What Are College Catalog Rights?

Published on Friday, May 28th, 2010 by Nohel Category: College Tips

College Catalog Rights

College Catalog

I often have students come into my office and ask me, what are catalog rights? It’s a questions that I get asked frequently. Usually, new students or students that have taken a break from school return to find themselves in a new set of classes with a new set of requirements. This is where college catalog rights comes into play.

Graduation requirements are listed in you individual College Catalog. Each Catalog covers an academic year that reflects your enrollment beginning with the fall term. Even if you come in a little later, lets say spring or summer, your catalog rights goes back to the fall of the year you came to school.

Having “catalog rights” means students are held to the graduation requirements listed in the college catalog at the time your enrollment begins (defaulting to the fall of that year). Students may choose to use catalog rights for any later year of continuous enrollment. The keyword here is “continuous” enrollment, meaning no breaks from school.

For the purpose of this policy, “continuous enrollment” means attending at least one term (fall, spring, summer) each academic year. Attendance is required through the fourth week of school for semester length classes or thirty percent (30%) of summer classes and semester classes that are shorter than the full semester.

If you are thinking of taking a break from college, keep in mind, degree or program requirements may change when you come back. Work with a counselor to make sure you do everything needed to maintain your catalog rights.

College Help: The best thing to do is hang in school until you meet your goal, if you can’t, then speak with a college counselor.”

Share the knowledge: