a grade of “NF” (Non-Attendance Failure).
Make-Up Policy: Students missing a scheduled assessment or live session for legitimate reasons may be granted permission to make up missed activities or take a rescheduled exam at the instructor’s discretion.
Excused Absences for Co-Curricular Activities:
Occasionally, students may miss scheduled online sessions due to authorized academic or co-curricular activities (e.g., internships, virtual conferences, or ministry events). In such cases:
Students remain responsible for completing all missed work.
They must communicate with instructors in advance to make necessary arrangements.
Online Learning Engagement: Given Hesed University’s online structure, active participation in discussions, timely submission of assignments, and consistent interaction with peers and instructors through the learning management system are critical components of the attendance and engagement policy.
Full-Time Enrollment
At Hesed University, full-time enrollment is determined based on the number of quarter hours a student is registered for each term. This policy applies to the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters only.
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Undergraduate Students:: Full-time enrollment requires a minimum of 12 quarter hours per quarter.
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Graduate Students: Full-time enrollment requires a minimum of 8 quarter hours per quarter.
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Maximum Credit Hours:
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Undergraduate students may take a maximum of 18 quarter hours per term.
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Graduate students may take a maximum of 14 quarter hours per term.
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Special permission is required to exceed these limits. Students must seek approval from the Academic Dean before registering for additional credits.
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Online Program Considerations: All courses are delivered online, and students must ensure they manage their time effectively to meet the requirements of full-time enrollment, including participation in real-time lectures and completing coursework by designated deadlines.
