Academic Policies & Information

Academic Policies & Information

Academic Honesty Policy

As members of a scholarly community dedicated to healthy intellectual development, students and faculty at Edgewood College are expected to share the responsibility for maintain high standards of honesty and integrity in their academic work.

Each student should reflect this sense of responsibility toward the community by submitting work that is a product of his or her own effort in a particular course, unless the instructor has directed otherwise. In order to clarify and emphasize its standards for academic honesty, the College has adopted this policy.

The following are examples of violations of standards for academic honesty and are subject to academic sanctions:

• Cheating on exams, submitting collaborative work as one’s own, falsifying records, achievements, field or laboratory data or other coursework.
• Stealing examination or course materials.
• Submitting work previously submitted in another course, unless specifically approved by the present instructor.
• Falsifying documents or signing as an instructor or administrator’s name to a document or form.
• Plagiarism
• Or aiding another student in any of the above actions.

Plagiarism, which is defined as the deliberate use of another’s ideas or words as if they were one’s own, can take many forms, from the egregious to the mild. Instances most commonly seen in written work by students in order from most to least serious are:

• Borrowing, buying or stealing a paper from elsewhere, lending or selling a paper for another’s use as his or her own; using printed material written by someone else as one’s own.
• Getting so much help on a paper from someone else, including a college tutor, that the student writer can no longer legitimately claim authorship.
• Intentionally using source material improperly, e.g., neither citing nor using quotation marks on borrowed material; supplying an in-text citation but failing to enclose quoted material within quotation marks; leaving paraphrased material too close to the original version; failing to append a works-cited page when sources have been used.
• Unintentional misuse of borrowed through ignorance or carelessness.

Sanctions recommended for academic dishonesty are an “F” on the assignment and/or an “F” in the course. Violations are reported to the Academic Dean’s Office.  The Academic Dean’s Office may work with the Academic Honesty Committee to revise sanctions when appropriate.

United States Copyright Law

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code to the creators of “original works of authorship.”) This includes literary, dramatic, musical, graphic, sculptural, audiovisual, and software creations. Therefore, the unauthorized copying of copyrighted materials is in violation of U.S. copyright law and is not permitted at Edgewood College.

Administrative Withdrawal

Edgewood College reserves the right to withdraw any student from classes at any time during the semester or term for reasons such as (but not limited to):

• Disruptive behavior in the classroom that interferes with the learning of other students.
• Lack of course prerequisite(s).
• Lack of instructor or departmental approval for a course.
• Academic dishonesty.

Once registered, the student retains responsibility and financial liability for all registered courses. Tuition refunds will not be granted when students are withdrawn by the institution for cause.

Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Student Degree Requirements

An undergraduate degree is the result of the completion of:

1. Edgewood College’s General Education curriculum;
2. At least one major;
3. At least 120 total credits (some major programs may require more);
4. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.00;
5. A minimum of 32 credits earned at Edgewood College to fulfill the undergraduate general residency requirement, including work in the major. Each academic department determines the number of Edgewood College credits that must be earned in the major or minor.

Graduate Student Degree Requirements

To graduate, a graduate student must have earned the number of credits appropriate to the degree sought. Only credits in courses numbered 600 or above count toward meeting this requirement. The student must have maintained a 3.00 GPA on those credits and successfully met all school or departmental and general degree requirements. No degree will be officially conferred by Edgewood College until all defined degree requirements for the student’s academic program(s) have been met. Grades of a C or above will fulfill program requirements; grades of CD or below cannot be used to fulfill program requirements.

Departmental Requirements

Students must satisfy all coursework as required by the school or department offering the graduate program in which the student is registered.

Time Limits for Degree Completion (Seven-Year Rule)

Only those courses completed within the seven years prior to the granting of a degree will be counted toward meeting the degree requirements.

Residency Requirements for Degree Programs

A minimum to the nearest multiple of three (3) of 2/3 of the coursework credits presented for a graduate degree must be taken at Edgewood College.

Graduate Student Dual Degree Options

A dual degree program is an approved combination of two separate degree programs at the graduate level. Approved graduate dual degree programs are MBA/MS in Accountancy and MBA/MS in Nursing. A dual degree program allows for a maximum overlap of 15 credits (or 18 credits if the total number of credits for both programs equals or exceeds 75). The maximum overlap includes any courses that are waived for both programs. Coursework toward the dual degree may be pursued simultaneously, however, only one degree program will be listed on the student record as current. A student completing the requirements of a dual degree program will be conferred with a separate degree for each of the degrees included in the dual degree program.

