Alternative Credit Pathway is an accommodation that can be approved for students who need to take fewer credit hours within a specific semester (12-13 credit hours) based on the functional impact of their condition. Many students may benefit from taking an Alternative Credit Pathway. Taking fewer credits (12-13 credits) provides the student with more time to focus on their specific courses, attend physical therapy or similar appointments, and build a more effective personal school-life balance. Students who are approved for this accommodation may use it for one semester or for their entire time at UNH. Students who are approved for this accommodation should communicate their plans for its use with SAS. SAS will coordinate with Financial Aid and Student Accounts on a semester-by-semester basis.
Please note: If approved for this accommodation, students will be eligible for a 25% reduction to the block tuition rate. This reduction may be used to help students pay for courses taken during other terms such as Summer Term or J-Term (January).
Key Things to Know
- The reduction in tuition costs only applies when a student approved for this accommodation is taking 12-13 credits.
- The reduction is carried forward to the next bill by Student Accounts.
- Students who are approved for an Alternative Credit Pathway can still take more credits if they choose, but if they exceed the 12-13 credits, the tuition reduction will not be applied.
- Alternative Credit Pathway is not intended to be utilized in instances when a student elects to drop a course late in the semester because of poor performance.
Student Responsibilities
Students are responsible for…
- Meeting all student accommodation responsibilities.
- Working with their academic advisor to determine a schedule that will work best for them.
- Working with their academic advisor to ensure progress to degree completion.
- Discussing any financial concerns with Student Accounts and Financial Aid.
- Adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses in accordance with the Student’s Rights, Rules and Responsibilities (SRRR).
Alternative Credit Pathway Process
- Student talks with SAS about the need for an Alternative Credit Pathway - Before taking an Alternative Credit Pathway it is important to talk with SAS about why that might be needed. SAS can also explain the overall process and expectations.
- Student ensures they are registered for 12-13 credits at the course withdrawal deadline- For the Alternative Credit Pathway Waiver to apply, the student needs to be registered for 12-13 credits by the course withdrawal deadline. Students taking fewer than 12 credits would be considered part-time.
- After the last day for course withdrawal, SAS communicates the accommodation to Student Accounts for processing- Student Accounts will process the tuition reduction (about a month into the semester) and communicate with Financial Aid in case other aid is affected.
- NOTE: It is important to make sure that all balances are paid in full by the required due dates. Even when approved for this accommodation, students are still responsible for paying their balance in full by the due date (August 1 for fall, January 1 for spring).
- Once the Alternative Credit Pathway Waiver is applied- If there is a credit on the student’s account, it may remain on the account for application toward future charges. The student may also request a refund through Webcat.
If the student decides to take more than 12-13 credits, the student will be charged the standard tuition rate for the semester. Tuition reductions are dependent on taking 12-13 credits.
If the student decides to take less than 12-13 credits, the student will be considered part-time. The student will then be charged at the part-time tuition rate.
No. Faculty are not notified about an approval for an Alternative Credit Pathway. Students sign up for courses and participate as any other student would. If approved for other accommodations, students can send their accommodation letters as usual.
Possibly. The student should reach out to Financial Aid for clarification of any potential impacts.
