SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS FOR CREDIT
A regularly enrolled student may apply to take ‘‘special’’ (challenge or validating) examinations to establish credit for approved University courses. Requests to take an examination must be made to the chair of the department offering the course. Approval of the department chair, the instructor of the course and the dean of the college offering the course(s) are required. A petition with the appropriate signatures must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office prior to examinations. A committee of three appointed by the chair of the department offering the course will administer and evaluate the examinations, a majority being necessary to award a grade. Special examinations must be searching and comprehensive. Grades of ‘‘Satisfactory’’ or "Unsatisfactory" will be recorded on the student’s permanent record upon recommendation of the committee, but will not be used to compute scholastic average.
The fee per credit hour for a validating or challenge examination is one-half the regular credit hour fee for the course to be challenged. Receipt of payment must be presented to the instructor prior to examination.
Students may apply to take challenge or validating examinations to establish credit in University of North Dakota courses which correspond to work taken at unaccredited and non-degree granting institutions, or for courses in which they have superior preparation or knowledge gained through independent study. These exams are offered for courses which have no equivalent CLEP subject exams. Students who have audited a course, or who have previously enrolled in a course and then dropped it, will not ordinarily be permitted to take a special examination in that course.
College-Level Examination Program: The University of North Dakota offers the opportunity to submit the results of CLEP for credit in most of the Subject Examinations.
CLEP Subject Examinations currently accepted by UND for transfer credits are listed below with the minimum acceptable standard score. Minimum CLEP scores are under review by the North Dakota University System. Credit earned through CLEP Subject Exams may be used to fulfill University General Education requirements as outlined on pages 27-31; to fulfill specific course requirements, or to be used as elective credits. As soon as they become available, new examinations will be reviewed by University departments to determine their suitability for credit at UND.
The following guidelines have been established for utilization of the Subject Examinations:
1. A CLEP Subject Examination may not be taken to establish credit for a course in which a student has earned credit in a higher level sequential course.
2. Regarding CLEP Subject Examinations which offer a maximum of six to eight credits, a student with previously earned credit in one semester of a two-semester sequence must petition the CLEP Advanced Placement Committee for exception to this policy prior to taking the CLEP Subject Examination for the balance of the credit.
3. A Subject Examination may be repeated no sooner than six months after date of the last testing. Students should submit a petition to the UND CLEP Committee for permission to repeat an examination.
4. A Subject Examination may not be taken to establish credit in a subject in which the student has been enrolled, but from which he or she has withdrawn after the last day to add a course, until six months from the last class day of the term in which he/she was enrolled for the course.
5. A Subject Examination may not be used to establish credit in a subject which the student has previously failed.
6. A student wishing to have CLEP credit included within the last 30 hours toward a bachelor’s degree must have appropriate petitions approved by the CLEP Committee and the Administration Procedures Committee, since the last 30 credits must be earned in residence at the University, and CLEP credit is considered as equivalent to credit earned at another institution.
SUBJECT MINIMUM EQUIVALENT
EXAMINATION STANDARD SCORE UND COURSE
Accounting (Principles of) (except majors) 50 Acct. 200, (3 cr.)
American Government 55 Pols 115 (3 cr. )
Biology (General) 50 Biol 150, 150L,
151, 151L (8 cr.)
Business Law (Introductory) 51 Acct 214 (3 cr.)
Calculus with Elementary Functions 51 Math 165, 166 (8 cr.)
Chemistry (General) 48 Chem 121, 121L (4 cr.)
College Algebra 50 Math 103 (3 cr.)
Educational Psychology (Introduction to) 47 Psy 213 (3 cr.)
History of U.S. I 50 Hist 103 (3 cr.)
History of U.S. II 50 Hist 104 (3 cr.)
Human Growth and Development 47 Psyc 250 (4 cr.)
Information Systems & Computer Applications 55 BVED 213 (3 cr.)
