Quick Reference
Policies and Procedures
Suspended
students may re-enter Appalachian under one of two forgiveness policies.
Students who return to Appalachian in this manner will retain credit for all
course work in which a passing grade was earned, but the GPA will be removed,
thus permitting the student to begin a new grade point average.
1. Three Year Policy
If
the student has not attended Appalachian for a minimum of 3 calendar years
(including summer school), the student will be re-admitted if:
Course work
taken at another institution during this period has a GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 point
scale,
OR
The student has taken no course
work at another institution during the 3 years.
2. One Year/30 Hour Policy
A
student has not attended Appalachian for a minimum of one calendar year
(including summer school) will be permitted to return if:
She/he has
earned a minimum of 30 semester hours of transferable credit at other
collegiate institutions since her/his last attendance at Appalachian,
AND
The grades at
the other institution(s), when combined with the previous grades earned at
Appalachian, average a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
A
student may be readmitted only once in his/her academic career under a
forgiveness policy. These policies do not override specific grade requirements of
individual colleges and/or departments. Students who wish to reenter under a
forgiveness policy must apply through the Office of Admissions and must
complete the 30 hour residency requirement following readmission.
1.
Failure
to earn the minimum grade-point average will place the student on academic
probation.
2. 
An undergraduate student, whether admitted
as a freshman or a transfer, will be allowed to enroll for a maximum of two
academic terms of probation (excluding summer) during his/her academic career
at Appalachian.
3. If a student uses the two terms of
academic probation mentioned above, but again fails to earn a cumulative grade
point average sufficient to place her or him in good academic standing, that
student will be suspended.
Suspended
students are permitted to attend the summer terms at Appalachian in order to
attempt to improve the GPA and earn the necessary GPA to be in good standing.
To continue at Appalachian in good
standing, a student must earn, at a minimum, the following cumulative grade
point average (GPA) at the end of the semester indicated:
Semester one 1.50
Semester two 1.75
Semester three 1.90
Semester four 2.00
The following policies
governing late add requests have been adopted by the
- With
approval of the instructor and the chairperson, classes may be added in
special cases after the end of the formal registration period.
- The
instructor will decide the academic validity of the request for the late
add.
- The
chairperson will consider the recommendation of the instructor and any
departmental concerns.
- If the
chairperson approves a late add request after scheduled classes have met
for two weeks, the Chair must comment to the Dean’s Office in writing (or
by email) the reasons for considering the request due to exceptional
circumstances.
- Students
must present the form to the Dean’s Office within two weekdays after
obtaining the signature of the Chairperson.
Guidelines:
The
following situations do not
constitute valid reasons for exceptions
1.
A
change in class schedule to conform with work schedule
2. Dropping another course
3. Routine schedule adjustments unless they
are beyond the student’s control
During the drop/add period
(the first five days of the term) students may change a course from credit to
audit. The student must obtain the necessary form from the Registrar’s Office.
Permission of the instructor is required for a student to change from credit to
audit. Auditors must be in regular attendance and pay regular fees, but they
will NOT receive credit.
A
new catalog (General Bulletin) is
issued biennially. While course offerings are fairly continuous from year to
year, the faculty reserves the right to make changes in curricula, degree
requirements, and academic policies. The information in any given catalog is,
therefore, usually valid only for the two-year period of its issue, and is
superseded by subsequent issues. Any changes in degree requirements do not,
however, affect a student already enrolled in a degree program.
In
those rare cases where specific required courses are no longer available, the
Department chairs will make recommendations to the Dean’s Office identifying
suitable substitutes which do not increase overall credit requirements. All
students may elect to graduate in accordance with the degree requirements as
recorded in the catalog that is current at the time of their first registration
or
any subsequent edition (provided the student is enrolled during a period in
which the catalog is in force) except that any catalog chosen must not be more
than six years old.
Students
electing to graduate under a new catalog must meet all requirements of the
catalog under which they wish to graduate subject to the exception noted above.
In order to change the catalog under which they intend to graduate, students
must notify the Office of the Dean of the College.
A
student entering Appalachian during a summer term is eligible to graduate under
the catalog in effect during the previous Fall and Spring semesters. Once the
student designates the catalog under which she/he plans to graduate, the
student must meet all requirements - core, major(s), and minor(s) - as stated
in that catalog.
