Academic Regulations

Print-Friendly Page

Click on any of the following links for information:

COMPULSORY CLASS ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is compulsory. Absences will result in lower grades earned.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: No student will be permitted unexcused absences.

EXCUSED ABSENCES: Excused absences include those incurred by the student’s participation in college or class sponsored activities.

IMPENDING ABSENCES: Every student is responsible for informing instructos of impending absence(s) from class if the student has such information.

NO EXCUSES FROM THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE: No excuses for absence(s) are issued from the Office of Academic Affairs.

SYLLABUS/OUTLINE: The course syllabus/outline is an agreement between the teacher and the student.

RIGHT TO APPEAL ACADEMIC DECISIONS: Every student has the right to appeal the academic decision of an instructor. Steps in the appeal process are outlined in “Student Grade Appeal.”

FINAL EXAM TIME SCHEDULES FIRM: Final examinations are to be taken at the time scheduled by the Office of the Registrar. Students must be cleared by the Office of Fiscal Affairs/Student Accounts Office. Only students with balances at the time of the exams will be issued an exam permit to take their final examinations. Students with a zero balance prior to the beginning of the final exam periods will not need an exam permit to take finals.

ISSUANCE OF “I” (INCOMPLETE) GRADES: Only students who have balances (unless approved by the Fiscal Affairs/Student Accounts Office) at the end of the semester, and/or students who have not completed work for the semester and there is a possibility that the students will pass, should be given “I’s”/Incomplete grades. Note: Students, who are coded with balances at the end of the semester and there is no possibility that the student will pass the course, should not be given “I” grades.

REMOVAL OF “I” GRADES: Students receiving one or more “I” grades are required to report to the instructor(s) who issued the grade(s), within the first week of classes of their next semester of enrollment. Students must, thereby, initiate action to remove the “I” grade(s). The requirements to remove the “I” grade(s) must be completed within the first six weeks of that semester of reenrollment. Failure to do so will cause the I’s to automatically be changed to F’s.

NO GRADE CHANGE AFTER ONE YEAR: No grade change is permitted after one year.

NO GRADE CHANGE AFTER GRADUATION: After graduation, a student’s academic record is closed against grade changes at any time.

THE GRADUATE CATALOG REQUIRED: Students are required to complete their graduation requirements under the undergraduate catalog in which they first entered, unless he/she leaves the University for one year or more. When a student returns to the University after one year, he/she must follow the current graduate catalog.

CONFERENCES WITH ADVISOR: The student is expected to arrange necessary conference(s) with the academic advisor according to the advisor’s posted schedule. Mandatory conference(s) required before registering for each semester and applying for graduation.

REPEAT ARTICULATION: A readmitted student may repeat a course in which the student receives a D or F grade, and only the hours earned from the higher grade are computed in the grade point average (GPA). If a student makes the same grade in the repeated course in this situation, only one grade is calculated in the GPA.

GRADES ON PERMANENT RECORD: All grades, courses, and hours attempted and earned remain a part of the student’s permanent record former major may be forgiven; i.e., not calculated in the cumulative grade point average.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Only students who have completed all academic requirements for graduation, are allowed to participate in commencement exercises. Additionally, all official transcripts, which include transfer credits to be used to satisfy graduation requirements must be received in the Office of the Registrar BEFORE a student is allowed to participate in commencement exercises.

RELEASE OF DIPLOMAS: No student will receive a diploma until all grades (including transfer grades) and test scores have been posted to transcript and all final obligations have been cleared.

TO WITHDRAW FROM BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY: A student may withdraw from Bethune-Cookman University and receive the transcript notation “W” by completing a Withdrawal Form available in the guidance department in the Office of Career Services⬔not later than 10 school days before the final examination period.

Unit of Credit: Bethune-Cookman University awards semester hour credits. One semester hour credit is normally given for a class that meets 60 minutes per week in lecture or recitation, or at least 120 minutes per week in laboratory practice, for approximately 16 weeks. Semester hour credits are also awarded for shorter than 16-week sessions, when longer class periods are used to permit the necessary total time required in lecture, recitation or laboratory. Students will receive credit only for those courses for which they are officially registered in the computer, for which they pay the necessary tuition at the time of registration; and for which they earn satisfactory grades.

Bethune-Cookman University Grading System:
Grade		Interpretation		Point Value
A		Excellent		4
B		Good		3
C		Average		2
D		Passing		1
F		Failure		0
W		Official withdrawal from the college, no penalty		0
DR		Dropped course, no credit given		0
AU		Audit, no credit		0
NG		No grade assigned		0
I		Incomplete becomes “F if requirements not satisfied by date stated on the University calendar
R		Repeat articulation agreement
FG		Forgiven grade of D or F;

The standard grading scale adopted by the Academic Advisory Council, to be adhered to by all faculty members, is as follows:

Percentages		Grade
90 - 100		A
80-89		B
70-79		C
60-69		D
0-59		F

All graduate students must consistently do “SBâ

quality work or better in their coursework and maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA. The University requires a final cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 (“B”) for receiving the master;s degree. Grades “C” are considered less than satisfactory. A student may have no more than one “C” in maintaining good standing and must have at least one “SA” to offset “SC” in order to maintain a 3.00 GPA. If a student receives a “C” in a second course, she/he will be dismissed from the program. Failing grades are considered unsatisfactory; any failing grade will result in automatic dismissal from the program.

Grade Point Average Calculation Example:

If a student received “A” in three three-hour courses, “B” in two three-hour courses, and “C” in one one-hour course, the GPA would be computed by the following method:

		Credit hours for Course		Quality Points per hour		Quality points per course
				(A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1)
Course I		3		(“A grade) =		12
Course II		3		(“A grade) =		12
Course III		3		(“A grade) =		12
Course IV		3		(“B grade) =		9
Course V		3		(“B grade) =		9
Course VI		1		(“C grade) =		2
				16 total		56 total quality points

A student has the right to appeal decisions regarding the final grade(s) in a specific course. Before initiating a petition for appeal, the student should attempt to resolve the problem directly with the professor and/or area coordinator/department head. Steps in the grade appeal process are as follows:

1. The student submits a written statement to the professor’s school dean within six weeks setting forth the complaint, efforts to resolve it, and supporting evidence or justification for the complaint. The dean, on receipt of this petition, should provide a copy of the complaint to the professor or person concerned.

2. The dean will appoint a committee* to review the written statement from the student, secure additional information that the student may have, and to hear and examine evidence and information that the professor of the person concerned may have in support of his decision. Both the student and the professor shall each receive reasonable notice of the hearing before the faculty committee and be permitted to be present at the hearing. In addition, the parties shall have the right to present evidence and to examine any witnesses who should testify. The committee then makes a recommendation to the dean, along with all of the supporting data, and the dean renders a decision in the case, which is immediately communicated in writing to the student, the person(s) concerned, and the committee.

3. If the student or the person(s) concerned is dissatisfied with the decision of the professor’s school dean, the student may appeal to the vice president for academic affairs. If this is done, the vice president for academic affairs will review all of the information and, if the vice president wishes, refer it to a committee** to investigate the situation further and recommend action, and then render a decision in the case which is to be communicated to the student, the person(s) concerned, the dean, and the members of the committee participating in the case.

*This committee may have representation from other academic schools as well as other professionals who have expertise in the particular discipline under discussion.

**Composed of four faculty representatives and graduate student(s).

THE GRADE APPEAL MUST BE INITIATED WITHIN SIX (6) WEEKS OF THE DATE CLASSES END.

Fall Semester (14-15 weeks) August - December
Spring Semester (14-15 weeks) January - April
Summer Session (12-13 weeks) May -August

A student is required to maintain an honor code. Charges of cheating on tests or examinations, plagiarism in the production of written papers, other products or processes subjects the student to disciplinary action by the faculty and administration. As members of an academic community, which places a high value on truth and the pursuit of knowledge, students are expected to be honest in every phase of their academic life and to present as their own work only that which is genuinely theirs. Students have the responsibility to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and to refrain from cheating, plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty. Students who are academically dishonest undermine the integrity of the University. If students receive recognition through academic dishonesty, the value of the degrees is diminished, and the reputations of the University and its graduates are jeopardized. Thus, academic dishonesty not only hurts the University, it is unfair to other students.