Psychology (Introductory) 47 Psyc 111 (3 cr.)
Languages (French, German, Spanish) 45-49 Fren, Germ, Span 101 (4 cr.)
50-54 Fren, Germ, Span 101, 102 ( 8 cr.)
55 Fren, Germ, Span 101, 102, 201 (12 cr.)
Macroeconomics (Principles of) 49 Econ 202 (3 cr.)
Management (Principles of) 51 Mgmt 300 (3 cr.)
Marketing (Principles of) 51 Mrkt 305 (3 cr.)
Microeconomics (Principles of) 49 Econ 201 (3 cr.)
Sociology (Introductory) 47 Soc 110 (3 cr.)
Trigonometry 49 Math 105 (2 cr.)
Western Civilization I 50 Hist 101 (3 cr.)
Western Civilization II 50 Hist 102 (3 cr.)
LANGUAGE PLACEMENT
All students with a background in a second language for which they wish to receive credit or in which they wish to continue or establish proficiency must take a Language Placement Test. It is recommended that this be done during pre-registration or registration, and in no case later than the end of their first semester in residence. First semester students enrolled ina language who wish to take a Placement Test in the same language must take the Placement Test during the first two weeks of the semester. Students may receive advanced standing and from 4 to 16 hours credit toward graduation in each language.
COOPERATIVE EDUCATION
Cooperative Education is an academic program that provides students with opportunities to both integrate and combine their course learning with practical, professional work experience in their chosen field of study. Cooperative Education experiences allow students to secure salaried, career-related work experiences under the supervision of both a sponsoring employer and the appropriate academic department, while at the same time receiving academic credit. The program is based on the belief that learning extends beyond the classroom and that the combination of course learning and practical work experience provides an innovative and comprehensive education.
Students spend from 3-9 months on Cooperative Education assignment. Academic credit is granted by the participating academic department through the student’s enrollment in the department’s course titled, Cooperative Education 337.
Students enrolled in Cooperative Education 337, irrespective of the number of actual credit hours, are granted full time equivalent student status by the University.
The Cooperative Education Program, a part of Career Services, is located in McCannel Hall, Room 204. For information, call 777-4105.
REGISTRATION
The academic year calendars giving the dates of registration appear on page iv. Details concerning the registration procedure are given in the Time Schedule of Classes, which is available to all students prior to and at the time of registration.
CHANGE OF REGISTRATION
After a student has registered, he or she should consult with his or her advisor before changing the registration. Students should be aware that all drops after the first day of class could affect their ability to have financial aid in future term. The last day to drop a course without a grade for all students is on the Friday five weeks preceding the last class day of each term. (See also Summer Sessions deadlines on p. iv.) Thereafter, a student may not cancel from individual courses but must carry them to completion.
The last day to drop a class of less than the full semester in length (a mini-class) is a day two-thirds of the duration of the class.
If a course is dropped within the first 10 days of the semester, no indication of enrollment is made on the student’s permanent academic record. If a course is dropped after the first 10 days of the semester, the enrollment is recorded on the student’s permanent academic record and a W is entered in the grade column. However, all courses for which the student is enrolled after the tenth day of the term will count toward their satisfactory progress for financial aid.
No change in registration involving addition of a new course or a change of sections is permitted after the tenth day of instruction of the semester (except during Summer Session). Changes from credit to audit or to or from S-U grading are permitted to the last day to drop that credit. The specific deadlines for the various types of changes of registration are published in the Time Schedule of Classes each semester.
INSTRUCTOR’S DROP POLICY
An instructor may submit a list of students to be deleted from class roles who have neither attended class nor notified the instructor of withdrawal within the first five days from commencement of university instruction. The Registrar will delete from the class rolls the names of students received and mail to the current local address a revised class schedule to each student dropped from a course in this manner.
Not all instructors follow this policy since it is not mandatory. Students, therefore, are strongly advised not to assume that they have been dropped from a course. Students should review their registration status in a course in question with the Office of Records.
