Graduate Academic Regulations

(Refer to the current graduate catalog for specific degree requirements and course descriptions.)

The regulations contained herein have been adopted by the Faculty and Graduate Council with the approval of the President and will apply to all graduate students, faculty, and administrators within the University.

102 Changes and Additions

Proposed additions and changes to college regulations may originate as recommendations by the individual college committees or faculties, the Graduate Council or the Faculty Senate and must be accepted by the faculty of the appropriate college. Proposed additions and changes to general University regulations must be passed by Faculty Senate or by a majority of the voting University faculty and accepted by the University President.

103 Official Copy and Distribution

The University Registrar will maintain the official copy of the "Academic Regulations". Upon adoption by the appropriate faculty, official changes and additions will be transmitted to the Chief Academic Officer and the Registrar by the secretary of the appropriate faculty. The Registrar will distribute a copy of the official "Academic Regulations" to all faculty at the beginning of each academic year.

104 Interpretation

In any case where a question arises regarding the interpretation of these regulations, the Chief Academic Officer will have final authority over University-wide regulations. The Dean of the College or appointed representative will have the final authority with regard to regulations within that unit, in resolving such matters.

105 Waiver

Requests for a waiver of any particular provision of these regulations must be made in writing to the appropriate Dean, or Chief Academic Officer.

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200 Graduation Requirements

201 Master's Degrees

See the Graduate School Catalog for specific course and other requirements for each program.
201.1 Master of Arts and Certificate of Advanced Study (School Psychology)

The degree requirements are:

Two years of full-time study.

77 semester hours of graduate study at Alfred University.

Passing a qualifying examination at the end of the second semester.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

201.2 Master of Science in Education

The degree requirements are:

MSEd and Certificate of Advanced Study (Counseling)

60 semester hours of graduate study.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

MSEd – Literacy teacher

30 semester hours of graduate study.

Preparation of acceptable master's project, preparation and defense of master's thesis, or passing a comprehensive examination, according to the specific requirements of the program.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

201.3 Master of Science

The degree requirements are:

A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate courses and thesis or project research credits.

Successfully completing an oral examination in the major field based on the thesis.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

201.4 Master of Fine Arts

The degree requirements are:

Two years of full-time residence and the completion of 60 semester hours of graduate courses.

A formal presentation to the Graduate Committee at the end of each semester. The Graduate Committee grants approval whether or not the student should be allowed to undertake further work.

Completion of a thesis during the second year.

201.5 Master of Public Administration

The degree requirements are:

30 semester hours of graduate study at Alfred University (or 33 if an internship is required).

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

Field work unless waived for experience.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

201.6 Master of Business Administration

The degree requirements are:

A minimum of 30 graduate credits, completed either as a part-time or full-time student.

Completion of all work within six calendar years.

202 Doctoral degrees
See the Graduate School Catalog for specific course and other requirements.

202.1 Doctor of Philosophy

The degree requirements are:

Completion of 90 semester hours with a minimum of 42 hours in regular course work and a minimum of 30 hours in thesis credits.

Passing a qualifying examination.

Must be in residence at least two years.

Preparation and successful defense of the doctoral thesis.

202.2 Doctor of Psychology

The degree requirements are:

Completion of 106 credits. A minimum of 76 credits of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree, one year of internship, 12 credits of dissertation.

Completion of all requirements within seven years.

Residency requirement - two consecutive semesters as a full-time student.

Passing a doctoral qualifying examination.

Completion of a doctoral dissertation, approved by the sponsoring committee.

202.3 Any student who fails a qualifying or comprehensive examination for the second time is automatically dropped from the Graduate School for academic failure.

203 Written application for the conferring of advanced degrees must be made by students at least 60 days before the degree conferral date. This requirement may be satisfied by means of filing an Application to Graduate with the Registrar.

204 Course work presented in satisfaction of requirements for an advanced degree must be an average grade of B or better (3.00 GPA), except in the MFA program in which there is no GPA.

