Since the basic
mission of the university is instruction of students, the procedures for
curriculum modification are most important and should be clear. In order to provide some clarification in
this important area, this statement is being issued. The basic and most important
unit in determining curricula is the academic department. For some time,
departments have recommended their own departmental courses and programs after
careful consideration by the faculty of that department. In the past few years,
however, some departments have chosen to add students to departmental
committees and meetings. It has been suggested that all departments develop
plans for involving students in academic governance at the departmental
level. Since that suggestion has been
endorsed by the Chancellor, the Faculty Senate and the Student Government
Association, it is hoped that all departments will have begun to involve
students. As this is being accomplished, all segments of the university should
find the following guidelines reasonable and acceptable.
GUIDELINE I
Any proposal for
changes in a department's courses or programs must first be acted upon by the
department before being submitted to the college advisory council. Any proposal
for changes (excluding course changes within existing programs) in a college
withdraws without making proper arrangements with the dean of Graduate Studies
and Research.
GUIDELINE
II
Recommendations for
changes in general academic policies or academic programs must be submitted to
the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee by any of the following:
A.
Department, college, or school
B.
Faculty Senate
C.
Student Government Association
D.
Council of Deans
A faculty member,
student, or ad hoc faculty or student group will channel proposals through the
appropriate body above (A., B., or C.)
GUIDELINE III
The Academic
Policies and Procedures Committee is, in most circumstances, the final
recommending body to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and
the Chancellor. The faculty members and
the students on this committee serve as the representatives for the faculty and
students, respectively. As such, these
groups should make their respective views known through their appointed representatives
(except as provided in Guideline II, B. and C.) and should make arrangements
for their respective representatives to be held accountable to them.
GUIDELINE IV
If a proposal for
changes in a department's courses or programs is not approved by that
department, then the group initiating the proposal may appeal (within 90 days
after rejection) first to the advisory council of the college to which that
department belongs. If the proposal is rejected by the college or school, then
the group may appeal (as above) to the Academic Policies and Procedures
Committee.
When a departmental
proposal is not recommended at the college advisory council level, the
department may appeal to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee.
ABSENCES FROM CLASSES AND CLASS
ATTENDANCE
1. It is the policy of
Appalachian State University that class attendance is considered to be an
important part of a student's educational experience. Students are expected to
attend every meeting of their classes, and are responsible for class attendance.
No matter what bases exist for absence, students are held accountable for
academic activities, and faculty may require special work or tests to make up
for the missed class or classes. Faculty, at their discretion, may include
class attendance as a criterion in determining a student's final grade in the
course. On the first day of class, faculty must inform students in writing of
their class attendance policy and the effect of that policy on their final
grade. If class attendance is to affect a student's final grade, then a
statement to this effect must be a part of the course syllabus distributed to
each student.
(NOTE: A student who does
not attend a class during one of its first two meetings may, at the discretion
of the academic department, lose her or his seat in that class. Further, if a
class meets only one time per week-e.g., a laboratory or an evening class-the
student must attend the FIRST meeting of that class or risk losing her or his
seat.)
2. A syllabus is to be
prepared for each course and distributed at the first of the semester. The syllabus should include the
following: an explanation of course
goals and objectives, the name of the text and any other materials required of
each student, the instructor's office hours, an explanation of how the grade is
to be determined, and an explanation of any additional reading, papers,
projects and examinations which the instructor expects to give or assign.
3. Syllabi for courses
taught in the present and previous semester should be on file in the
departmental offices and should be made available to students who request
them. These syllabi would indicate the
structure of courses as they are being or have been taught.
4. The Registrar's Office
is allowed to assign an administrative withdrawal to the "audit"
student who has not been "regular in attendance." Documentation will consist of an appropriate
notation by the faculty member of record on the final roll.
5. The Student Health
Services DOES NOT write medical excuses for students who miss a class for
illness or injury. However, faculty may call Health Services(262-3100)
to verify the day and time
the student was seen. The nature of the student’s illness or problem will not
be divulged unless the student has signed the appropriate release of medical
information.
ATTENDANCE
POLICY RELATING TO PARTICIPATION IN UNIVERSITY SPONSORED ACTIVITIES
As an integral part of the
academic program at Appalachian State University, the university sponsors and
otherwise supports co-curricular programs, athletic programs, and other
out-of-class activities such as field trips.
Participation in such activities occasionally requires a student to miss
one or more class meetings.
A student who expects to
miss one or more class meetings because of participation in a university
sponsored activity has several responsibilities: The student (in person) will notify the
instructor in advance of any absence; the student is expected to complete all
work missed by making up the work in advance or by completing any compensatory
assignment which may be required by the instructor; the student is expected to
maintain satisfactory progress in the course; and the student (otherwise) is
expected to maintain satisfactory attendance in the class if so required. In the event that a student anticipates that
participation in a university sponsored activity will require missing more than
10% of the class meetings, the student is required to discuss this matter with
his or her instructor at the beginning of the semester and may be advised to
drop the course.
If the above
responsibilities are met, it is expected that the instructor will excuse the
absence and permit the student to make up missed work in whatever manner the instructor
deems appropriate.
When a student is out
of town and unable to return to campus due to hospitalization, death
in the family, or other extenuating circumstances, the student or her/his
parents may contact the Office of Student Development to request that
professors be notified as to the reason for the absence. This notification is conveyed to the
appropriate departmental office as a matter of information only and does not
serve as an official excuse for class absence.
Only individual faculty members make this determination, and documentation
may be requested by the faculty members.
The Office of Student Development does not provide this service when
notification is received after the absence has occurred. Also, if a student is in town, that
student is responsible for notifying the individual faculty members that she/he
will be missing class.
Undergraduate: An undergraduate student usually takes from
15 to 18 hours a semester. In special
situations, an undergraduate student may take more than 18 hours a semester. To do this, the student must have prior
approval of the dean of the college in which she/he is enrolled. Registration for less than 12 hours places
the student on part-time status.
An undergraduate
student must take 12 semester hours during a regular semester (and if in summer
school, six semester hours each session) in order to be a full-time student.
During one of the
student's last three semesters, each undergraduate student who is taking a
program leading to teacher certification will student teach at least one
semester in the area and at the level for which the student has been
preparing. This work will consist of
full-time teaching activities under the guidance of a competent and experienced
teacher. A student must earn 12 semester
hours of credit for student teaching. No
student teaching will be permitted during the summer.
The summer session
at Appalachian is composed of various terms of different lengths; therefore the
academic load for a student is based on the length of study in weeks. For example, a five-week period of study may
include a five-week course, a three-week course and a two-week course. Hence, the maximum undergraduate student load
for this combination would be the load limit (shown below) for a five-week
period of time.
Period of Time
Maximum Academic Credit for
Undergraduate
Students
10 weeks 12 semester hours
5 weeks 7 semester hours
3, 2 or 1 week 1 semester hour per week
Graduate: The maximum
course load for a graduate student during the regular academic year is 15 hours
per semester for a student without an assistantship, and 12 hours for those
holding assistantships. For each summer
session, the course load is six semester hours.
Graduate degree candidates may not earn more than 12 hours for the
entire summer.
For full-time resident
credit, graduate students must be registered for a minimum of nine semester
hours.
The maximum load for
graduate students during the regular academic year and the summer session is
outlined below.
Academic
Year
Full-time without
assistantship . . . . . .15 hours
Full-time with
assistantship . . . 9
to 12 hours
Summer
Session
5-week term . . . . . .. .
. . . . . . . . 6 hours
2-week term . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 2 hours
A graduate degree
candidate may not earn more than 12 hours for the entire summer.
Undergraduate: To
continue at Appalachian in good academic standing, a student must earn, as a
minimum, the following cumulative grade-point average (GPA) at the end of the
semester indicated:
Cumulative
GPA
Semester 1 1.50
Semester 2 1.75
Semester 3 1.90
Semester 4 (and
thereafter) 2.00
(NOTE: For the purpose of
academic standing, a student who enters Appalachian as an undergraduate
transfer will have the credit hours accepted from other collegiate institutions
converted to semesters in residence at Appalachian. The conversion ratio is
fifteen to one:i.e.,
fifteen semester hours of
transfer credit is equivalent to one semester in residence.)
Failure to earn a grade-point
average indicated above will automatically place the student on academic
probation during the semester that follows.
(The grade-point average at Appalachian is computed only on the
basis of coursework taken at Appalachian; i.e., grades earned on coursework
taken at other collegiate institutions or by correspondence will not be computed
in or allowed to affect the grade-point average at Appalachian.)