If a student wishes to pursue a second degree program that has not been approved as a dual degree, they must follow the Multiple Majors and Multiple Degrees Policy, and must have approval by the Departments and Schools in which they are seeking the degrees.

Degree Requirements for All Students

Once all defined degree requirements for a student’s academic program(s) have been met, the degree will be conferred, even if the student wishes to remain an active student.  If a student wishes to continue taking coursework at Edgewood College after their degree has been conferred, she or he could need to reapply. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for details.

No degree will be officially conferred by Edgewood College until all defined degree requirements for the student’s academic program(s) have been met. All transcripts for outstanding transfer coursework, including study abroad, need to be received by the Registrar’s Office prior to the conferral date (January 10, May 25 or August 25).

If degree requirements are not met and a student leaves the College, they will have five years from that term to reenter under their original catalog. Degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of a student’s last date of attendance at Edgewood College. If a student reenters after an absence of 5 or more years, he or she will be responsible for completing all requirements in the catalog in effect at the time of reentry. A student may not graduate with a grade of “Incomplete” on his or her academic record.

All students expecting to graduate must complete an Intent to Graduate form with the Registrar’s Office at the beginning of their final term. 

Intent to Graduate Form

This form is required for four important reasons:

1. To inform the Registrar’s Office that the student is planning to graduate at the end of the term.
2. To inform the Registrar’s Office whether the student intends to participate in the commencement ceremony.
3. To allow the student an opportunity to indicate how he or she wants their name spelled on their diploma.
4. To allow the student the opportunity to provide a mailing address for his or her diploma that may be different from any other address that may be on file for the student (with graduation, many students move to new addresses).

If all graduation requirements have been met, but the Intent to Graduate Form has not been submitted to the Registrar’s Office, the student’s degree will be conferred, but no diploma will be released until the form is received.

Waiving Degree Requirements

The requirements for the degree are guidelines that point out standard means toward a liberal arts education. The Associate Academic Dean for Teaching and Learning in consultation with the curricular committees has authority to waive any general degree requirement for an individual student when he/she and the student agree that such a waiver achieved the objectives of a liberal arts education at Edgewood College, as well as the requirement in question. Waivers for General Education requirements are extremely rare and requests should be made in writing. Chairpersons or Deans of major and minor Schools and departments may waive any part of the requirements for a major or minor. Waivers and/or substitutions must be documents on a Special Arrangement form.

Multiple Majors and Multiple Degrees

Undergraduate students who meet graduation requirements for two or more majors will receive multiple majors with one undergraduate degree (BS or BA or BBA). Students majoring in disciplines that qualify for different degrees will receive only one degree through all the majors and minors that are completed; at the time of filing an Application for Degree Form, students will select their degree for graduation. Post-baccalaureate students entering with degrees from regionally-accredited institutions or who have previously received a degree from Edgewood College will be eligible to earn a second degree. In order to earn a second degree, a student must successfully complete their major requirements and the residency requirement, which includes 32 additional credits of coursework at Edgewood College beyond that used to achieve the initial degree.

Graduate students who meet the graduate requirements for two or more concentrations within the same degree program will receive one graduate degree (MA, MS, MBA, MSN, Ed.D, DNP, etc.). Students who have already earned a graduate degree from Edgewood College will be eligible to earn a second degree. In order to earn a second degree, a student must successfully complete the residency requirement of the second degree program beyond that used to achieve the initial graduate degree, including the capstone portion of the program. The student must also successfully complete all degree requirements of the second degree program.

Undergraduate Student Level Designations

Classification of Students (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)

The classification of Undergraduate, Post-Baccalaureate, and College Completion students is determined by the number of credits earned by the student. Those who meet the entrance requirements are classified as freshmen. Students with 28-59 hours of earned credit are classified as sophomores; those with 60-89 hours of earned credit are classified as juniors; and those with over 90 hours of earned credit are classified as seniors. A student who does not wish to register as a candidate for a degree at Edgewood College or does not meet the admissions requirements is classified as a Limited or Non-Degree student.

Undergraduate Prerequisites for Registering

Undergraduate students whose placement scores indicate a deficiency that could jeopardize future success are required to take appropriate skill courses. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who have not placed into college-level English coursework must take their pre-college English course during their first semester, assuming the course is open.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students who have not placed into college-level math coursework are required to take their pre-college math during their first year at Edgewood College.

Credit toward graduation is not given for prerequisite courses; however, credits do count toward full-time status in the semester in which they are taken.

Course Numbering System

Graduation and Commencement

Edgewood College officially posts degrees three times each year, on January 10, May 25 and August 25; these are the dates on which a student will formally graduate. Commencement ceremonies are held once a year, in May.

Graduates whose degrees are posted in January, or students who anticipate graduating in May or August of a particular calendar year, are eligible to participate in the May commencement ceremony of that particular calendar year. Students in the Accelerated Nursing Program or EdD programs are not eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony until all degree requirements have been completed.

A student may only participate in one commencement ceremony for each degree awarded. Any students seeking an exception to the above commencement policy must submit their request in writing to registrar@edgewood.edu.

Graduation and commencement information is available online at www.edgewood.edu. Students may contact the Registrar’s Office with questions regarding eligibility.

Graduation Honors for Undergraduate Students

Graduation honors are awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated superior scholarship in all of their college coursework.

To be eligible for graduation honors, a student must have earned a minimum of 60 credits from Edgewood College at the time of graduation. Graduation honors are awarded based on the cumulative Edgewood College GPA and do not include credit transferred to the College. Graduation honors are not the same as membership in the Honors program.

Three classes of Latin honors are awarded:

• Summa cum laude: cumulative GPA of 3.9
• Magna cum laude: cumulative GPA 3.7
• Cum laude: cumulative GPA of 3.5

Posthumous Degree Policy

A deceased student in any academic program may be awarded a posthumous degree, provided the following requirements are met:

• The student must have been in good academic standing at the time of their death.
• The student must have completed a minimum of two semesters in residence, 75% of degree program requirements, and 75% of the credits required for graduation. Students in graduate or professional programs with additional requirements, such as the completion of a thesis or dissertation, must have made substantial progress, as determined by their thesis advisors and/or departments, toward the completion of those requirements.
• The student must have been considered a current and active student in their academic program at the time of their death or had their enrollment interrupted by an extenuating circumstance such as illness or deployment.
• If a student has not met these requirements, the College may instead elect to award a certificate of academic achievement.

Any member of the campus community or a friend or family member may request that a deceased student be considered for a posthumous degree. A formal request for a posthumous degree conferral would be submitted from the dean of the school to the Vice President of Academic Affairs in the Academic Dean’s Office. Upon receipt of such a request, the Academic Dean’s office will review the student’s record, and consult with supervising faculty, advisors, and the Registrar’s Office. The recipient of a posthumous degree may, at the request of their family, have their name included in the commencement program, and read aloud during the commencement ceremony. The diploma and commencement program will not indicate that the degree was awarded posthumously, but the academic record will indicate that the degree was awarded posthumously.

Registration Policies

Definitions of Terms and Sessions

Students register for courses in a specific term and/or session. For undergraduate, graduate and most post-baccalaureate students, a term is generally the standard 15 or 16 week “semester” (Fall or Spring). Winterim and Summer, both shorter than Fall and Spring are also terms in which courses are offered for undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students. A session is a 7 or 8 week courses within a Fall or Spring term; there are two sessions per term: Session 1 and Session2. There are no sessions during the Winterim and Summer terms.

Cross-Divisional Coursework

Undergraduate or Post-Baccalaureate Students in Graduate Courses

Traditional undergraduate students at the College may register for Graduate courses under the following conditions:

1. The student has a cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
2. The student holds junior or senior status as an undergraduate.
3. The student has completed all prerequisites for the graduate course.
4. The student has completed ENG 110 and COMMS 100, or their equivalents.
5. The student has the consent of the instructor of the graduate course (for MFT courses, the consent of the director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program).
6. There is space available in the course after all graduate registrations for the course have been accommodated.
7. The student’s credit load does not exceed 16 credits during the semester of registration for the graduate course.

At the discretion of the program director or School Dean, no more than six (6) graduate level credits taken as an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student at regionally accredited post-secondary institutions may be applied toward a graduate certificate or degree program at Edgewood College, regardless of whether the credits have been applied toward a previous degree. These credits may count toward both the graduate program/degree requirements and/or the number of credits needed to complete the graduate program. The credits from these courses cannot be used to fulfill graduate program residency requirements and the grades from the courses will not be included in the Edgewood College graduate cumulative GPA.

This policy is applicable to both students from other institutions coming to Edgewood College to pursue a graduate degree program, or graduate certificate program and Edgewood College graduates with an undergraduate degree from Edgewood College.

For Edgewood College undergraduate students pursing the Five-Year Accounting program, please see the School of Business  requirements as outlined in this Catalog for further information.

For Edgewood College undergraduate students interested in pursuing a MA in Social Innovation & Sustainability Leadership, please contact the School of Integrative Studies  to learn more about the best way to complete cross-divisional coursework.

Graduate Students in Undergraduate Courses

Students enrolled in a graduate program may not take undergraduate level courses as part of the completion of the degree program.

College Completion Students in Undergraduate or Graduate Courses

College Completion program students are not allowed to take traditional undergraduate courses or graduate courses while completing their accelerated program.

Credit Load

Undergraduate Students

For Fall or Spring terms, undergraduate students, including Post-Baccalaureate students, must be registered for twelve (12) credits to be considered full-time, and six (6) credits to be considered half-time.  When students are registered for session courses which meet for only a portion of the full term, the students will considered full-time for each session if they are registered for a minimum of six (6) credits per session for at least two (2) sessions per term.  Additionally, students will be considered half-time for each session if they are registered for a minimum of three (3) credits per session for at least two (2) sessions per term. 

Term loads exceeding 17 credits are rare and should be considered carefully.  Term loads over 17 credits must be approved by the Academic Dean’s Office.  In order to graduate in four years, students must earn an average of at least 15 credits per term.  Actual credit loads vary depending upon the major.

For Summer terms, Undergraduate students (including Post-Baccalaureate students) must be registered for eight (8) credits to be considered full-time, and four (4) credits to be considered half-time. 

Accelerated Undergraduate Students in the College Completion Program

For Fall or Spring terms, College Completion Program students must be registered for twelve (12) credits to be considered full-time, and six (6) credits to be considered half-time.  When students are registered for session courses which meet for only a portion of the full term, the students will be considered full-time for each session if they are registered for a minimum of six (6) credits per session for at least two (2) sessions per term.  Additionally, students will be considered half-time for each session if they are registered for a minimum of three (3) credits per session for at least two (2) sessions per term. 

Session loads exceeding eight (8) credits are rare and should be considered carefully.  The Academic Dean’s Office must approve term loads over eight (8) credits.

Effective Summer 2019, there will be multiple sessions defined within Summer terms, which had not existed previously.  The full-time/half-time values for the Summer Term and Summer Sessions within it are yet to be defined for students in the College Completion Program.  When they are, a Memorandum of Record will be filed in the Registrar’s Office.

Graduate Students

Graduate students, including Doctoral students, must be registered for six (6) credits during an academic term (Fall, Winterim, Spring, Summer) to be considered full-time, and three (3) credits to be considered half-time.  When graduate and doctoral students are registered in session courses which meet for only a portion of the full term, the students will be considered full-time for each session if they are registered for a minimum of three (3) credits per session for at least two (2) sessions.

Students registering for more than six (6) credits must have the approval of the school or department offering the graduate program in which the student is registered.

Note: Non-degree Graduate students seeking a teacher’s licensure(s) follow the full-time/half-time definition of Undergraduate/Post-Baccalaureate students, per federal financial aid regulations. 

The 34 Credit Rule

A traditional undergraduate student who is full-time in both the Fall and Spring terms of an academic year is permitted to take a maximum of 34 credits, including Winterim at no additional charge. The number of credits is based on enrollment at the 100% refund date for fall and spring terms. Adjustments will be made after the 100% refund date for Spring term.

Course Frequency

Frequency of course offerings (every term, every year, in alternative years, or occasionally) is determined by the relevance of courses to programs and by student need, interest and registrations. Academic departments usually develop a two year course rotation to assist students with program planning. The College reserves the right to cancel a course for lack of adequate registration or other reasons. The typical individual course frequency is listed in the course descriptions for each academic department.

Adding and Dropping Courses and Credit Changes

Any change in schedule (course add, course drop, or credit change) should be discussed with the student’s academic advisor. The student is responsible for officially adding or dropping courses by the appropriate deadlines, as indicated in the current Registration Guide.

Fall/Spring Terms and Sessions

A student may add or drop courses on Edgewood Express for seven calendar days after the start date of the term or session. After that add/drop deadline, a course must be added or dropped via a paper form. When adding courses via a paper form, instructor approval is required. Course drops are not permitted after the tenth week of a full-term course, or the fifth week of a session course.

Winterim and Summer Terms

Deadlines for Winterim and Summer courses may vary and are indicated in the Registration Guide and on Edgewood Express.

For All Terms and Sessions, Including Winterim and Summer

Every course is offered in a given term or session. The official start of the term session is always used to determine all add/drop and tuition refund deadlines, even if the course starts earlier or later than the term or session within which it is offered. When paper forms are required to add or drop course(s), it is the student’s responsibility to submit forms to Edgewood Central by the appropriate deadlines, as indicated in the current Registration Guide. For information regarding tuition refund percentages with add/drop activity, please refer to the Registration Guide.

Failure to Register

Students may not attend courses for which they are not registered. Please see Adding and Dropping Courses and Credit Changes above for information regarding adding courses after the start of the term or session.

Failure to Attend And/Or Failure to Drop

Students must drop a course to be officially removed for all academic responsibilities associated with that course. Financial responsibilities will be assessed based on tuition refund deadlines. Without an official drop being processed, the student is in effect still in the course, even if he or she has stopped attending.

Individual instructors set attendance policies for their classes. Responsibility for attending class is placed upon the student in the context of learning and academic achievement. Students are responsible for work missed. Students who must be absent are encouraged to discuss their absence with their instructors, preferably before the absence occurs. Only when an emergency arises will the Academic Dean’s Office notify the student’s instructors, if the student or Dean of Student’s Office explains the reason for the absence and requests that instructors be informed. See Adding and Dropping Courses and Credit Changes and Withdrawal from College in this section for withdrawal policies.

A student, who is not attending a class for which he or she is registered, and who has not officially dropped the class by the tenth week of the semester, will receive a grade of “F” for the class.

Stopping out in the College Completion Program

If a student in the College Completion program must stop out (stop taking classes for one or more terms), the student must complete a reentry form through the Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions Office. Only when this form is filed will a student be reactivated to receive mailings from the College, including registration information.

Failure to Pay

Students will be administratively withdrawn from all courses if they have not paid or signed up for a payment plan with the Business Office, by the last day to add/drop courses on Edgewood Express.

Withdrawal from College

A student who wishes to withdraw from the College while a term or session is still in progress (i.e., drop all courses) should do so through Edgewood Central. Failure to meet the drop deadline can result in grades of “F” and/or financial consequences. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal; failure to withdraw officially will result in liability for all tuition and fees and grades of “F” for each course registration. See the refund policy under Financial Aid .

Voluntary Medical Leave Policy and Appeals for Retroactive Withdrawals And/Or Tuition Refunds

Edgewood College understands that rare and extenuating circumstances (such as acute medical conditions) may arise that affect a student’s ability to complete a term or session. In these rare cases, a student has two options: receive approval from the Associate Academic Dean for Teaching and Learning for a Voluntary Medical Leave, or submit an appeal to the Retroactive Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Appeals Committee.

Edgewood College students may request a Voluntary Medical Leave when a student’s physical or psychological condition significantly impairs his or her ability to function successfully or safely as a student and that condition prevents a student from completing the term. It is expected that the time a student take away from the College will be used for treatment and recovery. This is a voluntary process initiated by the student, involving withdrawal from all classes for the term, with a protocol in place for reentry.

To start this process, students should start by first obtaining a recommendation from either the Director of the Health Center (for physical health reasons) or the Director of Personal Counseling (for mental health or substance abuse reasons).  Only then can administrative approval from the Associate Academic Dean for Teaching and Learning be sought for a Medical Leave.

If a student encounters extreme, acute life circumstances that prevent him or her from completing courses for a given term or session, and the student has already left and is now addressing the absence, the student’s only remaining option is for an exception to deadlines is to submit an appeal to the Retroactive Withdrawal and Tuition Refund Appeals Committee. This committee hears requests for retroactive withdrawal and tuition refund appeals. Appeals beyond one year will not be considered.  Each appeal is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and all appeal decisions are final. Subsequent appeals for identical circumstances will not be considered. Detailed information about the Appeals Committee and the process to submit and appeal can be found on the Registrar’s Office website, http://registrar.edgewood.edu.

Academic Advising

Academic advising and career development is a cooperative teaching and learning process that is integral to the educational experience of Edgewood College students.

Advisors guide, mentor and work in partnership with students to assess their academic progress and assist them in making informed decisions as they develop and implement their academic and professional plan.  All advising is coordinated by the Academic Success and Career Development Center.

Traditional undergraduate students are required to meet with their Academic and Career Counselor or academic advisor in order to register for classes and are encouraged to confer with their advisor regularly to ensure they are progressing smoothly throughout the academic year.

