51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Contents

General Requirements For Graduation
     Definition of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Credit
     Credits Earned, Grade-Point Averages
     Credits Earned, Grade-Point Averages
     Participation in Commencement
     Residence
     Certifying that Degree Requirements are Completed
     Students Proceeding to Cooperative Degree Programs
Academic Difficulty: Probation and Dismissal
     Academic Probation
     Satisfactory Academic Progress
     Mandatory Academic Leave
     Unresolved Grades
     Dismissal from the College
     Disastrous Term
     Appeal Process
Essential Terms and Procedures
     Pre-Enrollment and Registration
     Full-Time Enrollment
     Part-Time Enrollment ("Special Status")
     Overloads and Overload Fees
     Auditing
     Continuing Education Courses and Enrollment by High School Students
     Second Bachelor's Degree
Credits
     Classification
     Transfer credits
     Repeating Courses
     Credit-By-Examination
     Advanced Placement (AP) 
     International Baccalaureate Examinations
     Cambridge A-Level Examinations
Grading
     Grade Reports
     Grading System
     Incomplete Work
     Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
     Sequenced Courses
     Cumulative Grade Point Index
     Major Index
     Grade Changes
Academic Distinction
     Dean's List and Graduation Honors
     Phi Beta Kappa
Majors
     Independent Majors
     Multiple Majors and Minors
Adding, Dropping, or Withdrawing from Courses
Class Attendance and Excused Absences
     Examinations 
Leaves of Absence, Voluntary Withdrawal and Readmission
     Leaves of Absence
     Withdrawal from the College and Readmission
     Official Withdrawal
     Re-enrollment
     Unofficial Withdrawal
     Special Circumstances
Student Records
     Privacy and Access to Student Records
     Name Changes

General Requirements For Graduation

Definition of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Credit
Each full (1.0 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credit) course includes, at a minimum, the equivalent of 210 minutes per week of instructional time for 10 weeks (inclusive of the final exam period). Some courses carry additional lab or discussion sections. Students are expected to devote a minimum of 2 hours of study outside of class time for every hour in class.

Credits Earned, Grade-Point Averages
To graduate, a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø student must successfully complete at least 35.8 credits. These include any approved transfer credits, off-campus program credits and credit-by-examination. (For details, see the sections on “Transfer credits,” and “Credit-By-Examination”) To graduate, students must have a 2.0 (C average) or better grade point average in courses counted for graduation. Students must also have a 2.0 average or better in all courses required for the major and minor.

Participation in Commencement
All students who have satisfied the requirements for the degree can participate in Commencement, including those who have officially graduated in the middle of the year and those who have graduated out of residence. Students who have not satisfied all graduation requirements but have completed at least 32.3 credits by the end of the spring term are allowed to participate in Commencement without receiving the degree. Such students who will have completed at least 29.3 credits at the end of winter term and who wish to participate in Commencement must register for at least 3 credits in the spring term and must sign a form acknowledging that failure to complete at least 32.3 credits by the end of spring term will keep them from participating in Commencement; the form must be submitted to the Registrar no later than the end of winter term. Students who participate in Commencement but have 2.5 or more credits remaining typically must return to campus to complete those remaining credits in residence (see below). Students who participate in one Commencement are not allowed to participate again in a later Commencement, unless they have earned a second degree (see below). All students planning to graduate and to participate in a Spring Commencement must submit to the Registrar’s Office a signed form (available on the Registrar portal under Student Tools/Student Forms) notifying the Registrar of their intent to graduate, no later than May 1 of the expected graduation year.

Residence
At least 13.5 of the credits required for graduation must be earned at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Students must be enrolled in residence at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for at least two of the last three terms immediately before graduation and for at least six of the final twelve credits. The final term must be in residence, except for students on approved off-campus programs; in the common event that the off-campus transcript does not arrive promptly, neither the degree nor Latin Honors can be conferred on the student until the next faculty vote to award degrees. “In residence” means taking classes taught on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø campus by 51³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty. This requirement is waived for students completing approved cooperative programs leading to professional degrees.

The normal time for earning a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree is four years. Students may graduate in fewer than four years if they have completed all requirements, including residency, by the end of their last term and if they notify the Registrar of their desire to graduate early by the second week of the term preceding the final term. (e.g., by the second week of the winter term for a spring graduation.)

Certifying that Degree Requirements are Completed
Each student is responsible for completion of all requirements for the degree and should check progress regularly with his or her advisor and by reviewing the Degree Audit, which is available continuously at the Registrar's website.

In cases where the student is finishing degree requirements out of residence the student must receive permission from the Associate Dean of the College (Old Main 105) prior to the close of the student’s final proposed term in residence. The Office of the Registrar does not certify completion of the requirements until it has received an official transcript from each of the institutions where the work has been done. In exceptional cases, where the Registrar has determined that the official transcript is forthcoming, the Registrar may accept informal communication from another institution.

There are cases when students require substitutions for degree requirements. These must be made prior to the last term before graduation. Note also that all majors and minors must also be declared prior to the last term before graduation. Such late substitutions or declarations may incur a late fee as indicated in the “Tuition and Fees” portion of this catalog. The use of transfer, off-campus, or exam credits toward major or minor requirements must be approved by the appropriate program chair. Other substitutions must be approved through petition to the Curriculum Committee by the second week of the term preceding the student’s final term.

