Academic Policies and Procedures

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STUDENT TO KNOW, UNDERSTAND AND COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIS/HER DEGREE PROGRAM.

This section of the Catalog is maintained by the Academic Advisement Center. The academic policies and procedures for undergraduate students as stated herein are subject to periodic review and possible change by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and faculty committees. Students are subject to the most current academic policies and procedures that are in effect.

INDEX, ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Entries appear in alphabetical order with the exception of the first two entries entitled Accreditation and Degrees; all entries thereafter appear in alphabetical order. 

• Accreditation
• Degrees
• Academic Advisement
• Academic Advisor and Advisee Roles and Responsibilities
• Academic Honors
• Academic Integrity
• Academic Standing
• Academic Year
• Athletic Team Participation
• Attendance
• Auditing
• Change of Name/Address
• Class Standing
• Classroom Behavior
• Comprehensives
• Course Load
• Course Numbering System
• Credit by Examination and Credit for Other Learning Experiences
• Credits and Hours
• Degree Requirements
• Dismissal and Suspension
• Drop/Add Policy
• Electives
• English Writing: Degree Requirements and Placement
• Evaluation: All-College Assessments
• Excel Program
• Exceptions to Academic Policies and Degree Requirements
• Extra-Curricular Activities
• FERPA
• Final Examinations
• First Year Programs
• First Year Seminar Program
• Grade Grievances
• Grade Points and Grade Point Average
• Grades
• Graduate Admissions Examinations
• Graduate Study
• Graduation / Commencement
• Graduation-Commencement Information Form / Senior Evaluation 
• Human Subjects Research
• Independent Study
• Internships
• Leave of Absence
• Liberal Arts Courses
• Liberal Arts Requirement 
• Major
• Math Placement
• Matriculation
• Minor
• Modern Foreign Language
• New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) On-line Course Enrollment Program
• Pass / Fail Option
• Petitions
• Physical Education Requirement
• Prerequisite 
• Probation and Dismissal
• Readmission 
• Records and Confidentiality
• Registration
• Repeating a Course
• Residency Requirement
• Rochester Area Colleges (RAC) Inter-Institutional Undergraduate Student Enrollment Program
• Science Lecture and Laboratory Co-Requisite Policy
• Second Baccalaureate Degree
• Services for Students with Disabilities
• Standards of Academic Progress
• Student Code of Conduct
• Study Abroad
• Summer Courses at Nazareth College
• Teacher Certification Programs
• Transcripts and Records
• Transfer Credit / External Coursework
• Tutorials
• Waitlists 
• Withdrawal from the College 

Accreditation

Nazareth College is incorporated under the authority of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and is an accredited member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Documentation regarding this incorporation and accreditation may be seen during regular business hours in the Office of the President. The College holds membership in the American Council on Education, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. It is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (CAEP). Nazareth College’s entry level Occupational Therapy Master’s Degree program was granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) in 2010. Full accreditation documentation is due in December 2013. An on-site visit by ACOTE evaluators is scheduled for Fall 2014. The Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The programs in Social Work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The School of Management is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The School of Management has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The business programs in the following areas are accredited: B.S. in Accounting, B.S. Business Administration, M.S. Human Resource Management, and M.S. Management. Nazareth College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The College is approved by the New York State Education Department for the training of veterans and other eligible persons.

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Degrees

The baccalaureate degree is an academic degree awarded by the College to students who have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate study in a planned program including core requirements. Nazareth College offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Education degrees. Initial New York State teacher certification may be earned with many of these degrees. See the catalog section of the School of Education for further information.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs

Listed below are Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Arts degree programs.  Students majoring in these areas are expected to pursue the B.A. degree. Students must complete at least 90 liberal arts credits for the B.A. degree.
NOTE: The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program. 

See also: Liberal Arts Requirement, Modern Foreign Language

From time to time, in order to satisfy Teacher Certification requirements or for another legitimate reason, a student is unable, as part of the 120 minimum credit-hour program, to complete the 90 liberal arts credits required by the State Education Department for a B.A. degree.  Nazareth College has authorization to grant a Bachelor of Science degree in these areas and, in extraordinary cases, does so. Students in these programs pursue the B.S. option only with the approval of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, through the petition process. This approval should be requested at the time of admission or shortly thereafter. 

*Depends on primary major
**These programs may be completed with a second major in Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. The Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education major must be completed with a major in the liberal arts and sciences and is not offered as a stand-alone major.

⁺These programs may be completed with the Adolescence Education Program (which is not a major).  Certification is in Social Studies for History majors and in English for Theatre majors.

Bachelor of Science Degree Programs

Listed below are Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Science degree programs.  Students majoring in these areas pursue the B.S. degree.  Students must complete at least 60 liberal arts credits for the B.S. degree. Accounting students must have at least 60 credits of non-business courses.  NOTE: The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program. 

See also: Liberal Arts Requirement, Modern Foreign Language

*Depends on primary major
**These programs may be completed with a second major in Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. The Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education major must be completed with a major in the liberal arts and sciences and is not offered as a stand- alone major.

⁺These programs may be completed with the Adolescence Education Program (which is not a major).

Bachelor of Music Degree Programs

Listed below are Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Music degree programs. Students majoring in these areas pursue the Mus.B. degree.  Students pursuing a Mus.B. degree with programs in Music Education or Music Therapy must complete a minimum of 131 credits; students pursuing the Music Performance must complete a minimum of 128 credits. Students with course waivers based on initial placement into music courses may complete fewer credit hours but must complete 120 credits to earn a degree.  Students must complete at least 45 liberal arts credits for the Mus.B. degree.  NOTE: The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program. 

See also: Liberal Arts Requirement, Modern Foreign Language

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Programs

Listed below are Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs. Students majoring in these areas pursue the B.F.A. degree. Students must complete at least 30 liberal arts credits for the B.F.A. degree.  NOTE: The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program.

See also: Liberal Arts Requirement, Modern Foreign Language

Combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Education Degree Programs

Listed below is Nazareth College’s Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Education 5 year) degree program.  Students majoring in this program pursue the B.S./M.S. Ed. degree.  Students complete at least 60 liberal arts credits for the B.S./M.S. Ed. degree. 

NOTE: The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program. 

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Academic Advisement

Academic advisement is a collaborative educational process. It is the reflective process of planning a student’s education, keeping in mind the college’s academic policies and degree requirements as well as the student’s choice of major, academic abilities, special interests, co-curricular activities, and professional and life goals. Academic advisement encourages students to become self reliant and make appropriate decisions that maximize their educational experience.

The goals of the Academic Advisement Program are to:

• assist students to clarify educational, professional, and life goals and learn decision-making skills.
• assist students with academic program planning, course selection, and registration.
• review and monitor student academic progress.
• help students to understand academic policies, procedures, and requirements.
• inform students of campus resources, support services, and educational opportunities.
• promote student self-reliance.
• understand, respect, and respond to individual student advising needs.
• help students understand the College’s educational mission.
• collect and distribute relevant data about student needs and performance for use in institutional decision-making.

To achieve these goals, every student is assigned a faculty academic advisor to assist with academic concerns and program selection. Students are required to meet with their advisors each semester during the advisement for registration period. The staff in the Academic Advisement Center (Smyth 2) is available to answer questions and clarify statements concerning academic policies for faculty and students, to coordinate advisement functions, and to assist students personally with special or difficult advisement problems. The Academic Advisement Center coordinates CDL101, Exploring Self, Majors and Career. This one credit course is designed to assist students with the process of exploring self, majors and careers and applying that information to the decision-making process. Students will also be introduced to major and career exploration resources, methods, and decision making models. This course is only open to freshmen and sophomores. 

Assignment of Advisors
Incoming freshmen and transfer students are assigned faculty advisors as follows: 

• Major program is undeclared - assigned by the Coordinator of First Year Academic Support Services to an “undeclared” professional or faculty advisor.
• Intended major program in any area - assigned by the department chairperson to a departmental faculty advisor.

Undeclared students are expected to decide on a major by the end of the sophomore year. Students who are changing or declaring a major must see the department chairperson for acceptance into the major and assignment of a departmental advisor. A Declaration or Change of Major/Minor/Specialization/Teacher Certification Form is to be completed and returned to the Academic Advisement Center.

Freshmen and sophomores participating in the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP/Excel) receive academic advisement from a staff member in the HEOP/Excel Office and from departmental faculty advisors.

Change of Advisor
Students who wish to change advisors must complete a change of advisor request on the Declaration or Change of Major/Minor/Specialization/Teacher Certification Form (available in the Academic Advisement Center) and submit the completed form signed by the Department Chairperson to the Academic Advisement Center.

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Academic Advisor and Advisee Roles and Responsibilities

Advisor Roles and Responsibilities

• Get to know advisees; contact new advisees early in the semester.
• Post and keep office hours and inform advisees of the best way to contact the advisor.
• Know and understand core, academic program and professional requirements, as well as college policies and procedures; help advisees to understand all of these elements.
• Assist advisees in reflecting upon their interests and abilities and clarifying educational, professional and life goals through active listening.
• Monitor advisees’ academic progress and assist them in planning their programs to achieve their academic, professional and life goals.
• Inform advisees of appropriate campus resources, support services and educational opportunities.
• Encourage advisees to meet with the advisor before problems arise.
• Learn advising procedures, tools, and technology by reviewing advising materials and/or attending advisor training opportunities.
• Maintain an advisement file for each advisee.
• Support advisees’ applications for educational opportunities when appropriate.
• Sign college forms as necessary.

Advisee (Student) Roles and Responsibilities

• Know and complete the requirements for their degree program and the college core.
• Understand and follow academic policies and procedures.
• Get to know the advisor. Schedule regular appointments with the advisor as needed; students are required to meet with their advisors at least once each semester to plan their academic programs and select courses.
• Plan ahead and bring questions and relevant materials to appointments; be prepared for appointments with the advisor.
• Prepare a tentative course schedule prior to meeting with the advisor for course selection appointments.
• Know how to utilize current technology to access academic information such as NazNet and the on-line catalog.
• Be familiar with campus services and resources and use them as needed, especially if recommended by the advisor.
• Reflect upon their interests, abilities and educational, professional and life goals and discuss with the advisor.
• Monitor their academic progress.
• Contact their advisor(s) if they have academic concerns or difficulties.
• Retain important documentation related to their academics.
• Check their Nazareth e-mail regularly.

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Academic Honors

Dean’s List
At the end of each semester (fall and spring only), full-time matriculated students (taking a minimum of 12 credits) who have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or above for that semester are honored by the publication of their names on the Dean’s List, provided the students have completed at least 9 credit hours of graded undergraduate course work.  Three credits of Pass/Fail are allowed for internships, student teaching, or clinical experiences only. Students with credit-bearing “I” grades are not eligible for the Dean’s List. 

Commencement Honors
The baccalaureate degree is awarded cum laude to students who have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.500, magna cum laude to those whose cumulative grade point average is at least 3.750, and summa cum laude to those whose cumulative grade point average is at least 3.900.  At least 60 credit hours of work must be completed at Nazareth College to qualify for commencement honors.

Note:  Students enrolled in the combined BS/MS 5-year Art Education program are not eligible for graduation honors.

College-Wide Honor Societies
The College has three honor societies open to students in all disciplines. Freshman honor students are named to Phi Eta Sigma. Junior, senior and graduate honor students are named to Phi Kappa Phi. Adult honor students are named to the Alpha Sigma Lambda Society.