205 Degrees Awarded Posthumously

Alfred University may confer posthumous baccalaureate and graduate degrees upon students who are deceased prior to completion of all degree requirements of the program being pursued.

To be eligible for consideration, the student must have been nearing completion of coursework required for the degree and must have been in good academic standing with a grade point average sufficient to have earned the degree. Recommendation for award of the degree must be made by the faculty in the student's major area, and approved by the Chair or Director, the College or School Dean, and the Provost. Final approval for awarding of posthumous degrees shall rest with the Board of Trustees, which will act upon the recommendation of the President of Alfred University.

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300 Credits, Grades and Grade Point Average (GPA)

301 Course Credit Definition

The basic unit of credit is the semester hour.

302 Grade Designations

302.1 The following grade designations will be used:

A. Grades that are calculated in Grade Point Averages:
Grade	Quality Points per Semester Hour	Meanings
A	4.0	Superior
B+	3.5	Very Good
B	3.0	Good
C	2.00	Average
F	0.00	Failure

B. Grades that are not calculated in GPA:
Grade		Meanings
I		Incomplete (see 302.2)
IP		In Progress (see 302.6)
P		Pass
HP		High Pass
NC		No Credit
W		Withdrawn (see 502.3)
AU		Audit (see 302.5)

302.2 The grade of I indicates incomplete course work due to circumstances beyond the student's control.

302.3 The Registrar shall change the grade of I to F if the incomplete is not removed within the succeeding semester, unless the instructor recommends to the Director of Graduate Studies that an extension of one additional semester be granted for completion of the unfinished work. If the work remains incomplete at the end of the additional semester, the Registrar shall change the grade of I to F.

302.4 Grading for graduate students (except in the School of Art and Design) is on a scale of A, B+, B, C or F. Graduate courses offered by the School of Art are graded only HP, P or NC. When undergraduates enroll in 500 level courses they will be graded on the graduate scale. Graduate thesis credits are reported using the P or NC grades. Mid-semester grades are not required for 500 or 600 level courses.

302.5 Audit

A student may elect to take a course on a non-credit or audit basis. The student may also change from credit to audit or vice versa until the last day to withdraw from the course as designated in the University Calendar. Any student registering as an auditor in a class must consult the instructor to determine the level of participation the instructor expects of an auditor. If any auditing student fails to meet the expected level of participation, the instructor will notify the Registrar at the time he/she submits final grades and the Registrar will cancel the student's registration in that class.

302.6 Grade of "In Progress" (IP)

The grade of IP (In Progress) may be given for thesis, project, and seminar courses when the work extends by design over multiple terms. The IP indicates that work is in progress and a final grade will be given in the future.

302.7 The Graduate School reserves the right to deny further registration to any student who is not making satisfactory progress. Each student is expected to earn a GPA of 3.00 or better each semester, and cumulatively. Scholastic Standards committees review each student's record each semester and take appropriate action, which may include the termination of graduate study for students who do not meet the GPA standard or who do not make satisfactory progress in other ways.

303 Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)

303.1 Only credits attempted at Alfred University which have received final grades of A through F shall be used in calculating a student's GPA.

303.2 The semester (or term) GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total hours attempted in that semester (or term) with final grades of A through F (GPA hours).

303.3 The cumulative GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total grade points earned at the University by the GPA hours.

303.4 When a course is repeated, the course credits shall be used only once and the grade points and credits corresponding to the most recent grade earned shall be used in calculating the cumulative GPA. While the original grade is no longer used in the GPA, it remains a part of the record and it appears on the student’s transcript.

303.5 Courses completed with grades of HP, P and A through C will be counted as credit earned. Courses with grades of W, I, NC, IP, F, and AU will not be counted as credit earned.

304 Transfer Credit

304.1 Transfer credit evaluations from other accredited institutions shall be made by the Dean or appointed representative of the college in which the student is enrolled or wishes to enroll. The evaluation is forwarded to the Registrar's Office to be placed on the student's permanent record. No more than six semester credit hours of graduate work may be transferred into a masters degree program.

305 Grade Changes and Grade Appeal
A grade may be changed by the instructor of a course to convert an Incomplete (“I”) or In Progress (“IP”) to a final grade or to correct an error. The Graduate Program Director and the Director of Graduate Studies must approve all grade changes except for completion of work in courses graded I or IP.

Students have one year from the date a final grade is issued to petition for a change of grade. A student who believes a final grade is not correct should first meet with the instructor. If the matter is not resolved, the student should meet with the division/program chair in the academic area offering the course. If there is no resolution, the student should arrange a meeting with the Dean, or the Dean’s designee, of the college or school offering the course. If there is still no resolution, the student may present the case to the Ombuds Officer for review and a final decision.

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400 Classification of Students and Academic Standing

401 Classification

A. Full-time student: Currently registered for 12 semester credit hours or more

B. Part-time student: Currently registered for fewer than 12 semester credit hours.

C. Matriculated, or degree-seeking, student: Admitted to the Graduate School and enrolled in a program in which the student anticipates earning a degree.

D. Unclassified student:

• Not matriculated (not admitted to a graduate degree program or seeking a degree at AU)
• May complete no more than twelve graduate credit hours without admission to a graduate program.
• May apply for admission to change to degree-seeking status. If the student desires to seek a degree he/she must matriculate at least 24 semester hours prior to graduation.

402 Graduate Academic Standing

402.1 Course work presented in satisfaction of requirements for a degree must be an average grade of B or better (3.00 GPA).

402.2 Scholastic Standards committees will review every student's record each semester. They may recommend termination of graduate study for students who do not meet a GPA standard of 3.00 or better each semester and cumulatively or who do not make satisfactory progress in other ways

402.3 Students aspiring to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Psychology, or Master of Arts in School Psychology are permitted to present no more than six credit hours at the grade of C.

402.4 Any student who fails a qualifying or comprehensive examination for the second time is automatically dropped from the Graduate School for academic failure.

403 Student Appeal for Change of Academic Standing

403.1 A student appeal for change of academic standing will be made through the student's Dean for presentation to the Program's Scholastic Standards Committee.

403.2 If the matter cannot be resolved by the Scholastic Standards Committee, the student may appeal to the Provost, or Chief Academic Officer, who may consult the Graduate Council, in reaching his/her decision.

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500 Registration, Scheduling and Attendance

501 Registration

501.1 Any degree-seeking student in attendance during the previous semester who does not complete his/her registration during the period designated by the Academic Calendar will be considered a late registrant.

501.2 A late registrant should complete his/her registration as soon as possible.

501.3 Late registrants are subject to a late registration fee.

502 Scheduling and Schedule Changes

502.1 Advisor approval is required for each student’s schedule or study plan each term. Graduate students may also need the approval of the Director of the program. This requirement applies to both full-time and part-time students in the degree programs.

502.2 Adding and Dropping Courses - A course may be added or dropped during the periods indicated in the Academic Calendar without penalty. (See also

502.3 for the distinction between dropping and withdrawing.) Any course dropped will not appear on the student's transcript. The approval of the student's Dean is required if this course change is made after the published deadline and will only be granted in extreme cases. If granted, a $35 late fee is assessed.

502.3 Withdrawing from a Course - A student may withdraw from a course and receive the grade of W with the signature of the lecture instructor and the approval of the student's advisor during the period designated in the Academic Calendar. A grade of W will be assigned for a course withdrawal. The approval of the student's Dean/Director is also required if:

The revised load for a full-time student is less than 12 semester hours.

After deadline for this type of action,a $35 late fee is assessed.

503 Attendance

503.1 Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Faculty members shall establish their own regulations governing attendance and communicate such to the students.

503.2 First Class Attendance Rule

A student in a closed course who does not attend the first class meeting or communicate with the instructor or the Registrar's Office by the close of the day of the first class may be dropped from the course. It is up to the student to check with the instructor to determine if he/she has been dropped.

