The degree of class attendance required may vary with the course or the instructor. Each classroom/laboratory instructor will set his or her attendance policy. Within the first calendar week or the first laboratory meeting of the term, the instructor will inform the students, in writing, of the attendance policy for that class. It is the prerogative of the instructor to determine grade penalties for absences. The instructor may reduce the course grade of any student who fails to meet the attendance requirements as set forth in the instructor's attendance policy. Students should understand they are responsible for all course material covered and that they are responsible for the academic consequences of their absences.
Students who are absent because of participation in approved college activities such as field trips, athletic events, etc., will be permitted to make up the work missed during their absences. Approval of such absences will be granted by the instructor only if advance notice in writing is given to the instructor.
Should the instructor be late in meeting a class or a laboratory period, students will wait a minimum of fifteen minutes. If during the fifteen minutes waiting period no notification to remain is given, students may leave without penalty.
Auditing Classes
Students can audit courses. Such courses count at full value in determining
the number of credit hours for which the student is enrolled. No academic
credit is granted for courses scheduled on an audit basis, and students
are not permitted to change to or from an auditing status except through
the regular procedure for schedule changes. The grade for auditing is "V"
(visited) and this grade should at no time be changed to a "W" on the basis
of the auditor's attendance in the course. The grade of "V" will have no
effect upon the student's scholastic average and students will not be permitted
to receive credit at any future date for their participation in a course
as an auditor.
Maximum Credit Hour Schedule
Graduate students may register for up to 12 credit hours in any particular
term. Students who desire to schedule additional hours (to a maximum of
16) must secure permission from their major department head.
Withdrawal From Classes
Students desiring to withdraw from one or more classes before the end
of the midpoint of the term must secure a Request to Withdraw form from
the Records Office. After completing the form, and returning the completed
form to the Records Office, the student will be given a grade of "W" in
the course(s). In cases where the student is no longer on campus, a written
request from the student received by the Records Office on or before the
prescribed date for official withdrawal will be honored.
Students who withdraw after the midpoint of the term are not eligible for a grade of "W" except in cases of hardship as approved by the faculty. Normally, students withdrawing after the withdrawal deadline date receive a grade of "WF" for the course(s).
A request for a grade of "W" past the deadline date is properly made on a Petition to the Faculty form available at the Records Office. The petitions must be completed, signed by the student's instructors, instructors' department head(s), and major department head, and bear sufficient documentation to support the hardship. The petition is reviewed by the Undergraduate Student Status Committee and students are advised in writing by the Records Office as to the action taken on the petition. Students should not assume that petitions requesting a grade of "W" will be approved until notification of the committee action has been received.
Incomplete petitions and/or failure to follow the prescribed procedures may result in the student not being approved for a grade of "W". The date that the completed withdrawal form or Petition to the Faculty (if later approved) is received by the Records Office is the official date of withdrawal.
No student will be allowed to withdraw from a course after the final class day of the term.
Students withdrawing from all classes during the refund period are entitled to a refund of a portion of the fees paid for the course(s). Students should check the Registration Bulletin to determine the date and amounts of refunds (if any) available. No refund will be given to a student who partially withdraws from the university.
Progress Reports
Instructors will provide academic feedback as the course progresses.
Each course will have a portion of the cumulative class grade reported
to the student prior to the midpoint of the total grading period. Prior
to the midpoint of the total grading period, all assigned and "turned in"
graded class assignments and examinations will be graded and available
to the student. Instructors will make every effort to be available during
their office hours for discussion of the student's progress in the course
prior to the midpoint of the total grading period.
Final Examinations
The faculty of a department will determine which courses in their department
will include a final exam. In addition to course objectives and standards
for evaluating students, the final-exam requirements will be distributed
to students for each course.