A
student who re-enters Appalachian under a Forgiveness Policy must graduate
under the catalog in force at the time the student re-entered (or a later
catalog, if desired).
Changes
in academic policies become effective for all students on the date of
implementation.
CHANCELLOR’S LIST AND DEAN’S LIST
There
are two levels to honor students who have exceptional academic achievement in
the semester.
The
Chancellor’s List was created to
provide higher recognition to those full-time students who receive a grade
point average of 3.85 or higher in any semester. Only those courses earning
credit toward graduation will be used in determining eligibility for honors.
The Dean’s List recognizes
undergraduate students with 12-14 hours of graded course work and a GPA of 3.45
or better, or 15 hours or more and a GPA of 3.25 or better.
(See
Adding a Course or Dropping a Course for rule governing late adds and late
drops.)
1.
Students
may freely drop and add courses during the first five days of the fall and
spring terms.
2. From the sixth day until the end of the
ninth week, students may drop no more
than four courses in their entire academic career at Appalachian.
3. If a student who has accumulated four
career drops attempts to drop another course, the drop will be denied, and the
student will remain enrolled in the class.
4. Official drop dates for all terms,
including summer, are published in the Schedule
of Classes.
5. Exceptions to this policy require the
approval of the instructor, the chairperson, and the Dean.
This
policy affects all students regardless of date of entrance to Appalachian.
Courses dropped prior to fall 1995 will not be included in the total of four.
Each
year the Dean’s Office confers with the respective academic departments in the
college about updating the catalog and checksheets that are used by students,
faculty advisors, and staff advisors. We
view the checksheet as a working “contract” between the student and the
departments and expect the student to meet all requirements listed on it.
It is understood that the department chairperson (or his/her designee) does
have the authority to recommend substitutions or waivers in writing or via email.
The Dean’s Office will make note of shortages when completing senior checks and
graduation check-out. The Dean’s Office will not approve a student for
graduation if requirements are not met. ALL
SUBSTITUTIONS, WAIVERS, SPECIAL CONTRACTS, ETC., MADE BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT
AND THE STUDENT MUST BE DOCUMENTED BY MEMORANDUM TO THE DEAN’S OFFICE SIGNED BY
THE CHAIRPERSON OR BY EMAIL FROM THE CHAIRPERSON.
The
College of Arts & Sciences expects the academic departments to prepare
checksheets carefully to avoid errors and irregularities. Of equal importance,
we must be careful in the preparation of catalog copy so as to ensure accuracy
of the content.
We
recommend that departmental advisors be familiar not only with the checksheet
that applies to their immediate area of advising, but also with the basic
structure of all of their respective departmental majors. Students may shift
from one specific major to another within departments; therefore, advisors
should be somewhat familiar with all checksheets in their departments.
Advisors
should be completely familiar with the core curriculum and special designator
requirements as well. Departmental advisors should never assume that students
get this information elsewhere. While most first-year students and sophomores do
seek advising assistance relating to core curriculum requirements from their
General Studies advisors, many do not and rely on the departmental advisor for
this help.
Students
are classified on the basis of hours earned. Classification is primarily for
recordkeeping purposes. It determines when a student registers for classes and
campus housing; it does not affect continuance at Appalachian.
Freshman 0-29 semester hours
Sophomore 30-59 semester hours
Junior 60-89
semester hours
Senior 90 or more semester hours
Students should see the
appropriate department chair if they are seeking approval or substitutions for
:
- transferred courses
- courses in the Program of Study,
Contract, or Individually Designed Programs
- courses required for the major or
minor
If approval is granted, the
department chair will send a memo (via campus mail or by email) to the Arts
& Sciences Academic Services Office, Room 100
Degree-seeking
students at Appalachian may not enroll at another collegiate institution unless
prior approval has been obtained from the dean of the student’s college at
Appalachian. Students who wish to attend another collegiate institution should
contact the Appalachian Registrar’s Office to, 1) secure the proper application
forms, and 2) have the intended course work evaluated.
The Registrar’s
Office will send the application to the Dean’s Office. Failure to obtain prior
approval may result in the course work being deemed unacceptable for transfer
to Appalachian. The Dean’s Office will notify the other school whether the
student is in good standing at Appalachian. Students who are not in good
standing will not be given permission to take courses at another school.