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600 Withdrawal, Leave of Absence and Readmission

601 Withdrawal from School

A student who is obliged to withdraw from the University during the academic year or at the end of any semester should first consult his/her Dean or Graduate Program Director. Initiating the withdrawal in this manner is primarily for proper guidance and is also necessary if the student is to receive funds which may be due. (See 604 for the grades to be given.)

602 Readmission

A student who has withdrawn from the University or been suspended or dismissed for any reason may be granted the opportunity to return. Application for readmission must be in writing to the Director of Admissions. These applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the time the student is eligible to return.

603 Leave of Absence

Alfred University recognizes that there are many good reasons why a student may want to temporarily interrupt his/her education. Therefore the University has established a leave of absence policy that assures a student the right to continue his/her education following a specified leave period. The following principles govern the leave of absence policy:

A. A student must make a written request for a leave of absence to the Program Director or Dean. The request must include the reason(s) for the leave and the length of time the student plans to be away. Leaves are generally granted for one or two semesters, but may be extended upon application and approval of the Dean. A leave of absence will not usually be granted for a semester in progress.

B. Before granting a leave the Dean may discuss with the student his/her written request and specific action plan for the leave.

C. Once a leave is granted the Dean will notify other interested University officials of the decision and the expected date of return.

D. There are circumstances (for example, a felony conviction) under which a student's leave, and eligibility to return to the University, may be canceled.

E. A student who is granted a leave of absence to deal with medical and/or psychological problems may be requested to submit a clinical evaluation to the program director before consideration can be given for his/her return to Alfred University.

604 Grades for students leaving school during the semester.

A student who formally leaves school during a semester will be given W grades in those courses in which he/she is registered providing the last date to withdraw from each course as published in the Academic Calendar has not passed. In those courses where the last day to withdraw has passed, the instructor will record a final (non W) grade. In cases of special circumstances the student's Dean or Program Director can permit W grades to be recorded for any or all courses after the deadline has passed.

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700 Academic Dishonesty (Unethical Practices)

701 Definition

Academic dishonesty is defined as any action that enables students to receive credit for work that is not their own. Academic dishonesty, as well as fabricating and inappropriately altering or excluding data, is unethical conduct which will not be tolerated in any form. Graduate students at Alfred University are expected to maintain generally accepted standards of academic honesty and professional integrity. Failure to do so may range from failure of the assignment to dismissal.

Academic dishonesty can occur both in and outside the classroom, studio, or lab.

In the context of tests, quizzes, examinations, or other in-class work, dishonest practices include but are not limited to:

• Marking an answer sheet in a way designed to deceive the person correcting it.
• Possession of unauthorized material that could be used during a quiz, test, or examination for the purposes of cheating.
• The unauthorized use of books or notes during a quiz, test, or examination.
• The hiding or positioning of notes or other tools for the purposes of cheating on a quiz, test, or examination.
• Possession or knowledge of any examination prior to its administration.
• Looking at someone else's quiz, test, or examination without the express permission of the instructor.
• Any form of unauthorized communication during a quiz, test, or examination.

In the context of writing assignments, research projects, lab reports, and other academic work completed outside the classroom, dishonest practices include but are not limited to:

• Lack of adequate and appropriate citation of all sources used.
• The appropriation of another’s ideas, analysis, or actual words without necessary and adequate source citations, either deliberately or inadvertently.
• The copying, purchase, or other appropriation of another person’s academic work with the intention of passing it off as one’s own original production.
• The creation of a document by more than one student that is then submitted to the instructor as the original creation of only one student, without the express permission of the instructor.
• Submitting the same piece of work to more than one instructor without the express permission of ALL instructors involved.
• Fabrication of data.
• Inappropriate alteration or exclusion of data.

The following guidelines are included to assist students in avoiding dishonest behavior in their academic work, particularly in writing assignments, research projects, and lab reports.

A. Students’ written work should reflect their own personal preparation for the assignment, such as reading books and articles, performing research on the internet and in electronic databases, and taking notes in class and during the research process.

