Academic Advising

Faculty advisors are assigned to students to assist them with the proper courses to fulfill their program objectives. Anyone desiring to establish or to change advisors should contact the Registrar's Office in the Student Services building on the Niceville campus or registration personnel at the Fort Walton Beach Campus. Students may find out who their advisors are and how to contact them by checking the following locations where advisor listings are maintained.

• Counseling Office (Student Services Building), Niceville
• OWCC Fort Walton Beach Campus
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
• OWCC Eglin Center, Bldg. 251
• OWCC Hurlburt Field Center
• OWCC Chautauqua Center, DeFuniak Springs
• OWCC Robert L.F. Sikes Education Center, Crestview
• Vice President for Instruction (Administration Building)

Faculty advisors are assigned based upon the student's declared program objective. These advisors, other faculty members, or any counselor have advising materials and will assist students to prepare a program plan which may be used as a guide in the selection of courses each semester. Students who have not selected a program objective are assigned among the various departments.

Full-Time and Part-Time Status

Students are considered to be full-time or part-time according to the course load at the time of registration. A student enrolled in twelve (12) or more college, vocational, or college prep credits during the term is considered a full-time student. For adult basic education, ESL, and GED students, full-time is defined as enrolled in twenty-four (24) or more contact hours per week.

Audit Status

A student registering in a college-credit course on a "not-for-credit" basis will be enrolled in an audit status. Upon completion of the course, an "X" grade will be awarded with no impact on the student's GPA. 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. Excessive absences for audit students are treated the same as for credit students; the instructor may recommend to the Vice President for Instruction that the student be dropped from the course with a "W" grade.

Audit students must meet the same admission standards as credit students and must pay the same fees. Some occupational courses may not be available on an audit basis. A student wishing to audit an occupational course must obtain permission in advance from the appropriate department head or division director. College prep courses may be audited only with advance approval of the Vice President for Instruction.

Students may register or declare audit status at any time during regular registration, as well as through the end of the Drop/Add period. After close of the Drop/Add period, students may not change from audit status to credit status or from credit status to audit status unless they obtain both the written permission of the instructor and the approval of the Vice President for Instruction.

If a student declares audit status prior to the close of the Drop/Add period, the enrollment will not be counted as an attempt for purposes of full cost or repeat course regulations. If a student changes to audit status after the close of the Drop/Add period, the enrollment will be considered an attempt under such regulations.

Students receiving financial aid or veterans benefits should consult with a financial aid advisor prior to enrolling in a course as audit status.

Schedule Changes

Changes in courses or sections may be made during the drop/add period specified in the college calendar and/or in the Schedule of Classes each semester. Any such changes shall be accomplished by completion and processing of required forms through the registration area at any one of the OWCC campuses or centers.

Withdrawing From Courses

Student Initiated Withdrawal (Drop) during the Drop/Add Period

If a student withdraws from a course within the established Drop/Add Period, the transaction is considered dropping a course and no record of the enrollment will appear on the student's transcript, nor will the enrollment count as an attempt for purposes of full cost and repeat rules. Requests to drop a course must be submitted in writing on the appropriate form, signed, presented at the registration desk at any OWCC campus or center, and processed by the established deadline for the term of enrollment.

Students who are required by Florida Statute and college policy to enroll in college preparatory courses are not permitted to drop such courses without prior approval of the Vice President for Instruction, the Dean of Students, or the Director of Enrollment Services.