Registration is completed in two stages: Pre-Registration and Drop/Add.

Pre-Registration for New & Former Degree-Seeking Students
Degree-seeking students who are newly admitted or readmitted to the College receive a course registration form from Patrick Henry College in the months prior to (re-)enrollment. Once submitted, and upon completion of all requirements relating to enrollment communicated by the Office of Admissions, the Office of the Registrar will enroll students into courses according to preferences listed on this form. All full-time and part-time degree-seeking students will be registered for PHC491, the one credit Wisdom & Eloquence Portfolio. Other factors that influence student registration include course availability, the recommended course sequence, transfer courses, and each student's academic background. Students should contact the Office of Admissions regarding submission deadlines.

Pre-Registration for Continuing Degree-Seeking Students
Continuing student pre-registration occurs during the semester prior to continued enrollment, according to the Academic Calendar. Eligibility to preregister is limited to those students who have no unreconciled obligations, financial or otherwise.

In planning to preregister, students are strongly encouraged to follow as nearly as possible the Recommended Course Sequence for their anticipated major. Additionally, students should review the 4-year Master Schedule that is provided in the Registration Bulletin to confirm that courses offered align with the Recommended Course Sequence. Required courses are not offered every term and students should consult with their academic advisor to avoid potential conflicts.

Academic advisors are available to assist students in their preparation for pre-registration and must clear students to register for courses each term. Once cleared by their advisor, students may register online during the dates provided by the Office of the Registrar. Registration for certain courses may require the submission of the Registration & Schedule Update form. Continuing students who seek to register after the end of the pre-registration period are assessed the Late Registration Fee.

Check-In Day
Students are required to check-in according to their designated date, time, and procedure. Pre-registered students who do not check-in at the beginning of the semester forfeit their schedules and may lose their seat in pre-registered courses. Additionally, the College charges a Late Check-in Fee to students who do not adhere to their designated date, time, and procedure.

Check-in is not complete until all obligations are fully met, including financial and administrative requirements.

Adding and Dropping Courses
Beginning on the first day of the term, all students may add or drop courses; the end of the drop/add period is specified on the Academic Calendar. Dropped courses do not appear on the student's transcript. Students may not add or drop courses after the drop/add period.

Auditing
Students may audit one course per semester if they meet all prerequisites for the course and receive the approval of the instructor and the Registrar. Students who audit a course do not receive credit, earn a grade, or take exams; auditing students may not tax the instructor’s time. The deadline for changing a course from audit to credit or credit to audit is the end of the drop/add period. Students taking courses for credit receive priority in registering for courses.

Waitlists
Each semester, registration opens in a manner that gives students preference according to their class level. Once a course reaches the enrollment cap, no other students may add the course. Students may request to be placed on the Waitlist. The Waitlist is provided so that students can express their interest in adding the course to their schedule.

If pre-registered students choose not to matriculate and as students adjust their schedules during the drop/add period, the Office of the Registrar makes enrollment decisions for students on the Waitlist based on several factors including seniority, eligibility, availability, credit load, course sequencing, and date of entry onto the Waitlist. Students who believe their special circumstances merit additional consideration may email their need to the Office of the Registrar.

Independent Study
The investigation of areas of knowledge not covered by traditional courses is commonly known as independent study. As Patrick Henry College already designates a large portion of upper division credits as apprenticeships, which by definition contain similar elements to independent study, students are strongly encouraged to use the apprenticeship credits to pursue academically relevant areas of interest. Accordingly, no more than six credits of independent study will be approved toward fulfillment of major elective requirements.

Students wishing to complete Independent Study credit should obtain the Petition for Independent Study from the Office of the Registrar and obtain the approval of the professor, the Department Chairman, and the Academic Dean. The submission of the completed Petition and the course syllabus to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the drop/add period registers the student for the course.

