Undergraduate Catalog: Academic Regulations

Course Load || Class Attendance || Excused Absenses for Events || Academic Standards || Grading System || Student Status || Confidentiality || Students with Disabilities || Academic Records || Academic Appeal || Academic Honesty || Transcripts || Registration Procedures || Changes in Student Schedules || Withdrawal from Classes || Undeclared Student Status || Change of Major || Leave of Absence || Withdrawal from the University || Academic Honors

Course Load

A full-time student carries from 12-18 semester hours of credit in both fall and spring semesters. Credits in excess of 18 require the approval of the appropriate dean, who will base the decision on such factors as grades, distribution of courses, extracurricular activities, health, and outside employment of the student. A maximum of six semester hours can be taken in a summer session.

Class Attendance

Marywood University affirms all learning experiences that lead to responsible self-direction on the part of students. The purpose of attendance regulations is to support each student in sharing the exchange of ideas that occurs only within the classroom. Therefore Marywood encourages all students to attend class regularly and urges all professors to establish attendance and participation requirements for each course they teach.

Course attendance requirements will be clearly specified and communicated to the students in the course outline. Abuses of attendance policies will be referred to the appropriate dean for final judgment.

Undergraduate Excused Absences for University Events

In order to have a more holistic university experience, undergraduate students may have one hour, technically 50 minutes, of excused absence per credit of each course taken or one entire lab session to participate in important departmental or University sponsored events. This means students within specified guidelines should have an opportunity to make up missed exams given during their excused absences without penalty. Arrangements should also be made so that students will not be penalized for unannounced quizzes and other in-class assignments given during their excused absences. Events such as post season competitions may exceed minimum excused absence hours.

It is the student’s responsibility to pursue the instructor to make arrangements for all make­up work.

It is the faculty member’s prerogative to allow for additional absences for other reasons such as illness, death in family, etc. Unless otherwise clearly specified, the student will be expected to assume that s/he will not be allowed more than the absences protected by this policy.

If the student does not have at least a C average at the time of the class immedi­ately prior to the excused absence event, the professor has the prerogative of not excusing the absence.

Academic Standards

A student must attain a cumulative quality point average (QPA) of 2.00 to satisfy degree requirements. A minimum of 2.33 is required in one’s major. Some major programs require a higher QPA. Individual program descriptions provide specific information.

Good Standing – A student is in good standing when his/her cumulative quality point average is at least 2.00.

Warning – Whenever the quality point average for a semester is less than 2.00, but the cumulative quality point average is 2.00 or better, the student will be warned.

Probation – A student will be placed on probation if a QPA of 1.00 is not achieved in any given semester or whenever his/her quality point average falls below 2.00. Probation is temporary; it is, therefore, not included in the student’s academic record.

A first semester student’s quality point average is the same as his or her cumulative quality point average.

The consequences of being on probation include:

1. academic dismissal after one semester on probation, if the student’s QPA does not improve significantly;
2. possible required reduction in credit load;
3. ineligibility to participate in varsity athletics;
4. ineligibility to hold office in Student Government;
5. loss of financial aid.

Repeated Probation – If a student’s cumulative quality point average increases and, though still below 2.00, indicates possibility to attain the standards required for graduation, the student may be continued on probation for another semester.

Dismissal – Upon recommendation of the Committee on Grades, Honors and Academic Standing, the appropriate dean will dismiss:

1. a student who fails to improve her/his cumulative quality point average at the end of a semester or more on probation.
2. a student whose cumulative quality point average increases, though still remaining below 2.00, if the student’s academic record indicates little potential for attaining the academic standards required for graduation. (Academic dismissal is recorded on the student’s academic record.)
3. a student who has had previous but unconsecutive semesters on probation.
4. a student who fails to achieve a 1.00 in any two semesters.
5. Students may also be dismissed for other academic reasons, such as academic dishonesty.