While on probation,
however, a student will, within the limits prescribed below, be allowed to continue:
1. An undergraduate
student, whether admitted as a freshman or a transfer, will be allowed to
enroll for a maximum of two (2) academic terms while on probation.
2. The dean of a college
or school can attach specific requirements before enrollment on probation is
approved. These requirements may include
special advising sessions, a limitation on the number of hours for which the
student may enroll, the requirement that certain courses be repeated, enrollment
in developmental courses, etc.
If a student uses the two
terms of academic probation mentioned above, but again fails to earn a
cumulative grade-point average sufficient to place her or him in good academic
standing, that student will be automatically suspended from further enrollment
at Appalachian. At that point, the
student's only recourse is to enroll during the University's summer terms until
such time that the grade-point average places her or him in good academic
standing. (A summer term does not count
as a semester in residence for the purpose of computing academic
eligibility. Undergraduate students in
academic difficulty--probation or suspension--may always attend Appalachian
during the summer.)
Students may apply for
readmission under specific “Forgiveness Policies.”
Graduate: Graduate
students who fail to maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00
may not be permitted to re-register as degree candidates without the written
recommendation of the advisor and the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies
and Research (see Probationary Status).
Normally, degree candidacy is discontinued for the student who has
received as many as four grades of C, and if a graduate student receives a
grade of “F” or “U”, the student may not continue in graduate school unless the
advisor submits in writing an acceptable recommendation to the Dean of Graduate
Studies and Research. In no case may a
graduate student be permitted to repeat more than one course to improve the
grade, and the student who receives a second grade of “F” or “U” may not
continue toward the graduate degree under any circumstances.
Graduate credit
accepted in fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree shall average
not lower than 3.00, and no credit toward the degree shall be granted for a
grade of F or U. Course work reported
"Incomplete" must be completed within a semester of the official
ending of the course. The grade of D is
not given in
ADVANCED
PLACEMENT PROGRAM/COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION
PROGRAM/
DEFENSE ACTIVITY FOR NON-TRADITIONAL EDUCATION SUPPORT/ INTERNATIONAL
BACCALAUREATE
Appalachian participates
in the Advanced Placement Program, the College Level Examination Program, the
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support, and the International
Baccalaureate Program. Students who have demonstrated their achievement on
specific tests in any of these programs may have their test results submitted
to the
Students may also
qualify for advanced placement and course credit by taking departmental tests
in their areas of extensive specialization. Based upon these test results, the
amount and the nature of the credit granted is determined by the committee on
academic policies and procedures and the pertinent department of instruction.
Test scores
submitted from testing programs will remain valid for only ten years.
An undergraduate
student enrolled at Appalachian can transfer to another accredited collegiate
institution, earn an acceptable associate degree, return to Appalachian, and
request that her or his prior GPA be deleted.
In essence, this student would return with the hours earned at
Appalachian, plus the hours earned at the institution awarding the associate
degree, but without her or his prior GPA.
NOTE: It
is the intent of the AP&P committee that the act of returning under this
policy should not increase either the total number of times a student
can enroll while on probation or the total number of courses which can be used under
the repeat policy. In essence, a student
at the undergraduate level should have an absolute maximum of two terms
of enrollment while on probation (excluding summer), and five courses to which
the repeat policy may be applied.
AWARDING OF DEGREES
POSTHUMOUSLY
Over the years,
there have been times when members of our senior class have died prior to
graduation. The following criteria and
procedures will be used in the awarding of degrees posthumously.
Requests to award
degrees posthumously may be made by a surviving family member or a member of
the Appalachian State University faculty or administration following their
having been so notified of the possibility of doing so by the Vice Chancellor
for Student Development. Such a request
must be considered by the faculty of the department in which the student was
majoring and be recommended to the chair of that department. The chair must concur and recommend to the
appropriate dean. The dean must concur
and recommend to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who will
present the recommendation to the Chancellor.
Final approval must be given by the Chancellor. Once the Chancellor approves the action and
the dean has been notified of this, the dean will contact the Registrar's
Office to make certain that a diploma will be prepared.
If approval is given,
the family will be notified by the appropriate chair and be informed that the
degree will be awarded in a private ceremony to take place on the day (or as
soon thereafter as possible) of the next commencement. The diploma will be presented by the
appropriate dean.
The minimum criteria
for considering such a request is as follows:
The student must have been within 30 semester hours of graduating; been
a student in good standing at the time of death; and, must have had an overall
GPA of 2.00.
A new catalog is
issued biennially; and, while course offerings are fairly continuous from year
to year, the faculty reserves the right to make changes in curricula, degree
requirements and academic policies. The
information in any given catalog is, therefore, usually valid only for the
two-year period of its issue, and is superseded by subsequent issues. Any interested person should consult the most
recent issue of the University catalog for current information about the
instructional program.
Any changes in degree
requirements do not, however, affect a student already enrolled in a degree
program. In those rare cases where
specific required courses are no longer available, the dean's office will
identify suitable substitutes which do not increase the overall credit
requirements. All students may elect to
graduate in accordance with the degree requirements as recorded in the catalog
that is current at the time of their first registration or any subsequent
edition (provided the student is enrolled during a period in which the catalog
is in force) except that any catalog chosen must not be more than six years
old. Students electing to graduate under
a new catalog must meet all requirements of the catalog under which they wish
to graduate subject to the exception noted above for those cases when specific
courses are no longer available. In
order to change the catalog under which they intend to graduate, students must
notify the office of the dean of the college in which they are enrolled. Graduate students will notify the dean of
Graduate Studies and Research of their intent to change catalogs.
A student returning to
Appalachian under either the "Four-Year Policy" or with an acceptable
Associate's degree must graduate under the catalog in force at the time they
re-enter. (Subsequent catalogs are, of
course, acceptable.)
Changes in academic
policies become effective for all students on the date approved for
implementation.
Students may add courses
or change sections until the first five days of a fall or spring semester-i.e.,
through the end of the published “drop-add” period. Students may drop courses without academic
penalty through the first five days of a fall or spring semester-i.e., through
the end of the published “drop-add” period. AFTER THE FIRST FIVE DAYS, A STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO DROP A
CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF FOUR COURSES DURING HER OR HIS UNDERGRADUATE CAREER AT
APPALACHIAN. Further a course dropped after the “drop-add” period must be
dropped by the end of the ninth week of the academic term. Exceptions to this
policy will require the approval of the instructor, department chair, and the
dean of the college/ school in which the course is offered. (Note: This policy
went into effect during the fall semester, 1995-courses dropped prior to fall,
1995 will not be counted in the above mentioned limit of four.)
Any drops approved for
exceptional circumstances will not be used in computing the grade-point average
and will not be recorded on the permanent record.
During the “drop-add” period,
a course may be changed from credit to audit with no academic penalty. To accomplish this, the student must obtain
the necessary form from the Registrar’s Office. Permission of the instructor is
required for a student to change a course from credit to audit.
Failure to complete a
course that has not been officially dropped will automatically result in a
grade of "F", which will be computed in the student's grade-point
average.
Undergraduate Major
Students who are in
General Studies will be sent information about officially declaring a major and
having their records forwarded to the appropriate degree-granting college.
To make a change within
one of the upper division colleges, the student should go the appropriate
dean’s office to inform them of the change.
To make a change from one
college to the other, go tho the dean’s office where the new major is located.
The personnel in the receiving college’s dean’s office will request the
academic file from the college of the student’s previous file.
Graduate Major
A graduate student who has
been approved for admission to one graduate major but who wishes to transfer to
another must request approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and
the department into which they propose to transfer before the change may be
made. Change of Major request forms are available in the
At the end of each
semester, students are classified on the basis of semester hours. All students admitted as degree-seeking and
who have completed less than 30 semester hours are classified as freshmen. Students who have completed at least 30 semester
hours are classified as sophomores.
Students who have completed at least 60 semester hours are classified as
juniors. Students who have
completed 90 semester hours are classified as seniors.
The university requires
the following amount of contact time per credit hour generated. Please remember that the amount of contact
time remains constant, regardless of the academic term in question.
One semester hour -- Minimum of 750 contact minutes
(15 weeks x 50 minutes)
Two semester
hours -- Minimum
of 1500 contact minutes
Three semester hours
--
Minimum of 2250 contact minutes
Four semester
hours --
Minimum of 3000 contact minutes
All scheduled examination
periods will be met at the assigned time.