Department Honor Societies
Each year several academic departments name their honor students to the College’s chapter of an appropriate national honor society: Business (Sigma Beta Delta), Chemistry/Bio-Chemistry (Phi Lambda Upsilon), Communication Studies Honor Society (Lambda Pi Eta), Economics (Omicron Delta Epsilon), Education (Kappa Delta Pi), English (Sigma Tau Delta), Foreign Languages and Literatures (French, Pi Delta Phi; Spanish, Sigma Delta Pi; Italian, Gamma Kappa Alpha), Gerontology (Alpha Lambda, chapter of Sigma Phi Omega), History (Phi Alpha Theta), International Affairs (Sigma Iota Rho), Mathematics (Pi Mu Epsilon), Music (Pi Kappa Lambda), Nursing (Sigma Theta Tau - Pi Psi), Psychology (Psi Chi), Religious Studies (Theta Alpha Kappa), Social Sciences and History (Pi Gamma Mu). 

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Academic Integrity

Policy
Academic integrity is essential to the educational mission of Nazareth College, for the free pursuit of knowledge and understanding is seriously impeded by any form of academic dishonesty. Hence, no form of academic dishonesty will be condoned by the college.

“Academic dishonesty” is understood as any act of deceit bearing on one’s own or another’s academic work, where “academic work” is understood to mean any activity pertaining to the educational mission of the college. Such acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism in any form and the use during an exam of information or materials not authorized by the instructor for such use.

Procedures
In the event that an instructor believes a student to be guilty of some form of academic dishonesty, the instructor will ordinarily meet with the student as soon as possible to discuss the basis for this belief. After such a meeting, the instructor may impose sanctions on the student. Sanctions may include a failing grade for the relevant work or for the course, at the discretion of the instructor. If this occurs before the published deadline for dropping courses with a “W” grade, sanctions override the ability for a student to withdraw from the course in question. The instructor will inform the student of the sanctions as soon as possible. In the event that an instructor judges that a student’s dishonesty requires sanctions beyond failure of the course, such as dismissal from the college, he or she may recommend such action to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee after informing the appropriate Dean.

If a student wishes to appeal the judgment or the sanctions of the instructor, he or she will inform the instructor to this effect within ten working days of being informed of the judgment and the sanctions. At that point the student will submit a written request for appeal, including his or her reasons for appeal, to the chairperson of the relevant department. (In a case where the instructor is also the chairperson, the appeal will be submitted to the appropriate Dean.) If the student wishes to do so, he or she may meet with the chairperson (or the appropriate Dean), after which meeting the student, the instructor and the chairperson (or the appropriate Dean) will then meet in an effort to resolve the matter. Neither the chairperson nor the Dean is free to revoke the sanctions of the instructor. If the student remains unreconciled, he or she may appeal in writing to the appropriate Dean, who will then judge the appeal in consultation with the two appointed faculty members from the Committee on Academic Standards and one student selected from the Student Conduct Hearing Board. (In the event that one of the faculty members of the Committee on Academic Standards is the instructor involved in the case or judges there to be a conflict of interest, the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee will choose another faculty member to consult.) The instructor and the appealing student will submit copies of all relevant materials to the Dean.  The Dean will consider the recommendation of this group and consult with the instructor and relevant department chairperson; if the instructor and chair agree with the recommendation, the student will be informed.  If student does not accept the recommendation, all relevant materials should be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee.

All judgments of the Vice President for Academic Affairs or designee are final, except when the sanctions of suspension or dismissal are involved. These sanctions may be appealed to the President of the college. Such an appeal, however, shall be entertained solely at the discretion of the President.

If such an appeal is entertained by the President, an informal meeting of the principals involved will be arranged. After the President is satisfied with the content and extent of the information presented, the meeting will be adjourned. The President’s findings will be communicated in writing to the student and other relevant parties within five working days of the appeal hearing. Decisions of the President are final.

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Academic Standing

Students are in good academic standing as long as they are making satisfactory academic progress toward the degree for which they are working and are eligible to register for the following semester. In the case of students on academic probation, this determination of “good academic standing” is made by the Committee on Academic Standards.

Note: Standards of academic standing for the School of Health and Human Services Licensed Health Professions may be more stringent than those outlined above as governed by program requirements, licensing and accrediting organizations. Consult departmental student handbooks for individual program policies to which students must adhere

See also Probation in this section of the catalog and Standards of Academic Progress in the Financial Information section.

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Academic Year

The academic year is divided into two semesters with optional summer sessions for undergraduate and graduate students. 

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Athletic Team Participation

In addition to meeting the academic requirements that are set up by the College, all student-athletes must meet NCAA requirements by being matriculated undergraduate students who are carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours and who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree. Students who are members of the college athletic teams are excused from classes when necessary to participate in games and matches, but not for practices. They are expected to make up all work missed.

Students on athletic teams are registered for two semesters of PED 112 Varsity Teams to satisfy the College’s physical education or health and wellness requirement.

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Attendance

Students are expected to attend all meetings of courses for which they are registered beginning with the first day of the semester (or first class).  Students are expected to know the college’s academic calendar. They should avoid making travel or other plans that require them to miss classes or final exams; special accommodations may be extended to students traveling for official college purposes. It is assumed that the students, as well as the instructors, contribute something to the courses by their presence and participation. While there is no officially recognized system of “allowed” absences, departments and individual faculty members may establish their own criteria, and it is the student’s responsibility to know these criteria. Excessive absence from classes will be reported in writing by the instructor to the Coordinator of First Year Academic Support Services (freshmen only) or to the Academic Advisement Center (all other students). In cases of excessive absence, the instructor may advise the student to withdraw from the course. A student who is unable to participate in any class, examination, or assignment due to his or her religious holy day requirements shall not be penalized, provided the instructor has been notified in writing at least one week prior to the absence. Students who are absent from the college for three or more consecutive days for medical or other valid reasons are to notify the Academic Advisement Center which, in turn, will notify the students’ instructors. Regardless of the reason for absence, it is the responsibility of the student to make up all missed work to the satisfaction of the instructor. Students must meet deadlines for course requirements during a period of absence unless the student makes alternate arrangements with the instructor prior to the original due date.  Normally, students who are unable to attend classes for valid reasons do not participate in extracurricular activities during the period of absence.

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Auditing

A student must register to audit a course and is expected to participate in the work of the course and is subject to the attendance policy for the course. Auditors do not take the final examination. No credit is earned and no grade is given by auditing.  Students may audit undergraduate courses on a space available basis, subject to the audit fee when applicable.  Independent studies, directed studio projects, tutorials, internships, and skills based courses (music lessons, studio courses, dance technique classes, labs) cannot be taken on an audit basis. Audits are not allowed for professional courses.  The last date to change from credit to audit is published in the academic calendar.  Non-matriculated students who wish to audit a course must obtain the approval of the Department Chairperson of the course on an Audit Approval Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office; blank forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. Auditors must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.  

The audit fee is typically one-third of the tuition charge for the course plus applicable fees.  Auditing a three credit hour undergraduate class, counts as one billing credit for a full time undergraduate student. If the addition of an audited course increases a full time undergraduate’s billing credits over the full time limit, the student will be charged at the per credit overload tuition rate. For example, a student other than a music major is enrolled in 17 credits and receives approval to audit a three credit hour class; the billing will be based on 18 credits. In this example, the student will be charged the flat full time undergraduate rate (12-17 credits) and the cost of a full credit hour at the overload rate. Please contact Student Accounts with any billing questions. 

Students who register to audit a course may be required to complete all assignments and course requirements except for the final examination. Note: Nazareth alumni and senior citizens may audit undergraduate courses for a reduced fee. Please contact Student Accounts for further information.

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Change of Name/Address

Each student must provide a current correct name and address to the Registrar’s Office within 10 days of any change. This includes both the permanent and local (academic year/summer) address. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. 

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Class Standing

Matriculated students are classified by the Registrar’s Office on the basis of credit hours earned (including transfer credits accepted and posted) as follows:

• Senior standing 88 or more credit hours
• Junior standing 58 to 87 credit hours
• Sophomore standing 28 to 57 credit hours
• Freshman standing below 28 credit hours

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Classroom Behavior 

Students are expected to behave appropriately in the classroom.  Any conduct which infringes upon the rights of others or which adversely affects the academic or an administrative activity of the College is prohibited.  Students may be disciplined for any conduct that includes but is not limited to the following acts of misconduct: any action which endangers a student or the College community, interferes with, or disrupts the academic process.  See the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook for more detailed information. 

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Comprehensives 

All students must meet the comprehensive requirement (Dept. 499) of the major field (or of both major fields, if the student has a double major).  The format of the comprehensive requirement varies by department. 

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Course Load

Students are responsible for all department fees (e.g., music lessons, studio fees, lab fees) connected with their course loads. 

Full-time load
A full-time student takes 12 - 17 credit hours each semester.  Full-time tuition covers a maximum of 17 credit hours (17.5 for music majors). A typical load is 15 credit hours per semester. A student who takes 12 credits is still considered full-time.  Some students may wish to do this for academic reasons. However, students who enroll in fewer than 15 credits per semester may incur additional costs through a need to take summer courses or extending their program beyond the traditional eight semesters. 

Students on academic probation may not exceed 13 credit hours per semester. Some students are admitted to the college with load limits. 

Part-time load
Any student below 12 credits is considered to be part-time. Some financial aid is available for matriculated part-time students enrolled at least halftime (e.g., pro-rated Federal Pell Grants, NYS Aid for Part-Time Study, TAP, and student loans).  Students should check with the Financial Aid Office for eligibility criteria and applications. 

Overloads
Overloads of no more than 18 credits are permitted when a student’s GPA is 2.75 or higher.  Any exception to this rule must be approved, through the petition process, by the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. Freshmen and transfers in their first semester may not carry overloads.  Beyond 17 hours (17.5 for music majors), the overload tuition rate per credit is charged.

See also: Probation, Registration

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Course Numbering System 

Course Levels
Lower division (100 and 200 level) courses are normally taken in the first two years.  Upper divisions (300 and 400 level) are normally taken in the last two years.  In special cases, a 200 level course beyond an introductory course can be counted as an upper division course toward a major by a particular department.  Ordinarily, students are expected to earn 60 credits at the upper division level. 

Cross-listing of courses
Some courses are listed under two departments.  Students should be careful to register under the department appropriate to their program.

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Credit by Examination and Credit for Other Learning Experiences

Before applying for credit by examination programs, a student is expected to consult with a Transfer Credit Evaluator and/or the appropriate department chairperson regarding applicability of credit to a degree program. Credit will not be given in cases where credits have already been earned for similar coursework. Students may earn no more than 30 credits from any combination of the programs listed below. An official score report issued by the testing agency is required in order for credit to be posted to the Nazareth transcript. Ordinarily, the option of earning credit through external examination programs is NOT allowed for graduating seniors during their final semester.

Advanced Placement Credit
Credit for advanced placement may be awarded to new students who have completed advanced placement courses in secondary school and who have taken the appropriate College Board advanced placement examination (with a minimum grade of 3, 4 or 5 depending on the department). Credits earned through this program are subject to the guidelines established by the various academic departments.

Advanced Placement credit is accumulated with transfer credit. No grade points are assigned, so this does not enter into the calculation of the GPA. For more information about advanced placement credit, contact the Academic Advisement Center or refer to that department’s website at www.naz.edu.

Advanced Placement in English
Nazareth College accepts Advanced Placement (AP) English scores of 4 or 5 in place of English 101-102, for which students are granted six credits. The English Department strongly recommends that students with AP credit take English 251, Rhetoric I, to further enhance their writing and argumentation skills. This course carries liberal arts credit.

College Level Examination Program
The college participates in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Entrance Examination Board. Students can earn credits by achieving satisfactory scores on the general examination and credits as well as advanced standing in the Subject Examinations. For English credit, the College Composition with Essay is required. Credit may be earned for up to 12 hours in any department and/or a total of up to 30 hours.