Disruptive Behavior and Academic
Dishonesty
A faculty member reserves the right to remove any student from his
or her course if the student's behavior is of a disruptive nature or if
there is evidence of academic dishonesty. In instances of disruptive behavior
and/or academic dishonesty, the faculty member will discuss the circumstances
with the student(s) before taking final action. In the event the student
cannot be reached, he/she will be given the grade of "Incomplete" until
such time as he/she can be reached. The student shall have the right of
appeal of the faculty member's decision first to the faculty member's department
head and then to the appropriate school dean, and, if necessary, to the
Vice President for Academic Affairs. Removal of a student from a course
under this provision will result in the faculty member's issuing a grade
of "F". A grade of "F" issued under these circumstances shall not be superseded
by a voluntary withdrawal and will be included in the student's cumulative
grade point average calculated for graduation purposes.
Grading System
The following are used to specify the level of performance in academic
courses and are computed into the semester and cumulative grade point averages.
| A | Excellent | |
| B | Good | |
| C | Satisfactory | |
| D | Passing | |
| F | Failure |
For subjects including both class and laboratory work, both portions are considered essential and the grades on each will be combined at the end of the term and reported as one. Failure in either class or lab may result in failure of the entire course.
A grade of "F" is assigned also if a student is removed from class under the provisions of the section on Academic Dishonesty.
| WF | Withdrawal After Deadline |
Withdrawn officially after the midpoint of the term. A grade of "WF" in a course is counted in the student's scholastic average as a failing grade.The following symbols are approved for use in the cases indicated, but are not included in the calculation of the semester or cumulative grade point averages.
| I | Incomplete |
| IP | In Progress |
This symbol indicates that credit has not been given in courses that require a continuation of work beyond the term for which the student signed up for the course. The use of this symbol is approved for thesis and project courses. This symbol cannot be substituted for an "I" (incomplete).
| V | Audit |
Assigned when a course has been audited. No credit is given. This grade may not be used at any future date as a basis for receiving course credit.
| W | Withdrawal |
Withdrawn officially before the midpoint of the term. Courses carrying the "W" grade will not be counted in the student's scholastic average.
| S | Satisfactory |
| U | Unsatisfactory |
This symbol indicates unsatisfactory performance in an attempt to complete degree requirements other than academic course work. This symbol may be used for graduate courses such as thesis and internship.Cumulative Grade Point Average
Quality Points are assigned as follows:
For each credit hour with a grade of
| A | four points | |
| B | three points | |
| C | two points | |
| D | one point | |
| F | zero points | |
| WF | zero points |
Grade Changes
Grades which have been assigned to a student by an instructor may be
changed no later than the end of the third consecutive term following the
term in which the grade was awarded. Grade changes must be initiated by
the instructor. Grades included in this provision are "A", "B", "C", "D",
"IP", "S", "U", and "F".
Credit Hour
One credit hour corresponds to one hour per week of classroom work
for a semester or to three clock hours or its equivalent of laboratory
work per week for a semester.
Full-time Students
Graduate students enrolled for 9 or more credit hours are considered as full-time students.
Continuous Enrollment
To remain continuously enrolled, a student must not have an absence
of two or more consecutive terms of matriculation at Southern Polytechnic
State University.
Academic Standing
It is required that each graduate student maintain a cumulative grade
point average of 3.00 in order to graduate.
A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.00 will be placed on "academic probation."
A student whose cumulative grade point average remains below 3.00 for two or more consecutive terms of enrollment, but whose semester average is 3.00 or higher, may continue enrollment on probation.
A student whose semester grade point average is below 3.00 and whose cumulative grade point average remains below 3.00 for at least two consecutive terms of enrollment shall be academically dismissed for unsatisfactory scholarship.
Catalog for Graduation Evaluation
A student may select to be evaluated for graduation from any catalog
in effect during the time of enrollment provided the enrollment has been
continuous.
Students readmitted will be evaluated for graduation from the catalog in effect at the time of readmission or any catalog in effect during subsequent periods of continuous enrollment.
Each student is responsible for determining the appropriate catalog to be used for academic advisement and for evaluation of graduation requirements. Catalog selection applies only to the course requirements of that catalog. All other academic procedures and graduation requirements must be satisfied according to regulations in effect at the time of graduation. Students desiring further information on the selection of an appropriate catalog may contact their major department head or the Records Office.