When the Office of the Registrar certifies that degree requirements have been completed, the degree is ordinarily conferred at the next meeting of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø faculty at which such business is normally conducted. Exceptions may be approved by the Registrar.

Students Proceeding to Cooperative Degree Programs
Students participating in a cooperative program leading to a professional degree as well as a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree should consult with the Registrar by the third week of the fall term of their final year at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø to ensure that they complete the necessary 51³Ô¹ÏÍø requirements before leaving for the professional school. The end of the first year at the cooperating institution is the earliest possible time a student may receive a degree. In many cases, additional time is necessary. Students should check with the Registrar if they have questions regarding when the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree will be received.

Academic Difficulty: Probation and Dismissal

In cases where students fail to meet the academic standards of the College, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø reserves the right to place students on academic probation, on academic leave, or to dismiss them from the College. The Academic Standing Committee monitors students' academic status at the end of each term. In considering students’ academic situations, the committee treats each student’s case on its merits. It may consider courses attempted, credits and grades earned and the trend of performance.

Academic Probation
Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA or their number of credits earned fail to meet the guidelines for Satisfactory Academic Progress defined in the table below, or if they receive two credits of F or U in one term. Three terms is the maximum time normally allowed for a student to return to good academic standing. Students on academic probation may be returned to good standing at the discretion of the Academic Standing Committee after the cumulative grade point average is raised to 2.0 or above and they have met the standard required for number of credits earned per term. Transfer, summer study, and exam credits count toward the credit accumulation rate, at the rate of 1/3 of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø term per 51³Ô¹ÏÍø course credit.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To remain at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, degree-seeking students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory academic progress is defined in terms of accumulation of credits toward a degree and as the maintenance of a grade point average consistent with graduation requirements.

Students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they accumulate credits per term and achieve a grade point average consistent with the following table.

Credits Earned	GPA Required	Credit/Term Required
0 - 2.9	1.4	1.5
3 - 5.9	1.5	1.7
6 - 8.9	1.6	1.9
9 - 11.9	1.7	2.0
12 - 14.9	1.8	2.1
15 - 17.9	1.9	2.2
18 or more	2.0	2.33

The table above is consistent with the principle that Satisfactory Academic Progress at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø requires that a student be able to complete the graduation requirements in no more than 5 years with a cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.00.

Courses graded S/U do not count toward the grade point average in satisfactory academic progress.

Students enrolling in 2.5 credits or more in a term are considered to be full time. For those enrolling in fewer than three credits, each credit of enrollment is counted as 1/3 of a term toward satisfactory academic progress.

For federal financial aid purposes, full-time enrollment is defined as enrollment in 12 semester hours per academic term or 24 semester hours per academic year. Since one 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credit is equivalent to 3.33 semester hours, a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø student enrolling in 2.5 credits each of the three 51³Ô¹ÏÍø terms would earn 7.5 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credits or 25 semester hours per academic year.

For details on the financial aid implications of unsatisfactory academic progress, see the section on Financial Aid.

Academic Leave
Where the Academic Standing Committee wishes to impose a penalty short of dismissal, it may place a student on mandatory academic leave for one or more (in most cases two) terms. Students on mandatory academic leave need not petition for readmission to the College. Upon their return, they will be placed on academic probation with a requirement that they earn three credits and a GPA of 2.0 in the new term. During the time they are on leave, their transcripts show that they were dropped for unsatisfactory scholarship. Normally students will be placed on mandatory academic leave after a term has ended, but if a student fails to attend class or submit work for three continuous weeks the Academic Standing Committee may place a student on mandatory academic leave in the course of a term and award the student grades of W for the term. If the Academic Standing Committee places a student on mandatory academic leave in the course of a term, the Associate Dean of the College shall determine the student’s withdrawal date.

Students who withdraw from all courses during a term in which they are on probation, thereby delaying determination of whether probationary conditions have been met, are put into a non-mandatory academic leave status and must obtain approval from the Associate Dean of the College, Old Main 101, at least four weeks prior to the start of the next term for which they wish to enroll.

Unresolved Grades
Students in academic difficulty who return to the College with unresolved grades (i.e., grades of I or NR) do so at their own risk. In such cases the Academic Standing Committee may drop a student if the final grades replacing the grades of I or NR prove to be unsatisfactory, and in these cases dismissal is effective immediately.

Dismissal from the College
Students placed on probation are expected to consult with their faculty advisors and make immediate plans to improve their academic performance. If they do not show evidence of the ability to meet the College’s academic standards, they should expect to be dismissed from the College. The Academic Standing Committee may also set specific requirements for a student to attain in a given term if the student is to avoid being placed on mandatory leave or dismissed at the end of that term. Students should not assume that they have three terms on probation before being dismissed from the College. A student who has been dismissed for a first time has the right to request readmission. At the time a student is notified of the decision to dismiss (within a week or two after grades for a given term are recorded), that student will also be notified whether the Academic Standing Committee will allow an appeal to that decision immediately or if the student must wait a designated period of time before submitting an appeal. As such, the timeline for submitting an appeal can vary depending on the particular case. A student who is granted readmission and is then dismissed for a second time for poor scholarship does not have the right to appeal. The Academic Standing Committee may also dismiss a student from the College because of a disastrous term (see below).