Students must receive prior approval from the academic advisor, the chairperson of the department in which the exam is offered, and a Transfer Credit Evaluator before registering for the CLEP. The Transfer Credit Approval forms are available from the Academic Advisement Center.

DSST Program (DANTES Subject Standardized Test)
The College grants credits for satisfactory scores on many DSST exams.  Credit may be earned for up to 12 credits in any department and/or a total of up to 30 credits.  Currently matriculated students must receive prior approval from the academic advisor, the chairperson of the department in which the exam is offered, and a Transfer Credit Evaluator before registering for a DSST exam.  The Transfer Credit Approval forms are available in the Academic Advisement Center.

Departmental Proficiency Examinations
Occasionally, for matriculated students, special departmental examinations may be used: 1) to waive introductory course requirements so that the student may move more rapidly into advanced courses; 2) to earn credit toward the degree; and 3) to earn credit for a course failed instead of repeating the course. (The original course and grade remain on the record. The new grade is entered with an “R” to signify Repeat and is used in the calculation of the GPA). Credit may be earned for up to 12 hours in any department and/or a total of up to 30 hours.

To earn credit through Nazareth College departmental proficiency examinations, the student secures approval in advance, using the standard Student Petition Form, from the department chairperson, the course instructor, and the appropriate Dean. A non-refundable fee equivalent to one credit hour of tuition per 3-credit course (or one third the tuition for courses other than three-credit), plus one third of any applicable course fees is payable before the examination is given. A grade appears on the Nazareth College transcript and is calculated into the GPA for departmental proficiency examinations. These examinations cannot be taken Pass/Fail, except for courses that are normally graded Pass/Fail.

Excelsior College Examinations
This program is sponsored and administered by the New York State Education Department. Students who earn satisfactory scores on these examinations will be given college credit. These examinations are given in a variety of subjects at locations throughout New York State. Students must receive prior approval from the academic advisor, the chairperson of the department in which the exam is offered, and the Transfer Credit Evaluator before registering for Excelsior College Examinations.

International Baccalaureate
Nazareth College recognizes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Examination program and awards credit for Higher Level subject examinations with a grade of 5 or better. A maximum of 30 semester hours of credit may be earned through the IB program. Credits earned are subject to the guidelines established by the various academic departments. Consult the Academic Advisement Center for additional information.

National League for Nursing Examinations
Nazareth College administers (tests are scored by NLN and the results are sent to Nazareth) NLN Achievement Tests in selected areas (Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology and Nutrition). These may be useful for graduates of diploma nursing programs.

Further information concerning NLN examinations may be obtained from the Nursing Department.

NYU Foreign Language Proficiency Exams
New York University’s (NYU) School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers proficiency testing in more than 50 languages. Tests are given by appointment on the NYU campus or off-site locations in the United States and abroad. Students can take the 12-point exam and earn 6 credits in a modern foreign language. Students must receive prior approval from the academic advisor and the Transfer Credit Evaluator before registering for NYU Foreign Language Proficiency Exams.

Other Proficiency Exams
Inquiry may be made concerning acceptance of other kinds of proficiency examinations, and the amount of credit that may be earned by proficiency examinations in a particular situation. Consult a Transfer Credit Evaluator in the Academic Advisement Center.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Credit may be awarded for verifiable college-level learning acquired through significant life or work experiences - for example, on-the-job experience, volunteer service, conferences, workshops, military and in-service training. This documented learning can be evaluated in terms of required and/or elective courses from specific degree programs at Nazareth College. Credit will not be given in cases where credits have already been earned for similar coursework. To learn more about the prior learning assessment process, which includes the creation and evaluation of a portfolio, please consult a Transfer Credit Evaluator in the Academic Advisement Center.
 

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Credits and Hours

Credits refer to the number of semester hours applicable toward the total required for graduation. One credit hour represents one 50-minute lecture period or one laboratory period of three hours each week for one semester. The minimum requirement for graduation is 120 credit hours.

Hours refers to the amount of time the class meets each week.

Adding credit to a course
In order for a student to add one credit hour to a three-credit course, the student must complete and submit a petition to the Registrar’s Office signed by the student’s instructor, advisor and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.  The petition must include a detailed description of the work that will be completed to earn the additional credit.  If approved, the three-credit course becomes a four credit course for that student.  The grade earned for the work completed for the additional credit is included in the calculation of the overall course grade, and the student is awarded one grade for four credit hours.  The additional credit cannot be dropped from the course after the drop deadline.

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Degree Requirements 

Nazareth College awards the undergraduate degrees of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Music (Mus.B.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), and a combined Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Education (B.S./M.S.Ed.). To qualify for a baccalaureate degree a candidate must:

• Fulfill the applicable core requirements (see below) of the college as well as the requirements of a major with a minimum of 24 credits beyond the introductory level in the major. For major requirements in a particular area, consult the Academic Programs section of this Nazareth College Catalog.
• Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours. At least 90 of the credits required for graduation must be earned in the liberal arts and sciences for the B.A. degree; 60 for the B.S. degree; 45 for the Mus.B. degree; 30 for the B.F.A. degree.
• Satisfy a comprehensive requirement in the major field.
• Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.0 as well as a minimum average of 2.0 in the major. Some majors require a higher GPA; see the program description in the academic program section of the catalog for details.
• Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours at Nazareth College.
• Applies to students under 1988 Core: Complete at least six credits of Perspective courses (at the PI or PII level) and one writing intensive course at Nazareth College
• Applies to students under 2013 Core: Complete a minimum of 6 credits of Perspectives-Enduring Questions courses (P-EQs) at Naz for students entering as transfers and a minimum of 4 P-EQs at Nazareth for students entering as freshmen.

1988 Liberal Studies Core Requirements - applies to freshmen entering prior to fall 2013 and transfer students (except transfer freshmen) without A.A. or A.S. Degrees entering prior to fall 2015
A. Freshman Seminar - 3 credits, required for first-time freshmen and students transferring in fewer than 28 credits.
B. English 101-102 or equivalent - 6 credits
C. Modern Foreign Language* - (same language, normally intermediate level). Six credits for all B.A. programs, selected Mus.B. programs and for those B.S. and Mus.B. programs combined with education certification programs.** Strongly recommended for other B.S. and Mus. B. programs.
D. Perspectives I courses - 8 courses (25 credits) from those so designated, one in each of the following areas:

• Area I Fine Arts - Art, Music, Theatre Arts
• Area II History
• Area III Literature - English, Literature in Translation
• Area IV Mathematics
• Area V Philosophy
• Area VI Religious Studies
• Area VII Natural Science with Laboratory
• Area VIII Social Science-Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology

NOTE: Perspectives Enduring Questions Courses, or P-EQs, count as PIs in the Perspectives area determined by the course subject. Additionally, these courses are designated as writing intensive (W) and global (G) courses.

E. Perspectives II courses - For students pursuing the B.A. degree, four courses designated as PIIs) in four different areas, excluding the area in which the major resides, but including at least one course in Mathematics or Natural Science; for B.S. and Mus.B. students, three courses in three different areas, excluding the area in which the major resides. PII courses require completion of PI prerequisites. (Social Work, Business Administration and Accounting majors may use one Social Science course, including Economics, to satisfy PII requirements.)
F. A Global Perspectives course.
G. A Comprehensive Requirement and Senior Experience in the major field.
H. Physical Education (non-credit) - 2 semesters.

1988 Modified Liberal Studies Core Requirements - applies to transfer students with A.A. or A.S. Degrees entering prior to fall 2015***
A. English Composition - 3 credits.
B. Modern Foreign Language* - same language, normally intermediate level. Six credits for all B.A. programs, selected Mus.B. programs and for those B.S. and Mus.B. programs combined with education certification programs.** Strongly recommended for other B.S. and Mus. B. programs.
C. Perspectives Courses
• One course in each of the eight areas of Perspectives I, including science laboratory (25 credits).
• One course in each of the two areas of Perspectives II, excluding the area in which the major resides (6 credits).  (Note - Social Work, Business Administration, and Accounting majors may use one Social Science course, including Economics, to satisfy PII requirements.)
D. A Global Perspectives course.
E. A Comprehensive Requirement and Senior Experience in the major field.
F. Physical Education (non-credit) - two semesters.

The following applies to the 1988 Liberal Studies Core Requirements, and the 1988 Modified Liberal Studies Core Requirements

*The foreign language requirement for students whose native tongue is other than English is to be determined by the chairperson of Foreign Languages and Literatures. Students may not expect to receive credit for skill courses in their native tongue.

**Although not part of core curriculum, B.S. and Mus.B. programs combined with an education program may meet the” language other than English” requirement for New York State teacher certification by any one of the following criteria:
• Satisfactory completion of two college semesters of the same language (6 credits) or its equivalent.
• Demonstration of competency in a language, including languages not currently offered for formal instruction at Nazareth, by using an AP or CLEP language examination.

***The modified liberal studies core requirements apply only to those students who have earned an associate degree (A.A., A.S.) from fully accredited colleges or universities prior to registration at Nazareth College. Documentation of associate degree completion must be in the form of an official transcript. Academic records of transfer students who do not provide documentation of having completed an associate degree prior to enrolling at Nazareth College will be re-evaluated on a course-by-course basis following guidelines of the total liberal studies core. Any Nazareth College credits used to complete an associate degree will not be counted as part of the Nazareth College degree and GPA. At least six credits in Perspectives courses (at the Perspectives I or II level) must be completed at Nazareth College.  A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed at Nazareth College. All other general requirements may be fulfilled with transfer credit from other colleges or at Nazareth College.

2013 Core Requirements - applies to all freshmen (including transfer freshmen) entering fall 2013 and beyond and all transfers entering fall 2015 and beyond.

Foundations:
• Academic & College Success (ACS101) - 1 credit, required for first-time freshmen and students transferring in fewer than 28 credits. Transfer students with 28 or more credits must take a Core and Portfolio Orientation Workshop (CPW090) instead - 0 credits.
• College Writing I & II (ENGW101 & ENGW102 or equivalent) - 6 credits.
• Modern Foreign Language - 6 credits of the same language, required for all B.A. programs.
• Health & Wellness - 1 approved course/experience (credit bearing or non-credit bearing).

Perspectives-Enduring Questions:
• 25 credits, 8 P-EQ courses, one in each of the following areas:

o History
o Literature
o Mathematics
o Natural Science with lab
o Philosophy
o Religious Studies
o Social Science (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology)
o Visual & Performing Arts (Art, Music, Theatre)

• One of these P-EQ courses will be taken as a First Year Seminar for students entering with 28 or fewer credits.

Integrative Studies:
• Three thematically related courses selected by student, 9 credits. IS courses must be 200 level or higher, only one may be from the major (prefix), and P-EQs are not allowed.

 Experiential Learning - 1 approved pathway (credit bearing or non-credit bearing).

Core Milestone Experience (CME050) - 0 credits

NOTE: Students are required to archive artifacts in P@N (Portfolio@Naz) from core courses including non-credit-bearing Experiential Learning activities for use in the Core Milestone Experience.

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Dismissal and Suspension

The college reserves the right to dismiss, expel or suspend at any time a student whose conduct or academic standing renders the student undesirable as a member of the college. In this case, fees that have been paid will not be refunded. When a student is dismissed for academic reasons, a notation to this effect will appear on the transcript. When a student is suspended during a semester for conduct issues, s/he will be granted “drops” during the first week of the semester but will earn all “W” grades after the first week. See also Probation and Dismissal.

Note: Standards related to dismissals from the School of Health and Human Services Licensed Health Professions are outlined in departmental student handbooks. Dismissal from one of these Health and Human Services programs may not mean dismissal from Nazareth College.

