Prior to Fall 2019, Nicolet College operated in a 16 week semester system, Fall and Spring, and an 8 week Summer term. Beginning in Fall 2019, Nicolet College's academic calendar is a trimester system that consists of three equal terms of 15 weeks each: Fall, Spring, and Summer.  The Academic Calendar includes dates for traditional academic programs and Nicolet My Way. Nicolet My Way programs have multiple start dates throughout the year.

View the Nicolet College calendar.

Class attendance and participation are closely linked to college success. The attendance policy for each course will be provided in the course syllabus. Failure to adhere to the attendance policy may result in the student’s grade being lowered, up to and including a failing grade for the course. If you know that you will miss class, please contact your instructor prior to the meeting date (if possible) or as soon as possible afterwards to discuss making up the missed work. 

Students enrolled in 12 or more credits per term are considered full-time. Students enrolled in fewer than 12 credits per term are considered part-time.

Nicolet College has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide enrollment and degree verifications. The National Student Clearinghouse can be contacted at:
Web: www.degreeverify.org
Mail: National Student Clearinghouse, 2300 Dulles Station Boulevard, Suite 220, Herndon, VA 20171
 
GED/HSED Verifications can be obtained via the following link:
https://dpi.wi.gov/ged/verifications

Declared (program) admissions applications will be accepted from current high school students after September 1 of the student’s senior year in high school.

An audit is a grading option where students have the privilege of attending classes, have limited course responsibilities, and do not receive credit for the course. A course that has been audited will appear on the student’s transcript with an “AU” grade, but the course does not count toward a degree or certificate. Students must meet course prerequisites, and pay full tuition and fees for courses they audit. Credit-seeking students have priority when course space is limited. 

Students considering auditing a course should consult with the instructor prior to registering as an audit, or on the first day of class to discuss expectations. Requirements for students auditing a course are set by the instructor. A student may be asked to withdraw if the audit expectations are not being met. Because learning is a shared responsibility in a class, the following expectations are examples of possible auditor responsibilities:

1. Contribute to the learning environment of the class by participating during class sessions.
2. Adhere to all rules regarding attendance.
3. If an auditor agrees to work on a group project where the other group members are graded, the auditor is required to complete group work.

Prior to the course withdrawal deadline, a student may change from credit to audit with the consent of the instructor. A student who elects to change to audit may not, at a later date, change back to credit status.  A signed statement from the instructor and student is to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.  The Registrar will issue a grade of AU for the course.

A student who initially elects to audit a course may change to credit if the instructor validates that all the course requirements for credit have been satisfactorily completed at the time the student makes the request. A signed statement from the instructor and student is to be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar will remove the AU grade, and the instructor will issue the final grade at the end of the course.

Senior Audit

By 154 WI. Stat.§38.24 (4m), students 60 years of age or older may audit courses (Senior Audit) if the student is a resident of the state, space is available, and the instructor approves.  The Senior Audit student does not pay program fees or an audit fee, but material fees do apply. The Senior Audit tuition exemption excludes community service courses and apprenticeship courses.

Periodically, high demand for enrollment in a particular program may require students to be placed on a waiting list. If a program is filled when a student applies, but the student meets all admissions requirements, he/she will be placed on a waiting list based on application date. District residents who apply by established application dates will have admissions priority over non-district residents. Non-state residents shall be admitted to district programs, after district and nondistrict state residents, as spaces remain available. Applicants on a waiting list will be notified if and when any openings occur in the program, and have priority over all other applicants for admission in subsequent terms and will be admitted in the order of their original application for admission. A student on a waiting list can enroll in general education and support courses that relate to the degree. Some Nicolet programs admit new students in specific terms only. Students may still enter Nicolet in other terms, but they usually enroll in general education courses required for their program. Prospective students should check with Admissions for all program entry requirements, waiting lists, and applicable dates.

Under certain conditions a student may be allowed to substitute a similar course for a required course in their program. A student should discuss a potential course substitution with their Academic Advisor or Success Coach. The Academic Advisor, in conjunction with the appropriate program faculty and the Registrar, will determine if the course substitution is appropriate. If approved, the Academic Advisor or Success Coach will submit the required paperwork to the Registrar. 

