Academic Policies

Credit by Examination

Three ways exist for regularly admitted students to receive academic credits and/or advanced placement by examination: (1) the College Entrance Examination Board's (CEEB) Advanced Placement Program (AP), (2) the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and (3) successful achievement on an Elizabethtown College faculty examination (Challenge Testing).

CEEB Advanced Placement Examinations
The College, with the approval of the department concerned, grants advanced placement and credit to students who perform satisfactorily on a CEEB Advanced Placement Examination.

CLEP Examinations
Credit is awarded for appropriate scores on the CLEP examinations according to the following guidelines:

• General Examinations. Persons who have completed high school (or its equivalent) at least three years prior to taking the CLEP examinations may be awarded Elizabethtown College credits according to the following standards.
  • All General Examinations must be successfully completed prior to the achievement of sophomore status (30 or more recorded college credits).
  • Up to 29 credits may be awarded for scores at the fiftieth percentile or higher on the General Examinations. None of the credits may duplicate college credits already recorded on the transcript or credits for course work in progress at the time of the examination.
  • For the Natural Science Examination, a maximum of eight credits will be awarded for scores at or above the fiftieth percentile. Three of these credits may be applied to the Core Program requirements in Natural World.
  • For the examinations in Humanities, and Social Sciences and History, a maximum of six credits for each examination will be awarded for scores at or above the fiftieth percentile. Up to three credits from each area may be applied to the core sponding requirement in the Core Program.
  • For the English Composition and Mathematics Examinations, a maximum of three credits will be awarded for scores at or above the fiftieth percentile. These credits may not be applied to the Core Program.
• Subject Examinations. Credit will be granted for scores at or above the fiftieth percentile. Subject Examinations in an area in which the student will take additional work (either by requirement or elective) must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in college courses in that subject area.
  

Challenge Testing
Challenge Testing is a comprehensive term encompassing all tests prepared and/or administrated by Elizabethtown College faculty.

There are two types of Challenge Tests:

• Tests for Academic Credit are Challenge Examinations in which a regularly admitted Elizabethtown College student requests to be examined for credit in a particular course in the Academic Program. Requests for Challenge Examinations must be approved by the chair of the department in which the course is listed. Practicums, internships, and research courses are excluded from the Challenge Examination option as are Freshman Seminar and Junior, Senior Colloquium in the Core Program.
• Tests for Placement and/or Waiver are those given for placement in a course sequence such as those given in modern languages and mathematics. No credit is awarded for such testing.
  

All Challenge Testing is graded on a pass/no pass basis. A grade of pass indicates that the credit and/or advanced placement is to be awarded.

Challenge Tests given at the initiative of the College are administered without fee to the student. There is a per test fee for Challenge Tests given at the request of the student. The fee is for the test itself and is charged regardless of the test results. The fee for a test for academic credit is $90. In addition, 50% of the appropriate part-time tuition rate in effect at the time the test is administered is charged for academic credit awarded as a result of performance on Challenge Tests.

The fee for a Test for Placement and/or Waiver is $60.

Placement Testing
During the summer orientation program all new students take a writing test and a mathematics placement test. In addition, students with two, three, four or five years of language instruction must take the appropriate modern language placement test. Students who have studied a language for less than two full years, and students who have never studied a language, do not take the test.

The languages tested are French, German and Spanish. If students have studied more than one of these languages, they take the placement test in the language which they have had the most intensive study or the language in which they wish to pursue study further at the college level.

Students who wish to use a modern language to fulfill the Foreign Cultures and International Studies Area of Understanding in the Core Program complete either Modern Language 112 or 211 or 212. Language background and placement test results determine the appropriate level of college language study (112, 211 or 212). Students who demonstrate competence at the 111 level enroll in 112. Students who demonstrate competence at the 112 level enroll in 211. If competence is demonstrated at the 211 level, the appropriate course is 212.

The mathematics placement test determines placement in Math 011, Intermediate Algebra, or a 100-level mathematical analysis course. Students placed in Math 011 must successfully complete this course before enrolling in other mathematics or mathematical analysis courses.

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The Student's Program

The student's academic program in the first two years is largely intended to fulfill the requirements of the Core Program, which provides a broad education. In the junior and senior years, most curricula afford time for a wide range of electives in addition to the prescribed courses required in a major program.

Academic Advising
Each student who is enrolled in a degree program is required to complete a major. In addition, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors outside their major discipline. Advisors are assigned for majors, second majors, and minors. (Certain non-degree students are also assigned advisors.)

