ACADEMIC REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

 

Academic Honesty

 

Academic dishonesty, of which cheating and plagiarism are the most common examples, is a serious violation of the principles of higher education. Daemen College takes the position that academic honesty is to be upheld with the highest degree of integrity. The College has a responsibility to support individual thought and the generation of new ideas. This cannot be done when violations of academic honesty go unchallenged.

 

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to:

 

1.         use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations;

2.         dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor

in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; or

3.         the acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the College faculty or staff.

            4.         any form of plagiarism, which includes, but is not limited to:

a.         the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement; or

b.         the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling or distributing of term papers or

                                    other academic materials.

 

In an instance where there has been a violation of the principles of academic honesty, the instructor may choose to follow one or more of a number of possible alternatives including but not limited to: (1) automatic failure of the work; (2) automatic failure of the entire course; (3) recommending expulsion from the degree program; or (4) recommending expulsion from the College. The student may appeal the instructor’s determination in accordance with the Grade Appeal Procedure.

 

When a faculty member determines a violation of academic honesty has occurred, he/she will first notify the student in writing. A copy of this letter, together with a written description of the case with supporting evidence will also be submitted to the Associate Dean of the College. Should there be no additional notifications of academic dishonesty, the initial record will be destroyed one year after the student’s graduation from Daemen College.

 

Upon receipt of additional reported offenses, the Associate Dean will formally present the materials in the file to the CAS for review and recommendation of any additional sanctions beyond those imposed by the instructor. The Associate Dean will also notify the student that the materials will be the subject of CAS deliberation and will recommend that the student write a letter regarding the offense to the CAS for purposes of clarification, explanation or denial. CAS review will be held in a timely manner as determined by CAS. All faculty members who have reported offenses on the part of the student will be invited to participate in the deliberations. In cases where expulsion is recommended, either from the degree program or the College, final authority rests with the Dean of the College.

 

General Conduct Regulation

 

The College reserves the right to dismiss or request the withdrawal of any student whose academic standing, conduct, or manner renders his/her continued attendance at Daemen College undesirable.

 

The College Year

 

The academic year consists of two semesters of approximately fifteen weeks (including examination periods) each. The Fall semester begins in late August/early September; the Spring semester begins in January. Classes are also offered during a 3-week Intersemester Session (January), two 4 1/2-week Summer Sessions (I: June; II: July/ August), and a 9 1/2-week Summer Session (III: June through early August). An Academic Calendar published annually governs the beginning and end of terms, class meetings and final examination dates, and administrative deadlines. Class schedules published each semester assign times and places for courses. Final examination schedules are released early in each semester.

 

DEGREE & CURRICULA RULES

Degree Requirements

 

A student must complete a program of 120-202 (includes all entry-level programs leading to both baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees) semester hours with a minimum quality point average of 2.00 (equivalent to C) for graduation. Within this program, he/she must complete specified all-college requirements and fulfill all the special requirements of the department in which the degree will be granted, including higher grade point average stipulations.

 

In-Residence Course Work Requirement

 

In order to earn a degree from Daemen College, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work in residence. In-residence course work may include, but cannot be limited to, supervised field placements such as student teaching, clinical internship, and Co-op field experience. Challenge Exams, CLLE credit and Cross Registration credit are NOT acceptable in fulfilling the in-residence course work requirement. The final semester’s course work (whether full or part-time) before graduation must be taken in residence.

 

Students who participate in one of Daemen’s structured off-site programs are not required to take their final semester’s course work in residence; however, these students are advised against cross registration and/or completing course work at other institutions during the final semester since possible delays in receiving official transcripts from the other colleges will postpone a student’s graduation/degree conferral. Official transcripts which reflect all final grades earned for course work completed at other educational institutions/agencies and applicable to Daemen degree requirements must be received by the published deadline for receipt of grades for prospective Daemen College graduates.

 

For academic regulations and standards pertinent to post-baccalaureate graduate programs, consult the Daemen College Graduate Bulletin. Regulations and standards contained in this Catalog apply to linked undergraduate/graduate programs in Accounting, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies.

 

Class Status/Anticipated Graduation Year

 

Class status is ordinarily defined in terms of the anticipated graduation year. The anticipated graduation year is determined by the requirements a student has met within the department and/or the credits outstanding for completion of degree requirements. For financial aid purposes, however, class status may be defined in terms of credit hours earned rather than credit hours outstanding: for financial aid purposes, sophomore status is typically attained at 26 credit hours, junior status at 56 credit hours, and senior status at 90 credit hours.