Students are required to take their course examinations as scheduled. Permission from the course instructor is required to take an examination at a time other than the scheduled time or to have a special examination.

Nicolet My Way students may be responsible for the scheduling of their own exams and assessments.  They should refer to the instructions in the competency syllabus for additional information.

Student in Nicolet My Way programs can attempt assessments up to three times.  The instructor may institute a waiting period between attempts based on the results of the previous attempt and the assessment.  After three unsuccessful attempts, the student will receive a grade of F for the competency and will have to reenroll for that competency. 

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is a process for evaluating a student’s learning and awarding appropriate college credit based on the demonstration of college-level learning.  Nicolet is committed to making every effort to ensure students receive appropriate CPL to minimize duplication of competencies attained from previous education, life, or work experience; lessen the cost of duplicative education; and accelerate the achievement of educational goals and credentialing.

Students are encouraged to discuss their previous education and experiences with their Success Coach.  The Success Coach can provide more information regarding CPL.  For additional information, please see Credit for Prior Learning.

Articulated Credit refers to an alignment of high school and post-secondary courses that create a series of courses that offer progressive skill attainment, with no gaps or duplication. Courses that provide articulated credit are either considered Advanced Standing or Dual Credit.

The College reserves the right to cancel a course with insufficient enrollment. Every effort will be made to cancel such courses in a timely manner and to alert students as expeditiously as possible. All courses canceled are 100% refundable. A refund will automatically be issued unless a student requests the tuition be applied to a different course.

If a student wants to drop or withdraw from a competency, the refund percentage/withdrawal deadline will be calculated based on the enrollment date in the competency or the competency start date, whichever is later. If a student is enrolled in both a pre-requisite and advanced competency, the student may be eligible for a 100% refund for the advanced competency if the student is unable to meet the pre-requisite requirement AND has not yet begun the advanced competency. Students must notify staff that they wish to withdraw or drop a competency to be eligible for the refund.

SWAP: At the time of the drop/withdrawal, the student may choose to add on equal or more credits to swap for the dropped/withdrawn competency. In this case, the paid tuition and fees for the dropped/withdrawn competency will be applied to those additional credits. If the student adds on more credits or if the fees are not equal, then the student will owe the additional tuition and/or fees for those additional credits or fees. No swap is allowed if a student chooses to drop/withdraw from a competency and add on a competency of lesser credit value. In this scenario, the refund (if any) for the competency that the student has dropped/withdrawn is calculated at the standard refund rate.

Financial Aid Recipients: If a student has received financial aid funds and requests a drop/withdrawal from a competency, the student’s financial aid may be decreased. Financial aid is awarded with the expectation that a student will complete the competencies for which the aid was awarded. Therefore, if the student drops/withdraws from a competency, the student may need to return some financial aid funds to the college.

Refund/Withdrawal Appeals: Students may appeal their refund or request a late withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances. To appeal, a student must fill out the Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal/Refund Appeal form found in the Document Center of the student portal. Appeals must be received within 30 days of the end of the term in which the refund/withdrawal is being requested.

Before the Term Begins: Students can change their schedule if the desired courses are still available. No grade will appear on their transcript for dropped courses.

After the Term Begins: Students are expected to attend the first day of each course. Written permission from the instructor may be required to enroll in a course after it begins; this depends on the length of the course, the frequency of the course, and the mode of presentation. Registration after Date of Record is typically not allowed, except for Nicolet My Way and CBE programs.

Students who are ages 16-18 and are not enrolled in high school may enroll in Nicolet courses, providing they meet course/ program requirements and have the written permission of their parent or guardian.

Home school students may take scheduled courses provided they:

• are at least 16 years of age
• are a Wisconsin resident

Students ages 16-18, unless they are a high school graduate, may not enroll in Adult Basic Education or adult high school course, and any courses which involve hands-on activities that take place in classroom or lab areas defined as hazardous in Chapter 70 Wisconsin Code Ind 70.03(3e). These hazardous areas would contain such things as hoists, baking equipment, firearms or explosives, manufacturing or processing equipment, or hazardous substances.

