Students who enroll in a U of M course through CIS should be challenged by the experience of college course work, but capable of succeeding. Student eligibility criteria and prerequisites are set by the faculty coordinator on behalf of the department owning the course. Eligibility criteria and prerequisites are intended to facilitate selection of appropriate students by instructors, counselors, or administrators—or self-selection by students. However, if there is any question about whether or not a student is prepared for the rigor of the University course, the decision rests with the CIS instructor in consultation with the U of M faculty coordinator. 

• CIS strongly recommends that students who have earned a grade of D or lower in a previous U of M course not be allowed to register in additional future U of M courses offered through CIS. Students do not always understand that the grades earned in courses offered through CIS are U of M grades and will affect students’ U of M GPAs.

Student Eligibility and Prerequisites by Course

Course-specific student eligibility criteria and prerequisites are noted in the Quick Guide to Course Requirements and Related Policies. 

Granting Exceptions

Instructors have the authority to make exceptions to the CIS student eligibility criteria and prerequisites on a case-by-case basis. Students may be admitted into U of M courses offered through CIS when the CIS instructor believes that the student’s past academic achievement and motivation indicate that he or she will be successful in the University course. Class size limits must be respected whether students are admitted based on the eligibility criteria or based on an instructor-approved exception to the criteria. 

Ninth and Tenth Grade Student Participation

In some U of M courses offered through CIS (primarily mathematics and world languages), the CIS instructor may approve the participation of one or two individual ninth and tenth grade students if the students are well-prepared and if the U of M department approves. See the Quick Guide to Course Requirements and Related Policies for information about courses where this is possible. 

High schools may also offer a U of M course through CIS to a class comprised entirely or primarily of ninth or tenth graders. Prior to offering a course to young students, an agreement between the high school, the university department that owns the course, and CIS must be signed. The agreement addresses issues important to the success of these younger students, such as steps the school will take to ensure that the students are well-prepared for the rigor, pedagogy, and content of the course; the criteria that will be used to approve students for enrollment; and the schedule for offering the course. Please contact Emily Hanson, Program Director, or Jan M. Erickson, Associate Director, to discuss the possibility. 

Student Credit Load Per Term

Typical full-time undergraduate enrollment at the University of Minnesota is 15 credits per semester. The credits for year-long courses may be counted into both fall and spring term credit loads. CIS students who wish to take more than 15 credits per term may require CCAPS Scholastic Committee approval. Contact Enrollment Services (cisenroll@umn.edu) for more information. 

Target Audiences for Entry Point Project Courses

60% of the students enrolled in an Entry Point Project course need to be from one or more of the following target student populations: 

• • • in the academic middle (between the top 50% and the top 20% of their class),

    • multilingual/ELL,

    • members of racial or ethnic minorities, 

    • first-generation college-bound students, and/or 

    • from families of low to moderate income.

The Quick Guide to Course Requirements and Related Policies indicates which courses are Entry Point Project courses.

Homeschool Students

Homeschool students may participate in CIS if they enroll in their resident district as a shared-time student. It’s up to the local district to determine any limitations. See the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Foreign Exchange and International Students 

Updated 10/1/2020

Students attending a Minnesota school on a foreign exchange program (J-1 visa) and international students on other visas (such as F-1, F-2, J-2, B-1 or B-2), are eligible to enroll for U of M credit, but are not eligible to generate concurrent enrollment aid from the State of Minnesota. The high school administration is responsible for approving a foreign exchange or international student’s participation, acknowledging they will not receive state aid (currently approximately $50 for each course enrollment) for that student.

Other considerations:

• It is a violation of federal law to request a student’s immigration/visa status, see Plyler v. Doe 457 U.S. 202 (1982). Therefore, a student’s status will only be known if the family volunteers the information, or from paperwork that precedes the student’s enrollment at the high school. 

• Undocumented students are entitled to enroll in school and generate state aid per federal law. These students are considered residents of the district in which they live and are eligible to participate in concurrent enrollment courses.

• Students can be in the U.S. under visas other than J, F and B. Generally, if a student is in the U.S. with their parent(s)/legal guardian under other visas and is able to generate general education revenue for the public school, the student would be eligible to participate in concurrent enrollment. Please contact kelly.wosika@state.mn.us to inquire about other visa types.

To learn more state aid eligibility for foreign exchange and international students, supporting documents can be found in the MARSS Manual on the Minnesota Department of Education website. For information about eligibility for specific visas to generate state aid contact kelly.wosika@state.mn.us; for questions about concurrent enrollment aid, contact jeanne.krile@state.mn.us; and for program-related questions about concurrent enrollment (credit earning) contact beth.barsness@state.mn.us.

College in the Schools is committed to reaching and preparing students underrepresented in higher education. 

Our goals are:

1. To make it possible for all qualified students to participate and ensure that eligibility criteria are fair.

2. To strengthen the academic supports needed for students to succeed in these rigorous courses. 

Faculty coordinators have worked with instructors to identify and articulate student eligibility criteria that, in most cases, include alternatives to a high GPA or class rank. Traditional academic indicators may keep students out who could do well in a particular course. 

Entry Point Project (EPP)

Entry Point Project (EPP) was developed to target promising students who are:

2. • multilingual/ELL

   • members of racial or ethnic minorities

   • first-generation college-bound students

   • from families of low to moderate income, and/or

   • in the academic middle (between the top 50% and the top 20% of their class) 

U of M courses included in EPP employ Universal Instructional Design, a supportive pedagogy that

2. • integrates development of skills (e.g., critical thinking, problem-solving, written and oral communication) with the acquisition of content knowledge, 

   • communicates clear expectations and provides constructive feedback, 

   • promotes interaction among and between teachers and students, 

   • incorporates teaching methods that consider diverse learning styles, abilities, ways of knowing, previous experience, and background knowledge, and 

   • articulates a commitment to diversity and integrates multicultural perspectives into all aspects of the learning process. 

U of M course descriptions are available on the CIS website for:

• • An Interdisciplinary Look at the Family in Multicultural America

  • College Algebra Through Modeling

  • Exploring the Teaching Profession I

  • Exploring the Teaching Profession II

  • Physics by Inquiry

  • Writing Studio

University academic departments specify class size limits for each course, offered both on- and off-campus, to ensure that the pedagogy and interactivity appropriate for the subject at hand can be employed. CIS gains permission from a university department to offer its course(s) by guaranteeing that the course’s essential characteristics – class size being one such characteristic – will be preserved when taught in the high school. Observing the university’s class size limits is also required to meet NACEP’s curriculum standards, which require that a concurrent enrollment course be the same as the course offered on the college campus and that it reflects the pedagogical orientation of the course on the college campus. 

If a U of M course offered through CIS is over-enrolled after the first two weeks of the high school term, the school should contact the CIS Director to discuss providing the instructor with additional support that term—for example, release days for the instructor to manage the additional work. 

Schools with a pattern of over-enrollment over a period of two years will be asked to meet with the CIS director and a faculty member from the University department that owns the course to consider whether the course can be offered again for U of M credit. 

Class size limits apply to the whole class—students enrolled for U of M credit as well as those who are not.

Course-Specific Class Size Limits

For specific class size limits for each course, refer to the Quick Guide to Course Requirements and Related Policies. Contact the CIS office with concerns about meeting the U of M class size limits. 

Combined Courses or Independent or Directed Study

A U of M course offered through CIS may not be combined with another high school course or offered as an independent study or directed study. This ensures that the course delivers the same quality, rigor, and student experience as the on-campus sections.

Courses Taught Over Two Trimesters or Quarters

Courses taught over two trimesters or two quarters must be taught in consecutive terms. 

Students Taking the Course for High School Credit Only

College in the Schools requires that at least 75% of the students in a U of M course offered through CIS be registered for U of M credit. This requirement is critical to ensuring that the course functions at the University level. All students, including those taking it for U of M credit as well as those taking it for high school credit only, must meet the eligibility criteria for the course and/or be approved by the CIS instructor. Instructors may elect to grade their high school credit-only students differently, but the course name and course requirements remain the same as for those who register for U of M credit.

Student Teachers

Student teachers are not allowed to teach U of M courses through CIS. CIS instructors should consult with their faculty coordinator to determine potential contributions or roles, such as guest speaker, that a student teacher might take on. 

124D.09. The Minnesota Post-secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Act allows qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in University courses for dual college and high school credit, either on the University campus (as space allows) or through College in the Schools. 

The 2014 legislature amended 124D.09 to allow 9th and 10th graders to participate in courses offered through programs such as College in the Schools if (1) the school district and the concurrent enrollment program agree to the student's enrollment or (2) the course is a world language course currently available to 11th and 12th grade students, and consistent with section 120B.022 of the statute which governs world language standards, certificates, and seals. This legislation does not change the post-secondary institutions’ ability to determine eligibility requirements. 

Name Discrepancies: If you have a question about a name on your class roster, please contact Enrollment Services (cisenroll@umn.edu) immediately. Please note that class rosters display students preferred names, if provided.

Late registration requests: If you discover that a student who has been in your class for U of M credit is not on your official U of M class roster, contact Enrollment Services (cisenroll@umn.edu) immediately. To be fair to all students, registration after the deadline may not be allowed. 

Cancelling a registration/withdrawing from a course: As soon as a student stops attending or participating in a U of M-CIS course for U of M credit, the student, the instructor or school counselor must submit an online cancellation request form immediately.  The cancellation form is available on the Students section of the CIS website. 

Unusual registration circumstances: Unusual circumstances, such as a student transferring into the class after the registration deadline, need to be documented in a petition request for late registration. Petitions are signed by the instructor and are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) Scholastic Committee. The petition is available on the Students section of the CIS website. 

Unusual withdrawal circumstances: A petition for late withdrawal may be required if a student is withdrawing from multiple classes or other unique situations. All petitions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the CCAPS Scholastic Committee, and approval is not guaranteed. Withdrawal from a completed, graded course is never approved. 

Cancellation processes and their effect on a student’s transcript depend on when a student cancels (see above schedule).

• 1. Student cancelling a class on or before the deadline to drop for the class

     1. • How: Remove classes in MyCIS that are still in an In-Progress status, or use the online CIS cancellation request form available on the Students section of the CIS website.

        • Effect on student’s U of M transcript: The course will not appear on the student’s transcript. 

• 2. Student cancelling after the deadline to drop for the class 

     1. • How: Use the online CIS cancellation request form available the Student section of the CIS website. 

        • Deadline: CIS cancellation request forms must be received by Enrollment Services before the last day of the class.

        • Effect on student’s U of M transcript: A “W” (withdrawal) will appear on the student’s transcript.

• 3. Student cancelling from multiple classes or unique situations

     1. • How: Use the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) petition form available on the CIS Students web page. All petitions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the CCAPS Scholastic Committee. Instructors must sign the petition and indicate whether the student finished the course and if they were doing passing work at the time they last attended class. Withdrawal from a completed and/or graded course is never allowed. 

        • Effect on student’s U of M transcript: Approved late withdrawal petitions may result in a “W” (withdrawal) on the student’s transcript. 

Not every term is the right term to enroll in a college course, even if the student is enthusiastic. As students consider enrolling in a U of M course through CIS, encourage them to think about the following questions: 

• • Will the U of M course workload fit with my other classes?

  • What other commitments do I have during this term—work, sports, music, drama, debate, time with friends, etc.? Can I meet the attendance requirements of the U of M course? 

  • What is the impact of enrolling in more than one advanced course when considering my other commitments? 

  • A student cannot wait to they see how they’re doing in a class before deciding to register for U of M credit, but must abide by specified deadlines. 

CIS instructors are asked to notify students midway through the class if they appear to be struggling so that they may be able to improve their academic performance or make an informed decision to withdraw. See Academic Progress Reports, below.

In schools that allow it, students may be able to withdraw from University credit but complete the course for high school credit only. However, students need pertinent advice when considering withdrawing from a course: 

• • A cancellation request form should be submitted immediately after deciding to drop the class. The form may be submitted by either the student, an instructor, or school counselor. 

  • A withdrawal does not affect a student’s GPA, and a W on a transcript should not be viewed as a negative factor in the student’s academic career. 

  • Withdrawal is allowed until the last day of class as long as the online cancellation request form is received before any final coursework is submitted or a final exam taken. 

  • In some cases, if a student is unable to finish coursework on time, it may be appropriate to arrange an incomplete.

Late Withdrawal

CIS students are allowed one LATE withdrawal during their time in the U of M Twin Cities CIS program. A withdrawal is considered late if a student cancels out of a CIS course for U of M credit following the midpoint of the course, but before taking a final exam or submitting final paper/coursework. Withdrawal before the midpoint of the course or for extenuating circumstances still results in a W but may be considered differently and may allow the student to late withdraw from a class again in the future. Students cannot late withdraw again for the same extenuating circumstance or after a term has ended. CIS students taking multiple U of M courses in the same term may be advised to withdraw from all courses if the extenuating circumstances presented warrant complete withdrawal. A W does not affect GPA, and a W on transcript should not be viewed as a negative factor in the student's academic career. 

CIS instructors are encouraged to notify students about their academic performance using their high school’s alert system, through email, or in person. 