 

Admission to Upper Division of Department/Professional Phase of Program

 

In the second semester of his/her sophomore year (third year for Physical Therapy majors), the student is required to make formal application in writing to the chairperson of the department in which he/she wishes to earn a degree. Transfer students who are beyond the status of second semester sophomore are required to submit this written application after they have completed one semester of academic work at Daemen College. For specific time deadlines, procedures and requirements for admission to the upper division/professional phase of various programs, consult with the academic advisor or department chairperson and review the specific departmental statement in this catalog.

 

Change of Curricula

 

Daemen College reserves the right to make changes in all curricula and/or upper division/professional phase entrance requirements. Students enrolled at Daemen College must meet all requirements if changed or amended by the College.

 

Dual Degrees, Double Majors and Minors

 

Students may opt to pursue completion of requirements for more than one program. Completion of requirements in a second program will be stated on a student’s transcript; however, this does not necessarily result in the conferral of multiple degrees/ diplomas. The pursuit of a dual degree is defined as matriculation in a second program leading to a second degree conferral. The pursuit of a double major is defined as pursuit of coursework in a second program leading to a statement of completion (on the transcript) of the second major’s requirements but not a second degree conferral. Students should consult with the Registrar for further details. The pursuit of dual degrees and double majors may also have financial aid implications. Students should consult with the Financial Aid office for details.

 

Select degree programs include automatic completion of a minor as part of one’s degree requirements; others do not. Students may wish to pursue completion of one or more minor(s). Consult the “Programs of Study” section in this catalog for a complete listing of available minors.

 

Students wishing to change major, file for a dual degree or double major, or declare a minor must file the necessary form with the Registrar’s office.

 

Course Substitutions and Curriculum Waivers

 

In exceptional cases, a student may petition for a course substitution or waiver of a departmental and/or degree requirement. The student will submit to the Committee on Academic Standards a written request fully stating the rationale. The student will ask his or her advisor to send a written recommendation to the Committee on Academic Standards; the Committee will request a written recommendation from the chairperson of the department from which waiver or substitution is requested. The Committee on Academic Standards will make the final decision.

 

If a course substitution request is based on a student’s disability, the student shall also furnish, in addition to his/her petition and advisor’s recommendation, appropriate documentation of the disability to the College’s EO/AA Officer (Associate Dean of the College). Provided that the documentation appears to support the student’s request, the request shall be construed as a request for reasonable accommodation of a disability and it shall be the role of the Committee on Academic Standards to determine whether the request may be granted without compromising the essential nature of the student’s academic program. For further details on the College’s policy on the accommodation of students with disabilities, see p.143 of this Catalog or contact the EO/AA Officer (Associate Dean of the College) at (716) 839-8301.

 

Course Load

 

A full-time student will carry 12-17 credit hours each semester. Select degree programs require that 17+ credits are completed in one or more semesters. There is no additional tuition charge for these credits, provided that the student has followed the suggested course sequence referenced on the Program Plan as published by the Registrar’s office. Some programs require study in summer sessions, for which additional tuition charges are assessed. Students who are out of the regular course sequence as a result of transferring into a program, changing major and/or deficient academic performance, are subject to additional tuition charges for semester course loads exceeding 17 credit hours. Work in excess of the normal load may be undertaken only with special permission and at additional cost to the student; however, except in unusual cases or unless required by the student’s program, the course load should not exceed nineteen semester hours. A student on the Dean’s List may have the full-time tuition charge cover up to and including 21 credit hours in the semester immediately following the semester during which the Dean’s List status was achieved.

 

The Dean’s List privilege does not extend to the intersemester session or the summer sessions or to students who earn an Incomplete grade in a given semester unless all “I” grades for the semester have been changed.

 

Progress Toward Completion of Requirements

 

All matriculating students, in conjunction with their academic advisor, should regularly monitor their progress towards completion of degree requirements and should verify their progress by having an official credit evaluation completed in the Office of the Registrar.

 

Evaluations may be completed on a student’s current major or any other program (major and/or minor) in which a student is interested.

 

The Registrar will forward copies of completed credit evaluations to the chair of the student’s major. It is strongly recommended that students, upon completion of the freshman year, have a credit evaluation completed annually.

 

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Grade Reports

 

The student receives a grade report at the end of each semester. At mid-term, the student receives a report of those courses in which his/her work is deficient (C- grade or lower). With the exception of the Unauthorized Withdrawal (UW), mid-term grades are not recorded on the student’s transcript. Students earning mid-term and/or final grades which are deficient (C- grade or lower) should contact their academic advisor to discuss the next appropriate course of action to be taken.

 

Grade Appeal Procedure

 

1.         A student with questions or complaints about an assigned grade shall first discuss the matter with the course instructor within 30 days of receipt of the grade. The instructor is expected to provide an appropriate explanation of the student’s grade and, if the student’s appeal is meritorious, to be willing to change the grade.

