Academic Policies

Attendance

It is expected that students will attend all classes and required class activities. The attendance policy for each course is provided by the instructor in the course syllabus.

Change of Course (Drop/Add)

No change of course is permitted after the last date for such change as listed in the semester academic calendar.

Withdrawal From College

A student who withdraws from all courses in a semester is considered to have withdrawn from the College and must officially inform the Registrar’s Office and leave all affairs in satisfactory condition. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the grades of “F,” “U,” or “FA” being assigned. Tuition and other appropriate charges will be fully assessed. This applies to students who withdraw from all courses even if they intend to return the next semester.

Withdrawal for Students Called to Active Military Duty

Students called to active duty must provide the College with a copy of their military orders and follow these steps to withdraw from the College:

• Schedule an appointment with the school dean or department chair to discuss academic options. Depending on the point in the semester, the student may choose to withdraw without academic record or to take grades of “W” in all courses or to pursue grades of “I” in all courses.
• Schedule an appointment with Student Accounts to discuss the financial ramifications of the different academic options to determine which option will be the best choice financially. The student may be referred to the Student Financial Services for additional discussion.
• Submit the completed Withdrawal From College form.

If the student chooses to withdraw, it must be a full withdrawal; the student may not choose to remain in some courses and withdraw from others. Residence hall room and board will be prorated in accordance with College policies. Failure to provide the military orders will result in normal withdrawal processing.

Leave of Absence

A student who will be away from the college for more than two semesters should request a leave of absence.

To request a leave of absence, the student must submit a written request for a Leave of Absence to the school dean. The request must specify the reason for requesting the leave, a time limit (not longer than two years), and an outline of how the student plans to complete the program requirements upon return. The dean, in consultation with the program director, will review the student’s request. The student will be notified in writing of the decision.

An approved leave of absence does not automatically extend the student’s time to degree completion beyond the standard 6 years from initial matriculation, and may also result in the need to repeat some previously completed coursework.

A student on leave who does not return at the end of a leave will be withdrawn from the College as of the date the leave began.

If enrollment has been discontinued for more than two semesters, but less than two years, a student must contact the Office of Transfer and Graduate Admissions to complete a modified readmission process.

If enrollment has been discontinued for more than two years a student must repeat the full admissions process.