COURSE LOAD
During a regular semester, a full-time student takes a course load of nine to 16 semester hours; during a summer session, a full load is six to nine semester hours. The maximum course load of a student may be reduced at the discretion of the major professor. Except in the case of an unusually able student, a course load of six semester hours is the maximum for which a graduate student may register in a summer session if he/she is writing a research paper in lieu of a thesis; also a student will normally be expected to devote more time than a full summer session to the preparation of a research paper in lieu of a thesis.
Grades and Quality Points
GRADES: Students are graded in their studies on the quality of work. Five grades are in use, as follows: A (excellent), B (good), C (average), D (below average), and F (failure). A course with a grade of Pass or a grade of D may not be used to satisfy a course requirement for a graduate degree.
A grade of I (Incomplete) means that course work is incomplete due to circumstances beyond the control of the student and that successful completion of this work could lead to a passing grade. A grade of IP means that work in a research or thesis course is incomplete, but in progress. Except for thesis courses or those courses in which the student is writing a formal research report in lieu of a thesis, incomplete grades must be removed within 60 calendar days after the end of the term in which the grade was assigned. If the work is not completed within the allotted time, the grade of I will be changed to F.
If a student earns more than six hours in thesis the student's transcript will provide only six hours of grades for thesis. All other IP grades will remain IP on the transcript. The student's thesis director, the Graduate Dean, and the Registrar will determine which six hours of IP will be changed to the letter grade assigned by the thesis director when the thesis is satisfactorily completed.
A student who repeats a course which he/she has successfully completed must accept the last grade received as final.
W represents an official withdrawal from the course.
QUALITY POINTS. In addition to earning credit hours for courses satisfactorily completed, students earn quality points according to the semester grades they make in the courses pursued. The following table is used in computing quality points:
Grade A yields four points for each semester hour of credit represented.
Grade B yields three points for each semester hour of credit represented.
Grade C yields two points for each semester hour of credit represented.
Grade D yields one point for each semester hour of credit represented.
Grade F yields no graduate credit.
Transcripts of Credit
Any person who has earned credit may obtain a certified copy of his/her record, provided he/she is clear with all departments of the University. A student's record is not clear with the Graduate School until all admission requirements have been met.
Grade Appeal
Graduate students who receive grades they believe do not reflect the quality of their work may appeal these grades within 120 calendar days following the academic period in which the grades were earned. The procedure for appeal is as follows:
1. The student should consult the instructor to see if an understanding can be reached. The student is entitled to an explanation as to how the grade was determined and to examine any tests, papers, or other information pertinent to the appeal.
2. If the conference is not satisfactory, the student should secure a Grade Appeal Form from the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. The student may discuss the appeal informally with the Dean if the student so desires.
3. In filing a formal appeal, the student should complete the appeal form, stating the nature of the appeal, providing a detailed description of the justification, and requesting a specific action. Since the written appeal will be the basis for the ultimate decision, the student should ensure that it is clear, complete, and inclusive of all documentation the student wishes to have considered in the appeal process. It is the student's responsibility to present written evidence that the instructor made an error or acted arbitrarily or capriciously in assigning the grade.
4. The student should submit the completed appeal form to the instructor for review. If a solution is not found, the instructor should provide a written response to the student's appeal, providing documentation as to how the grade was determined. The instructor's response should include a copy of the course outline or syllabus provided to the student's class at the beginning of the semester or term.
5. After having met with the instructor and obtaining his or her written response to the appeal, the student may submit the form to the head of the department in which the course was offered (or to the dean of the college if the course was offered in the College of Business, Education, or Nursing). Following a review of the student's appeal and the instructor's response, the department head (or dean of the college) should provide his or her written opinion of the appeal along with any additional, pertinent information.
6. If the student is unsatisfied with the opinion of the department head (or dean of the college), he or she may submit the appeal to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. The Dean may make a decision, which would be final in the matter, or refer the appeal to a subcommittee of the Council on Admission, Credits, and Graduation for review and recommendation. The subcommittee's report would be a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, whose decision would be final. The Dean will notify the student of the decision.
Semester Examinations
Final examinations are scheduled at the end of each regular semester and summer session. Any departure from the published examination schedule requires the prior approval of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
No student may be excused from a final examination. Absence from a final examination, other than in a case of extreme emergency, is construed and recorded as failure in the course.