Disastrous Term
Students are generally dismissed from the College after a disastrous term. The determination of a disastrous term and decision to dismiss are made by the Academic Standing Committee. The Academic Standing Committee usually considers a disastrous term to be one in which the student has earned 3 units of F, or 2 units of F and 1 unit of D, U, or W. A disastrous term may result in dismissal even if a student has not previously been on probationary status.

Appeal Process
A student dismissed from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for academic reasons may petition the Academic Standing Committee for readmission by contacting the Associate Dean of the College. Although the student should first discuss with the Associate Dean the basis for the petition, all such petitions must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean and require favorable action by the Academic Standing Committee. As stated above, the timeline for submission of the petition can vary depending on the circumstances, and that timeline will be included in the letter that the student receives from the Associate Dean of the College. The petition should indicate that the student has overcome the problems that led to earlier dismissal and include substantial evidence that the student is now ready and willing to meet the College’s academic standards. Such evidence may include:

• a statement from the student indicating he or she believes the problems that led to earlier dismissal have been overcome or have been successfully addressed, e.g., through counseling or medical care;
• an academic transcript showing acceptable or better work at another comparable institution;
• a supporting statement from an individual such as the student’s employer, physician, or counselor; and
• any other evidence the student feels may be appropriate.

A petition may be submitted immediately after dismissal; however, the most persuasive petitions are ordinarily presented after the student has had sufficient time away from the College to correct the problems that resulted in dismissal. In many cases, the College may refuse to consider petitions before a term has elapsed. Where appropriate, the College may readmit a student only under specific conditions. A student may not petition the Committee for readmission more than once in any given term.

Essential Terms and Procedures

Pre-Enrollment and Registration Check-in
Students currently enrolled and those ending leaves of absence must pre-enroll for each succeeding term. Course changes may be made during the first week of the term; after that any changes incur a late fee as indicated in the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.

Registration check-in takes place at the start of each term, at the times listed in the Academic Calendar, and serves the purpose of verifying attendance for the term. Payment of the balance of fees is due at that time. Students who do not perform registration check-in by the end of the term's specified check-in period are assessed a late registration fee listed in the Tuition and Fees section. All students receive instructions prior to registration check-in and pre-enrollment dates.

Full-Time Enrollment
All degree-seeking students are expected to enroll full-time. The normal full-time load is three credits per term, with a range of 2.5 to 3.5 credits. Students may enroll for fewer than 2.5 credits, but should be aware of potential ramifications. (See paragraph below on Part-Time Enrollment.) Students enrolled for fewer than 2.5 credits pay full tuition unless granted permission to enroll part-time. Two and one-half credits are considered “full-time” for the purpose of intercollegiate athletics.

Part-Time Enrollment
Degree-seeking students who wish to enroll for fewer than 2.5 credits and pay tuition on a per credit basis must obtain permission from the Associate Dean of the College. Permission is normally granted only when the student has an approved academic accommodation to pursue course work at a slower pace, has permanent employment or family obligations or needs fewer than 2.5 credits to satisfy all degree requirements. It is the responsibility of students to determine the ramifications of enrolling part-time, e.g., how it may affect eligibility for health insurance and financial aid, including outside scholarships. Part-time students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress at the same rate that is expected of full-time students relative to the course load for which they are enrolling (i.e. making Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the above table).

Overload Fees
Students in good academic standing may enroll for 3.5 credits. Students on academic probation must have approval of the Associate Dean of the College to enroll for more than 3 credits and may be especially encouraged to do so if the additional half-credit is a support course designed to help them succeed in all other courses. Students may enroll for 4 credits only with permission of the Associate Dean of the College. Permission is normally granted to students on the Dean’s List or with a cumulative grade index of 3.25 or better. Normally, no student may enroll for more than 4 credits. An overload fee will be charged to all students enrolled for more than 3.5 credits. Overload Request forms may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar or at the Registrar's website. Student requests for overload fee waivers must be brought to the Academic Standing Committee, and the Associate Dean can offer advice on what such a request entails.

The College normally charges students an overload fee for enrollment in more than 3.5 credits in a given term. However, students are not charged overload fees if the credit putting them into an enrollment overload is one of the following

—half credit for an entire academic year’s involvement in a musical ensemble, choir, or seminar series (e.g., one of several MUSE 180 involvements, CHEM 299);

—half or whole credit for serving as a course teaching assistant (provided that this TA credit is not necessary for the student to reach a total of 36 graduation credits);

—course training to be a resident advisor or peer leader (e.g., IDIS 130);

—credit for a specially designated support course (e.g., SPARK bridge program, TRIO 100, PSYC 150, Intensive English Language Program)

—credit for a half-credit course constituting the travel component specifically paired with a full-credit course preceding the travel.

Auditing
Students may register to audit a course. Regular attendance is required; the extent of participation in class is determined by the instructor. No auditing fee is charged to degree-seeking undergraduates. Within the first three weeks of each term, an audit can be changed to a credit. A student may audit a course previously taken for credit, with permission of the instructor. The audit will appear on the student's transcript, but does not alter the record of the first taking.