Courses may not be repeated at another school for purposes of excluding a grade
earned at Appalachian from the GPA. (Refer to the General Bulletin for policies governing the transfer of course
work.)
Not all courses allow credit by
examination (3530 Selected Topics, 3500 Independent Studies, and 4900
Internships, to name a few), but many do. Students who wish to challenge a
regularly listed course should consult with the appropriate department
chairperson. If arrangements can be made, a fee of $50 must be paid to the
Cashier’s Office, and the original receipt must be submitted to the Department
Chair with the Credit by Examination form – found at: http://www.cas.appstate.edu/dean/forms/CrbyExam1.pdf
Credit
by examination may not be used to repeat a course.
If
the examination is passed, credit without grade will be noted on the student’s
transcript. If the examination is not passed, no notation is made on the
transcript. Anyone seeking to pursue credit by examination must be a candidate
for a degree at Appalachian or must be working for credit for the renewal of a
teaching certificate.
CREDIT FOR PRIOR LIFE EXPERIENCE
In
exceptional cases, credit can be awarded for prior non-college-based learning,
if the credit sought is related to the student’s degree program (i.e. core
curriculum, major, or certification requirements). Assessment of prior learning
can commence only after a student has been admitted to the University. The
student will first meet with a designated counselor who will help in defining
the areas or disciplines in which appropriate creditable learning may have occurred.
Actual
assessment is done by a faculty member in the appropriate area, for which a
$100 fee will be charged. Credit for prior life experience does not count as
part of the residence requirement. Students interested should see the Adult
Student Advisor in the Learning Assistance Program for guidelines.
DROPPING COURSES (after the published drop
date)
Requests
for late drops must be signed by the instructor and submitted to the
departmental chairperson. The chairperson will consult with the instructor if
necessary. The signature of the chairperson will be considered as a
recommendation of support. The signed form must be submitted by the student to
the Dean’s Office, 100 IG Greer, within two working days after the Chair signs
the form. All requests for drops following the close of the “free drop” period
are considered within these three frames of reference:
1.
The
request to drop is not considered relative to performance.
2. Extenuating circumstances are judged based
on the extent to which they either prevent or make it extremely difficult for a
student to complete the course. Proper documentation is required.
3. Extenuating circumstances are judged based
on the extent to which the student had control of their development.
The
GPA is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the
quality hours attempted. Quality points per semester hour are awarded as
follows:
A 4.0 B 3.0 C 2.0 D 1.0
A- 3.7 B- 2.7 C- 1.7 D- 0.7
B+ 3.3 C+ 2.3 D+ 1.3 F 0.0
Multiply
the quality hours by the quality points to determine the points awarded for a
specific course. For example, a grade of B in a 3 hour course would earn 9
quality points.
To change a student’s grade, the faculty
member must complete and submit a Grade Change Form. This form can be found in
the academic department office. It must be signed by the instructor and the
Dean before being sent to the Registrar’s Office. Students are not allowed to
handle this form; all forms must be submitted in person by the faculty member or
sent via campus mail.
There
are three graduation dates (May, August, December) each year, and there are two
graduation ceremonies (May and December). Students who complete their
requirements in the summer are permitted to participate in the May ceremony
preceding the summer term, or they can wait to participate in the December
ceremony.
GRADUATION CHECK (SENIOR
CHECK)
The
Dean’s Office provides an academic check for students when they are within two
semesters of graduation (at least 85 earned hours). This careful review is a
service provided voluntarily by the Dean’s Office. Approved contracts and
programs of study, if required, should be sent to the Dean’s Office, Room 100,
prior to the graduation check. Flyers will be mailed to the students’ ASU boxes
when they are eligible for senior check. Students are asked to come to the office
to set up an appointment to review their check with a student records
coordinator. Advisors should remind students of the academic check and encourage
them to make an appointment. Students should see the following records
coordinator:
Students whose last names begin
with A-K, see Tina Beshears.
Students whose last names begin
with L-Z, see Jenn Hammock.