WITHDRAWAL FROM UNIVERSITY
A student wishing to withdraw from the University before the end of a semester must complete a Withdrawal Form in the Office of the Registrar where personnel will direct the student through the withdrawal process.
The last day a student may cancel registration without grades is the Friday five weeks preceding the last class day of the term. (See also Summer Sessions deadlines on page iv). After that time a student should continue classes to completion. An exception to this rule is that a student may have his or her registration canceled without grades for cause (major mental or physical illness or other significant incapacity) providing both the student’s Academic Dean and the Associate Vice President for Student Services agree to this course of action. Please note: Anytime a student withdraws after the first 10 days of the semester, a "W" indicating the withdrawal will appear on the student’s transcript. All courses in which the student was enrolled on the first day of the term will be considered when assessing satisfactory progress for financial aid purposes.
A student who leaves the University without obtaining an official withdrawal is given an ‘‘F’’ in all courses.
STUDENT LOAD
For a member of the freshman class, sixteen hours a semester is considered a normal schedule. Outside work or activities may necessitate a reduction of the student’s academic schedule. The class load of any freshman who ranks in the lower half of his or her high school class may be restricted to twelve semester credits. The minimum amount of work in which a student shall be enrolled is left to the discretion of the academic advisor.
For most undergraduate colleges from fifteen to seventeen hours of class work a week is the normal load. A student wishing to enroll in more than 21 semester hours must obtain approval from his/her advisor and the dean of the college in which the student is enrolled.
THE GRADING SYSTEM
At the close of a session or upon the completion of a course, each instructor reports a letter grade indicating the quality of a student’s work in the course. Grade points are assigned for each semester hour of credit earned, according to the following grading system:
LETTER GRADE EXPLANATION GRADE PTS. PER SEM. HR.
A Marked Excellence 4
B Superior 3
C Average 2
D Passing but low 1
F Failure 0
I Incomplete -
S Satisfactory -
U Unsatisfactory -
W Withdrawn -
NR Not Reported -
AU Audit -
WV Course Waived -
The mark ‘‘I’’, Incomplete, shall be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. Incompletes are so entered on a semester grade sheet. In addition, the instructor shall indicate on a separate form what grade the incomplete should automatically be converted to, if the student fails to complete the assigned work within the allowed time period. An ‘‘I’’, Incomplete, in a course taken for undergraduate credit must be completed during the first four weeks of the succeeding semester that the student is enrolled in institutional credit. An Administrative Procedures Committee petition for an extension of time of an incomplete may be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by a student with the approval of the instructor of the course and the dean of the college offering the course. An ‘‘I’’ once recorded may be removed or converted as indicated above but cannot be expunged from the record. After seven years, all outstanding "Incomplete" grades will be marked as permanent "Incomplete." A student may complete the course work to remove a permanent "Incomplete" after seven years with the permission of the chairperson of the department offering the course and the dean of the college offering the course.
If a student misses a final examination for reasons not satisfactory to the instructor, he or she is given an F. A student receiving a failure in a course shall not be allowed to pursue the continuation of that course before removing the failure. Any student receiving a failure in a course which is required in his/her curriculum must repeat the course at the earliest opportunity.
S-U GRADES
Grades of S or U rather than the traditional grades of A through F are used by the University under regulations specified. A grade of S grants credit toward graduation but does not affect a student’s grade point average except as outlined below in item number 5. A grade of U also does not affect the grade point average and does not grant credit toward graduation.
Elective S-U Enrollment. A student of sophomore, junior or senior standing (as determined by the Registrar) may elect to enroll in one or more courses per semester for S-U grading subject to the following regulations:
1. A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit of elected S-U grades may be counted toward his or her baccalaureate degree.
