Dear F-1/J-1 International Students: The Spring 2015 semester will begin soon and this is a reminder that all F-1 and J-1 international students must be registered for a full course load every semester. Full time status is defined as follows: • Undergraduate students (including undergraduate study abroad exchange students) - 12 credits per semester • Graduate students with graduate assistantship - 6 credits per semester • Graduate students without graduate assistantship (including graduate study abroad and Law School exchange students) - 9 credits per semester • JD students - 12 credits Any student registering less than full-time must submit a “Reduced Course Load (RCL) Request Form” to ISSS by the below deadline. The RCL Request Form is available online at www.isss.uconn.edu<http://www.isss.uconn.edu> > FORMS AND RESOURCES > FORMS. If requesting a reduced course load based on FINAL SEMESTER, the deadline for form submission is Tuesday, January 20, 2015. If requesting a reduced course load based on ACADEMIC DIFFICULTY, students may not apply for an RCL until AFTER February 2, 2015. Students must attempt a full-time course load before requesting a reduced course load for academic difficulty. **Please note that continuing registration courses (a.k.a. 0 credit courses) are not considered full-time enrollment for international students to maintain their full-time study. These courses are available only for those F-1/J-1 graduate students who are in their last semester.** Remember all international F-1 and J-1 students must see an International Advisor at ISSS BEFORE dropping below a full course of study. It is a status violation to drop below full-time study as an international F-1/J-1 student before authorization is granted. LEAVE OF ABSENCE: F-1 and J-1 international students who will be taking a leave of absence (LOA) for the Spring 2015 semester need to contact an international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the LOA implications on their F-1/J-1 status and their SEVIS records. STUDY / RESEARCH ABROAD: All F-1 and J-1 international students who will be pursuing full-time research outside of the U.S. must contact an international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the requirements to maintain F-1/J-1 status and their SEVIS record while outside of the U.S. Please contact ISSS if you have any questions. Have a great semester! International Student & Scholar Services(ISSS) Office of Global Affairs University of Connecticut 2011 Hillside Road, Unit 1083 Storrs, CT 06269-1083 phone-(860) 486-3855 fax-(860)486-5800 * To schedule an appointment with an ISSS advisor please visit www.advapp.uconn.edu<http://www.advapp.uconn.edu/> and select ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services).