Enrollment by Non-Degree-Seeking Students
College and university graduates who hold a bachelor of arts or equivalent degree may take courses at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as continuing education students. Tuition is reduced and enrollment is limited to one course per term and is on a space-available basis. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø students may return as post-baccalaureate students to complete requirements for teaching certification or to take up to two credits, if approved by the Associate Dean of the College. Credits for this course work may not be used to satisfy requirements for a second degree.

High school honors students may, with a letter of recommendation from a counselor, take one course at the College in any term at a reduced cost. As with other continuing education students, enrollment is on a space-available basis. An "Early College" program is also available, in which a small group of local high school seniors with exceptional academic records may be approved to take one course per quarter, tuition free.

In special cases, the Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of Admission may recommend that an applicant for admission, although not granted admission, may for one term be enrolled for up to three credits. In such cases, the decision for either granting or denying permission to re-enroll will be based on the candidate's academic performance during this trial term.

Dependents of employees of the College may take up to one course per term at the College.

The Registrar is in charge of advising all non-degree-seeking students. Preliminary arrangements to take courses on this special basis should be made three or more weeks before the beginning of the term in which the student wishes to enroll. Final registration is on the second day of the term. All non-degree-seeking students are subject to the usual rules and deadlines for dropping, adding and withdrawing described in this catalog. Non-degree-seeking students may be refused permission to re-enroll if they do not maintain a C average (2.0).

Second Bachelor’s Degree
A person who holds a bachelor’s degree from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø may be admitted as a candidate for a second bachelor’s degree. In order to earn a second degree, the candidate must satisfy the residence requirement and established degree requirements, including a major field or fields other than those presented for the first degree. In the case that the first degree was earned at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, the minimum residence requirement is nine full-term courses. The tuition rates outlined in the "Tuition and Fees" section also apply to those seeking a second degree.

Credits

Classification
Students are classified as sophomores after they have earned 7.8 credits, as juniors after they have earned 16.8 credits, and as seniors after they have earned 25.8 credits.

Transfer Credits
Credits earned prior to matriculation at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø are evaluated for transfer by the Registrar on the basis of official transcripts submitted by the student before arrival. Course credits earned at other colleges or universities subsequent to matriculation must be approved in advance by the Registrar. Students must return a completed “Transfer Approval” form to the Registrar's Office no later than two weeks before the end of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø term prior to when the transfer course is to be taken. Approval is not given for more than 3 transfer credits taken during a single summer. Official transcripts for transfer credits are reviewed by the Registrar in consultation with members of the faculty when necessary. In general, liberal arts subjects in which grades of C or better were earned are accepted. Transfer work is credited at the rate of .3 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credits per semester hour, or .2 credits per quarter hour. (Equivalently, one 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credit is credited per 3 1/3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours.) 18 credits are accepted from community colleges. Because of the residency requirement, no more than 19.0 transfer credits overall may be accepted. With the permission of the department chair, transfer credits may satisfy major or minor requirements. Transfer credits are not counted into the grade point average. A course must transfer as 0.8 credits or more to satisfy 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Elements, major, and minor requirements. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has established articulation agreements with two-year IAI colleges by which students graduating from those institutions with an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree will be guaranteed a minimum of 18 transfer credits upon enrollment at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Repeating Courses
Only a few courses may be taken more than once for credit; the Catalog notes “may be repeated for credit” for such courses. If a student repeats any other course, only the credit earned the second time is counted toward graduation, but the record of the first taking remains on the student’s transcript and in the grade point average.

Credit-By-Examination
Credit is granted for the College Entrance Examination Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) examinations and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. Credit may also be awarded for A Level examinations taken in secondary education abroad. A maximum of 9 credits in all subjects may be earned through credit-by-examination. If more than one type of examination (AP, IB, A-levels) is offered in the same subject, credit is awarded for only one of the exams. Credits earned by examination do not satisfy Elements requirements. With the permission of the department chair, credits earned by examination may satisfy major or minor requirements.

The specific courses for which a student can earn credit on the basis of credit-by-examination are explained below. Each course is one credit. A student who takes multiple exams can only earn credit for a specific 51³Ô¹ÏÍø course once. A student may take a course for which he or she has been exempted, but the credit earned by examination is then canceled. All students continuing study in the discipline should consult with the chair of the department to determine the proper course in which to begin work at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
Credits are awarded according to the score received, as follows:

Examination	3	4	5
Art History	ART 105 and 106	ART 105 and 106	ART 105 and 106
Biology	-	BIOL 120	BIOL 120
Calculus AB	-	MATH 151	MATH 151
Calculus BC	MATH 151	MATH 151 and 152	MATH 151 and 152
Chemistry	-	CHEM 100A and 102A	CHEM 100A and 102A
Chinese	-	CHIN 201	CHIN 201
Computer Science A	-	CS 141	CS 141
Computer Science Principles	-	CS 127	CS 127
Economics-Macroeconomics	-	ECON 120	ECON 120
Economics-Microeconomics	-	ECON 110	ECON 110
English Lang and Comp	ENG 101	ENG 101 and 102	ENG 101 and 102
English Lit and Comp	ENG 101	ENG 101 and 102	ENG 102 and 120
Environmental Science	-	ENVS 101	ENVS 101
European History	-	HIST 105 and 106	HIST 105 and 106
French Language	FREN 103	FREN 103 and 201	FREN 103 and 201
German Language	GERM 103	GERM 103 and 201	GERM 103 and 201
Gvt & Politics-US	-	PS 101	PS 101
Gvt & Politics-Comparative	-	PS 220	PS 220
Human Geography	-	One credit in GEOG	One credit in GEOG
Japanese	-	JAPN 201	JAPN 201
Latin-Vergil	-	LAT 103	LAT 103
Latin-Literature	-	LAT 103	LAT 103
Music Theory	-	MUS 145	MUS 145
Physics 1	-	PHYS 110	PHYS 110
Physics 2	-	PHYS 130A	PHYS 130A
Physics C:Mechanics	-	PHYS 110	PHYS 110
Physics C:Electricity and Magnetism	-	PHYS 130	PHYS 130
Psychology	-	PSYC 100	PSYC 100
Spanish Language	SPAN 103	SPAN 103 and 201	SPAN 103 and 201
Spanish Literature	SPAN 103	SPAN 103 and 235	SPAN 103 and 235
Statistics	-	STAT 200	STAT 200
Studio Art-Drawing	No credit awarded
Studio Art-2-D Design	No credit awarded
Studio Art-3-D Design	No credit awarded
U.S. History	-	HIST 160 and 161	HIST 160 and 161
World History	-	One credit in HIST	One credit in HIST

International Baccalaureate Examinations
51³Ô¹ÏÍø recognizes the challenges and rigor of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, whose principles are consistent with the educational goals of the College. Students completing an IB Diploma with a score of 30 or above will receive one year of credit toward the completion of their 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree. Credit will be granted to Diploma recipients and to students completing only IB certificates as follows: Credit for two 51³Ô¹ÏÍø courses will be awarded for each IB Higher Level examination passed with a score of 4 or above. Standard examinations passed with a score of 5 or above will receive credit for one 51³Ô¹ÏÍø course. The limit of 9 total credits-by-exam of any kind applies. If two credits of English are awarded, the courses will be ENG 102 and ENG 120. If two Biology courses are awarded, they will be BIOL 101 and BIOL 120.

Cambridge A-Level Examinations
Students who have completed their secondary education abroad and who have “Advanced Level” or “Advanced Subsidiary Level” passes in liberal arts subjects may apply to the Registrar to have credits awarded which count toward graduation. The awarding of credit is not automatic; it depends on the A-level grade received, the testing syndicate that granted it, a recommendation to the Registrar from the relevant department at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø and the approval of the Registrar. The application for credit must be made during the first year of residence at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø also recognizes the Cambridge Pre-U examinations. A maximum of two credits may be awarded for each examination, but one or no credit may be recommended by the department. A grade of C (3) is the passing requirement for A-levels, and M1-M3 or D1-D3 for the Pre-U exams. Departments may also require a student first to pass a course for which the A-level credit is a prerequisite. Credit is not awarded for ordinary level examinations.

Grading

Grade Reports
Grades are reported at the close of each term to the student, faculty advisor, Associate Dean of the College and Dean of Students. Instructors are asked to inform the Associate Dean of the College whenever a student’s work in a course becomes unsatisfactory during the term. Grade reports are sent electronically to campus email addresses unless paper copies are explicitly requested. Students may request copies of their grades to be sent to their parents or guardians by contacting the Office of the Registrar.

Midterm grades are required for all students doing work below C, for the purpose of directing students to appropriate helpful campus resources. Midterm grades are also required for all students, including transfers, in their first year at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. These grades are distributed to students, their faculty advisors and the deans. Midterm grades do not affect the grade point average.

Grading System
51³Ô¹ÏÍø uses the conventional A to F grading system, with pluses and minuses, which translates into numerical equivalents ranging from 4.0 to zero as below.

Grade	Description	Grade Points per Credit
A+, A, A-	outstanding	4.0, 4.0, 3.7
B+, B, B-	superior	3.3, 3.0, 2.7
C+, C, C-	competent	2.3, 2.0, 1.7
D+, D, D-	passing, but inferior	1.3, 1.0, 0.7
F	failing	0.0
S	satisfactory, C- or better	-
U	unsatisfactory, below C-	-
I	incomplete	-
NR	not recorded
HB	Honor Board	-
W	withdrawal	-
P	passing-used in advanced work for Honors to indicate passing work for which a grade will be assigned when the 3-term sequence is completed
T	transfer	-

Incomplete Work
A grade of incomplete (I), with an extension of time to complete work after the end of the term, is granted for situations beyond the student’s control. It is not granted for work simply neglected. In the absence of an approved incomplete, each student’s work for the term, including all examinations, reports, notebooks, essays and laboratory work must be handed in by 10 p.m. on the last day of examinations (or such earlier due dates as the instructor sets). Instructors do not have the authority to set later due dates.

To request an incomplete, a student should:

• obtain an "Application for an Incomplete" form from the Office of the Registrar (or website) or from the Associate Dean’s office;
• obtain the approval of the instructor on the application form listing coursework to be completed and a due date;
• receive the approval of the Associate Dean of the College;
• return the completed form to the Office of the Registrar by the first day of final examinations.

Only in exceptional cases, such as serious illness, is the application procedure abridged, when the Associate Dean of the College may initiate the award of a grade of incomplete. Requests for incompletes submitted after the first day of final exams are granted only if they involve unforeseen circumstances such as illness arising during examination week; all such late requests must be submitted by the end of exam week.

