Upon enrollment, graduate students accept responsibility to
remain current on policies and regulations set forth by their programs of study
and the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. Current regulations and
policies are updated annually and published in the Graduate Catalog.
Further explanations and clarification are readily available from the College
of Graduate and Professional Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/.
Advising
Changes to Policies and Programs of
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs
Comprehensive Examinations
Continuous Enrollment
Course Completion Deadlines
Course Credits
Course Levels
Dissertation and Thesis Research
Doctoral Candidacy Request
General Appeal Process
Grade Appeal Procedures
Grading System
Graduation
Honor System
Off-Campus Courses
Office of the Registrar
Teaching Licenses
Thesis Requirements
University Residency Requirements
Withdrawal
Confidentiality of Education Records
Advising
Faculty Advisers
All students admitted into to
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs are assigned faculty
advisers. Graduate program coordinators/directors or designated members of the
graduate faculty serve as faculty advisers.
After admission, students must
meet with their advisers to select initial course work and plan their programs
of study. Students should consult with their faculty adviser(s) to plan
programs of study prior to initial registration. Advisers are also available to
oversee subsequent changes in the student’s program of study and to conduct the
final examination and other phases of the specific requirements for the
graduate degree.
Changes
to Policies and Programs of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs
The graduate degree
requirements found in this catalog set the minimum standards acceptable by the
JMU College of Graduate and Professional Programs. The university endeavors to
provide note of any change, through the advising process, or through other
means of communications; however, it is the responsibility of each individual
student to become and remain aware of all applicable requirements and
provisions that may apply to the student.
It is the prerogative of each
academic unit to make changes in programs at any time prior to graduation. It
is common practice, however, for students to complete the program requirements
as described in the catalog for the year in which they entered their program.
Students should inquire as to the specific policy of their graduate program.
Exceptions to Regulations
Exceptions to any of the
published rules and regulations cited within the Graduate Catalog may be
requested by petition to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Such petitions must be initiated by the graduate student with the
written approval of the student’s adviser or graduate coordinator and must
mention the regulation and justify completely the exception being requested.
Comprehensive Examinations
A formal assessment of
mastery, a comprehensive written and/or oral exam, designed to appraise the
student’s competence is required of each JMU student in order to complete his
or her program of graduate study. The format and timing of this assessment is
at the discretion of the graduate program, provided it fairly and adequately
documents the knowledge and skills the student has acquired. The content of the
comprehensive exam should accurately reflect the content of the student’s
academic program. The exam should require the integration and synthesis of what
has been learned by the student. The student must demonstrate a breadth of
knowledge in the discipline and depth in specific content areas to be
determined by the graduate program faculty.
A comprehensive examination
involving a major/minor program cannot be taken until at least six credit hours
in the minor program have been completed; approximately a third of the
comprehensive examination will be devoted to the minor field. Students will be
notified, in writing, of success or failure of the comprehensive examination by
their major program or academic unit adviser.
Comprehensive Examination Committees
Each graduate program must
have a comprehensive examination committee for the program and/or for the
individual student. Individual student comprehensive committees are selected by
the student in consultation with the graduate program coordinator and/or
program adviser. Each comprehensive exam committee must consist of at least
three JMU graduate faculty members with the background and interest necessary
to evaluate the mastery of the student. At least two members must be from the
student’s graduate program.
Non-graduate faculty members
of the comprehensive exam committee, which may include persons external to the
university, must be approved by the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Such members shall make up no more than one-third of the total
committee membership. Graduate instructors may also be appointed to committees
with the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs, but only when their expertise clearly qualifies them; however, their
appointment must be in addition to the required number of graduate faculty
members.
Graduate students may not
serve on the comprehensive examination committees. Only a graduate faculty
member from the student’s graduate program may chair a comprehensive
examination committee.
Comprehensive Examination Failure
In the event a student fails
the comprehensive examination, the student may request a re-examination. Unless
there are extenuating circumstances, the re-examination must occur within six
months of the date of failure. Only one re-examination will be allowed. Cases
involving extenuating circumstances must be raised or supported by the graduate
program faculty and presented in writing to the dean of the relevant college
for approval. If a student fails the second comprehensive examination, his or
her graduate program will be terminated.
Comprehensive Examination Continuance
Students completing all degree
requirements except the comprehensive examination are required to enroll each
semester until they have passed the comprehensive examination. Students must
register for comprehensive continuance credit hours during those semesters in
which they are engaged in preparation for the comprehensive examination. NOTE:
The continuous enrollment course GRAD 597 cannot be used as a comprehensive
continence course. Credit hours for comprehensive continuance do not count
toward graduate program requirements.
Continuous Enrollment
All students enrolled in
graduate degree programs must enroll each regular semester for a minimum of one
graduate credit hour. This registration must continue with no breaks from
enrollment in the first graduate program course to graduation. This policy does
not include summer sessions.
It is preferable that students
enroll in courses relevant to their graduate program to facilitate timely
completion. If it is not possible to do so, however, the College of Graduate
and Professional Programs has established a one-credit continuous enrollment course,
GRAD 597. The tuition for this course is $50.00. No grade will be assigned for
this course.
GRAD 597. Continuance. 1 credit.
To remain in good standing in their program,
all graduate students must maintain continuous enrollment each semester in their
program from entry until graduation. This course allows those students who are
not intending to register for any other courses during the current semester to
continue in their program in good standing. Course may be repeated as needed.
It is possible to receive an
exemption from the Continuous Enrollment requirement. There are two possible
types of exemption from the continuous enrollment requirement:
Leave of
Absence: Continuous Enrollment is granted in individual cases when the
student demonstrates sufficient cause (e.g. illness, or other personal
circumstances). A request for this type of leave must be submitted by the
student in writing (electronic mail is sufficient), indicating the reason(s).
The student’s request must be approved by the graduate coordinator of
the student’s program and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Leave of Absence: Continuous Enrollment is granted for a specified
time period that may not exceed three semesters total, excluding summer
session. In no case, may on-leave status exceed this maximum throughout the
student’s entire degree program. When students on leave plan to resume graduate
study, the Intent to Resume Graduate Study form must be received by the College
of Graduate and Professional Programs at least 15 working days prior to the
first class day of the return semester.
Planned Leave of Absence
is granted to students for whom the unique design of their graduate program
(not the manner in which they choose to complete their program) is such that
the offering of courses is not on a continuous semester-to-semester basis.
Planned Leave of Absence for students in a program is requested by the program
faculty and must be approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs. Examples of programs suited for Planned Leave of Absence
includes summer-only programs, program using a distance learning format, and
“executive” programs. It is assumed that these programs will not require the
continuous enrollment exemption for the entire length of the program. Thus,
students whose graduate programs are pre-approved for Planned Leave of Absence
must submit a Request for Planned Leave of Absence indicating each term for
which leave is requested. It is also assumed that these students will complete
all degree requirements within the time limits established in the Graduate
Catalog.
Both leaves must be approved
by the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs.
A graduate student who takes
an unapproved break in registration by failing to maintain continuous
enrollment or by failing to obtain a Leave of Absence: Continuous Enrollment
will relinquish his or her graduate standing in the university. Students who
wish to be reinstated will be required to file an Application for Graduate
Admission and pay the admission fee.
The following are
circumstances for which GRAD 597 is not appropriate:
During the graduation
semester. A student cannot use GRAD
597 as the enrollment requirement during the semester he or she is scheduled to
graduate. All graduate students must be enrolled in a course in their program,
such as thesis or dissertation continuance, during the semester they are
scheduled to graduate.
While completing a
dissertation or thesis. If a
student’s graduation must be delayed a semester while he or she is completing a
dissertation or thesis, he or she should register for thesis or dissertation
continuance. GRAD 597 is not an option since the student will continue to
receive feedback from the adviser and committee members while the thesis or
dissertation is being completed.
When an “I” is received in
a course during the anticipated graduation semester. If a student is scheduled to graduate but receives an
“I” in a course, the student will not officially graduate until the course is
completed. Because all course work must be completed by the final date of the
student’s graduation semester, a student failing to meet the deadline will not
officially graduate until the following semester. The solution existing in the
first example applies. Students must register for at least one hour of thesis
or dissertation continuance, comprehensive continuance, reading and research,
or other course option appropriate to their program of study.
Except for extenuating
circumstances requiring approval from the Dean of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs, time spent in on-leave status will be included in all
time limits pertaining to the student’s degree program.
Students in on-leave status
may not:
§ use any university facilities,
§ make demands upon faculty time,
§ receive a fellowship or financial aid, or
§ take course work of any kind at JMU.
Course Completion Deadlines
All course work must be
completed by the final date of the student’s final semester. Students failing
to meet the deadline will have their names removed from the current graduation
list and their degrees dated the following semester. Consult the calendar
online at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar or in this catalog for exact dates.
Course Credits
Academic Loads
|
Status
|
Credit
Hours
|
|
Full time
|
9 or more
|
|
Three-quarter
time
|
6
|
|
Half time
|
5
|
|
Less than half time
|
4 or less
|
The classification of
students, i.e. full time, etc. in graduate programs is often considered in
determining payment deferment on undergraduate student loans, eligibility for
insurance benefits, etc.
The following academic load
guidelines apply to all categories of graduate assistants.
§ All categories of graduate assistants must
carry nine graduate credit hours each semester in order to receive their
stipend and tuition support.
§ All categories of graduate assistants must
pay for any additional credit hours above those paid for by their
assistantships.
§
No graduate assistant may take fewer than the required
credit hours without prior written approval from the dean of the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs. The Underload Request Form can be obtained
from the College of Graduate and Professional Programs Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/gradforms.shtml
or from the CGOP office. This underload of classes is permitted only once
during a student’s graduate career and can be for no less than 6 credit hours.
§ Graduate assistantship tuition funds do not
cover any undergraduate course work.
For their courses to be covered by their assistantship, all
graduate assistants must enroll each semester during the regular registration
period(s) and prior to the tuition refund date as outlined in the Registration
and Student Record Services Handbook and online at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar. Students
who register for any additional courses after this time period will be held
personally responsible for additional tuition and fees. Students who drop
courses after the tuition refund date will be personally responsible for fees
and will receive a grade of “W” for the course. Exceptions may be made only for
documented extenuating circumstances and will be handled on a case-by-case
basis by the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs.
Students must contact the JMU Ombudsperson, Huffman Hall A101 if all courses
are dropped to withdraw from the university.
Transfer Credit
Students who wish to receive
graduate credit for courses taken prior to entering a JMU graduate program must
submit requests to their adviser during the first semester of enrollment. The
Transfer of Credit form is available online at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/gradforms.shtml or from the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs office.
A grade of “B” or better must
be earned in courses requested for transfer credit. Courses taken for pass/fail
or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades will not be accepted for transfer
graduate credit. An official transcript showing the credits approved for
transfer must be forwarded to the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs.
Under
no circumstances will more than one-third of the total graduate credits required
for completion of a program be considered for transfer/inclusion in the
student’s program of study. This includes any hours taken at JMU prior to
acceptance. In the case of variable credit programs, the one-third maximum
transfer hours allowed will be calculated based on the minimum number of hours
required for the degree. Students may not transfer in more than 9 credit hours
from institutions other than JMU.
Transfer
credit applications must be approved by the major adviser, minor adviser (if
applicable), major academic unit head, and the dean of the College of Graduate
and Professional Programs. Exceptions to the policy may be considered on a
case-by-case basis.
It
is the student’s responsibility to furnish evidence that any course presented
for transfer of credit is applicable to a comparable degree at the accredited
institution where the course was taken. If the necessary information is not on
the official transcript, it must be obtained in writing from the appropriate
dean of the institution where the course work was earned. In all cases, courses
considered for transfer of credit must be applicable to a comparable degree at
JMU. Courses that are not intended by the institution offering them to be part
of a degree program, such as extension and in-service courses, are not
acceptable for transfer to JMU.
Credits
earned to complete a previous graduate degree may not be applied to a second
graduate program at JMU at the same degree level. However, previously earned
graduate credit earned as a part of a master’s degree program from an
accredited institution may be counted toward the degree requirements of a
higher level degree, such as the Master of Fine Arts, Educational Specialist
and doctoral degrees. Academic work, including transfer credit, taken more than
six years before the master’s degree award date or eight years before the
doctoral degree award date may not be used to satisfy the degree requirements.
No transfer credit will be approved while a student is in provisional status.
Students
must familiarize themselves with their specific program requirements as
discussed in the academic sections of this catalog. Individual programs will
have detailed information relative to the acceptance of credit hours toward
their degrees.
Course Levels
Course Numbering System
Courses
numbered 500 through 900 are graduate courses and may be applied to a graduate
program. Post-baccalaureate/post-master’s students may enroll in 600- or
700-level courses with prior written approval from the instructor.
Some
programs use dual-numbered courses that allow both graduate and undergraduate
students. For example, such courses may offer content concurrently on the 400
and 500 levels. In such instances, higher quality and/or additional work must
be required of the students enrolled at the graduate level in these courses.
The additional demands required of graduate students in these dual-numbered
courses must be evident in the course syllabus and catalog description.
Course Level Requirements
All credits contained in the
student’s program leading to an advanced degree at JMU must be in courses
designated for graduate students. At least half of the courses must be numbered
600 or above. Where the program has a minor, at least six of these 600-level
credits must be in the minor. Students should refer to their academic program
for specific requirements. Only six hours of 501 workshop courses may be
applied to a graduate degree program.
Dissertation and Thesis Research
A
dissertation is required of all candidates for the Doctor of Psychology and
Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
A
thesis is required in several master’s and Ed.S. programs. In other master’s
degree programs, a research project and the writing of a thesis is an option
which may be elected by the student in consultation with his or her adviser.
Graduate students are required to register for the minimum hours of thesis or
dissertation credit required in their major fields. Students must register for
thesis or dissertation credit hours during those semesters in which they are engaged
in the research or in the writing of the thesis or dissertation. NOTE: The
continuous enrollment course GRAD 597 cannot be used as a thesis or
dissertation continence course.
Thesis and Dissertation Requirements
The
general requirements for the preparation of a thesis or dissertation pertain
primarily to formatting considerations. The purpose of the requirements is to
provide a degree of uniformity and to assure that each thesis or dissertation
is in a form suitable for binding, is fully legible and can be preserved.
Students
who submit a thesis or dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirement
for a graduate degree at JMU are responsible for following these guidelines.
