Undergraduate Academic Standards
Policies
The College’s Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee meets at the conclusion of each semester to review all undergraduate students’ academic progress and applies the policies described below to make decisions about their academic status.
Good Standing: Freshmen with a cumulative grade point average of 1.70 or higher and sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher are defined as being in good academic standing and therefore immune from academic probation or suspension for academic reasons except under extraordinary circumstances.
Academic Alert: All students whose semester grade point average falls below a 2.0 will receive an academic alert letter, even when their cumulative grade point average is a 2.0 or higher.
Academic Probation: Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below the applicable good academic standing minimums cited above is automatically subject to academic probation or suspension the following semester. Students placed on probation may continue their studies the subsequent semester contingent upon their signing a required Academic Probation Contract which limits them to 12 credits. A probationary semester is designed to give students the opportunity to take corrective action and progressively demonstrate their ability to meet the College’s academic standards. Academic probation is not subject to appeal.
Failure to sign a probationary contract or comply with the conditions of it on a regular basis are grounds for administrative withdrawal from the college at any time during the contract period.
Failure to fulfill all the specific conditions of the probationary contract may affect the Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee’s decision regarding continued probation or suspension for students who do not return to good standing at the conclusion of the probationary semester.
The Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee determines probation at its discretion on a case-by-case basis. Committee members may skip probation and decide to suspend a student.
Normally, the Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee will not grant any student more than two semesters of academic probation during her/his academic career at the college before suspending her/him. The Committee will award a third probationary semester only if extraordinary, documented mitigating circumstances apply.
Suspension: The Undergraduate Academic Standards Committee has the discretion to suspend students who fail to maintain good standing rather than offer academic probation. Suspension is automatic for students unable to return to good standing after two consecutive semesters on academic probation.
Appeal Process: Reinstatement from suspension is not automatic, but based on a careful consideration of available evidence regarding academic performance.
Students may seek immediate reinstatement or wait for a full semester or longer to pursue it. Students denied immediate reinstatement must wait one full semester before appealing again. The academic dean’s decision regarding reinstatement is final.
Immediate Reinstatement
Students seeking reinstatement must submit an appeal letter to the appropriate academic dean in the Office of Academic Affairs. The letter should (a) explain mitigating circumstances that may have affected one’s academic performance, (b) make a compelling case for reinstatement and (c) outline a plan for improving one’s academic performance.
Students suspended in January who seek immediate reinstatement for the following spring semester must submit their appeal letter to the dean within five working days after receipt of the college’s suspension letter. Students suspended in June who seek immediate reinstatement for the following fall semester must submit their appeal letter no later than August 15 of the calendar year. Students seeking reinstatement after a period of more than one semester on suspension should contact the dean at least two weeks before the start of the semester in which they wish to return.
Delayed Reinstatement
Any student experiencing a period of absence because of suspension is encouraged to take steps to prepare for a successful return to Medaille if reinstated. Steps might include passing new courses at another accredited college or university (see Undergraduate Catalog for college policies on transfer credits and repeating a course), enrolling in academic skills workshops, or obtaining tutorial assistance. In addition, evidence of intellectual and personal growth through work, community service, counseling, or other means would strengthen a student’s reinstatement appeal.
Academic Performance Contract: Any student reinstated from suspension must sign a special academic performance contract prepared by the Office of Academic Affairs. Failure to meet the terms of the academic performance contract at the end of the semester will result in automatic suspension. Failure to comply with the conditions of the contract during the semester may result in the contract being revoked at any time and the student administratively withdrawn from the college.
Reinstated students making substantial academic progress while under a performance contract may have their reinstatement automatically continued for a second consecutive semester in order to give them reasonable time to return to good academic standing.
Academic Fresh Start Policy
The policy offers a second chance for students who previously experienced serious academic difficulty to earn a baccalaureate degree through a fresh start.
Eligibility
After a minimum absence of five consecutive years, students suspended or dismissed for academic reasons or who voluntarily withdrew because of unsatisfactory academic performance may seek readmission to the College through this policy.
The request to be readmitted through the Fresh Start policy should be made to the Registrar’s Office. Requests will be referred to the Office of Academic Affairs for a decision.
Individuals seeking readmission under this policy must present, in letter form, a thoughtful educational plan that includes educational and career goals, strategies for achieving them, and evidence of personal growth and change since their previous enrollment. The plan should also include evidence of academic preparedness to succeed (e.g., learning through work experience or community service, transcript of college-level courses completed at other accredited postsecondary institutions, private tutoring).
Policy Conditions
A student readmitted under the Fresh Start policy is subject to the following conditions, without exception:
The student begins her/his new re-entry coursework with a GPA of 0.00.
Previous grades will not be calculated into the student’s cumulative reentry GPA except for purposes of calculating student eligibility for college honors.
All prior coursework and grades remain a permanent part of the student’s official Medaille College transcript.
The beginning date of the Fresh Start will be entered on the student’s official transcript.