 

2.         If the student’s concerns remain unresolved following discussion with the instructor, the student may appeal in writing to the chair of the department in which the grade was given. The department chair shall review the student’s appeal and consult with the course instructor. The department chair may support the instructor’s evaluation or may recommend to the instructor that the grade be changed. (If the department chair is the course instructor whose grade is under appeal, the divisional dean shall handle the appeal at this stage.)

 

3.         Should the complaint still remain unresolved, an ad hoc grade appeal committee shall be constituted, comprising:

 

            a.         All full-time faculty within the department, including the department chair. (If there are fewer than three such faculty, additional faculty from closely allied discipline(s) shall be appointed by the divisional dean to ensure a minimum of three faculty as conversant in the discipline as possible. If the grade under appeal has been given by the divisional dean, the other dean shall make the necessary appointments.)

 

            b.         The dean of the division in which the department is housed, unless the grade under appeal has been given by said dean (or the dean is a member of the departmental faculty as described above), in which event, the dean of the other division shall serve.

 

            c.         Two faculty members from the Committee on Academic Standards one to be chosen by the student and one by the course instructor.

 

This committee shall examine all pertinent documentation, interview the student and the course instructor, and consult with any other parties it may deem appropriate. The divisional dean shall act in a non-voting, advisory capacity with regard to observance of all pertinent College policies and procedures. The ad hoc grade appeal committee shall render its written decision to the student and faculty member. The committee may recommend that the instructor change the grade; if the instructor refuses, s/he shall provide a written explanation to the committee. Should the committee find the explanation unpersuasive, it will recommend to the department chair that the grade be changed. If, following consultation with the instructor, the instructor still refuses to change the grade, the department chair shall have authority to change the grade notwithstanding the objection of the instructor. (If the instructor is the department chair, the divisional dean shall handle the chair’s duties here described.)

 

Grade appeal procedure for Interdisciplinary (IND) courses: The “department chair” shall be either the chair of the department in which the instructor is housed, if applicable, or the Core Coordinator, at the discretion of the department chair (if applicable). Departmental faculty members of the ad hoc grade appeal committee shall be appointed by the Committee on Interdisciplinary Studies; both divisional deans shall serve; and two members of the Committee on Academic Standards shall be selected as per point 3.c. above.

 

Grading Scale

 

The rating scale used in grading student’s work follows:

                       

Grade                                                                                                             Quality Points

A         Excellent                                                                                4.0

A-                                                                                                        3.7

 

 

B+       Above Average (given for work of high quality)             3.7

B                                                                                                         3.0

B-                                                                                                        2.7

 

C+       Average (given for satisfactory work, the standard                    2.3

C         performance of the college student)                                            2.0

 

C-        Passing (given for work that is passing but below the 1.7

D         standard set for mastery of a course and for graduation)         1.0

 

 

F          Failure (given for inferior work; credit can be earned    0.0

only by repeating the course)

 

AU      Audit (satisfactory, but not for credit)                                ---

 

AX       Audit (unsatisfactory due to non-attendance)                ---

 

I           Incomplete (given when a course has been left                        ---

incomplete with respect to specific assignments,

which may include the final examination)

 

 

W        Withdrawal (given when courses are dropped after                  ---

the last day for drop/add and no later than the last day

for authorized withdrawal)

 

UW     Unauthorized Withdrawal (may be given until midterm            ---

to students not attending but not officially withdrawn)

 

The mark of Incomplete will be assigned only in cases of illness or prolonged or repeated absences for reasons beyond the control of the student, and ONLY if the student has a substantial equity in the course. When a grade of Incomplete is reported, the instructor will indicate the reason on the class roster. Unless an earlier deadline is given by the instructor, students receiving Incomplete grades have until the end of the subsequent semester (regardless of enrollment in that semester) to complete the work. Students should consult with the course instructor regarding the exact day when all outstanding work for the course must be completed. (The student should NOT re-register for the course in that subsequent semester.) The instructor is required to submit the change in grade from Incomplete by the day when grades are due for that semester.

 

An Incomplete grade which has not been repaired by the deadline will automatically be converted to an “F” on the student’s transcript. In exceptional circumstances, a student may formally appeal for an extension of an Incomplete grade; appeals should be directed to the Committee on Academic Standards through the Associate Dean of the College. Once an Incomplete grade turns to an “F”, a student must re-register for the course if he/she wishes to earn credit for that course. Students with grades of Incomplete are not eligible for Dean’s List status until all Incomplete grades for the semester have been changed.