If the high school’s schedule follows the campus schedule, instructors may use the University’s in-progress report system, but be aware that most U of M classes offered through CIS do NOT follow the on-campus schedule. If your course’s schedule matches the U of M’s on-campus start and end dates, and if you wish to utilize the U of M’s in-progress notification system, you may access it via the Faculty Center. Each course will have a “midterm grade roster” available in the grading tab in Faculty Center.

Providing In-Progress Notifications on Academic Performance (Policy)

Excerpted from Administrative Policy: Providing In-progress Notifications on Academic Performance: Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Rochester; edited for application to CIS.

Studies of student learning underscore the importance of frequent and timely feedback as an important contribution to success in student learning. Past experience shows that for students in academic difficulty, a timely notification about performance can result in appropriate corrective action. In-progress notifications also help advisers develop strategies for academic success with their advisees. 

• • 1. Instructors are required to provide in-progress notifications for all 1xxx-3xxx level courses to CIS students who, on the basis of performance to date in the course, appear to be in danger of receiving a grade of D [or] F. Such notification will be provided to students within a time frame to allow them to improve their academic performance or to withdraw by the withdrawal deadline. In-progress notifications will not be recorded on transcripts. 

    2. Instructors are encouraged to provide in-progress notifications for all courses and all students. 

    3. The provision of in-progress notifications is a courtesy to the student. Failure to receive an in-progress notification or a decline in a student's academic performance after a notification has been issued does not create the right for a student to contest a grade in a course.

Students must claim their U of M internet accounts in order to suppress their directory information (name and contact information), view grades, give their parents permission to see academic records, or request a transcript online. An active account is also needed to access University Canvas and library websites. 

[Handout for students] How to Activate your University of Minnesota Internet Account

Claiming a Student Account Online

Have students locate their 'My Account' and supply their seven-digit student ID number and birthdate. This information must exactly match the data entered in the student’s record at the time of registration. Since submission of one’s Social Security Number (SSN) is not required for CIS registration, the SSN field should be left “blank” to match “blank” on the student’s U of M record. However, if an error occurs, the student should try again including the last four digits of their SSN which may exist on record from previous contact with the U of M (e.g., admission application or inquiry).

Claiming a Student Account Through Technology Help (612-301-4357)

Customer service will claim the account for a student who does not have their ID number, but can provide their name and/or the email address they used to register for their U of M course.

University Technology Help staff encourage students to set security questions as soon as their account is created. Go to their 'My Account' to do so. This enables students to reset a forgotten password themselves. 

Required Use of Duo Security for University Applications

Duo Security (two-factor authentication) is required for University of Minnesota accounts. Two-factor authentication requires that users combine something they know (password or passphrase) with something they have (phone, tablet, or bypass codes) to gain access to their account.

To enroll in Duo, CIS instructors and students will need a passphrase (at least 16 character, one uppercase and one lowercase) and a device for Duo authentication (ideally a smartphone or tablet with the Duo Mobile app). These will also be needed each time access to University applications is needed. If access to or regular use of a smartphone or tablet will be a barrier, alternative options are available. 

The University provides resources to help understand Duo Security, set up and use Duo Security, and use bypass codes if you do not have a mobile device. 

Resetting Passwords

Anyone needing to reset their password should (if they have not set security questions) call Technology Help (612-301-4357). They can walk a student through a self-service reset (a step-by-step guide to changing your password) or they can call the student at a number listed in their file. In the absence of a number, they can perform a video reset using WebEx or Skype, in which case the student can show them a government-issued ID. After confirming the student’s identity by phone or video, they will want two additional pieces of secure information from among the following: shared secret on file, student ID number, address (if suppressed), home phone (if suppressed), middle initial, date of birth.

After proper identification, Technology Help will issue a temporary password and describe how to change it. They can stay on the line to offer assistance if additional questions about resetting the password should arise. Temporary passwords last until the password is reset or until 11 p.m. on the day received.

Students can suppress their public directory information (that is, data publicly available: name; dates of enrollment and registration status; major, advisor, college, and class level; academic awards and degrees received) and limited directory information (information is made available to student groups, staff, and faculty at the University of Minnesota by request: mailing address, email address, and telephone number). 

Private student information (including social security number, birthdate, grades, student ID number, and GPA) may not be accessed by a third party—other than University officials who need the information to serve the student—without the student’s permission. 

How to suppress your information at the University

Go to MyU, select “My Info” at the left. Here you can choose which piece(s) of information you want suppressed and click a button to enact the suppression of your data. (Note that One Stop can better assist students who suppress only their contact information than those who also suppress their enrollment data.) A step-by-step guide to Set Directory Suppression is available on One Stop. 

Related Links:

• Student records privacy and access (OneStop)