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Drop/Add Policy 

A student may add a course through the deadline specified in the academic calendar or in the course comments on NazNet. A student may withdraw from a course through the 10th week of classes (as indicated on the College calendar) without academic penalty (grade of W granted). Sanctions imposed due to academic integrity issues take precedence and may prevent a student from dropping with a “W” grade. During the web registration period, students may process schedule changes on NazNet as many times as necessary; significant course changes should be discussed with the advisor. After the Drop/Add deadline, a Drop/Add Form, with the instructor’s and advisor’s signatures, must be filed with the Registrar’s Office for all schedule changes. Failure to withdraw from a course officially through the Registrar or to finish the requirements of an “Incomplete” by the specified date results in an “F” grade, which is not removed from the transcript. “W” grades are assigned to any study abroad course dropped from the final Transfer Credit Approval or Residential Credit Posting form. Students receiving TAP and/or other forms of financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Office to see whether their current or future eligibility for TAP will be affected by the withdrawal.

See also: Academic Integrity, Financial Information  and TAP (in Financial Information section of this catalog)

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Electives

Electives are courses chosen by students which count towards the total number of credits needed for the baccalaureate degree but which are not specific requirements for the core, the academic major or professional program. They may or may not be in a liberal studies area, depending on the particular program of studies.

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English Writing: Degree Requirements and Placement

English 101-102
The English writing requirement is 6 credit hours. There are various ways to meet this requirement.

1. Receiving a minimum score of 4 on the AP English Language and Composition or Literature and Composition exam.
2. Transferring a college course equivalent to ENGW 101 and a college course equivalent to ENGW 102.
3. Transferring a college course equivalent to ENGW 101, and then completing ENGW 102.

English 101L-102L
Entering freshmen who are in need of extra support in writing are placed in an intensive writing workshop that is the complement to ENGW 101-102 (designated 101L-102L). Focus in the workshop is on the student’s individual writing strengths and weaknesses; opportunity for extensive writing and assessment on an individual and small group basis is provided in the workshop. Students are placed into ENGW 101L-102L if the average of three years of their high school English grades is below 78%.

Transfer Students
Transfer students with approved associate degrees must complete a minimum of 3 credits in English composition. Transfer credit or Nazareth College credit may be used to fulfill this requirement. All other transfer students need six hours of English composition credit to graduate from Nazareth College. English courses offered in transfer are acceptable. 

See also: Advanced Placement (in English), Degree Requirements  

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Evaluation: All-College Assessments 

In addition to routine course evaluation, which Nazareth College students have in many of their courses, the College encourages participation in all-college evaluation programs. Such programs serve many purposes including curriculum improvement, of student services, accreditation support, student advisement, long-range planning, and alumni services. Students may be asked as often as once per academic year to participate in this kind of evaluation.

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Excel Program 

The Excel Program is offered to facilitate access to and success at Nazareth College, for eligible students. Students who are underrepresented in the college population are eligible to participate under similar criteria as HEOP students without the state residency requirements or family income. Students admitted to the Excel program will benefit from the student support services, including personal and academic counseling provided by the HEOP/Excel department and its staff. 

See also: HEOP (in Financial Information  section)

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Exceptions to Academic Policies and Degree Requirements

Exceptions for students to specific academic policies, major program and/or degree requirements must be made in writing and have the written approval of the faculty advisor, department chairperson or instructor, and the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Verbal approval is not sufficient since college personnel change from time to time and verbal arrangements may be lost. To protect the students’ best interests, any changes or exceptions should be made through the formal petition process. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Advisement Center. 

See also: Petitions

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Extra-Curricular Activities 

A GPA of at least 2.0 is required for a student to hold office in student government, clubs and organizations. Resident Assistants (R.A.s) must have a 2.50 GPA.

See also: Athletic Team Participation

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FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines restrict directory information that can be released by colleges and universities. Under FERPA, directory information may be released without written consent from the student unless the student signs a non-disclosure statement in the Registrar’s Office.

While FERPA allows for the release of a wider range of directory information, Nazareth College’s Office of the Registrar has adopted an internal policy to release only: name, date of attendance, enrollment status, previous school attended, class, major field(s) of study, honors, degrees conferred (including dates), and date and place of birth.

In addition, names and Nazareth email addresses of current students are listed in the College’s online directory (student photo is also viewable in the online directory when logged into the Nazareth network).  In both instances, students are given the opportunity to request that this information not be released.

For a non-disclosure of information request, or for more information about FERPA, please contact the Office of the Registrar. 

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Final Examinations 

Final examinations are conducted at the close of each semester. Examination schedules for day classes are posted on the Registrar’s Office web page. Final examinations for day and evening classes are to be given only during exam week. Instructors may schedule a unit test during the last week of classes; these will be announced well in advance. Final examinations are frequently waived in seminar courses, studios (art), independent study, and methods courses, however, classes should meet during exam week at the scheduled examination time.

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First Year Programs

Nazareth has several programs that are designed to help students with the transition into college. All first-year students take one-credit course called “Academic and College Success,” which focuses on the transition to college life.  Students may also apply to the First-Year Experience (FYE), an intensive, community-oriented experience where students live and take seminar together in their residence hall. The Summer Start program is a 6-week residential program available to all incoming first year students who wish to get a jump start on the college experience while earning valuable college credits in the summer prior to their arrival at Nazareth.

All of these programs provide new students with a built-in network of peers with whom they can study and share ideas. Support is plentiful in making the transition from high school to college.

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First Year Seminar Program

First Year students normally select a three-credit Perspectives Enduring Questions (P-EQ) Core course in a specific content area, which is designed to introduce students to the hallmarks of college-level learning.  The student learning outcomes of the Program are for students to:

• Speak with clarity and precision and actively listen to formal and informal discourse
• Demonstrate understanding of the Core curriculum
• Engage with the campus community

Since First Year Seminar is for freshmen only, students who fail the course must contact the Director of the Core to plan an appropriate substitute for this course.

Transfer students with fewer than 28 credits and/or who were not matriculated at another higher education institution are required to enroll in First Year Seminar, unless the requirement is waived through the student petition process or by a Transfer Credit Evaluator.

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Grade Grievances

The following procedures should be followed for any grade grievances:

• Discuss any grading concerns with the faculty who assigned the grade.
• If not resolved, contact the Department Chair in which the course resides about the grievance.
• If not resolved, submit a written grievance to the Dean of the discipline in which the course resides.

Appeals for grading errors must be made by the last Monday of September for the previous spring/summer grades and the last Monday of January for the previous fall grades. Any appeals for a grading error in a course in which an incomplete grade was given must be made within six weeks of the posting of the new grade.

Note: The process of contesting a final grade for the School of Health and Human Services Licensed Health Professions may vary from the procedures referenced above as governed by program requirements, licensing and accrediting organizations. Consult departmental student handbooks for individual program policies to which students must adhere.

See also: Academic Integrity

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Grade Points and Grade Point Average

The semester GPA (calculated on a semester basis) and the cumulative GPA (calculated on all grades which earn grade points) are derived by dividing the number of hours attempted into the number of grade points earned. Grades for courses accepted in transfer are not included in the GPA calculation. Courses with grades of W, S and U, AU, IP and I are not included in the GPA calculation. 

The following tables display Nazareth College’s current system of GPA calculation, employed since the Fall of 1991:

Note:  These are valid final grades for undergraduate courses. 

See also: Rochester Area Colleges Inter-Institutional Undergraduate Student Enrollment Program, Grades

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Grades

Student achievement is reported according to letter grades. The quality of work indicated by each final grade is as follows: 

A  Superior work. Carries 4.0 grade points per credit hour.

B  Better than average work. Carries 3.0 grade points per credit hour.

C  Average work. Carries 2.0 grade points per credit hour.

D  Passing work, below average but acceptable. Carries 1.0 grade point
per credit hour.

F  Failing work, below average and unacceptable. No grade point value.

The following final grades allow for wider range in the grading system and carry the indicated grade point value per credit hour: A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D- (0.7)

S, U Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory: letter grades used to measure student achievement in certain designated courses such as methods, internships, student teaching or courses taken under the pass/fail option. Credit hours are earned for satisfactory work but such grades are not included in the grade point average. Juniors or seniors in good academic standing may take a maximum of four elective courses pass/fail (for a grade to be recorded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory) within their academic program at Nazareth College.

AU Audit: indicates that a student has audited the course; no credit is given and final exams are not required.

R Repeat: indicates that the course has been repeated. The original grade remains on the permanent record along with the new grade although only the second grade is calculated in the grade point average. Only grades of C-, D+, D, D-, or F may be repeated for a substitute grade.

I Incomplete: student did not complete all the work of the course. “I” grades are assigned only after the professor and student have had a discussion and have reached a mutual agreement for completion of the course requirements. A signed petition is required for an incomplete grade. This must be filled out by the student and signed by the instructor before the final examination or the last class if no final exam is given. Petition forms are available in the Registrar’s Office and the Academic Advisement Center. The instructor submits the signed form to the Registrar’s Office during the grading period. “I” grades must be resolved within six weeks of the end of the semester. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for completing the course work prior to the 6-week deadline. The “I” remains a permanent part of the academic record and transcript so that the change from Incomplete to a grade can be clearly identified.

Incomplete grades not resolved by the date specified on the academic calendar become “F”.

IP In progress: indicates that the course is still in progress.

NR Not reported: indicates that the grade has not been reported by the instructor.

W Withdrawn: a student may withdraw from a course through the published deadline (as indicated on the College calendar) without academic penalty (grade of “W” granted), but only with written consent of both the instructor and the academic advisor.

Grades of AU and W are not assigned by the instructor, but elected by the student. If no grade appears for a course on NazNet or if a grade is incorrect, the student should check with the course instructor and the Registrar immediately to clarify and/or correct the error.

Appeals for grading errors must be made by the last Monday in September for the previous spring/summer grades and by the last Monday in January for the previous fall grades. Any appeals for a grading error in a course in which an incomplete grade was given must be made within six weeks of the receipt of the new grade.

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Graduate Admissions Examinations

Graduate schools frequently require applicants to submit scores from various admissions tests. Among these are the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) and Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Students intending to pursue graduate study are advised to take the appropriate admissions test the second semester of their junior year or no later than the first semester of their senior year. Practice administrations of these exams are offered online each semester through the Career Services Office. For additional information, check with the Career Services Office.

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Graduate Study

Nazareth College offers graduate programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Science, Master of Science in Education, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Physical Therapy. Also awarded, is the Master of Social Work degree through a program jointly offered by Nazareth College and the State University College at Brockport. Programs offered within the Master of Science Degree are Creative Arts Therapy - with specializations in Art Therapy and Music Therapy, Higher Education Student Affairs Administration, Human Resource Development, Human Resource Management, Management, and Speech-Language Pathology. Programs available within the Master of Science in Education degree are Art Education, Educational Technology Specialist (Computer Education), Inclusive Education Programs (Early Childhood; Childhood; Adolescence), Literacy Education, Music Education, International TESOL, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Master of Arts degree offers a program in American Studies.  

The Speech-Language Pathology Program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The Creative Arts Therapy Programs of Art Therapy and Music Therapy are approved by NYS as licensure-qualifying. They satisfy the education requirement for licensure as an LCAT. In addition the Art Therapy Program is accredited and approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), and the Music Therapy Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and approved by the American Music Therapy Association. Nazareth College’s entry level Occupational Therapy Master’s Degree program was granted Developing Program Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) in 2010. Full accreditation documentation is due in December 2013, and an on-site visit by ACOTE evaluators is scheduled for Fall 2014. The Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC). This accreditation includes all Master of Science in Education degree programs. Nazareth College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. The School of Management is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The School of Management has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The business programs in the following areas are accredited: B.S. in Accounting, B.S. Business Administration, M.S. Human Resource Development, M.S. Human Resource Management, and M.S. Management.