The student must complete all the current, published college-wide and program-specific matriculation requirements in effect at the time of her/his re-admission.
Previous credits earned with a C- or higher grade will be counted toward the fulfillment of current degree requirements, if applicable.
Academic Fresh Start may be granted only once.
Students re-admitted under Fresh Start are subject to all other existing academic policies and practices, including those governing academic alert, probation, suspension, and dismissal. However, instances of probation, suspension, or dismissal prior to Fresh Start reentry will not be counted in future decisions regarding the student’s academic status.
The policy does not apply to a student’s financial aid history and eligibility.
Students should be aware that many graduate and professional schools will compute an applicant’s cumulative undergraduate GPA on all hours attempted, not just those completed under Fresh Start.
Students who are granted the privilege of Fresh Start must complete a minimum of 30 credits in new or repeated courses at Medaille prior to graduation.
All courses taken at Medaille will be used to calculate eligibility for college honors at commencement.
The Office of Academic Affairs reserves the right to rescind the Fresh Start policy if a student fails to meet minimum academic progress standards or violates any of the conditions of this policy.
Attendance
Regular attendance is expected in all classes and academic activities related to a course (e.g., field trips) unless otherwise specified. Individual faculty members establish the specific attendance requirements for their courses.
Medaille College subscribes to the “Guidelines on Students and Religious Observance” adopted by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities. Absence does not excuse a student from course work and responsibility for its completion.
Excessive absences are detrimental to student learning and performance, and it may affect certain types of financial aid.
Discontinuance of attendance in a course or courses does not constitute an official withdrawal. Students intending to withdraw from classes must file the appropriate paperwork with administrative offices. Withdrawal forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.
Course Syllabus Policy
At the beginning of every course, the instructor distributes a written course syllabus to all students taking the course. The syllabus describes the objectives and content for the course and the method by which students' work will be evaluated for grades. Make sure you keep all of your syllabi so that you may refer to them throughout the semester.
The Evaluation of Students' Work
An evaluation system is required for each course. Examinations are ordinarily part of the evaluation system, but alternative methods of overall evaluation may be employed. At the first class period of the semester or module, the instructor will inform students through the course syllabus of the type of evaluation system that will be used for that course throughout the semester.
Academic Decorum
Medaille College does not tolerate sexual or racial harassment of students or employees by College faculty, staff, or students. Students are legally protected from such activity by both state and federal legislation and are asked to report any occurrence to the Academic Affairs Office without fear of recrimination.
The College does not tolerate immature or abusive behavior in the classroom setting. Upon receipt of a written complaint from the instructor, the Vice President for Academic Affairs may immediately remove the student from the class. The Vice President for Academic Affairs (or appropriate college dean) and the Vice President for Student Affairs will review the evidence and render a final decision within 30 days.
Academic Integrity
Medaille College expects all students to complete their academic assignments with honesty and integrity. Students who engage in any form of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism on an essay, cheating on a test, forging a signature or an entire college document) will be dealt with severely, with penalties ranging from an F on an assignment to failing a course or even academic suspension.
Students should consult their Student Handbook for full details on the College's policy and procedures for handling formal charges of academic dishonesty. The full policy is also on the College Web site.
Academic Grievance Procedure
Should a student wish to resolve an academically related conflict with an instructor, the Academic Grievance Procedure should be followed. The student should attempt to resolve the conflict directly with the instructor, if possible. If the conflict cannot be resolved between student and instructor, the student should bring the problem to the chairperson of the instructor's department. If still not resolved, the contact the appropriate college dean in writing. The decision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (or his/her designee) is final for all academic matters.
Grade Appeal
Students wishing to appeal a final grade in a course must do so in writing within 60 days of the semester's grade report. This written appeal should be directed to the instructor of the course in question; then, the instructor's department chairperson and, thereafter, the Vice President for Academic Affairs or the appropriate college dean.
Course Prerequisites
Course prerequisites may be waived only by the consent of the faculty member teaching the course and the appropriate department chairperson. The department chairperson’s decision is final. In situations where a course instructor is TBD, only the department chairperson’s approval is required.
A signed, approved Course Prerequisite Waiver Form must be received in the Registrar’s Office before a student is allowed to register for the course in question. Forms are available from the Registrar’s Office, the Advisement Center, and from department secretaries.
Course Numbering
Course numbers indicate the following:
- 100-299 undergraduate, lower division courses, primarily for freshmen and sophomores
- 300-499 undergraduate, upper division courses, primarily for juniors and seniors
- 500-599 graduate, primarily foundation courses
- 600-699 graduate, advanced courses
Placement
The following are overall placement results from the graduating class of 2004, the class for which the most recent data is available:
Graduates Employed: 93%
Graduates enrolled in further education: 13%
Total Overall Placement: 96%
Information regarding completion rates and other student data is available upon request from Medaille College's Office of Institutional Research and Planning.