Undergraduate Grading System

The grading system adopted by the University is as follows:

	Quality Points
A A-	4.00 3.67	Excellent
B+ B B–	3.33 3.00 2.67	Good
C+ C	2.33 2.00	Average
C– D+ D	1.67 1.33 1.00	Poor, but passing
F F*	0.00 0.00	Failing Unofficial withdrawal; failure to resolve “I” or “X” grade
I		Incomplete
W		Withdrew officially
WP		Withdrew officially with passing grade
WF		Withdrew officially with failing grade	Not
X		Temporary delay in reporting final grade	figured
S		Satisfactory	in QPA
U		Unsatisfactory
AD		Audit

The standing “Incomplete” (I) is given to a student who has done satisfactory (C or better) work in a course but has not completed the course requirements because of illness or some other emergency situation. The student must submit to the course instructor a written request for the grade “I.” (Forms are available at the Office of Academic Records.) A faculty member is not permitted to assign “Incomplete” unless the student has requested it and is eligible under the above conditions. An “Incomplete” in a course taken for credit must be resolved within one month after the opening of the following semester or the grade becomes a permanent “F*.” The student is responsible for making satisfactory arrangements with the teacher for completion of course requirements. After an “Incomplete” has been changed to a failing grade, a student must retake the course concerned to obtain credit.

The “X” indicates that credit for the semester work in the course is withheld pending completion of course requirements. Unlike the “I,” the “X” is initiated by the faculty member or, in certain circumstances, the registrar. The student will be given an opportunity to complete the final examination or project provided there is a valid reason for the delay. Lack of academic effort does not constitute a valid reason. The “X” grade must be resolved in the same manner as an “I.”

The standing “Failure” (F or F*) indicates that the student has not obtained any credit for the semester’s work. If it is a required course, it must be repeated.

Any grade, including “F” and “F*,” is retained on the student’s record, but is removed from the computation of the QPA when a student retakes the same course at Marywood and earns a higher grade in the retake. However, a student may retake a course only once.

Deficiency Grades

Each semester is divided into two quarters. At the end of the first quarter, faculty submit grades for undergraduate students whose work at that point is deficient in the “D+,” “D,” “F” or “U” range. The purpose of these grades is to help students avoid failure or unsatisfactory grades by informing them of the need to improve the quality of their work before final course grades are issued. Deficiency grades are NOT calculated into a student’s QPA.

Student Status

Classified Students

Students who have applied to and have been formally admitted by the Office of Admissions of the University to pursue a degree program are classified as follows:

First year students	- 0-29 credits completed
Sophomores	- 30-59 credits completed
Juniors	- 60-89 credits completed
Seniors	- 90 or more credits completed

The status of matriculating students is indicated by the name associated with the number of credits earned.

Unclassified Students

Unclassified students may be taking courses for personal enrichment, transfer credit, and other non-degree purposes or in special educational programs offered through the University. Also designated as unclassified are students who are admitted under special conditions. The status of these students is indicated by the code UN (Unclassified) rather than according to the number of credits earned.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Marywood University intends to comply fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended. This act was designated to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. A policy statement explains in detail the procedures used by Marywood for compliance with the provisions of the act. Copies of the policy statement can be found in the Office of the Registrar and the Offices of the Deans.

Students with Disabilities

Marywood University will provide an accommodation to students with documented disabilities, provided the accommodation does not pose an undue hardship on the University. A student may request accommodation by submitting documentation to the Office of Student Support Services or, if a prospective student, to University Admissions. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Support Services.

Academic Records

A student who believes that an error has been made in assignment of a grade must initiate immediate contact with the instructor of the course; any changes made by the faculty member must be made within 90 days of the end of the semester for which the grade was assigned, or in case of the resolution of an “I” or “X” grade, within 90 days of the filing of that grade.

The student is responsible for reporting in writing to the Office of Academic Records any other error on the academic record within 30 days after a grade or other academic record report is issued to the student. Marywood University will not be liable for unreported errors on student records.

Academic Appeal

Students with sufficient cause to file an academic appeal should initiate the process according to the procedures established for such action. Academic Appeals procedures are available from all department offices and in the Offices of the Deans. Grade appeals must be made within 90 days of the end of the semester in which the grade was assigned.