Freshman Advising Program. The Freshman Advising Program is designed to touch on all aspects of the freshman experience. The goal is to assist freshmen in realizing the maximum educational benefits available to them by helping them to better understand themselves and to learn to use the resources of the College to meet their special educational needs and aspirations. Course selection is included but is not the primary task to be accomplished.

Upperclassman Advising. Upperclassmen who have declared a major are assigned an academic advisor from their major department. Upperclassmen who have not yet declared a major are assigned an advisor from the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services.

All advisors work closely with students during the preregistration period for course selection for the coming semester. Consultation with the advisor also occurs during the schedule change period and the drop-add period at the beginning of each semester. Departmental advisors also provide assistance in regard to graduate or professional school and/or career planning.

Student Responsibilities
Students are required to consult with their major advisors as to course selection, course sequences, graduation requirements, etc. (Consultation with the second major or minor advisor is an expectation but not a requirement.) Preregistration Course Request Sheets, Request for Schedule Change forms, and Drop/Add forms require the major advisor's signature, as do certain other forms and documents from the Office of Registration and Records.

The advisor's signature on various documents indicates that the student has consulted with the advisor; however, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that all graduation requirements have been met and that other requirements, regulations, or deadlines have been observed.

Advising sheets for academic majors and minors are available in the Office of Registration and Records. These sheets are helpful in noting the completion of program requirements.

Declaration and Change of Major/Minor
Students are required to complete a major. In addition, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors outside their major discipline.

Declarations and changes of majors and minors are initiated by the student and facilitated by the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services. When a change of major or minor occurs, a student's records are transferred from one academic department to another.

Change of Personal Information
Any change of name, address, telephone number, or marital status must be reported in writing to the Office of Registration and Records immediately. This information must be kept current so that there will be no delay in receipt of information from the College.

Changes of name, gender, social security number, etc. require legal documentation.

Full-time/Part time Status
A student taking 12 or more credits per semester at Elizabethtown College is considered a full-time student and pays full tuition and fees. A student taking fewer than 12 credits per semester pays the regular semester credit rate plus applicable fees, and receives a library card and full use of the library facilities.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association regulations stipulate that a student must carry a minimum of 12 credits per semester to be eligible for intercollegiate athletic competition.

Course Load
Since the completion of at least 125 credits is required for a bachelor's degree, a student who plans to graduate in four years must complete satisfactorily an average of approximately 16 credits for each of eight semesters. However, some students wisely elect to take a lighter academic load in order to do better work and choose to attend a summer session or a part of a fifth year.

Overload Credits
Students may carry up to 17 credits in a semester or nine credits in a seven-week summer session. A student who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or above, or has the approval of the Associate Dean of the Faculty, may carry up to 19 credits in a semester or 10 credits in the summer session. An additional tuition fee is charged for credits in excess of 18 credits in a semester. A petition form for overload credit is available in the Office of Registration and Records.

Repeating Courses
Courses which may be repeated (see below) must be taken at Elizabethtown College. The most recent grade is final and is used in the calculation of semester and cumulative grade point averages. When repeating a course, a student must file the appropriate repeat registration card in the Office of Registration and Records. Failure to do so will result in a duplication of credits carried, a possible delay in graduation, and a decrease in the cumulative grade point average.

Courses which may be repeated are as follows:

• A student may repeat any course in which he or she receives an F or NP.
  
• Ordinarily a student may not repeat a course in which a grade of D is earned. However, upon the request of the student's advisor and the approval of the student's major/minor department chair, a student may repeat a course in the major/minor, a course required by the major/minor, or a course that is prerequisite to a Core Program requirement. The student must repeat the course in which the D grade was received within one year of the original enrollment in the class (or the next semester in which the course is offered if the course is offered less frequently than once a year).
• A course in which a D or F was earned must be repeated in the same manner in which it was originally enrolled.

Auditing Courses
Students in good academic standing (2.0 or better) may elect to audit courses provided: (1) they do not preempt regularly enrolled students; (2) they have the permission of the professor teaching the course.

The requirements for the audit are determined by the professor. Upon completion of all such requirements, the audit is posted on the student's permanent record card. Audit courses carry neither academic credit nor grade.

Audit credits are included in the total credits to determine full-time status and overload charges. A fee is charged on a per credit basis for part-time students who wish to audit courses. Auditors, both full-time and part-time, must also pay any additional fees for labs, studio supplies, and other direct costs. Students may add a course for audit or change a course registration from audit to credit during the first week of class only. Change of course registration from credit to audit cannot be made after completion of the fourth week of the semester. Once a course has been audited, it may not be taken for credit. Likewise, a course that has been completed for credit may not be repeated and recorded as an audit course.