Home school students seeking admission to an academic program should apply to Nicolet College under the Declared (Program) Admissions process. Students should have a copy of their home school diploma or transcript sent directly from their home school (by the parent/principal/institutional staff) to Nicolet College. Students can also request a copy of their PI-1206 Homeschool Enrollment Report (records are kept for seven years) through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and send this to Nicolet College.

Written permission from a parent or guardian is required for any student under the age of 18 to enroll in credit or noncredit courses except for Transcripted Credit courses. Students ages 16-18 and who are still enrolled in high school, may enroll in Nicolet College credit and non-credit courses providing those courses meet after the regular high school day is over, are part of Nicolet’s Summer term, or they are enrolled through Start College Now or Transcripted Credit. The student must meet the course/program requirements or prerequisites. If the high school student wishes to enroll in a course during the regular high school day, but is not enrolled in Start College Now or Transcripted Credit, they must provide the Nicolet Admissions Office with written permission from a designated high school official that they are able to leave their high school to attend the Nicolet class.

Students under the age of 18 should be aware of the following program exceptions:

• Students under the age of 18 may enroll in the Emergency Medical Technician program. However, they cannot complete the National Registry Exam until they have reached age 18.

• Students under the age of 18 generally may not enroll in Health Occupation program courses. The exception is the Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant programs. Students may be 15 years of age to enroll in the Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant programs, but must be 16 years of age when they begin their clinical rotation.

• Students under the age of 18 may enroll in Fire Training courses, provided the student is sponsored by a fire department, is covered by a group Workman’s Compensation Insurance Policy, and has parental permission.

Credit Limits

Students may enroll in up to 18 credits during the term. Enrollment in more than the maximum number of credits requires approval from the Registrar. Anyone enrolled for 12 or more term credit hours is considered a full-time student. Anyone enrolled for fewer than 12 credit hours during a term is considered a part-time student. Most career programs are structured with 15-18 credits per term to complete the degree in a one- or two-year time frame.

Registration Procedures

Registration details are published each term at nicoletcollege.edu. Current program students who are continuing their program of study are given priority to enroll in courses.

Students are notified through their Nicolet account when to schedule their academic advising/registration appointments; students may also register for classes via online registration. New students who have been admitted to a program of study should register through their academic advisor. New students are notified by letter of the procedures for arranging advising/registration appointments or attending registration sessions. Non-program students may use mail-in, phone-in, or online registration options as outlined in the course schedules and register only during the late registration period.

Students may register for classes up until the first day of classes, provided they have met applicable admission requirements and there is space available. For classes that have already met once and through Date of Record, students may need written permission from the instructor prior to registering for that class. After the Date of Record, students will not be allowed to register for any classes that are already in progress. Exceptions may be granted by the Registrar. Please contact your Success Coach for assistance with late registration. Date of Record is defined as 14 calendar days into the normal 15-week trimester with day one being the first day of each term. Registration and Date of Record reporting 17 are different in Nicolet My Way programs and are dependent on the specific program. Please contact your success coach for more information.

Priority Registration

2013 Wisconsin Act 56 gives veterans and service members of the armed services priority in registering for courses at the University of Wisconsin System and technical colleges. “Service member” is defined as a person who has served or is serving on active duty under honorable conditions in the US armed forces, in forces incorporated as part of the US armed forces, in the National Guard, or in a reserve component of the US armed forces.

Any student attending Nicolet College who qualifies for priority registration must apply for this status and provide appropriate documentation. Nicolet College will accept the following items as verification documentation:
• DD214 or DD215 form – Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
• NGB22/22A form – National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service
• Reserve Credit Report and “Discharge Order and Point Summary”
• Copy of Commander’s Letter • Copy of Current Orders
• Letter from County Veteran Service Officer

Upon verification of appropriate documentation, the student will be notified by the Registrar that the application for Priority Registration has been approved. The student will receive email notification through their official Nicolet College email account. Once approved, the student will be eligible for priority registration for the duration of their status as a Nicolet student. The student does not need to be using veteran benefits to be eligible for priority registration. Prior to the opening of registration for each upcoming term, students who are approved for priority registration will be provided with the date and time on which they are eligible to register for courses.