Academic Honesty

The Marywood University community functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, and trust. The entire community, students and faculty alike, recognize the necessity and accept the responsibility for academic honesty. Students must realize that deception for individual gain is an offense against the entire community. Cheating and plagiarism are behaviors destructive of the learning process and of the ethical standards expected of all students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Students have a responsibility to know and adhere to the University’s Academic Honesty policy. Violations of this academic honesty statement or the intent of this statement carry consequences. University procedures for investigation of alleged violations of this policy ensure that students are protected from arbitrary or capri­cious disciplinary action. Initial sanctions for violations of academic honesty ordi­narily are detemined by the course instructor. The faculty member will employ a range of sanctions, from a minimum of a failing grade for the specific coursework in which the infraction occurred to a maximum of a failing grade for the entire course. If necessary, the chairperson and/or academic dean may become involved in investi­gating the allegation of academic dishonesty and the determination of sanctions. The faculty member will file a report with the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, with copy to the faculty member’s department chairperson and the student’s academic dean. Sanctions determined by the instructor may include a grade of F for the coursework in which the infraction occurred. An academic dean may choose at any time to inform the Dean of Students of charges of academic dishonesty for adju­dication in the University conduct system. Likewise, a member of the University community may submit a conduct report against a student, group of students, or student organization for alleged violations of the Academic Honesty policy to the Dean of Students, who will inform the appropriate academic dean for possible adju­dication. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will maintain a register of estab­lished cases of academic dishonesty in order to identify an individual student’s pattern of violation. Two established cases of academic dishonesty will result in suspension from the University; three established cases will result in dismissal.

In a case in which the student is involved with violations of both academic and conduct policies from the same incident, the Dean of Students and the cognizant Academic Dean of the college or school in which the student is enrolled will confer regarding sanctions to assess their academic impact and to assure that a consistent message is communicated to the student.

Definition

Cheating is defined as but not limited to the following:

1. having unauthorized material and/or electronic devices during an examination without the permission of the instructor;
2. copying from another student or permitting copying by another student in a testing situation;
3. communicating exam questions to another student;
4. completing an assignment for another student, or submitting an assignment done by another student, e.g., exam, paper, laboratory or computer report;
5. collaborating with another student in the production of a paper or report designated as an individual assignment;
6. submitting work purchased from a commercial paper writing service;
7. submitting out­of­class work for an in­class assignment;
8. changing grades or falsifying records;
9. stealing or attempting to steal exams or answer keys, or retaining exams without authorization;
10. submitting an identical assignment to two different classes without the permission of the instructors;
11. falsifying an account of data collection unless instructed to do so by the course instructor;
12. creating the impression, through improper referencing, that the student has read material that was not read;
13. artificially contriving material or data and submitting them as fact;
14. failing to contribute fairly to group work while seeking to share in the credit;
15. collaborating on assignments that were not intended to be collaborative.

Plagiarism is defined as the offering as one’s own work the words, sentence structure, ideas, existing imagery, or arguments of another person without appropriate attribution by quotation, reference, or footnote. It includes quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing the works of others without appropriate citation. No claim of ignorance about the nature of plagiarism will excuse a violation.

Procedures

The student has a right to appeal sanctions resulting from academic dishonesty. A student who desides to file a formal grievance must submit the request in writing to the departmental chair or the dean. This is ordinarily done within thirty working days of the date an alleged incident occurred or a problem began. The necessary form is available from the Academic Dean of the college or school where the alleged problem occurred. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is the final recourse in the academic appeal process.

Transcripts

A transcript is issued only upon the written request of the student. A transcript form (or letter) should be submitted for each transcript requested. Request forms are available at the Office of Academic Records and on the registrar’s web page.

An official transcript (one bearing the University seal) is sent directly to the school district, business, etc. indicated by the student. An unofficial student copy may be sent directly to a student upon request. A fee is charged for each transcript.

Marywood University will not forward the transcript of any student who has a financial indebtedness to the University.

Registration Procedures

Prior to a student’s first semester at Marywood, a faculty or professional staff advisor assists the student in the preparation of his/her first schedule.

Continuing students receive registration materials prior to each session and schedule an appointment with their academic advisors before registering online or at the Office of Academic Records.

