5000 Forbes Ave, Warner Hall 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: (412) 268-5231 ▪ Email: oie@andrew.cmu.edu ▪ Web: www.cmu.edu/oie
Request for Authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to be registered full-time during two of the three academic semesters each year. In most cases,
students will be enrolled full-time Fall and Spring semesters and take the Summer as a vacation semester. Students enrolled for less than
full time (a minimum of 36 units OR the required number as set forth by academic degree program, whichever is higher) during the Fall
or Spring (or summer for summer graduates) must receive approval from an OIE advisor, BEFORE dropping to part time in order
to maintain legal status with immigration. Payment/tuition questions as well as withdrawal forms go to the HUB (www.cmu.edu/hub)
as RCL is permission with immigration - not CMU and not tied to payment. Note: PhD students should consult with their department
and the Doctoral Student Status Policy (http://www.cmu.edu/policies/DSS.html).
Students applying for RCL in the final semester will not receive a printed I-20 but will receive an email confirmation of the approval of
the RCL in the SEVIS database from an OIE advisor. In all other cases, OIE authorizes the RCL in the immigration database and issues
a new I-20 with an authorization notation on page 3 of the I-20. The new I-20 is ready in 5 business days from the front desk of OIE.
No email reminder will be sent. (NOTE: No I-20 is issued for RCL in final semester.) Once RCL has been granted, it cannot be
undone even if you later choose to enroll in a full course of studies.
Student: Complete and give this form to your Academic Advisor. For medical reasons, see below.
Student Family Name: ________________________________ Student First Name:_______________________________
Andrew ID: ________________ Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy):______________ CMU Department: __________________
Residential Address: __________________________________________________________________________________
For:

Fall

Spring

Summer (for August graduates only)
Academic Advisor: Complete for OIE to determine the student’s eligibility to legally drop below full-time enrollment for
academic reasons. Note: financial or personal reasons are not appropriate reasons for taking less than a full-time load.
The student named above will be enrolled for less than a full course of study during the above-named semester for the
following reason (check one):
□ Initial academic difficulty due to problems with English language or due to the reading requirements. This reason may
be used only once, generally during the first semester. The student must register for at least 18 units.
□ Initial academic difficulty due to student being unfamiliar with U.S. teaching methods. This reason may be used only
once, generally during the first semester. The student must register for at least 18 units.
□ Student placed in an improper course level. This reason may be used only once, generally during the first semester.
The student must register for at least 18 units
□ Student will complete the program in the semester indicated above (the student’s final semester) and needs less than a
full course load to complete the program. The student must register for at least 12 units. Remaining coursework
(including number of units - required):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Academic Advisor :_______________________________________ Date:__________________
Printed Name:_______________________________________
Department:_______________________________
Signature of Graduate Coordinator (for graduate students only): ___________________________ Date: __________
MEDICAL REASONS: Documentation from a licensed medical doctor or licensed clinical psychologist in the U.S. must be
attached for OIE approval to drop below full-time enrollment for medical reason. By regulation, medical RCL may not exceed
12 months in total. Although your academic advisor’s approval is not necessary for OIE to approve RCL due to medical reasons, OIE
strongly recommends that you consult with your academic advisor before dropping classes for any reason.
Updated 4/2016