§ Students should identify a graduate faculty
member from their program to act as the chair of their dissertation or thesis
committee.
§ With the guidance of the committee
chairperson, students should choose the remaining committee members from the
graduate faculty.
§ With the guidance of the student’s
dissertation or thesis committee chair and/or committee, the students will
choose a subject area and prepare a thesis or dissertation proposal.
§ Initial approval of thesis or dissertation
proposals should be obtained from the thesis or dissertation committees as
early as possible in the research program. This will be evidenced by written
approvals on the student’s program of study by the thesis or dissertation
chairs and the academic unit head. It is the responsibility of the student’s
thesis or dissertation committee to judge the acceptability of the thesis or
dissertation from all standpoints, including mechanical considerations and
technical and professional competency. Committee members attest to
acceptability from all standpoints when they sign the approval page. Students
are strongly urged to consult with the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs prior to the final reproduction.
§ Guidelines for the technical preparation of
a thesis or dissertation are outlined in the JMU College of Graduate and
Professional Programs Thesis and Dissertation Manual, which is available
online from http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/current/thesismanual.shtml. This online
manual sets forth minimal university guidelines including instructions
for Microsoft Word which can be used in the preparation of the thesis or
dissertation. More specific style considerations should be obtained from style
manuals standard in the student’s discipline. When a preference for specific
style guides is not set by the academic unit or discipline, students should
consult a standard thesis or dissertation manual. Whichever manual students
select should be followed consistently except where instructions conflict with
those in the online JMU College of Graduate and Professional Programs Thesis
and Dissertation Manual.
Titles of dissertations will
be printed in the graduation program if the information is received by the
appropriate deadline. In addition, two copies of each student’s thesis or
dissertation will be cataloged in Carrier Library.
Thesis and Dissertation Committees
Students pursuing degrees
requiring completion of a thesis or dissertation must have a thesis or
dissertation committee to oversee progress toward the degree.
Each committee must consist of
at least three approved members of the JMU graduate faculty with the background
and interest necessary to counsel, direct and evaluate the proposed research
and progress. At least two members must be from the student’s graduate program.
Only a graduate faculty member may chair a thesis or dissertation committee. It
is preferable that a member of the student’s graduate program chair the
dissertation or thesis committee.
Non-graduate faculty members
of dissertation or thesis committee, which may include persons external to the
university, must be approved by the dean of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs. Such members shall make up no more than one-third of the
total committee membership. Graduate instructors may also be appointed to
committees with the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs, but only when their expertise clearly qualifies them; however, their
appointment must be in addition to the required number of graduate faculty
members.
Thesis or Dissertation Continuance
Graduate students are required
to register for the minimum hours of thesis or dissertation credit required by
their graduate program. Students must register for thesis or dissertation in
the appropriate increments of credit hours during those semesters in which they
are engaged in the research or in the writing of the thesis or dissertation.
NOTE: The continuous enrollment course GRAD 597 cannot be used as a thesis or
dissertation continence course.
Thesis and Dissertation Grading
No grades will be given for a
thesis or dissertation until the thesis or dissertation has been completed and
approved by the thesis/dissertation committee. The thesis or dissertation grade
will then be recorded as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Doctoral Candidacy Request
Doctoral students are admitted
into candidacy for their graduate degree once they have completed all required
course work and passed their comprehensive examination. Once students have
reached this point, they must complete the Request for Doctoral Candidacy form.
This form can also be obtained from the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs office. The Request for Doctoral Candidacy form must be signed by the
student, his or her adviser or graduate program coordinator, and the dean of
the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. Students are then permitted
to advance to completion of their dissertation and graduation.
Note: Students who wish to become candidates for doctoral
degrees may do so only after completing all the conditions, such as provisional
admission, of the original admission into the individual’s degree program.
General Appeal Process
Evaluation of a graduate
student’s progress is primarily dependent on the judgments of appropriate
faculty members of the student’s graduate program. The university, through the
College of Graduate and Professional Programs, can define minimal entrance
standards and can prescribe general rules governing eligibility for
continuation. However, the crucial agency in graduate student evaluation is the
graduate program in which the student’s work is focused. Principal evaluators
must be faculty members of the student’s graduate program.
It is assumed that most
disputes over unsatisfactory progress will be informally discussed and
reconciled at the program or academic unit level. Most discussions of this type
will commonly occur among the student, major professor and other faculty
members in the graduate program.
Grade Appeal Procedures
Evaluation of student work and
assignment of grades on the basis of academic criteria are the responsibilities
and prerogative of the faculty. The university and its faculty members also
recognize that grading can be a subjective process and students may feel their
grade has been inappropriately assigned. If such disagreements occur, students
have a right to be fairly heard. There are two types of appeal procedures
related to grading.
Grade Change Appeal Procedure
The only basis for a grade
change appeal is an error in grade assignment or calculation. If a student
believes that a grade was assigned in error because of a mistake in calculation
or an error in recording, to resolve the discrepancy, the student should
consult the professor(s) involved before the Friday of the second full week of
classes in the regular semester following the semester of the contested grade.