Changes in Student Schedules

At the beginning of each semester there is a scheduled period during which a student may withdraw from courses and receive a refund. The student may be admitted to another course or change from audit to credit status during the first academic week of a semester. A student should consult with his/her academic advisor before adding or dropping a course. Schedule change forms are available at the Office of Academic Records, or the student can process the change using the WEB registration system. Procedures and relevant dates are published by the registrar.

Withdrawal from Courses

Students may withdraw from full semester courses at any time during the semester up to three weeks after quarterly examinations as scheduled in the institutional calendar. The specific withdrawal deadline date is published each semester. A student who discontinues attendance in a course without officially withdrawing will receive an “F*” in that course.

Undeclared Student Status

Students admitted to Marywood University, who are undecided about their major field of study or who, at the time of admission to the university, do not meet the admission standards of the major desired will be categorized as undeclared. Undeclared status is not a major, and students cannot receive a degree in this category.

It is advisable for students to declare a major early in their university experience. It is recommended that first year students declare a major by the completion of 32 credits or the end of their first year. It is recommended that transfer students declare a major by the completion of 16 Marywood credits. Postponing the declaration of a major can delay degree completion. In addition, financial aid can be affected if degree programs are not completed within an appropriate time frame.

In order to declare one’s major, a declaration of major form should be obtained from the Academic Records Office, completed and returned to that office.

Change of Major

Students are registered for the major reflected on the online Student Information System. Those who wish to change majors must complete the appropriate form, obtained at the Office of Academic Records. Students are required to obtain the signature of the chairperson(s) of the department(s) involved.

Leave of Absence

Matriculating students who will not be registered for Marywood credit during a given semester (fall/spring) should apply for a leave of absence. This includes:

1. students who officially withdraw from courses but plan to resume their education at Marywood within two years;
2. students who obtain credit from another institution in conjunction with a Marywood program;
3. students who for any other reason will not be registered at the University for a semester or more.

Upon formal approval of the leave, a specific termination date by which a student must either enroll again or request an extension is assigned. A leave of absence, including extensions, is not given for more than two years. A student who does not enroll by the end of the leave of absence is considered to have voluntarily withdrawn from the University. The maximum of two years allowed on leave of absence applies even when those sessions are not consecutive.

Forms for leave of absence are available online.

Withdrawal from the University

To withdraw from the University, a student must complete an official withdrawal form available online.

Absence from class does not constitute notice of withdrawal. A student who discontinues attendance at classes without an official withdrawal will receive a grade of “F*” in all subjects concerned.

A former student may request reactivation within two years after withdrawal. After two years it is necessary to reapply to the University through the Admissions Office. The catalog which is current at that time will apply and previously earned academic credits will be evaluated in light of their age and applicability to the current curriculum.

Academic Honors

Deans’ List

Twice a year the Deans’ List is announced. The Deans’ List is based on semester QPA. To merit Deans’ List, a matriculating student must attain a quality point average of 4.00 to 3.50 on 12 or more graded credits. Part-time students may be considered upon accumulation of 12 or more graded credits. Any student designated as unclassified or with an “I,” an “X” or “U” grade on her/his record is not eligible. Additionally students must have 12 credits of graded course work.

Honors at Commencement

General

The degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture, and Bachelor of Architecture are awarded in three grades of honor:

• with distinction, cum laude
  3.50 - 3.74 cumulative QPA
• with high distinction, magna cum laude
  3.75 - 3.89 cumulative QPA
• with highest distinction, summa cum laude
  3.90 - 4.00 cumulative QPA

These distinctions are awarded on the basis of the student’s cumulative average in all subjects. For students attending Commencement in May, any and all honors are determined on grades from the preceding semester. Students entering with advanced standing from other colleges and universities are not eligible for these honors until they have completed at least 60 credits at Marywood University.

