14
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Specific requirements of the contract major are as follows: • At least 36 credit hours must be taken in the major. No more than 45 credit hours (excluding one-credit hour laboratories taken in conjunction with a regular course) may be required. • A student must earn a minimum GPA of 2.5. Specific requirements of the contract minor are as follows: • At least 24 credit hours must be taken in the minor. • A minimum GPA may be set at the discretion of the supervising faculty. Students who are eligible for, and who wish to develop, a contract major or minor must complete the following steps: • Secure the permission of at least two full-time faculty members who are willing to help as advisors. • Prepare a written proposal outlining the rationale for the major or minor and a list of the courses which will be required. • Obtain the signatures of the faculty advisors in their acceptance of the proposed major or minor. • Obtain the signature of the Vice President of Academic Affairs as a sign of his or her acceptance of the proposed major or minor. • Have a copy of the contract placed in the student’s permanent file in the Registrar’s Office and have copies prepared for each of the faculty advisors. Any changes in the approved program of study will require the signatures of the faculty advisors and the Office for Academic Affairs prior to implementation of the change. Upon the successful completion of the courses and all other graduation requirements, the student will be granted the bachelor degree in the contract major. If completed, the contract minor will be posted on the academic record.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND GRADES GRADING SYSTEM The grading system of the College is: GRADE A B+ B C+ C D+ D F
QUALITY POINTS 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0
LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE exceptional attainment superior work good work above adequate work adequate work less than adequate work poor work failure to meet course standards
GRADE POINT AVERAGE Grade points are earned according to the above grading scale for each credit attempted. Under the grading system, a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed by dividing the number of grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. The resulting number is the student’s Grade Point Average. Example: Grade A C C+ F
grade points 4 2 2.5 0
x x x x x
credits total grade points 3 = 12 3 = 6 3 = 7.5 2 = 0
Totals
11
Grade Point Average Formula: 25.5 ÷ 11 total grade divided by credits attempted
= 2.32 GPA = GPA points
25.5
PASS-FAIL OPTION A student is permitted to declare one course on a Pass/Fail basis. The purpose of this option is to encourage students to explore new areas of study in which
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
they are interested but have little or no background. The Pass/Fail option may be chosen for a Core course or any other course not needed to fulfill the major or minor requirements. The Pass/Fail option requires the written approval of the advisor and a representative from the Office of Academic Support. A student must attain a minimum of a C grade to receive a Pass (P) for the course. Students receiving a D+ or D grade will receive a Low Pass (LP) for the course. The P or LP grades are not calculated in the grade point average; however, if the student fails the course, the F grade is included in the cumulative grade point average. REPEATED COURSES Students who earned a D+, D, or F in a course may repeat that course and will be regraded as PASS (P), LOW PASS (LP) or FAIL (F). Students earning at least a C will be regraded as a PASS (P) for the course; students earning a D+ or D will be regraded as a LOW PASS (LP); students earning a F will be regraded as F (F). When the regrade is either a P, a LP or a F, the original grade is converted to a R (REPEAT). A LOW PASS or a PASS is not calculated in the GPA, however an F is calculated in the GPA. Students who receive a LOW PASS or a PASS for the course repeated in their major field must consult their Department Chair concerning the effect of the repeated course on their departmental requirements. ACADEMIC PROGRESS All students are expected and encouraged to sustain satisfactory progress in their studies at the College. Satisfactory academic progress for a full time student requires: 1. Successful completion of a minimum of 24 credit hours in the full academic year. Financial Aid may be affected by lack of academic progress (see section on Financial Aid). 2. Maintenance of the required cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for the number of credits attempted as established by the department/program in which the student is enrolled. Students participating in Inter-Collegiate Athletics must maintain academic standards as stipulated (see section on Athletics). ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION Academic Probation - The GPA is used as the foundation for measuring academic progress. Should a student not meet the established minimum standards for academic progress, steps will be taken to alert the student and to more closely monitor his or her academic performance. In addition to the minimum standards established for the College, some departments have more rigorous standards for students than the basic expectation of a 2.0. If a student fails to meet the minimum requirement listed below, the student will be placed on Academic Probation and receive notice thereof. Academic Probation places a student on notice that satisfactory academic progress has not occurred and that he or she is in jeopardy of being suspended from the College for lack of progress. Students placed on probation are notified of this status by mail promptly after the end of the term in which performance had fallen below an acceptable level. Students on probation will be closely monitored by their faculty advisors and Academic Support counselors and may be required to enroll in a study skills seminar. Academic Suspension occurs when a student has clearly shown that his/her work remains unsatisfactory, and that the minimum GPA for the level of attempted credits has not been achieved. Normally this occurs after a student has been placed on academic probation and does not make satisfactory academic progress during the period of probation. Initial suspension is for one term. A student has the right to appeal a suspension; this must be done in writing to the Dean of Faculty. Academic Progress Standards NOTE: For purposes of definition, a sophomore is one who has earned at least 30 credits; a junior is one who has earned at least 60 credits; and a senior is one who has earned at least 90 credits. Freshmen (less than 30 credits) are expected to attempt a minimum of 24 credits and earn a 2.0 GPA or higher. If satisfactory academic progress does not occur
2010-2011 Mercyhurst College Course Catalog • www.mercyhurst.edu