In the College Completion program, the Academic and Career Counselor provides a single point of contact for student information. The Academic and Career Counselor should be consulted for all student questions, particularly those associated with academic requirements. In an effort to provide continuity, the Academic and Career Counselor will continue to work with students from their initial inquiry throughout their academic experience.

Although academic advisors assist students, students are fully responsible for knowing and fulfilling the specific requirements in their major, for general education, and for graduation. Students are also responsible for understanding all academic policies in this Catalog.  More information can be found at advising.edgewood.edu.

Auditing a Course

Undergraduate Students

Full time undergraduate or post-baccalaureate students may attend a non-credit course or audit a course with no additional tuition charge. Persons other than degree-seeking students who attend or audit a course will apply with the Admissions Office as an Auditor. Auditors are charged the current per-hour audit fee, except graduates of Edgewood College and senior citizens over 60, who will be charged a discounted audit fee.

Permission to audit a course always requires consent of the instructor. Audit status permits the person to attend the class but does not authorize participation in class discussion or evaluation by the instructor. Explicit consent of the instructor is required for active participation in the class. Audit students are admitted on a space-available basis.

This policy applies only to lecture and seminar type courses other than laboratory and nursing clinical courses and not to special programs, workshops, institutes, etc. The College reserves the right to withdraw permission to attend or to audit, and to refund the audit fee if the circumstances in a particular course should make such withdrawal and refund advisable.

Accelerated Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Accelerated courses cannot be audited.

Graduate Students

Full time graduate students may attend a non-credit course or audit a course with no additional tuition charge. Persons other than degree-seeking students who attend or audit a course will apply with the Admissions Office as an Auditor. Auditors are charged the current per-hour audit fee, except graduates of Edgewood College and senior citizens over 60, who will be charged a discounted audit fee.

The College reserves the right to withdraw permission to attend or to audit, and to refund the audit fee if the circumstances in a particular course make such withdrawal and refund advisable.

Grading System

Letter Grades

The quality of a student’s work is expressed in grades and grade points. The scale is:

Pass/Fail Grading

Undergraduate Students

Juniors and seniors with a 2.50 cumulative GPA may carry an average of one course each semester on a pass/fail basis. General Education requirements must be taken for letter grades, with the exception of COR courses, which may be taken on a pass/fail basis as approved the department or school through the General Education course approval process. Major and minor departments must authorize pass/fail courses taken within the major/minor. Signed pass/fail forms must be submitted within two weeks from the first class meeting. Deadlines vary for Summer and Winterim; consult the Registration Guide. Pass/fail grades, because they do not have grade points, do not affect the GPA of a student. The pass/fail option, once taken, may not be revoked at a later time for a letter grade.

Accelerated Undergraduate Students

College Completion program students will not be allowed to take regularly graded courses on a pass/fail basis. However, schools or departments may designate courses to be taken pass/fail. In this case, all students in a course would be graded pass/fail.

Graduate Students

Schools and departments may authorize pass/fail courses taken within the respective school or department. No more than two courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis can be applied toward the degree, unless required by the respective school or department. Once a course has been taken on a pass/fail basis, it may not later be changed to a letter grade.

Incomplete Grades

The grade of “Incomplete” will be given only for reasons of health or other serious emergencies and when arrangements have been made and approved in advance with the instructor. A Request for Incomplete form must be completed and signed by both the student and the instructor and filed with the Registrar’s Office by the appropriate deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor in this matter, however instructors may offer this option to students when they think circumstances warrant the exception.

A student who has not completed all requirements for a course by the time of the final grading period and who does not have a serious reason, and has not made arrangements with the instructor to receive an “Incomplete” must be graded on the basis of the work submitted up to the time of the grading period.

“Incomplete” is a temporary grade and must be removed ten weeks after the semester or term in which the grade of “Incomplete” was given. The instructor has the authority and is responsible for establishing deadlines for the completion of work within this ten-week period. The instructor may extend the “Incomplete” deadline for as long as one year after the end of the term, but if the work is not completed by the end of that year, no further exceptions will be allowed. If the work is not made up within the ten weeks after the end of the term or period of extension, whether or not the student continues at the College, the grade becomes an “F.”

Students with an Academic Standing of “Probation” are not allowed to take an Incomplete during the probationary term.  The option to give an Incomplete needs to be carefully considered for students reaching the end of their academic careers.  Degrees will not be conferred with a grade of Incomplete, therefore graduation may be delayed for student with outstanding incomplete work.