Students
must formally apply for graduation, and the deadline for applying is published
each semester in the Schedule of Classes. Graduation packets are mailed each
semester to seniors based on their expected date of graduation. These packets
for on campus students are mailed to their ASU Post Office Box. Students who
are off campus doing internships or student teaching will receive the packet at
their permanent address. No diploma will be ordered without an application, and
no diploma will be released if the student has an unpaid account balance. There
is a $15 diploma fee. Diplomas are mailed to the student’s permanent address
approximately two weeks following the graduation ceremony.
A
letter will be sent to all students who have applied for graduation to inform
them of their status in meeting graduation requirements. If there is a shortage
in meeting the requirements, the students will be told what requirements have
not been met. Students who have graduation shortages should contact the Dean’s
Office immediately to discuss the necessary steps that need to be taken to
complete the graduation requirements.
At
the beginning of each term the Registrar’s Office notifies eligible students of
the required procedure to apply for graduation. Failure to apply means failure
to graduate. The deadline for applying is listed in the Schedule of Classes each term. Exceptions are made only by the
Registrar. Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for
graduation:
-
Minimum of 122 – 128 semester hours
(see student’s folder for precise number) - At least 60 semester hours of credit
must be from a senior (4-year) institution.
- The last 30 semester hours of credit
must be from Appalachian State University.
- At least 18 semester hours of credit
in the major must be from Appalachian State University.
- At least 9 semester hours of credit
in the minor must be from Appalachian State University.
- All
major and minor specific requirements met
- All Core
Curriculum requirements met
- No more than 6 hours of PE Activity
can count toward graduation requirements
- The 6 hours in social sciences must
be from two different areas
- The humanities requirements must
include
- One literature class
- One fine arts class
- Courses from at least three
different areas
- All
Special Designators met
- All “I” (Incomplete) grades removed
from transcript
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (2.5
for Education majors)
- A major GPA of at least 2.0
- A minor
GPA of at least 2.0
- All
accounts must be cleared (library, housing, financial aid, etc.)
To
be eligible for graduation with honors, an undergraduate student must complete,
in residence at Appalachian, a minimum of either four full-time semesters or 58
semester hours.
Honor Required GPA
Cum laude 3.45
Magna cum laude
3.65
Summa cum laude
3.85
Only
those courses earning credit toward graduation are used in determining
eligibility for honors.
A
grade report of “I” (Incomplete) should be recorded only when sickness or some
other unavoidable cause has prevented the student from completing course work.
It should not be given merely because assignments were not completed during a
semester. The student is responsible for checking with the instructor with
regard to deadlines for the removal of the “I”. A student who receives an “I”
in a course has a maximum time of one
semester to complete the requirements. The instructor sets the timetable
for completion of the requirements, which may be less than one semester. After
one semester or the agreed upon time set by the instructor, the “I” will be
changed to an “F” if the course work has not been completed. Reminder: A student cannot graduate
with an “I” on his/her record.
A STUDENT SHOULD NOT
REENROLL FOR A COURSE IN WHICH HE/SHE EARNED AN INCOMPLETE!
INDEPENDENT STUDY (Courses
numbered 2500, 3500, 5500, 6500)
Independent
Study is a special course, not listed in the regular curriculum, in which the
student designs a project and then pursues it under the guidance of an
instructional staff member who serves as a consultant for the student during
the course of the study. Independent Study must be approved by the faculty
member, who will direct the student’s work, the chairperson, and Dean. Anyone
wishing to pursue an Independent Study must be a candidate for a degree at
Appalachian or working toward teacher certification.
GUIDELINES
1.
No
more than 6 semester hours of an Independent Study may be used in an
undergraduate degree program and no more than 3 semester hours in a minor.
2. An undergraduate student may take no more
than 4 semester hours of Independent Study in any one term.
3. A faculty member should direct no more
than two different Independent Studies in any one term.
These
guidelines define policy in ordinary circumstances, although exceptions may be
made by the department chairperson because of hardship or for some other
extraordinary cause.
APPROVAL PROCEDURES
1.
The
student will meet with the faculty who serves as the director of an Independent
Study.
2. If the faculty member agrees to supervise
the Independent Study project, the application form will be completed and a
written prospectus drawn up. Both will be presented to the department
chairperson.