General Requirements
A student is eligible for graduation when he or she (1) has satisfactorily
completed the required number of hours specified by the curriculum of the
program of study in which he or she is specializing, (2) has achieved the
necessary scholastic average, (3) has paid all required fees, fines, and
other financial obligations owed the college, (4) has filed with the Records
Office the official "Petition of Admission to Candidacy for a Degree",
and (5) graduate students are required to complete their program of study
within seven years of matriculation into the program.
Graduation Petitions
A student must submit a formal petition for "Admission to Candidacy
for a Degree" to the Records Office no later than the end of the fourth
week of the term preceding the expected final term in residence. (This
is interpreted to mean the previous term in residence, preceding the final
term in residence. All fall-semester petitions for students not in school
summer should be made in the spring semester of that year; and, all co-op
students should petition the term before the work term. Students are encouraged
to petition early if they feel they have reached eligibility to petition).
To be a candidate for a master's degree, a student must have passed all courses required for the degree, have a cumulative scholastic average of at least 3.00 and have merited the recommendation for the degree by the faculty and the President of Southern Polytechnic State University.
Transcript Request
Students desiring transcripts must direct their request in writing
to the Records Office. There is no fee for transcripts. All transcripts
will include the entire academic record, and no partial or incomplete record
will be issued as a transcript. Though transcripts are normally issued
promptly, requests should be made several days before the document is required,
particularly at the beginning or end of a term. A transcript will not be
issued when the record shows financial indebtedness to the institution.
Transient Authorization
Southern Polytechnic State University students planning to attend another
institution for one semester and then return to Southern Polytechnic State
University should complete a transient letter authorization form available
in the Records Office. Students may not attend Southern Polytechnic State
University and another institution concurrently for transfer purposes without
prior authorization from the Records Office.
Exceptions to Academic Regulations
Exceptions to the Academic Regulations of Southern Polytechnic State
University may be made by the faculty whenever a consideration of the student's
complete record indicates that the application of a specific regulation
will result in injustice.
Appeals Procedure
Students requesting exceptions and/or appeals to academic policies
and procedures should adhere to the following guidelines:
2. Matters requiring Petitions to the Faculty include requests for exceptions to policies published in the catalog or operating procedures; examples include requests for reinstatement, ten-year credit, receiving a grade of "W" past the last withdrawal date, etc. Students should complete a Petition to the Faculty form when they feel the academic policies and procedures have not been applied fairly or appropriately to them.
3. When it is determined that a Petition to the Faculty is in order, the student should complete the form and secure the proper signatures as required by the department head and/or appropriate faculty.
4. If the petition is approved, the matter should be resolved. If the
petition is refused, and the student feels that he or she has grounds for
appeal, the following steps are followed:
(b) Upon written request for appeal to the Records Office, all related information is forwarded to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for review. The Vice President may approve or refuse the appeal.
(c) If the Vice President refuses the appeal, upon written request to the Vice President, the student may appeal to the President.
(d) The President may approve or refuse the appeal. If the President
refuses the appeal, upon written request to the President, the student
may appeal to the Board of Regents.
Student records will be considered under the categories academic or nonacademic. The following indicates the types of records maintained, the official responsible for maintenance, and the person(s) with access to those records.
I. Academic: Those educational records which specifically pertain to or reflect the student's academic program, admission to, and progress within that program.
IV. Challenges: Should the student believe that the record contains inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate information, he or she may desire to challenge the content of the record. In that event the following procedure shall be followed:
B. The challenge should contain a description of the specific record in question, the official responsible for maintaining the record, and the reason for challenging the contents of the particular record.
C. Challenges will be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for review. The student initiating the challenge may request to appear before the Vice President when the challenge is considered.
D. The decision of the Vice President will be made within a reasonable
period of time and forwarded to the student in writing. The decision of
the vice president will also be transmitted to the president.
VII. Directory Information: Southern Polytechnic maintains student
information in various forms. Students who desire that "directory information"
not be released without consent should so notify the Records Office in
writing. The following may be included as "directory information" unless
notification is received to the contrary:
Students also have the right to file complaints with the FERPA Office of the Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20201, regarding alleged violations of the Act.