Transfer of Credits
An Elizabethtown College student who wishes to transfer credits to Elizabethtown College must obtain permission in advance from the Office of Registration and Records. The College transfers credit (but not grades or quality points) for course work taken at another regionally accredited institution for which a grade of C- or better is obtained. The College is not obligated to accept course work for which written permission was not obtained prior to enrollment at another institution.

Students who have achieved junior status (60 credits) either through work at Elizabethtown College or through a combination of work at the College and another institution are not permitted to transfer additional credits from a two- year institution to the College. Such students may transfer credits from four-year institutions, but only upon the prior approval of the director of records. Students must request that the registrar's office of the transferring institution send an official transcript to the Office of Registration and Records at Elizabethtown College. Facsimile (fax) copies and student delivered transcripts will not be accepted.

Students desiring to have a transcript of credits sent from Elizabethtown College to another institution must make the request in writing to the Office of Registration and Records, in person or by mail, at least one week prior to the date needed.

The records of transfer students from non-accredited and National/American Association institutions are evaluated on an individual basis.

Transcripts
Two transcripts of record are provided free of charge to students in regular attendance and of freshman, sophomore, or junior status. Seniors receive a maximum of five transcripts of record free of charge when applying to graduate/professional schools or for employment. Two copies of the final record are also available free to each student after graduation. A charge of $2 per copy is made for all other transcripts. No transcripts of record are furnished to students whose account is not paid in full.

Transcript Requests must be received by the Office of Registration and Records at least one week prior to the date needed. Federal law requires that all requests must be made in writing by the student. Neither telephone requests nor facsimile (fax) requests can be honored; nor can parents, friends, spouses, or potential employers request transcripts.

Transcript request forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records; however, letters will be accepted in lieu of the request form. All requests must include:

• The name(s) and address(es) to which the transcript is to be sent. A particular person or office should be indicated.
  
• The dates of attendance at the College.
  
• Student's full name (including maiden name, if applicable).
  
• Student's signature.
  
• The $2. fee, if applicable.
  

Transcripts issued directly to the student are stamped "STUDENT COPY" and may not be acceptable to other institutions or potential employers.

Elizabethtown College does not send or accept facsimile (fax) copies of transcripts.

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Registration

Students are required to register for classes on those days designated on the College calendar. Students registering later than the days specified are charged a late registration fee. No registrations are accepted after the first week of a semester.

A student may register either as a regular or a non-degree student, and as a full-time or part-time student. Regular students only are degree candidates, and they must be in an approved major.

A student registers for courses -- not for a time or a professor. There is no guarantee that a student will be registered for every course at the time requested.

Many courses have prerequisites, and students are reminded of their responsibility for meeting all prerequisites and for taking courses in proper sequence.

Preregistration
To preregister for the next semester, a student must have met all financial obligations, including the payment of any required preregistration deposit. Students who do not preregister during the preregistration period cannot be guaranteed space in the residence halls or classrooms.

Students preregister for the fall semester in April. Preregistration for the spring semester takes place in November. Master schedules and course request sheets are furnished to the student approximately three weeks prior to the preregistration period to allow ample time to make an appointment with the advisor. Students who fail to preregister before the close of the preregistration period are charged a late preregistration fee.

Evening students should check with the Office of The Center for Continuing Education for details about registration.

Registration Holds
A student's registration or preregistration may be delayed as a result of items such as unpaid account balances, incomplete academic records, disciplinary sanctions, or incomplete health records. For full-time students, the health record must include a Health Services Physical form and evidence that all required immunizations have been received.

Schedule Changes
Students who have preregistered may make changes on a space available basis. Schedule change request forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records.

Change of Registration
Courses may be added within the first week of a semester and may be dropped without academic penalty during the first four weeks of a semester. Course drops and adds must be approved by the academic advisor and completed through the Office of Registration and Records. A student is not withdrawn from a class simply by discontinuing attendance or by notifying the professor. The completion of any registration change is the responsibility of the student, not the faculty member.

Adding Courses
Students may add courses to their schedule during the first week of a semester. Drop/Add request forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records. The completed form must be signed by the academic advisor and returned to the Office of Registration and Records; students are not considered to be registered until this is done.

Dropping Courses
Courses dropped from a student's schedule during the first four weeks of a semester are removed from the student's academic record. Drop/Add request forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records. The completed form must be signed by the academic advisor and returned to the Office of Registration and Records; the course drop is not complete until this is done.

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Class Absences

Class Attendance
Class attendance policy is determined individually by the faculty members. It is the position of the College that the above-average student should be given some freedom of judgment as to attendance needs, while the average student must, of necessity, be encouraged or required to maintain a record of regular attendance.

Each faculty member announces his or her attendance policy at the start of each semester. A professor or the College may dismiss a student from a course for excessive absences. Such dismissals in weeks 1-4 of the semester result in removal of the course from the student's record; after the fourth week, a grade of WF is recorded for the course. A student may appeal to the Academic Standing Committee for reinstatement to the course.

Students are responsible for consulting with the professor in the case of absences due to ill health or other personal problems.

Long-Term Absences
A long-term absence from classes or from campus may result in mandatory withdrawal from the College. After 15 consecutive class days of absence from all classes, a student is considered to have withdrawn from the College. (Students absent for verified medical reasons will be granted a Medical Withdrawal (see below).)

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Withdrawal Policy

Withdrawal from Classes
Students withdraw from classes through the Office of Registration and Records. The course will not appear on the permanent record if the student withdraws on or before the end of the fourth week of the semester. From this time to the end of the eleventh week, a withdrawal will result either in a grade of W or WF. All withdrawals after the end of the eleventh week of the semester receive grades of WF unless the withdrawal is from College and is for medical reasons, in which case a W is recorded for each course. A student may not withdraw from individual courses for medical reasons. A grade of WF is calculated into the student's average as though it were an F.

Withdrawal from College
Students who withdraw from the College during a semester also withdraw from all of their classes for that semester. Full-time students withdraw from the College through the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services; part-time students withdraw through the Office of Registration and Records. Students who withdraw during the semester are expected to leave the campus as of the effective date of their withdrawal.

For purposes of billing, room reservation, academic responsibility, etc., the effective date of withdrawal is the date on which the completed official notice is returned to the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services or the Office of Registration and Records. A student who withdraws without notification receives no refunds and may incur the full room penalty. Failure to comply with withdrawal procedures may result in loss of the privilege of readmission to the College and the right to the release of a transcript of credits earned.

Medical Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from the College for reason of a serious illness or similar, medically-related circumstances. Medical Withdrawal assumes an incapacity that prohibits acceptable academic performance, not simply a hardship or inconvenience. Such withdrawal requires written verification from a physician. Upon receipt of verification, a proportionate refund is granted.

Medical Withdrawal is withdrawal from the College and, therefore, from all courses. A student does not selectively withdraw from individual courses under the rubric of medical withdrawal.

Leave of Absence
A student may take a leave of absence from the College to study in an approved off-campus program.

To arrange a leave, a student should contact the faculty coordinator or director of the appropriate program. Application must be made no later than the preregistration period of the semester prior to the one in which the leave begins. Administrative fees for off-campus programs are payable at the time a student applies for the leave. A leave is approved upon the student's acceptance into the program.

Preregistration information is sent to students on leave approximately March 15 and October 15. The preregistration form and a $150 deposit must be returned to the Office of Registration and Records by May 1 or December 1 to ensure a place in the College and in courses.

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Readmission

Students who leave the College in good academic standing (minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average) gain readmission by written request to the Office of Registration and Records. Students who leave the College while in academic difficulty (below 2.0 cumulative grade point average) must petition the Academic Standing Committee for readmission.

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Credits, Grades and Quality Points

Credit
"Credit" is equivalent to "semester hour." A semester hour signifies work completed in one 50-minute recitation period per week, or two or more 50-minute laboratory periods per week, for a semester of 15 weeks, or an equivalent learning experience.

Grades
Grades are reported as A, B, C, D, F. Plus and minus distinctions are made. Designations of I, W, WF, P, NP and AUD are used in appropriate situations.

Grade definitions are:

• A -- Distinguished
  
• B -- Above Average
  
• C -- Average
  
• D -- Poor
  
• F -- Failure
  
• I -- Work Incomplete
  
• W -- Withdrawal from course
  
• WF -- Withdrawal failing
  
• P -- Pass
  
• NP -- No Pass (failure)
  
• AUD -- Audit

Grades submitted to the Office of Registration and Records are considered to be official at the time submitted. Official grades can be changed only by successful appeal under the College's Grade Appeal Policy or by an instructor's petition to the dean of the faculty to correct a documented grading error.

Grade appeals and evidence of grading errors must be submitted within 30 days of the date on which the grade was formally issued from the Office of Registration and Records. Exception to the 30-day time limit requires formal petition to and approval of the Academic Standing Committee.

Incomplete Grades
A grade of "I" may be obtained by making a formal request to the professor of the course in question. The student and the professor must sign a written agreement which specifies the nature and the quantity of the work to be completed and the projected date of completion. Grades of "I" are assigned for extenuating circumstances only. They are not given simply to allow additional time to complete required course work or to improve course grade. In addition, a professor may use the "I" in cases of suspected academic dishonesty.