2. Courses in the major field may not be taken for an S-U grade. In the event a student wishes to major in a field in which he/she has taken a required course for an S-U grade, the department, with the approval of the Academic Dean, may (a) accept the S-U grade, (b) select an additional class to substitute or (c) request the Registrar’s Office to change the S or U to the letter grade submitted by the instructor.
3. A student may take extra-departmental major requirements for an S-U grade with the approval of the major department chair and his/her Academic Dean.
4. A course elected for S-U grade will not be included in the 30 hour residency requirement (i.e., all students must complete a minimum of 30 graded credits at the University of North Dakota to receive a bachelor’s degree).
5. Repeating a course by S-U registration will eliminate the effects of the earlier grade from a student’s grade point average if the achieved result is an S. Repetition, which results in a U, will leave the effects of the earlier grade intact.
Class rolls and grade sheets will not identify students who are enrolled for S-U grading. Grades of A, B, and C will be converted by the Office of the Registrar to a grade of S. Grades of D and F will be converted to U. Changes in registration to or from S-U grading for fall and spring semesters may be made during the first five weeks of the semester. The deadline for that same activity during the Summer Session is determined by using a time guideline which is proportionate to that for the academic year (see Academic Calendar, p. iv).
Students who utilize the S-U grading system are cautioned that they may encounter difficulty in having such credit accepted or evaluated, should they attempt to transfer credit to another university, change majors, or make application for graduate or professional study.
Required S-U Courses. Some courses, as approved by the University Curriculum Committee, will be offered by S-U grading only. These courses may be taken in excess of the 30 hour limitation if they are required for that student’s program. Students who do enroll in a required S-U class, which is not a program requirement for them, must include it in the 30 hour maximum and comply with all other elective S-U regulations.
REPETITION OF COURSES
A student who receives a grade of D or F in a course may repeat the course without special permission. Courses in which grades of C or better are earned may be repeated upon written approval of the department concerned and the dean of the college offering the course and the student’s academic advisor. Without this approval, both grades will be recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the last grade being marked as duplication and not being counted in the student’s GPA. If a course repetition is taken for traditional A through F letter grading, the last grade achieved in the course will be used in calculating the student’s grade point average. Repeating an approved course with S-U grading will eliminate the effects of previous credits from the student’s GPA if the achieved result is an S, but repetition which results in a U will leave the effects of the earlier grade intact.
RAISING A ‘‘D’’ GRADE
To raise a D grade, a student may have the alternative of retaking a final examination at the time of the first regularly scheduled final examination in the subject if it meets with the approval of the department and dean of the course and the student’s advisor, except in the Schools of Law, Medicine, and Nursing. If a student decides to retake the final examination, approval must be obtained from the instructor and department chair of the course and the dean of the college offering the course. No re-examination will be given except at the time of the regularly scheduled examinations at the end of each semester.
GRADE FORGIVENESS
Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have interrupted their college/university education for a period of seven years or more, may petition to exclude all previous grades from GPA calculations. The student may not select certain courses to be part of the seven-year rule, but must include all courses which are seven years or older. Such courses and their actual grades would appear on the student’s academic record, but letter grades would not be calculated for GPA purposes. Excluded courses could not be used to satisfy any academic requirement.
A student requesting this option must have a written petition approved by the student’s academic advisor, department chairperson, and Dean of the college from which the degree is sought. If the student changes degree college after approval of this petition, the student would be required to petition again.
DEFICIENCY REPORTS
Individual mid-term reports of unsatisfactory work (i.e., D, F, and U) of students are made by all instructors at the end of the first eight weeks of the semester. A grade of D is considered unsatisfactory although it is a passing grade. The Registrar mails deficiency reports to students who have been reported deficient. Reports of deficiency are also sent to the academic deans and advisors to be used for advisement purposes. Deficiency grades do not appear on the student’s permanent record. It is also the student’s responsibility to keep informed of his/her own performance in a class.
SEMESTER GRADE REPORTS
Grade reports are mailed to students at their home address approximately two weeks after the close of each semester and the summer session.
