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Academic Policies

Matters upon which there are no specific policy statements for graduate students are governed by general regulations of the University or by action of the Graduate Council.

Advising

Academic advising for graduate students is the responsibility of the appropriate program director. Designated academic advisors will advise students in the corresponding graduate program area. Students should consult with the academic advisor regarding questions about course selection, graduation requirements and related matters. For each registration period, the student’s advisor must authorize enrollment before the registration is complete. These procedures provide each student contact with an academic advisor who can assist in assuring that all requirements are completed in sequence and on schedule. Each student, however, has the ultimate responsibility for monitoring his or her own graduation requirements.

Registration

Students must be officially admitted to a graduate program before enrolling in graduate courses (exception: admitted as a special student – see above section). Manchester University reserves the right to cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment. Questions about classes and registration may be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs or the Registrar.

Transfer of Credit

A maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit taken at other regionally accredited graduate schools may be transferred and applied toward either the MAT or the MEd, provided that such credit is approved by the appropriate program director and the registrar. Credit cannot be earned through proficiency examinations.

Student Load

Full-time enrollment in the Master of Education program is six or more semester hours per semester. Full-time enrollment in the Master of Athletic Training program is eight or more semester hours per semester. Students may not enroll in more than 16 semester hours in the fall or spring semesters, 12 semester hours in summer, or four semester hours in a single summer or January session.

Auditing Courses

Graduate students may, with permission of the program director, audit graduate courses for no credit or grade. Registration is required and official audits will be recorded on the student’s academic record. Audit fees per course are equivalent to tuition and fee charges for credit courses. While not responsible for required course assignments and examinations, students auditing a course are expected to attend class and participate. Changes in status from audit to credit are not permitted.

Repeating Courses

A student may repeat any course with the approval of the program director and registrar prior to registering for the repeat course. The credit for a repeated course can be counted only once in the total hours earned, and only the last grade received is counted in the cumulative grade point average. In the rare circumstance when a student earns a passing grade in the first but not the second attempt, both grades will be included in determining the cumulative GPA.

Courses counted toward MAT degree completion may be repeated a maximum of one time.

No more than five courses may be repeated in the MEd program.

Course Numbering System

Courses numbered at the 500 and 600 level are open only to graduate students admitted into a graduate program.

Grading System

A four-point grading system is used to compute grade point averages for graduate work.
The grading system for graduate courses is:

Grade Description Grade Points A Highest passing grade 4.00 A-   3.70 B+   3.30 B   3.00 B-   2.70 C+   2.30 C Lowest passing grade 2.00 F Failure 0.00   Other grading symbols   AU Incomplete* (Temporary grade) Student unable to complete work for reasons beyond his/her control. 1 NR Grade not reported* (Temporary grade) Course extends beyond end of semester/session. 3 UW Unauthorized Withdrawal (Failure, 0) 3 W Withdrawn Passing 3 WF Withdrawn Failing (0) 3   *Work must be completed by the midsemester date of the next regular semester, otherwise a failure (0) is recorded.

Withdrawal from a course
A student may withdraw during the first two-thirds of a course, receiving a grade of W. Withdrawing later in the course will result in a grade of WF. A student who does not withdraw but stops attending class receives a grade of UW. Contact the Office of the Registrar for course withdrawal instructions.

Incompletes
An Incomplete grade may be assigned at the end of a semester when conditions beyond the control of the student preclude completing coursework. In such cases the student must be doing passing work and must be able to complete the unfinished work without further class attendance. Students must complete required work by the midsemester date of the next regular semester; otherwise, an F is recorded.

Academic Good Standing

A minimum grade point average of 3.00 is required for good standing in the graduate program. The Graduate Council will review the academic progress of all graduate students at the end of each semester, January Session and summer sessions. Any student falling below a 3.00 grade point average will be disqualified.

Petitions for Special Action

Students who believe extenuating circumstances merit consideration may petition the Graduate Council for exceptions to stipulated policies and regulations. Petitions must be in writing and are to be filed with the Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Action on petitions will be taken only at regular meetings of the Graduate Council and will not be considered as a precedent for any future action. The decision of the Graduate Council is final and no further appeal procedure shall exist within the University.