All grades of "I" received in the fall semester must be removed by April 1. Those received in the spring semester or summer session must be removed by October 1. Failure to do so results in a grade of F.

Quality Points
A 4- point quality point system is used. Quality points are assigned as follows:

Letter Grade *** Quality Points per Semester/Hour of Credit

• A -- 4.0
  
• A- -- 3.7
  
• B+ -- 3.3 B- -- 2.7
  
• C+ -- 2.3
  
• C -- 2.0
  
• C- -- 1.7
  
• D+ -- 1.3
  
• D -- 1.0
  
• D- -- 0.7
  
• F, WF -- 0.0

Grade Point Average Calculation
The grade point average is dependent upon the credits attempted and the quality points earned. To determine the quality points earned for a semester, multiply the credits for each course by the quality points for the grade earned in the course, sum the results and divide by the total credits attempted in the semester. Courses in which a grade F or WF is received are included in the calculation. Courses in which a grade of W or I is recorded are excluded, as are Pass/No Pass and Audit courses.

The cumulative grade point average, and the grade point average in the majors and minors are calculated in the same manner as the semester grade point average. All courses that could fulfill a requirement for the majors or minors, whether in excess or not, are used for the grade point average calculation.

Pass/No Pass Grading
Courses registered on the Pass/No Pass basis earn credits (for grades of P) but are not included in the calculation of the grade point average.

Students may elect to take Physical Well Being activity courses on a Pass/No Pass basis. In addition, students may select one other course per semester to be graded in this manner under these conditions:

• A student must currently be of junior or senior standing (60 or more credits).
  
• The cumulative average must be 2.75 or higher.
  
• The selected course may carry no more than four credits and must be a free elective. It may not satisfy a Core Program requirement, and may not be a course that could fulfill a requirement for the student's major or minor.
  
• No more than four courses in total (excluding Physical Well Being activity courses) may be taken under this grading option.

Pass/No Pass registration must be completed during the first four weeks of the semester. Forms are available in the Office of Registration and Records. Once a course is registered under the Pass/No Pass option, it may not be changed. Grades of D- or higher are recorded as Pass; grades of F are recorded as No Pass.

Early Warning System
Mid-term grade reports are not issued. However, an early warning system is used. Students carrying D or F grades in 100 or 200-level courses at the end of the fifth week of the semester are notified of their deficient performance. Students who are deficient are encouraged to consult with their instructors and to make use of Learning Services resources in order to improve their performance.

Final Examination Policy
All academic courses are expected to conclude with a final examination administered during the assigned time of the examination period. Within the last three meeting days for classes (not for any individual course) prior to final examinations, no unit tests or quizzes of any type may be administered. Due to the structure of courses involving laboratory examinations/practica, a laboratory examination/practicum can be given during these final three days prior to final examinations. In addition, major papers and projects can be assigned due dates that fall within the last three meeting days for classes, providing the due dates are specified in the syllabus.

A laboratory section, an advanced seminar -- in which an assigned paper or project is the major activity, a performance class -- in which a recital or similar artistic performance is required, an internship, or a practicum may or may not have final examinations depending upon the judgment of the instructor. Any faculty member seeking an exception to the final examination rule for an academic course shall first secure the approval of the department chair and then that of the provost.

Students as well as faculty members are expected to abide by the published examination schedule. However, students with three examinations in one day may request of a professor that one examination be rescheduled during the examination period. There is no obligation on the part of the faculty member to reschedule the examination. All requests for rescheduling an examination must be made at least five class days before the start of the final examination period. Students with four examinations in one day may request that one or two of the examinations be rescheduled, following the same procedure. When a scheduling conflict cannot be resolved between faculty member(s) and student, the student may take her or his case to the provost.

Class Standing
The student's class standing is determined on the basis of the number of credits earned. After earning 30 credits, a student is considered a sophomore; with 60 credits, a junior; with 90 credits, a senior.

Rank in Class
Class rank is determined, for students pursuing degree programs, once a year and is based on their cumulative grade point average using only the credits, grades, and quality points earned at Elizabethtown College. Class ranks for the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes are determined at the completion of the spring semester. Rank in class for graduates is also determined after the spring semester and includes graduates from the previous summer and fall as well as from the current spring semester.

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Academic Standing

Academic Good Standing
Students in academic good standing maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

Academic Probation
Academic probation means that a student is in danger of being dismissed from the College for academic reasons. Students who fall into the following categories are placed on academic probation:

A student on academic probation normally should limit his or her academic load to four courses or 13 credits, whichever is less, in any semester in which the probation exists. The summer maximum should be two courses or seven credits.

Academic Dismissal
The College, upon recommendation of the Academic Standing Committee, may at any time dismiss from the College a student who is experiencing academic difficulty. A student should be aware that all cases are decided individually, and that poor academic performance may result in dismissal at the end of any semester.

A student who is in academic difficulty (below 2.0 cumulative grade point average) may be requested by the Academic Standing Committee, in consultation with the student, to enroll in a special or particular set of courses and to become involved in testing, counseling, or other developmental activities. A student's satisfactory performance in such assignments may be interpreted by the Academic Standing Committee as satisfactory progress and may make it unnecessary to recommend dismissal.

Readmission of Students Not in Good Academic Standing
A student who leaves the College while in academic difficulty (below 2.0 cumulative grade point average) must petition the Academic Standing Committee for readmission.

A student who is readmitted to the College after an absence of five successive years may, upon fulfilling certain requirements, have previous grades of F removed from the cumulative grade point average. For full information, the student should consult with the registrar.

Individual Program Adjustments
Academic departments reserve the right to counsel any student out of a major or minor for academically-related reasons. A student has the right to appeal such departmental action to the provost, who will direct warranted appeals to the Academic Standing Committee.

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Academic Honors

Dean's List
A full-time student who earns a semester grade point average of 3.5 or better is regarded by the College as having performed with distinction. The student is placed on the Dean's List of Honor Students for the semester.

College Scholars
A College Scholar is a currently enrolled full-time student who, having completed at least 60 credits in consecutive semesters of full-time study at Elizabethtown College, has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher. Scholars are identified at the end of the spring term, and are publicly recognized at the Convocation at the beginning of the following academic year. They are awarded a certificate and their status as College Scholar is recorded on their permanent record.

Graduation with Honors
At the time of graduation, a student who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 is graduated cum laude; of 3.75, magna cum laude; of 3.9, summa cum laude.

A transfer student is eligible for and receives these same honors if the student earns a minimum of 60 credits at Elizabethtown College and is recommended for honors by the major department.

Honors in the Discipline
Honors in the Discipline are awarded to outstanding graduates majoring in the various disciplines. To receive this designation, the student must prepare a research or creative project; the completed project must be judged outstanding by the faculty of the department. Invitation of the major department is required for a student to begin an honors project. In addition, a grade point average of at least 3.5 in the major is required.

Honors in the Discipline are noted in the graduation program and on the academic transcript. A student may receive recognition in more than one discipline. Departments may recognize more than one graduate in a year. Each department determines the specific criteria used to judge its students' projects.

Special Privileges

• Scholar's Privilege: A full-time student who appeared on the Dean's List of Honor Students during the preceding semester may, with the permission of the instructor, attend any class in the College on a space available basis as a scholar's privilege without registration or credit.
  
• Departmental Student Privilege: A full-time or part-time junior or senior student may, with the permission of the instructor, attend any class within the student's major or minor department on a space available basis without registration or credit.

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Graduation

The Ceremony
Graduation from Elizabethtown College is celebrated once each year in May. Students who complete all graduation requirements in the previous summer or fall, or the current spring semester are recognized in this ceremony. Students may participate in only one graduation ceremony.

Students majoring in music therapy and occupational therapy who have completed all course work participate in the May graduation ceremony, but do not receive their diplomas until their respective clinical experiences are completed. Clinical laboratory sciences majors whose hospital work is graded and recorded on the permanent record card participate in the May ceremony immediately preceding completion of their clinical year.

Senior students not actually graduating may petition to indicate their desire to be designated as a "member of the class." To be eligible for this status, students must have a 2.0 grade point average in both major and overall at the time of the ceremony; contact the Office of Registration and Records for additional information about eligibility requirements. Petitions are due to the director of records by February 15.

Honors are listed in the Commencement program for those students who have actually graduated or whose only remaining requirement is the non-credit clinical experience.

Credit Requirements
To receive a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree from Elizabethtown College, the student must earn a minimum of 125 credits. (Ma 011, En 011, and ESL 111 are not counted toward these credits.) In the case of engineering, clinical laboratory sciences, and other special programs, the number of credits required is indicated in the program outline (see departmental listings for specific information).

No more than one degree is ever awarded to an individual by Elizabethtown College; however, students may complete a second major, a minor, or teacher certification subsequent to graduation.

Program Requirements
Students are required to complete successfully all requirements of the major and all of the Core Program requirements. The College does not guarantee graduation to any student unable to complete requirements of a specific program or academic major.

