Class Standing

Proposed changes to UWM academic policy on Class Standing, as shown in the Academic Catalog.

Current Language 

Class Standing	General Studies	Business & Information Studies	Letters and Science & Public Health	Nursing	All Others
Sophomore	24 or more	24-55	24-55	28-57	24-57
Junior	N/A	56-85	56-87	58-95	58-85
Senior	N/A	86 or more	88 or more	96 or more	86 or more
Class Standing/Level in School

Issues with the Current Policy 

We have not been able to find a reason why this current policy/practice exists. After conversation with Assistant Deans/Director of Student Services in many schools/colleges, as well as leadership in the Registrar’s Office, the history and reason for the current differences in credits among schools/colleges is currently unknown. 

We have identified issues that may exist because of the current class standing policy and the differences in credits needed among schools/colleges to meet class standings: 

• Credits earned impacts the class standing for all students, which in-turn impacts: 
• Eligibility for financial aid that is increased, based on class standing. 
• Enrollment appointment priority. 
• Prerequisites for courses or advancement to major. 
• Differences in policy among schools/colleges/departments creates inequities among students. 
• Examples include: 
  • Financial Aid – two students with the same number of credits earned from two different schools/colleges could receive differing amounts of loan/grant eligibility. 
  • Priority enrollment – students from different schools/colleges with same credits earned could have different priority enrollment appointments (based on class standing) and therefore have inequitable access to courses. 

Proposed new policy  

Standard Policy for all undergraduate students: 

Class Standing	Number of Credits Earned
Sophomore	24-55
Junior	56-85
Senior	86 or more

The new, standard policy would impact: 

• Business, Info Studies, General Studies – no impact 
• Letters and Science & Public Health –  
  • Senior standing would begin at 86 credits, instead of 88 credits. 
• Nursing –  
  • Sophomore standing would begin at 24, instead of 28 credits. 
  • Junior standing would begin at 56 credits, instead of 58 credits. 
  • Senior standing would begin at 86 credits, instead of 96 credits. 
• All Other Schools/Colleges (not listed above) –  
  • Junior standing would begin at 56 credits, instead of 58 credits. 

Next Steps

• Forward to Dev and Academic Deans for consideration and approval 
• Significant testing this summer: 
  • Roll-out with effective date – students would “phase out” of old standing 
  • Coordinated testing with financial aid – impact on student awards 
  • NSC reporting 
  • Coordinated testing with Schools/Colleges – Impact on prerequisites/enrollment/advancement to major 
    • How to track when students started to make sure students and start date? 
• Memo to Grad School about changes 
• Determine communication plan to stakeholders 
• Proposed implementation for Fall 2023, depending on determinations from testing (RO and Financial Aid) to reduce any negative impacts on students.