Academic Policies

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for graduation with a bachelor's degree, a student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credits. These credits must fulfill one of the curricular distributions cataloged by Caldwell College.

Further, students must fulfill the following conditions in order to be eligible for graduation:

1. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) in courses completed at Caldwell College.
2. A minimum of 2.0 (C) in all courses required in a student's major. A student must also satisfy all department requirements and successfully pass comprehensive examinations in the senior year.
3. A minimum of 45 credits taken at Caldwell College, with the last 30 credits of the 120 credit requirement completed at Caldwell.
4. A minimum of half the total number of credits for a given major must be completed at Caldwell College by all transfer students.

Back To Top

TRANSFER CREDIT

Credit will be given for courses completed at an accredited college or university with a grade of "C" or above, and appropriate to the curriculum chosen at Caldwell College. Students may transfer no more than 75 credits from a baccalaureate institution or 60 credits from a junior or community college.

Back To Top

HONOR SOCIETIES

Part-time students are eligible to become members of the various honor societies established at Caldwell College. Of special interest to adult students is Alpha Sigma Lambda, a national honor society which recognizes adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work.

For a listing of honor societies, click here.

Back To Top

KNOWLEDGE EQUIVALENT CREDITS

Caldwell College provides its students with the opportunity to earn credits through alternatives to course instruction. Academic advisors can inform students in detail about the following options:

• Credit by examination, through one of the following standardized testing services: CLEP, DANTES, OHIO, TECEP;
  
• Credit for non-collegiate military or corporate training courses accredited by the American Council on Education;
  
• Credit for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Prior Learning Assessment is a process by which portfolios are developed with the assistance of a PLA counselor. Students wishing to qualify for college credit for knowledge acquired in career, volunteer work, or a vocation may choose this method. Portfolios are evaluated by Caldwell College faculty. A maximum of eighteen (18) credits may be earned through PLA after the student has completed twelve (12) credits at Caldwell College. Fees for PLA are less than tuition for the equivalent courses.

Back To Top

REGISTRATION

Students are required to register for courses with the Registrar, or Continuing Education or on-line through the web, at the time indicated in the College calendar. A schedule of courses and specific registration procedures are available prior to the registration period. Students choose their courses in consultation with their academic advisor. No credit can be earned in a course in which the student has not registered. The College reserves the right to cancel any course for which there is insufficient enrollment.

Back To Top

COURSE LOAD

A normal course load for a traditional student is five or six three-credit hour courses in any one semester.

In most majors, the required four-year program totals 120 credit hours. Some science courses and additional prescribed courses necessary for completion of degree requirements in some concentrations may result in a four-year accumulation in excess of the usual 120 credit hours.

Back To Top

REPEATING A COURSE

A student may repeat a course once without appeal. A student may not repeat that course a second time without a written appeal to and consent from the chairperson of the department if the course is in the student's major or without a written appeal to and consent from the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs if the course is not in the student's major. When a course is repeated, the higher grade will be used in determining the Grade Point Average. Both grades, however, are shown/recorded on the transcript.

Back To Top

TUTORIALS

When a course which a student needs to complete degree requirements is genuinely unavailable, (i.e., a legitimate academic or personal problem has prevented the student from taking a regularly scheduled course) permission may be granted to take it as a tutorial. Applications, which may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, require the approval of the instructor, the department chair, the academic advisor, and the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs.

Back To Top

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent study courses consist of student-designed, faculty-approved, in-depth programs of study outside of the College's regular course offerings. Such courses may be pursued only by upper division students with a cumulative index of 3.0 or higher, for a letter grade, after a proposal has been approved by the faculty advisor, the chair of the department of the respective discipline and the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs.

Back To Top

ACADEMIC STANDING

The scholastic standing of a student is determined by the quality of work in class and semester examination. It is expressed in terms of the scholastic index also known as the Grade Point Average (GPA). The scholastic index is computed by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. For example, a student who has earned 30 quality points for 15 semester hours has a scholastic index of 2.0. Only course work taken at Caldwell college or in an approved affiliation program is included in the computation of the GPA.

Quality points are the numerical values assigned to the various grades as shown in the table below. For example, the grade "A" translates into 4 quality points per semester hour.

The cumulative index will determine the academic standing of a student at every point. A student is in good academic standing if the cumulative index is 1.8 at the end of the first semester and 2.0 at the end of every semester thereafter.

