Academic
Policies
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Academic
Policies
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SOU CATALOG HOME : ACADEMIC POLICIES
The Academic Standards Committee has discretionary authority to suspend, place on probation, or warn undergraduate students not achieving progress toward completion of their educational programs. Students are considered to be in good academic standing when both quarter and cumulative grade point averages (GPA) are 2.0 or higher. The SOU cumulative GPA is based on SOU coursework only.
Freshmen students whose last quarter GPA or cumulative GPA has fallen below 2.0 are given an academic warning. This warning, noted on the grade report, notifies students that they must achieve a minimum 2.0 within the next two quarters and thereafter until they achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Failure to do this results in academic suspension. This information is sent in a letter to students immediately following the grade report which notes "freshmen warning." Students are asked to make an appointment with a faculty advisor for assistance identifying sources of difficulty and determining appropriate actions or services. Students receiving a freshmen warning should not enroll for more than 14 credits.
Students with more than 45 credits whose last quarter GPAs or cumulative GPAs have fallen below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. This status, noted on the grade report, serves as a warning that they must achieve a minimum 2.0 in the current quarter and thereafter until they achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Failure to do this results in academic suspension. This information is sent in a letter to students immediately following the grade report which notes academic probation. Students are asked to make an appointment with a faculty advisor for assistance identifying sources of difficulty and determining appropriate actions or services. Students on academic probation should not enroll for more than 14 credits.
Academic suspension means students are not allowed to enroll in courses for a period of one academic year, with the exception of summer school classes. To resume studies, students must petition the Academic Standards Committee through the Office of the Registrar. The petition should include evidence of a change in the circumstances, attitudes, or goals that led to the initial suspension. In unusual cases or cases where clear evidence of change is provided before the passage of a full year, the committee has the right to reduce the suspension.
The minimum number of credits for regular students is 12 and the maximum is 18, including correspondence and extension. These limits may be extended under the following conditions: Undergraduate students may take up to 21 credits, providing they have a 3.0 grade point average either the preceding term or a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Special approval must be obtained from their academic advisor if an excess of 18 credits is desired. During the eight-week summer term, students may take up to 15 credits.
Students planning to graduate are encouraged to apply for graduation at least two terms in advance of the term they plan to complete the degree requirements.A fee of $25 is charged to all students applying to graduate from Southern Oregon University.
While a student may graduate at the close of any term, formal commencement exercises are held only at the end of spring term. Degrees and diplomas are not awarded until the student has fully met graduation requirements and fulfilled all financial obligations to the Institution.
Commencement for Summer Graduates. Students who are planning to complete undergraduate degree requirements during a summer session may participate in the June commencement ceremony providing their degree application has been approved.
Students graduating with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to receive graduation honors. The honors are listed on students' transcripts and diplomas. In determining GPA for graduation honors, the registrar includes all coursework completed at SOU and other accredited institutions. This is an exception to the general policy for determining GPA (see page 29). Honors are as follows:Cum Laude - 3.50
Magna Cum Laude - 3.75
Summa Cum Laude - 3.90
Students must meet all degree requirements from one SOU catalog. The catalog may be chosen from the year students are first admitted and enrolled or from any subsequent year of enrollment. However, at the time of graduation the catalog chosen may not be more than eight years old.
Students must meet all requirements for the major including supportive coursework from the catalog chosen. However, departments that make significant changes in major requirements may establish alternative courses to meet these requirements.
Freshman has not accumulated more than 44 credits applicable toward a scholastic objective at the time of the last enrollment.Sophomore has accumulated at least 45 credits but not more than 89 credits.
Junior has accumulated at least 90 credits but not more than 134 credits.
Senior has accumulated at least 135 credits toward the scholastic objective but has not yet been awarded the baccalaureate degree.
Graduate may be classified as:
Post baccalaureate pursuing a program not leading to a master's degree.
Post baccalaureate nongraduate a holder of an accredited baccalaureate degree who has not been admitted to a graduate degree program and who submits an official application for admission to pursue a second baccalaureate degree or enroll in coursework not to be used for graduate credit.
Grad-master admitted to a master's degree program.
Non admitted student either an undergraduate or graduate not admitted to the University, not working towards a degree or certification, and not enrolled for more than 8 credits.
Course prerequisites are designed to ensure that students registered for a course have the required minimum background for study of the course content. This background may be obtained through courses equivalent to the listed prerequisites or through other educational experiences. In such cases, students should consult the instructor. Each instructor has the authority to admit to their course students who have a background equivalent to the listed prerequisites.
Classes with fewer than ten students will be cancelled.
An undergraduate student may earn a double major if all of the requirements for the two majors are met. This includes general education, school, and departmental requirements of the curricula represented by the majors.This policy applies to the following majors: art, biology, business, chemistry, communication, computer science, criminology, economics, English, geography, geology, history, international studies, mathematics, music, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish, and theatre (BFA).
