Academic Policies

Credit Definition

A semester credit hour is normally granted for satisfactory completion of one 50-minute session of classroom instruction per week for a semester of not less than fifteen weeks. This basic measure may be adjusted proportionately to reflect modified academic calendars and formats of study. Semester credit hours are granted for various types of instruction as follows:

I. Lecture, seminar, quiz, discussion, recitation

A semester credit hour is an academic unit earned for fifteen 50-minute sessions of classroom instruction with a normal expectation of two hours of outside study for each class session. Typically, a three-semester credit hour course meets three 50-minute sessions per week for fifteen weeks for a total of 45 sessions.

II. Activity supervised as a group (laboratory, field trip, practicum, workshop, group studio)

A semester credit hour is awarded for the equivalent of fifteen periods of such activity, where each activity period is 150 minutes or more in duration with little or no outside preparation expected. Forty-five 50-minute sessions of such activity would also normally earn one semester credit hour. Where such activity involves substantial outside preparation by the student, the equivalent of fifteen periods of 100 minutes duration each will earn one semester credit hour.

III. Supervised individual activity (independent study, individual studio, tutorial)

One credit for independent study (defined as study given initial guidance, criticism, review and final evaluation of student performance by a faculty member) will be awarded for the equivalent of forty-five 50-minute sessions of student academic activity.

Credit for tutorial study (defined as study which is given initial faculty guidance followed by repeated, regularly scheduled individual student conferences with a faculty member, and periodic as well as final evaluation of student performance) will be awarded on the basis of one semester hour credit for each equivalent of fifteen contact hours of regularly scheduled instructional sessions.

IV. Full-time Independent Study (student teaching, practicum)

If a student’s academic activity is essentially full-time (as in student teaching), one semester credit hour may be awarded for each week of work.

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Integrity is another way of describing honesty. Students must understand that cheating in any form is unacceptable, whether copying another student’s work, copying information from the Internet or another source, bringing answers into a test, or giving answers to another student. Students who cheat will be subject to the Academic Integrity Policy.

If a faculty member discovers that a student has committed an academic integrity violation that warrants a sanction beyond a verbal warning, the following process will be followed:

1. First Violation: The faculty member will discuss the situation with the student, explaining the nature of the violation, and the nature of the sanction, or sanctions, to be applied per the course policy. The faculty member will also discuss the potential consequences of further violations. This discussion should be documented. If the faculty member imposes a sanction per course policy the incident must be reported to the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning via the academic warning system. The report must include the details of the offense, the sanction given, failure of the assignment, etc., and the nature of supporting evidence, hard copies of which must be forwarded to the Director of Academic Advising and Early Warning when possible.

In response to the first violation the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning will:

• Place details of the violation in a file prepared for that student.
• Communicate the violation, consequences for further violations, and the appeal process for the current violation to the student via letter.
• Communicate the violation to the College Judicial Coordinator for cross referencing against any student life violations on record for that student.

2. Second Violation: Will be discussed with the student and reported to the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning in the same manner as the first violation.

In response to a second violation the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning will:

• Place details of the violation in the student’s file.
• Communicate the second violation to the College Judicial Coordinator.

In response to the second violation the Judicial Coordinator will:

• Place the student on deferred suspension, and so communicate in writing to the student.
• Communicate the violation and sanction to the parents/guardians of financially dependent students in writing.

3.  Third Violation: Will be discussed with the student and reported to the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning in the same manner as the first violation.

In response to the third violation the Director of Academic Advising and Academic Warning will:

• Place details of the violation in the student’s file.
• Communicate the violation to the college Judicial Coordinator.

In response to the third violation the college Judicial Coordinator will:

• Convene a student conduct council hearing, according to established Student Life guidelines, to determine responsibility for the current violation. If found responsible, the student will be suspended or expelled from the college.
• Com municate a summary of the hearing to the college Provost.

In response to the findings of the Student Conduct Council the college Provost will:

• Inform the student in writing of the determination of the Student Conduct Council, and that a final appeal of that determination can be made to the college President.

4. Appeal Process: At any step, the student may appeal a decision.

• App eal of first and second violation sanctions can be made to the Dean of the school through which the course is offered, and then to the college Provost who will render the final decision.
• Appeal of Student Conduct Council Hearing sanctions can be made to the college President, who will render the final decision.

Academic Policies

The Academic Policies Handbook (pdf) for Academic Programs and Services details policies below, among others, and is updated annually. Students are encouraged to see their academic advisors with any questions regarding academic policy.

• Academic Advisors
• Academic Computing
• Academic Honesty
• Academic Performance
• Accommodations for Ethical Concerns
• Attendance Policy
• Changes of Curriculum (changing majors)
• Classroom Expectations
• Continuing Education
• Credit Course Load
• Credit by Examination
• Credit by High School Articulation
• Education Law 224-a (academic rights of students pertaining to religious belief)
• FERPA (The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)
• Final Exams
• Grades and Grade Point Average
• Graduation Confirmation
• Leaves of Absence
• Multiple Degrees
• Placement Testing
• Readmit/Reentry Process
• Recognition of Academic Achievement
• Registering for Courses
• Repeating Courses
• Requirements for Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor’s Degree Programs
• Student Complaints
• Substitution or Waiver of Courses by Advisement
• Suspension or Expulsion from College
• Transfer Credit
• Withdrawal from College
• Withdrawal from Courses  

Veterans Affairs Pending Payment

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

• Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class;
• Provide written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.