Student Assembly - Resolution 52 (2025-2026)

Expanding College Credit Limits

• Term:
  2025-2026
• Assembly:
  Student Assembly
• Status: Adopted by the Assembly
• Abstract: This resolution recommends that colleges respect students’ decision-making autonomy by keeping semesterly credit limits at or above 22 credits. The recommendation also permits an exception for first-year students.

• See full resolution

  Whereas, the ILR School limits students to taking 18 credits per semester,
  Whereas, the Brooks School of Public Policy limits students to taking 18 credits per semester,
  Whereas, the College of Engineering limits students to 20 credits per semester,
  Whereas, these limits prevent students from taking classes they are interested in, need to graduate, or hope to complete for career purposes,
  Whereas, students beyond their first year have acclimated to Cornell studies to the degree that they can determine their ability to handle a heavier workload,
  Whereas, the College of Arts & Sciences and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences have already successfully implemented 22 credit limits,
  Whereas, the Nolan School, Dyson School, Human Ecology, and AAP have no publicly available limit on how many credits a student may take in a semester beyond their first year, 
  Be it therefore resolved, no college shall maintain a semesterly credit limit for undergraduate students below 22 credits, excepting requirements for students in their first year at Cornell, 
  Be it finally resolved, such a change shall be implemented by all colleges by the start of the 2026-2027 academic year

• Resolution File:
  SAR52ExpandingCollegeCreditLimits.pdf (167.66 KB)
• Supporting Documents:
• Sponsors: Lydia Ella Blum (leb257), Aidan Moodley (adm289)
• Reviewing Committee: