Advanced Standing
Monmouth College recognizes both the Advanced Placement Program (APP) and
the International Baccalaureate Program (IBP).
APP credit is granted for examinations
receiving a score of 3 or better in disciplines offered by the College.
IBP credit is granted in the following
manner. Five semester hours is granted for each of the three IBP Higher
Level Examinations passed with a score of 4 or better. Fifteen additional
hours of credit will be granted to students who possess the IBP Diploma
and who have passed the three standard level examinations with scores of
at least 4 on each of the examinations.
In both cases the assignment of credit
toward Monmouth College general education requirements will be made on an
individual basis by the Registrar in consultation with the appropriate
academic departments.
In addition, placement without credit may
be granted on the basis of a test administered by a department.
Credit by Examination
A student in good academic standing may earn credit in a course, but no
grades, through satisfactory performance on an examination which is
administered by the department concerned. The exam must be sufficiently
comprehensive to prove mastery of the course. Such an examination may
require a written part, an oral part, a term paper, and a laboratory
experience. Performance at the C- level shall be the minimum acceptable;
however, the individual departments may set higher standards for credit
earned by examination.
A student may not earn credit by
examination for any course for which credit has already been earned. A
maximum of five semester credits can be earned through credit by
examination.
Prior to taking such an examination, a
student must contact the Registrar and secure the written approval of the
advisor, the chair of the department, the instructor who will administer
the examination, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The student
shall be advised of the score of the examination and whether the
department requires minimum performance of a higher level than C-.
The fee for taking the exam regardless of
the outcome of the exam is one-half the tuition charge assessed per
semester credit.
Enrollment in an Overload
A student may register for an overload of 19 or 20 semester hours upon
approval of the advisor.
A student in the first semester of
residence or on probation must also have the approval of the Admissions
and Academic Status Committee of the faculty.
A student wishing to register for more
than 20 semester hours must have the approval of the Admissions and
Academic Status Committee. Enrollment over 18 semester hours is
charged as extra tuition at the per-semester hour rate.
Class Attendance
Monmouth College expects students to attend class and holds them
responsible for all work assigned in a course. Faculty members set their
own specific attendance policies which are described in their syllabi.
When, in the instructor’s judgment, a
student has excessive absences, the instructor may place the student on a
“No-Cut” status and require that all further absences be explained or
excused. The instructor will notify the student’s academic advisor and the
Vice President for Academic Affairs that the student has been placed on
“No-Cut.”
Students who continue to miss classes
after being placed on this status may be dismissed from the course with an
F.A student will be dropped from a course if he/she misses the first two
class meetings, the course has a limited enrollment, and the instructor
requests that the student be withdrawn. The student will not be dropped if
he/she previously indicates to the Registrar that the place be held and
the reason given represents a valid necessity.
Registration
Students must register at the scheduled time for all courses for which
they seek credit. They must assume responsibility for being properly
enrolled in each course. Details of the registration process are made
available online to students in a timely fashion by the Registrar’s
Office. (New students select courses during the summer registration
period.)
Courses are selected in consultation with
the student’s faculty advisor. All changes in registration require the
permission of the student’s advisor. After the first week of the semester
the advisor’s signature is required for any course change and a fee is
charged for each registration change. No student may add a course after
the first week of classes. A course cannot be dropped after the ninth week
without the written permission of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
The Grading System
The grading system at Monmouth uses these symbols: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+,
C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F. Other symbols used in appropriate circumstances
are W (Withdrawn Passing), WF (Withdrawn Failing), I (Incomplete), IP (In
Progress), CR (Credit), NC (No Credit), AU (Audited Course), and NAU
(Audited Course Requirements Not Fulfilled).
The W (WITHDRAWN PASSING) is used when
the student withdraws from a course before the end of the ninth week.
To withdraw from a course after the first week, a student must have the
consent of the advisor. The instructor will be notified. A student cannot
withdraw from a course after the ninth week of classes except for illness
or other circumstances beyond his or her control.
The approval of both the Associate Dean or Vice President for Academic
Affairs and the advisor is necessary. Ordinarily the Associate Dean or
Vice President for Academic Affairs will consult with the instructor of
the course. If the student is permitted to withdraw after the ninth week,
the instructor reports W (Withdrawn Passing) or WF (Withdrawn Failing).
If a student receives an F in a course due to an incident of academic
dishonesty, the student will not be allowed to seek a grade of W or WF for
the course. Rather, the F will stand as the grade of record.
THE I (INCOMPLETE) may be given when a
situation arises that is beyond the student’s control and which precludes
completion of required work or if the instructor needs further time for
evaluation. For an incomplete grade received during the fall semester or
summer session, the student will ordinarily complete the work by the end
of the second week of the following semester.
For an incomplete grade received during the spring semester, the student
will ordinarily have a period of three weeks, commencing immediately after
the last College examination day, to complete the required work.
If the work is not completed at the end of the designated time, the
Registrar will consult with the instructor as to the disposition of the
grade (normally conversion to an “F” grade). It is generally the
responsibility of the student to take the initiative in requesting the
incomplete grade and in making arrangements with the instructor for its
removal.
THE IP (IN PROGRESS) is appropriate for
those courses in which the work may not normally be completed in one
semester (individualized study, research, etc.). However, it is expected
that the work will be completed in the subsequent semester.
If, at the end of the semester subsequent to the one in which the work
began, the course requirements are not completed, the Registrar will
consult with the instructor as to the disposition of the grade (normally
conversion to an “F” grade).
CR (CREDIT) and NC (NO CREDIT) are the
marks recorded for courses in which letter grades (A, B, and so forth) are
not awarded. Such courses are noted in the catalog. Monmouth College does
not offer the option to take courses on a Pass/Fail basis.
Grade-Point Average
For the purpose of computing a student’s average, A = 4, A- = 3.667, B+ =
3.333, B = 3, B- = 2.667, C+ = 2.333, C = 2, C- = 1.667, D+ = 1.333, D =
1, D- = 0.667, and F = 0. The average is determined by dividing the number
of points earned during the semester by the number of graded credits
carried. The cumulative grade-point average is the total of all grade
points earned divided by the total number of graded credits taken. Only
courses taken at Monmouth College for which final letter grades have been
recorded are included in the grade-point average. Courses transferred from
other institutions and courses taken after graduation are not included in
the cumulative grade point average.
Repeating a Course
Repeating a course replaces both the grade and any credit previously
earned for the course. Both the earlier grade and the later grade continue
to be listed on the transcript, but only the most recent grade is factored
into the cumulative grade point average. Repeating a course may or may not
improve a student’s academic situation and could have financial aid
implications. A student considering repeating a course should consult an
advisor, the Registrar, and Director of Financial Aid.
Appeals and Petitions
A student has the right of appeal regarding any academic regulation to the
Vice President of Academic Affairs. A student wishing to appeal a grade
should first consult the instructor awarding the grade, then the chair of
the department. Further appeal can be made by petitioning the Vice
President for Academic Affairs, who may act or send the petition to the
Admissions and Academic Status Committee of the faculty for its
consideration and advice. A separate grievance procedure applies on
matters related to teacher education and certification issues and the
procedure in such situations is governed by the statement of Teacher
Education Program Procedures.
Academic Honors
College Honors at Graduation
College Honors celebrate overall academic achievement. Students with a
cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher are graduated cum laude,
with 3.75 or higher magna cum laude, and with 3.90 or higher summa cum
laude.
Honors Scholars
Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will be recognized
at Commencement; this status will also be noted on transcripts.
Departmental Honors
Departmental Honors at graduation are based on superior performance in the
culminating experience of the major department, provided that the student
has a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher in courses taken toward the
major in that department. The department may establish additional
requirements.
Eligibility for Dean's List
At the end of each semester, students earning at least 12 semester hours
of letter-grade credits and achieving a grade-point average of 3.67 or
higher are named to the Dean’s List.
Eligibility for Honor Roll
At the end of each semester, students earning at least 12 semester hours
of letter-grade credits and achieving a grade-point average of 3.50 or
higher are named to the Honor Roll.
Academic Status
Classification
A full-time student is any student officially enrolled for 12 or more
credits per semester. Part-time students are classified as follows: A
half-time student is any student enrolled for fewer than 12 but not fewer
than six credits per semester. A student who is less than half-time is one
officially enrolled for fewer than six credits per semester. Official
enrollment is defined as the credits for which a student is registered at
the end of the period for adding a course.
Class Level
All students are classified at the beginning of each semester by the
number of credits earned: freshman, fewer than 28 credits; sophomore, 28
but fewer than 59 credits; junior, 59 but fewer than 90 credits; and
senior, 90 or more credits.
Academic Progress and Standing
The typical full-time, degree-seeking student earns 14-17 hours each
semester. By earning 31 semester hours each year a student will normally
have earned the 124 semester hours needed to graduate within four years. A
student must continue to progress and earn hours toward the degree in
order to maintain acceptable academic standing. When a student falls below
the acceptable standard, probation or dismissal occurs. The table on page
21 sets forth the College’s expectations for acceptable academic progress
and standing. It also outlines the College’s probation and dismissal
guidelines when a student falls below acceptable academic progress and
standing.
Transfer Policies
Transfers from other Institutions
Students who wish to transfer to Monmouth College must submit all previous
official college transcripts and should meet with the transfer coordinator
to discuss the application process. The Registrar will complete a
transcript analysis to determine the academic status of the transfer
student. Courses taken at another accredited institution are transferred
provided that a grade of C- or higher was earned and that the course is
acceptable at Monmouth College. Grades of transferred courses are not
included in calculating grade-point averages.
No student will be allowed to exceed 62 total transfer credits. The Vice
President for Enrollment admits qualified transfer students who seek to
matriculate at Monmouth College. (See Admission Section of Catalog. Prior
to paying the enrollment deposit and registering for classes, transfer
students, with assistance from the transfer coordinator, should meet with
a professor in the department in which they wish to major.
During this visit, the faculty member will identify which transfer courses
count toward the major and determine the number of remaining courses
required in the major. Finally, working together, the student and faculty
member will design the graduation plan. This visit is essential in that it
provides transfer students an opportunity to find out more about their
fields of study and to estimate the projected time it will take to
complete a degree at Monmouth College.
Transfer of Credit for Current
Students
For students enrolled at Monmouth College, the written approval of the
Registrar, the advisor, and in some cases the department chair is required
in advance if courses are to be taken at another institution for transfer
credit. A Transfer Work Request form is available in the Registrar’s
Office and must be completed, signed, and submitted prior to enrolling in
a course at another institution. A letter grade of C- or better is
required for pre-approved coursework to be transferred.
Because we value a classroom-centered learning environment that involves
direct engagement between the instructor and students, faculty feedback,
and proctored exams, the College will accept no more than six hours of
Internet, video, or correspondence coursework for transfer credit after
Matriculation. Only coursework taken in a classroom setting can apply to
the General Education Requirements.
No more than 31 transfer credits will be allowed after matriculation.
After reaching senior status with 90 earned credit hours, at least 27
semester hours of a student’s remaining coursework must be earned at
Monmouth College. (Refer to “Senior Residency Requirement” under
“Requirements for the Degree” on page 15.) No student will be allowed to
exceed 62 total transfer credits. The transfer of credits is not complete
until the Registrar receives an official transcript from the institution
at which the work was taken.
Work that is being transferred is not considered in determining a
student’s academic status until the transcript is received and approved,
and the credits are posted to the student’s Monmouth College transcript.
Associate Degree Transfers
The Registrar determines which transferred courses satisfy the degree
requirements of Monmouth College. A community college graduate who has
been admitted to Monmouth College with the Associate of Arts or Associate
of Science degree may be admitted with junior standing (that is, with a
maximum of 62 semester hours of transfer credit).
Academic Probation and Dismissal
Academic probation is a serious warning status. Monmouth College alerts
students with a pattern of low grades or slow accumulation of credit hours
that their performance, if continued, will not qualify them to continue at
Monmouth College. A student placed on academic probation will be required
to consult with a faculty advisor and to draw up a plan detailing steps
toward recovery of acceptable academic status. In addition, students on
probation may be restricted by the Admissions and Academic Status
Committee from participation in extracurricular activities for the term of
the academic probation.
A student may be placed on probation for
a maximum of two consecutive semesters. In the first semester of academic
probation the student must attain a semester GPA of at least 2.00 and must
earn at least 12 semester hours of credit to demonstrate acceptable
progress toward academic acceptable standing. Failure to meet these
requirements will result in dismissal at the end of the first semester of
academic probation. By the end of the second consecutive semester on
academic probation, the student’s cumulative GPA and number of credits
earned must comply with the minimum standards for academic acceptable
standing set forth in the table on page 21. Failure to meet these
requirements will result in dismissal at the end of the second semester of
academic probation.
A student who has completed five or more
semesters must constantly maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater.
Failure to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or greater after having
completed five or more semesters will result in immediate dismissal. No
probationary period will be granted. Non-Degree Seeking Students.
Non-degree seeking students need not
complete course work as shown in the referenced table on page 21, but must
maintain the cumulative grade point average of 1.60 prior to the
completion of their first 24 credits, 1.80 after 24 credits but prior to
completion of their first 48 credits, and 2.00 thereafter.
Appeal Process for Academic Dismissal
A student has the right of appeal when notified of academic dismissal. A
written appeal must be submitted to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs within five days of receipt of notification. Appeals will normally
be heard by the Admissions and Academic Status Committee, which will make
its recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice
President for Academic Affairs will render a final decision and the
student will be notified of the decision prior to the beginning of the
following semester. Students should be aware that academic dismissal and
loss of financial aid eligibility are two separate issues. Appeals must be
made separately to the appropriate offices. For more information on
Financial Aid Eligibility Appeals see the section entitled “Financial Aid:
Satisfactory Progress Policy.”
The College may at any time dismiss a
student when it is evident that the student is not serious in seeking an
education at the College or when the student’s academic performance or
other behavior has become disruptive to the academic mission of the
College.
The College seeks by these procedures to demonstrate its concern for the
individual student as well as for a campus atmosphere conducive to serious
academic effort. While wishing to help students recover from disappointing
academic performance, the College will not encourage a student to stay who
seems unlikely to benefit by remaining on campus. Academic probation and
dismissal are noted on the academic transcript.
Financial Aid: Satisfactory Progress
Policy
Satisfactory academic standing is required in order for a student to
maintain eligibility for financial assistance. At the end of each
semester, after final grades have been issued, the Director of Financial
Aid will verify the academic standing of each student.
Once a student has reached the point in
time when they have registered for their 60th credit hour, both
qualitative and quantitative standards must be met and measured each
semester. “Registered Semester Hours” include all transfer hours and all
hours for which a student has officially enrolled (excluding audit
classes) at Monmouth College. Official enrollment is defined as the hours
for which a student is registered at the end of the period for adding a
course.
Qualitative Standard
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00. A student will
immediately lose eligibility for all Federal and State financial
assistance if the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.00. No advance
warning of pending loss of financial assistance can be given.
Quantitative Standard
Students must also be making incremental progress (consistently earning
credits) toward a degree. According to Federal requirements a student may
take up to 150% of the time needed to achieve and obtain a degree. For
example, a student may take up to six years to obtain a four year
bachelor’s degree and still remain eligible to receive financial
assistance. If however, the student is not making incremental progress
toward the degree, a loss of eligibility for Federal and State financial
assistance will occur. No advance warning of pending loss of financial
assistance can be given.
In any semester where a student has lost
eligibility of financial assistance, the student may appeal to the
Director of Financial Aid for the reinstatement of eligibility. The
student must show that their cumulative GPA fell to less than 2.00 or they
failed to make incremental progress toward a degree during the semester as
the result of:
1) the death of an immediate relative of
the student, 2) a severe injury to the student, or
3) a severe illness of the student, that interrupted their ability to
perform academically.
If an appeal is granted and the financial
aid eligibility is restored, the student will be placed on financial aid
probation and will be eligible to receive financial assistance for one
semester. If, at the end of the semester on financial aid probation, a
student does not:
1) establish a minimum cumulative GPA of
2.00 or
2) make incremental progress toward the
degree, no further aid eligibility can be allowed.
Academic Expulsion
Academic expulsion may be imposed if a student’s performance following
readmission after academic dismissal continues to fall below College
standards. Such expulsion is a permanent separation of the student from
the College and is noted on the transcript.
Disciplinary Dismissal and Expulsion
A student dismissed for disciplinary reasons will be given a grade of WF
in cases where the work of the course has not been completed prior to
dismissal. Dismissal for disciplinary reasons shall be for not less than
the remainder of the academic semester in which the action was taken and
not more than one academic year. Students may apply for readmission upon
the completion of the period of dismissal.
A student who is expelled for
disciplinary reasons will be given a grade of WF in cases where the work
of the course has not been completed prior to expulsion. Students expelled
for disciplinary reasons may not enroll at the College again.
Disciplinary dismissal and expulsion
shall be recorded on the academic record. When dismissed or expelled from
the College, a student may not be eligible for a refund.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty may result not only in failure in the course, but in
dismissal or expulsion from the College. If a student receives a course
grade of F anytime during a semester due to an incident of academic
dishonesty, the F will stand as the grade of record. Incidents of academic
dishonesty will be reported to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Auditing a Course
To encourage students to broaden their educational experience as much as
possible, Monmouth College offers students the opportunity to audit
courses. Auditing means attending lecture sessions but not writing papers,
participating in laboratory work, or taking exams. While the student
receives no academic credit, if attendance has been satisfactory, AU will
be recorded on the student’s permanent transcript.
Full-time students may audit courses
without charge, if there is space available at the conclusion of the
enrollment period. Part-time students will be charged an audit fee.
Students may change the audit credit to
academic credit during the first week of classes; academic credit may be
changed to audit credit prior to the last six weeks of the semester and
such a change is reflected on the transcript. Students may later repeat an
audited course for academic credit.
Course Syllabi
Each instructor provides a syllabus (or assignment sheet) for each course
so that students may better understand the course goals and their
responsibilities in reaching these goals. This syllabus is given to the
students at the first meeting of the class. This syllabus should include:
1) topics proposed to be covered in the
course,
2) the approximate time when specific materials are proposed to be
covered, examinations taken, and papers or projects completed,
3) the basis on which grades are determined and other relevant information
regarding the course,
4) the means by which any major change in the syllabus would be announced.
Final Examinations
The final examination period is considered to be a regular part of the
academic semester. It is expected that instructors will administer final
examinations in all regularly scheduled courses with the exception of
independent studies.
Each final examination must be given
during its assigned examination period. In those infrequent cases of
courses where traditional examination procedures do not appear applicable
or practical, the instructor is expected to use the scheduled examination
period as a scheduled class period for the semester.
Convocations
The academic program of the College is supported by a weekly convocation
program. Six to 10 times a semester, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, faculty,
students, and other members of the College community gather in the
Auditorium to hear an address by a guest speaker.
The first convocation in the fall
semester is a Matriculation ceremony initiating freshmen into the College.
Every April there is an Honors Convocation to recognize students for
outstanding academic achievements.
The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their
education records. They are:
1) The right to inspect and review the
student’s education records.
2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records
to ensure that
they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the
student’s privacy or other
rights.
3) The right to withhold disclosure of Directory Information contained in
the student’s
education records, except to the extent FERPA authorizes disclosure
without consent.
4) The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint
concerning alleged
failures by Monmouth College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
5) The right to obtain a copy of Monmouth College’s FERPA Policy Statement
which is on
file in the Office of the Registrar.