In addition to their major, students have the option of pursuing a second major and/or one or more minors. Second majors must include at least 15 credits not included in the first major. For each minor, the student must complete at least eight credits that are not used to fulfill the requirements of the major(s) or another minor.

Second majors and minors represent additional knowledge and interest in areas outside the first major. Therefore, second majors and minors must be selected in disciplines outside the first major. Major and minor disciplines are determined by the predominant course prefix of the major/minor course requirements. For secondary education majors, the major subject area is considered to be the discipline of the major.

Grade Point Average
To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0, with a minimum average of 2.0 in a major (and a 2.0 in a minor if the minor is to be recorded on the student's transcript). A student transferring from other colleges must have an average of at least 2.0 in courses pursued in residence at Elizabethtown College.

On-Campus Credits
To meet graduation requirements, the student must earn on-campus credits as follows: (l) a minimum of 15 credits in the major, at least eight of which are at the upper level (normally 300 and 400 level), (2) at least 30 of the last 60 credits, and (3) the Junior/Senior Colloquium and at least one 200 level Core Program course.

To recognize completion of a minor on the transcript, a student must have completed at least nine credits of the requirements on the Elizabethtown College campus, and must have earned a baccalaureate degree at Elizabethtown College.

Note: Credits earned at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg or in the Brethren Colleges Abroad program while the student is matriculated at Elizabethtown College, are considered on-campus credits.

Other Requirements
Graduation requirements are governed by the Academic Program dated four years prior to graduation, or, for major requirements, by the Academic Program in effect at the time of graduation, if the student so chooses. Transfer students are subject to the requirements of the Academic Program in effect when they begin studies at Elizabethtown College or, for major requirements, the one in effect at the time of graduation. In no case, however, may a student use a Academic Program or College Catalog dated more than four years prior to graduation to determine requirements for a degree, nor may a combination of Academic Program or College Catalog requirements be used.

Elizabethtown College will graduate only those students who meet the moral and financial obligations incurred in pursuit of their studies. The completion of the required number of credits does not in itself constitute eligibility for graduation.

It is the responsibility of the candidate for a degree to make formal written application for the degree to the registrar by February 15.

The Office of the President must be notified by any student who plans to graduate in absentia.

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Academic Judicial System

Judicial Structure
Responsibility for judicial matters of an academic nature is assumed by the Academic Standing Committee and the Academic Review Committee.

• The Academic Standing Committee is comprised of three faculty members, the associate dean of the faculty, and two counselors from the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services who serve in an advisory capacity without vote in committee decisions. The committee handles matters pertaining to academic probation, academic dismissal, readmission, and deviations from the academic curriculum of the College.
  
• The Academic Review Committee is comprised of three faculty members, two students, and one administrator appointed by the president. The provost serves as convener of the committee but is not a member and does not vote in decisions made by the committee. The committee handles matters pertaining to academic dishonesty and student appeals of course grades.

Academic Due Process
At Elizabethtown College, academic due process is understood to include the following student rights:

• With Regard to Grading:
  • To receive a specific explanation of the manner in which a course grade was determined.
    
  • To appeal a course grade if the student believes that a grade was influenced by matters other than academic performance, class attendance, and punctuality in submitting assignments.
    
    
• With Regard to Academic Dishonesty:
  • When penalized for academic dishonesty, to receive a written notification specifying the nature of the infraction and the recommended penalty.
    
  • To request a hearing before the Academic Review Committee when found by a faculty member to be in violation of the standards of academic integrity and to receive a written statement from that board summarizing the findings of the board and its disposition of the matter.
    
  • To request a hearing before the Academic Standing Committee when recommended for academic dismissal due to cheating, plagiarism, or other violations of the standards of academic integrity.
    
  • To inspect any information on file in the Office of the Provost dealing with incidents of academic dishonesty attributed to that student.

Standards of Academic Integrity
Elizabethtown College assumes that students will act honorably. Students are asked to adhere to the Pledge of Integrity adopted by both the Student Senate and the Faculty Assembly.

All new students will enter with the expectation that they will affirm and uphold the Pledge. Reflecting commitment to the Pledge, new students will be expected to sign a pledge stating, "I pledge to be honest and to uphold integrity."

• Academic Dishonesty -- including cheating and plagiarism -- constitutes a serious breach of academic integrity. Academic work is expected unequivocally to be the honest product of the student's own endeavor.
  
• Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of unauthorized information as part of an examination or other academic exercise. What constitutes "unauthorized information" may vary depending upon the type of examination or exercise involved, and the student must be careful to understand in advance what a particular instructor considers to be "unauthorized information." Faculty members are encouraged to make this definition clear to their students.
  