A final examination period is provided at the end of each semester. After the schedule for examinations has been
made, an instructor may NOT change the date or time of an examination without
permission of the department chairperson and dean. Instructors determine how
they will use the assigned period, but all scheduled examination periods will
be met at the assigned time. A student
may take an examination outside of the scheduled time only by permission of the
instructor of the course. Permission is
granted only in case of emergency.
A student who is absent
from a final examination because of an emergency takes the make-up examination
at the convenience of the instructor.
Undergraduate Students
Not all courses are
amenable to credit by examination, but many are. Students who wish to challenge a regularly
listed course should consult with the appropriate chair. If arrangements can be made, a fee of $50.00
is charged for each examination and a receipt from the Student Accounts Office must be shown to the department
chairperson before final approval can be
given. If the examination is passed,
credit without grade will be noted on the student's transcript. The chairperson
will notify the Registrar's Office, in writing, to enter the credit on the
permanent record and notify the cashier, in writing, to reimburse the faculty
member who administered the examination.
If the examination is not passed, no notation is made on the transcript. In the case of freshmen who take advanced
placement examinations during the freshman orientation period, the fee is waived.
Anyone seeking to
credit examination must be either a candidate for a degree at Appalachian or
taking courses for
Teacher licensure.
Credit by examination cannot be used to repeat a course, nor can it be used to
meet the University’s residency requirements for graduation.
Graduate Students
Upon the
recommendation of a graduate student's committee and with the approval of the
chairperson of the department in which it is listed, one course numbered 5000
and above may be challenged by examination.
Grades are not recorded for credit earned by examination. Credit by examination may not be used to
repeat a course.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LIFE
EXPERIENCE
In exceptional cases
credit can be awarded for prior non-college-based learning, if the credit
sought is related to the student's degree program (i.e. core curriculum, major
or licensure requirements). Assessment
of prior learning can commence only after a student has been admitted to the
University and has declared a major.
The student will
first meet with a academic advisor who will help in defining the areas or
disciplines in which appropriate creditable learning may have occurred. Actual assessment is done by a faculty member
in the appropriate academic area, for which a $100.00 fee for each area of
assessment will be charged. Payment is made to the Student Accounts Office.
1. A maximum of 20
semester hours of correspondence work from recognized institutions may be
credited toward meeting the requirements for graduation. Some correspondence courses are offered by
the University. Before registering at
another accredited institution for a correspondence course to be transferred to
Appalachian, students must have the written permission of the dean of their
college or the Director of General Studies if they have not declared a major. In order to obtain this permission, the
student must first secure the proper form from the Registrar's Office. The
combined load of residence courses and correspondence courses may not exceed
the maximum load allowed.
2. Except for physical
education majors, not on more than six hours in physical education activity
courses (limited to courses numbered PE 1000-1099) may be included within the
122 semester hours required for graduation.
3. A candidate for
the Bachelor of Arts degree may count not more than a total of 40 hours above core
curriculum requirements in any one discipline.
4. Validation of
credits earned more than 10 years prior to the date of graduation may be
required if and when they are submitted to fulfill baccalaureate degree
requirements.
Academic work for graduate
degree students, including transfer credit, taken more than six calendar
years before the year in which the graduate degree is awarded, may not be used
to satisfy the degree requirements. Coursework that is beyond the seven-year
limit cannot be used for the degree.
5. All baccalaureate
degrees granted by Appalachian require the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours at a senior college or university.(Note
that credit awarded for military service or "Prior Life Experience"
does not count as part of the required 60 hours.)
6. Degree-seeking
students at Appalachian may NOT enroll at another collegiate institution unless
prior approval has been obtained from Appalachian. Appalachian students who wish to attend
another collegiate institution should contact the Registrar's Office at
Appalachian to 1) secure the proper application forms, and 2) have the intended
transfer courses are acceptable. (Students who wish to study abroad should
contact the Office of International Programs to secure the proper application
and determine whether the intended courses from abroad are acceptable.) The
intended coursework, once evaluated, will be forwarded to the appropriate
Appalachian college to the Office of General Studies for approval. Failure to
obtain prior approval may result in the coursework being deemed unacceptable for
transfer to Appalachian.
A graduate
student enrolled in a non-thesis degree program may usually be permitted to
transfer from another graduate school up to nine semester hours of appropriate
graduate credit. A student in a thesis program may be permitted to transfer up
to six semester hours of appropriate resident work completed in another
approved graduate school, provided the work has not been included in a previous
degree. Students wanting to transfer
more than nine semester hours or thesis students who want o transfer more than
six semester hours may appeal to the Dean of the Graduate Studies and Research.
7. Seniors with a
grade point average of 3.00 or above may, with written permission from the
course instructor, chairperson of the department offering the course, and the
graduate dean, be permitted to take one or more graduate courses for undergraduate credit. Credit earned in this manner will be used to
meet baccalaureate degree requirements and may not be applied toward a graduate
degree.
Seniors with a grade
point average of 3.00 or above desiring to enroll in graduate level courses for
graduate credit to be applied to a
graduate degree may do so provided they have:
(1) made application for admission to the Graduate School; (2) made
application to take the GRE or GMAT; and (3) obtained written permission from
the course instructor, chairperson of the department offering the course, and
the graduate dean.
8. If a student has
received a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian, a second (or subsequent)
bachelor’s degree can be earned by completing all catalog requirements for the
second (or subsequent) degree.
If a student who
wished to earn two (or more) undergraduate degrees at Appalachian concurrently,
she or he must complete all catalog requirements stipulated for the respective
degrees.
A second (or
subsequent bachelor’s degree must differ in type from any degree previously
awarded by the University. The University will not, for example, award a second
Bachelor of Arts(B.A.)degree: it will, however, award both a Bachelor of Arts
AND a Bachelor of Science(B.S.)degree, either simultaneously or in sequence.
9. An undergraduate
student may include a maximum of 3 semester hours credit under the
Instructional Assistance Program toward meeting graduation requirements.
An undergraduate
student who carries 12-14 hours of coursework on which grade points are
computed and who attains a grade-point average of 3.45 or better is placed on
the dean’s list of honor students for that semester.
An undergraduate
student who carries 15 hours or more of coursework on which grade points ate
computed and who attains a grade-point average of 3.25 or better is placed on
the dean’s list of honor students for that semester.
GRADES AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE
(GPA)
The grade-point
average (GPA) is a general measure of the student's academic achievement while
at Appalachian. The GPA is determined by
dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of
quality hours attempted ("quality points" and "quality hours"
are derived from courses graded A-F or WF).
The GPA is computed only on the basis of coursework taken at Appalachian.
Undergraduate grades and grade points given in the
university are as follows:
A
Excellent, 4.0 grade points per semester
hour
A-
Excellent, 3.7 grade points per semester hour
B+
Above Average, 3.3 grade points per semester hour
B
Above Average, 3.0 grade points per
semester hour
B-
Above Average, 2.7 grade points per semester hour
C+
Average, 2.3 grade points per semester hour
C Average, 2.0 grade points per semester hour
C-
Average, 1.7 grade points per semester hour
D+
Below Average but Passing, 1.3 grade points per semester hour
D Below Average but Passing, 1.0 grade point
per semester hour
D-
Below Average but Passing, .7 grade point per semester hour
F Failure, 0 grade point
F*
Failure, 0 grade points (*indicates only that the course was
taken on the Pass-Fail basis; this grade is equivalent to the
F above)
P Pass, 0 grade points (used only for courses
taken on Pass-Fail basis)
AU
Audit, no credit
I Incomplete, because of sickness or some other unavoidable cause.
An
I becomes an F if not removed within the time designated by
the instructor, not to exceed a semester, except that
all incompletes must be removed at the time
of
graduation. An incomplete is not given
merely
because assignments were not completed
during the
the semester.
IP in progress
NR Grade Not Reported (hours not counted
in computing GPA)
W Withdrawal, either from a course or from the University
WP
Withdrew passing
WF
Withdrew failing
@F
Administrative F
S Satisfactory, 0 grade points (used for
student teaching, screening proficiencies, and specially designated
courses in the curriculum)
U Unsatisfactory, 0 grade points (used to
indicate unsatisfactory performance in student teaching, screening
proficiencies, and specially designated courses in the
curriculum)
WU
Withdrew Unsatisfactory
CR
Credit (pass)
NC
No credit (fail)
To
be official, drops and withdrawals must be formally approved and filed in the
Registrar's Office.
