Academic Standards and Policies

Dean’s List

Superior academic achievement is recognized at the end of each semester. All students completing 12 or more credits for grades (not pass/no record) are eligible. At the end of each semester, all full‐time students meeting this requirement with a semester GPA of at least 3.5 will be included on the Dean’s List.

Academic Standards

Grading System

Letter grades and numerical point values are assigned as listed below:

* see following for description

ADW (Administrative Withdrawal): This grade is submitted by an instructor when a student attended the course infrequently prior to the last date to withdraw, failed to comply with the required procedure for withdrawal, and did not attend at all subsequent to the last date to withdraw. This grade is noted on permanent record, but not calculated in grade point average.

ADI (Administrative Incomplete): This grade is submitted only in extraordinary circumstances when the instructor of record did not or could not turn in grades. A grade of ADI will be converted to a letter grade by the instructor of record as soon as conditions permit. When extreme circumstances, such as the death of a faculty member, make it impossible for him or her to convert the ADI, the Vice President of Academic Affairs will make the conversion in consultation with the affected students and appropriate faculty.

IF (Incomplete Failure):  This grade is applied to the student’s record if an incomplete is not changed to another grading option prior to the published deadline.

W (Withdrawal): This grade is submitted when the student withdrew from class by the withdrawal deadline.

WD (Withdrew from school): This grade is submitted for all outstanding classes when a student withdraws from school.

Calculation of Grade Point Average

To compute a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA), numerical values are assigned to each letter grade as indicated above. Grades of I, P, NR, AU, ADW, ADI, W and WD are not used in grade point calculations. The sum of the grade points earned is divided by the number of GPA hours, resulting in the student’s cumulative GPA.

The decision of an instructor to award a grade is presumed to be final. Grades submitted become a part of the student’s permanent record. Under ordinary circumstances, no one else within the College has the right, or competence, to change an instructor’s grades.

Students who believe they have been graded wrongly must immediately bring this to the attention of their instructors. Should disagreement ensue, students are best served by seeking counsel from their faculty advisors or with the Associate Dean, who, if necessary, can act as intermediaries to seek resolution. As a last resort, disagreements may be appealed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Pass/No Record Option

Only 16 credits under the Pass/No Record (P/NR) option may be submitted for graduation. The Pass/No Record option is not permitted in the student’s major program except for internships.

The student must file with the Registrar’s Office the appropriate form indicating his/her desire to be graded P/NR during the first 20 days of the semester (Friday of the 4th week in a 15-week semester). Otherwise, the A‐F system will be used.

No petitions will be accepted to convert from A‐F to P/NR after the first 20 days of the semester (Friday of the 4th week in a 15-week semester). Students may, however, petition to convert from P/NR to A‐F. Petitions to convert to a letter grade must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Maintenance of Standards

Each student is expected to make satisfactory progress toward meeting degree requirements. Instructors teaching undergraduate students are asked to identify, during the fifth and eighth weeks of the semester, all who are having difficulty in their classes. This information is available to students and advisors to determine strategies for improvement.

All undergraduate students who have a cumulative GPA below 2.0 are subject to having their academic records reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee, which will determine appropriate action as indicated below. For purposes of record, students who are not under academic probation and have not been suspended or dismissed are defined as being in good academic standing.

Students who do not meet the general criteria for good standing will receive letters of warning, probation, or suspension. In viewing the records of students in academic difficulty, the Academic Standards Committee normally uses specific guidelines in decision‐making. These guidelines are available from faculty advisors, the Pathways Center or the Registrar’s Office.

Suspended students who wish to reenter the College must attend a hearing with the Academic Standards Committee for readmission after they have complied with the conditions of their suspension. Academic Standards Committee will determine if a student is academically eligible to return. Students must still apply and meet all requirements for readmission located in the Readmission section.

Appeals

Undergraduate students who have been placed on probation or who are suspended may appeal their status to the Academic Standards Committee. Appeals requests must be submitted to the Committee, in writing, by the deadline stated. Appeals will not normally be heard after the start of the semester.

The Committee, or its designee(s), will hear each appeal, and the student must present his or her views. The student may be accompanied, if he or she chooses, by an advocate from within the College community. The committee may confirm or change the student’s academic status with such conditions as it deems appropriate. The student and parent(s), if appropriate, will be provided with written statements of the actions taken by the committee in regard to the student’s appeal. Adverse decisions by the committee may be appealed, on procedural grounds only, to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, who will review the matter and make a final determination.

Notification

Students placed on probation or who are suspended shall be notified in writing. In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, parents may also be notified.

Email Policy

New England College uses NEC e‐mail as a means for official communication with students. As these communications may be time sensitive, the college expects that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. The college expects that students check their NEC e‐mail at least once per business day while enrolled. The college will continue to use the NEC email system as a means of official communications during the Winter and Summer breaks. Students are expected to check their NEC email accounts during these breaks at least twice during the business week. Students who have their NEC e‐mail forwarded to a different email address bear the responsibility to ensure that important and time‐sensitive communications are not lost.

Academic Standards for Extracurricular Activities

Academic standards for participation in extracurricular activities are determined by the individual student group or by the intercollegiate organization with which the group is affiliated.

Normal Course Load

In order to maintain full‐time status, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits per semester. The normal course load for a full‐time student is 16 to 18 credits per semester. Students who enroll in more than 18 credits per semester will be charged per credit for the overload. Students who have completed at least 16 credits at NEC and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher may enroll in up to 20 credits with no overload charges.

Expected Student Academic Work per Credit

Workload expectations in this policy are an estimate of the amount of work needed for an average student to earn an average grade. Course grades are based on the quality of the work submitted, not on hours of effort. Workload expectations per credit do not vary with the method of delivery of the course or the length of the academic term. Students should plan on spending 3 hours, per credit hour, per week. Therefore, they should plan on spending approximately 12 hours per week for one 4 credit hour course.

Adding/Dropping

Undergraduate students may add or drop courses online during the first five class days (Friday of the first week) of the fall or spring semester. After this date, students may petition to add/drop classes, with approval of the instructor and faculty advisor. Petition forms are available at Pathways and the Registrar’s Office. Dropped courses are not recorded on a student’s academic record. The Add/Drop period for courses shorter than 15 weeks (including 7 week courses and Summer or January terms) will be proportionate to the length of the term.

Withdrawing

An undergraduate student may withdraw from a course for any reason up to the tenth class day past mid‐semester (Friday of the 10th week in a 15-week semester). Withdrawals are noted on the student’s academic record with the designation of “W.” Students are financially responsible for all courses with a “W” grade. Withdrawal forms are available from the Registrar’s Office and Pathways and must be completed and returned to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline listed above. After the last date to withdraw, students must petition to do so. Petitions are available at the Registrar’s Office and Pathways, and must be approved by the students Associate Dean. If petition is not granted, and appeal can be made to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Audited Courses

Students wishing to audit a course may do so by contacting the Registrar’s Office. Permission of the instructor is required. The workload and attendance policy in the course is to be determined by the instructor and should reflect expectations of both the instructor and the student. No credit is granted for an audited course. A grade of “AU” will not be entered on the student’s permanent record unless a student satisfactorily completes the attendance and workload requirements of the course. Full time students are not charged for an audited course. Part‐time students will be charged one‐half the current tuition rate for that course. All students will be charged any course‐related fees. After the end of the add/drop period, a student may not convert an audited course back to the letter grading system.

Prerequisites and Repeated Courses

An instructor may waive a prerequisite if the student has demonstrable competence in areas embraced by the prerequisite.

Credit is not given a second time for a repeated course, unless the Academic Catalog and/or the official course schedule state that the course may be repeated for credit. When a course not repeatable for credit is repeated, all grades remain on the student’s permanent record, but only the highest grade is used in computation of the grade point average. Students may repeat a four‐credit NEC course with an equivalent three‐credit course taken at another institution. Only three credits of credit would be awarded in this case. Students who need to repeat courses no longer offered due to curricular changes may take an approved substitute if available. Substitutions must be approved by the discipline in the case of a major course or the Associate Dean of Liberal Arts Education in the case of a Liberal Core Curriculum course.

Incomplete Grades

An “I” (Incomplete) is given only in exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g. illness, unexpected delay in receiving materials for which the student is not responsible, etc.). A student has 30 days from the first day of the following 15-week semester (Friday of the 5th week in a 15-week semester) to complete any grade of incomplete received in a semester. Unless the instructor notifies the Registrar’s Office that another grade has been issued, grades of incomplete are automatically converted to grades of “IF” or “NR.”

Faculty may grant an extension to students with compelling reasons for needing more time to complete course work. An extension is also applicable to students not registered in the semester following the incomplete. Extensions will be granted only for extenuating circumstances.

When the coursework for an incomplete is submitted and the grade is changed, the new grade will be applied immediately to the student’s standing with regard to academic honors, warning, probation, etc.

Exceptions to Academic Policy

Exceptions to the College’s academic policies may be requested only by petition, which must be approved by the appropriate Associate Dean and the Registrar. This decision can be appealed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Grade Reports

Student grades are available through the College’s web services. Students requiring a paper grade report may request one from the Registrar’s Office. A student may request a written evaluation of his/her work in any course. A student requesting a written evaluation must submit that request in writing to the faculty member.  If an instructor is not responsive, the student can make the request to the appropriate Associate Dean. Students are entitled to examine and make copies of any graded examinations and papers not handed back in class.

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend and participate in all dimensions of every course. A student’s grade in a course may include attendance, and these policies and grading procedures will be stated clearly in writing by the instructor in the course syllabus before the end of the add/drop period. Attendance policies may vary among instructors, and some courses may involve specified grade reductions for missed classes. It is the responsibility of each student to understand fully the attendance policies and procedures for every course in which the student is enrolled.

New England College respects student absences from classes due to religious observances. In such cases, students are expected to notify their instructors prior to the anticipated absence. Making up missed assignments is the student’s responsibility.

Withdrawals and Leaves of Absence

A student who wishes to withdraw from the College during a semester must apply to Academic Advising. If the student is less than 18 years of age, or if his/her parent(s) will be billed for his/her tuition, the College must have evidence that the parent(s) is/are aware that the student is planning to withdraw.

Students are automatically granted a leave of absence for a period of two years if they are in good academic and social standing. All other students must apply for readmission should they wish to return to the College.

The normal limitation for a leave of absence from the College is two years. Students whose absence exceeds this limitation may be required to file for formal readmission to the College, in which case they would normally reenter under the major and graduation requirements in effect at the time of their readmission. Students who withdraw during a semester may be required to apply for readmission before returning the following semester. For further information, please see the Student Handbook.

Policy on Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting

Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting

New England College is committed to establishing an educational community that is respectful of all members. This includes balancing free speech, including the expression of controversial opinions, with appropriate behaviors in all academic settings. Students and faculty share responsibility in maintaining an appropriate learning environment.

Disruptive behaviors hinder the educational process. Although these types of actions are addressed in the New England College Student Handbook, the purpose of this policy is to clarify what constitutes disruptive behavior in an academic setting, what actions a faculty member and/or the Office of Academic Affairs may take in response to disruptive conduct, and the interim procedures that will be followed if a student needs to be removed from an academic setting pending the outcome of an investigation and student conduct process.

Classifying and Defining Disruptive Behaviors

Disruptive behaviors in an academic setting are those behaviors that a reasonable faculty member would view as interfering with normal academic functions and/or the emotional and/or physical safety of all members of the class community. For the purposes of this document, disruptive behavior is divided into three categories based on the degree to which conduct includes aggression or harassment.

Category One: A category one disruption is behavior that is disruptive, but which has no element of aggression or harassment, i.e., no one feels threatened, endangered or at‐risk. Such situations might include but are not limited to:
A student is sleeping during class.
A student talks incessantly during class.
A student uses a cell phone during class.

Category Two: A category two disruption is behavior that has some element of aggression or harassment without an immediate risk. Such situations might include but are not limited to:
A student swears loudly and repeatedly upon getting a grade.
A student makes disparaging comments about other students.
A student tears his paper up in class upon receiving it.
A student appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Category Three: A category three disruption is behavior that has clear and immediate potential for risk or harassment. Such situations might include but are not limited to:
A student threatens a faculty member, staff member, or student.
A student says he/she has a gun and knows how to use it.
A student mentions contemplating suicide.

Policy

Students are expected to adhere to the standards described in the Academic Catalog and The Compass; specifically, students are to refrain from disrupting classes and other academic settings.

Category One Offenses

A faculty member should tell students who are disruptive to stop the disruptive behavior and to warn the student that such disruptive behavior, if continued or repeated, may result in academic or disciplinary action.

A faculty member is authorized to ask a student to leave the classroom or other academic setting if the faculty member deems such action necessary. If the faculty member takes such actions, he/she shall notify the Office of Academic Affairs within 24 hours. The Office of Academic Affairs will share this information with the Student Development Office. If, upon consultation with the Student Development Office, it is determined that the student presents a risk, the Office of Academic Affairs will request that the faculty member complete a Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting Report. This report documents the events that occurred in this incident.

Category Two Offenses

A faculty member is authorized to ask a student to leave the classroom or other academic setting if the faculty member deems such action necessary. The faculty member must report such instances to the Office of Academic Affairs within 24 hours. Working collaboratively with the faculty member and the Student Development Office, the Office of Academic Affairs will take appropriate action that may include initiating interim removal and/or initiating an investigation and student conduct proceeding.

Category Three Offense

A faculty member is required to report all Category Three offenses to Campus Safety. This report will result in an immediate interim removal of the student from the academic setting, pending the outcome of the investigation and student conduct proceeding. The faculty member will notify the Office of Academic Affairs about the incident as soon as possible. The faculty member must complete a Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting Report within 24 hours of the incident.

Interim Removal from an Academic Setting

The Office of Academic Affairs, in consultation with the faculty and the Student Development Office, may enact interim removal pending resolution of the matter by sending the student a written notice informing the student of the interim conditions and advising the student of the pending investigation and judicial process.

The Office of Academic Affairs will work with the student to try to establish an interim means to allow the student to continue to make satisfactory academic progress. This may include reassigning the student to a different class section or a different academic advisor. While it is the intention of the College to assist a student in making satisfactory academic progress, the College will not compromise the safety of faculty, staff, or students in order to do so.

Any incident that results in interim removal will be referred directly to the Student Development Office within 24 hours.

Student Conduct Proceedings

Generally, a student will not be permanently removed from an academic setting without a formal student conduct proceeding. A student who is removed from an academic setting on an interim basis has the following rights:

• The Student Development Office will conduct a Student Conduct Hearing pursuant to an investigation and judicial processes as defined in the New England College Compass.
• The student can request an expedited review of the incident. If such a request is made, the Student Development Office shall review the incident through a Student Conduct Hearing within three business days of the date that the student requests such review.

In addition to the sanctions that are possible through a Student Conduct Hearing, the following possible sanctions are available to the instructor and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Authority of Instructor:

• Warning
• One‐time removal from a class session or an academic setting
• Academic sanctions if course participation and/or attendance are a component of the final grade and are indicated in the syllabus

Authority of the Office of Academic Affairs:

• Interim exclusion from the instructor’s academic area, pending the outcome of a judicial procedure
• Interim reassignment to a different class section or alternative means by which to make satisfactory academic progress
• Interim reassignment to a new academic advisor

Appeals

There is no appeal of a faculty member’s one-time decision to remove a student from a class, and there is no appeal of an interim decision to remove a student from an academic setting pending the outcome of the judicial procedures. To accelerate this process, the student must request an expedited judicial review.

Appeals for the outcome of the judicial proceedings will follow the appeals process described in the Student Handbook.

Students with Disabilities

All students, regardless of disability status, are expected to adhere to the same community standards and academic policies Sanctions for student conduct or academic honesty violations and guidelines for due process procedures must be equally applied without regard to a student’s disability.  Accommodations may be provided in the process if requested and appropriate.  Faculty are encouraged to consult with the Office of Disability Services if issues arise around student conduct, academic integrity or other behavioral concerns that may be a related to a student’s disability.

Students’ Rights to Privacy

All information and discussion regarding the disruptive student shall be handled in a confidential manner. The privacy of the student’s educational records, including misconduct cases, is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting Report Form

The Disruptive Behavior in an Academic Setting Report form should include the following information:

• Date of incident
• Student’s name
• Instructor’s name
• Instructor’s phone number
• Instructor’s email
• Title of course, course number and section
• Detailed summary of incident including a description of the disruptive behavior
• Names of witness and identification of witness status (student, faculty, staff, etc.)
• Action, if any, taken by the instructor (e.g. student warned, asked to leave class, campus security contacted, etc.)
• Recommendations for a course of action and reason for this: what do you want to have as a potential outcome?
• Instructor’s signature

Academic Integrity Policy

Academic Honor Principle

We as a community at New England College embrace an academic honor principle. It consists of honesty, trust, and integrity. Honesty is being true to oneself and others, engendering a culture of trust. Trust builds mutual respect, fostering a disposition of responsibility and civility. Integrity denotes inner strength of character: doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. As members of the NEC community, we accept these values as fundamental guides to our actions, decisions, and behavior.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following infractions:
Plagiarism
Misrepresentation
Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty
Cheating

Two Levels of Academic Dishonesty

Because academic dishonesty violates academic integrity, it cannot be condoned at NEC. Nevertheless, because there are various degrees of academic dishonesty, some more serious than others, NEC classifies offenses into two levels: minor violations and major violations. In accordance with academic freedom, NEC entrusts all decisions regarding cases of academic dishonesty (i.e., whether they be minor or major) to the discretion of each instructor, accepting as a premise that instructors honor intellectual property rights and wish to promote academic integrity in their students.

