Registration is the process of selecting and enrolling in Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) courses. Registration is required before a student can attend classes. For information regarding important registration dates, visit the online Academic Calendar.
While most students may register online through RaiderNet (the student portal), a student’s status or program of study may restrict online registration. For assistance with the registration process, please contact a Student Success Navigator at (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu.
Enrollment Status
Student Type |
Full Time |
Three-Quarter Time |
Half Time |
Less than Half Time |
Enrolled in College Credit, Career, or Developmental Courses |
12 or more credit hours |
9 credit hours |
6 credit hours |
less than 6 credit hours |
Classification of Students
Students are classified according to the number of semester hours they have earned (both NWFSC institutional credit and transfer credit awarded to the student are included in this calculation).
LOWER LEVEL
Freshman |
A student who has 29 or fewer hours |
Sophomore |
A student who has 30 hours to 60 hours |
UPPER LEVEL
Junior |
A student who has 61 to 90 hours |
Senior |
A student who has 91 or more hours |
Academic Load
A student may enroll in a maximum of eighteen (18) credit hours each semester. Students seeking to enroll in more than eighteen (18) college credit, career, or developmental credit in a single semester must receive prior approval from a Student Success Navigator. Appointments with a Student Success Navigator can be made by contacting (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu.
Audit Status
Auditing a course permits a student to enroll in a college credit, career, or developmental course on a “not-for-credit” basis. Students auditing a class are not required to complete examinations but are expected to attend classes and participate in other activities and requirements on the same basis as students seeking credit. For students who enroll with an Audit Status prior to the end of the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period, upon completion of the course, a final grade of “X” will be awarded. A grade of “X” will appear on the student’s official transcript but will not impact the student’s GPA nor count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction and Repeat rules.
After the close of the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period, students may only change from credit status to audit status with the written approval from the instructor of the course. If the student receives approval to change from credit status to audit status after the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period, a grade of “XC” will be awarded. A grade of “XC” will appear on the student’s official transcript; while it does not impact the student’s GPA, it does count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction or Repeat rules.
Some career courses may not be available on an audit basis. Students wishing to audit a career course must obtain permission in advance from the appropriate Department Chair/Program Director. Audit enrollment in studio art classes is permitted only if space is available. Students may only audit a class up to four (4) times.
To register for a course in audit status (or to request to switch from credit status to audit status), a student must submit the Audit Course Form.
Schedule Changes during the Schedule Adjustment Period (Drop/Add)
Changes in course registration may be made during the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period specified in the online Academic Calendar. Students can make changes to their schedule during the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period through RaiderNet. However, depending on a student’s status, their program of study, or the start date of the course, RaiderNet may prevent a student from dropping their last class online. If this occurs, a student should contact a Student Success Navigator at (850) 502-2895 or studentsuccess@nwfsc.edu to ensure the student is manually dropped from the course prior to the deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their schedule is correct prior to the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) deadline. If a student drops any course during the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period, no record of that course enrollment will appear on the student’s transcript nor will the enrollment count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction or Repeat rules.
Non-Attendance
Students are expected to attend class beginning on the first scheduled meeting date regardless of the delivery method of the course (on-campus, hybrid, online, etc.). After the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period has passed for a course, the instructor will be required to confirm attendance for each student on the roster. Attendance is confirmed through a student’s participation in an academic-related activity. The following academic-related activities constitute attendance:
- Physically attend a class where there was an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
- Submit an academic assignment
- Take an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction
- Attend a study group that was assigned by the faculty member
- Participate in an online discussion about academic matters
- Initiate contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course
Please note that simply logging into your online course does not constitute participation in an academic-related activity and this alone would not fulfill the criteria for attendance in a class.
Attendance Deadlines are published on the online Academic Calendar. If a student’s attendance is not confirmed by the deadline, that student will be dropped from the course and no record of that course enrollment will appear on the student’s transcript nor will the enrollment count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction or Repeat rules. Students are encouraged to reach out to their instructor(s) if clarification is needed on what constitutes attendance for a given course and corresponding deadlines.