3. If the department chairperson approves,
she/he will determine, in consultation with the faculty member, the number of
semester hours credit for the project and sign the Special Course Form
authorizing registration for the Independent Study. This proposal must then be
approved by the Dean of the
4. The department chairperson will maintain a
copy of the application form and prospectus in the departmental files. A copy
of both will be supplied to the Dean of the College of the Arts and Sciences.
Individual
Study is a special provision whereby the student makes a contractual agreement
with the instructor of a regularly listed course to complete the course on a
different time schedule or without attending class regularly. Anyone wishing to
pursue an individual study must be a candidate for a degree at Appalachian or
working toward teacher certification.
INDIVIDUALLY-DESIGNED PROGRAMS, CONTRACTS, AND CONCENTRATIONS
IN THE MAJOR AND MINOR
The
Dean’s Office should be notified in writing concerning majors and minors which
are to be designed in conference with the department chairperson. A contract is
to be established for each individual entering into a designed program. The
contract is to be signed by the student, the advisor, and the chairperson, and
sent to the Undergraduate Academic Services Office in 100 IG Greer, as soon as
it is completed – at least two semesters prior to graduation.
The
planning of individual majors/minors can be assigned to advisors in the
department; however, the chairperson is ultimately responsible for the academic
integrity of these programs and must, therefore, approve each program with
his/her signature. The Dean’s Office does not approve of situations in which
the student simply takes what he/she wants to take under the guise of a
designed program. The Dean’s Office will refuse graduation clearance if the advisor
has not provided an approved plan of study. Advisors need to alert the student
to the importance of conferring promptly with the department chairperson
regarding specialized academic programs.
Courses
numbered below 1000 earn “institutional credit” only. These courses do not
count for graduation but are computed in the student’s GPA. The hours count
toward full-time student eligibility but do not count toward hours required for
graduation or for honors.
Instructional
Assistance is a supervised experience in the instructional process on the
university level through direct participation in a classroom situation. The
student must be of junior or senior standing. This can be repeated for a total
credit of 3 semester hours. Only one Instructional Assistantship per semester
is permitted.
If
a student has registered and decides not to return to Appalachian for the
following term, he/she should notify the Registrar’s Office.
INTERNSHIP (2900, 3900, 4900, 5900, 6900)
Anyone
seeking to pursue an internship must be either a candidate for a degree at
Appalachian or working for teacher certification. All internships are to be
graded on S/U basis only.
LATE ADDS AND LATE DROPS - See Adding a Course or Dropping a Course.
Advisors are asked and expected to
maintain office hours that provide the student with reasonable opportunities to
schedule necessary advising sessions. (The Faculty Handbook stipulates that 10
office hours per week during fall and spring semesters [5 hours per week during
summer semesters] shall be required of all faculty members – Faculty Handbook, section 5.4)
A
full-time student takes between 12 and 18 hours each semester. Hours in excess
of 18 are considered an overload. A student should come to the Dean’s Office,
Room 100 IG Greer, to request permission for an overload. Permission will be
granted within the following parameters, although exceptional circumstances are
also considered.
To Take: Cumulative
GPA must be:
19 hours 2.75
20 hours 3.00
21 hours 3.75
Overloads
exceeding 20 hours are not encouraged!
Students
with sophomore standing or above and at least a 1.75 GPA may elect to take one
course per semester (up to 6) under the pass/fail grading system. The following
rules apply to the pass/fail option:
1.
A
passing grade does not figure into the GPA, but a failing grade does.
2. Only “free electives” may be taken
pass/fail.
3. No course in the major or minor, Core
Curriculum, or foreign language requirements may be taken pass/fail.
4. A student who elects the pass/fail option
may remove the pass/fail option during the first nine weeks of the term.
5. If a course taken under the A-F grading
system is repeated, it must be repeated under the A-F system.
No more than six (6)
semester hours of PE activity courses may be counted towards meeting graduation
requirements.
A
student may repeat up to five courses and have the initial grade removed from
the grade point average. The student must submit a Repeat Form to the
Registrar’s Office prior to the end of the final exam period during the
semester in which he/she is repeating the course. The rule applies only to
those courses repeated at Appalachian. All courses will appear on the
transcript.
Students
must complete the final 30 semester hours at Appalachian, including 18 hours in
their major and 9 hours in their minor. In addition, students must make at
least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and major
GPA.