 

The grade of UW (unauthorized withdrawal) is given at mid-term to students who are not attending class but who have not officially withdrawn. There is no tuition refund for an unauthorized withdrawal. Students may not resume attendance in classes for which UW grades have been assigned. Any student wishing to appeal the assignment of a UW grade should consult with the instructor assigning the grade, and may appeal to the Committee on Academic Standards if the matter is not resolved at the student-instructor level.

 

P         Pass (for designated credit or non-credit courses/graded on pass/fail basis – no

            quality points assigned)

 

F          Fail (no credit granted for the courses)

 

Grade Point Average (GPA)

 

Quality points are the values assigned to a course on the basis of the grade received. The scholastic standing of a student is determined by course grades and is expressed as a cumulative grade point average. The grade point average is the ratio of the quality points earned to the number of semester hours attempted.

 

The Daemen College transcript will reflect all courses taken at Daemen, both undergraduate and graduate, if applicable. Three cumulative grade point averages are indicated as part of the student’s record: undergraduate; graduate; combined undergraduate and graduate. The division (undergraduate or graduate) in which a student is enrolled at the time of completion of the course determines the GPA in which a course is included. Students classified in the undergraduate division who earn a semester and/or cumulative GPA of 2.00 are considered institutionally to be in good standing. Each academic program has criteria for acceptable performance within the program and a student’s continuance in the program may be reviewed on the basis of such criteria. Quality points are awarded for credits earned at Daemen College, Daemen-sponsored international programs and exchanges, and cross registrations.

 

To improve the grade point average a student may wish to repeat a course. A student should confer with the advisor about the appropriateness of repeating a course. When a course is repeated at Daemen, only the higher grade is used in computing the grade point average, although both grades appear on the transcript. See “Repeating a Course” section for further information on course repetitions.

 

Academic Bankruptcy Policy

 

The College's academic bankruptcy policy is intended to allow students who are pursuing a new academic program and who are currently maintaining good academic standing to repair their cumulative grade point average (GPA) by "bankrupting" certain course work taken while pursuing their former academic program. The record of course work taken and grades earned still appears on the student's official transcript; however, both credits and quality point values are removed from the record of credits earned and the cumulative grade point average, respectively. A notation on the official transcript will indicate which courses have been bankrupted. Academic bankruptcy is available only to undergraduate students (including students in linked undergraduate/ graduate programs). The following criteria apply to the academic bankruptcy program:

 

1.         The student must have changed his/her major and maintained a minimum semester GPA of 2.50 for at least one full-time (minimum 12 credit hours) semester following the change of major. (Consideration may also be given to a semester GPA based on part-time attendance if the student's ordinary pattern of attendance has been part-time.)

 

2.         Application may be made no earlier than upon completion of the first full semester in the student’s new major, and no later than the semester before the semester of anticipated graduation.

 

3.         No more than 18 credit hours may be considered for bankruptcy. Bankrupted coursework must have been taken in no more than two semesters (including summer sessions) and the semesters must be consecutive.

 

4.         A bankrupted course may not be repeated.  Therefore, a specific course required in the College Core or in the student's new major may not be bankrupted.

 

5.         Regardless of the number of semesters or number of credit hours included in a student's petition for academic bankruptcy, a student may declare bankruptcy only once.

 

6.         A successful petition for academic bankruptcy has no retroactive effect on any academic determinations made prior to bankruptcy, including but not limited to: academic probation, suspension, or dismissal; determinations of ineligibility to pursue application to upper division/professional phase of College programs; Dean's List eligibility; financial aid eligibility; or tuition liability. A student with bankrupted course work is eligible for graduation and other honors which are based on cumulative GPA.

 

The student must submit a written petition to the Committee on Academic Standards, clearly identifying the specific course work for which bankruptcy is desired. A letter of recommendation from the student's current faculty advisor should also be submitted.

 

The Committee on Academic Standards will review the petition for compliance with program criteria and may, at its discretion, consider the entirety of the student's academic record in rendering its decision. Note well: Students receiving financial aid should meet with a financial aid counselor prior to petitioning for bankruptcy to determine the effects of the petition on one's present and future eligibility for aid.

 

Dean’s List

 

A matriculated undergraduate student who attains a grade point average of 3.30 in any one semester is eligible for the Dean’s list provided he/she has been enrolled for twelve credit hours of course work, nine of which must be in course work which utilizes the letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) scale. Dean’s List students receive a Dean’s List Certificate which recognizes their superior scholarship; are named in a national register of Dean’s Lists; and may have their full-time tuition payment (which ordinarily covers a maximum of 17 credit hours) cover up to and including 21 credit hours in the semester immediately following the semester during which the Dean’s List status was achieved. The Dean’s List privilege does not extend to the intersemester session or the summer sessions. Students earning Incomplete grades are ineligible for Dean’s List until all “I” grades for the semester have been changed. Students classified as graduate students are not included on the Dean’s List.