TRANSCRIPTS OF ACADEMIC RECORDS
Transcript requests must be submitted in writing. Either a completed "transcript request’’ form or a letter bearing the student’s signature is acceptable. Telephone requests cannot by federal law be honored nor can requests by relatives or friends of a student. A request for a transcript of credits by a student who is in debt to the University will not be honored until the indebtedness has been paid. The written request by the student should be sent to the Office of the Registrar, Box 8382, Grand Forks, ND 58202. Questions about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.
Each transcript includes the student’s entire academic record to date and current academic status. Partial transcripts are not issued. The University of North Dakota does not FAX transcripts.
A transcript covering a student’s previous secondary and post-secondary education that has been submitted to the University as a requirement for admission becomes part of the official file and cannot be returned to the student. Any student who desires transcripts of work earned elsewhere must order official transcripts from the institution at which the work was taken. The University of North Dakota does not issue nor certify copies of transcripts from other institutions.
STUDENTS IN DEBT TO THE UNIVERSITY
A student who is in debt to the University shall not be permitted to early register or register in the University and shall not be entitled to receive a transcript of credits until the indebtedness has been paid.
UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY
AND PROCEDURE
Attendance and participation in class activities are considered integral parts of a university education. It is the university policy that attendance in classes is expected of all students. While attendance is necessary to demonstrate competency via participation in some classes, attendance itself is not a measure of competence and therefore is not used as a criterion for evaluation. Students’ grades are based on recognized academic standards (e.g., scholarly achievement and examination performance). Faculty are encouraged to find appropriate ways to reflect in their grading the quality of participation and contributions of students to their classes. Students are informed during the first class week of the criteria to be used in assigning grades in their courses.
In instances when a student is hospitalized or absent due to a death in the family, students are to notify the instructor if unable to attend classes.
FINAL EXAMINATION POLICY
An examination is held at the end of most courses according to the published examination schedule. Alternate evaluation methods and schedules may be used when recommended by the departmental faculty and approved by the dean of the college offering the course. Any change in time from the published schedule requires the recommendation of the chairperson of the department and approval of the dean of the college offering the course. Any student who would be disadvantaged by such a change should report this in advance to the dean of the college offering the course, who will ensure that satisfactory alternate arrangements will be made by the instructor.
A student who is absent from a regularly scheduled examination without an excuse considered valid by the instructor is normally given an F for the course. If the excuse is valid, the policy on incompletes on page 32 will apply.
No undergraduate student should be obliged to write three or more finals on the same day. If the student has three or more finals scheduled the same day, the student wishing an accommodation regarding final exams should contact his/her instructors to establish a mutually acceptable time to reschedule one or more of the exams. Any student request for the rescheduled final exam must be presented to the instructor before the end of the tenth week of the semester, otherwise, the student’s rescheduling right is forfeited. If an accommodation cannot be reached, he or she should contact the department chair(s) to find a mutually agreeable time. If no agreement is reached, the appropriate dean(s) should be contacted. The final appeal, if no mutually convenient time has been found, will be to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
UNDERGRADUATE PROBATION --
DISMISSAL POLICY
Any student who does not maintain minimum academic requirements will, at the end of the term in which he or she fails to meet minimum standards, be placed on Academic Probation. Subsequent failure to meet these standards will result in dismissal from the University.
A student who has earned less than 90 total hours will be considered in Good Academic Standing if he or she maintains a UND Grade Point Average (GPA) of C (2.00) or higher. A student who has earned 90 or more total hours will be in Good Academic Standing only with a 2.00 or higher GPA on both UND and cumulative hours. NOTE: It is possible to be in Good Academic Standing at the University, and, yet to not be in Good Academic Standing in certain University programs which require a GPA higher than 2.00.