Back To Top

ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Full-time students (defined as students taking 12 or more credits per semester) are required to demonstrate progress toward a degree according to the following conditions:

1. The attainment of a degree within a maximum of six academic years, fulfilling degree requirements as described in the College Catalog for the year in which the student entered the College. The College cannot assure students that requirements and courses will be applicable for more than six years. Students in teacher education programs or other programs subject to professional licensing may be required to take additional courses in order to secure certification.
2. The successful completion of at least one-sixth of the credits required for graduation at the end of the first academic year, including summer school, and an additional one-sixth increment at the end of each successive academic year. NOTE: Students who are utilizing any financial aid should progress at a quicker rate to insure state funding which stops after 8 semesters. Any student receiving financial assistance who has completed at least one half of his/her educational requirements for a degree must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 to insure continued funding.
3. The maintenance of a minimum GPA of 1.8 during any one semester, a minimum cumulative average of 2.0 after two semesters, and a minimum of 2.0 in major courses during the junior and senior years.
4. Students who have not accumulated the minimum credits and/or the minimum cumulative average at the end of each academic year will be evaluated by the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs to determine if the student has the potential to complete the degree requirements within the maximum years allowed. A positive determination will indicate satisfactory progress.

The progress of part-time students (defined as students taking fewer than 12 credits in a semester) will be periodically reviewed by the Associate Dean of Continuing Education or Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs. Ordinarily, a student should be able to attain a degree within a maximum of ten academic years. After ten years, a re-evaluation of the student’s record will be necessary. Students who take more than ten years to complete a degree run the risk of having to repeat or add courses in the major field in order to keep their education current. A student who has been academically dismissed and then reinstated must show evidence of improved academic progress since dismissal in order to receive financial aid. Students will not be funded with any financial aid past completion of 150% of their educational degree requirement. (i.e. 120 cr. to graduate cannot exceed 180 cr. )

Back To Top

CLASS STANDING

To be classified as a sophomore, a student must have earned at least 30 credit hours; as a junior, the student must have earned at least 60 credit hours; as a senior, at least 90 credit hours.

GRADE REPORTS

At the close of each semester, grade reports will be available online. Report cards will only be generated if requested. No report will be available for students whose student account is not settled.

Mid-semester grades for students with freshman status will be available on the web. Upperclass students whose mid-semester grades are below C will be sent a warning letter.

Back To Top

CHANGE OF GRADE

A final grade may be changed for reasons of error in computation or in transcribing or in unusual circumstances with written approval of the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. Any such changes must be made within six (6) months of the posting of the initial grade.

Back To Top

APPEAL OF FINAL GRADE

In exceptional circumstances, if a student believes that a grade is unjustified, the following appeal process can be followed. An attempt must be made to resolve the matter in a face-to-face meeting with the faculty member. If the student believes that the situation has not been resolved, the student may meet with the Department Chair (or the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs if the faculty member is also the Department Chair.) If the student continues to believe that the resolution is not satisfactory, he/she may appeal in writing to the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. The appeal will then be heard by the Academic Foundations Committee which may request oral testimony from the parties involved. The final decision will then be made by the faculty members of the Academic Foundations Committee. If the faculty member is not available to participate in the appeal process, the department chair shall act as surrogate for the faculty member in the appeal process. At all times, the burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate that the final grade does not accurately reflect the student’s performance in the course.

When supported by sufficient evidence, any of the following reasons may constitute cause for challenging a final grade:

1. The grade was the result of an error on the part of the instructor in calculating, recording, or reporting a final grade.
2. The grade was awarded in an arbitrary or capricious manner.
3. The grade was the result of unfair discrimination. The student must provide evidence that the instructor did not apply a consistent grading standard to all students in the course.

None of the following shall be considered cause for appealing a final grade:

1. Disagreement with the course requirements established by the professor.
2. Disagreement with the grading standards established by the professor.
3. Disagreement with the instructor’s judgment when applying grading standards, assuming that the instructor has made a reasonable effort to be fair and consistent in exercising that judgment.
4. The desire or need of the student to attain a particular grade.
5. Consequences that a student might face as the result of a grade award.

An appeal of a final grade must be made within four months of the posting of the initial grade.

Back To Top

ACADEMIC PROBATION

Academic probation is a warning to the student that the quality of work is below the level which might reasonable be expected to lead to graduation. It is also a warning that the student will ordinarily be dismissed from the College unless the student returns to good academic standing by the end of the probationary period. This period is two semesters. The College reserves the right to dismiss a student after one semester of probation if the student has not improved significantly. A student will be placed on academic probation if:

1. The GPA for any single semester is below 1.8;
2. the cumulative average after two semesters is below 2.0; If as a result of course(s) taken in Winter or Summer session the student’s cumulative average drops below 2.0, the student will be placed on probation.
3. at the end of any semester during the junior or senior year, the cumulative average of all courses taken in the major field falls below 2.0.