The
following graduate grades are given:
A Superior Graduate Accomplishment, 4.0 grade
points per semester hour
A-
3.7 grade points per semester hour
B+
3.3 grade points per semester hour
B Average Graduate Accomplishment, 3.0 grade
points per semester hour
B-
2.7 grade points per semester hour
C+
2.3 grade points per semester hour
C Below Average But Passing, 2.0 grade points
per semester hour
C-
1.7 grade points per semester hour
F Failing grade. An “F” in the approved
graduate
Program of Study must be removed at the time
of
graduation.
@F
Administrative F
AU
Audit, no credit
I Incomplete, given because a student has not completed
the quantitative requirements of a course due to sickness or
some other unavoidable cause. Except
for graduate thesis courses (5999 or 6999), an I becomes an F
if not removed within the time designated by the instructor,
not to exceed one
semester, except that all incompletes must
be
removed at the time of graduation. An
incomplete is
not merely given because assignments were
not
completed during the semester.
IP
In Progress grade assigned for graduate thesis,
Dissertation, product of learning or
continuation
courses.
NR
Grade Not Reported (hours not counted in computing GPA)
W Withdrawal, either from a course or from the University
WF
Withdrew Failing, course dropped with failing grades more
than
nine weeks after registration closes.
WP
Withdrawal/passing
WU
Withdrew Unsatisfactory
S Satisfactory, given for a practicum and a
thesis and other designated courses
U Unsatisfactory, given for a practicum and a
thesis and other designated courses
To be official,
drops and withdrawals must be formally approved and filed in the Registrar's
Office.
Graduate credit
accepted in fulfillment of the requirements for a graduate degree shall average
not lower than 3.00, and no credit toward the degree shall be granted for a
grade of “@F”,”F”,”U”,”WF” or “WU”.
Coursework reported "Incomplete" must be completed within a
semester of the official ending of the course. Any extension of this period
must be approved by the appropriate dean
and the Registrar. The grade of D is not given in Graduate School and graduate
students may not elect the Pass/Fail option.
A grade of “F” or “U” is assigned to a student who arbitrarily
discontinues meeting a class or who withdraws without making proper
arrangements with the Registrar’s Office.
Faculty members are urged
to exercise extreme care in evaluating students and in reporting grades. In all circumstances, except those stipulated
below, the grades recorded shall be those assigned by the professor. Any action taken by the university to
withhold transcripts for any reason shall not involve any changes in the
recorded grade.
In the event that a
professor has not turned in a grade or grades on time, and if the professor
cannot be located, an interim grade of "NR" (Grade Not Reported) will
be assigned by the Registrar's Office.
If a graduating student is involved, the departmental chairperson may,
with the concurrence of two other departmental faculty members, assign a letter
grade.
In the event that a
professor becomes incapacitated prior to the time grades should have been
assigned, the departmental chairperson, along with two other departmental
faculty members, shall jointly decide the action to be taken.
In the event that a grade
change is necessary, the faculty member must secure the form for changing a
grade from the Registrar's Office, and all grade changes must be approved by
the Registrar and are subject to review by the dean of the college. Except for changes from "I"
(Incomplete), the only admissible reason for a grade change is an error on the
part of the faculty member in computing or in reporting the student's grade.
Final semester grades are
reported to the Registrar's Office not later than
Degrees are
conferred at the close of each academic term (fall, spring, summer). Formal graduation ceremonies, however, are
held only at the close of the Fall and Spring terms. Candidates for baccalaureate degrees and/or
At the beginning of
each term, the Registrar's Office will notify all seniors ostensibly eligible
to graduate -- i.e., those currently enrolled for a sufficient number of hours
to meet the University requirement -- of the required procedure and deadline
date. Exceptions to the deadline date
would be made ONLY by the Registrar's Office.
All candidates for
degrees are expected to be present to receive their degrees in person unless
arrangements to graduate in absentia have been made with the Registrar, for
undergraduate students, or with the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, for
graduate students.
Faculty expected to
be present at a commencement exercise are determined by their respective
departments.
Commencement
"Walkers"
Commencement
"walkers" should be allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies
but ONLY if they meet the following criteria:
1. Persons who wish
to participate in the spring commencement must:
1) apply for graduation, and 2)
have completed all graduation requirements or be able to complete graduation
requirements by the end of the summer sessions.
2. Persons who wish
to participate in the December commencement must: 1) apply for graduation,
and 2) have completed all graduation
requirements or be able to complete graduation requirements by the end of that
fall semester.
To be eligible for
graduation with honors, an undergraduate student must complete, in residence at
Appalachian, a minimum of either four semesters in full-time attendance
(defined as twelve or more credit hours per semester), or a total of 58
semester hours. (Note: Credit for which a grade is not awarded will
not be used in the determination of honors -- e.g., APP, CLEP, credit by
examination, credit for military service, credit for prior learning, etc.) A grade-point average of 3.45 is required for
graduating cum laude; a grade-point average of 3.65 is required for
graduating magna cum laude; and a grade-point average of 3.85 is
required for graduating summa cum laude.
All graduate students must maintain grade-point averages of 3.0 or
above, and all are considered to be honor graduates.
GRADUATION WITH HONORS FOR
STUDENTS SEEKING SECOND DEGREE
In determining
qualification for graduation with honors for Appalachian State University
students seeking two degrees or a second degree, all work taken at Appalachian
must be considered in the calculation of their respective GPA.
Students who have
completed one degree at another institution and are seeking a second degree at
Appalachian must complete, in residence at Appalachian, a minimum of either
four semesters in full-time attendance or a total of 58 semester hours to be
eligible to graduate with honors from Appalachian State University.
All nominees for an
honorary degree must meet one or more of the following criteria to be
considered:
1. Must have made a
notable contribution to society and the welfare of mankind.
2. Must have
achieved distinguished success in chosen career field or profession.
3. Should have made significant
contribution to Appalachian State University through service,
leadership and/or financial support.
Active members of
the university staff or faculty who are under retirement age are deemed to be
ineligible to receive an honorary degree.
In no case will a degree be conferred upon an individual to enhance her
or his chances for promotion, job tenure or salary consideration.
The procedure for
the accepting, screening and approving of nominees and the awarding of honorary
degrees is as follows:
1. Nominees must
meet established criteria.
2. Individuals may
be nominated by faculty, staff, students, alumni
or friends of the university.
3. Nominations may
be received by the Chancellor of the University or any member
of the Administrative Cabinet.
4. All nominations
will be acknowledged and filed by the Vice Chancellor for
Development.
5. The Vice
Chancellor for Development will assume responsibility to
check the credentials and eligibility of nominees.
6. The Vice
Chancellor for Development will report names of nominees to the
Administrative Cabinet. The Chancellor will
recommend nominees to the development committee of the Board
of Trustees.
7. Candidates
approved by the development committee of the Board of
Trustees will be recommended to the university Board of
Trustees at any regularly scheduled meeting.
8. Following Board
approval, it will be the responsibility of the Vice
Chancellor for Development to assist the Chancellor in
informing the honoree, announcing the conferral, and planning
the awarding ceremony.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY AND
PROCEDURE STATEMENT
Appalachian reserves
the right to cancel classes during inclement weather. In determining whether to
cancel classes
because of inclement
weather, the Chancellor consults with the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for
Business Affairs, the Vice Chancellor for Student Development and other
University personnel as necessary. Only the Governor of North Carolina has the
authority to close the institution due to adverse weather conditions.
Appalachian students, faculty and staff can learn of changes to the
University’s operational schedule through a variety of sources. A recorded
message announcing a change in normal operation will be available at
(828)262-SNOW. Other sources of information include, but are not limited to
WATA-1450 AM, WASU-90.5 FM, WECR-102.3 FM, WKBC-97.3 FM and others. Information
may be listed on television crawl screen messages on WBTV, WSOC and WJHL, for
example. Students also will be notified
via AppalNET’s personal announcement system, and information will be posted on
the University’s web page (www.appstate.edu).
Every effort will be made to inform area radio and television station and other
sources by
Students are
responsible for academic work they miss due to absences caused by inclement
weather. Faculty should provide a reasonable opportunity for students to
complete assignments or missed examinations due to such absences.
Grades of “I”
(incomplete) are to be assigned only because of sickness or some other
unavoidable cause. Effective fall 2003, grades of “I” will be processed as
follows.
The period of time
before a grade of “I” defaults to a grade of “F” or “U” is one semester. This
means that a student who is given a grade of “I” for a fall class must remove
that grade by the end of the following spring semester or the grade will change
to “F” or “U” (depending on how the course is graded). If the grade of “I” is
assigned in the spring, it must be removed by the following summer, and if the
grade of “I” is earned in the summer (either session) it must be removed by the
end of the following fall semester.