Any student under the age of 16 must receive written permission from both a parent or guardian and the instructor of the Nicolet College course they wish to enroll in before registering for the course. A form is available from Admissions. The course must meet after the regular school day is completed or during the Summer term. The student must meet all course requirements and prerequisites. Home school students under the age of 16 may only enroll in courses during the Summer term or after “normal” high school hours and must meet all other course requirements.

Students may withdraw from a course prior to 75% of the course duration.  All course withdrawals must be submitted on a withdrawal form.  The course withdrawal form must be received in the Welcome Center by 4:00 p.m. on or before the course withdrawal deadline. A grade of “W” will appear on the transcript. Failure to submit a withdrawal form by the deadline will result in a final grade as determined by the grading policy of the course.

Withdrawing from one or more courses may affect your full-time/part-time status and may affect your program eligibility, financial aid status, verification for insurance, your progress toward graduation, and/or other types of funding. We strongly encourage you to consult with your instructor, the Financial Aid Office, and your academic advisor before withdrawing from your course(s).

Refunds:

• 100% refund if withdrawal is received prior to the start date of the course
• 80% refund if withdrawal is received before 10% of the course’s total hours of instruction have been conducted
• 60% refund if withdrawal is received after 10% but before 20% of the course’s total hours of instruction have been conducted
• 0% if withdrawal is received after 20% of the course’s total hours of instruction have been conducted

Additional information on term start dates can be found by accessing the academic calendar.

Competency Based Education - Refund/Withdrawal

If a student wants to drop or withdraw from a competency, the refund percentage/withdrawal deadline will be calculated based on the enrollment date in the competency or the competency start date, whichever is later. 

If a student is enrolled in both a pre-requisite and advanced competency, the student may be eligible for a 100% refund for the advanced competency if the student is unable to meet the pre-requisite requirement AND has not yet begun the advanced competency.  Students must notify staff that they wish to withdraw or drop a competency to be eligible for the refund.

SWAP: At the time of the drop/withdrawal, the student may choose to add on equal or more credits to swap for the dropped/withdrawn competency.  In this case, the paid tuition and fees for the dropped/withdrawn competency will be applied to those additional credits.  If the student adds on more credits or if the fees are not equal, then the student will owe the additional tuition and/or fees for those additional credits or fees.

No swap is allowed if a student chooses to drop/withdraw from a competency and add on a competency of lesser credit value.  In this scenario, the refund (if any) for the competency that the student has dropped/withdrawn is calculated at the standard refund rate. 

Financial Aid Recipients: If a student has received financial aid funds and requests a drop/withdrawal from a competency, the student’s financial aid may be decreased.  Financial aid is awarded with the expectation that a student will complete the competencies for which the aid was awarded.  Therefore, if the student drops/withdraws from a competency, the student may need to return some financial aid funds to the college.

Refund/Withdrawal Appeals: Students may appeal their refund or request a late withdrawal due to extenuating circumstances.  To appeal, a student must fill out the Extenuating Circumstances Withdrawal/Refund Appeal form found in the Document Center of the student portal.  Appeals must be received within 30 days of the end of the term in which the refund/withdrawal is being requested.

Withdrawing from the College means you must withdraw from all your courses in a given term. Leaving the College during a term without formal withdrawal may result in failing grades and could jeopardize future attendance at this or other higher education institutions. Please contact your Success Coach if you plan to withdraw. Any student intending to leave 21 Nicolet College before completing their goals is encouraged to explore the decision with the assistance of an instructor, Success Coach, or other College personnel. A thorough discussion of College resources and alternative options may alter the need to withdraw. Information concerning Financial Aid Title IV Refunds and withdrawing from all courses with no passing grades can be found by visiting nicoletcollege.edu.