While on probation, a traditional student may not register for more than 12 credits and is ineligible to participate in team sports and recognized student organizations. These restrictions may be waived at the discretion of the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs. All freshmen on academic probation are required to take La 096 Learning Strategies. Adult undergraduate students may not register for more than six (6) credits while on probation.

Scholarship awards will be withdrawn from students who fail to meet the minimum stated requirements for the scholarship.

Any student currently on final probation will not be allowed to work under the Federal Work-Study Program.

Back To Top

DISMISSAL

A student will be dismissed from the College if:

1. a student receives three Fs in one semester;
2. a student receives four fs in one academic year;
3. the GPA for a full time student in his/her first semester at the College is below 1.0;
4. a student fails to meet the required minimum GPA after a probation period.
5. A part-time adult undergraduate will be dismissed if he/she receives three F’s in one academic year.

Back To Top

REINSTATEMENT PROCEDURES

A student dismissed from the College for academic reasons may submit a petition for reinstatement to the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs after the lapse of two semesters. A student applying for reinstatement is cautioned that reinstatement is never automatic; the student's overall record (academic and disciplinary) is reviewed, as is performance in courses taken elsewhere during his/her suspension from the College. A student who is reinstated to the College must make an appointment with the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs to complete the registration procedures. Once reinstated, if the student again fails to meet the minimum cumulative quality point index required, he/she will be subject to dismissal at the end of the semester. A student who has been dismissed a second time may not apply for reinstatement.

Back To Top

COURSES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS

With the written permission of the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs and the department chair, a student may take a course in another approved institution. The student must have an official transcript sent to the Registrar of Caldwell College after completion of the course.

No grade below C will be accepted for transfer credit. Grades for courses taken at other institutions are not included in the student's cumulative index. At least the last 30 credits must be taken at Caldwell College.

Back To Top

TRANSCRIPTS

Transcripts of records issued by the Registrar are copies of the complete unabridged academic record of the student at Caldwell College. Requests for the issuance of transcripts must be accompanied by (1) the complete name of the student while in attendance, (2) the dates of attendance, and (3) the complete mailing address, including the name of the office or the title of the person to whom the transcript is to be sent. There is a fee of $5.00 for the issuance of each transcript. Transcripts may not be issued during periods of registration and of grade distribution. All financial obligations must be met before a transcript is issued.

Back To Top

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Academic Integrity, or honesty, in dealing with ideas, facts, data, interpretations, conclusions and expression of these, is essential to the very nature of any academic community. The nature and mission of Caldwell College demand a high respect for moral values, including intellectual honesty and justice. Every student who attends Caldwell College agrees to abide by this Academic Integrity Policy as long as he or she remains enrolled. Students who witness violations are strongly encouraged to report the academic dishonesty to the appropriate academic authority (instructor, chair or Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.)

Violations of Academic Integrity

Academic dishonesty includes but is not necessarily limited to the following:

Cheating

1. Unauthorized use of materials during tests and examinations.
2. Unauthorized possession of test or examination material prior to the administration of same.
3. Altering assigned grades.
4. Submitting, as one’s own work, assignments (for example, papers, data, computer assignments, or artistic works) obtained in whole or in part from another, unless specifically authorized to do so by the instructor.

Fabricating
Inventing data or other information to reach a desired conclusion.

Plagiarism
The unacknowledged, undocumented presentation of words or ideas which are the intellectual property of another as one’s own.

1. Direct quotation, that is, even a few of the exact words of a source, must be indicated by the use of quotation marks or indentation of the text and be properly documented.
2. Passages which parallel the thought or expression of the source, even without using the same words, must be properly documented.

Multiple Submission
Assignments, substantially the same as those submitted for credit in another course, may not be resubmitted in a second course without the explicit authorization of that instructor.

Interference
Behavior deliberately calculated to prevent or impede another student from fulfilling his or her academic responsibilities.

Complicity
Assisting another student in violating Academic Integrity by any of the actions described in this document.

Charges and Appealing Charges

If a faculty member determines that a violation of academic integrity has occurred, he/she must confront the student and report the incident to the faculty member’s department chair and to the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.

The student charged with academic dishonesty may appeal the charge to the chair of the department in which the incident occurred, or the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs if the faculty member is also the department chair. The department chair or the Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs if the faculty member is also the department chair, will investigate the facts and affirm or dismiss the charge.