• Plagiarism is defined as taking and using the writings or ideas of another without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism occurs most frequently in the preparation of a paper, but is found in other types of course assignments as well.
  
• Other forms of academic dishonesty include (but are not limited to) fabrication, falsification, or invention of information when such information is not appropriate. To knowingly help or attempt to help another student to commit an act of academic dishonesty is considered to be an equivalent breach of academic integrity and is treated as such.

Cases of academic dishonesty are reviewed individually and according to the circumstances of the violation; however, students who violate the standards of academic integrity can normally expect a grade of F in the course and/or possible dismissal from the College.

Procedures for Dealing with Cases of Academic Dishonesty
Instances Involving Coursework:

• When an instructor discovers evidence of academic dishonesty an informal conference is scheduled promptly with the student or students involved.
  
• If, after the informal conference, the instructor is satisfied that there is evidence of academic dishonesty, a second conference is scheduled with the student involved (in cases involving more than one student either individual or group conferences may be appropriate depending on the particular circumstances of the case). It is preferable that this conference take place in the presence of another faculty member. The student has the right to have a faculty member, another student, or a member of the Office of Personal and Career Counseling Services present as an observer.
  
• If, following the second conference, the initiating faculty member is satisfied that there is proof of academic dishonesty and if the infraction is serious enough to warrant a recommendation of penalty beyond repetition of the assignment or examination, the faculty member will, with the approval of the department chair or equivalent, give the accused student(s) written notification specifying the infraction and the recommended penalty. A copy of this notification is sent to the Office of the Provost. Should the department chair not be in agreement with the faculty member, and the matter not be resolved at the department level, both the faculty member and the department chair will give written notification, with rationale, to the provost. The provost will then review the matter and recommend action, and will inform the student, in writing, of the recommended action.
  
• The accused student(s) will have the alternative of accepting the recommended penalty or requesting a hearing before the Academic Review Committee. The request for a hearing must be presented in writing to the provost within five days of receipt of the notice of information.
  
• The provost will review cases of academic dishonesty and exercise judgment as to whether a student found to be in violation of the standards of academic integrity should be recommended for dismissal from the College. If it is the provost's judgment that academic dismissal is appropriate, the provost will notify, in writing, both the student and the Academic Standing Committee of his decision and the factors that influenced that decision.
  
• The student will have the option of accepting the provost's decision or requesting a hearing before the Academic Standing Committee. The request for a hearing must be presented in writing to the chair of the Academic Standing Committee within five days of receiptof the provost's decision.
  

Other Instances: All forms of dishonesty in academic matters are violations of the Standards of Academic Integrity and are the concern of the Academic Review Committee. Inappropriate actions, for example, lying to college officials or forgery of advisors' signatures, are violations equivalent to cheating and plagiarism in coursework. Such dishonesty will be dealt with following the general procedures set forth above. Cases are reviewed individually and according to the circumstances of the violation; possible penalties include suspension or dismissal from the College.

Grade Appeals
Grades are considered to be official at the time submitted by the faculty. Questions concerning grades must be called to the attention of the instructor immediately after the official grade report is received. Formal grade appeals must be submitted within 30 days of the date on which the grade was issued from the Office of Registration and Records. Exception to the 30-day time limit requires formal petition to and approval of the Academic Standing Committee.

Procedures For Grade Appeals:

• If a student believes that a final grade has been influenced by matters other than academic performance, class attendance, and punctuality in submitting assignments, the student may request an informal conference with the instructor to discuss the matter.
  
• If the outcome of the informal conference is not satisfactory, the student may submit a request in writing for a meeting on the matter to the department chair (or another faculty member in the department in instances involving the chair). For the meeting, the student will prepare a written statement outlining the basis for the appeal.
  
• The decision regarding the course grade in question will be made by the faculty member in consultation with the chair (or the other faculty member in the department in instances involving the chair). The student will receive immediate, written notification of that decision. Should the faculty member and the department chair not be in agreement, and the matter not be resolved at the department level, both the faculty member and the department chair will give written statements to the provost explaining the reasons for upholding or altering the grade. The provost will then review the matter and recommend action, and will inform the student, in writing, of the recommended action.
  
• The student has the alternative, within ten days of the notice of the decision, of accepting the grade or submitting a further appeal, in writing, to the provost.
  
• The provost will review the detail of the appeal. The Academic Review Committee will hear warranted appeals as determined by the provost.

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This site was created by Edward A. Novak III, Director of College Relations

Posted June 16, 1997
Updated March 15, 1999