Nazareth College students who are within nine semester hours or less of completing the undergraduate degree and who meet the academic requirements for entrance into a graduate program may register for a course(s) in the graduate program. Students will be allowed to register for no more than a total of 12 credit hours when combining undergraduate and graduate courses (e.g. six credits of undergraduate and six credits of graduate credit). In some programs students may get special permission to register for 9 hours of graduate work if they are within 3 credits of completing the undergraduate degree or for 3 hours of graduate work if they are within 9 hours of completing the undergraduate degree.

Approvals must be obtained in the following order:

1. Chairperson of the undergraduate major department(s)
2. Program Director or Chairperson of the graduate program department
3. Dean of the School in which the graduate program resides
4. Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs
5. Registrar (who provides copies of petition to Financial Aid and Student Accounts)
6. All approvals on the petition form are required prior to registration.

Seniors in their final semester taking a combination of undergraduate and graduate course work which totals 12 credits will be billed at the full time undergraduate tuition rate and continue to be eligible for all financial aid that they would receive had they enrolled in all undergraduate credits with the following exceptions: Federal Pell Grants and Federal TEACH Grants are prorated to reflect undergraduate credits only. Contact the Financial Aid Office for advisement on other concerns or implications of revised aid for students whose total registration is below 12 credits or who are combining undergraduate and graduate course work in the same semester. 

Information on graduate programs and admission requirements is available in the Office of Graduate Admissions.  

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Graduation/Commencement

All requirements including a minimum GPA of 2.00 and a minimum of 120 credits (some programs require more than 120 credits) for the bachelor’s degree must be completed prior to graduation. All financial obligations to the College must be fulfilled before degrees will be awarded. Students who have completed all degree requirements are encouraged to participate in the May commencement exercises. Students who have six or fewer credits left to complete all requirements may petition to walk at commencement; see the Registrar’s Office for more information and a special petition form. It is the students’ responsibility to check with the advisor regarding requirements in the major(s), minor(s) if necessary, and certification area (if applicable). A student who completes degree requirements during the summer or the fall is given the opportunity to participate in commencement the following May. Degrees are conferred and diplomas are mailed at the end of the term in which degree requirements are completed.

See also: Degree Requirements

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Graduation - Commencement Information Form/Senior Evaluation

Students who expect to complete degree requirements are advised to seek evaluation of their transcript prior to the beginning of their senior year. The Registrar’s Office asks each matriculated student with junior or senior status to fill out a Commencement Information Form at least 30 credits prior to completing degree requirements. Commencement Information Forms are available on the Registrar’s website or in the Registrar’s Office. Note: Filing dates for the Commencement Information Form are listed on the official academic calendar. The completed form, including name to appear on diploma, type of degree to be received, major(s), minor(s) and certification status (if applicable), must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Any senior graduating in May who has not completed a Commencement Information Form prior to the start of the fall semester must check with the Registrar’s Office. The purpose of this form is to initiate the process of senior program evaluation, as well as to develop a complete list of students planning to graduate in the spring. At the beginning of the spring term, all students who have filed this form with the Registrar’s Office will find additional information regarding commencement on the Commencement website.

The Registrar evaluates the academic records of every student who has completed and returned a Commencement Information Form. Students must assume responsibility for completing this form. The evaluation considers courses in progress as well as completed courses for which the student has registered and determines the extent to which core, liberal arts, total degree requirements, and teacher certification requirements (if applicable) have been met. The student and advisor receive a copy of a letter which specifies outstanding degree requirements prior to the course selection period for the following term. It is the responsibility of each student to check his/her Program Evaluation on NazNet and to seek advisement from the academic advisor and/or department chairperson before registering for the final semester, so that all requirements will be fulfilled.

Note: Any senior who has not received a transcript evaluation prior to the course selection period for the student’s final semester should check with the Registrar’s Office.

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Human Subjects Research

Nazareth College values and encourages research involving human subjects and strives to provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in this activity. In doing so, the College accepts the legal and ethical responsibilities for safeguarding the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in this research.

The College requires that all research projects that use human subjects be approved and periodically reviewed by the Human Subjects Research Committee (the HSRC). The HSRC operates under Section 474(a) of the Public Health Service Act (P.L. 93-348) as implemented by Department of Health and Human Service regulation Title 45, Part 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations (45 CFR 46) which details procedures to safeguard human subjects in research.

Complete information regarding policies and procedures is available on the Nazareth website or upon request from the Chairperson of the HSRC. Since the committee chairperson is a faculty member elected to the position on a rotating basis, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs to obtain the current Chairperson contact information.

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Independent Study

The purpose of independent study is to delve into some special area of interest within the student’s major which is beyond the scope of any of the College’s current offerings. The student undertaking such a project should have a good background preparation in the subject. The following policies apply:

• Independent study is available to juniors or seniors who have a cumulative average of 3.0. (Exceptions are possible through petition, if cumulative average is at least 2.5).
• No more than two independent study courses may be undertaken in any one department.
• An independent study course (for 1, 2 or 3 credits) may be taken only during the regular academic year each credit hour requires the equivalent of 15 classroom hours plus additional work.
• Only one independent study course may be taken per semester.
• A student must complete a written proposal and obtain approvals prior to the deadline date specified in the academic calendar for adding a course. Forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Note: Independent study may not be used to resolve student schedule conflicts.

See also: Tutorials 

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Internships

An internship is a part-time (8-16 hours per week), one-semester long work experience with an off-campus employer. It is designed to integrate a student’s academic learning with application in order to help her/him make more mature and better informed career decisions.

Juniors and seniors in any major who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 are eligible to participate in an internship. Students seeking internships in political science must have a GPA of 2.7; students seeking internships in law must have a GPA of 3.0. Each internship is equivalent to a 3-hour course and must be taken on a credit (not audit) basis. Students may select an internship that has been developed by Nazareth College or they may design their own, provided that it meets the College’s approval. Student interns attend several seminars and complete academic assignments during their internships.

For more information, contact the Coordinator of Internships. Since some departments require and sponsor internship programs specifically for their majors, they may have their own requirements. Students should also consult with their faculty advisors.

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Leave of Absence

A full time student in good standing may be granted a leave of absence for one semester or two consecutive semesters for medical reasons, financial necessity, or other extenuating circumstances. Part time students in good standing may be granted up to three semesters of consecutive leave.

Students who wish to take a leave of absence effective at the end of a semester, in between semesters or during the first week of classes should contact the Registrar’s Office. After the first week of classes and through the tenth week of the semester, requests for immediate leaves of absence originate at the Center for Student Success.  Full-time students who fail to register for one semester without having filed for a leave of absence through these processes will be “unofficially withdrawn” from the college.

The following access or services are available to students in good standing while on official leaves of absence: access and services as per existing departmental policies or practice, and access to technology; specifically, identification card for bookstore, vending, Cabaret, library, e-mail account, Moodle, NazNet, and personal web sites. The following access or services are not available to students on official leaves of absence: Health Services, Counseling Services, and Center for Spirituality (Pastoral Counseling), departmental laboratories where potentially dangerous materials are used, and other services at the discretion or practice of individual departments. Involuntary leaves of absence (e.g., disciplinary) are not covered under these guidelines. Other restrictions may also apply.

Study Leave
A student may be granted a leave for study in an approved academic program at another institution (including programs abroad). The department chairperson and a Transfer Credit Evaluator must approve the courses to be taken before the student enters the program. The student is also responsible for seeing that official transcripts of academic work completed elsewhere are received by Nazareth College as soon as possible after each semester away. Ordinarily a study leave is not granted until a student has completed three semesters of academic work at Nazareth College. 

 See also: Matriculation (Loss of), Study Abroad, Withdrawal, Readmission, and Standards of Academic Progress (in Financial Information  section)

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Liberal Arts Courses

Liberal arts (liberal studies) are defined as those academic disciplines which are taught without regard to specialization in preparation for a vocation, although they may be integrally important to one’s life work. Liberal arts areas include: Visual and Performing Arts (history, literature, and theory courses only); History; Language and Literature; Mathematics; Natural Sciences; Philosophy; Religious Studies; and the Social Sciences.

Studio courses, music lessons, internships, methods, student teaching, and skill courses are not liberal arts courses. Also, courses in career areas (Accounting, Management, Marketing, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Education, Music Business, Music Therapy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work) are professional courses, not liberal arts courses. These latter courses, while relying somewhat on the arts of the mind, demand skills and practice, and so are not essentially liberal in character. There are some exceptions such as SPF 204, NSG 336 and CSD 103. Consult individual course codes (“R”) listed each semester on NazNet to determine whether or not a course is designated as liberal arts.

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Liberal Arts Requirement

The B.A., B.S., Mus.B., and B.F.A. degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours. Of these, 90 credits must be taken in liberal arts for the B.A., 60 credits for the B.S., 45 credits for the Mus.B., and 30 credits for the B.F.A. The actual number of liberal arts credits required may vary by program.  Students may take additional courses in any core area as liberal arts electives.  They are encouraged to take courses beyond the introductory level to acquire depth in areas outside the major.

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Major

Major Program
In addition to completing general degree requirements, a student chooses a major field of study. Ordinarily, students select a major prior to the end of the sophomore year. In some programs for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Music degrees, it is advantageous to begin study in the major in the freshman year. Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood education may be selected as a major but must be completed as a double major in conjunction with a major in the liberal arts and sciences. Adolescence education may not be selected as a major, but certification in adolescence education may be obtained in conjunction with a major in another subject.

Students entering Nazareth College with an intended major may remain in that major as long as they satisfy the academic requirements specified by the program and remain in good academic standing overall. Students who do not meet the academic requirements of a major may be removed from the major by the department and will be notified of this in writing. All majors related to Music and Theatre require an audition. Art majors require a portfolio to be considered for acceptance into the major. 

Change or Declaration of Major
Students declaring a major or contemplating a change of major are to: 

• Discuss the matter with their faculty advisor(s) or department chairperson.
• Seek counseling in the Academic Advisement Center if desirable.
• Obtain a Declaration or Change of Major/Minor/Specialization/Teacher Certification Form from the Academic Advisement Center and complete it with the information requested.
• Take the completed form to the department chairperson of the new major for formal or conditional acceptance. If a freshman is changing to an undeclared program, the student should see the Coordinator of First Year Academic Support Services to be assigned a new advisor.
• Return the completed form with the appropriate approvals to the Academic Advisement Center.

If necessary, the department chairperson will assign an advisor in the department at this time. A department chairperson may refuse acceptance into a major if a student is not achieving a 2.0 average in course work required for that major. A major in Accounting requires a cumulative average of 2.5. Occupational Therapy requires a 2.75 in the undergraduate portion of the program. Nursing requires a cumulative average of 2.75. Physical Therapy requires a cumulative of 2.75. If the student is applying to complete a Teacher Certification Program, the signature of the appropriate department chair in the School of Education is required. A cumulative average of 2.7 is required at the end of the spring semester prior to fall student teaching. 

Double Majors
It is possible for a student to major in two academic areas. Consultation and approvals of the chairpersons of both departments are required. Normally, a GPA of 2.75 is required to major in two areas. A Declaration or Change of Major Form must be completed and signed, i.e., the student must be formally accepted into both departments and be assigned advisors in both areas. The student must fulfill all requirements, including comprehensive exams, in both areas. Students must satisfy core requirements for one major only. If one of the majors involves a B. S. program and the other major a B.A. program, a B.S. degree will be awarded. The major leading to the B.S. degree is the primary one. For double majors that include the Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood program, the liberal arts and sciences major is the primary one. If the first major is a Mus.B. or a B.F.A. program, the student cannot do a second major involving a B.A. or B.S. program concurrently.