Students do no
re-register for a class in which a grade of “I’ was earned in order to complete
the incomplete. If a student receives a grade “I” in a class and then
re-registers for the class (either with the same or a different professor), the
grade of “I” in the first class will default to “F” or “U”. If the student does
not take the class a second time, the initial grade of “F” or “U” can be
excluded by using one of the five repeats allowed.
Anyone seeking to pursue
independent study must be either a candidate for a degree at Appalachian or
working for teacher license.
Independent study is the
term applied to the study of a subject not listed in the regular curricular
offerings. Under the independent study
program, a student designs a project and then individually pursues the study under
the auspices of an instructional staff member who serves as a consultant for
the student during the course of the study.
The vehicles for this are course numbers 2500, 3500, 5500, 6500 and 7500
depending on the level of the student.
For information on independent study, students should consult the chair of
the department in which the independent study is to be done.
Each student seeking
approval for an independent study will apply to the chairperson of the
department in which the credit is to be earned and will present an oral
prospectus of the project to be undertaken.
The chairperson will suggest a faculty member who may supervise the
study, and the student will confer with the faculty member. After this conference, if the faculty member
agrees to supervise the student, a written prospectus will be drawn up by the
student and presented to the departmental chairperson. If the chairperson approves, she/he will
determine the amount of credit and authorize the registration for the
independent study. The dean of the
college involved must endorse the chairperson's authorization. Registration for the course will be done
during the registration period, and grades will be reported in the regular way
at the end of the semester in which the project is completed. The usual limitations on academic load apply
to the student's total load, including the load in regular classes and work
taken by independent study.
The faculty member who
supervises an independent study receives teaching hour credit on the following
basis: for each semester hour of
undergraduate independent study supervised by a faculty member, the faculty
member will receive one-twelfth teaching hour credit; for each semester hour of
graduate independent study supervised by a faculty member, the faculty member
will receive one-sixth teaching hour credit.
The department
chairperson will maintain a record of the work done by faculty members in the
chairperson's department in supervising students in this category and when the
faculty member has accumulated sufficient credits for a teaching load
reduction, such a reduction will be given in some term of the regular academic
year. It must be understood that the
needs of students come first, and it may not always be possible to arrange for
the reduced load in the term which the faculty member requests it. Also, it must be understood that the
reduction in load can only be claimed during one of the regular terms of the
academic year and cannot be claimed during the summer term.
With the approval of
the instructor, the department chairperson, the Dean of the college, and the Dean
of Graduate Studies and Research, graduate students who have been admitted to
candidacy and who have filed their Program of Study may register for
independent study in their major field.
Students registered for independent study must be scheduled for regular
conference periods at least weekly. No
more than six semester hours of independent study may be applied toward a
graduate degree, and no more than twenty-five percent of the student's degree
program may be taken in a combination of selected topics and independent
studies.
Anyone seeking to
pursue individual study must be either a candidate for a degree at Appalachian
or must be working for teacher license.
Individual study is
the pursuit of a regularly listed course by a student without attending classes
on a regular basis. The student who
wishes to pursue a course by individual study will secure the permission of the
chairperson of the department in which the course is offered. If the chairperson approves, then she or he
will suggest one or more faculty members in the department who might supervise
the student in the course. If the
faculty member agrees to supervise the student, the student and faculty member
will work out the method of study. The
grade for the course will be submitted to the Registrar in the regular way at
the end of the semester in which the project is completed.
The usual
limitations on academic load apply to the student's total load, including the
load in regular classes and work taken individually.
If a faculty member
supervises a student in individual study of a course at a time when the faculty
member is teaching that course as a part of her/his regular assignment, then
the faculty member will not receive additional teaching credit or stipend for
that supervision. If a faculty member
supervises a student in individual study of a course at a time when she or he
is not teaching that course, then for each semester hour of individual study
supervised by the faculty member, the faculty member will receive
one-twenty-fourth teaching hour credit.
The department
chairperson will maintain a record of the work done by the faculty members in
the chairperson's department in supervising students in this category and when
the faculty member has accumulated sufficient credits for a teaching load
reduction, such a reduction will be given during one term of the regular
academic year. It must be understood
that the needs of the student come first, and it may not always be possible to
arrange for the reduced load in the semester in which the faculty member
requests it. Also, it must be understood
that the reduction in load can only be claimed during one of the regular
semesters of the academic year and cannot be claimed during the summer term.
Courses numbered
less than 1000 (excluding applied music courses, major-principal, MUS
0401-0499) are taken for "institutional credit" only. These courses DO NOT count for graduation,
but are computed in the student's GPA (the hours count toward full-time student
eligibility, but do not count toward hours required for graduation).
Institutional credit courses will not be used in determining eligibility for
honors.
INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
The instructional
assistance program is designed for students interested in participating in, for
academic credit, supervised experiences in the instructional process on the University
level through direct participation in classroom situations. Students with junior or senior standing are
eligible to participate in this program.
For further information, the student should contact the chairperson of
the department in which she/he wishes to engage in instructional assistance. The vehicles for earning this credit are
courses listed in each division of departmental offerings as follows:
3520.
Instructional Assistance in (departmental name)/(1).F;S;SS.
A
supervised experience in the instructional process on the university level
through direct participation in a classroom situation. Grading will be on a
satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis only. Prerequisite: junior or senior
standing. May be repeated for a total
credit of 3 semester hours.
Registration for the
course will be done during the registration period using the
Independent/Individual Study/Special Course Form, and grades will be reported
in the regular way at the end of the semester.
The usual limitations on academic load apply to the student's total
load. An undergraduate student may include
a maximum of 3 semester hours credit completed under the Instructional
Assistance Program toward meeting graduation requirements.
The following are
procedures to be used in conjunction with the Instructional Assistance Program:
1. The student may voluntarily
identify herself or himself to a faculty member or to the departmental
chairperson as having interest in participating in this program. A faculty member or departmental chairperson
may also identify an appropriate student and invite the student to participate
in the program.
2. The chairperson
will determine the faculty with whom the student will work. The appropriate
course of study and the mutual agreement of the faculty member and the student
should be involved in this determination.
3. The faculty
member, the student, and the chairperson will discuss the nature of the
student's involvement and actual duties designated in order to reach an
agreement on the specific duties to be carried out by the student.
4. A written
statement or "contract" will be prepared describing those specific
terms agreed upon for the student. The
statement is to be signed by the student and the faculty member and endorsed by
the chairperson and the dean of the college in which the course is
offered. Copies of this statement are to
be given to the student, the faculty member, the chairperson and the dean.
Anyone seeking to
pursue an internship must be either a candidate for a degree at Appalachian or
working for teacher licensure. All
internships are to be graded on S/U basis only.
MAJOR TESTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
PRIOR TO EXAMS
It is strongly
recommended that no tests or major assignments not included on the syllabus be
made during the five class days prior to the final exam period. This recommendation, however, does not
include "make-up" tests.
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The following is a
summary of the restrictions imposed by University policy on the numbering
of coursework. To begin, University
policy stipulates the following general classifications:
0001-0999
Remedial
1000-1999 Freshman
2000-2999 Sophomore
3000-3999
Junior
4000-4999
Senior
5000-5999 Master
6000-6999
Specialist
7000-7999 Doctorate
Within the ranges
listed above, however, the following blocks of numbers are reserved for
courses which are common to most departments:
0500-0549
1500-1549
2500-2549
3500-3549
4500-4549
5500-5549
6500-6549
7500-7549
Numbers specified
within the reserved ranges are as follows:
Independent
Study - 2500, 3500, 4500, 5500, 6500, 7500
General
& Departmental Honors - 1510-1519, 2510-2519, 3510-3519, 4510-4519
Selected
Topics – 1530-1549, 2500, 2549, 3530-3549, 4530-4549, 5530-5549, 6530-6549,
7530-7549
Instructional
Assistance – 3520
Other
numbers reserved by University policy are:
Internships
- 2900, 3900, 4900, 5900, 6900
Bibliography
& Research – 5000
Graduate
Research – 5989
Thesis/
Dissertation – 5999,6999,7999
Experiential
Learning - 1999, 2999, 3999, 4999
The above is
intended as a guide in preparing course proposals for both the Graduate Council
and the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee. For more information, contact the Registrar.
