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 where
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
This grade ("F") is assigned for a student whose scholastic performance
is unsatisfactory. If the course is a required course or if the student
desires credit for the course, the course must be repeated at Southern
Polytechnic State University with a passing grade before credit can be
allowed.
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
This symbol indicates that a student was doing satisfactory work but,
for nonacademic reasons beyond his or her control, was unable to meet the
full requirements of the course. An incomplete must be removed during the
next term in which the student is in residence. Otherwise, the Records
Office shall convert the "I" into an "F". If at the end of the third term
of non-attendance following the term the "I" has not been removed then
the course must be repeated if a required course. The "I" grade remains
on the student's record, but is not reflected in the student's scholastic
average.
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
This symbol indicates that credit has been given for completion of
degree requirements other than academic course work. This symbol may be
used for graduate courses such as thesis and internship.
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
The cumulative grade point average generally determines the student's
scholastic standing. The cumulative grade point average is computed by
dividing the total quality points earned by the total number of credit
hours for which the student has received a final grade of "A", "B", "C",
"D", "F", or "WF". Only courses scheduled at Southern Polytechnic State
University are considered in the cumulative grade point average. Credits
earned at other institutions, credit by examination, credits for which
quality points are not assigned, and courses otherwise excluded by institutional
policy are not considered when calculating the cumulative grade point average
for graduation purposes.
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.