If an incomplete grade is approved, the student normally has four weeks from the last day of exams to complete the work unless another date is specified on the application for the incomplete grade. All incomplete work must be submitted before the end of the term following the one in which the incomplete is granted. Petitions for extensions of the completion deadline may be submitted to the Associate Dean of the College, but will normally not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances. The student is responsible for submitting the completed work to the instructor. No credit is given for late work. Work sent by U.S. mail to the instructor should be sent by registered mail; the College is not responsible for materials lost by regular mail or electronic transmission. Students using electronic transmission should keep copies of the work they have sent as well as proof of transmission. They should also request verification that their work arrived and arrived in a format that could be read. Work should not be sent by campus mail or entrusted to a third party for delivery. The instructors are encouraged to submit grades within one week of receipt of the remaining course work.

When an incomplete has been granted, the faculty member records a provisional grade based upon the work completed by the student at the time, taking the entire course into consideration, including the missing assignments. The grade of I is reported to the student by the Office of the Registrar. If the student fails to submit any further work by the stipulated deadline, the provisional grade becomes the final grade.

Students on probation and others whose records are reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee should note that incompletes delay review; such delays may result in late placement on probationary status or in late dismissal even though the committee’s action has to be taken after the start of the next term.

Approval of an incomplete does not grant the student permission to stay in the residence halls after the usual closing date.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 may stipulate for one letter-graded course per term that the grade shall be S or U. A maximum of four courses may be designated for S/U grading. Instructors do not know when a student has elected to take a course on an S/U basis. They issue a letter grade that is converted afterwards to S or U. In order to earn an S this letter grade must be C- or higher. Grades of U do not earn credit and do not satisfy any graduation requirement. No course used to satisfy the Preceptorial, or Elements requirements, no course required for a student’s major or minor, nor in the department of the student’s major may be taken for elective S/U grading, since the intent of elective S/U is to encourage students to enroll for courses beyond their major field of study. An exception is made, however, for students enrolling in independent studies in their major where the instructor explicitly requests that the course be graded S/U.

A student registers for the S/U option by filing a completed Election of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading Form with the Office of the Registrar. Changes may be made until the eighth week of the term. No changes to or from elective S/U status may be made after the eighth week of the without approval from the Academic Standing Committee.

Sequenced Courses
If a student receives a grade below C- in a course that is part of an established sequence, he or she should meet with his or her faculty advisor to review the wisdom of taking the next course in the sequence.

Cumulative Grade Point Index
This is defined as the grade point average of all courses taken in residence at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. This index is used to determine class rank and graduation honors. Transfer and off-campus grades do not figure into the cumulative grade point average.

Major Index
This is defined as the grade point average of all courses required for the major. When choices exist, the Registrar selects those courses with the highest grades. Required courses outside the major department specified by course number are counted in this index. A major index of 2.0 or better is required for graduation. If a course required for the major is repeated, the first attempt is not included in calculating the major index. A grade point average of 2.0 or better is also required for minors.

Grade Changes
A grade entered by the Registrar may be changed only if the instructor’s request is approved by the Associate Dean of the College, in the case of clerical or judgmental errors, or by the Academic Standing Committee in all other cases. Requests based on an evaluation of work submitted after the last day of examinations are not granted.

Faculty regulations require that all grades be based on performance in the course. At the discretion of the instructor, the work to be evaluated may include written work, oral work, studio performance, class participation and attendance or any other forms of work appropriate to the course. Grading or classroom practices that reflect sex or race discrimination or harassment are a violation of faculty regulations. A student who believes his or her grade was based on factors other than performance in the course should first speak with the instructor. The student may make an appeal to the Associate Dean or Provost and Dean of the College; if, in the Dean’s opinion, the student establishes a reasonable probability that the grading was not in accord with faculty regulations, the Dean may constitute a review board.

Academic Distinction

Dean’s List and Graduation Honors
For the Dean’s List, a student must have earned at least 2.5 credits in the term, with an average of 3.60 or better and no C, D, F, U or I grades. The Dean may include in the Dean’s List a candidate for College Honors who receives a P.

Graduation honors are based on a student’s cumulative grade point index with the minimum requirements as follows: cum laude 3.50; magna cum laude 3.75; summa cum laude 3.90. Such honors must also be recommended by the Academic Standing Committee and voted by the faculty. For summa the Committee normally requires at least 27 51³Ô¹ÏÍø credits, 18 of which must be graded on the A-F scale, and no U grades. The quality of transfer credit is also considered for summa. Students participating in Commencement but with remaining requirements to satisfy (including any incompletes or student teaching) are not accorded Latin Honors until all course work is complete.

Phi Beta Kappa
The Delta Chapter of Illinois was founded at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø in 1916, the first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in a liberal arts college in Illinois. Seniors and a small number of juniors distinguished for high academic achievement are elected annually.

Majors

Self-Designed Majors
Students working with two or more faculty members may craft a self-designed major that combines work in several departments. Approval of the Curriculum Committee is required and can occur no later than the end of the second term of the junior year. Robin Ragan, Modern Languages, will act as the contact person for advice on the development of self-designed majors, and students are advised to contact her either late in their first year or very early in the sophomore year if they wish to pursue this route. Students may also declare a self-designed minor with faculty sponsorship. See “Self-Designed Major” under “Departments and Courses of Study.”

Multiple Majors and Minors
Students may graduate with a major and a minor; a double major; or a major and two minors. Therefore, three majors, two majors plus a minor, a major and three minors, and the like are not permitted. The approval of the Curriculum Committee is required for all major and minor combinations. Combinations are approved only if the course work in one program shows substantial quantity in fields of study distinct from the other program(s). Each program must be essentially independent of the other(s) and the total educational program of the student must present a sound liberal education. Normally, no more than two credits may overlap between two programs in an approved combination.

Major and Minor
The Curriculum Committee grants blanket approval, subject to the restrictions noted in the Courses of Study section of the catalog, to the following combinations of a major and a minor:

• two different departments or two modern languages
• major-minor combinations within a single department so long as the major and minor represent distinct fields of study. Thus, combinations of Chemistry and Biochemistry or Studio Art and Art History would be acceptable, while the combination of a History major and a History minor would not.

Combinations involving certain interdisciplinary majors and minors create the possibility of enough overlap so as to jeopardize the independence of each program. Blanket approval is granted to combinations of interdisciplinary programs and a departmental program as long as no more than two credits are used in both programs.

Students wishing to elect combinations other than those granted above should consult with the Registrar. Some combinations may require a special petition to the Curriculum Committee. Students who wish to combine a self-designed major with a self-designed minor must have the approval of the Curriculum Committee.

Double Majors
Blanket approval has been granted to all double major combinations involving two different departments, two modern languages, a departmental major and an interdisciplinary major, as long as no more than two credits are used in both majors. Blanket approval has been granted for a combination of International Studies and another major, in the following circumstances:

• With a second major in a modern language, as long as no more than three credits are used in both majors;
• With a second departmental major, as long as no more than two credits are used in both majors.

Blanket approval has been given to the combination of Studio Art and Art History majors and to combinations among Classics majors under the restrictions stated in the Courses of Study section of the Catalog.

Students who wish to complete a double major other than those given blanket approval must petition the Curriculum Committee. In particular, students who wish to complete a double major, one of which is a self-designed major, must have the approval of the Curriculum Committee.

Students who complete a double major may not also add a minor.

Double Minors
For students electing two minors in addition to their major, each minor is subject to the same restrictions as stated above in the subsection on major-minor combinations. Students wishing to elect two minors not given blanket approval must petition the Curriculum Committee.

Adding, Dropping or Withdrawing from Courses

Courses may only be added or dropped during the first week of classes of each term. This time is referred to as the “drop-add period.”

To add a course:

1. A student completes a Change of Course Form from the Office of the Registrar and obtains the permission of his or her faculty advisor and the instructor of the course.
2. The student then returns the signed form to the Office of the Registrar.
3. After the drop-add period, courses may be added only in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the Associate Dean of the College, acting on behalf of the Academic Standing Committee. Students seeking permission for a late drop-add should consult first with their academic advisor and then with the Associate Dean of the College in Old Main 105.

Students who fail to turn in a course change form by the deadline will be subject to a late fee of $40.

To drop a course:

1. A student completes a Change of Course Form available from the Office of the Registrar and obtains the permission of his or her faculty advisor.
2. The student returns the completed form to the Office of the Registrar by the end of the drop-add period. Courses dropped do not appear on a student's transcript.

Students must enroll for all work for which they desire credit. They must accept responsibility for verifying that they are officially enrolled in the courses that they are attending. To assist students in verifying their enrollments, the Office of the Registrar e-mails students their enrollments as of the first day of the term and after the drop-add period. Students should check the final enrollment carefully and report discrepancies to the Office of the Registrar. Students can check their enrollment at any time by consulting the Office of the Registrar’s website.

After the drop-add period a student may only withdraw from a course or elect S/U grading. (See section on the S/U option for this.) To request withdrawal from a course:

1. The student completes a course withdrawal form, available from the Office of the Registrar.
2. A “W” (withdrawal) is recorded as of the date the student submitted the completed withdrawal request to the Office of the Registrar. A “W” does not count in grade indices. Although individual course withdrawals do not affect a student's status as "full-time" (e.g. for financial aid purposes), the withdrawal option should be used very sparingly.
3. Withdrawal from First Year Preceptorial is allowed only under very unusual circumstances (i.e., those outside of the student’s control). A student who believes such a withdrawal is warranted must obtain a course withdrawal form from the Office of the Registrar and seek the permission of the Associate Dean of the College, Old Main 105.

After the eighth week of classes, withdrawals are permitted only in extenuating circumstances such as illness. For half-credit courses that meet for only 5 weeks, withdrawal is permitted only up to the end of the fourth week of class. Requests based on loss of interest or desire to improve one’s grade point average are not approved. Students claiming extenuating circumstances must:

1. Make a withdrawal request to the Associate Dean of the College, who may approve such a request on behalf of the Academic Standing Committee.
2. In the event that a student requests permission to withdraw after the deadline and bases the request on health reasons, the Associate Dean (as proxy for the Committee) will require written verification of illness from a health professional. This verification should be submitted in a timely way and should show that the professional writing the letter worked with the student during the time the student was ill.

