Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Dismissal and Probation

The Committee on Academic Support (CAS) conducts an academic review at the end of each fall and spring semester and recommends whether students should (a) continue their studies taking up to a maximum of 19 credits a semester, (b) be placed on academic probation taking up to a maximum of 14 credits a semester, or (c) be dismissed from the College.

Students whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) falls below certain prescribed standards will be dismissed from the College. Dismissal occurs if, after attempting-

• 0-12 credits, the CGPA is below 1.0
• 13-24 credits, the CGPA is below 1.3
• 25-39 credits, the CGPA is below 1.5
• 40-59 credits, the CGPA is below 1.7
• 60+ credits, the CGPA is below 2.0.

For students whose total academic record shows considerable ability and marked improvement, the Committee on Academic Support may give special consideration and may not recommend dismissal but may recommend that the student be placed on academic probation.

For students who have earned a 0.00 GPA in any term or if academic progress has not been achieved during the probation period, the Committee on Academic Support may recommend academic dismissal from the College.

Students who have been academically dismissed from the College may appeal that decision in writing to the Committee on Academic Support within five (5) days of receipt of their dismissal letter. As stated in the dismissal letter, the appeal letter must include:

1. a statement with supporting documentation indicating why the academic performance was poor;
2. a statement indicating how the student expects to improve his or her academic performance; and
3. a statement concerning the projected course of study.

Dismissed students and dismissed students whose appeals were not granted are not eligible to enroll in any session (fall, spring, or summer) for at least one (1) calendar year following their dismissal. Thirty (30) days before the beginning of the semester for which they wish to seek readmission, the student must write a letter to the Committee on Academic Support requesting a review of their dismissal and petitioning readmission to the College. The letter of request for readmission must document extraordinary circumstances beyond the student’s control (e.g., personal, medical, or a serious family emergency) that significantly interfered with his/her ability to successfully complete the required academic work. The letter of request for readmission must address the same areas as listed above. Permission to return is not automatic but is based upon the merits of each individual case. Students may be expected to show academic improvement through the completion of coursework at another institution.

If the request for readmission is granted by the Committee on Academic Support, application for readmission must be made through the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions and students must follow the Readmission Policy as stated in the College Catalog. That is, they must place their intent in writing with the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions. Once a letter is received, the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions will process all requests through the Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Finance, Registrar, and appropriate Division and Department Chairs. If granted readmission, students will follow the rules and policies listed in the College Catalog that are in effect at the time of their re-entrance to the institution.

NOTE: Certain degree programs stipulate satisfactory minimum grades with regard to their own major and certain general education courses. (More specific explanations of program degree requirements can be found in the College Catalog in the Programs of Study section under each individual program.) Students who do not meet the requirements of their major and are dismissed from their program of study but have a satisfactory CGPA may apply to another major and, if accepted, continue their studies at the College.

Veterans Benefits Satisfactory Academic Progress
 

Federal law and Veterans Administration regulations specify the conditions under which student veterans, eligible dependents, and reservists are paid VA educational benefits.  The law requires that educational benefits be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of his or her training objective.  Based upon this requirement, any student using VA educational benefits at Mount Aloysius College will be dismissed immediately following the semester when the Veteran or other eligible person does not meet the requirement for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) listed in our current approved catalog.

Mount Aloysius College requires students receiving VA educational benefits to meet the same SAP standards necessary to receive financial aid.  The standards include:

• Maintain at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA;
• Complete your degree-seeking program of study within a 150% timeframe;
• Completing either 24 credits a year if you are full time or completing the number of credits you attempted if less than full time

When the Veteran or other eligible person fails to maintain the prescribed standards of progress and is placed on dismissal, the VA will be informed promptly in order that benefit payments can be discontinued in accordance with the law.  The termination date will be the last day of the semester in which the student’s progress became unsatisfactory

Academic Probation

Students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress in their coursework by maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. A CGPA below 2.0 constitutes a designation of academic probation. The purpose of academic probation is to alert a student that he or she is at risk of not succeeding academically. It is the desire of the College to provide early intervention so that all students might achieve academic success as they pursue their educational goals. At a minimum, each student on academic probation will receive advisement and referral as appropriate. Specific methods of remediation will be prescribed to meet the needs of the individual student. The following actions will be taken to ensure a student is monitored for academic risk:

(1) Warning

All individual mid-term grades of D, F, E, and W, will be reported to the student’s advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to meet with their assigned advisor to seek advisement. To aid students in achieving academic success, the advisor might recommend the level of remediation necessary trying to ensure that a student has the opportunity to raise his or her GPA by the end of the semester. Various methods of remediation may be used by the students including routinely scheduled meetings with the advisor, the Director of Student Success and Advising, course instructors, the College counselor, and others as necessary.