Minor: a minor violation is any case of academic dishonesty that an instructor deems of such a nature that it does not compromise academic integrity or reflect a flagrant breach of NEC’s Academic Honor Principle (see above). It typically involves cases of accidental omissions or unintended oversights.

Major: a major violation is any case of academic dishonesty that an instructor deems serious enough to warrant reporting. A major violation compromises academic integrity and constitutes a flagrant breach of NEC’s Academic Honor Principle (see above). It typically involves cases in which a student deliberately commits an act of academic dishonesty.

Procedures for Minor and Major Cases of Academic Dishonesty

As indicated above, instructors use their discretion in determining whether instances of academic dishonesty are minor or major.

Minor

In the case of a minor offense, the instructor should meet with the offending student to notify him or her of the charge and explain the meaning and importance of academic honesty. In addition, the instructor, in consultation with the offending student, decides any associated penalty: e.g., should the work be redone, should it receive a grade deduction, should it receive a failing mark? If the case is indeed minor, it is understood to have been an accident, a mistake, or an oversight. Hence, the purpose of meeting with the student is to educate so that he or she will know how to avoid similar acts of academic dishonesty in the future. An initial case of a minor offense in a course is not reported to the Registrar.

Major

In the case of a major offense, the instructor collects relevant evidence, meets with the offending student to notify him or her of the charge, explains the seriousness of the charge (including the penalties associated with violations: see below), and submits a report of academic dishonesty to the Registrar. In the meantime, the instructor decides how the offense will affect the offending student’s grade in the course.

Sanctions for Major Cases of Academic Dishonesty

All major infractions of academic dishonesty will result in the student’s name being reported to the Registrar, who enters that student’s name in a log for future reference. The information is confidential, to be kept among those parties immediately concerned: the instructor of the course, the student, the Registrar who enters the name, and any others directly involved, such as the Associate Dean of the Division, the student’s advisor, the Academic Standards Committee, and the Academic Integrity Board.

First Reported Case: In response to an initial case of academic dishonesty, a student must successfully complete and pass(all questions answered correctly) an assigned plagiarism tutorial/test on academic integrity via Blackboard, or else the student will be put on academic suspension. The student will have three weeks upon being enrolled in the Bb course (the plagiarism tutorial/test itself) to pass the tutorial/test. The test may be taken as many times as necessary within those three weeks for the student to pass it. Failure to pass it will result in academic suspension.

Second Reported Case: In response to a second case of academic dishonesty, a student must attend a hearing with the Academic Integrity Board. Penalties for a second case of academic dishonesty may include suspension. Suspension can be appealed according to the policies described below. Readmission to NEC after suspension due to cases of academic dishonesty will be determined by the Academic Standards Committee.

Third Reported Case: In response to a third case of academic dishonesty, a student must attend a hearing with the Academic Integrity Board. Penalties for a third case of academic dishonesty may include permanent expulsion from NEC. Expulsion may be appealed according to the policies described below. Readmission to NEC after expulsion is not allowed.

Academic Integrity Board and Hearings

The Academic Integrity Board consists of at least two members of the Academic Standards Committee and a staff member. Hearings will include the Academic Integrity Board and the student. The student may also invite a witness or advocate from within the college community. When appropriate, hearings may also include relevant instructor(s), witness(es), or advocate(s) from within the college community that the instructor(s) invites.

Appeals Procedures

A student may appeal to the Academic Integrity Board an instructor’s accusation of academic dishonesty or the instructor’s decision to fail, for example, an offending student for an assignment or the course. Within ten class days of receiving notice of the disputed accusation or decision, the student must submit a written request for a hearing to the Academic Integrity Board. The request will contain a statement of the basis for appeal, as well as any supporting evidence. The instructor will receive a copy of the student’s appeal. After the hearing and within ten class days, the Academic Integrity Board will inform the student and the instructor of its decision. If the decision of the Academic Integrity Board reverses an accusation of academic dishonesty, all records pertaining to the case will be destroyed.