When there is reason to suspect a student has violated either a University policy on academic honesty, or the instructor’s specific codes as found in the course syllabus, the instructor should discuss the charges and the evidence with the student, preferably in private. Without taking punitive action, the instructor will submit a written report to the school dean through the department head. The report of the instructor should include such information as the instructor’s charge against the student, evidence supporting the instructor’s charge, and a summary of the discussion between the student and the instructor, including any admission or denial of guilt.

Upon receipt of the instructor’s report, the school dean will inform the student in writing of his/her right to a hearing and enclose a copy of the instructor’s entire report. The student will not be permitted to withdraw from a course during such investigation. If the student does not request a hearing by the school dean, the dean will notify the instructor and the student of the consequence, with a copy to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. If the student chooses to appeal the dean⬔s decision:

1. The student will be permitted five school days from receipt of the dean’s letter to request an appeal before the Administrative Panel. The letter requesting the appeal shall be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

2. If the request for appeal is granted, then the Vice President for Student Affairs will schedule a hearing.

3. At the appeal hearing, all parties will have an opportunity to respond to the charges, to present evidence and/or argument on all issues involved, and to present rebuttal evidence. The hearing will be conducted in an informal but orderly manner.

4. The decision of the Administrative Panel is considered to be final

Assignments and coursework should incorporate to the greatest extent possible action research and collaborative learning to facilitate the higher levels of cognitive processes including application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation.

Students within the School of Graduate Studies will be assigned a major advisor by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Dean of the School having responsibility for the graduate program. The advisor will advise the student on his/her academic program and will monitor his/her progress through it. Academic advisors will also serve as the major thesis advisor for the student. The student, however, is responsible for meeting the requirements stated in the Graduate Catalog.

Office Hours. Each faculty member is available a minimum of 10 office hours a week for consultation and advisement of students. Office hours are posted in the academic offices.

Virtual Office Hours. Faculty members in online courses and programs are available a minimum of two virtual office hour per week per course for consultation and advisement of students. Virtual faculty office hours are posted on course syllabi and on course website.

Add: A course may be added only during the official “Change of Program” period from the first day of classes to the last day of the add period as defined in the University calendar and/or registration instructions. Approval of the student’s academic advisor is necessary before any course change.

Drop: A course may be dropped from the first day of classes to the last day of the drop period as defined in the University calendar or registration instructions. Approval by the student’s academic advisor is necessary. The teacher has the option to drop a student from the class roster up to mid-term (except for general education mathematics, English, reading and freshman seminar) for reasons of unexcused absences. The drop policy, therefore, does not apply to general education courses in mathematics, English, reading, and freshman seminar

“W” (withdrawal) is given only when a student has withdrawn from the University by filing the proper forms which may be obtained from the guidance department in Career Services and turned in to Office of the Registrar upon obtaining proper signatures. Site coordinators are responsible for students withdrawing at sites, through the Office of the Registrar. If a student is compelled to withdraw from University because of illness or other conditions beyond control, a grade of “W” will be given. Proper procedure must be followed by the student or proxy for withdrawal. Failure to withdraw properly will result in the grade of “F”.

There is a need to adhere to competency indicators in assuring student development and evaluation. Quality assessment indicators include but are not limited to student learning outcomes, course evaluations, faculty evaluations, program evaluations, and student/employee-employer assessments.

Students should expect a 48 hour turn-around time for responses to questions relating to online courses unless the faculty member has notified the students that he or she will be unavailable, in which case, no examinations or other assignment deadlines may be imposed within the time the instructor is unavailable.

Students must have fully met their financial obligations to the school before taking final examinations. Students who are in default must clear their balances and present a clearance slip to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies before they will be allowed to take final exams. A student who fails to produce a clearance slip will receive an incomplete (“SI”) grade for the class provided that the student is passing the course.

As a general rule, the student should spend at least two hours studying for every hour of classroom instruction. For online coursework, the student is expected to spend even more time studying in order to infuse readings, reflection and application into the workplace or internship. Online courses require organization and dedication. Students should expect to spend some time every day online and in study. Procrastination will lead to failure because of the intense reading, writing and response requirements. If a student finds himself/herself behind in a course, it is incumbent upon him/her to contact the instructor immediately, in order to work out a plan to catch up.