Grade Changes after Degree Conferral

The Registrar’s Office will not confer a degree if there is an “Incomplete” on the student’s record. If a final grade is not received prior to the conferral date (January 10, May 25 or August 25), the posting of the degree will be postponed until the next conferral date. A student’s academic record cannot be altered after degree conferral. Exceptions to changing a grade on a student’s academic record after degree conferral are extremely rare and must be approved through the Academic Dean’s Office.

Non-reported Grade (“NR”)

A grade of “NR,” indicating “not reported” is given by the Registrar’s Office when an instructor has not submitted a grade for a student. The “NR” will lapse to a grade of “F” if the Registrar’s Office has not received a grade from the instructor two weeks after the end of the term.

Grade Reports

Grades may be viewed online through Edgewood Express (https://express.edgewood.edu/ICS/Students) under “My Grades” once final grades have been posted for the term. If a student has outstanding financial or library obligations to the College, grades will be withheld until the outstanding obligation has been met. Freshmen and sophomores are provided with midterm grades in the Fall and Spring terms to better assess their academic progress. If an instructor or academic office has determined that a student’s successful academic progress is in jeopardy, the student may be notified and asked to arrange a conference with their advisor, instructor, and/or Academic Support and Career Development staff. For undergraduate students not in the College Completion program, midterm grades and Academic Alert Notices do not go on a student’s permanent record; they serve as one of the means the College uses for communicating Academic Progress.

Appeal of Grades and Grade Changes

Student appeals regarding grades and other course-related concerns must be made to the department in which the concern arises, according to the following procedure:

• The student should first discuss the matter with the instructor.
• If a resolution cannot be reached, the student should contact the department chair or Dean of the school in which the course was taken, who may initiate the department/school appeal procedures.
• If a resolution cannot be reached, the Academic Dean’s Office should be contacted.

Grades may be changed within one year of the end of the course. No grade appeals or grade changes will be accepted after one year.

Grade Repeat Policy

Most courses cannot be repeated for additional credit. A student may choose to repeat a course in order to improve a grade. Only the most recent attempt at the course will be included in the GPA calculation (including situations where the most recent attempt at a course results in a lower grade), and the credits are earned only once, provided at least one of the courses has a passing grade. All repeated courses and their grades will appear on the transcript in the terms they were taken and the repeated course will be noted as “R” (repeated). In some courses where the content changes from one term to another, it may be possible to earn credits more than once. Some examples include Independent Study courses, Workshops and Internships, and Special Topics Courses. Contact the Registrar’s Office for specific information about whether a course may be repeated for additional credit.

All undergraduate students must receive at least a grade of “D” in order for a course to count towards their major requirements. Students receiving less than a grade of “D” will need to repeat the course and receive a passing grade in order for the course to count toward degree requirements.  Departments may have additional grade requirements to allow courses to count toward the major or minor.

Graduate students must receive at least a grade of “C” in order for a course to count towards their major requirements. Students receiving less than a grade of “C” will need to repeat the course and receive a passing grade in order for the course to count toward degree requirements.

Transfer Repeat Policy

If a student repeats a course at Edgewood College that was previously transferred from another institution, the transferred credits will be removed from the student’s record. Grades from transferred courses are not included in the Edgewood College grade point average calculation.

Dean’s List

Full-time undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students who earn a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher are eligible for the Dean’s List after completing 24 credit hours of study at Edgewood College. Such students must be in good academic standing and have no grades of “Incomplete” or “NR.” Grades from transfer credits are not calculated in the cumulative GPA. Dean’s List may be awarded retroactively.

Semester Honors

Semester Honors are awarded to undergraduate students who carry at least 12 graded credits (excluding Pass/Fail courses and pre-college courses) and earn a GPA of at least 3.50 with no grades of “I,” “NR,” “F,” or “F*.” Semester Honors may be awarded retroactively. Students earning a second bachelor’s degree are not eligible to graduate with honors in that degree.

Transcripts

A transcript of credits is an official document issued by the Registrar’s Office. Current students can order transcripts through a secure ordering site, which can be accessed on Edgewood Express (https://express.edgewood.edu/ICS/Students). There is a fee for ordering official transcripts from the College. If paying by cash or check, transcripts can be requested at Edgewood Central. Transcripts will be processed only if there are no transcript holds (i.e., outstanding financial obligations to the College) on the student account.