B. Students should avoid using the actual words of the authors of their sources whenever possible, opting instead to demonstrate an understanding of the authors’ ideas by rewriting them in their own words.

C. All ideas and analyses that are derived from other authors must be attributed to those authors in the form of appropriate source citations, even when their own words are not used. Source citations usually take the form of footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical citations in addition to a formal bibliography and/or works cited page at the end of the writing assignment. The format for these source citations depends on the conventions of each academic discipline: consult your instructor as to the appropriate form to use.

D. When the use of an author’s specific text is unavoidable or necessary, that material must be identified as a direct quotation and must either be surrounded by quotation marks or formatted as a block quotation. Appropriate source citations must follow all quotations, as per the instructions above.

E. Circumstances when direct quotation is necessary or desirable include:

1) The wording of the text is essential to the student’s own analysis.
2) The text exemplifies the author’s particular perspective.
3) Quoting the text is a more efficient way of presenting the author’s ideas than a more elaborate and lengthy paraphrase would be.

It should be noted that lengthy quotations or their overuse is neither desirable nor appropriate in most instances and should be avoided. Additionally, over-reliance on lengthy quotations can be considered a form of plagiarism.

F. Some instructors find collaborative assignments useful. Students may be allowed to collaborate in shared assignments only with the specific permission of the instructor. In those circumstances the limits to the collaboration will be established by the instructor and students should be aware that they are responsible for maintaining the appropriate limits to that collaboration.

702 Procedures

702.1 Instructors who believe an unethical practice has occurred should take the following steps:

A. The instructor will advise the student orally or by e-mail as soon as possible after the offense is observed. This will allow simple misunderstandings and misinterpretations to be resolved.

B. If the instructor remains convinced that an offense has occurred, a written statement of the offense will be sent to the student in hard copy and by e-mail. The statement will include whatever penalty the instructor considers appropriate; a copy will be sent to the instructor's dean, the student's dean or program chair, and, if the recommended penalty is dismissal, the Associate Provost for Graduate Programs.  

C. The academic dean or program director of the student's college/program should advise the student of appeals procedures which are available.

702.2 A student charged with an unethical practice may appeal to the appropriate program committee.

702.3 Any student dismissed from the Graduate School may request reconsideration of the matter by the Graduate Council; such requests to be made within 14 days of the notice of dismissal. If not satisfied with that reconsideration, the student may appeal to the Associate Provost for Graduate Programs; such appeal to be made within 14 days of dismissal.


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800 Miscellaneous

801 Half-semester Courses

Courses may be offered during the first or second half of the fall and spring semesters as set forth in the University Calendar. The credit value for these courses shall be determined by the curriculum committees of the College offering these courses.

802 Course Numbering System

802.1 Courses are numbered as follows:

001 – 099	Courses of a remedial nature that do not carry credit toward any University degree.
100 - 199	Courses without prerequisites primarily for undergraduate students in their first year of study.
200 - 299	Courses with or without prerequisites primarily for undergraduate students in their first or second year of study.
300 - 399	Courses usually having prerequisites and offered primarily for undergraduate students in their third or fourth year of study.
400 - 499	Advanced courses primarily for undergraduate students in their fourth-year of study.
500-599	Courses primarily for graduate students. With permission of the instructor, undergraduate seniors in good standing may enroll in these courses for undergraduate or graduate credit. (May count for graduate credit only if not required to complete the undergraduate degree.)
600-699	Advanced graduate courses open only to graduate students.

802.2 A few designated courses at the 400-level may be taken for graduate credit only by students who have been formally admitted to the Graduate School prior to the registration and permission of the advisor is required.

803 Learning Disabled Students

It shall be the policy of Alfred University to offer alternate forms of evaluation to all students with documented learning disabilities who request such examinations.

These alternate examinations must be consistent with the needs of the faculty to assess the knowledge of the students.

Additionally these alternate evaluation procedures must be suitable to permit the student appropriate opportunity to succeed on subsequent State/Federal licensing examinations.

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