Any undergraduate
student who is 1) full-time (registered for 12 or more hours), 2) has attained
at least sophomore standing (earned at least 30 hours), and 3) has a minimum
grade-point average of 1.75 may elect to take one course each semester under
the pass-fail grading system, not to
exceed a maximum of six (6) pass-fail
courses while enrolled at the University. Any undergraduate course may be
chosen under this option, except those
courses used to comprise the total hour requirements of the student's major,
minor, core curriculum, and foreign language requirements. IN ESSENCE, The
pass-fail grading system is intended only for “free elective” credit. It is the
responsibility of the student to make sure that she/he does not violate this
limitation. Graduate students may
not elect the pass-fail option. If a
course taken under the A-B-C-D-F grading system is repeated, it must be repeated
under the A-B-C-D-F system.
A student who elects
the pass-fail option at the first nine weeks of a fall or spring term and thus
receive the letter grade(A-f) earned at the end of the term. However, once the
pass-fail system is elected for a given course, a change to another course may
not be made. Because of the length of
the summer terms, there are no provisions for removing the pass-fail option
after it has been selected for a course.
A grade of
"P" means that the student's grade was equal to a "D" or
above on a conventional grading scale.
The hours earned will count toward graduation, but the grade will not be
computed in her or his grade-point average.
A grade of "F" means that the student failed the course. No credit is earned, but the grade of
"F" is computed in the student's grade-point average as an
"F."
Students should also
be aware of the disadvantages which could result from using the pass-fail
option (i.e., many graduate schools will not accept transcripts containing a
"P" notation.)
In order to choose
the pass-fail option in a course, the student will get a special pass-fail form
from the Registrar's Office. It must be
completed and turned in to the Registrar's Office prior to the close of the
period during which a course may be added.
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GRADE-POINT AVERAGE AND REPEAT
POLICY
The grade-point
average (GPA) is a general measure of the student’s academic achievement while
at Appalachian. The GPA is determined by dividing the total number of quality
points earned by the total number of quality hours attempted (“quality points”
and “quality hours” are derived from courses graded A-F or WF). The GPA is
computed only on the basis of coursework taken at Appalachian.
Students may, for a
variety of reasons, elect to repeat a course.
If a student so elects, the following policies will govern the awarding
of credit and the computation of her or his GPA:
1. Credit hours earned
in a particular course will not be awarded more than one time; i.e., if a
course in which credit hours have been earned is repeated with a passing grade,
additional credit hours will not be awarded. If, however, a course in which
credit hours have been earned is repeated with a grade of "F",
"U", or "WF", the hours earned initially will be subtracted
from the student's total.
2. When a course is
repeated, the grade earned in the initial attempt can be excluded from
computation in the student's GPA for a maximum of five (5) courses. The student must indicate to the Registrar's
Office, in writing, which courses are to be excluded from GPA computation under
this policy.
3. The student must
indicate to the Registrar’s Office, in writing, which courses are to be
excluded from GPA computation under this policy. A repeat form must be
submitted to the Registrar’s office no later than the last day of the final
exam period during the term in which the course is repeated.
4. If neither the
number nor the title of a course has changed but the content has changed
substantially, it will be the responsibility of the chairperson of the
department in which the course is offered to notify the Registrar that a
student who took the course prior to the change in content may not repeat the
course for credit.
5. Whenever a
student has received a grade of incomplete ("I") in a course, the
student will be permitted to re-register for the course in which the incomplete
was given without the "I" changing to an "F," provided that
it is within the designated period of time, not to exceed one year.
6. No more than one
Program-of-Study course may be excluded from the GPA by repeating it once for a
higher grade. The hours for the first Program-of Study course that is repeated
will automatically be excluded.
The second grade
always stands for a repeated course. The hours earned will be counted only once
if both grades are passing. If second grade is “F”, the hours earned will be
discounted. A student may not graduated with an “F” or “U” in the Program of
Study.
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With some exception
exceptions, coursework is defined as “in residence” when registration is
through the University. The physical location at which the course is
delivered-whether in Boone or through a field-based program-does not affect
this definition. The following types of courses, however, are no considered “in
residence”: transfer credit, credit by examination, credit for life experience,
credit for military experience, credit while enrolled in a non-degree status,
and “institutional” credit.
To graduate from
Appalachian, an undergraduate student must complete, as a minimum, the final
thirty (30) semester hours in residence. (Students who study abroad on an
Appalachian-approved or study abroad program are excluded for the provision.)
To graduate form
Appalachian, an undergraduate student must complete in residence a minimum of
eighteen (18) semester hours in the major and (if applicable) nine (9) semester
hours in the minor.
Individual academic
programs may specify particular courses that must be taken in residence. A
student who intends to transfer coursework from other collegiate institutions
should consult the portion of the Undergraduate Bulletin catalog that describes
her or his intended degree program.
A minimum cumulative
grade-point average of 2.00 must be earned in major courses taken at
Appalachian. Questions about residence requirements should be directed to the
Dean of the College/School under who the degree program is offered.
A candidate for a graduate degree may, with the
permission of the advisor and the approval of the Graduate School, offer up to
eight semester hours of graduate credit from another graduate school or eight
semester hours of graduate field-based credit from Appalachian or a combination
of up to eight semester hours, but in no case may the residence at Appalachian
be less than one academic year.
Field-based graduate
degree students must present nine hours of resident credit for the graduate
degree.
SCHEDULING OF COURSES TO BE
OFFERED FOR CREDIT
Scheduling a course
to be offered for credit in the university must be authorized by the departmental
chairperson or director of the department or area under which the course is
listed. It is also the responsibility of
the chairperson or director to approve the instructional personnel to be
involved in teaching the course. After
having authorized a course to be offered, the chairperson or director will
notify the office of the dean to whom the chairperson reports giving such
information as the course number and title; instructor; hours credit; size of
the class; the time, days of the week, and dates when the class will meet; the
place where the class will meet. The
dean will send this information to: (1)
the Registrar's Office if the course is to be offered for residential credit
during a term of the regular academic year or (2) the Office of Summer Sessions
if the course is to be offered during the summer term or through the Office of
Extension Instruction. The Office of
Summer Sessions or Extension Instruction will then notify the Registrar's Office
to implement the scheduling of the courses.
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If a student has
received a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian, a second (or subsequent)
bachelor’s degree can be earned by completing all catalog requirements for the
second (or subsequent) degree.
If a student who
wished to earn two (or more) undergraduate degrees at Appalachian concurrently,
she or he must complete all catalog requirements stipulated for the respective
degrees.
A second (or
subsequent bachelor’s degree must differ in type from any degree previously
awarded by the University. The University will not, for example, award a second
Bachelor of Arts(B.A.)degree: it will, however, award both a Bachelor of Arts
AND a Bachelor of Science(B.S.)degree, either simultaneously or in sequence.
Prior to graduation,
a student may pursue two majors under the same degree by completing all
requirements of both majors (no minimum number hours are required).
After graduation, a
student may pursue a second major under the same degree by completing
requirements (no minimum number of hours).
The student would be readmitted as a "Special Student" through
the Registrar's Office. Once all
requirements are completed she/he is to notify the dean's office. The dean's office will notify the Registrar's
Office in writing.
A student holding a
master's degree may earn a second master's degree in another discipline,
following the same admission procedures as stated for the master's degree. During the first semester of study for a
second master's, students plan with their advisors a program of study to
include a minimum of 30 additional semester hours which may or may not include
a thesis. If a thesis is included, at least 26 semester hours of the work must
be completed at Appalachian. If a thesis
is not written, the student may include up to nine semester hours of graduate
work not more than seven years old from another approved graduate school or
nine semester hours of field-based work completed through Appalachian. The
comprehensive examination and/or Product Learning must be done at least 14
calendar days prior to the date on which the candidate is awarded the degree. (Note:
In the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling, a second
master’s degree requires meeting all program course requirements with a minimum
of 36 semester hours.) Graduate course work from an earned degree cannot be
included in the second master’s degree.
SELECTED TOPICS COURSES –
GUIDELINES
1. A course under a
special topics designation should not be offered where a course of
substantially similar content and methodology exists under an established
number.
2. New selected
topics courses should be shared with the university faculty two weeks prior to
the close of when the next semester's scheduling is due (via memo from the department
chairperson to all other department chairpersons).
3. If departments
and/or individual faculty members have a problem with the offering of a special
topics course, she/he, the individual offering the course and the departmental
chair should attempt to resolve the problem.
If that course of action does not result in a solution, the appropriate
college dean(s) would serve to arbitrate.
SHORT TERM COURSES FOR ACADEMIC
CREDIT
A workshop offered for two
semester hours credit must meet a minimum of three hours a day for at least two
weeks.