Edgewood College does not issue transcripts or copies of records on file from other institutions. All transcripts received by Edgewood College become the property of the College and cannot be released to the student. Students may review their transcripts from other institutions in the Registrar’s Office during regular business hours.

Academic Standing

Academic Progress

Undergraduate Students

A full-time, traditional undergraduate is making satisfactory academic progress if they earn a minimum of 12 Edgewood College credits each semester in Fall and Spring and is in good academic standing for each term in which they register.  Pre-college courses, while they do not count in credit earned, count toward the computation of full time status for satisfactory progress in the semester they are taken.

College Completion Students

A College Completion program undergraduate is making satisfactory academic progress if they earn a minimum of 12 Edgewood College credits each semester in Fall and Spring (Sessions 1 and 2 combined) and is in good academic standing for each term in which they register. Pre-college courses, while they do not count in credits earned, count toward the computation of full time status for satisfactory progress in the semester they are taken.

Graduate Students

Full-time graduate students carry six graduate credit hours each semester (Sessions 1 and 2 combined). Students registering for more than six semester credit hours must have the approval their department and/or school offering the graduate program in which the student is registered. Only courses at 600 level or above are counted in the student’s GPA calculation.

Academic Standing

There are three official categories of academic standing for students registered for programs at Edgewood College: good standing, probation, and dismissed.

Good Academic Standing for Undergraduate Students

To be in good academic standing, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 with no grades of “Incomplete.” The grade point average is based on all courses attempted on a graded basis except Pass/Fail courses and pre-college courses. A student’s academic standing is noted on the term grade report and on his or her official record. Standing is not calculated for Winterim or Summer for traditional undergraduates.

Good Academic Standing for Graduate Students

A registered graduate student is in good academic standing when they maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA while registered in graduate courses. 

Probation for Traditional Undergraduate Students

A student will be placed on probation if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.00. While on probation, a student who takes an “Incomplete” in any course may not register for the following semester. Undergraduate students have only one term on probation in which to raise their cumulative GPA to at least a 2.00 and return to good academic standing. A student who does not raise his or her GPA in one term is dismissed (see below). Undergraduate students on probation are required to meet with Academic Support and Career Development staff for an assessment and information about academic support services and/or other campus resources.

Probation for Accelerated Undergraduate Students

A College Completion student will be placed on probation if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.00. While on probation, a student who takes an “Incomplete” in any course may not register for the following term. Students have fifteen (15) additional credits in which to raise their cumulative GPA above a 2.00 before facing dismissal. Accelerated undergraduate students on probation are advised to meet with their Academic and Career Counselor for information about academic support services and are also encouraged to utilize campus resources for improving their academic performance.

Probation for Graduate Students

A registered graduate student whose cumulative GPA in graduate courses falls below 3.00 is placed on probation. Graduate students have nine (9) additional credits in which to raise their cumulative GPA above a 3.00 before facing dismissal. While on probation, a student who takes an “Incomplete” in any course may not register for the following semester. Graduate students on probation are advised to meet with their advisor for information about academic support services and are also encouraged to utilize campus resources for improving their academic performance.

Dismissal for Traditional Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate student will be dismissed from the College if the cumulative GPA is less than 2.00 for two successive terms (excluding Summer and Winterim) with a minimum of twelve (12) cumulative credits attempted overall. Undergraduate students dismissed from the College may appeal the dismissal decision with the College (if applicable) or re-apply after attending another institution and demonstrating academic success in at least 12 credits of college-transferable courses. For information regarding the appeal process or re-entry, please contact the Academic Dean’s Office.

Dismissal for Accelerated Undergraduate Students

A College Completion program student on probation will be dismissed if his or her cumulative GPA remains below a 2.00 after completing twelve (12) additional credits. Undergraduate students dismissed from the College may appeal the dismissal decision with the College (if applicable) or re-apply after attending another institution and demonstrating academic success in at least twelve (12) credits of college-transferable courses. For information regarding the appeal process or re-entry, please contact the Academic Dean’s Office.

Dismissal for Graduate Students

A graduate student on probation will be dismissed if his or her cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 after completing nine (9) additional graduate credits. Coursework which is not included in the grade point average does not count as part of the nine additional credits (courses numbered below 600, withdrawals or pass/fail graded courses).

Any student (regardless of classification) may also be dismissed for academic dishonesty or violating conditions of the Student Handbook. Academic standing is posted at the close of each semester and is reported on the grade report for each student.