Academic Regulations
For up-to-date information, consult the undergraduate online version of the university’s catalog. It is the official catalog and can be found at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/ugcat0708. There are two versions of the online catalog that students can reference. The HTML version allows the user easy navigation and indicates up-to-date curricular revisions. The PDF version is an exact replica of the printed undergraduate catalog. The university’s undergraduate catalogs are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute a contractual agreement between a student and East Carolina University. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, degree requirements, course offerings, or academic regulations at any time when, in the judgment of the faculty, the Chancellor, or the Board of Trustees, such changes are in the best interest of the students and the university. East Carolina University is committed to equality of educational opportunity and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees based on race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, creed, sexual orientation, or disability. East Carolina University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that accommodates the needs of individuals with disabilities. Ordinarily, a student may expect to earn a degree in accordance with the requirements of the curriculum described in the official catalog in effect when he or she first entered the university or in any subsequent catalog published while he or she is a student, but the faculty of the university reserves the right to make changes in curricula and in regulations at any time when in its judgment such changes are for the best interest of the students and of the university. No student pursuing his or her first baccalaureate degree or double major will be permitted to graduate under a catalog issued more than five years prior to the date of his or her graduation. No student pursuing a second baccalaureate degree will be permitted to graduate under a catalog issued more than three years prior to the date of his or her graduation. Students should refer to the requirements of their respective college, school, or department for information about their programs of study and confer with their advisors whenever problems arise. The student is expected to follow the program outlined as closely as possible, particularly in the first two years when satisfying basic degree requirements and prerequisites for advance standing. Students may not be admitted to or change to a specified degree program before the degree program requirements have been published in the official catalog. Some courses listed in sections 8 and 9 indicate an anticipated semester of offering; however, because of faculty availability and other constraints, there is no guarantee that courses will be offered at the specified times. Students should consult their advisor and departments concerning availability issues. While foundations curriculum credit is indicated for some courses, foundations curriculum credit may also be available for other courses. Contact the associate vice chancellor for academic services for clarification. Courses in a student’s major prefix area may not count toward his or her foundations curriculum requirements of a catalog later than the one in effect at the time of his or her original.
During the period that the student is assigned to the General College, the university rule that a student adopt the catalog that is current whenever he or she changes his or her program does not apply. Except for the requirements for admission to certain programs, the catalog that was current at the time the student entered the General College will apply when he or she leaves the General College and declares a major unless (1) the student elects a later catalog, (2) the student changes his or her program after initial transfer from the General College, or (3) accreditation requirements for the university have been changed. Academic advisors will offer guidance to students in academic matters and refer students to those qualified to help them in other matters. The final responsibility for meeting all academic requirements for a selected program rests, however, with the student. The vice chancellor for academic affairs has authority on all established curricular matters.
Each instructor shall determine the class attendance policy for each of his or her courses, as long as the instructor’s policy does not conflict with university policy as described herein. The instructor’s attendance policy, along with other course requirements, will be presented to the class, preferably in writing, at the first class meeting. Faculty may include class attendance as criteria in determining a student’s final grade in the course. If class attendance is to affect a student’s grade, then a written statement to that effect must be part of the course syllabus. Excused absences should not lower a student’s course grade, provided that the student, in a manner determined by the instructor, is able to make up the work that has been missed and is maintaining satisfactory progress in the course. If a student anticipates that he or she may miss more than 10% of class meeting time as a result of university-excused absences, the student is required to discuss this matter with the instructor at the beginning of the semester. Instructors are expected to honor valid university excuses for student absences, and to provide reasonable and equitable means for students to make up work missed as a result of those absences. Student experiences that cannot be made up should be discussed at the onset of the courses to ensure that continued enrollment is feasible while there is still the opportunity to drop the course within the schedule change period. Instructors may require that students provide reasonable advanced notice of a university-excused absence, when possible. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain verification of a university-excused absence by contacting the Dean of Students or his or her designee. Requests for university-excused absences should be submitted, whenever possible, to the Dean of Students or his or her designee at least a week prior to the scheduled absence. Requests submitted after the fact will be disapproved unless circumstances made prior approval impossible. The death of an immediate family member or student participation in religious holidays may be considered an excused absence under university policy. Should such a circumstance occur, and the faculty member desires verification, the student should contact the Dean of Students or his or her designee for a university-excused absence and provide documentation of the particulars. The Student Health Service does not issue official written excuses for illness or injury except in the case of a final examination when a grade of incomplete (I) is requested by the student. Upon student request, however, the Student Health Service will confirm that the student has received medical care. The Dean of Students or his or her designee may authorize university-excused absences for the following activities:
An undergraduate student is not permitted to select courses more than one classification level above the student’s own classification.
