Picture Credit: pexels.com

Registration

Registration is the official enrollment of students for classes. It takes place at the University Registrar before the beginning of every semester. The Registrar’s office will announce the schedule for registration. Students should be aware of the following registration procedures and rules:

Each semester, registration takes place only on the dates stated in the academic calendar of the University. There is usually a two-day late registration period with a penalty of 30 USD .
A student is expected to be present physically in the University for registration.
A student cannot register for a course that has a prerequisite without obtaining at least a grade of “D” in the prerequisite course.
Registration for a course is done in consultation with an Academic Advisor from the Department in which the student is enrolled.
Students should write in four copies the proper course titles, course numbers and the number of credit hours on the registration slips of the University.
Registration is complete and official only when the Registrar’s office stamp is placed on the slips.
One copy of the registration slip is kept in the student’s file in the Registrar’s office, one copy in the College of the student, one copy is submitted to the Finance Office and one copy must be kept by the student.
Students are not allowed to attend classes without completing registration formalities.

Identification Card

Once a student is enrolled in University of Hargeysa, the student is given a non-transferable identity card (ID-card) with a unique and permanent registration number:

The ID card entitles the student to various University services.
The ID card must be renewed each semester and returned to the Registrar’s office when a student discontinues his/her education or graduates.
If an ID card is lost, a student can get a new one provided that the student brings a letter from authorized bodies proving the loss of the card and that he/she pays 10 USD .
If an ID – card is damaged due to negligence, a new one will be provided upon payment of 5 USD .

Semester Load for Students

The minimum/maximum load required for a full-time student, shall be 12 to 18 credit hours respectively per semester
A student with CGPA of 2.50 or above and wishing to deviate from this requirement shall obtain a special permission from the Head of the Department in which he is doing his major work, or from the Dean of his College, and approved by the AC (Academic Commission). The maximum load with special permission may not, however, exceed 21 credit hours.
Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-Article 57.2 hereof, a graduating student with CGPA of 2.00 and above may be granted special permission to take up to 21credit hours.
The normal semester load for regular master program students shall be 12 credit hour.

Adding and dropping courses

With the approval of the Academic Adviser and the Registrar, students can add or drop courses within the “Add and Drop Period” indicated in the academic calendar of the respective College.
A student who adds or drops a course or (courses) should fill the “Add/Drop Form” in four copies (one copy each for the student, finance office, the respective College and the Registrar’s office), and students who add a course or more should obtain class admission paper from the Registrar’s office and present it to the respective instructor(s).

Transfer of Credits

The ASCRC (Academic Standard and Curriculum Review Committee) of the University shall determine the transferable credits earned in other accredited institutions of higher education. The ASCRC will engage receiving faculties when determining credit transfers or course exemptions.
Credits earned from other universities can be transferable; however, the grades obtained from other universities will be subject to review before they appear on the University’s transcripts.
The maximum number of credits transferred from outside institutions recognized by the Senate of the University is 50% of the total credit-hour requirement of the Program of studies.
Upon graduation, the number of credits transferred from other institutions will appear on the transcript but will not have bearing on the final Cumulative Grade Point Average, or CGPA. The final CGPA will be that earned at the University of Hargeisa.
The number of credit hours earned from other institutions will be counted when calculating the overall credit-hour requirement for graduation. However, as indicated in sub-Article 50.4, the grades will bear an exemption sign since they will not be counted towards the final CGPA.

General Provision on Courses

The University education system must meet the needs of national development and provide well planned teaching and learning programs and contribute to the advancement of all forms of knowledge. The University encourages new learning and teaching strategies and modifies traditional models of discipline-based and sequential courses. The learning programs shall be outcomes-based education and training.
Unless otherwise provided for in this Legislation or by a directive to be issued by the Senate, all courses shall be offered on semester bases.
Course duration (width) is the time duration over which a course of a specific size or weight is offered. A set of courses or more than one course can be offered in a semester. A single course may not however be stretched to the next semester provided a course may run for two consecutive semesters within the same academic year if the nature of a given discipline or of course requires so and if it is recommended by the AC concerned and approved by the ASCRC.
Courses shall be offered in face-to-face teaching or in block teaching or in combination of the two.
Courses shall be valued in terms of the Credit Hour (CH) system

Major Courses

Each student enrolled for a particular program shall complete the Major courses in such program as a precondition to earn a Degree.

Supportive Courses

The decision to offer Supportive courses may be made at programs level for undergraduate programs and the courses may be offered after their inclusion in the curriculum has been approved.
Supportive courses shall be designed to enable students acquire the necessary Knowledge and skills which support on his/her major field of specialization.
The total credits of supportive Courses to be offered in undergraduate programs shall be determined by AC and Approved by ASCRC.

Common Courses

The decision to offer Common courses may be made at University level for undergraduate programs and the courses may be offered after their inclusion in the curriculum has been approved.
Common courses shall be designed to enable students acquire the necessary communication and analytical skills, culture of inquisitiveness, critical thinking, innovation and creativity, democratic values and knowledge, skills of new technologies and awareness.
The total credits of Common Courses to be offered in undergraduate programs shall be determined by ASCRC.

Phased-out Courses

Students who have taken any phased-out courses with pass mark in the University system are not required to take replacement courses upon readmission.
Students who have scored ‘F’s in phased-out courses deemed essential for a program of study shall be required to remove their ‘F’s by taking equivalent courses as determined by the Academic Commission of the College in which they are enrolled.

Class Attendance

Unless provided otherwise in this Legislation or in a directive to be issued by the Senate or except for courses that are approved in advance and in which earning of credits through examination alone is acceptable, a student is required to attend all lecture, laboratory and practical sessions as well as field work.
In situations where a student, because of reasons beyond his control, fails to attend all sessions, a minimum of 75% attendance shall be required if he is to earn credit in a given course under a program. This is however, may not preclude academic units such as College of Medicine from requiring 90% attendance where such required attendance is academically indispensable. And this may not prevent academic units from excluding certain portions of a course under a program such as laboratory and field experiences considered academically indispensable for the student from the 25% non-attendance provision.
A student who has missed more than 25% attendance shall be given a grade of incomplete attendance (IA) and be required to provide acceptable reasons for failure to attend in order to cancel the registration for the course and allow him to retake the same. Where a student’s incomplete attendance was due to reasons that were not valid, the IA grade shall be changed to an “F” at the end of the sixth week of his next enrolment in the program.