Requests for review of spring semester or summer session grades must be
initiated no later than the Monday of the third full week of classes in the
subsequent fall semester. If the professor agrees that a change should be made,
the professor should submit a Grade Change form and forward it to the academic
unit head or graduate coordinator for signature. A copy will be forwarded to
the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs.
Grade Review Appeal Procedure
If a student disputes a grade
for any other reason than error in grade assignment or calculation, the student
can initiate a formal grade review appeal. To activate the grade review appeal
process, the student must follow these steps.
1. The student submits
a Grade Review Form to the appropriate professor by Monday of the third full
week of classes in the regular semester that follows the semester for which the
contested grade was given. The student must attach a written explanation of
reasons for the appeal, including any documentation relating to the disputed
grade. Requests for review of spring semester or summer session grades must be
initiated no later than the Monday of the third full week of classes in the
subsequent fall semester.
2. The student meets
with the course instructor by Friday of the third full week of classes to
attempt to resolve the concern.
§ If
the student and the course instructor reach an agreement that the grade should
be changed, the course instructor changes the grade by submitting a Grade
Change form to the appropriate academic unit head or graduate coordinator for
that individual’s signature. A copy of this signed Grade Change form will be
forwarded to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. For
graduate students whose grade of “C,” “U” or “F” is to be changed, notice of
the grade change must be sent to the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs before that change occurs.
§ If
no resolution is reached, the instructor signs the Grade Review form and
records a written response on the reverse side of the form. The instructor
returns the original copy of this form to the student, retains a copy of the
form for his or her personal records and forwards a copy to the relevant
academic unit head or graduate coordinator by Friday of the fourth full week of
classes.
3. The student must
contact the relevant academic unit head or graduate coordinator by the Friday
of the fifth full week of classes in order to request review of statement and
response.
4. The academic unit
head or graduate coordinator meets with the student and confers with the
relevant course instructor.
§ The
academic unit head or graduate coordinator signs the Grade Review form and
records a written response on the reverse side of the form by Friday of the
seventh full week of classes. The student receives the original copy of this
form. The relevant course instructor receives a copy of the form and the sender
retains a copy of the form.
§ If
all involved parties agree that the grade should be changed, the course
instructor submits a Grade Change form to the academic unit head or graduate
coordinator and the appropriate individual signs the form. A copy of the form
will be forwarded to the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Notice of the grade change must also be sent to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs before the grade change occurs for
graduate students who have a grade of “C,” “U” or “F” changed to some other
grade.
After the review process
outlined above has been completed, a student can also request that the form,
documentation and responses be reviewed by the dean of the college in which the
course was taught. The college dean’s responsibility is only to ascertain
whether all parties have had an opportunity to present all relevant facts and
have received a fair and impartial hearing at each level. To enter this phase
of the process, a student must follow this procedure.
1. The student contacts
the dean by Friday of the eighth full week of classes and requests that the
dean review the overall process.
2. The dean of the
relevant college reviews the process to be sure the student and the faculty
member have had a fair hearing.
§ If
the relevant college dean believes that due process was not followed during the
review process, he or she consults with the relevant professor and academic
unit head or graduate coordinator to resolve the dispute.
3. The dean sends a
written response to all involved parties by Friday of the 10th full week of
classes. This written response is appended to the Grade Review form. The dean
returns the original copy to the student, retains a copy and sends a copy to
the relevant academic unit head or graduate coordinator and the relevant
instructor.
§ If
it is agreed that the student’s grade should be changed, the relevant course
instructor submits a Grade Change form to the academic unit head or graduate
coordinator. The recipient then signs the form and forwards a copy to the dean.
Notice of the grade change must also be sent to the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs before the grade change occurs for graduate
students who have a grade of “C,” “U” or “F” changed to some other grade.
There is no further review
beyond the dean of the relevant college. The entire process will not extend
past the end of the semester following the contested grade with the exception
of grades given for summer session courses.
Reinstatement Policy
Graduate students dismissed
for academic reasons are never automatically reinstated. Students are suspended
until reinstated by a decision of the dean of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs. Reinstatement will only be made on the recommendation of
the academic unit graduate appeals committee and the academic unit head.
Suspension appeals will be heard promptly. Students may not enroll in any
graduate-level courses while on academic suspension.
Grading System
|
Letter Grade
|
Description
|
Numerical Value
|
|
A
|
Excellent
|
4.0
|
|
A-
|
|
3.7
|
|
B+
|
Very Good
|
3.3
|
|
B
|
Good
|
3.0
|
|
B-
|
|
2.7
|
|
C
|
Poor
|
2.0
|
|
F
|
Failure
|
0.0
|
|
I
|
Incomplete
|
|
|
W
|
Withdrawal
|
|
|
WP
|
Withdrawal
while passing
|
|
|
WF
|
Withdrawal while failing
|
|
|
S/U
|
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
|
|
|
|
[Thesis/dissertation and selected other courses. See course descriptions.]
|
|
|
NP
|
Not
Processed
|
|
|
NC
|
No Credit
|
|
§ A grade point average is calculated by
dividing the accumulated number of grade points earned by the accumulated
number of credit hours attempted. All graduate credits attempted and all
graduate grades earned, whether passing or failing, will be used to calculate a
student’s grade point average.
