4.
Should the student desire, he/she may appeal a negative decision by
the faculty member to the Academic Appeals Committee of the
department in which he/she received the grade within ten (10)
University calendar days after being notified by the faculty mem-
ber. The appeal shall be made in writing to the chairperson of the
departmental Academic Appeals Committee. A copy should be
delivered to the department chairperson.
5.
The committee shall hold a hearing within ten (10) University cal-
endar days following the student appeal. Both the faculty member
and the student involved shall be invited to attend. The committee
shall have the power by simple majority vote to decide cases
involving grades erroneously calculated or recorded or where pro-
hibited discrimination is alleged. Should the committee find in
favor of the student, a recommendation of a grade change shall be
sent to the dean of the appropriate school. The dean shall thereafter
submit the grade change form to the coordinator of records after the
department chairperson has initialed the grade change form. A tie
vote of the committee upholds the faculty member's decision. No
student or faculty member shall sit in judgement if he/she is
involved in the case. With the exception of the grade, no part of this
procedure shall become the part of any individual's (faculty or stu-
dent) University record or file.
6.
In cases where the student alleges that the final grade is based on
prohibited discrimination, the student may, within ten (10)
University calendar days after being notified of the committee's
decision, appeal a negative decision of the departmental Academic
Appeals Committee, in writing, to the president of the University or
his/her designee. The president or his/her designee shall hold a
hearing within ten (10) University calendar days. The faculty mem-
ber, the chairperson of the Academic Appeals Committee, the stu-
dent involved and the University affirmative action officer shall be
invited to attend. The president shall have the right to direct the
change of the grade where he/she finds that the grade decision was
the result of prohibited discrimination.
Student Appeal Procedure
When a student has a problem, concern or difficulty with a faculty mem-
ber, the student should first discuss the matter with the instructor. If
agreement is reached, the matter is resolved. If agreement is not reached,
then the student may appeal to the department to which the faculty
member belongs. A meeting with the student, the faculty member and the
chairperson will be held. If agreement is reached, the problem is solved.
If agreement is not reached, then the student may appeal to the dean. A
meeting with the student, the faculty member, the chairperson and the
dean will be held. If a satisfactory solution is found, the problem is
solved. If not, then the student may appeal to the provost/vice president
for academic affairs in an attempt to resolve the problem. It is anticipat-
ed that, through the use of the above procedures, the problem will be
resolved and there will be no need for further interactions. The president
of the University is the final source of appeal.
Withdrawal From a Course
A student is not officially withdrawn from a course until he or she has
informed the Scheduling Office in writing of the withdrawal.
Students wishing to withdraw from all courses and leave the University
will inform the staff of the Enrollment Management Office and complete
a withdrawal form in the Enrollment Management Office. The
Enrollment Management Office will consult with the appropriate aca-
demic dean or department chair to assess student program status impli-
cations and also notify the Records and Registration Office after each
case has been properly evaluated, classified, and an exit interview has
been conducted.
Students who withdraw from scheduled courses during the first two
weeks of a semester, or an equivalent period during a summer session,
will be permitted to drop their classes without academic penalty; no aca-
demic record will be kept for those courses. From the fourth through the
tenth week, students who withdraw from their classes will receive a W
(withdrawal) on their academic record for the courses from which they
withdraw. An official withdrawal from all classes after the first ten
weeks of the semester or equivalent session will result in the student
receiving grades of WP (withdrawal/passing) or WF (withdrawal/fail-
ing).
Students planning to withdraw from the University under the provision
of this policy are subject to the current refund policy stipulated in the
University catalogue. There is no provision for a formal "leave of
absence."
Graduate students who withdraw from classes, but not from the
University, are not required to be readmitted to the University. Graduate
students have five years to complete a graduate program. They are not
required to attend in consecutive semesters.
Withdrawal From the University
Enrolled graduate students who wish to completely withdraw from their
courses must inform the staff of the Enrollment Management and
Retention Office of their intention to leave school. This office is located
in Hamilton Hall.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes for which they are registered. In
the case of unavoidable absences the student bears the responsibility of
arranging with the instructor for any necessary makeup work. In deter-
mining the course grade, the instructor will take into consideration work
missed due to absences.
Class Cancellation
It is the policy of the University not to cancel scheduled classes because
of weather conditions. In cases of an emergency which disrupts trans-
portation facilities or creates personal problems, students should make
decisions as to attendance which appear appropriate to them in their par-
ticular circumstances.
Adding Courses or Changing Courses
Students who have completed registration may, prior to the second
scheduled class meeting, add a course to their schedule by completing
the additional registration at the Scheduling Office.
Students who have completed registration may, prior to the end of the
add period, change a course on their schedule by completing the change
in registration form at the Scheduling Office.
Academic Credit and Course Load
The unit of academic credit is the semester hour which normally repre-
sents 50 minutes of lecture or recitation per credit during each week of
a 15-week semester. Seminars, research courses and laboratories bear
academic credit appropriate to the work expected of the students in the
course.
Students attending on a part-time basis while being employed on a full-
time basis may enroll for no more than six semester hours of credit a
semester. A full-time student may earn 15 semester hours of credit each
semester, but it is recommended that they not enroll for more than 12
semester hours.
The policy on course load is designed to permit a student to proceed in
the degree program at his or her own rate and yet protect the student
from registering for more credits than he or she can reasonably expect to
complete satisfactorily in a given semester or summer session.
Academic Standards/23