If
a student has been awarded a bachelor’s degree, a second separate (or
subsequent) bachelor’s degree can be earned by completing, at a minimum, an
additional 30 semester hours in residence, and all catalog requirements
stipulated for the second (or subsequent) degree. A minor is not required when
pursuing a second degree. Neither credit by examination nor transfer credit can
be used to satisfy the residence requirements indicated above.
Prior
to graduation, a student may pursue two majors under the same degree by
completing all requirements of both majors (no minimum number of hours are
required). A minor is not required when a student is seeking a second major.
After
graduation, a student may pursue a second major under the same degree by
completing all requirements of both majors (no minimum number of hours are
required). The student would be readmitted as a “Special Student” through the
Registrar’s Office. Once all requirements are completed, she/he is to notify
the Dean’s Office under which the first major was earned. The Dean’s Office
will notify the Registrar’s Office in writing.
All
baccalaureate degrees granted by Appalachian require the completion of a
minimum of 60 semester hours at a senior (four-year) college or university.
(Note: credit awarded for military service or “Prior Life Experience” does not
count as part of the required 60 hours.)
SEQUENCE OF COURSES/PREREQUISITES
Advisors
must familiarize themselves with sequence of courses and prerequisites
pertaining to their major area. The advisor, and especially the chairperson,
have a direct responsibility to provide clear and accurate advising in regard
to these concerns. Since these requirements are set by the department, it is
the department’s responsibility to ensure student compliance.
Students
registered at Appalachian may not be enrolled simultaneously at another
institution except with permission from the Dean. Transfer work may be accepted
from other accredited institutions. Before registering for such courses,
students must complete a “Request to Take Course Work at Another School” form
from the Registrar’s Office. The Registrar’s Office will contact the Dean’s
Office to request approval.
From
time to time (in particular with transfer students) it may be necessary for
substitutions to be made in order to enable the student to meet stated
requirements. The Dean’s Office requires a written note or email message from
the department chairperson for each substitution made on a student’s required
checksheet or contract. Students who fail to meet all requirements will not be
approved for graduation by the Dean’s Office. Advisors should initiate any/all
requests for substitutions through the department chairperson. These requests
should be initiated early in the student’s program to prevent a delay in the
student’s graduation.
Undergraduates who initially enrolled at
Appalachian in the Fall of 1994 and at any time thereafter must comply with
North Carolina Senate Bill 27 (1993 Session Law). This legislation requires a
tuition surcharge of 25% on all credit hours in excess of 140 when taken as
part of a student’s first baccalaureate degree program. Included in this
calculation of credit hours will be all course work attempted at Appalachian
plus all course work transferred to Appalachian from other collegiate
institutions. Excluded from the calculations will be credit by examination,
advanced placement credit, credit earned through an extension program, or
credit earned during the summer at any member university of the
Validation
of credits earned more than 10 years prior to the date of graduation shall be
required if and when they are submitted to fulfill baccalaureate degree
requirements.
Students
inquiring about VA benefits and/or credit for military service should be
referred to the Student Financial Aid Office.
To withdraw from
the term, students should contact the Registrar’s Office on the first floor of
John E. Thomas Hall. A student may withdraw from the fall or spring semester
without academic penalty during the first nine weeks of classes. A grade of “W”
will be assigned to each course.
A student who
officially withdraws after the 9th week will receive a grade of “WF”
(Withdrawal/Failing) or “W/U” (Withdrawal/Unsatisfactory) on each course for
which the student is enrolled at the time of the withdrawal. There are two
exceptions to this policy:
- A student may petition for withdrawal
without academic penalty for compelling medical or psychological reasons.
Students seeking a medical withdrawal must contact Student Health
Services; those seeking a withdrawal for psychological reasons must
contact the Counseling and
- A student can petition for withdrawal
without academic penalty for extenuating circumstances (i.e., for other
than medical or psychological reasons). The student must formally notify
the Registrar’s Office. The reasons for withdrawal should be clearly
stated, and supporting documentation is required. Consideration will be
given to the reasons for withdrawal and grades may be assigned on a
course-by-course basis, as deemed appropriate.
The Registrar’s
Office is allowed to administratively withdraw a student who is auditing a
class but has not been in “regular attendance.” Documentation for the
withdrawal will consist of an appropriate notation by the instructor of record
on the final grade roll.