§ The student’s grade point average appears
on his or her transcript.
§ Students must take all courses on a letter
grade (“A-F”) or satisfactory/ unsatisfactory (S/U) basis, based on how the
particular course was approved. Students do not have flexibility in choosing a
grading option.
§ A grade of “W” will be assigned to students who withdraw from
a course after the add/drop deadline but before the end of the course
adjustment deadline.
§ A grade of “WP” or “WF” (according to the status of the
student at the time of withdrawal) will be assigned to students who withdraw
after the course adjustment deadline at the discretion of the instructor. The
“WP” or “WF” will be recorded and remain on the student’s transcript.
§ A grade of “NP” (not processed) will be assigned to students
registered for dissertation or thesis work until their dissertation or thesis
is complete. At that time, the grade will be changed to “S” or “U” for the
required six hours of credit.
§ A grade of “NC” (no credit) will be
assigned to students registering for comprehensive, dissertation or thesis
continuance.
§ In order to graduate, students must satisfy
grade requirements specified by their individual academic program.
Auditing Graduate Courses
Graduate students may enroll
in graduate courses using the “audit” option for elective courses only.
These courses will not count as part of the student’s program of study.
Students must initially register for the course using the “audit” option. Under
no circumstances may a course credit option be changed from “audit” to
“credit” or “credit” to “audit.” Students are required to pay for courses taken
as “audit” credit. Audit courses cannot be paid for using any university
sources of funding, e.g. assistantship funding.
Incomplete Grades
The grade of “I” is used to
indicate incomplete work in a course. Courses in which a student received a
grade of “I” must be completed by the end of the next regular semester, or the
grade is reported permanently as an “F.”
Students should consult
academic unit guidelines regarding such courses. It is the responsibility of
the student to ensure grade changes are reported to the Office of the Registrar
by the deadline. See the university calendar at the front of this catalog for
the date by which grade changes must be submitted.
All course work must be
completed by the final date of the student’s final semester. Students failing
to meet the deadline will not graduate and will have their degrees dated the
following semester. Consult the university calendar in the Registration and
Student Record Services Handbook, online at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar or in the front of this catalog for dates.
Unsatisfactory Progress
If, at any time, a graduate
student fails to make satisfactory progress toward the degree, the student may
be denied permission to continue in the program. Such a decision may be reached
by the student’s major adviser, academic unit head, or graduate program
coordinator and will be referred to the dean of the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs for final action.
A student will be dismissed
from the degree program or provisional status will be revoked if the student
receives an “F” or “U” in any graduate course or a total of three “C” grades in
his or her graduate program. Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, a
student dismissed from the degree program may not enroll in any graduate-level
courses for a period of one year. Students who want to return to the university
must re-apply and be re-accepted in the usual manner. (See Reapplication.)
A
graduate student will receive a notice of academic warning upon receiving a
grade of “C” in any two graduate courses or if the student’s grade point
average falls below 3.0. This academic warning will be noted on the student’s
transcript. All credits attempted and all grades earned, whether passing or
failing, will be used to calculate a student’s grade point average.
In
some cases, graduate students may take undergraduate courses as part of their
program of graduate study. The GPA includes undergraduate courses taken during
graduate study. However, if an undergraduate course places a student’s GPA
below 3.0, it will not place the student on probationary status or prevent the
student from graduating.
Graduation
The
office of the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs,
assisted by the Graduate Council and the graduate faculty, have responsibility
for final approval of graduate degrees to be awarded. It is the responsibility
of each student to ensure that courses selected are acceptable to the program
being pursued. A student cannot graduate with a GPA below 3.0.
Graduate Degree Completion Requirements
The
College of Graduate and Professional Programs mandates the following general
degree completion requirements in order for students to receive their graduate
degrees. Each graduate student must:
§ Complete a written graduate plan of study
by the end of the student’s first semester and submit it to the College of
Graduate and Professional Programs. NOTE: At least one-half of the courses in
the student’s required plan of study must be at the 600 course level or above.
§ Be continuously enrolled in the graduate
program from admission to graduation (unless specifically exempt).
§ Have satisfied any conditions of his or her
admission, such as provisional or conditional admission.
§ Complete the graduate program with an
overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
§ Be enrolled during the semester in which he
or she plans to graduate.
§ Complete all requirements of the graduate
program and College of Graduate and Professional Programs within six calendar
years (Masters and education specialist degrees) or eight years (doctoral
degrees).
§ Successfully achieve doctoral candidacy
(doctoral students only).
§ Successfully complete a comprehensive
examination or equivalent as determined by the individual graduate program.
NOTE: The graduate program must notify the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs that the student has successfully completed the comprehensive examination.
§ Submit a thesis, dissertation or research
project, if required by the academic program, to the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs that meets the format requirements set forth in the College
of Graduate and Professional Programs Thesis/Dissertation Manual.
§ Complete the minimum period of residency
established by their program. NOTE: While the traditional period of required
residency is optimal, the technological revolution that facilitates distance
learning of all varieties may not allow for the traditional approach to
residency. Accordingly, all students are strongly encouraged to take advantage
of all available avenues of learning, including accessing the JMU faculty,
staff and other students, as well as our library, laboratories and other facilities
that nurture the academic experience.
In addition to meeting the
general completion requirements set forth by the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs, each student must meet the graduation requirements of
the individual graduate program.
Application for a Graduate Degree
In order to graduate, students
must complete the Application for Graduate Degree form available online at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/gradforms.shtml
or from the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Students are responsible for notifying both their major
academic unit and the College of Graduate and Professional Programs when they
plan to graduate. Students are also responsible for consulting their advisers
or the College of Graduate and Professional Programs office regarding deadlines
for graduation.
The Application for Graduate
Degree form must be approved by major and minor (if applicable) adviser(s) and
the major academic unit head or graduate program coordinator. Students are
responsible for obtaining all necessary signatures to complete the Application
for Graduate Degree form.
Note: Students must complete all the conditions of the
original admission in their degree program, e.g. conditional admission, before
they can be permitted to graduate.
Only six credit hours of
501workshop courses approved for inclusion in a graduate program may be applied
toward a degree. If students plan to use transfer credits to fulfill degree
requirements, these credits, along with official transcripts showing the
credits and the transfer of credit form, must appear on the Application for a
Graduate Degree form and be forwarded to the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs.
Requirements for Graduation Semester Registration
All graduate students are
required to be enrolled during the semester they receive their degree. If
students are not enrolled in regular course work, they must enroll for either
comprehensive, thesis or dissertation continuance, or directed research,
whichever is appropriate. NOTE: The continuous enrollment course GRAD 597
cannot be used during the graduation semester.
Attendance at Commencement
Students are expected to
attend graduation exercises. A student unable to be present for the graduation
exercises must notify the Office of the Registrar at least 10 working days
before commencement.
Honor System
The academic program at JMU
operates under an Honor System that dates back to 1909. Students adopted the
Honor System in order to uphold individual and community integrity. Each
student is expected to observe complete honesty in all academic matters and to
report instances where another student has violated the Honor System. A student
Honor Council administers the Honor System, and every student who matriculates
at the university, whether graduate or undergraduate, becomes a member of the
Honor System. The university expects the cooperation of faculty members and
administrators in upholding this Honor System. The Student Handbook
provides full information on the Honor System, and the Honor Council office
provides students with assistance in understanding Honor System policy.
The Honor Council encourages
all members of the JMU community to familiarize themselves with the Honor Code
and Honor System procedures. The Honor Council office is located at Chandler
Hall, Room 133. The Honor Council maintains a Web site at http://www.jmu.edu/honor/.
Off-Campus Courses
Off-campus courses are
occasionally offered to part-time students enrolled in a graduate program but
who are not in residence on the JMU campus. Credit for such courses may be
allowed toward the graduate degree provided the course is taught by a member of
the graduate faculty of the institution, and the course has the prior approval
of the student’s adviser and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional
Programs. Only six hours of 501 workshop courses may be applied to a degree
program.
Permission to Take a Course at Another University
After Enrollment
Students enrolled in a
graduate program may take graduate courses at another accredited institution with
prior approval from their adviser, academic unit head, graduate coordinator,
and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. Forms are
available at the College of Graduate and Professional Programs office or online
at http://www.jmu.edu/cgop/gradforms.shtml for use in obtaining prior approval of transfer
credit hours.
It is the student’s
responsibility to request transfer credit for such courses upon completion and
to have official transcripts submitted to the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs office.
Students who take their last
courses to fulfill their programs of study at institutions other than JMU
cannot graduate during that semester unless the official transcript for the
requested transfer course(s) is received in the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs office prior to the last day of the semester graduation
is requested. Otherwise, they must wait until the following semester to
graduate. Students must be enrolled at JMU during the semester they graduate.
Correspondence Study
No credit toward the graduate degree will be allowed for
courses taken by correspondence study.
Office
of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar is
responsible for the following activities.
§ Add and drop registration procedures
§ Athletic certification
§ Class schedule preparation
§ Commencement activities
§ Diploma issuance
§ Enrollment verifications
§ Student records
§ Transfer credit evaluation
§ Transcript issuance
The Office of the Registrar
& Registration Services is located in Warren Hall, Room 302. For
information regarding veterans’ affairs and graduation, students should contact
Student Record Services on the third floor of Warren Hall or call the Office of
the Registrar at (540) 568-6281.