Subsequently, the student may register a formal appeal with the Vice P resident and Dean for Academic Affairs who will convene the Academic Appeals Board. Chaired by the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs, the Board consists of the chair of the department of the faculty member involved in the appeal, one member of the Academic Foundations Committee, the Vice President and Dean for Student Life, and either an SGA officer or faculty member or administrator of the student’s choice. If the student is a graduate student, the Academic Appeals Board will be chaired by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and will include the chair of the department of the faculty member involved in the appeal, one member of the Graduate Academic Foundations Committee, the Vice President and Dean for Student Life, and a faculty member or administrator of the student’s choice. If the Board determines that an appeal is warranted, it will invite testimony from both the student and faculty member involved in the incident and, at its discretion, may solicit other pertinent information. The Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs and the Board are responsible for ensuring that the appeals process is correctly followed and that all evidence has been thoroughly examined. The Board’s decision is final.

Penalties and Appealing Penalties

Offenses against the Academic Integrity Policy are cumulative within the College. A record of each violation will be kept in the student’s file. Prior offenses will be taken into account in the assignment of penalties for violations of the policy. Faculty have the right to include offenses and penalties in the course syllabus that may go beyond the stated standard.

Following are the penalties to be imposed on students for violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.

First Offense (no record of prior offense within the College)

• The student will be assigned a grade of F/no credit for the assignment or examination.
• For offenses such as interference, when the student may not be enrolled in the course, the offense will be recorded in the student’s file.

Multiple Offenses (prior offense has been reported and is part of the student’s record)

• The student will be given an FX grade in the course indicating failure due to a violation of the College’s academic integrity policy.
• The College reserves the right to impose more severe penalties, including suspension for a designated period of time or expulsion f rom the College, for multiple offenses and other factors that may compound the offense.
• For offenses where the student is not enrolled in the course, the College reserves the right to impose other penalties including, but not limited to, suspension for a designated period of time or expulsion from the College.

A student will not be allowed to withdraw from a course in which there is a charge of violating the College’s policy on Academic Integrity.

The Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs is responsible for maintaining the necessary records and ensuring that the penalties for multiple offenses are appropriately administered. In such cases where the more severe penalties of suspension or expulsion are imposed, the student may appeal to the Academic Foundations Committee. The Committee will then make a final decision on the penal

REMOVAL OF X

A student may petition that the X designation be removed from the transcript. Undergraduates petition the Academic Foundations Committee; graduate students, the Graduate Academic Foundations Committee. In either case, if the Committee agrees to consider the student’s request, it will establish conditions which the student must meet for the X to be removed. When the Committee is satisfied that the student has met the stipulated conditions, it will notify the Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs who will see that the X is removed. The F will remain on the transcript.

Back To Top

GRADUATION

It can be easy to forget about important details in the excitement of graduation. The following are some items that should be taken care several months in advance of your graduation date:

Get Information on Your Comprehensive Examination Requirements
There have been some changes to the comprehensive examination requirements. Please be sure to contact your major department for clarification.

Submit a Graduation Application
Students must complete a graduation application several months in advance of their anticipated graduation date:

Graduation applications are available in the Center for Continuing Education. It is the student's responsibility to submit a graduation application in a timely manner.

MAKE A PLAN

When nearing your senior year (i.e., nearing ninety credits), it is important to complete a plan for taking your remaining courses. Completion of a plan will require that you have the most updated course rotation for your remaining classes; the department for the course(s) you're interested in taking can usually provide you with the most recent rotation. Once you have a tentative plan, please schedule an appointment with your advisor to review it. When scheduling this meeting, please be sure to indicate to the person making the appointment that it will be a "graduation check" appointment.

Reminder to August or December Graduates: Diplomas should be picked up in the Office of the Academic Dean.

PLEASE NOTE: Eligibility for graduation with honors requires that students be in attendance at the College for a minimum of two years, must have attempted no fewer than sixty credits at Caldwell College exclusive of CLEP, TECEP, ACT-PEP, and PLA credits, and have the appropriate grade point average. Students have the option of taking additional credits to meet the minimum credit requirement for honors.

Our office recommends that all students periodically review the graduation policies and procedures and deadline dates that appear in the catalog, newsletter, and student handbook. Taking all these steps will ensure that no unpleasant surprises mar the moment for which you've worked so hard.

Back To Top

COMMENCEMENT

Degrees are conferred annually on Commencement Day at the close of the spring semester. Students completing degree requirements in May are eligible to participate in these commencement exercises.

Students completing degree requirements in December may arrange to receive their diplomas by contacting the Office of the Registrar. These students are eligible to participate in the May commencement exercises following their degree completion.

Students completing degree requirements in August are eligible to participate in the commencement exercises the preceding May. These students must, by the Monday before commencement, be registered in any courses still needed, must have completed all other requirements for graduation and have met all financial obligations to the College.

All candidates for degrees are urged to participate fully in Honors Convocation, Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement.