Student Handbook

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About American Public University System (APUS)

• Message from the Provost
• Mission and Core Values
• Accreditation and Licensure
• Disability Accommodations

Admission to APUS

• Getting Admitted to APUS
  • Programs Offered
  • Programs with Additional Admission Requirements
  • General Admission Policies
  • General Admission Documentation Requirements
  • Admission of International Students
  • Admission of Concurrent High School Students
  • Admission of any Student Under 17
  • Admission of Students with IEP, Technical or Vocational Diplomas
  • Admission of Home-Schooled Applicants
  • Admission of Students from Non-Recognized High Schools
  • First Course Recommendations
• How to Transfer Prior College Credit to APUS

Financing Education

• How to Pay for Courses
  • APUS Student Fees
  • APUS Tuition
  • APUS Tuition Refund Schedule
  • Methods of Payment Available
    • Additional Electronic Payment Options
    • Automatic Debit Plan
    • Credit Card
    • Department of Defense Training Funds
    • Employer Voucher
    • Federal Government Employee Tuition Reimbursement
    • Federal Student Aid
    • Federal Grants
    • Military Tuition Assistance
    • Outside Scholarships
    • State Grant Programs
    • VA Benefits
    • Veteran Readiness and Employment Service (VR&E), Chapter 31 Funding
  • Consequences of Unpaid Balances
  • Definition of Full-Time Status for VA Benefits
  • Definition of Full Time Status for FSA Benefits
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
  • Code of Conduct - Student Loans
  • California Residents
• How to Register for Courses
  • Registering from an Academic Plan
  • Registering Without an Academic Plan
  • Registering as a Federal Student Aid Student
  • Course Lengths
  • Academic Credit vs. Audit
  • Prerequisite Courses
  • Developmental and Refresher Courses
  • Minimum Number of Courses Required per Year
  • Maximum Number of Courses Permitted
  • Late Registrations
  • Independent Study Courses
  • Undergraduate Petition for Graduate-Level Course
• How to Defer Prior Loans
• Veteran’s Benefits
  • Applying for Benefits
  • VA Enrollment Information
  • VA Enrollment Chart
  • Helpful Websites for GI Bill® Information & Veteran Success

Academic Success

• Before Starting a Program
  • Undergraduate
    • Maintaining One's Contact Information
    • Appropriate Course Progression
    • Academic Standing (Freshman-Senior)
    • Changing a Major/Program - FSA Students
    • Changing a Major/Program - Non-FSA Students
    • Annual Academic Progress Requirements
    • GPA Requirements for Graduation Eligibility
    • Program Deadline Requirements for Graduation Eligibility
    • Examinations and Proctors
    • Course Attempt Limits for Graduation Eligibility
  • Master's
    • What is a Master's Degree?
    • Maintaining One's Contact Information
    • Appropriate Program Progression
    • Changing a Major/Program - FSA Students
    • Changing a Major/Program - Non-FSA Students
    • Annual Academic Progress Requirements
    • GPA Requirements for Graduation Eligibility
    • Program Deadline Requirements for Graduation Eligibility
    • Course Attempt Limits for Graduation Eligibility
    • Examinations and Proctors
    • Final Course Requirements (Comprehensive Exams, Capstones, Practicums and Thesis Courses)
• Prior Learning Assessment
• Before a Course Begins
  • General Course Requirements
  • Early Course Access
  • IMPORTANT - First Week of Every Course - Required Activity
  • Expected Course Load
  • Credit Hour Definition
• Understanding the Syllabus
• Course Materials
  • Course Material ISBN and Purchasing Information
  • Course Materials Allowance
  • Audit Student Course Materials
  • For Master's and Graduate Certificate Students
  • For Undergraduate Students
  • Necessary Computer Software
  • Copyright Infringement
• How to Drop a Course
  • Deciding Whether to Drop or Withdraw from a Course
  • How to Drop or Withdraw from a Course
  • How to Drop or Withdraw from a Course - Audit Students
  • Returning Books/Course Materials
  • Appealing to Withdraw from a Course after Withdrawal Period Ends
• How to Get a Course Extension
  • Extension Policies
  • Appealing a Denied Extension
  • Submitting Work During an Extension
  • Extensions for Military Deployment and Other Special Circumstances
• Course Grades and APUS Transcripts
  • Final Grades
  • Incomplete Grades (Extensions)
  • Appealing a Final Grade
  • Special Air Force Deadlines
  • Failing Grades - Repeating Courses
  • Failing a Master's Comprehensive Exam or Capstone Course
  • APUS Grading System (Chart)
  • Ordering and the Release of APUS Transcripts
• Military Portal Information
• Graduation Process
  • General Graduation Information
  • Certificate and Degree Combinations
  • Transfer Credit to Complete Program Requirements
  • Applying for Graduation
  • Fees
  • Program Review Process
  • Shipping of Diplomas and Certificates
  • University Honors Designation
  • Latin Honor Designation
  • Letters of Pending Graduation
• Coming Back for Another Program
• Special Requests Information
• Readmission to APUS

University Policies and APUS Student Code of Conduct

• APUS Student Code of Conduct
  • APUS Community Standards
  • Standards of Student Conduct
  • Jurisdiction of the University
  • Prohibited Student Conduct
  • Student Conduct Procedures
  • Sanctions
  • Appeals Process
  • Prevention and Support Resources
  • Student Code of Conduct Review Policy
  • Generative AI Policy
• APUS Consumer Information
  • APUS Student Code of Conduct
  • Alcohol and Drug Policy
  • Campus Security
  • Classified/Sensitive Material
  • Contact Information
  • Crisis Intervention Services
  • Critique Faculty and/or Course Material
  • Equal Educational Opportunity Policy
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Policy
  • Review of Records
  • Solicitation
  • State Agencies Higher Education Complaint Contact Information
  • Student Profile Picture Policy
  • Third-Party Benefits for Employees
  • University General Grievance Procedure
  • Video Conference Policy
  • Voter Registration
• Academic Probation Policies
  • Academic Risk
  • Academic Probation
  • Academic Dismissal
• Appeals Information
• Lack of New Student Activity
• Legal Action

APUS Community

• Student Affairs
  • Commencement Ceremony
  • Campus Leadership and Volunteering
  • Student and Alumni Organizations
  • University Directory
  • Social Media
  • President’s and Dean’s Lists
  • University Awards
  • Mentoring
  • Ambassador Program
• Alumni
• Career Services