Southern Oregon University uses letter grades and the four point maximum grading scale. The grade of A is the highest possible grade. Plus (+) or minus (-) symbols are used to indicate grades that fall above or below the letter grades. For purposes of calculating grade points and averages, the plus (+) is equal to .3 and the minus (-) to .7 (e.g., a grade of B+ is equivalent to 3.3 and B- is equivalent to 2.7). The following grades are used at SOU.Grade Grade Points
A 4.0 (exceptional accomplishment)
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0 (superior)
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0 (average)
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0 (inferior)
D- 0.7
F 0.0 (failure)
Other grades are:
E - final exam not taken. The E is assigned when a student fails to take a final examination. Unless the grade is changed by the instructor, it automatically changes to an F at the end of the next regular term.
I - incomplete. When the quality of work is satisfactory but the course has not been completed for reasons acceptable to the instructor, a report of I is made. The student has a maximum of one calendar year to complete the course requirements. An I automatically changes to an F after twelve months.
P - pass (equal to C- or above)
NP - no pass
WP - withdrawn passing. Assigned if the student withdraws after the sixth week and by Monday of dead week, and if the quality of work is sufficient to warrant a grade of D- or higher.
WF - withdrawn failing. Assigned if the student withdraws after the sixth week and by Monday of dead week, and if the quality of work warrants a failing grade. A WF is not counted when determining grade point average.
X - no basis for grade. Could be used in the following situation: If the student has not come to class for a long time (e.g., only took the first exam) but is still on the roster at the end of the quarter.W - withdrawn. Appears on the grading register when the student formally withdraws from school during the first six weeks of the term and is not responsible for a grade.
Grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. Grades of E, I, P, NP, W, WP, WF, and X do not carry grade points and the credits are not calculated into the GPA. Credits attempted for F grades are calculated into the GPA. Only grades earned at SOU are used to calculate quarterly or cumulative grade point averages. The following example illustrates computation of the GPA:
Course Credits Grade Grade Points Wr 122 3 A 12.0 Bi 103 3 C- 5.1 Soc 204 3 B+ 9.9 Mth 112 4 B 12.0 PE 180 1 P 0.0
Credits with grade points (13) divided into total grade points earned (39) = GPA (3.0).
Total credits earned (14).
Students who fail to do satisfactory work are required to repeat the course if credit is desired. When a course is repeated, the most recent grade is used for computing the cumulative grade point average, regardless of earlier grades. It is the students' responsibility to request adjustment of grade point averages using the forms provided in the Office of the Registrar.
1. A student is permitted to enroll in one course per term that is graded pass/no pass. A course is a subject or an instructional subdivision of a subject offered during a single term.
The definition of one course (as stated in the catalog) may include two courses normally taken concurrently to produce an integrated treatment of the subject, such as a lecture course on principles coordinated with a laboratory course on applications. A specific example is Ch 201 with Ch 204. Such pairs are considered for pass/no pass grading only when taken concurrently.
Departments indicate in the Class Schedule if the course is available for the pass/no pass option.
2. Students have until Friday of the seventh week of the term to declare a pass/no pass option or to change to the A-F grading method.3. The criteria for a pass are the same as those for earning at least a C- grade in the course.
4. Instructors submit conventional grades for all students; the registrar is responsible for converting these grades to pass or no pass when applicable.
5. Pass or no pass is entered on students' transcripts, and the credits successfully completed count toward graduation. Credits recorded as pass or no pass are not, however, included in the computation of the grade point average.
6. A maximum of twelve courses taken at Southern Oregon University on the pass/no pass option can be applied toward requirements in a total undergraduate program. Not more than three courses may be taken pass/no pass in any one department or under any one prefix not in an organized department.
7. Courses required by students' major department may be included in the pass/no pass option with prior approval of the major department. Each degree program publishes lists of such courses.
8. In addition to any other pass/no pass courses, students are permitted to enroll each academic term in one departmentally approved activities course on a pass/no pass basis. Activities courses are broadly defined and include many options, principally in journalism, music, physical education, speech, and theatre arts. Such courses are designated in the Class Schedule.
9. Pass/no pass grading may not be used for graduate credit courses.
10. Courses offered at the University only on a pass/no pass or pass/fail basis are not subject to the listed limitations.
A student can choose to take a class for audit with permission of the instructor. The student is not required to do any of the coursework and does not receive a grade. Classes are often audited if they are not needed for graduation and if the student is interested in learning the course material, but not in earning a grade. There is no fee reduction for auditing a class.
A minor normally consists of 21 to 30 credits in a subject field outside the major. The minor typically includes 12 to 18 credits of upper division coursework and lower division courses needed as a foundation for the upper division part of the minor program.The total requirements for a minor depend on the structure of the academic discipline, the prerequisites for required courses, and students' starting level in the discipline.