Directed Study
Directed study usually refers to a course listed in the catalog which is normally offered to a group of students but is instead taken on an individual basis. Due to the increased obligation that individual instruction places on the faculty, the difficulty in replicating class discussions, and the likely modifications that hinder the course's ability to meet stated objectives thereby disrupting the coherence of the PHC curriculum, directed study is appropriate only in exceptional circumstances.

To petition for registration in a course as directed study, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Students must have earned at least 93 credits prior to enrollment in the directed study;
• Students must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.65 or higher;
• Students are limited to a maximum of 3 credits by directed study;
• Students must complete a log of 45 hours of study per credit, which must be submitted to the instructor as a component of the course requirements;
• Students may not attempt directed study for a course previously failed or in which the minimum grade required for graduation or the major was not successfully achieved;

Students who meet the criteria above start the registration process at the Office of the Registrar by picking up a Petition for Directed Study form and reviewing available options for completing the degree requirement through existing means with the Registrar. Students finding all existing options unsatisfactory may attach a letter providing a rationale for why various options are unsatisfactory. The Petition must be initially approved by the advisor and course instructor; if initially approved, the instructor must then develop an individual syllabus for the student prior to further consideration by the College. Upon completion of the syllabus and transmission to the student, the student will submit the Petition, letter, and proposed syllabus for consideration by the Department Chairman, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Provost.

The completed approved Petition, letter, and syllabus must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the last day of final exams in the semester prior to enrollment in the directed study. The submission of the approved packet registers the student for the course. Additional fees for Directed Study may apply.

Truth in Registration
Patrick Henry College intentionally develops a variety of relevant, academically appropriate apprenticeships for students in hopes that they will discover the opportunities that best align with their educational goals. The variability built into apprenticeships, however, should not be confused with unlimited flexibility in the degree program, which has been approved by the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees. While course content is left to the discretion of the instructor, students will not be permitted to register for one type of course or apprenticeship with the intention of participating in another course or apprenticeship.

Withdrawing from a Course
After the conclusion of the drop period, students may withdraw from a course by completing the Registration & Schedule Update form. Withdrawing from a course before the mid-point of the term (as specified on the Academic Calendar) will be recorded as a “W” (Withdrawn) on the transcript, with no effect on the student’s grade point average.

Course withdrawals after the mid-point (as specified on the Academic Calendar) are recorded as a “WP” or “WF” (withdrawl passing or withdrawl failing, respectively). “WP” has no effect on grade point average; “WF” is treated like an “F”.

A student may not withdraw from a course in the final two weeks of the semester or during final exams (as specified on the Academic Calendar).

Students who choose not to follow the correct withdrawal procedures may receive an "F" for the course involved and may incur continuing costs.

Students who withdraw from the same course twice must receive permission from the Department Chairman prior to registering for the course a third time.

Attendance
Students are STRONGLY encouraged to attend each and every class scheduled during the semester. There is no better way to perform well in any class than by attending the regularly scheduled lectures. However, there may be times when students cannot make a lecture, due to illness, participation in a sanctioned college event, or other conflicting commitments. While students should strive to avoid such conflicts, college is a very busy time and conflicts may occur.

Patrick Henry College does not mandate an academic penalty for a student who misses a class, although a zero may be received for any unfulfilled class requirements. Students participating in college sanctioned events will know about any conflicts well in advance and are expected to discuss these with their professors to arrange for dealing with affected assignments prior to the absence.

Freshmen and Sophomores who log two absences not attributed to being involved in a college sanctioned event will be subject to an interview with any professor teaching a core course. It is the expectation of the College that students will grow more mature in managing their schedules as they progress through their time at Patrick Henry College. After graduation, this kind of time management will be an indispensable skill, and the College seeks to train students in this skill while they are enrolled.

Final Exams
All classes must meet during final exam week for an exam or other significant educational activity. Students may not reschedule final exams; however, if a student has three exams scheduled on the same day, he or she may request permission to reschedule one to another date. Students seeking to reschedule an exam should speak with the instructor of the course.