Policies and procedures
governing exceptions to the above are as follows:
In recognition of the fact
that an educational experience cannot be measured in time units and to
accommodate some of the special situations which may occur in Appalachian's
Summer program, the chairperson of the department and the dean of the college
in which credit is to be offered, and the graduate dean for graduate credit,
together with the director of Summer Sessions and the Provost and Vice
Chancellor for Academic Affairs, are allowed to judge each proposal for credit
on its merits and be given the authority to determine appropriate academic
credit.
To assist those who may
wish to make proposals, the following condition is specified. A detailed plan of the proposed educational
activity must be submitted to the chairperson, the dean, and the director of
Summer Sessions at least 30 days prior to the submission of the summer school
schedule each year. This plan must
include:
1. details concerning the
subject matter to be considered; (This could take the form of an outline.)
2. details concerning
procedures to be used in instruction;
3. details concerning the
time frame to be utilized in the instruction; (It is anticipated that a minimum
of 15 clock hours will be scheduled for each semester hour of credit
requested. This may include time spent
in registration and evaluation.)
4. details concerning
planned activities which the participants are required to engage in prior to the
beginning of the scheduled activity; (This could be required reading lists, for
example)
5. details concerning the
procedures to be used in evaluation of students. (It is expected that the same standards for
evaluation as used in any other course will be applied.)
The Graduate Council has a
policy which prohibits a graduate student from registering for two workshops
scheduled for the same two-week period.
No more than three workshops may be taken to apply toward a degree. (Workshops are identified by title.) There is
no limitation on the number of two-week courses which a student might include
in her or his program.
Academic Load - Summer
Sessions
An undergraduate
student may take a maximum of 12 semester hours during all the summer sessions
combined, and a maximum of seven semester hours during a five-week term. No more than one short-term course may be
taken during a single period. ANY
STUDENT WHO REGISTERS FOR AN OVERLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION OF HER/HIS DEAN WILL
BE REQUIRED TO DROP THE EXCESS HOURS WITHOUT CREDIT.
The maximum load for
a graduate student during a five-week term is six semester hours. Any exception in excess of this limit should
be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. No more than one short-term course may be taken
during a single period. ANY STUDENT WHO
REGISTERS FOR AN OVERLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION WILL BE REQUIRED TO DROP THE
EXCESS HOURS.
STUDENT RECORDS
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
CONCERNING THE RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION
I. Purpose and scope of
the statement
A. Purpose-This
statement establishes updated guidelines for the University on the matter of
confidentiality of student records. It
has been developed in the light of legislation concerning access to and release
of information maintained in student records in institutions of higher
learning. (The Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act of 1974.) Any questions
on these policies should be referred to the University Registrar.
B. Scope-These
policies encompass all student records maintained by the University. They apply
to all students, current or former, at Appalachian State University.
A. In response to inquiries from the general public, such
as prospective employers, credit investigators, etc., only the following
directory information is released without the student's permission:
"the
student's name; address; local telephone listing; University post office
number; e-mail address; major field of study; academic classification; enrollment
status during a particular term; degrees honors and awards received;
participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height
of members of athletic teams.
Any student who wants to make a specific
request
that directory information should not be
released
should contact the Registrar’s Office.
B.
Transcripts are released only upon the written request of the student.
Transcripts will not be released if the student is financially
indebted to the University.
C.
A student has the right to inspect the contents of her/his
educational records with the exception of documents submitted
to the University in confidence prior to
D.
If parents or guardians request academic or
personal information the request will
not be
honored without the student’s written
permission
unless the parent can present evidence
of the
student’s being dependent upon the
parent for
support as defined by the Federal
Internal Revenue
code.
TOP
Appalachian grants eight
semester hours of academic credit to most veterans including six semester hours
in military science (ROTC) and two hours in physical education. The University may grant specific course
credit for completion of certain types of military schools and for some USAFI
and CLEP work. Information on veterans'
academic credit is available at the Registrar's Office.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY
A
student is allowed to officially withdraw (i.e> cease enrollment in all
courses) WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY during the first nine weeks of a fall or
spring semester. In order to officially withdraw, the student must formally
contact the Registrar’s Office.
A
grade of “W” (Withdrawal) will be assigned to each course if the student
withdraws during the first nine weeks of a fall or spring semester.
A
student who officially withdraws AFTER the first nine weeks of a fall or spring
semester will receive a grade of “WF” (Withdrawal Failing) or “WU”
(Withdrawal/Unsatisfactory) on each course for which she or he is enrolled at
the time of withdrawal.
1.
A student can petition for withdrawal without academic penalty for compelling
medical or psychological reasons. Students seeking a medical withdrawal must
contact Student Health Services: those seeking a withdrawal for psychological
reasons must contact the Counseling and
2.
A student can petition for withdrawal without academic penalty for extenuating
(i.e. for other that medical or psychological) reasons. The student must
formally notify the Registrar’s Office. The reasons for the withdrawal should
be clearly stated, and assigned on a course-by course basis, as deemed
appropriate.
The
Registrar’s Office is allowed to administratively withdrawal a student who is
auditing a class but has not been “regular in attendance.” Documentation for
the withdrawal will consist of an appropriate notation by the instructor of
record.
3.
Withdrawal between terms. If an
undergraduate student decides, after the close of an academic
term, to not return for the succeeding academic term,
she or he should notify the Office of Student Development, in
writing, to that effect. Formal notification
allows the Office of Student Development to: 1) cancel pre-registration, and 2) refund
the pre-payment of applicable tuition and fees. (If a non-returning student did not pre- register
or pre-pay, formal notification is desirable, but not
required.)
4.
Retroactive withdrawal from a previous term. If a student is allowed to
make official a previously unofficial withdrawal from a prior
term, an official withdrawal form is completed by the student. Any needed explanatory notes concerning grades
or fees are attached to the withdrawal form by the Office of
Student Development.
5.
Unofficial withdrawals. No
withdrawal forms are completed and no lists are
prepared. Fees and grades
are handled in accordance with the appropriate policies.
6.
Withdrawal of prospective students who fail to complete
registration. No withdrawal forms are completed. All offices receiving advanced information
about a prospective student's decision not to enter school
should notify the Admissions Office (in case of prospective
undergraduate students) or the
7.
Students enrolled in an extension program initiate withdrawals
in the Office of the Director of Extension Instruction.
The Academic Policies and Procedures
Committee
THE ACADEMIC POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES COMMITTEE
Members on
Committee: 15 - 11 faculty members and 4 students (3
undergraduate and 1 graduate), the students acting as voting members with each
student having one vote and representative of the five degree-granting colleges. The students will serve as liaison between
the University Academic Policies and Procedures Committee and the Student
Government Association. The Provost and
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or her/his designated representative will
serve as Chairperson of the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee without
vote and will be the liaison person between the University Academic Policies
and Procedures Committee and the Chancellor.
Report To: The
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Areas of Responsibility: The
major area of responsibility shall be the curriculum. Other areas are: advanced placement;
graduation requirements; hear appeals concerning academic matters from any college,
department, member of the faculty, or students and matters referred to it by
the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or the Chancellor.
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE
AP&P COMMITTEE
1. Proposals to be
considered by the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee must be in the
hands of the members of the committee at least twenty-five (25) calendar days prior
to each monthly meeting.
2. Proposals to be
presented to the AP&P Committee should be submitted using the format for
the AP&P Proposal Form (see Appendix B).
3. Committee
meetings are limited to two hours in length.
In the event of a backlog of Committee business, a second meeting is to
be called for that month.
4. Voting on
proposals is by voice vote or by a show of hands. Proxy representation for the purpose of
voting is NOT permitted.
5. A quorum for the
transaction of business shall consist of two-thirds majority of members
of the Committee. Decisions shall be by
a simple majority of the votes cast.
6. The order of
consideration of proposals before the Committee is to be rotated among the colleges.
7. The appropriate
dean's office is to send a copy of a final proposal presented to the Committee
to each department listed as being affected by the proposal.
Guidelines for Preparing AP&P Forms
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING
AP&P FORMS
The AP&P Form is
available on diskette (Multimate Advantage II) from the Office of Academic
Affairs by sending a formatted diskette to Ms. Lesa Felker, Room 207
Administration Building (Phone #2070).
Please number the
proposals consecutively. It is most
helpful to denote a department abbreviation before the number (example ART-1,
ART-2, etc.)