 

Honor Societies

 

The following honor societies have chapters at Daemen College:

 

Beta Beta Beta (Natural Science)

Kappa Delta Pi (Teacher Education)

Lambda Iota Tau (English & Foreign Languages)

Phi Alpha (Social Work)

Psi Chi (Psychology)

Sigma Beta Delta (Accounting & Business Administration)

Sigma Pi Epsilon Delta (Special Education/Inclusion)

Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing)

 

Graduation Honors

 

The BACCALAUREATE DEGREE WITH DISTINCTION is awarded to students who have maintained a high degree of scholastic excellence. Traditional Latin honors are conferred at Commencement and noted on the student’s diploma:

 

1.         Summa Cum Laude for a 3.70 cumulative grade point average.

2.         Magna Cum Laude for a 3.50 cumulative grade point average.

3.         Cum Laude for a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.

 

Students must have completed a minimum of 60 hours of actual Daemen coursework to qualify for these honors. CLLE and challenge exam credit are not allowed as part of the 60 credits of required coursework. Students with fewer than 60 hours of Daemen credit at graduation will be eligible for Latin honors based upon the following standards:

 

1.         The Daemen GPA must be appropriate for the honor to be bestowed AND

 

2.         The GPA for all college work, inclusive of accepted transfer coursework as well as Daemen coursework, must be appropriate. Therefore no honor will be bestowed that is not supported by both the Daemen GPA and   the “all college work” GPA. (Example: If a student has a GPA of 3.30 for all college work, but a Daemen GPA of only 3.20, no honor would be accorded. Conversely, if the “all college work” GPA = 3.20 and the Daemen GPA = 3.30, no honor would be accorded.)

 

Commencement Awards

 

The M. ANGELA CANAVAN AWARD for commitment to ideals of service was established by the Student Association in honor of the late Sr. Mary Angela Canavan, president emeritus of the College, and is awarded at commencement.

 

The ALUMNI SENIOR AWARD (given by the Alumni Association) is presented at baccalaureate to a student who has distinguished himself or herself in service to others.

 

The PRESIDENT’S MEDAL is awarded each year to a member of the senior class who has demonstrated outstanding leadership.

 

The CHARLES L. LUMSDEN AWARD for Academic Excellence is presented annually to an outstanding member of the graduating class. The award recipient must have completed a minimum of 75 credit hours in actual course work at Daemen College.

 

Academic Probation, Suspension and Dismissal

 

A student whose grade point average falls below 2.00, either cumulatively or in a given semester, will be placed on academic probation for the following semester. Failure to achieve at least a 2.00 semester average at the end of the term in which the student is on probation may result in suspension or dismissal from the College for academic reasons. Suspension is a temporary separation from the College, after which the student is again eligible to register for Daemen College courses. Dismissal is a termination of the student’s relationship with Daemen College; a dismissed student must apply for readmission should he or she wish to re-enroll. Conditions of probation include limitations on participation in extracurricular activities and such other conditions as the Committee on Academic Standards may determine. Failure to abide by such conditions together with failure to raise the GPA to an acceptable level will result in suspension or dismissal. If at the end of the sophomore year, a student does not have a 2.00 cumulative GPA, he/she will ordinarily be dismissed. The Committee on Academic Standards may, at its discretion, consider evidence of exceptional circumstances in determining whether a student should be suspended or dismissed. The College also sets any conditions which must be met by students returning from suspension or by dismissed students applying for readmission.

 

A student who gives evidence of very poor scholarship may be subject to dismissal at the end of any semester whether or not he/she previously incurred probation.

 

Class Attendance

 

Regular and prompt attendance is expected at all classes and officially scheduled programs and activities. A student who is absent from class for any reason whatsoever will be required to make up the work to the satisfaction of the instructor. A student anticipating or having a prolonged absence from class (three or more class days), due to illness, accident, or death in the family, should report this absence to the Registrar, who will convey the information to the appropriate instructors. Upon return, it is the student’s responsibility to discuss his or her standing in the course with the instructor who will advise of the appropriate course of action to be taken.

 

REGISTRATION REGULATIONS

Registration

 

Advance registration is held for each semester, intersemester, and summer session. Students will advance register for semester studies according to a predetermined rotating alphabetical schedule based upon anticipated graduation year, i.e., seniors, then juniors, then sophomores, then freshmen. Students enrolled in entry-level programs leading to both baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degrees will advance register on the basis

of program year. If the scheduled advance registration time conflicts with a student’s classes or if it is inconvenient for other reasons, a student may register anytime AFTER his/her scheduled time. Students should NOT SKIP CLASSES to advance register. Students plan their schedules assisted by faculty advisors, fill out the required registration forms, and make payments in the Student Accounts Office according to the regulations published in the College Catalog and schedules of course offerings. In order to register, students must comply with New York State immunization laws. Refer to the Student Services: Health Services section of this catalog for further details.