(2) Probation

A full-time student whose cumulative GPA drops below a 2.0 will receive a letter from the Committee on Academic Support and be placed on Academic Probation for the next full-time semester (either fall or spring) unless the CGPA rises above 2.0 as a result of summer coursework. Academic Probation is a period of restricted enrollment. All students on probation are subject to the following restrictions:

• Students should meet regularly with their advisors to monitor their academic progress during the probation period and to discuss what remediation is needed to ensure that the student has had the opportunity to demonstrate his or her ability to benefit from instruction at Mount Aloysius College.
• Students on probation may take a maximum of 14 credit hours per semester and should repeat courses under the Repeat Policy as stated in the College Catalog.
• Students on probation must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher during every semester they are on probation. Failure to achieve a 2.0 semester GPA or better while on Academic Probation may result in dismissal from the College.

Academic Divisions

There are two academic schools at Mount Aloysius College: The School of Nursing and Health Sciences & The School of Business, Arts, and Sciences.  The current configuration of the divisions is as follows:

School of Business, Arts, and Science - Accounting, American Sign Language/ English Interpreting, Applied Technology, Art, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Conservation Law Enforcement, Criminology, Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education, English, Environmental Health, History/Political Science, Industrial Applied Technology, Information Technology, Interdisciplinary Studies, Legal Studies, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Music, Natural Resource Management, Psychology, Religion, Philosophy and Theology, Science, Secondary Education, and Social Science.

School of Nursing and Health Sciences: Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Medical Laboratory Technician, Nursing (AND, BSN, & RN-BSN), Physical Therapist Assistant, Surgical Technology, and Ultrasonography.

Academic Forgiveness and Academic Grade Amnesty Policies

In order to assist students who have been dismissed from a program or who have withdrawn from the College due to unsatisfactory grades, the College has instituted an Academic Grade Amnesty Policy in addition to the Academic Forgiveness Policy. Students are eligible to apply for only one type of policy during their career at the College. Application is made through the Registrar’s Office.

Academic Forgiveness Policy

The Academic Forgiveness Policy is designed to avoid placing an unnecessary burden on students who previously made an unsatisfactory start at Mount Aloysius College. It is not intended to enable students with chronically poor academic performance to stay in school. Students can apply for the Academic Forgiveness Policy only once and not in conjunction with the Academic Amnesty Policy. Academic forgiveness is granted only once for students who meet the following requirements:

1. The student has not been enrolled full-time at Mount Aloysius College for three (3) years prior to the date of readmission;
2. The student has completed at least twelve (12) credits of full- or part-time course work with a GPA of 2.0 or better since readmission to Mount Aloysius College and is currently matriculated in a degree/diploma granting program;
3. Courses to be forgiven must meet the following requirements;
4. Up to fifteen (15) credits may be forgiven from the student’s previous work (meaning prior to re-admission) at Mount Aloysius College; credits to be forgiven need not all be from the same semester’s work;
5. Only courses taken at Mount Aloysius College will be considered for forgiveness;
6. All credits to be forgiven must be applied for at the same time. The application for academic forgiveness must be completed prior to the semester of graduation; and
7. Grades of D, E, or F may be forgiven; however, grades of D which are forgiven do not satisfy any major or program specific degree requirements.

All courses forgiven will remain on the student’s transcript but are not included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average. However, if a grade of D is forgiven it will remain calclated in the student’s cumulative credit total. Students may repeat courses in which they received a grade of D, E, or F without using the Forgiveness Policy. For more information, please refer to Repeating a Course section found elsewhere in this Catalog.

Academic Grade Amnesty Policy

The Academic Grade Amnesty Policy is designed to assist students who are struggling in their major and are dismissed from a program and cannot repeat a course in which they have earned less than satisfactory grades. The unsatisfactory grade would remain on the student transcript but would not be calculated in the CGPA. Students can apply for the Academic Grade Amnesty Policy only once and not in conjunction with the Academic Forgiveness Policy. Academic grade amnesty is granted only once for students who meet the following requirements:

1. The student has been officially dismissed from his/her original program of study and is not eligible to repeat the course(s) within the major;
2. The student has remained continuously enrolled at the College after his/her dismissal;
3. The student has completed 18 credits of required major course work in his/her new major with a 2.7 GPA or better;
4. Only grades of C- or lower would be considered. Grades of E or WF would not be covered by the policy as this is an indication that the student unofficially withdrew and did not respect the College’s withdrawal policy in regards to the course;
5. Courses to be forgiven must meet the following requirements;
6. Only course(s) listed as required courses of the previous major in the catalog year in which the student was in the program can be considered for Academic Grade Amnesty;
7. The course(s) would have to be with the department code of the previous major;
8. Core courses are not eligible under this policy; they can be repeated under the current Repeat a Course Policy;
9. The number of credits to be forgiven in the Academic Grade Amnesty Policy may not exceed ten (10);
10. Graduate students or students pursuing a second undergraduate degree are not eligible for Academic Grade Amnesty;
11. Academic Honors or Academic Probation will not be recalculated for the semesters prior to the implementation of the Academic Grade Amnesty Policy; and
12. Once Academic Grade Amnesty is granted and a degree is earned, a student is not eligible to apply again.

Grades forgiven through the Academic Grade Amnesty Policy would remain on the student’s official transcript but would not be calculated in the cumulative grade point average (CGPA). If a grade of C- or lower is awarded amnesty it will remain calculated in the career hours earned for the student. They would remain calculated in the semester grade point average, hours earned, and hours attempted for the semester earned. A note on the transcript would indicate that Academic Grade Amnesty had been granted for those specific courses.

Academic Grievance Policy

If a student has a cause for grievance in academic matters, except concerning academic integrity issues, the student is requested to meet with the faculty member involved. If an agreeable decision is not reached, the student should then request a meeting with the Department Chairperson and, if necessary, the Dean to discuss the matter.

If the matter has not been resolved at the Division/Department level and further steps are necessary, the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs will make the final decision. The Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs may convene an ad hoc grievance board consisting of two faculty members, two students, and a fifth member from the College community and will act in an advisory capacity to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. The deadline for initiating a grievance procedure is thirty (30) days after the publication of grade reports.

During internal appeals, the student may not be represented by anyone other than him or herself. 

Academic Honesty and Integrity

Mount Aloysius College is committed to the academic integrity of the entire community. All share responsibility for maintaining high standards of academic honesty, and no forms of academic dishonesty are tolerated. Forms of academic dishonesty include but are not restricted to: giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on an examination, project, or assignment, using unauthorized forms of assistance such as crib notes or cell phones on an examination; falsification of data; plagiarism (using another person’s words or ideas as one’s own); and lying or falsifying reasons for missing examinations or class.

A student found guilty of lying, cheating or plagiarism, depending on the nature of the offense and the history of the student, is usually subject to one or both of the following: a grade of zero on the assignment, project, or examination or a grade of F in the course. All cases of lying, cheating or plagiarism where a punishment is incurred are reported to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, who maintains a record of all offenses. Serial offenders may be subject to suspension or dismissal.

Students have the right to appeal as outlined in the policy below.

Academic Integrity Appeal Policy

1. The student submits a written appeal to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. The deadline for initiating an academic integrity appeal is thirty (30) days after notification of the grade.
2. The Provost/Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs consults with the involved faculty member and appropriate division chair(s) to seek a resolution to the matter.
3. If no resolution is achieved, the matter is sent to the Academic Integrity Council.
4. The Council shall consist of the chairperson of the division in which the offense occurred, an uninvolved faculty member from the department in which the offense occurred, another faculty member from outside the department, and a student representative to be determined by the Student Government Association. The Council reviews the case and speaks to the involved faculty member and student as needed. The Council then makes a decision regarding penalty or dismissal. The Council’s decision is final.

Adding/Dropping a Course

Adding and dropping courses begins and ends at the Registrar’s Office. The student is totally responsible for accomplishing the transaction according to published instructions. Failure to follow instructions as published may affect refunds, grades, and the accurate certification of status as a veteran, financial aid recipient, or resident student.

A student will be permitted to drop or enroll in a course during the first week of a semester. Exceptions must be approved by the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. A student may officially withdraw from a course no later than twelve (12) weeks after the beginning of classes for the semester and receive either a “WP” or “WF” grade (see Grading).

Articulations

Mount Aloysius College has articulation agreements with community colleges and vocational-technical centers where the College agrees to accept credits from those institutions into the associate and/or bachelor degree programs. Articulation agreements are agreements between educational institutions intending to help students transfer into various programs.

The College also has articulation agreements with other institutions of higher education. Please refer to Cooperative Programs found elsewhere in this catalog for additional information on individual programs. For further information, contact the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions.

Attendance

Mount Aloysius College supports the incorporation of the co-curricular into the academic life and fabric of the College. The holistic growth and development of students is at the core of the educational process. As such, the College understands the value of associated academic experiences such as involvement in theatre, the arts, athletics and student clubs, and students are encouraged to be involved in these activities.

The College also understands that, at times, events can and do conflict with one another and possibly classes. The purpose of this policy is to provide structure and clarification as it relates to student involvement in the co-curricular. Students are expected to attend all classes, labs, clinicals, and internships; and faculty are expected to take attendance and keep attendance records. A student may need to miss a class/lab. Normally, students may be absent from class when they have been able to show suitable documentation that they are participating in a college-sponsored event or activity. This could include, but not be limited to, theater dress rehearsals and productions, Vox Nova dress rehearsals and productions, athletic contests (not practices), the College’s Honors Program activities and college-sponsored club events and trips.

The student is responsible for meeting the faculty member prior to the event or activity to discuss course expectations. The student is responsible for obtaining the appropriate documentation and presenting it to the faculty member. If the faculty member has any questions, the faculty member could contact the sponsoring person or organization or require further documentation. It is also the responsibility of the student to fulfill all requirements, assignments, and class work due or missed as the result of an absence. The student is responsible for all material covered on the day of his/her absence. An absence/attendance policy and guidelines for make-up work should be included by the faculty in the course syllabus.

Students are expected to attend all classes, clinicals, and internships. Data and research show a higher likelihood of academic success if the student is fully engaged in the learning experience (prepared, engaged, attending all learning/class sessions). Absences from classes or clinicals can put the student at risk. Courses operate differently, so faculty will describe the specific attendance/absence guidelines in their course syllabi.

(For example, normally, more than three (3) absences from a 3-credit semester course that meets three times a week would be considered of concern. More than one (1) absence for a three-credit class that meets once a week would be of concern. In some classes, such as a clinical, any absence can be a serious problem.)

Students must make up any work that is missed. They should be aware that missing course work, classes, or clinicals/labs might adversely affect their academic standing and goals unless the work and learning is fully made up. Instructors retain the right to limit avoidable absences due to participation in activities.

Students who are not performing at a “C” or better level, have not met the instructor’s expectations, or provide indicators to the instructor that the student’s achievement is in jeopardy, will not be permitted absence from class for college-related events and activities. In addition students may not be released from clinical assignments, internships, or other academic endeavors where their presence is required or where an absence can jeopardize their academic standing.

Attendance at Liturgy

As a Catholic college and as part of its rich heritage, Mount Aloysius celebrates the Liturgy as the traditional form of worship. Community members of all religious faiths are welcome to attend Liturgy throughout the school year. While the College respects other religious traditions and encourages students to synthesize faith with learning in whatever way they practice their individual faith traditions, familiarity with the Catholic heritage from which Mount Aloysius College derives its identity is a natural result of being a member of this community. On special occasions, the student body attends Liturgy as part of their educational experience at Mount Aloysius. These occasions include the Opening Liturgy to start the school year; Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter holidays; and the Baccalaureate Liturgy to end the school year. The Baccalaureate Liturgy is for all graduating students and is an integral part of the Commencement activities.

Auditing a Credit Course

Current Students:

Current students, full-time or part-time, may choose to audit a course based on availability of seats. The student will need to submit a registration form through the Registrar’s Office. Enrolling in a credit course waives the student of credit and a letter grade, and will not count towards making a student full time for the semester. Students will not submit assignments in the course. There is no fee for auditing a course. Instructor permission required.

Non-Students:

A person outside of the college that is interested in auditing a course must register through the Registrar’s Office and will be based on availability of seats. No credit or grade will be given and assignments will not be submitted. There is no fee for auditing a course. Instructor permission required.

Change of Major

A student wishing to change majors should discuss his or her plans with the current department chairperson and with the new department chairperson. Approval from the new chairperson is required. The change becomes official when the completed Change of Curriculum Form is returned to the Registrar. Tuition will not be recalculated after the Add/Drop period for a change of major.

Commencement Activities-Participation

A student may lack up to a maximum of six (6) credits or one course (if more than six credits) and may apply to participate in the commencement ceremony (see Graduation Requirements #5). However, the student is not awarded a degree until that semester in which all requirements are fulfilled.

College Closure and Delay Policy

To receive cancelation or delay notice via text or email please register with our MAC Alert system on the MyMAC Portal page.

The College is committed to keeping campus safe and operational during inclement weather. During periods when severe weather is forecasted Mount Aloysius College officials are in regular contact with weather specialists and county and regional departments.

The College’s policy is to remain open, if possible, for those students who can attend class during inclement weather. However, it is understood that our commuting students come from varied distances and in many cases varied climates. It is therefore, also the policy of the College to treat student and employee tardiness or absences liberally on inclement weather days. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to use their own judgment in deciding whether or not road conditions are safe enough for travel in the area and at the time they are commuting to class, clinical or student teaching.

On days that the College will open at 10AM, all classes will run according to the compressed schedule, which is posted both on campus and on the College’s website.

Please consider how your schedule would be altered if the compressed schedule is used. In the event of cancellations, Alternative Instructional Equivalencies will be implemented and faculty will communicate with students through Canvas or via email.

Online courses will not be affected by the compressed schedule. Meeting times for advising, tutoring, and other appointments should be confirmed with the individual you were to meet with.

Members understands that students may have to use their own discretion on challenging weather days. In such cases, students need to contact their faculty members (preferably through email in advance of the scheduled class) indicating that they have special weather-related circumstances that prevent their attendance. It is the student’s responsibility to understand the class requirement and policies as they relate to missed classes and to ensure makeup classes, clinical and/or assignments are completed.

In the past, Mount Aloysius College has closed Main campus and not a satellite campus such as Dubois. This practice is no longer active. When Mount Aloysius College closes or delays the Main campus, all other campuses are also closed or delayed for MAC students, including clinical sites and internships. Closures and delays apply to all undergraduate and graduate classes.

English Lanaguage Learner (ELL) Modifications

English Language Learner (ELL) Modifications are designed to assist students whose native language is not English. During the first month of the semester, ELL students meet with the Coordinator of ELL to complete an assessment to determine eligibility for classroom modifications including, but not limited to, extended test time. ELL students participate in bi-weekly meetings with the Coordinator and attend weekly tutoring sessions and Supplemental Instruction through the Library Learning Commons. Additionally, ELL students are introduced to other campus resources to help ensure academic success. ELL modifications are designed to be implemented during Freshman year, with a gradual decrease in services in Sophomore year. ELL modifications are not required by law; therefore, a student is not guaranteed the right to modifications in every course. Instructors reserve the right to decline the services.

Credit and Credit Load

Taking more than nineteen (19) credits in a semester requires specific approval by the advisor and the Division Chairperson. (Note: Please see Financial Aid section for relationship between credit load and financial aid.)

Undergraduate Core Leading Outcomes

Mercy-Value Driven Action Goal: Following the Mercy tradition within Catholic higher education, students will synthesize faith with learning, develop competence with compassion, and make a commitment to justice.

Liberal-Arts Breadth Goal: Building upon the Liberal Arts tradition, students will further develop a sense of curiosity and an inquiring disposition by employing a variety of learning styles and complex reasoning strategies to serve as a foundation to a commitment of lifelong learning at a depth consistent with their degree, including

1.    Essential Knowledge by being able to

a)    Explain the philosophical and religious values of the Sisters of Mercy, including mercy, justice, hospitality, and service,

b)    Describe the physical, mental, and social components of human systems, including their interdependence and diversity and the historical and contemporary influences on them,

c)    Articulate the relationship between faith and reason,

d)    Express the role of arts and aesthetics, and

e)    Demonstrate understanding of natural environments and the reciprocal relationships humans have with them, and

2.    Vital Skills and Abilities by being able to

a)     Express ideas, attitudes, and beliefs in both oral and written formats to inform, explain, and promote change in varied audiences,

b)    Apply moral principles and standards to evaluate and guide behavior within specific situations,

c)     Effectively and responsibly identify the need for information to solve problems or complete tasks and subsequently be able to locate, access, and organize relevant data, information, and conclusions, and then evaluate, use, and communicate them to satisfy the identified need via digital and nondigital means,

d)     Interpret information related to variations in amount into verbal form, represent information in varied quantitatively oriented forms, apply appropriate calculations, use quantitative analysis to draw justifiable conclusions, recognize relevant assumptions and implications of them, and effectively communicate quantitative information,

e)     Think clearly, accurately, precisely, deeply, broadly, logically, and fairly in multiple contexts to ground judgments of fact and improve thinking itself, while also being able to combine or synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways and to think, react, and work in an imaginative way characterized by a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.

Core Course Requirements Associate Degree

In general, a student would complete an associate degree with at least half of the course work in disciplines other than the major. Some majors may have specific requirements in the core.

Core Course Requirements - Bachelor Degree

In general, a student would complete a bachelor’s degree with at least half of the course work in disciplines other than the major. Some majors may have specific requirements in the core.

Waiver Policy for ICT 100 and 200 Level Courses

A student who has earned a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited university or college shall be exempt for completing ICT 101 - Information Literacy   and a 200 level ICT course unless:

1. the student’s program of study requires a major/discipline specific course, such as ICT 230 - Technology for the Nursing Professional  or ICT 235 - Classroom and Online Technologies . However, the department may opt to waive the course based on a review of the student’s academic record; and
2. five years have passed since the student has completed the previous bachelor degree. In this case, advisors will recommend taking a 200-level course, but it may not be required.

The student will still be required to complete ICT 301 - Professional Information Communication Technologies  to ensure he or she learns about the value of information fluency skills in the changing workplace and applies that knowledge to professional and personal goals. A student who has completed a bachelor’s degree should follow up with the Registrar’s Office to ensure the waiver is applied to his or her academic record. A student may still choose to take any of the ICT courses to strengthen his or her Information Communication Technologies knowledge and skills.

Final Exam Week

Regular Fall and Spring semesters include a 5-day Final Exam week, which will consist of 4 scheduled exam days, with 1 make-up day. The Registrar’s Office will publish the exam schedule at the beginning of each semester noting the course, section, date, time and location of the final exam. Individual course instructors will provide specific information about assessments and exams.

Changes may not be made to the official final exam schedule without the approval of the Academic Dean.

The following policies apply:

• If a final exam is to be given in a course, instructors are required to give the final exam at the time scheduled from the Registrar’s Office;
• Take-home and online exams are due at the regularly scheduled hour of a final exam.

Online, graduate, and condensed term courses do not have a separate exam week. Final assessments are incorporated into class times.

Grading

Each course offered by Mount Aloysius College has measurement guidelines for the assessment of a student’s competence. How well a student demonstrates his or her competence will be indicated on a student’s transcript by means of a letter grade. The authorized letter grades, their descriptions and quality points are as follows:

* See additional information under heading Incomplete Grades.

**In Progress grades are generally given to students who are registered for continued fieldwork or practicums. These grades must be resolved by the end of the following semester.

Grades of “P” and “W” are entered on the student’s permanent record but are not computed in the grade point average.

The time of withdrawal affects the grade for the course. Withdrawal from a course will incur a grade of “E” if permission has not been granted.

Students may withdraw from a course based on the following timelines:
 

Mid-Semester Grades

At the end of the seventh week of semester courses and at the fourth week for eight-week courses, instructors will submit mid-semester grades for each of their classes. It is the responsibility of all students to meet with their assigned advisor for advisement. If a student is demonstrating at-risk performance at mid-semester, the advisor will discuss this situation with the student and will prescribe the level of remediation necessary to ensure that a student has the opportunity to raise his/her GPA by the end of the semester. Various methods of remediation may be used including routinely scheduled meetings with the advisor, with the Student Success and Advising Office, with the College counselor, etc. The Committee on Academic Support will be advised via the Academic Intervention Form of all related actions in this regard.

Concentration, Certificate, and Specialization Grades

A student completing a concentration, certificate, and/or specialization as part of his or her program of study need to complete each course in the concentration, certificate, and/or specialization with a grade of C or better.

Graduation

Graduation Requirements-Associate degree

Mount Aloysius College awards an associate degree or diploma to a student who has:

1. Matriculated in a specific curriculum and fulfilled all the requirements of that curriculum;
2. Attained a 2.0 cumulative quality point average;
3. Attained a grade of “C” or better in each major curriculum course which shall apply toward the fulfillment of the curriculum’s field-of-study requirements. This applies to all programs of study except General Studies and Liberal Arts;
4. Satisfactorily completed the required core credit hours for degrees;
5. Submitted a signed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar, usually one semester prior to graduation;
6. For the associate degree, earned by way of course work, at least 20 semester hours at Mount Aloysius College, 15 semester hours of which must be in a student’s major field of study;
7. Successfully completed the Mount Aloysius College Foundation Courses;
8. Fulfilled all financial obligations to Mount Aloysius College; and
9. Completed a minimum of 60 credits for the associate degree.

Graduation Requirements-Bachelor degree

Mount Aloysius awards a bachelor’s degree to a student who has:

1. Matriculated in a specific curriculum and fulfilled all the requirements of that curriculum;
2. Attained a 2.0 cumulative quality point average;
3. Attained a grade of “C” or better in each major curriculum course which shall apply toward the fulfillment of the curriculum’s major-course requirements;
4. Satisfactorily completed the required core credit hours for degrees;
5. Submitted a signed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar, usually one semester prior to graduation;
6. Earned, by way of course work from Mount Aloysius, a minimum of 30 credits at the 300-400 level. Eighteen (18) of these must be in the designated major. Additionally, all core requirements including the Mount Aloysius College Foundation Course and the Capstone Seminar must be successfully completed;
7. Fulfilled all financial obligations to Mount Aloysius; and
8. Completed a minimum of 120 credits.

Ultimately, each student is personally responsible for checking eligibility for graduation by ensuring he or she has completed all general and curricular requirements. These requirements may be discussed at any time with the student’s Advisor or Department Chairperson.

Honor at graduation is conferred on the student who qualifies for the academic distinctions of:

Mount Aloysius College conducts graduation ceremonies for students. The formal Commencement Ceremony is conducted only in May. Please refer to the Commencement Activities-Participation section of this Catalog for information regarding participation in the ceremony itself.

Incomplete Grades

Students may petition their instructor after approximately 75% of the course has been completed usually for extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student (i.e., prolonged illness, jury duty, family emergency, etc.). If permission is granted, the instructor will submit a grade of “I” at the conclusion of the course. The work must be completed within the guidelines provided below based on the original length of the class in which the “I” grade is issued. If the work is not completed, a grade of “F” will be noted on the student record. The Registrar may approve a request for an extension beyond the allotted completion period.

NOTE: Incomplete grades can only be given at the end of a semester; they cannot be issued at mid-term.

Matriculation

Students wishing to pursue a degree at Mount Aloysius College must matriculate by completing an application and by being accepted into a degree program. To ensure proper advisement, this should be done as soon as possible after commencing college study. Once admitted, students who break matriculation for any period of time, must reapply through the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions. Students are subject to catalog policies in effect when admitted. Some courses may require matriculation as a prerequisite. In any case, matriculation must occur after fifteen (15) credits have been earned at Mount Aloysius College. Graduation requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of acceptance into a degree program.

Re-Examination

If a student, whose work prior to the date of the final examination is of a passing grade, misses a final examination because of documented illness or emergency that occurred after the twelfth (12) week of the semester, he/she may be given the mark of “I” (Incomplete). No student is allowed to retake a final examination or do extra work after the final for the sole purpose of improving his/her grade. Students who fail a required course must retake the same course with a grade of “C” of better unless otherwise specified by the department.

Repeating a Course

A student may only repeat a course in which a grade of C-, D+,D, D-, or F has been received. The course may only be taken a maximum of three (3) times. The most recent grade will be used in the computation of the grade point average on a student’s transcript. If the repeated course is required in the major, the grade must be “C” or better to automatically remove the C-, D+ D, D-, or F grade in the grade point computation. A course repeated at another college will not remove a C-, D+, D, D-, or F from the student’s transcript at Mount Aloysius College.

*Note: Please also see the Financial Aid section on the definition of a full time students and the relationship to repeated course work .

Transfer Credit Policy

Mount Aloysius College will consider credits for transfer into associate and bachelor degree programs from coursework taken at regionally-accredited post-secondary institutions which have received full accreditation, where the course work is equivalent to that of Mount Aloysius College and in which the student received a grade of “C” or better. Transfer credits are also granted from nationally accredited post-secondary institutions on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credits will be awarded based on the similarity of course exit competencies and is a function of course content, length, caliber of faculty, and quality of practical experiences, where applicable. As a central principle, implementation of this policy will provide equitable treatment for native and transfer students and ensure that students will not be required to repeat course work completed at an acceptable level of performance at a previously attended institution. It is the student’s responsibility to provide course descriptions and catalogs to the Office of Admissions from the college or university in order to evaluate course equivalence. Failure to submit course descriptions will void advanced academic standing.

Course work that has been completed seven (7) or more years previously may or may not be accepted as transfer credit. Students transferring Microbiology or Anatomy and Physiology courses must have credit for a laboratory.

A maximum of 12 credits can be earned from Continuing Education Units and a certification from American Council on Education (ACE) and/or International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) would be required; certificate must be dated within 5 years.

Students seeking transfer admissions to Mount Aloysius College will have all transcripts reviewed initially by the Office of Admissions in collaboration with the Office of the Registrar. Matriculated students at Mount Aloysius College are required to obtain permission from the Registrar prior to enrolling in courses at another post-secondary institution. Appropriate faculty will be involved as needed to determine the appropriateness and applicability of accepted courses to a specific degree program.

For further detailed information regarding transfer credits and the complete Transfer Credit Policy, please see the Registrar.

Residency Requirement for Graduation

Students must complete their final thirty (30) semester hours before graduation in residency. This policy applies to students in associate and bachelor degree programs. This policy does not apply to students enrolled in identified cooperative or articulated programs in the College’s cooperative programs. Exemptions to the residency requirement may be made by the Registrar in individual cases.

Withdrawal from College

The student wishing to officially withdraw from Mount Aloysius College can obtain the required form from the Registrar’s Office. The student should obtain their advisor’s signature on the form and is strongly encouraged to discuss the decision to withdraw with their advisor. The completed form must be turned into the Registrar’s Office to officially withdraw from Mount Aloysius College. The Registrar will notify the student’s advisor, the Business Office, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, the Director of Retention and Advising, and the Office of Student Affairs.

Students should be aware of the consequences of failing to complete an official withdrawal form. Additional information regarding withdrawal is available in the Tuition and Fees Section of this catalog.

Withdrawal from College - Administrative

Attendance has been proven to be a key factor in academic success. For this reason, students are expected to attend all classes. Failure to attend class may result in the student being withdrawn from the course or failing the course. Administrative withdrawal refers to the involuntary withdrawing of students from enrollment in classes due to excessive absences. An administrative withdrawal from courses or from the College may occur at any time during the semester. The Registrar in consultation with and recommendation from faculty, Academic Advising Coordinator, or other administrative offices has the authority to carry out an administrative withdrawal. The Registrar will notify the student by email that an administrative withdrawal has been initiated. The student will have three (3) days to respond to the Registrar before the withdrawal takes effect. Any student who is administratively withdrawn from a course or from the College has the right to make an appeal in writing. See the Registrar for further information on the administrative withdrawal policy and for information on the appeal process.

Withdrawal from College - Medical

Due to extraordinary circumstances and in rare instances, a student requests a medical withdrawal from the College. Requests are made to the Registrar’s Office.

For a request to be considered, the following conditions must be satisfied:

1. The student’s medical condition developed or became more serious during the semester in question.

    2. The medical condition is significant to the point that it is the primary reason the student cannot attend classes and/or complete required work.

    3. The student provides documentation that he/she is under the care of a licensed physician or licensed mental health professional. The following information must be included in the  request, signed by the professional.

Documentation must:

• Be written on the provider’s letterhead. Prescription pad notes and copies of medical records will not be reviewed;
• Include a detailed and specific diagnosis;
• Include the provider’s clinical impression related to the diagnosis and how this condition affects the student’s ability to complete the course or semester;
• List the date onset and dates of treatment and last date you were able to attend class;
• Include the provider’s clear recommendation for withdrawal for medical reasons;
• List the date of expected return to the college.

The above documentation criteria must be filled before the request can be reviewed. Incomplete documentation will not be considered. 

The grade of “W” is recorded for each course affected. If the student returns to the College within one academic year, he/she will be place in original catalog year at the time of his/her matriculation.

The student should consult with the Financial Aid Office as the student’s withdrawal may impact financial aid eligibility for future semesters.

Students withdrawing from the College under this policy are subject to the Refund Policy as described in this Catalog.