See also: Second Baccalaureate Degree

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Math Placement

A student who demonstrates none of the conditions below:

• a reported SAT score of 400 or higher
• an ACT score of 18 or higher
• a New York State Integrated Algebra Regents Exam score of 75% or higher
• passing the Integrated Algebra Regents Exam before 11th grade

is required to take MTH 102 and is expected to work throughout the semester with a MTH 102 tutor in the Math Center, preferably in the first fall semester.

A student who demonstrates none of the conditions listed above is required to take MTH 102 and is expected to work throughout the semester with a MTH 102 tutor in the Math Center, preferably in the first fall semester.

If the student did not take the Integrated Algebra Regents Exam, the student’s math placement will be determined by the Chairperson of the Mathematics Department.

This policy identifies students who are required to take MTH 102 and to study each week with a MTH 102 tutor.

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Matriculation

Matriculation is the process of formally enrolling in a degree program through the college Admissions Office. A student has matriculated status only after the application for admission has been processed and the student has received a letter of acceptance. Matriculation becomes effective at the beginning of one of the regular semesters (fall/spring) or one of the summer sessions. A student may have full-time matriculated status (i.e., carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester) or part-time matriculated status (i.e., carrying a maximum of 11 credit hours per semester).

A student who wishes to transfer any credits from another institution is advised to apply for matriculation immediately, in order to receive an official evaluation of those credits and appropriate academic advisement. Students must have matriculated status at Nazareth College for at least 30 hours of their course work leading to the baccalaureate degree. Students pursuing a second baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Nazareth College beyond the first degree.

Loss of matriculated status will result in the following cases:

• if a student withdraws (initiated by the student), or is dismissed by the College.
• if a full-time student fails to register for one semester without having filed for a leave of absence.
• if any student who has applied for a leave of absence does not register in the semester following the leave.
• if a part-time student fails to register for 3 consecutive academic year semesters (i.e., excluding summers). This does not affect part-time students who attend summer session regularly and are not able to attend during the year.

Non-matriculation
The Office of Admissions welcomes applications from students who are matriculated and in good academic standing at another institution of higher education and persons who have earned a baccalaureate degree.  College transcripts must be submitted at the time of application. Nazareth College reviews applications for individuals who wish to register for courses using the same criteria which are used for those applying for matriculated status. Additional documentation may be required for registration approval. Non-matriculated students must matriculate upon completion of 12 hours of undergraduate course work. Taking courses non-matriculated does not guarantee acceptance into a degree program. There is no financial aid for non-matriculated students.

Non-matriculated students with a GPA below satisfactory level are not eligible for matriculated status and will not be allowed to continue at Nazareth College.

Visiting Student Status
Students matriculated at another institution of higher education are considered non-matriculated students at Nazareth with a visiting student status. Visiting students may complete more than 12 hours of undergraduate course work.

Non-matriculated students with a GPA below satisfactory level are not eligible for matriculated status and will not be allowed to continue at Nazareth College.

See also: Registration, Withdrawal 

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Minor

In addition to the major field, students may select a minor outside of the major field to enhance their degree program.  Minors are available to all students regardless of the major. A minor requires a minimum of 18 credits. Minors are noted on the student’s transcript.

Most academic departments offer minors in their major areas.  In addition to the departmental minors, there are interdisciplinary minors, such as: African American Studies, American Studies, Asian Studies, Digital Marketing and Design, Ethics, Gerontology, Interfaith Studies, International Studies, Legal Studies, Multicultural Studies, Peace and Justice, Pre-Dental, Pre-Medical, Pre-Veterinary and Women and Gender Studies.  For advisement in any minor, see the appropriate department chairperson or program director. 

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Modern Foreign Language

Degree Requirements
B.A. and some Mus.B. candidates must complete a two-semester sequence in the same modern foreign language (normally at the intermediate level, though elementary level courses may be acceptable). Advanced level courses may also be used. The Department places students in appropriate language courses based on background and placement exam results. Candidates for the B.S. degree are strongly recommended to continue their foreign language study by taking a two-semester sequence.

Certification Requirements
Under new New York State Education Department requirements, students applying for Teacher Certification in all areas are required to meet the requirement for proficiency in a language other than English. Any one of the following criteria must be met: satisfactory completion of two college semesters of the same language (6 credits) or its equivalent;  or demonstration of competency in a modern foreign language, including languages not currently offered for formal instruction at Nazareth, by using an AP or CLEP language examination.

Proficiency Exams
This requirement may be met by satisfactory performance on proficiency examinations administered by the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.

Major Requirements
In order to reach the required proficiency, all foreign language majors are required to spend at least a semester, if not a year, in a locale where the language is the native tongue. In addition, French majors who are full-time resident students must live in the French House for at least two years (normally, sophomore year and senior year).

Exceptions to these requirements are subject to approval of the Chairperson of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.

See also: Advanced Placement, Credit by Examination, Proficiency Examinations, Liberal Studies Core Requirements 

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Pass/Fail Option

Juniors and seniors in good academic standing are eligible to take elective courses Pass/Fail (S/U). A maximum of four credit-bearing courses may be taken Pass/Fail.  A course taken S/U may not be used to satisfy core requirements. Students may not opt to take courses in the major area(s) or minor on a Pass/Fail basis, even if all major requirements are met.

The Pass/Fail Form must be completed, including a signature from the faculty advisor, and turned in to the Registrar by the published deadline. All course requirements must be met in order to obtain a passing grade.

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New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) On-line Course Enrollment Program

Because Nazareth College is a member of the New American Colleges and Universities consortium, full-time undergraduate students may enroll in a variety of on-line courses offered by member NAC&U institutions during the fall, spring and summer semesters. The NAC&U consortium includes: Arcadia University, Belmont University, Drury University, Hamline University, Hampton University, John Carroll University, Manhattan College, Nazareth College, North Central College, Pacific Lutheran University, St. Edward’s University, Samford University, Stetson University, The Sage Colleges, The University of Scranton, University of Evansville, University of Redlands, Valparaiso University, Wagner College, Westminster College, Widener University.  Ordinarily, cross-registration is not allowed for seniors in the spring semester, due to time constraints between the completion of the term and Commencement.  Special registration forms are available in the Registrar’s Office and on-line at the time of course selection and registration.  Students also need to complete and Inter-Institutional Supplemental Approval Form to document how the credit will be counted (department chairperson approval required).

Students are subject to the procedures and policies regarding grading system and calendar of the school at which the course is being taken.  Cross-enrollment is on a “space available” basis at the school being visited and with the approval of both Nazareth College and the other institution(s), provided the course is required to complete the degree. A maximum of two courses is allowed in any given semester. However, students must be enrolled in 12 credits at Nazareth to be eligible to participate in this program (fall and spring semesters). Credit is not earned for grades lower than C-; additional grading restrictions may apply depending on departmental requirements. Credit earned is added to the Nazareth College record as transfer credit.

Fall and Spring
Although there are no additional tuition charges, there may be courses that have fees associated with them. In these cases you would be responsible for paying the course fee. Any student who exceeds 17 total registered credits including the inter-institutional courses (17.5 for music students), will be charged Nazareth’s overload fee.

Summer
While students are eligible to enroll in NAC&U courses during the summer terms, the tuitions exchange does not apply. Students must pay all tuition and fees assessed by the Visiting/Host institution, and will be billed directly by the Visiting/Host institution.

Note: This program is not open to part-time students (with the exceptions of the summer terms).

See also:  Rochester Area Colleges (RAC) Inter-Institutional Undergraduate Student Enrollment Program

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Petitions

Special student requests (e.g., petition for credit overload) normally require written approval by the faculty advisor and the department chairperson or instructor, and the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs. Petition forms are available in the Registrar’s Office and Academic Advisement Center. Completed forms should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

See also: Exceptions to Academic Policies and Degree Requirements

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Physical Education Requirement

All Nazareth College students following the 1988 Core are required to complete two semesters of physical education before graduation.  Several different classes are offered each semester. Transfer students, including those with associate degrees, who have not met the requirement elsewhere, must also satisfy this requirement.  Substitutions for the regular physical education classes may be made with the approval of the Director of Athletics on a petition form, which may be obtained in the Registrar’s Office or Academic Advisement Center.  Students following the 2013 Core are required to complete one Health and Wellness course.

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Prerequisite

A prerequisite is a requirement which must be met before registering for a particular course. This may be waived only after consulting with the instructor and/or appropriate department chairperson. 

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Probation and Dismissal

The College reserves the right to request, at any time, the withdrawal of a student whose conduct or academic standing renders the student unacceptable as a member of the College. A student may be dropped or asked to change to part-time at the end of any semester in which there is an unsatisfactory academic record. In such cases, fees that are due to the student for the upcoming semester will be refunded. Eligibility for TAP and for other financial aid may be affected. The record of any student whose work falls below the expected standard is reviewed by the Committee on Academic Standards. Evaluation is made according to the following College academic standards:

Freshmen (students in the first two semesters of college are evaluated as freshmen even if they have advanced class standing due to college-level credits earned in high school): If the cumulative GPA is less than 1.8 either semester, the student is placed on probation. If, at the end of the first semester, the GPA is less than 1.5, or, at the end of the freshman year, the cumulative GPA is less than 1.7, the student will be required to change to part-time status (11 credits maximum) or dismissed from the College.

Sophomores: If the cumulative GPA is less than 1.9 either semester, the student is placed on probation. If the cumulative GPA is less than 1.8 either semester, the student will be required to change to part-time status (11 credits maximum) or dismissed from the College.

Juniors and Seniors: If the cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 either semester, the student is placed on probation. If the cumulative GPA is less than 1.9 either semester, the student will be required to change to part-time status (11 credits maximum) or dismissed from the College.

Full-time students may be on probation for 2 semesters only, after which they are normally required to change to part-time status (11 credits maximum) or dismissed from the College. If matriculated part-time students are on probation for 4 semesters (or a maximum of 30 credits, whichever is completed first), they are normally required to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the College.

Term Probation (all class levels):
If a semester GPA is less than 1.7 (even if the cumulative is 2.0 or above), the student is placed on probation; this does not apply to individual summer sessions. If the cumulative GPA in the major field falls below 2.0, the student may be placed on probation and may be advised to consider a change of major.

Course Load
A full-time student on probation may not register for more than 12-13 credits (4 courses) during the following semester.  This course load limit remains in effect until the student is no longer on probation. In addition, a freshman or sophomore whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0, but who is not on probation, may also be advised to carry a reduced load in order to allow more time for study, thereby improving the chances for success. This means additional credits would have to be taken at a later time to complete degree requirements. Part-time students on probation may be required to take a reduced load (fewer than 11 credits) as determined by the Committee on Academic Standards.

Procedures
At the end of each semester (fall, spring, combined summer sessions), probation cases are reviewed on an individual basis by the Committee on Academic Standards. Once the decision regarding the status of the student has been made, the student is notified by letter of the Committee’s decision. One copy of this letter is sent to the student’s faculty advisor, and one copy is placed in the student’s file in the Registrar’s Office. The Director of Academic Advisement and the appropriate department chairpersons are also notified of students placed on academic probation, required to change status, or dismissed. 

Removal from Probation
Once the student meets the GPA standards stated above, the student is automatically removed from academic probation.

Notes:
• Documented appeals must be made in writing to the chairperson of the Committee on Academic Standards. Any exception to the above policies must have the approval of that Committee.
• College-wide probation is different from probation within professional programs in the Schools of Education and Health and Human Services. Within the School of Education, contact the program director for policy information. Standards for grading, probation, removal from probation, and provisional acceptance related to monitoring GPA for the School of Health and Human Services Licensed Health Professions may be more stringent than those outlined above as governed by program requirements, licensing and accrediting organizations. Consult departmental student handbooks for individual Health and Human Services program policies to which students must adhere.  

See also: Standards of Academic Progress in Financial Information  , Readmission, Withdrawal

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Readmission

Full-time matriculated students in good standing who have interrupted their studies for one or more semesters and part-time matriculated students in good standing who have interrupted their studies for more than two academic year semesters without obtaining a formal leave of absence and who wish to return, must file an application for readmission. Application forms are available from the Admissions Office. The application fee is waived. Readmission requires approvals from the Director of Transfer and Graduate Admissions, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Student Development, Director of Student Accounts, and Chairperson(s) of the major(s) to which the applicant is applying. If the student has taken courses at another college or university since attending Nazareth College, an official transcript of the work completed must be sent to the Admissions Office. Readmission to the college or to a particular program is not guaranteed. Credits earned previously do count toward the 120 credits required for graduation. The cumulative Nazareth College GPA remains intact. Students who are granted readmission enter under such new college and departmental program requirements as may have come into effect. In some majors, such as the sciences, education and professional programs, a course or courses taken previously may no longer be applicable to the program due to the age of the course.

Readmitted students who left the college in good academic standing and have been away for a period of 4 or more years may file a petition to have their Nazareth College GPA calculated only on credits earned after readmission. If approved, only courses/credits in the previous academic record with grades of C- or better will count towards the 120 credits required for degree completion. (Placement without credit may be given for 2 courses in requirements for which the student earned D grades.) These students will be required to complete a minimum of 30 graded credits at Nazareth College following readmission to re-establish their Nazareth College GPA.

Students who were dismissed for academic reasons may not apply for readmission until two or more full semesters have elapsed, and only if they can show evidence that they have pursued appropriate academic studies successfully. Students must file an application for readmission which is processed as described in the previous section.  Upon readmission, only courses/credits in the previous academic record with grades of C- or better will be accepted toward the degree. (Placement without credit may be given for 2 courses in requirements for which the student earned D grades.) The GPA will be calculated only on credits earned after readmission. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 30 graded credits at Nazareth College with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 following readmission to re-establish their Nazareth College GPA.

Note: The School of Health and Human Services Licensed Health Professions may maintain matriculation standards or policies related to readmission more stringent than those outlined above as governed by program requirements, licensing and accrediting organizations. Consult departmental student handbooks for individual program policies to which students must adhere.

See also: Matriculation (loss of), Probation and Dismissal, Second Baccalaureate Degree, Withdrawal, and Standards of Academic Progress in Financial Information  

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Records and Confidentiality

A permanent record (transcript) which includes the student’s complete academic history (program of study, courses, grades, GPA calculations, transfer credit, type of degree conferred, and date of graduation) is maintained for each student.

Copies of permanent academic records are released to employers, certification and licensing offices, or other colleges only with the written consent of the student. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to college officials with legitimate educational interests. Program Directors and appropriate college officials have access to academic records for the purpose of counseling, certification, or academic advising.

Another exception is required by the Solomon Amendment (32 CFR Part 216, RIN 0790-AG42). This amendment prescribes that the College must release student’s name, address, telephone listing, age (or year of birth), level of education, and program of study when that information is requested by the Secretary of Defense for military recruiting purposes.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, enforced by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, grants students the right to inspect, review, and challenge the contents of their educational records, and to prevent disclosure, with certain exceptions, of personal information. 

See also: FERPA

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Registration

Registration for full-time and part-time matriculated students occurs after the advisement period as published in the academic calendar (ordinarily in November and April). Registration requires the advisor’s approval. Students are urged to register for their courses at the proper time in order to reserve a place in the courses they wish to take. Students who register late sometimes find that the courses they desire are closed and that a change in schedule is therefore necessary. Students who do not register during registration period in November or April may register up until the deadline published by the Registrar’s Office. Students are responsible for monitoring college and department requirements and ensuring that they are meeting those requirements. Prior to the beginning of each term, students should check NazNet to review their course schedules with the days, meeting times and rooms; if not registered for a course, students should contact the Registrar’s Office immediately.

Registration is not final until tuition and fees have been paid at the Student Accounts Office.  Registration for a course is mandatory.  No credit will be given for a course in which a student has not formally registered. No student will be granted credit for the same course more than once.  Students are responsible for seeing that they do not enroll again in a course for which they have already received credit, either at Nazareth College, at another institution or by examination. In cases of doubt, students should consult with the Registrar or with their advisor. A student may not register for a course after the time specified in the academic calendar (usually one week after the beginning of the semester) or in the course comments on NazNet.  The College reserves the right to make changes in the course schedule, including cancellation of a course, reassignment of an instructor or change in time or location of a course, at any time. Part-time non-matriculated students register through the Admissions Office prior to the beginning of each term.

See also: Drop/Add, Matriculation (Non-Matriculation), Waitlists, Withdrawal 

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Repeating a Course

Once a student receives a grade in a course, regardless of whether the course is passed or failed, the grade remains on the student’s permanent record. If a grade of C or better is achieved, the course may not be repeated. 

When a student repeats a course in which he or she received a grade of C-, D+, D, D- or F, the second grade will replace the first grade in the calculation of the grade point average. The course must be repeated at Nazareth to qualify for calculation into the GPA. Students who have already received credit for a given course will not receive additional credit hours when a course is passed a second time. Normally, a course may be repeated only once. Permission to repeat a course more than once must be granted by the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs, prior to enrollment in the course. 

A course is considered a repeat based upon the course number regardless of additional designations (e.g., W, G, C).

Note: When students repeat a course for which they have already received credit, they must carry 12 additional hours to be eligible for certification for TAP and other New York State Programs. Repeat coursework for which credit was previously earned also does not count towards the number of credits monitored for academic progress and may affect eligibility for federal student aid.

See also: Grades, Grade Point Average Calculation, Standards of Academic Progress (Financial Information  section) 

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Residency Requirement

The College requires every graduate to have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate study at Nazareth College as a matriculated student. Only students with 60 credit hours earned at Nazareth College are eligible for Commencement Honors. For students following the 1988 Core, at least six credits of Perspectives courses (at the PI or PII level) must be completed at Nazareth College. For students following the 2013 Core, at least two P-EQs must be completed at Nazareth for students entering as transfers, and at least four P-EQs must be completed at Nazareth for students entering as freshmen.

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Rochester Area Colleges (RAC) Inter-Institutional Undergraduate Student Enrollment Program

Because Nazareth College is a member of the Rochester Area Colleges consortium, full-time undergraduate students may participate in the RAC cross-enrollment program during the fall and spring semesters of the academic year. The consortium includes: Nazareth, the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Roberts Wesleyan College, St. John Fisher College, Monroe Community College, the State University Colleges at Brockport and Geneseo, the Empire State College and several other colleges located in the Genesee region. Ordinarily, cross-registration is not allowed for seniors in the spring semester, due to time constraints between the completion of the term and Commencement.  Special registration forms are available in the Registrar’s Office at the time of course selection and registration. Students also need to complete an Inter-Institutional Supplemental Approval Form to document how the credit will be counted (department chairperson approval required).

Students are subject to the procedures and policies regarding grading systems and calendar of the school at which the course is being taken. Cross-enrollment is on a “space available” basis at the school being visited and with the approval of both Nazareth College and the other institution(s), provided the course is required to complete the degree. A maximum of two courses is allowed in any given semester. However, students must be enrolled in 12 credits at Nazareth to be eligible to participate in this program. Credit is not earned for grades lower than C-; additional grading restrictions may apply depending on departmental requirements. Ordinarily, students may not cross-enroll for courses available at the home institution. Credit earned is added to the Nazareth College record as transfer credit.

Although there are no additional tuition charges, there may be courses that have fees associated with them. In these cases you would be responsible for paying the course fee.  Any student who exceeds 17 total registered credits including the inter-institutional courses (17.5 for music students), will be charged Nazareth’s overload fee.

Note: This program is not open to part-time students; it does not apply to summer sessions, music lessons, internships, or field-based professional courses.

See also: New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) On-line Course Enrollment Program

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Science Lecture and Laboratory Co-Requisite Policy

In general, Nazareth College science lecture courses have required laboratory co-requisites. This information is clearly published in every course description. When lectures and lab courses are identified as “required co-requisites,” students must register for both the lecture and the lab. The following are exceptions to the required co-requisite rule:

1. Students who have achieved a C- or higher in an equivalent lecture course in the last five years without a laboratory component may, following transfer credit approval - and through the add/drop process, request to drop the lecture and take only the lab. Required signature of authorization: Department Chairperson.
2. Students who have taken a science lecture and lab at Nazareth in a prior semester, but did not meet minimum grade requirements in one of the co-requisite courses, may, through the add/drop process, request to drop the co-requisite course in which they were successful and complete only the course in which they were previously unsuccessful. Required signature of authorization: Department Chairperson.
3. In circumstances related to illness, through a petition process students may request to drop the lecture and remain in the lab, or drop the lab and remain in the lecture. Medical documentation is required in these circumstances. Requests must adhere to the College’s approved calendar for drop deadlines. This exception will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and will be permitted only with the approval of:

· Lecture instructor and the lab instructor;
· Department Chair of the course(s) in question;
· Dean of the School in which the course resides;
· Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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Second Baccalaureate Degree

Nazareth College encourages students who have already earned, from a regionally accredited College or University, a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree to pursue graduate studies. When reasons can be demonstrated as to why additional undergraduate work is preferred and educationally sound, individuals may be admitted to an undergraduate program if the applicant meets the admissions requirements of the program and the College.  If a second bachelor’s degree is to be pursued the second bachelor’s degree must be completed in a program distinctly different from the one of the first degree.  Such requests will be referred by the Admissions Office to the appropriate department chairperson and dean following receipt of a completed application. An application is considered complete when the College has received:

• the Undergraduate Transfer Application for Admission.
• a non-refundable application fee (waived for graduates of Nazareth College)
• official transcripts from every college attended (excluding Nazareth College)
• a statement of a minimum of 150 words demonstrating why a second bachelor’s degree is preferred.

A Second Degree Contract will be written for each applicant accepted for a second degree after s/he submits an Intent to Enroll Form.  The Second Degree Contract identifies all courses that transfer to fulfill degree requirements and all courses required to complete the second bachelor’s degree. Students must fulfill all prerequisite, co-requisite and major program requirements and complete core curriculum and liberal arts requirements in effect at the date of matriculation in the second degree program.

Students in the second baccalaureate degree program must complete at Nazareth College a minimum of 30 credits beyond the first bachelor’s degree and complete all departmental residency requirements. Students admitted as second baccalaureate degree students are classified as matriculated undergraduates and billed accordingly.  Second degree students may qualify for financial aid and should contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

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Services for Students with Disabilities

Nazareth College is committed to providing support services and assistance for students with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities, in keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), provides support services, including reasonable accommodations, classroom modifications and appropriate services to all students with documented disabilities. Students who would like to receive reasonable accommodations are encouraged to contact the Director to schedule an appointment.

For additional information, please consult the Nazareth College Students with Disabilities Handbook. Copies of the handbook may be obtained from the Office for Students with Disabilities or on the college’s website at www.naz.edu/dept/Students_disabilitites.

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Standards of Academic Progress

To be eligible for federal and state financial aid and Nazareth College Scholarships, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. See the Financial Information section of the catalog for detailed information.

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Student Code of Conduct

Nazareth College has in place a comprehensive Student Code of Conduct, which includes a Statement of the Conduct Code, Disciplinary Sanctions, and Conduct Procedures. Also included is a Harassment Statement and Grievance Procedures for Discrimination, Harassment and Victimization Complaints. Any question or application of the Nazareth College Student Conduct Code shall be referred to the Vice President for Student Development, or his/her designee for final determination. The full text of the Student Conduct Code is available in the undergraduate Student Handbook and can be found online at http://www.naz.edu/student-conduct.