 

Change of Name and Address

 

As soon as possible after any change of name or address occurs, students should file a Change of Name and/or Address form with the Registrar’s office. Name changes will be executed only when the Change of Name and/or Address form is accompanied by a copy of the legal document which verifies the name change. Students whose permanent address is in a foreign country (excluding Canada) must provide the Registrar’s office with a local address, telephone number and contact person.

 

Electronic Mail

 

Every student currently enrolled at Daemen College is furnished with a Daemen email address. Certain important notices may be sent only via email. Students are responsible for checking their Daemen email account on a regular basis.

 

Changes in Registration

 

There are two types of changes which may be made to a student’s schedule:

 

            1.         Drop/Add

            2.         Authorized Withdrawal/Change in Status from Credit to Audit

 

The changes require the filing of an official drop/add or authorized course withdrawal form by the deadline dates as published in the academic calendar. The form must bear the signatures of the student and academic advisor. In courses which are deemed Service Learning, the Service Learning Director’s (or his designee’s) signature is also required. Drops/adds occur in the first week of the semester. (Consult the calendar for the last date for drop/add each semester.) Drops/adds processed during the drop/add period are not reflected on the transcript. After the last date for drop/add, a student wishing to withdraw from a course must file an official withdrawal form. Please note that non-attendance does not constitute an official withdrawal and may result in receipt of an Unauthorized Withdrawal or a failing grade in the course.

 

Authorized withdrawals occur after the last date for drop/add through the last date for authorized withdrawal/change in status from credit to audit. The last date for authorized withdrawal from a course is approximately two-thirds into the semester/term. (Consult the academic calendar for the exact dates each semester/term.) In exceptional cases, the student may petition the Committee on Academic Standards through the Associate Dean of the College for an authorized late withdrawal. A written recommendation from the student’s advisor, course instructor(s) and appropriate documentation of the reason for the withdrawal request must be provided to the Committee. Course withdrawals are reflected on the transcript.

 

Repeated patterns of withdrawal will be cause for review by the Committee on Academic Standards. Course withdrawals/changes in status from credit to audit may also have tuition implications and adverse financial aid consequences. Students who receive financial aid should consult with a Financial Aid Counselor to determine if the withdrawal(s) will affect continued aid eligibility. They should also consult the financial section of this catalog for tuition implications.

 

Repeating a Course

 

A student may need or desire to repeat a course for a better grade. Students are encouraged to discuss the matter with their academic advisor. When a course is repeated at Daemen, only the higher grade is used in computing the grade point average, although both grades appear on the transcript. In instances where the student transfers a repeat of a Daemen course, the Daemen grade is deleted from the student’s GPA, although the grade continues to appear on the transcript. Repeating a course may affect TAP eligibility. Please note that TAP will not pay for courses for which a passing grade was received unless the student is registered for at least 12 credit hours of TAP eligible course work in ADDITION to the repeated course. Students should consult with the Offices of Financial Aid and Registrar for further information. Consult separate departmental sections of this catalog for additional restrictions on course repeats.

 

Financial Aid Considerations

 

NOTE WELL: Decisions to repeat courses, drop courses, or take incomplete grades should be made only after careful consideration by the student and consultation with the student’s academic advisor and the offices of the Registrar and Financial Aid. Careful reference should be made to the Satisfactory Academic Progress chart on page 14 to determine not only whether there will be an immediate effect on student aid eligibility, but the effect any decision to drop or repeat courses will have on the student’s future ability to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The offices of Financial Aid and Academic Advisement are able to assist students in clarifying both immediate and long-term educational goals.

 

 

Withdrawal from the College

 

A student who withdraws from the College before completing a degree is required to fill out a Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form. This form is available in the Office of Academic Advisement. The student completes the top of the form, and arranges for an Exit Interview with the Executive Director of Academic Support Services. Upon completion of the Exit Interview, the withdrawal process is finalized. Return after Withdrawal necessitates a formal application to the Office of Admissions for readmission. A student accepted for readmission following withdrawal must meet all requirements in force at the time of the student’s return to the College. If a student withdraws from the College after the last date for authorized withdrawal, a formal, written petition for a withdrawal from all classes must be presented with a letter of support from a faculty advisor and with available substantiating documentation when appropriate for consideration by the Committee on Academic Standards. Filing for withdrawal does not preclude suspension or dismissal at the conclusion of a semester.