Total hours earned toward graduation include (1) all UND hours for which a grade of A, B, C, D, or S, is recorded, (2) all hours accepted in transfer, (3) hours recorded by special examinations, (4) hours with passing grades of non-traditional nature, and (5) other hours which grant credit toward a degree.
Grade Point Average will be calculated by dividing Grade Points earned by Average Hours. Average hours include hours for which letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F are recorded. Grade points are accumulated per credit hour at the rate of A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1 and F-0.
A student on Academic Probation may remove Probation by attaining Good Standing. A student on Academic Probation who does not remove his or her probation at the end of the next term (semester or summer session) in which he or she enrolls will be dismissed.
CONDUCT IN GENERAL
A student is expected to show, both within and outside of the University, respect for law and order, personal honor, and the rights of others. To further strengthen the sense of community at the University of North Dakota, we affirm the following: (1) That everyone be allowed to work, learn, and live in a safe, caring environment; (2) That everyone learn about, understand, appreciate, and respect varied cultures; (3) That everyone matters; (4) That all individuals be respected and treated with dignity and civility; (5) That everyone continue to share in the responsibility of making UND a better place. Within the University, the student is subject to specific policies, rules and regulations promulgated by student governing groups, student-faculty committees, University Senate and the State Board of Higher Education. The student is subject to civil law and civil authority.
It is taken for granted when a student enters the University that he/she has an earnest purpose. This presumption in the student’s favor continues until, by neglect of duty or by inappropriate behavior, he/she brings his/her status into question. Cases involving student violations of academic or non-academic regulations may be judged by student conduct committees, the Student Relations Committee, or by the Student Services Office. Adjudication will incorporate both substantive due process, i.e., fair and equitable treatment, and appropriate procedural due process.
The Code of Student Life, available from the Vice President for Student and Outreach Services, and the Student Services Office, outlines the rights and responsibilities and expected levels of conduct of citizens in the University community. The purpose of the rules outlined is to prevent abuse of the rights of others and to maintain an atmosphere in the University community appropriate for an institution of higher education. Materials included will be helpful to student organizations and to members of the University community to gain a better understanding of responsibilities of various boards and committees, and to understand student rights and responsibilities. Section 3 in the Code covers academic concerns (grievances and standards) and section 2 covers student conduct regulations and procedures.
The Code of Student Life is published periodically. Interpretation of sections within the Code may be requested by contacting the Dean of Students Office, the Vice President of Student and Outreach Services, or through direct consultation with the Student Policy Committee.
SCHOLASTIC HONESTY
Students are expected to maintain scholastic honesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
A. Cheating on a test includes, but is not restricted to:
1. Copying from another student’s test.
2. Possessing or using material during a test not authorized by the person giving the test.
3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without authority.
4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of an unadministered test.
5. Substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for oneself to take a test.
6. Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.
B. Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another person’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own work. This includes appropriation of another person’s work by the use of computers or any other electronic means.
C. Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
For detailed policy statements and procedures dealing with scholastic dishonesty, see the Code of Student Life, section 3.
ACADEMIC HONORS
President’s Honor Roll. At the end of each semester, a list of undergraduate honor students is published and designated as the President’s Honor Roll. To qualify, a student must have an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or higher. The student must also have earned a minimum of 30 semester hours and have completed a minimum of 12 hours at the close of the semester, eight of which must be for traditional letter grades.
Dean’s List. The Dean’s List, published at the end of each semester, contains the names of students who are ranked in the top 15 percent of their college. The students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours at the close of the semester, eight of which must be for traditional letter grades.
General Honors. Candidates for the bachelor’s degree who achieve a scholastic average of 3.20 will be graduated cum laude; those with an average of 3.50, magna cum laude; those with an average of 3.70, summa cum laude. A student with transferred credits will be similarly distinguished if his/her cumulative record and record at the University of North Dakota each meet the requirements. A gold seal indicating the honor will be affixed to the diploma upon graduation. The honor will be recorded on the student’s academic record.