Withdrawing From Courses
Students are expected to complete all courses for which they are enrolled at the end of the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period. Course withdrawal may negatively impact a student both academically and financially. Prior to withdrawing, a student should speak with their instructor and a Student Success Navigator to determine if a course withdrawal is in the best interest of the student. Students are permitted a maximum of two withdrawals per course in college credit, career, or developmental courses. Pursuant to Rule 6A-14.0301 of Florida Administrative Code, upon the third (and any approved subsequent attempt), the student is not permitted to withdraw from that course. If the student does withdraw from a third (and any approved subsequent attempt), the initial “W” grade received in that course, will convert to a final punitive grade of “F” at the end of the semester. If the student has not exceeded the approved number of withdrawals, the student will receive a grade of “W” on their official College transcript for each course from which the student withdraws. A grade of “W” does not impact a student’s GPA but does count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction and Repeat rules.
Prior to Withdrawal Deadline
A student-initiated withdrawal may be processed at any point after the Schedule Adjustment Period up until the Withdraw Deadline published in the online Academic Calendar. Prior to the deadline, withdrawals can be completed by the student in RaiderNet. However, depending on a student’s status, their program of study, or the start date of the course, RaiderNet may prevent a student from withdrawing from their last class online. If this occurs, a student should complete either the Course Withdrawal Form (for students withdrawing from one or more of their courses but not all) or the Complete Withdrawal from Term Form (for students withdrawing from all courses on their schedule) as applicable.
Students who wish to withdraw from all courses for a given semester should first consult with a Student Success Navigator before submitting the Complete Withdrawal from Term Form. Financial Aid recipients, students receiving Veteran’s Benefits, and student-athletes must check with their appropriate representative(s) to determine any financial or eligibility ramifications for withdrawing completely.
After Withdrawal Deadline Has Passed
To request to be withdrawn from a course(s) after the published deadline (a.k.a. a late withdrawal), a student must submit the Request for Exception: Records Form. Approval will only be granted for documented extenuating circumstances (i.e., situations that are outside of the student’s control and prevented the student from successfully completing the course(s) such as illness, death of an immediate family member, call to military duty, etc.) The final deadline to submit a late withdrawal request is within thirty (30) days of the end of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course (the last day of the semester is identified as the Last Day of Term for Students for Session 1). For example, a student seeking a late withdrawal from a Fall 2023 course must submit the appeal no later than 30 days after the Last Day of Term for Students listed for Session 1 on the Fall 2023 Academic Calendar). For students making the request prior to the end of the term, please note that they are responsible for all course requirements, including grades earned, during the time the late withdrawal request is being reviewed. If a late withdrawal is approved, the course(s) will receive a grade of “W” on the official College transcript. As with a standard withdrawal, a grade of “W” does not impact a student’s GPA but does count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction and Repeat rules.
Administrative Withdrawal
Students may be administratively withdrawn from the College for reasons such as violation of college policies, procedures, student code of conduct, or other mitigating circumstances. If an administrative withdraw is processed, the course(s) will receive a grade of “W” on the official College transcript. As with a standard withdrawal, a grade of “W” does not impact a student’s GPA but does count as an attempt toward Full Cost of Instruction and Repeat rules.
Students are still financially responsible for all tuition, fees, and other associated costs related to the course(s) from which they were administratively withdrawn.
Financial Responsibility
Students who withdraw from a course(s) are still financially responsible for all tuition, fees, and other associated costs related to the course(s) from which they withdraw or have been administratively withdrawn.
Enrollment |
Action |
Time Frame |
Grade on Transcript |
Refund |
Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period |
Add or Drop a Class |
Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period as it is posted on the Academic Calendar |
Not Recorded |
Full Refund |
Withdrawal |
Withdraw from one or more classes |
After the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period ends and prior to the Withdrawal Deadline posted on the Academic Calendar |
W Grade |
No Refund |
Complete Withdrawal from the College |
Withdraw from all classes |
May be requested after the Schedule Adjustment (Drop/Add) Period ends and prior to the Withdrawal Deadline posted on the Academic Calendar using the Withdrawal Form. |
W Grade |
No Refund |
Late Withdrawal |
Withdraw from one or more classes after the Withdrawal Deadline |
May be requested after the Withdrawal deadline has passed using the Request for Exception: Records Form but does require documented proof of extenuating circumstances; the deadline to submit a late withdrawal request is within thirty (30) days of the end of the semester in which the student was enrolled in the course (the last day of the semester is identified as the Last Day of Term for Students for Session 1) |
W Grade |
No Refund |
Administrative Withdrawal |
Withdrawn from one or more classes by College Administration |
May be approved by College Administration at any time for mitigating circumstances |
W Grade |
No Refund |
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