Teaching Licenses
Some
candidates in programs leading to the Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of
Science in Education or Master of Education degrees do not hold the Collegiate
Professional License. These candidates must meet requirements for admission and
retention in the JMU Teacher Education Program and should contact the Education
Support Center, Maury Hall, Room 110, or their education adviser immediately
upon acceptance into their program of study. The requirements for licensure
must be met before the degree is conferred. This requirement may be waived by
the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs in exceptional
cases, upon the petition of the graduate program coordinator. As a general
rule, however, students with a minor in higher education are not required to
hold the Collegiate Professional License. Refer to the Education Programs
section for additional information.
Thesis Requirements
Refer to “Dissertation and
Thesis Research.”
University
Residency Requirements
Graduate
students must register a local address with the College of Graduate and
Professional Programs office prior to initial registration for classes. All
changes in local address must be registered with the Office of the Registrar.
This can be done through e-campus, online at http://www.jmu.edu/registrar.
All
graduate students must complete the minimum period of residency established by
their program. While the traditional period of required residency is optimal,
the technological revolution that facilitates distance learning of all
varieties may not allow for the traditional approach to residency. Accordingly,
all students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of all available avenues
of learning, including accessing the JMU faculty, staff and other students, as
well as our library, laboratories and other facilities that nurture the
academic experience.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal from Courses
A
student may drop a course without special permission through the time period
designated as the “add/drop period.” A student may withdraw from a course
without special permission through the time period designated as the “course
adjustment period.” Refer to e-campus at http://ecampus.jmu.edu/ for exact dates.
Students
will not be permitted to withdraw from a course after the course withdrawal
deadline. Students are responsible for knowing their course schedules and for
making any desired course adjustments by the published withdrawal deadlines.
After the course withdrawal deadline, a grade other than a “W” must be issued
for the course in question.
Withdrawal from a Graduate Program
Graduate students wishing to
withdraw from their graduate program must do so by completing a Withdrawal
Request form. Graduate students withdraw from their programs when they
terminate enrollment before completing a regular semester or summer session for
which they have enrolled. A student may withdraw from all courses during the
course adjustment period without special permission, by completing a withdrawal
request form available from the JMU Ombudsperson, Huffman A101. The Ombudsman
will review request, determine withdrawal approval, set the official withdrawal
date and notify other university officials of the action.
A student who voluntarily
withdraws from his or her graduate program without receiving official approval
will receive a grade of “F” for all courses in which he or she is enrolled. A
student voluntarily withdrawing with official approval will receive a grade of
“W,” “WP” or “WF” in all courses. A grade of “W” will be assigned to students
who withdraw from a course after the add/drop deadline but before the end of
the course adjustment deadline. A grade of “WP” or “WF” (according to the
status of the student at the time of withdrawal) will be assigned to students
who withdraw after the course adjustment deadline at the discretion of the
instructor.
It may also be necessary for a
graduate student to withdraw due to extenuating circumstances. Withdrawal for
extenuating circumstances must be approved by the student’s graduate coordinator
and the dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Programs. A student
who withdraws because of extenuating circumstances will also receive a grade of
“W,” “WP” or “WF” in all courses.
Students who withdraw from their graduate program will be
responsible for tuition as determined by the Office of the Registrar and may be
subject to a change in their financial aid status.
Confidentiality
of Education Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
James Madison University
adheres to and annually informs students of the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This act, with which the institution intends
to fully comply, was designated to protect the privacy of educational records.
Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) students have
certain rights with respect to their education records.
These rights include:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education
records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head
of the academic unit, or other appropriate official, written requests that
identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make
arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the
records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University
official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the
student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the
amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are
inaccurate or misleading. Students
may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or
misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the
record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify
why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the
record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of
the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding
the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing
procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a
hearing.
The right to consent to
disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s
education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure
without consent. One exception which
permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with
legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the
University in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support
staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a
person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney,
auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a
student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance
committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs
to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional
responsibility. Upon request, the University may disclose education records
without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or
intends to enroll. The following is considered “Directory Information” at James
Madison University and may be made available to the general public unless the
student notifies the Office of the Registrar in person or in writing within
five days after the first day of class registration:
Student’s name, telephone
numbers, addresses, date and place of birth, major and minor fields of study
(if applicable), college of major and year (freshman, sophomore, etc.), dates
of attendance, degree sought and time, degrees conferred, awards and honors
conferred, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight
and height of members of athletic teams, the most recent previous educational
agency or institution attended by the student, fraternity and/or sorority and
educational societies. Beginning in the fall semester of 2001, full-time/part-time
status is directory information.
The right to file a
complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by
James Madison University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers
FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
For more detailed information concerning JMU’s records policy
see James Madison University, Policies and Procedures, Policy 3102, The Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