A separate proposal
MUST be submitted for EACH addition, change or deletion of any major, minor,
concentration or course.
Before adding new
course numbers or changing existing course numbers, you should check with the
Registrar's Office to verify the course numbers you wish to use.
The AP&P Committee
will NOT be able to vote on proposals that have not received prior approval by
all appropriate committees (department/college councils, Teacher Education
Council, Graduate Council).
Proposals to be
considered by the AP&P Committee must be in the hands of the members of the
committee at least 25 calendar days prior to each monthly meeting.
The AP&P
Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month (usually in Room 224 of I.G.
Greer Building).
The deans' offices
are responsible for distributing proposals to the mailing list of AP&P
members and others who need a copy of these proposals. A mailing list (of 26 persons) will be
updated when necessary and will be sent to the deans' offices for distribution
of proposals.
Proposals should be
submitted along with a cover memo to AP&P Committee members indicating the
date of the meeting that the proposals are to be presented and a summary of what
the proposals are about.
Exception to
using the AP&P Form: If a department needs only to change a course
number or the semester offering for a course, they may submit these changes to
AP&P Committee members in the form of a memo, "FOR INFORMATION
ONLY" purposes. Such actions do not
require a vote from the committee, but will be included in the minutes of the
monthly meetings as a way of informing the campus of such changes. If you have questions regarding "FOR
INFORMATION ONLY" items, contact the Office of Academic Affairs.
After each AP&P
Committee meeting, the minutes will be prepared and presented to the Provost
and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for approval. The minutes will then be distributed to all
faculty and other appropriate persons across campus. The last page of the minutes will indicate
approval or disapproval from the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic
Affairs.
INSTRUCTION SHEET
ADD (Submit Part A and Part B) Proposal #_____________________ CHANGE (Submit Part A only) (Number proposals consecutively)
DELETE (Submit Part A only) Effective Date Semester/Year (This date MUST be included for EVERY proposal.)
PROPOSAL FORM -- Part A
1.
(Just state the action requested - do not include rationale.)
2.
(Indicate the need for the proposed action and give a basis on which AP&P
can assess its impact on the University.)
3.
(Include all parts of the catalog description--course number, title, semester
hours credit, semester offerings, description of course--and reflect all
proposed changes. BE VERY COMPLETE, USE
ATTACHED PAGES IF NECESSARY.)
4.
(Self-explanatory.)
5.
a. (If yes, specify.)
b. (If yes, indicate the results, including dissents. If no, explain why.)
Part B (For additions
only)
1.
a. (Include the basis for estimating projected enrollment.)
b. (Include the basis for estimating
student clientele.)
c. (Additional faculty and current
faculty requirements should be stated in terms of full-year
positions. If additional faculty are
needed, are the positions already funded
and allocated to your department? If
not, how will the additional work be covered? What changes in present faculty
responsibilities will be necessary?)
d. (Cite source of this information):
e. (Self-explanatory.)
f.
1. (If no explain why.)
2.(If
no explain why.)
3.
(If no explain why.)
2.
(Self-explanatory.)
(Form
Revised September, 1990ed September, 1990)
________ADD Proposal #_________________
________CHANGE
________DELETE Effective Date _________________
PROPOSAL FORM -- Part A
Academic Policies and Procedures Committee
College__________________________________ Dean ____________________
Department______________________________ Chairperson_______________
1. Briefly describe action requested:
2. Rationale for Proposal:
3. Fill-in current catalog description and proposed catalog description below.
4. List the committees, councils, and other groups that have considered this proposal; the action taken; and the dates that action was taken.
5. Have all appropriate departmental chairpersons been consulted in the development of this proposal? Yes____ No____
List the date(s) and person(s) contacted:_______________________________ _______________________________________________________________
a. Is this course cross-listed in another (other) department(s)? Yes____ No_____
List:
b. Are there any existing programs or courses that will be curtailed or discontinued as a result of the proposed new program or course? Yes_____ No______
(Form Revised September, 1990)
Part B (For Additions Only)
1. Complete the following:
a. Projected enrollment: 1st year_________ 2nd year _________
b. Projected student clientele:
c. Faculty requirements of new program, track or course:
Additional faculty _________________________________________
Current faculty ___________________________________________
Other and continuing resonsibilities of current faculty involved in new program or course:
d. For a new program, give the career and/or graduate education opportunities available to students in this program:
e. List estimated costs of new program or course that cannot be covered by present budget:
f. Have the following academic support units been consulted?
1. Library Collection Management Office (#2771): Yes_____No_____
Give the date and
person contacted:___________________________
2.
3. Audio-Visual Services: Yes______No______
g. List courses in other departments that may cover or partially cover the subject matter of the proposed course.
2. Attach outline of proposed program or course.
(Form Revised September, 1990)
Flow Chart of Academic Governance
Form: Request to Take Coursework at Another School
Appalachian
Request to Take Coursework
at Another School
PLEASE SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1.
Name:_____________________________________________________ASU Box
#________________
2.
Student ID Number:__________________________Major__________________Phone
#____________
3.
Indicate the school you plan to attend (if this is NOT a North Carolina
Institution, you must supply course
descriptions):_____________________________________________________________________
4.
Indicate the academic term and year in which you plan to attend the above
school:__________________
5.
Indicate below the courses AT THE ABOVE SCHOOL in which you plan to enroll:
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Department |
Course Number |
Course Title |
# of hours |
Registrar’s Use Only |
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#3 |
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#4 |
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6.
It is the student’s responsibility to follow the admission’s requirements and
registration procedures at the visiting collegiate institution. You are also
responsible for asking the other school to send a transcript to ASU when you
complete the course(s). Make the request in the Registrar’s Office at the other
school. There may be a charge for this service.
7.
Read the following and sign below:
UNIVERSITY POLICIES GOVERNING THE TRANSFER OF CREDIT
- An Appalachian student who
wishes to take coursework at another collegiate institution must receive
approval from the University PRIOR to enrollment at the other institution.
Failure to secure prior approval may result in the coursework being deemed
unacceptable for transfer.
- To receive permission,
an Appalachian student must be in academic “good standing” (i.e., she or
he CANNOT be on academic probation).
- Coursework at the
lower-division level (i.e., coursework numbered 1000 and 2000) is
evaluated by the Registrar’s Office; coursework at the upper-division
level (i.e., coursework numbered 3000 and 4000) is evaluated by the
appropriate academic department.
- If a student wishes to
take coursework at another collegiate institution while concurrently
enrolled at Appalachian, the combined total of credit hours for which she
or he will be allowed to enroll cannot exceed eighteen (18).
- A student will NOT be
allowed to take coursework at another collegiate institution while
concurrently enrolled at Appalachian if the course for which the student
wants transfer credit is scheduled and available at Appalachian during the
academic term in question.
- A course will not be
approved for transfer unless all prerequisites are completed prior to
enrollment in the course
- A student will not
receive transfer credit for any course bearing a grade of less than “C”.
- Grades earned at
another collegiate institution will not be computed in or allowed to
affect the grade-point average at Appalachian.
- To graduate from
Appalachian, a student must complete a minimum of sixty (60) semester
hours at a senior college or university.
- To graduate from
Appalachian, a student must complete, as a minimum, the final thirty (30)
semester hours IN RESIDENCE.
- To graduate from
Appalachian, a student must complete IN RESIDENCE a minimum of eighteen
(18) semester hours in the major and nine (9) semester hours in the minor.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature Date
________________________________________________________________________________________________
OFFICE USE ONLY
Evaluated by:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Pre-Requisites:___________________________________________________________________________________
Comments:______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Return form to:
ASU Registrar's Office
FAX: (828) 262-6764
Miscellaneous
MISCELLANEOUS
Listed below are
some miscellaneous items for information:
--
The following proposal from the
--
Name changes may be presented to the AP&P committee for discussion at the
discretion of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; however,
this is not mandatory. Authority for
name changes rests with the Chancellor.
(October, 1988 AP&P Minutes)
--
A motion was approved to have classes prior to vacation end with the student's
last class prior to vacation - rather than all classes ending at
--
A motion was approved to restrict classes offered on Monday/Wednesday to those
classes which begin at
--
January, 1990 - The Student Senate proposed the following resolution to be
implemented by the 1990 fall semester:
"Therefore be it resolved that the Appalachian State University
Student Senate strongly recommends that each professor give and return an
exam/quiz and return it to the student with a grade before the drop
date." In addition, the Student
Senate has expressed that the desired outcome will be "to encourage each
professor to give an exam/quiz and return it to the student with a grade before
the drop date.”