Graduation

completing coursework by the time that grades must be submitted. Examples of such circumstances include serious illness, emergency, and/or extreme hardship. An Incomplete is not typically granted when a student has missed more than 30% of the class work. Should the faculty member agree to assign a grade of Incomplete, the student has six (6) weeks after the start of the next semester (fall, spring, or summer) to complete all unfinished work. Upon submission of the completed work, the faculty member completes a grade change form and submits it to the Office of the Registrar. If the student has not satisfactorily completed the work by the end of six weeks, the instructor will submit a final grade earned (including zeroes for unfinished work), to the Office of the Registrar.

Graduation

Degree Requirements The University reserves the right to make any necessary changes in the calendar, regulations, student charges or courses of instruction announced in this Catalog. It is the responsibility of the student to see that all the degree requirements are met for graduation from WPU and/or transfer to other institutions. Students are responsible for understanding and meeting all degree requirements for their programs of study for graduation. The baccalaureate degree is granted upon successful completion of the appropriate curriculum presented below and upon satisfaction of the following requirements for all degrees:

• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 on all coursework and a minimum of 120 earned credit hours • At least 30 credit hours earned at William Peace University, including at least 30 of the last 36 hours for the baccalaureate degree • A minimum of one-quarter of the coursework in the major and a minor must be taken at William Peace

University • A GPA of at least 2.00 on coursework designated as being in the “major,” “concentration” or

“minor” for the baccalaureate program of study chosen • When calculating the major GPA, all courses with a disciplinary designation and any other courses that are required for that major will be counted. All course grades made in these courses will be calculated in the major, concentration, or minor GPA. • Successful completion of the liberal education requirements • No more than 6 semester hours toward the baccalaureate degree can consist of independent study or internship without departmental approval • Submission of a graduation application by the appropriate deadline • Satisfactory participation in the University’s Assessment Program • Satisfaction of financial obligations to the University • At least 30 credit hours at the 300-400 level

A student will follow the graduation requirements listed in the Catalog of the year in which s/he enters, unless the student notifies the Registrar about wanting to qualify under a subsequent Catalog. All technical questions related to requirements for graduation and transfer of credit to William Peace University should be referred to the Office of the Registrar, who certifies compliance with such requirements. The faculty advisor may be of considerable assistance in scheduling coursework for graduation on an optimal timetable. It is the responsibility of the student to see that all the degree requirements are met for graduation from WPU and/or transfer to other institutions.

Calculation of Major GPA The major GPA should reflect students’ performance in their major course of study. Thus, grades for all courses in the discipline will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. For example, grades for all courses with a PSY prefix will be included in the determination of the major GPA in PSY, even if they were taken prior to the declaration of a major in PSY, and even if they are being used to fulfill a requirement for the Liberal Education curriculum. PDS 490 will not be included in the major GPA for any discipline. In cases where a course of study requires completion of specific courses from other disciplines, grades from those specific courses will also be included in the calculation of the major GPA. For example, grades for all courses with a BIO prefix will be included in the determination of a major GPA in BIO, in addition to the grades for Allied Courses in the BIO major. In cases where a course of study is interdisciplinary in nature and requires completion of a variety of courses from multiple disciplines, grades from all courses that have been deemed by the Department Chair being “in the major,” and are on record as being in the major in the Catalog, will be included in the calculation of major GPA.

Graduation Application WPU allows students to graduate in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Students approaching 90 credit hours should work with their advisors to determine their completion dates. Students must obtain a graduation application from the Office of the Registrar. The Graduation Application reflects a student’s anticipated semester of graduation. The deadline to apply for graduation each semester is as follows:

Semester Graduation Application Deadline

Fall 2022 September 15, 2022 Spring 2023 November 23, 2022 Summer 2023 June 12, 2023

Once the student completes his/her final semester and all grades have been submitted and finalized, the Registrar will review the student’s academic records and requirements in order to verify graduation eligibility. For students completing all requirements for graduation, the official diploma will be mailed within 4-6 weeks after verification. All financial obligations must be met before either the diploma or an official transcript will be sent. Participation in Commencement There is one commencement ceremony each year, which is designed to honor all graduates from that academic year. The commencement ceremony takes place each May. All students who graduated in the summer semester and the fall semester, along with the students completing their graduation requirements in the spring semester, are welcome to participate in the commencement ceremony. Although students must earn a minimum of 120 credit hours to earn a degree at WPU, students who are eligible for graduation with no more than four (4) credit hours remaining to complete all degree requirements by the end of the spring semester are welcome to participate in the commencement ceremony if they have demonstrated an intent to graduate, i.e. they have made a specific plan with their advisor and, if possible, registered for the remaining courses needed to complete their degree requirements. Statute of Limits on Degree Completion A student must complete the baccalaureate degree within eight (8) years of initial enrollment. Additionally, a student may not register for further coursework following the semester in which 180 semester hours of