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Study Abroad

Students specializing in areas of study in which academic course work may be carried on advantageously at a foreign university are encouraged to spend a semester or year abroad.  Students should consult the Center for International Education (CIE) about the many excellent program opportunities available for study abroad.  Students should also contact their faculty advisor, department chairperson, and the Academic Advisement Center for advisement and authorization.  Early in their plans for studying abroad, students should consult the Financial Aid Office to determine if their financial aid award packages can be used, what additional resources might be available for their proposed programs and to arrange a consortium agreement, if necessary.  When accepted into a study abroad program, students must plan their academic programs in consultation with their faculty advisor, and secure approval in advance for all courses to be taken abroad from their advisor, the director of study abroad, the Academic Advisement Center and, in some cases, the chairpersons of the departments in which the courses are located. A Residential Credit Posting form, available on the Registrar’s website, must also be completed and submitted to the Registrar’s Office for Nazareth sponsored study abroad programs (Rennes, Valencia, Berlin, Pescara, and Florence).  A Transfer Credit Approval form, available in the Academic Advisement Center (and website), must be completed and submitted for all other programs. Some programs have minimum GPA requirements in order to be eligible.

The Center for International Education at Nazareth College is the cornerstone of the College’s unwavering commitment to international education. The CIE is the flagship of global initiatives and activities at Nazareth College. In planning and implementing Nazareth College’s international mandate to carry out its global goals and responsibilities, the CIE defines, develops, and supports internationally-focused interdisciplinary academic and development activities. The CIE also serves as an informational clearinghouse and support center for prospective international students and scholars. It offers services for undergraduate and graduate students as well as visiting scholars from abroad. Additionally, the CIE provides a forum through which Nazareth College’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni pursue collaborative interests and projects with partner institutions around the world.

Residential Programs
Nazareth College sponsors five of its own programs - one in France, one in Spain, two in Italy and one in Germany.  For these programs, credits are transferred and the grades are included in the computation of the grade point average. Please refer to the programs of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department for further information.

Exchange Programs
Nazareth College maintains a network of exchange programs through university partnership agreements around the world.  This network enables students to study for a semester or a year at more than 24 universities in 18 countries. For these programs, credits are transferred and the grades are included in the computation of the grade point average.  Whether learning a language, enhancing academic skills or participating in cultural immersion, these programs help students to develop an intercultural outlook, professional contacts in international networks, and employment opportunities.  Please contact the CIE Assistant Director for Overseas Studies and Exchanges for further information.

Short-Term Overseas Education Programs
Short-term education programs abroad involve academic courses lasting from one to six weeks that may be fully or partially held abroad. Under the guidance of Nazareth’s faculty, students have the opportunity to visit exciting sites, listen to speakers with international knowledge and outlook, practice foreign languages, taste authentic cuisine, and make connections with students from various cultures.

To qualify for any of these international programs a student must be in good academic standing and have personal maturity, motivation, and probability of ease in adapting to new situations.  When applicable, credits are transferred and grades are included in the computation of the grade point average.  Please contact the CIE Assistant Director for Overseas Studies and Exchanges for further information.

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Summer Courses at Nazareth College

Each summer Nazareth College offers courses from the regular academic curriculum, workshops and special programs during a two-session summer program beginning after commencement. Residence accommodations are available. The summer course schedule is posted on NazNet in January, and students may begin registering for summer courses at that time. Students should discuss summer courses with their advisors when they meet to discuss fall semester courses. No more than 8 credit hours or two courses may be taken during any one 6-week summer session. (Day and evening courses during the same time period constitute one session.) Summer session courses taken at Nazareth College are posted on the transcript and included in the GPA calculation. Registration for Nazareth College summer courses takes place in the Admissions Office for non-matriculated students and through NazNet for matriculated students.

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Teacher Certification Programs

Qualified students, with the joint approval of the major department and the School of Education, may choose a program of study that leads to eligibility for initial New York State teacher certification. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher in order to continue in the program. No student with a GPA below 2.7 at the end of the spring semester prior to fall student teaching will be allowed to student teach. Students seeking initial certification must major in an approved academic area and complete the certification program in education.  To be eligible for certification, students must successfully complete the education program, pass required New York State examinations, and complete a web based certification application with the New York State Education Department (http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/).  Refer to the School of Education information on the Nazareth College web site for current requirements.

Approved programs for eligibility for teacher certification exist in the following areas:

Adolescence Programs:
The following content areas of teacher certification lead to dual certification with a content area and the additional certification of “Teaching Students with Disabilities, 7-12.”

Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Program:
An approved liberal arts and science major is required in conjunction with the Inclusive Early Childhood/ Childhood Education Major.

Other Programs:
The following areas of study lead to teacher certification for birth through grade 12. 

All teacher certification programs are registered with the State Education Department of the University of the State of New York.

The certification of teaching students with disabilities must be held with an early childhood, childhood or adolescent certification.

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Transcripts and Records

In an effort to provide secure and improved services to students and alumni, Nazareth College has authorized the National Student Clearinghouse to provide transcript ordering 24/7 via the Web. Transcripts may be ordered using any major credit card. The card will be charged after the order has been completed. There is a $7.50 fee per mailing address. A transcript is a detailed record issued by the Registrar’s Office indicating a student’s date of attendance, courses attempted, grades received, credits earned, grade point average, degree awarded (if any), and other pertinent information.

Current Students and Alumni with NazNet access should follow these steps to order a transcript:

• Log into NazNet
• Click on the ‘transcript request’ link under the ‘Nat’l Student Clearinghouse’ heading section
• Click on ‘National Student Clearinghouse Self-Service’ link
• The site explains how to place an order, including delivery options and fees. Multiple transcripts may be ordered in a single session.

Alumni and Former Students who DO NOT have NazNet access should follow these steps to order a transcript:

• To order an official transcript(s), login to the Clearinghouse secure site: http://www.getmytranscript.com
• The site explains how to place an order, including delivery options and fees. Multiple transcripts may be ordered in a single session.
• Order updates will be emailed to the person placing the order. Order status or history may also be checked online.
• Questions about the Clearinghouse’s transcript ordering service should be addressed to (703) 742-7791 or transcripts@studentclearinghouse.org.

Grade reports are available only on NazNet. The College reserves the right, however, to withhold a student’s records, transcripts, or diploma until all bills are paid in full.

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Transfer Credit/External Coursework

Matriculated students who wish to take courses at another institution must obtain prior approval to do so.  A Transfer Credit Approval Form, available in the Academic Advisement Center and the Registrar’s Office, must be signed by the academic advisor and the chairperson of the department in which the desired course is located, and returned to the Transfer Credit Evaluator in the Academic Advisement Center.  Approval must be obtained prior to registering for the course. A catalog description of courses to be taken at colleges other than Nazareth College should be submitted with the Transfer Credit Approval Form. A grade of C- or higher is required in order to transfer the credit. Pass/Fail grades are not acceptable. Grades for courses accepted in transfer from other institutions are not included in the GPA calculation. (An exception to this policy is made for students in the Pescara Program, Berlin Program, Rennes Program, Florence Program, Valencia Program, and all of the Nazareth exchange programs.) Upon successful completion of a course, the student must request that an official transcript be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. No more than 8 credit hours or two courses may be taken during any one 6-week summer session. Students are responsible for advising a Transfer Credit Evaluator immediately of any changes in courses for which they gained transfer approval. Those transferring quarter credits should note that one quarter hour is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester hour.

Students who have had 60 credits accepted in transfer from a Community College may not take any further courses at a Community College.

During the semester after a student has matriculated (been formally accepted by the College) and after all official transcripts have been received, the Registrar’s Office will mail the student a copy of the final and official evaluation of all transfer credits. Any evaluation of credits received prior to that time is unofficial and not binding.  A grade of C- or higher is required for transfer of credit. Pass/fail graded courses are not transferable. All associate degree holders must have an official transcript, which indicates the degree received, sent to the Admissions Office.

Nazareth College seeks to provide transfer students with the greatest possible recognition of their previous college work while maintaining the integrity of its own academic programs. Courses are evaluated for transfer regardless of mode of delivery. Transfer students who complete an Associate in Arts (A.A.) or Associate in Science (A.S.) degree from a fully accredited college or university prior to registration at Nazareth College are ordinarily granted 60 semester hours of transfer credit and junior class standing upon enrolling at Nazareth College; this does not guarantee completion of the degree in an additional 60 credit hours.

Transcripts from fully accredited institutions for applicants who do not possess the A.A. or A.S. degree are evaluated on a course by course basis.  In such cases, the number of transfer credits awarded will be determined by a review of previous program(s) of study, previous academic performance and the academic program requested at Nazareth. A maximum of 90 credits may be transferred to Nazareth College toward the baccalaureate degree, with no more than 60 credits earned at two-year colleges. 

Notes

• Transfer students cannot receive credit twice for courses with different titles but with similar content, wherever taken.
• A grade of D+ or lower is not accepted in transfer, unless it is situated in an A.A. or A.S. degree already earned or it is earned in an affiliated college program (e.g., Rennes Program). However, 6-8 credits of requirements in which the student has D’s may be waived. This is “placement without credit.”  This means the requirement is waived, but the 6-8 credit deficiency must be made up in some other courses or area.
• For students lacking liberal arts credits, CLEP or other proficiency exams may be used for credit in these areas. For advisement concerning these exams, see the Transfer Credit Evaluator.
• A minimum of 30 credits, preferably the last 30, must be taken at Nazareth College, and the student should be matriculated prior to taking these credits.
• Once received, transcripts become the property of Nazareth College and may not be sent from Nazareth to other colleges.

 See also: Advanced Placement, Credit by Examination, Rochester Area Colleges (RAC), Proficiency Examinations for Credit, Study Abroad, Transfer Admissions in  Admissions  Section

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Tutorials

A tutorial is a regular course that a student is taking privately and out of sequence to meet requirements for graduation or for a professional program (applicable mainly to transfer students making up work in a series of sequentially offered courses). Tutorials are available only during the regular academic year.  Request forms for tutorials are available in the Registrar’s Office. The approvals and signatures of the faculty supervisor and department chairperson are needed. Completed forms are returned to the Registrar’s Office.  Like independent studies, tutorials may be taken for 1, 2 or 3 credits, depending on the number of credits designated for that course in the college catalog. Tutorials are available to juniors of seniors who have a cumulative average of 3.0. (Exceptions are available through petition, if cumulative average is at least 2.5).

See also: Independent Study

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Waitlists

During the registration period, waitlists are available for closed courses. Once a course is closed, a student must place himself/herself on the waitlist to try to get into the course; faculty will not sign students into closed courses. Being on the waitlist does not guarantee that a student will get a seat in the course. A student should register for another course in case s/he does not get into the closed course. If a student is on a waitlist and a seat becomes available in the course, s/he will be notified through Nazareth e-mail. The student must respond within 48 hours or will be removed from the waitlist and lose the seat to the next person on the list. Waitlists are processed on a first-come first-served basis. Students are able to see their position on a waitlist through NazNet.

See also: Registration

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Withdrawal from the College

Withdrawal during first week of classes

• New and returning students who need an immediate withdrawal from Nazareth College should contact the Registrar’s Office (first week of classes only) 

Withdrawal after the first week, through the 10th week of classes

• All new and returning students requesting an immediate withdrawal are made at the Center for Student Success (weeks 2-10) 

Withdrawal at the end of a semester or between semesters

• All undergraduate students (new and returning) who wish to initiate a formal withdrawal from Nazareth College effective at the end of a semester or in between semesters should contact the Registrar’s Office. 

Full-time students who fail to register for one semester without having filed for a withdrawal will be “unofficially withdrawn” from the college.

See also: Readmission, Dismissal, Registration 

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