Students contemplating a minor should carefully study the list of required courses and prerequisites and consult an advisor in the academic unit that has jurisdiction over the minor. This advisor must approve the program for the minor and completion of course requirements with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
A minor is optional in the Southern Oregon University subject matter degree programs. These minors are not required for the subject matter degrees, but students may elect to complete one or more. Students list their minors on their applications for graduation and, after certification by the appropriate academic units, these are entered on their transcripts.
Courses required for a major, but that are outside the department granting the major (i.e., supporting courses) may count toward a minor as well as toward the requirements for the major. Courses used for a minor may also be used to satisfy the general education requirements.
Students must complete at least 9 credits of upper division coursework toward an optional minor while in residence at SOU.
Students within 9 credits of completing a bachelor's degree at SOU may, with the consent of the school dean, enroll in approved courses for graduate credit. Students must carry a 3.0 GPA cumulatively and in the major.This graduate credit may not be counted toward a baccalaureate degree, but may become a part of an advanced degree program or a planned fifth year in education after completion of baccalaureate degree requirements (when approved by the department and school). Reserved graduate credit is limited to a total of 12 credits earned over a period of not more than three terms of enrollment. Application forms for reserved graduate credit are available in the Graduate Affairs Office or from the school dean.
For the baccalaureate degree, students are required to complete 45 of the last 60 credits at SOU with the last term completed on the SOU campus. These two requirements are waived for students enrolled in selected preprofessional programs. Consult individual preprofessional program advisors to determine if a particular program is approved for this waiver.Credits earned by extension work or awarded through Prior Learning are not eligible for residence credit.
Students must complete at least 15 credits of upper division coursework toward the major in residence at SOU.
Students must complete at least 9 credits of upper division coursework toward an optional minor while in residence at SOU.
Students may be granted a second bachelor's degree, concurrently or consecutively, provided they meet the requirements for both degrees and complete an additional 36 undergraduate credits on campus. (45 credits are required if the first degree was not granted by Southern Oregon University.)If the first bachelor's degree is from an accredited institution, as determined by SOU's Admissions Office, the general education requirements for the second bachelor's degree are waived.
Students interested in a second major should refer to the catalog section on double majors, page 28. A double major does not qualify students for a second baccalaureate degree unless they have achieved the additional credits required.
The veterans' clerk certifies veterans' attendance at Southern Oregon University. All veterans, whether new, returning, or transfer students, who expect to receive benefits from the Veterans Administration must notify the veterans' clerk in the Office of the Registrar. The veterans' clerk also administers the progress standards for students who are receiving VA benefits. In addition to the Ashland campus, SOU's Medford campus at the Mary Phipps Center is an approved site for veterans.Progress standards for veterans and other persons receiving federal Veterans Administration educational benefits at SOU are defined as follows:
1. Southern Oregon University has the capability and responsibility to report that veterans are satisfactorily pursuing their education objectives.
2. All undergraduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 to graduate. Less than a 2.0 GPA constitutes unsatisfactory progress.
3. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. A grade of D is not considered satisfactory.
4. Students must complete all drop and withdrawal procedures within the first four weeks of each term. Students withdrawing or dropping after the start of the fifth week may be subject to the noncompliance provisions of the Satisfactory Progress Standards.
5. VA benefits are paid according to the number of credits in courses specifically required for the student's major according to the following number of credit hours:
Status Undergraduate Graduate Full time 12 9 3/4 time 9-11 7-8 1/2 time 6-8 5-6 Less than 1/2 5 or less* 4 or less* *Minimum of 3 credits must be taken.
These requirements are for fall, winter, and spring terms. For summer certification, veterans must check with the veterans' clerk concerning credits required.
6. Students receiving VA educational benefits at Southern Oregon University must make satisfactory progress toward their certified educational objectives.
Veterans not meeting the satisfactory progress requirements are notified at the end of each term and placed on probationary status relative to receipt of VA educational benefits. This probationary period will not exceed one term in length. Any veteran placed on probationary status is referred to the counseling center.
Veteran students are not considered to have made satisfactory progress when they withdraw from all courses undertaken, and the VA will be notified.
7. Veterans are permitted to take any deficiency course once. Those finding it necessary to repeat deficiency courses more than once are required to obtain the recommendation of their academic advisors and the approval of the veterans' clerk.
8. The Veterans Administration is notified by Southern Oregon University within 30 days of any change in status or of any failure to meet satisfactory progress.
9. The veteran is responsible for notifying the veterans' clerk of any of the following:
a) Advance registration for any future term;
b) Change of school and/or major;
c) Adds or drops which might change student status;
d) All withdrawals from courses or from the University; and
e) Any change of address.
10. A copy of this statement is distributed to a new veteran at the time of first enrollment.