 

If a student withdraws from all classes before the end of the semester, the student should use the Withdrawal From All Courses form which is available in the Office of Academic Advisement. If the student intends to register for the subsequent semester, no other form is needed. If the student does not intend to return for the subsequent semester, the Leave of Absence/ Withdrawal Form should also be completed.

 

Leave of Absence Policy

 

A leave of absence from the College may be granted to students for reasons other than academic difficulties for up to one full year after the end of the semester in progress. Full-time students who do not intend to return in a subsequent semester must file for a Leave of Absence in order to remain classified as an “active” student. Part-time students are permitted to skip one semester between registered periods without having to file for a Leave of Absence. If the part-time student does not return after one semester of absence, the student must file for a Leave of Absence in order to remain classified as an “active” student. The leave requires final approval by the Executive Director of Academic Support Services and begin after the end of the semester in progress. Students desiring a leave of absence should complete the Leave of Absence/Withdrawal Form available in the Office of Academic Advisement. The student must indicate his/her intended date of return to the College on the form. If the student does not return to the College on or before the appropriate date, he/she will be considered as having withdrawn from the College. Withdrawal necessitates a formal application to the Office of Admissions for readmission. A student returning from a Leave of Absence MUST meet all requirements in force at the time of the student’s return to the College. Students taking a Leave of Absence who have received long-term loans must consult the Financial Aid Office for information about loan repayment obligations, which in most cases begin six months after the last day of formal enrollment at Daemen. Students taking a Leave of Absence who are receiving other forms of aid should consult both the Business Office and the Financial Aid Office before leaving Daemen. Filing for a Leave of Absence does not preclude suspension or dismissal at the conclusion of a semester.

 

Students who were placed on probation at the time they took a leave or withdrew will, upon their return, continue to be on probation and will be required to meet the conditions set by the College while they are on probation.

 

Transcripts

 

Requests for transcripts of a student’s academic record must be made in writing and received in the Registrar’s office five business days before the transcript is needed. Normally, processing time will be less than five business days; during peak periods (beginning of each semester, immediately after graduation), the processing time for transcript requests may be extended. Faxed requests are accepted. Consult the website (www.daemen.edu/registrar) or the Registrar’s Office for further details. The transcript reflects both undergraduate and graduate studies at Daemen. Official transcripts (or any document which requires the official College seal) are not generally issued to the student but, in accordance with accepted practice, are sent directly to the institutions indicated by the student. In rare instances, official transcripts may be issued to students in a sealed envelope with the raised College seal across the envelope’s seal. If the envelope seal is broken, the transcript is considered void. Unofficial copies of transcripts may be ordered for personal use; these copies will be marked as a Student Copy. For each transcript there is a fee of $3.00; from September through August of the student’s graduation year, the transcript fee is $2.00. Transcripts or any document which is generally accepted in lieu of a transcript (including licensure applications for professional programs) will not be sent for any student whose financial obligations to the College have not been satisfied.

 

Graduation Requirements/Policies

 

Degrees are conferred three times each year (January 15, May - date announced annually, September 30). One Commencement ceremony is held in May and is open for participation by that year’s January and May graduates. September graduates are eligible for participation in the Commencement ceremony held in the subsequent year. * A student will graduate, i.e., have the degree conferred, only when degree requirements are satisfied in full and all final grades are on record in the Registrar’s office. (Consult the academic calendar for the date when grades are due.) An Application for Degree form must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the first week of October for prospective January and May degree conferrals and by early June for September degree conferrals. Consult the academic calendar for the exact application due dates. Until the application is filed, a student will not be included on the Commencement list, will not receive any Commencement-related mailings, and will not have his/her academic record reviewed for verification of completion of degree requirements.

 

Diplomas will list the degree and graduation honors conferred. Completion of an honors degree program is also reflected on the diploma. Students may list their name on the Application for Degree (and the diploma) as it appears on the academic record or another preference. Replacement diplomas are issued upon request and for a fee. Consult the website or the Registrar’s office for fees. Replacement diplomas are marked as such. Diplomas and replacement diplomas are withheld until a student’s financial obligation to the College has been satisfied.

 

*           Pending compliance with established criteria, there are instances when prospective September graduates may “walk” in the Commencement ceremony held in May of that same year. Eligibility criteria and applications are available in the Registrar’s office as well as on the website.

 

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT RULES

Transfer Credit

 

Continuing students who wish to take a course at another institution and transfer the credit to Daemen to meet a program requirement may do so through the standard transfer of credit system or the cross registration program.

 

Some programs restrict the number of credits transferred in the major and/or in non-major requirements. Consult the academic department for details.

