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Although no credit or grade is received when a student audits a graduate

course, regular course fees and special fees are charged.

Students who register on an audit basis may not change to credit status

after the end of the "add" period.

Official grade sheets and transcripts will contain the letter "N" to show

that the course was completed. If the individual fails to complete the

course the official grade report and transcripts will show a "Y" grade.

The student desiring to audit a course shall, prior to his or her enrollment

in the course, complete an application for admission to graduate study

and obtain the written approval of the instructor to enroll in the course.

Appeal of a Graduate Grade

Intent

This policy provides for due process in the rare instance when a student

believes that a final grade assigned in a course is erroneously calculated

or recorded, or is a result of prohibited discrimination by the course

instructor. It also provides a remedy in cases where the hearing process

sustains the student's claim.

Each academic department of the University shall have an Academic

Appeals Committee. Membership of the committee shall consist of at

least three faculty members of the department and at least two students

who are majors in the department's programs, all of whom shall be elect-

ed by the department faculty.

Students wishing to appeal a final grade must initiate the appeal within

twenty-five (25) calendar days after the beginning of the semester fol-

lowing the issuance of the grade. Summer school shall not constitute a

semester.

With the exception of the grade, no part of this procedure will become a

part of any individual's University record or file.

Appeals Procedure

The student should initiate the appeal by consulting on an informal

basis with the faculty member who gave the final grade. If no sat-

isfactory results are achieved, then the student may continue the

appeals procedure.

All grade appeals shall be made by the student in writing directly to

the faculty member who gave the grade within twenty-five (25) cal-

endar days after the beginning of the semester following the

issuance of the grade. A copy of the appeal must be sent to the

chairperson of the department in which the appeal is made. Summer

school shall not constitute a semester.

Should the faculty member find in favor of the student, the grade

change form, initialed by the department chairperson, shall be sent

within ten (10) University calendar days to the Coordinator of

Records. Should the faculty member find in favor of the grade as

given, the student shall be notified in writing within ten (10)

University calendar days.

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.

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

with a copy to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. 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.

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.

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 Services and University Planning

Office and complete a withdrawal form in the Enrollment Services and

University Planning Office. The Enrollment Services and University

Planning Office will consult with the appropriate academic dean or

department chair to assess student program status implications and also

notify the Records and Registration Office and the School of Graduate

Studies and Research after each case has been properly evaluated, clas-

sified, 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 reinstated to the University. Graduate

students have five years to complete a graduate program. They are not

required to attend in consecutive semesters.

24/Academic Standards