Academic Dishonesty and Grievance

Membership in the Manchester University community requires a devotion to the highest principles of academic and personal integrity, a commitment to maintain honor, and a continuous regard for the rights of others. There can be no rights without individual responsibility.

Manchester University faculty are committed to teaching and learning as a career and a profession. Each instructor is presumed to develop and use methods and techniques which enhance learning and which best fit his or her personality and subject matter area. At the same time, the instructor is expected to abide by the general principles of responsible teaching which are commonly accepted by the academic profession. These principles suggest that faculty keep complete records of student performance and that they develop and apply express, uniform criteria for evaluating student performance.

Students are free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study. While they may reserve judgment about matters of opinion, they are responsible for learning the content of any course in which they are enrolled. At the same time, students are expected to abide by the general principles of academic honesty which are commonly accepted in educational settings.

When a student chooses not to follow the general principles of academic honesty, the following policies and procedures will apply.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY
The Academic Dishonesty Policy applies in cases of plagiarism or cheating as defined below.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the presentation of information (either written or oral) as one’s own when some or all of the information was derived from some other source. Specific types of plagiarism encountered in written and oral assignments include the following:

• Sources have been properly identified, but excerpts have been quoted without proper use of quotation marks; or the material has been slightly modified or rephrased rather than restated in the student’s own words.
• Key ideas or items of information derived from specific sources that present material that is not common knowledge have been presented without proper identification of the source or sources.
• Unidentified excerpts from other sources have been woven into the student’s own presentation.
• A paper or speech may be a mosaic of excerpts from several sources and presented as the student’s own.
• An entire paper or speech has been obtained from some other source and presented as the student’s own.
  
• Texts in another language are translated into English and presented as the student’s own.

Cheating
Cheating consists of any unpermitted use of notes, texts or other sources so as to give an unfair advantage to a student in completing a class assignment or an examination. Intentionally aiding another student engaged in academic dishonesty is also considered cheating. Submission of the same work (essay, speech, art piece, etc.) to fulfill assignments in separate classes requires the permission of both instructors (if both courses are being taken in the same semester), or the permission of the second instructor (if they are taken during different semesters).

Academic Dishonesty Procedures

1. In a case of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall send a letter documenting the deception to the student (via e-mail and hard copy to student mailbox or home address), with copies emailed to the associate dean for academic affairs, the vice president for student development, and the student’s academic advisor. The instructor shall complete an Academic Dishonesty Tracking form and submit documentation of the academic dishonesty to the Office of Academic Affairs.
2. In cases of a first offense, the associate dean will contact the instructor to determine if sanctions have been applied or if the instructor wishes an Academic Integrity Panel (AIP) to review the case and apply sanctions. The associate dean will send a letter outlining the seriousness of academic dishonesty and the consequences of a second offense to first offenders not going through AIP process.
3. In cases of a first offense, students who wish to appeal an instructor-imposed sanction may request an AIP hearing.
4. If requested by the instructor in cases of a first offense, or for any subsequent offenses, the associate dean for academic affairs will convene an AIP consisting of the associate dean for academic affairs, two faculty selected from four members appointed by FEC, and two students selected from a pool of eligible students appointed by the Office of Student Development. The composition of each AIP will be determined based on scheduling availability and avoidance of conflict of interest. The associate dean for academic affairs will vote only in cases of a tie. The associate dean for academic affairs will schedule a hearing with the student and the AIP within two weeks of receipt of the tracking form. A registration “hold” will be placed in effect until the hearing has occurred.
5. Following the hearing the associate dean for academic affairs will inform the student and the instructor who filed the report of dishonesty of the AIP’s decision in writing. The associate dean will inform the registrar of any action which affects enrollment (i.e. suspension or expulsion). 

Penalties

1. The instructor has the sole discretion to impose specific grade sanctions such as failure of the assignment or failure of the course for any incident of academic dishonesty. When a failing grade for the course is imposed, the student will not be allowed to withdraw from the course with a grade of W.
2. For a first referred offense, the AIP has the discretion to impose disciplinary sanctions such as a letter of apology, monetary fine or community service requirement in addition to any grade sanction imposed by the instructor.
3. For a second or subsequent offense, an AIP hearing will occur, whereby additional sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion from the University could be applied. 

Due Process
Students shall have a right to due process. This shall include the right

1. To be informed of the nature of the violation.
   
2. To a fair hearing of the evidence leading to a decision in the case.
3. To be accompanied to any hearing by a faculty or administrative staff member from the University campus community.
4. To request an appeal based only on due process or new, exculpating evidence.

Appeal
An appeal for an academic dishonesty decision may be made ONLY with the vice president and dean for academic affairs (VPAA) and ONLY onteh basis of due process violations or the discovery of new, exulpating evidence. A request for appeal must be made with the VPAA within five days of reciept of the AIP's decision.

ACADEMIC GRIEVANCE POLICY

The Academic Grievance Policy pertains only to cases in which a student believes the final course grade has been assigned in a capricious or unfair manner. Grievances unrelated to academic performance may be brought directly to the Office of Academic Affairs.

Academic Grievance Procedures

1. The student and the instructor should discuss the student's grievance and make every effort to reach a satisfactory solution. A mutually agreed upon third party may be invited to observe the meeting.
2. If an agreement cannot be reached, the student will bring the issue to the program director of the involved instructor. Final course grade grievance must be brought before the program director no later than March 1 for fall semester and January session grades, and October 1 for spring semester and summer session grades.
   
   
   1. The program director will request a detailed written summary from each party.
   2. The program director will inform the vice president and dean for academic affairs of the grievance.
   3. The program director will meet with both parties together, listen to their concerns and attempt to resolve the grievance.
   4. If an agreement is reached, the program director will inform the vice president and dean for academic affairs of the result in writing. The written summaries will be forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs (see a above).
      
      Exception: If the involved instructor is the program director, the director will request that the vice president and dean for academic affairs appoint another graduate program director to hear the concerns and attempt to resolve the grievance.
      
      
3. If an agreement cannot be reached through the program director, the student may initiate the formal grievance procedure.
   
   
   1. The student will obtain an Academic Grievance form from the Office of Academic Affairs.
   2. The completed form will be forwarded by the student to the Office of Academic Affairs.
   3. The Graduate Council (or their designated representative) will review the grievance only if procedures 1 & 2 have been completed. The written summaries initially provided to the program director can be used by the Graduate Council and/or the committee may wish to interview both parties individually.
   4. The Graduate Council will render a final decision.
      
      Exception: If the involved instructor is a member of the Graduate Council, the vice president and dean for academic affairs will appoint a full-time faculty member from the same division to replace the involved instructor while the grievance is being reviewed or discussed, and a decison is being made. If the involved instructor is the academic dean, the chair of the Graduate Council will request that the president of the University appoint a full-time faculty member to replace the vice president and dean for academic affairs while the grievance is being reviewed or discussed, and a decision is being made.

Preparation for Graduation and Participation in Commencement

Degrees are conferred at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Diplomas are awarded at the May commencement.

Students expecting to complete all requirements by September 1 of the year of graduation must submit the Diploma Application to the Office of the Registrar by December 1 prior to commencement the following May. Students who participate in the May commencement with requirements to be completed during the following summer must have all grades submitted to the Office of the Registrar by September 1 to be included in the graduating class of that year. Those who complete graduation requirements after September 1 will be included in the following year’s graduating class.

No diploma or transcript will be released until all financial obligations to the University have been met.

Time Limit

All requirements for the MAT degree must be completed within three years of admission to the program or the date of enrollment in the first graduate course at Manchester University, whichever is later.

All requirements for the MEd degree program must be completed within three years of admission to the program or the date of enrollment in the first graduate course at Manchester University, whichever is later.