 

* Note: Completion of core credits via transfer courses: Transfer courses (including cross registrations), except for courses equivalent to CMP 101 College Composition, will not satisfy competencies, or Learning Community requirements. Only with the written authorization of the Core Director will a transferred course fulfill Quantitative Literacy and/or Research and Presentation (for which departmental approval will also be solicited by the Core Director) and/or Writing Intensive requirements. Only in extraordinary circumstances, and only with the written authorization of the Core Director, will a transferred course fulfill Service Learning requirements. Transfer credits may be used to fulfill core electives.

 

The standard transfer of credit system requires that students file the required Request for Off-Campus Course form with the Registrar’s office. The form must be completed in full and bear the required student and faculty signatures. Students are advised to consult the transfer equivalency database available on the Daemen website, to determine if a course offered elsewhere is equivalent to a Daemen course and/or is acceptable for transfer. If a course does not appear in the database, students are advised to provide a course description to the appropriate Daemen faculty when they are requesting permission to take an off-campus course. A minimum grade of C is required for transfer. If a higher grade is required, the faculty members signing the form will specify same. Students must have official transcripts for all off-campus coursework sent directly from the other institution to Daemen’s Registrar’s office. The student is responsible for the transcript fee.

 

Cross registration is an option available only to full-time matriculating students who wish to take a course elsewhere during a semester. Consult the Special Programs for Enrichment and Academic Credit section of the Catalog for full details.

 

No transfer courses or cross registration are allowed in a senior’s final semester before degree conferral. Consult the In-Residence Course Work Requirement section of the catalog for details.

 

Audit Policy

 

Regular and part-time students may audit courses by completing and filing with the Registrar the Permit to Audit form, by including the courses as AUDIT on their semester load, and by paying the appropriate fee(s), if applicable. Subject to available space, the College also welcomes alumni and senior citizens as auditors free of charge, although the payment of appropriate College fees (for materials, labs, etc.) may be required. Students may change their status in any credit course to that of an audit by filing (with the Registrar) the appropriate Drop/Add form (available in the Registration office) up to and including the last date for authorized withdrawal from a course. Consult the academic calendar for the exact dates. Auditing of courses is subject to the permission of the instructor.

 

Independent Study

 

Both during the summer and the regular academic year, it is recommended that departments allow independent study only after carefully assessing whether the course can be successfully taught independently and after ascertaining that the student:

 

1.         has a grade point average of 2.5 or better;

2.         has completed all course work for previous courses undertaken;

3.         possesses the necessary motivation and ability for working independently.

 

The Independent Study request form must be signed by the instructor and the department chair before enrollment in the course is finalized. Summer and intersemester independent study also requires the approval of the appropriate Divisional Dean.

 

Directed Study Policy

 

Directed study may be arranged in various fields to allow students to supplement departmental courses. To enroll in Directed Study 458, the student must complete the Permission to Register form, gaining the approval of the directed study instructor and the chair of the department from which credit will be granted.

 

Credit for Learning from Life Experience (CLLE)

 

Daemen students may receive academic credit for training courses in the armed forces or other non-educational organizations, for acquired proficiency as determined by College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests or Excelsior College Examinations, or for equivalent knowledge acquired through occupational or avocational life experiences. Criteria for granting Life Experience credit as presented in the following publications will be followed whenever possible:

 

1.         College Level Examination Program       (CLEP) by the College Board.

2.         Excelsior College Examinations by the University of the State of New York.

3.         College Credit Recommendations by the National Program on Noncollegiate

            Sponsored Instruction (PONSI).

4.         Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces by the

            U.S. Armed Forces Institute (USAFI).

 

For further details, refer to the section in this catalog entitled Application Procedures: Credit by Examination. In cases in which the above criteria do not apply, the student may petition the Committee on Academic Standards for Credit for Learning from Life Experience (CLLE). The student should provide a recommendation from the faculty of the credit-approving department (via the chairperson). A faculty panel within the department from which credit is sought will design and conduct an individualized examination after consultation with the candidate. An oral examination, a written examination, a performance examination, or a combination of two or three of these evaluative techniques should be used. The Committee on Academic Standards will make the final decision regarding the requested credit. The amount of credit will vary with the nature of the learning experience and its applicability to a degree program. Students are advised to begin the CLLE application process by discussing with the chair of the credit-granting department the feasibility of their petition. A fee is assessed for each course/credit for which CLLE credit is granted.

 

Challenge Examinations

 

Departments may offer challenge examinations to students who believe they possess proficiency in a particular course. Challenge exams must be designed by department

faculty. Once a student completes the examination, he/she must petition the Committee on Academic Standards for credit for the course. The department chairperson, after grading the exam, will submit the grade recommendation to the Committee. The Committee’s decision is final. The course, grade and statement that a Challenge Exam was completed will appear on the student’s transcript. A fee is assessed for each course/credit in which a student completes a challenge exam.