Class Attendance and Excused Absences

Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to participate fully in class activities. Students who are absent from class, regardless of the reasons for their absence, are responsible for all work assigned in the course. In all cases of excused absence, appropriate deadlines for the completion of work missed must be arranged by the student with the instructor. Students who fail to attend the first day of class and who have not been excused may be dropped from that class.

If a student has been ill and has been treated at campus health services or by another physician, it is a student’s responsibility to see that written verification of the illness is obtained from the treatment facility. In case of a verified illness, the student is normally excused from the class; but the decision for any excused absence is the prerogative of the instructor.

Instructors may adopt more specific attendance policies in their courses. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the instructor’s policy and to abide by it. Students should be prepared to accept a grade of an F in a course for failure to adhere to the instructor’s attendance policy. It is the instructor’s decision whether to excuse a student from class attendance. Reasonable standards of humanity and responsibility are expected to prevail.

Examinations
Quizzes and examinations are administered during the term at the discretion of the instructor. Students who expect to be absent from class due to scheduled athletic events or class field trips should check well in advance with their instructors about possible examinations.

Final examinations must be held according to the published examination schedule. A student should not make plans to leave the campus before his or her last scheduled final examination. Faculty members may not make changes in the time of final examination for an entire course without prior approval of the Provost and Dean of the College, although in situations of urgent need a faculty member may permit an individual student to take an exam at an alternate time. A student is not normally permitted to make up missed final examinations, except with a documentation of illness submitted to and approved by the Associate Dean of the College.

Leaves of Absence, Voluntary Withdrawal and Readmission

Leaves of Absence
A leave of absence, whether for personal or medical reasons or for participation in individually arranged off-campus study programs, is requested through and recorded by the Office of the Associate Dean of the College. A student who wishes to take a leave should schedule an appointment with the Associate Dean, OM 105, x7214.

Personal leaves are granted when a student desires to interrupt his or her progress toward a degree for up to one year without withdrawing from candidacy for a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø degree. Personal leaves enable students to work, travel or pursue interests not involving formal studies that would count towards graduation from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. For a student in good academic standing, no qualifications are necessary to obtain a personal leave.

A student who is on academic probation may be required by the Academic Standing Committee to submit a statement of how he or she proposes to complete the degree program after returning from leave.

When a student requests a leave in the middle of a term, the Associate Dean of the College assists the student in arranging for incomplete grades or course withdrawals. No refund of enrollment deposit is made to students who withdraw from the College after going on leave unless approved in advance by the Provost and Dean of the College. Students who are on leave at the time of the housing lottery are not eligible to reserve residence hall space until their return to campus.

Withdrawal from the College and Readmission
When a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from all classes during a term, it is the College’s responsibility to determine the student’s withdrawal date for the purpose of the return of Title IV (federal) financial aid and the refund/cancellation of charges and non-federal financial assistance. (See Refund Policy, in Tuition and Fees, and Withdrawals, Refunds and Return of Title IV Funds, in Financial Aid.)

Official Withdrawal
For students to be considered officially withdrawn, they must notify the College of the intent to withdraw by contacting the Associate Dean of the College, who will guide the student through the withdrawal process. The withdrawal date is the date that the student notifies the Associate Dean of the College of the intent to withdraw and/or begins the withdrawal process by completing a withdrawal/leave of absence form.

Re-enrollment
Students who have withdrawn must make an official request to re-enroll by contacting the Associate Dean of the College; the agreement of the Academic Standing Committee is required for the re-enrollment of students who withdrew while on any form of probationary status. Students who re-enroll may be required to satisfy the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their re-enrollment.

Unofficial Withdrawal
If a student ceases attendance without providing official notification to the College, the withdrawal date is the midpoint of the term, except that the College may use as the withdrawal date the student’s last date of attendance at an academically related activity, as documented by the College. Students who leave campus or do not attend classes during a term without providing official notification are dropped from the College and receive failing grades in all their courses (unless the Associate Dean of the College in consultation with the Dean of Students determines that such grades should not be awarded). Such action is not typically taken without notification of the student.

Special Circumstances
If the College determines that a student did not provide official notification because of illness, accident, grievous personal loss, or other such circumstances beyond the student’s control, the Associate Dean of the College may determine a withdrawal date related to that circumstance.

Student Records

Privacy and Access to Student Records
All educational records of the College are managed in accordance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as amended. The act provides that a student may inspect certain records and also limits who may have access to a student’s records without the student’s permission. To inspect his or her records, a student should obtain a request form from the Office of Student Development. Pursuant to the Higher Education Act, students have the option of specifying a confidential contact who will be notified in the event that the student has been reported missing for a period of at least 24 hours. More detailed information on student rights under these acts may be obtained from the Student Handbook or from the Office of Student Development.

Name Changes
At the time of initial enrollment, the full name of a student is entered on his or her transcript record. Students who legally change their names while they are enrolled may ask that their name be changed on their transcript records. Appropriate documentation should accompany such requests. Such changes are made only if requested by students and only while students are enrolled at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. At the time of graduation, the names used on diplomas are those that appear on transcript records. Students who return to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø with new legal names after receiving their degrees have separate, cross-referenced records established under their new names, but the names that appear on their pre-graduation transcript records are not changed.