Medals

Kappa Gamma Pi Medal for General Excellence Donated by Scranton Chapter of Kappa Gamma Pi Saint Luke Medal for Excellence in Art Founded by Miss Helen Leonard in memory of Miss Mary E. Barrett Anna and James Foley Medal for Excellence in Art Education Established by Sister Ave Maria Foley in honor of her mother, father and brother. Sister Maria Laurence Maher Medal for Excellence in Biological Studies Founded in memory of Sister Maria Laurence Maher, IHM by her family Thomas and Norah Clarke Medal for Excellence in Business Founded by the Clarke family in memory of their parents, Thomas and Norah Clarke Philip E. Mulry Medal for Excellence in Chemistry Founded by the Mulry family in memory of Philip E. Mulry, Sr. Lynett Medal for Academic Distinction in Communication Arts Founded by the late E.J. Lynett in memory of his wife, Ellen Ruddy Lynett Margaret T. Lunney Medal for Outstanding Performance in the Study of Communication Disorders Founded by Miss Dorothy R. McNulty in honor of her friend, Miss Lunney J. Harold Brislin Medal for Distinction in Creative Writing Founded by Gene Brislin, in memory of her husband, J. Harold Brislin, a Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Gayeski Medal for Excellence in Design Founded by Mrs. Alba Lori Gayeski, in memory of husband, Edward Gayeski Rosemary Carroll Kazimer Medal for Excellence in Elementary Education Founded by Dr. Mary Louise Keeney in honor of Mrs. Kazimer Sister Regina Barrett Medal For Excellence in Early Childhood Education Established in honor of Sister Regina Barrett, IHM by Superintendent Patricia C. Leamy Dr. Wanda Persichetti Medal for Excellence in Foreign Language Study Founded by friends of Dr. Persichetti in her honor Shaffer Medal for Nutrition and Dietetics Founded by C. Normal Shaffer, LL.D., in memory of Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart Walsh, IHM and Sister Margaret Mary Howley, IHM Barrett Medal For Outstanding Service and Scholarship in the Field of Legal Studies and Crinimal Justice Founded by Sigma Pi Mu in honor of Dr. John W. Barrett Tama Medal for Excellence in Mathematical Sciences Founded by Mrs. Margaret Mary Tama Hovell ’63 and Dr. Judith Tama Page ’70, in memory of their parents, John and Margaret Tama

Sister M. Clare Kelley Medal for Excellence in Music Founded in memory of Sister M. Clare Kelley, IHM by her former music students Nemotko Medal for Distinction in Nursing Founded by Mrs. Anthony J. Nemotko in memory of her husband, Anthony J. Mary Pace Medal for Excellence in Philosophy Founded by the Reverend William J. Pace in memory of his mother, Mary Pace Sister M. Charitas Loftus Medal for Excellence in Poetry Founded in memory of Sister M. Charitas Loftus by friends and alumnae Sister M. Sylvia Morgan Medal for Pre­Medical Studies Founded by Elizabeth King Young Arvad, M.D. Medal for Excellence in Psychology Founded by the Psychology Club in honor of Sister M. St. Mary Orr, IHM and Sister M. Bernardina McAndrew, IHM on the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Psychology (1942­1982) Czachor Medal for Distinction in Religious Studies Founded by the Czachor family of Archbald, Pennsylvania Sister M. Immaculata Gillespie Medal for Excellence in the Secondary Education Program Founded by Elizabeth KingYoung Arvad, M.D. Jenkins­Colis Gilroy Medal for Excellence in Undergraduate Social Work Founded by BSW students in memory of Brian Jenkins, Class of 1979 and Patricia Colis Gilroy, Class of 1976 Jordan Medal for Excellence in the Social Science Founded by the Misses Jordan in memory of their brother, the Reverend Richard D. Jordan, J.C.L. Margaret Ruddy Dougherty Medal for Excellence in Special Education Founded by the estate of Margaret Ruddy Dougherty Sister Davidica Kildea Medal for Excellence in Voice Founded in memory of Sister M. Davidica Kildea, IHM by the Kildea family Dolores M. Ackourey Medal for Excellence in Leadership and Human Relations Founded by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Ackourey in memory of their daughter, Dolores Sister M. Eva Connors Peace Medal Founded in memory of Sister M. Eva Connors, IHM Sister M. Margrete Kelley Medal for Distinction in Service Founded by Anna G. Kirby in memory of her sister, Sister M. Margrete Kelley, IHM Judith Piznar Medal for Leadership and Service to Youth Founded by Robert and Catherine Piznar in memory of their daughter