A student may appeal the decision of the Academic Integrity Board. The appeal must be submitted in writing within ten days of the decision and can rest on procedural grounds only. It is to be given to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, whose decision is final.

A student may also appeal a decision by the Academic Integrity Board regarding penalties associated with a second or third case of academic dishonesty (e.g., suspension or expulsion). Such appeals must be submitted in writing within ten days of the decision, on procedural grounds only, to the Vice President of Academic Affairs whose decision is final.

Internships

The College recognizes the importance of integrating academics with learning experiences outside of the classroom. Internships can provide exposure to a career field, increase self‐confidence, help in the attainment of practical skills and provide contacts and references that will be helpful in gaining employment after graduation.

Internship sites can be arranged through a faculty member or the Office of Career and Life Planning. The Office of Career and Life Planning maintains up‐to‐date listings of internship sites and will work with students and faculty to find an appropriate site. Through a careful contracting and evaluation process, the College encourages reflection on career goals and their successful integration into the student’s education as part of the internship process.

Internships require careful planning. A faculty member can develop and maintain contact with an organization and refer students for internships, or a student can locate a site through networking, research and/or direct application, with the support of the Office of Career and Life Planning or New England College faculty.

Students may elect internships within their major or minor disciplines. Specific guidelines may be established by individual disciplines, but all internships are governed by the following regulations:

• Internships are available to students who exhibit emotional maturity and a strong sense of responsibility, who have earned a minimum of 30 credits at New England College, and are in good academic standing (meeting both College‐wide standards and those specific to the major);
• Internships may take place only at sites approved by the discipline;
• Internships require a full‐time ranked faculty sponsor in the discipline for which credits for the internship will be awarded. A faculty member approved by the department involved and the head of its collegium/division may also serve as an internship sponsor;
• Students are required to submit to the faculty sponsor and on‐site supervisor a brief resume prior to the beginning of the semester in which the internship is being conducted;
• Internships are conducted according to a contract jointly developed by the student, faculty sponsor, and internship site supervisor. Completed internship contracts must be submitted to the appropriate Division Associate Dean prior to the beginning of the internship;
• Internships may be awarded from 1 to 16 credits. The number of credits awarded for an individual internship is determined by the discipline and dependent on the complexity of the internship experience, the amount of conventional academic work assigned, and the amount of time spent on‐site by the student intern;
• No more than 16 internship credits may be applied towards the total credits required for graduation. Some disciplines allow fewer than 16 credits to be applied to major requirements;
• Tuition for internships is the same as for other College courses and is subject to the same charges for overloads (19 or more credits).

Directed Study

A directed study is an academic tutorial course that allows a student to do an in‐depth study with an instructor in an area of mutual interest. Meetings with the instructor will occur on a weekly basis.

The Following Guidelines Apply to Directed Study Courses:

• Directed Study courses normally do not duplicate courses offered during a semester;
• Directed Study courses may not be for more than four credits;
• Students may use no more than 12 credits of Directed or Independent Study courses toward meeting graduation requirements. A combination of no more than 28 credits for Directed Study, Independent Study, and Internships can be applied toward meeting graduation requirements.
• Students Registering for a Directed Study Must:
  • have at least sophomore standing (30 credits or more);
  • have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5;
  • have no record of having been reported for cheating or plagiarism;
  • have a faculty sponsor for the Directed Study;
  • have completed the Directed Study Contract Form, and have obtained all the necessary signatures;
  • have submitted the completed forms to the appropriate Associate Dean prior to the start of the Directed Study.

Independent Study

An Independent Study is an academic course that allows a student to do in‐depth study in an area of interest. Students will work primarily on their own, with minimal support and guidance from the faculty sponsor.

The Following Guidelines Apply to Independent Study Courses:

• Independent Study courses normally do not duplicate courses offered on a semester or yearly basis;
• Independent Study courses may not be for more than four credits;
• Students may use no more than 12 credits of Directed or Independent Study courses toward meeting graduation requirements. A combination of no more than 28 credits for Directed Study, Independent Study and Internships can be applied toward meeting graduation requirements.
• Students Registering for an Independent Study Must:
  • have at least junior standing (60 credits or more);
  • have a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0 in the major;
  • have no record of having been reported for cheating or plagiarism;
  • have a faculty sponsor for the Independent Study;
  • have completed the Independent Study Contract Form, and have obtained all the necessary signatures;
  • have submitted the completed forms to the appropriate Associate Dean prior to the start of the Independent Study.