Student Rights & FERPA

Students have three rights covered under FERPA:

1. The right for students to inspect & review their educational records.

2. The right for students to have some control over the disclosure or information from their education records.

3. The right for students to seek and amend incorrect education records.

Academic advisors have the responsibility to protect any educational records in their possession. Excepting basic directory information, only a school official with legitimate educational interest may have access to a student’s education record without that student’s written permission.

Reading a Course Number: A course number has 4 digits

1. First digit indicates the level of the course a. 1000 – Freshmen level course (considered lower level) b. 2000 – Sophomore level course (considered lower level) c. 3000 – Junior level course (considered advanced level; counts towards advanced requirements for graduation) d. 4000 – Senior level course (considered advanced level; counts towards advanced requirements for graduation)

2. Second digit indicates the number of credits the course is worth a. 1340 – the 3 indicates the course is worth 3 credit hours b. 2110 – the 1 indicates the course is worth 1 credit hour

3. The third and fourth digits are internal numbers to differentiate courses within the department

Grades:

McMurry utilizes the plus/minus scale a. GPA computation is a bit more tricky b. Must watch the minus scale of a grade; can make a difference of whether or not the student has to retake a course for their Major.

An average of C (2.0 GPA) must be made on the total work undertaken at McMurry University. Some majors specify a higher required GPA for completion. No grade of less than C quality is acceptable in the major, concentration, focus area, field of study, or teaching field.

Incompletes:

◦ Instructors can temporarily assign an incomplete (I) in place of a letter grade.

◦ Used in extreme circumstances when a student falls behind and the instructor is willing to work with an extended due date passed the date that grades are due.

◦ Must receive VPAA approval.

If Incomplete is earned at the end of:

Fall

Spring or Summer

Change of Grade due in Registrar’s office by:

End of subsequent Spring semester

End of subsequent Fall semester

◦ If a change of grade is not submitted by instructor and student has failed to comply with requirements, the grade with change from an incomplete (I) to a failing grade (F) and can change academic standing