ACADEMIC STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Any student who believes that he or she has special or extraordinary circumstances may appeal an academic policy.  The appeal must be in written form, accompanied by supporting documentation, and be sent to the Academic Standards Committee c/o the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The Provost Office is located in McClain Hall 203.

Committee membership: representatives from the faculty, Student Affairs, the Center for Academic Excellence, Multicultural Affairs, and an Associate Provost.

For questions on the appeals processes, please contact Susan "DeeDee" Moore at 785-4105 or susanm@truman.edu.

The current academic policies are listed below.

Add/Drop | Credit/No Credit | Grade Appeals | Medical Withdrawals | Suspension Appeals

ADD/DROP (Change of Schedule) Policy:
Changes in class schedule should be made during the specified "Drop and Add Period" (prior to or during the first five days of the semester or the equivalent period of time for summer and special sessions).  Students dropping individual courses on or after the first day of the semester are not entitled to a reduction in enrollment fees for that semester.  Students should consult with their academic advisor before making any changes to their course schedules.

A $50 per day processing fee will be charged for changes initiated by the student after the first five days of the semester (or the equivalent period of time for summer and special sessions).  Failure to follow the proper procedure will result in assignment of a grade of "F."

If a course is dropped before the end of the fourth week, it will not appear in the student's transcript.  If a course is dropped between the end of the fourth week and the normal drop deadline (tenth week) a grade of "W" will be placed on the student's transcript.  Individual full semester courses cannot be dropped after the tenth week of the semester.  See the Schedule of Classes for exact dates.  Any drops after the schedule change deadline must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee.  If this approval is granted, the instructor of record for the course will be asked to assign a "W" or a "WF" grade.  A grade of "WF" will be calculated in the grade point average.

Courses other than a full academic semester of fifteen weeks (e.g., block or summer courses) will have a "W" assigned if dropped after first quarter of the courses, and a "W" or "WF" assigned if dropped after the first two thirds of the courses.

reprinted from the Academic Policies page of the 2009-2011 online General/Graduate Catalog

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CREDIT/NO CREDIT Policy:
To provide students the opportunity to broaden their experiences, Truman allows students to enroll in a limited number of classes on a Credit/No Credit basis.  Forms are available in the Registrar's Office to document selection of this grading option.  The following Credit/No Credit guidelines apply.

1. A student may complete "free elective" classes using the Credit/No Credit grading option.  "Free electives" are those courses that are not used to fulfill requirements in the Liberal Studies Program, in the student's major program (including required support), in the additional foreign language component for the BA, in the additional science component for the BS, minor requirements, departmental honors requirements, or general honors requirements.
2. A student may complete a course that is being used to fulfill the writing-enhanced requirement, the Missouri Statute requirement, the 40 required hours of 300+ level undergraduate coursework, and/or the cumulative hour requirement using the Credit/No Credit grading option if that course is not being used to fulfill any other requirements in the student's program.
3. Credit standing is achieved by a "D" grade or above, while failing a course results in No Credit.
4. A student may take up to five (5) hours per semester as Credit/No Credit. Upper classmen may request a waiver to take two courses (up to 8 hours) in a single semester. The request must be submitted in writing to the Provost's Office, MC 203.
5. Up to 12 credit hours of Credit/No Credit may be counted toward graduation.
6. A student may change to or from a Credit/No Credit grading system by the last day allowed to drop the course.
7. With a Credit standing, the student will receive credit for the course, and recognition of passing the course will appear on the student's transcript.
8. With a No Credit standing, the student will not receive credit for the course though the student's transcript will show that the student attempted, yet no credit was received, for the course.
9. Courses taken under the Credit/No Credit grading option will not affect the student's grade point average.
10. During the semester, only the student, the student's advisor, and the Registrar's Office will know that the student is taking the course on a Credit/No Credit basis.

All students should consult their advisors prior to deciding to take any course Credit/No Credit.

Pre-Education students are advised that professional education courses cannot be taken Credit/No Credit.  Students planning to pursue the MAE degree should contact the Certification Office in the Division of Education for specific information.

Courses taken Credit/No Credit do not fulfill requirements for load considerations by the Veterans Administration if the final grade assigned is No Credit.

reprinted from the Academic Policies page of the 2009-2011 online General/Graduate Catalog

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GRADE APPEALS Policy:
In a case where a student has a grievance regarding a final course grade, the student should attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor.  If the grade dispute is not resolved at this level, the student may initiate an appeal at the department level no later than ten working days after the first day of class of the following semester, spring or fall.  If the grievance is not resolved at the departmental level, an appeal may be submitted to the dean of the school/college of the instructor no later than ten working days after receiving written notification of the department's decision.  After receiving written notification from the school/college, the student may appeal to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs within ten working days.  Final authority in regard to grades rests with the Provost.

The instructor's grade shall not be changed unless there is clear and convincing evidence that the grade was determined in an unreasonable manner or in violation of some other established ethical or legal rule.  Instructors are entitled to the widest range of discretion in making judgments about academic performance.  Each department, school and college office has available for student review a copy of their grade appeal policy.

reprinted from the Academic Policies page of the 2009-2011 online General/Graduate Catalog

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MEDICAL WITHDRAWAL Policy:
Students wishing to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline for medical reasons must present a written appeal to the Academic Standards Committee c/o Associate Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs (McClain Hall 203).  The appeal must be accompanied by the following medical documentation:

1. diagnosis of condition being treated
2. date of onset
3. date(s) of medical consultations
4. why or how this condition affected the student's academic performance

Enrollment fee refunds will be made in accordance with guidelines stated in the General Catalog under Return of Enrollment Fees, and in the schedule of classes. Students who are pre-enrolled for an upcoming semester must officially withdraw from the University prior to the first day of classes to avoid any University fees.

A student who withdraws from all courses during a semester may re-enroll for the following semester without submitting an application for readmission to the Admission Office.

reprinted from the Academic Policies page of the 2009-2011 online General/Graduate Catalog

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SUSPENSION APPEALS Policy:
A student who believes that he or she had special or extenuating circumstances contributing to his or her poor academic performance has the right to appeal a suspension decision.  The appeal must be in written form accompanied by supporting documentation, and be sent to the Academic Standards Committee, c/o the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Reinstatement Process
After one semester of suspension, a student may petition for reinstatement.  The application must be in written form accompanied by supporting documentation, and be sent to the Academic Standards Committee, c/o the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs, at least 14 days before the opening of the semester in which the student wishes to enroll.  In evaluating a petition for approval, the Committee will consider evidence of academic achievement (transferable credit from another college during the suspension period), any activities or plans that may lead to improved scholastic performance, the student's grade point average, reasons for poor academic performance, and extenuating circumstances.

If a petition is successful, reinstatement will include a contract which may specify, for instance, a minimum semester GPA that the student must achieve.  A student who again becomes eligible for suspension after having been reinstated at Truman State University will be permanently dismissed from the University.

reprinted from the Academic Policies page of the 2009-2011 online General/Graduate Catalog

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