Academic Policies and Procedures

You are responsible for knowing university academic policies, your class schedule, your instructors and their office hours, and for regular attendance and satisfactory performance in all classes for which you are registered. See the University Catalog for a full explanation of the attendance policy.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Undergraduate students are placed on academic probation when their cumulative grade point average is less than a 2.00 (C). Probationary students are limited to a maximum semester enrollment of 15 credits. See the University Catalog.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL

Academic dismissal occurs at the end of each semester and the summer term. Students on academic probation will be dismissed if the university academic standard has not been met. This standard is based on accumulated credit, including transfer credit, credit by examination, and all credit attempted for which a grade was received (A–F and P, but not including official course withdrawals). See the University Catalog.

Undergraduate Academic Dismissal

See page 28 of the 2007–2008 University Catalog for more information about this policy.

Master's and Doctoral Students Academic Dismissal

See page 35 of the 2007–2008 University Catalog for more information about this policy.

INCOMPLETE WORK

An incomplete (I) is given because of circumstances beyond student control. Students have until the end of the sixth (6th) week of the following semester to complete the work unless the faculty member specifies an earlier date. A waiver of the six-week limitation requires permission of the respective dean. The incomplete will automatically become an F unless an approved waiver has been filed in a timely manner with the Office of the Registrar. It is a student responsibility to establish and maintain contact with the faculty member. See the University Catalog.

UNIVERSITY WITHDRAWAL

Students may officially withdraw from the university by completing a Change of Registration Status form and an exit interview questionnaire. Students receiving financial aid must check with the Office of Financial Aid to learn how the withdrawal will affect their financial aid status. See the University Catalog.

GRADE REPORTING AND POLICIES

Final grades are posted at the end of each semester to students' academic records, and may be accessed electronically on their PAWS accounts. Students who do not have access to a computer may request in writing at the Registration Center that their grades be mailed to them. These grades become part of the permanent academic record and transcript, and are not subject to change except on authorization of the instructor, academic unit head or program chair, and appropriate dean. The university does not release grades prior to the posting of final grades. Grades and academic standing are not released over the telephone.

Grade Reports

Students may view and print out their grades by going into the PAWS system and entering their TRACKS ID and password. Students who still prefer to have their grades mailed, may come to the registration center, fill out a form, and receive grades through the U.S. mail. These grades become a part of the official student permanent record and are not subject to change, except on authorization from the instructor, academic unit head and respective dean. 

During the eighth week of classes, students not making satisfactory progress in 1000-level courses are notified of their status by mail.

FORGIVENESS POLICY

The university forgiveness policy allows an undergraduate student to repeat an undergraduate course and apply the last grade earned, which could be an F, in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average. An undergraduate student may apply forgiveness to undergraduate courses a maximum of five times. No forgiveness is allowed for subsequent retakes. All grades received in any course, including those retaken under the forgiveness policy, are retained and recorded on the permanent academic record. These grades become part of the academic transcript. See the University Catalog.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT

The certification of transfer credit is done in deposit paid date order from official transcripts bearing the correct seals and duly authorized administrative signatures from all former higher education institutions. The Registrar's Office coordinates this process, certifies courses without respect to the major, and provides notice of official certification. The application of transfer credit to the degree program is a responsibility of the academic unit. Students may be requested to supply relevant catalog and/or course descriptions to the Registrar's Office. See the University Catalog.

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INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY CREDIT

Students with credit from universities outside the United States must provide an official English translation of all courses appearing on the academic record and, if necessary, of course descriptions and syllabi. The Registrar's Office must certify and validate the international university governing body, grading policy and length of the academic calendar as preliminary steps in the certification process. Certification is done by deposit date order. See the University Catalog.

ADAVANCED PLACEMENT

Credit is awarded for the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP) examinations. The appropriate credit is entered on the permanent academic record as a transfer course. See the University Catalog.

CHANGE OF MAJOR

The process for changing majors is explained in the University Catalog. Undergraduates needing more information about changing majors may contact Brenda Cline in the Records Office.

Students may change their major by filling out the Change of Major form and by getting the appropriate signatures.

Graduate students must also submit a program plan with any change of major form. Graduate students needing more information may contact Brenda Cline in the Records Office.