There are occasions, however, on which exceptions to this regulation may be deemed desirable and necessary by the student’s advisor and/or dean. Under these circumstances, a student will be allowed to register for courses two or more levels above the student’s classification if the registration or schedule change form contains the initials of the advisor and/or dean written on the line with the course that is involved in the regulation. Five-thousand-level (5000-5999) courses are graduate courses. Undergraduate students may be admitted to five-thousand level courses if they have completed the stated prerequisite(s) or with the written permission of the instructor, chairperson of the department, the director of the school, or the dean of the college in which the course is offered. Only students who have been admitted to pursue graduate work on a degree or nondegree basis will be permitted to enroll in courses numbered 6000 or above. A senior within 6 s.h. of graduation who has been admitted to a graduate degree program may take a 6000-level course while completing undergraduate degree requirements but only for graduate credit. Prerequisites are stated as integral parts of various programs, entrance requirements for degree programs, and sequential progression into subject matter. Students are not allowed to enroll in courses for which they have not met the prerequisites except by approval of the chair of the department or his/her designee. Elective courses in any curriculum may be taken from any field and are decided upon in consultation with the advisor.
The minimum number of semester hours required for a baccalaureate degree at East Carolina University is 120; most degrees typically require 126 s.h. or fewer. (Any exceptions are indicated in the degree requirements listed in the undergraduate catalog.) Students who satisfactorily complete an average of 15-16 credit hours per semester should be able to obtain their degrees in four years or eight semesters. Some factors which may extend an individual student’s time for completion of a degree are averaging fewer than 15-16 credit hours per semester, repeating courses, failing to meet course prerequisites, changing majors, taking unnecessary or inappropriate courses, withdrawing from school, dropping or failing courses, adding minors or double majors, and becoming academically ineligible to continue enrollment. Participation in internships, practica, cooperative education, and study abroad programs may or may not extend the number of semesters for graduation. Fall and Spring SemestersA student may take 18 s.h. of credit per semester without restrictions. With the approval of the advisor and the chairperson, director, or dean, a student who has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all work may take 19 or 20 s.h. per semester. The approval for extra-hour load must be signed on the registration form by the advisor, chairperson, director, or dean concerned. A student desiring to enroll for more than 20 s.h. must secure, in addition to the above signatures, approval from the Center for Academic Services.In the semester or summer term of graduation, a student with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 may take extra hours with the approval of the advisor, chairperson, director, or dean and the associate vice chancellor for academic services or his/her designee. Summer TermsA student may take 7 s.h. each summer term or a maximum of 14 s.h. without restrictions. With the written approval of the Center for Academic Services, a student who has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all work may take extra hours.
Any deviations from the applicable published degree requirements must have the approval of the appropriate departmental chairperson, school director, or college dean and the Center for Academic Services, as appropriate.
All independent study courses should be set up as a part of the departmental schedule of courses for the respective term. Independent study sections of normally offered courses should be appropriately noted by the section number.
Students who register during the early registration period are required to pay their fees and secure their official schedules during the stipulated period prior to registration day. Students who fail to pay fees by this date will have their schedules canceled.
During Schedule Change PeriodDuring the first five days of classes (Mondays through Fridays) of the fall and spring semesters, a student may drop or add a course or courses to his or her schedule. The student should discuss schedule changes with his or her advisor prior to making the changes via the web. On the day following the five-day schedule change period, a student may make final additions to his or her schedule. See below for instructions on requesting schedule changes after the scheduled change period.During the summer, the schedule change period is limited to the first two days of classes each term. On the day following the two-day schedule change period, a student may make final additions to his or her schedule in accordance with the policies outlined above for the regular semesters. Course drops during this drop/add period do not count against a student’s course drop allocation. (See course Drop Allocations, below.) After Schedule Change PeriodDuring the first 40 percent of the regularly scheduled class meetings of a course (including the meeting for the final examination), a student may, at his or her own option, drop the course. After consultation with his or her advisor, the student secures the signature of the advisor on the schedule change form and takes it to the Office of the Registrar for processing. For regular semester-length courses, the drop period is limited to the first thirty days of classes of the semester. For five-week block courses or regular summer term courses, the drop period is limited to the first ten days of classes for the semester or summer term. The same 40 percent drop-period rule applies to block courses of other lengths as well. It is the student’s responsibility to consult official university bulletin boards, documents, and/or the web to determine the appropriate drop period for such block courses. Ordinarily, a student may drop up to four courses or a smaller prorated number in pursuit of a university degree. (See Course Drop Allocations, below.) Extenuating circumstances, however, can warrant consideration for drop by exception, as explained below.Students may petition the Student Academic Appellate Committee through the Center for Academic Services for drops by exception (drops after the 40 percent drop period, drops beyond student’s allotted number, and drops not counted against the allotted number). Poor performance in course work; missed deadlines; change of major; or a course grade’s adverse effect on the student’s grade point average, probationary standing, or other eligibility is not in itself a sufficient basis for exception. Requests for exceptions will not be considered after the last regularly scheduled class meeting prior to the final examination for the course(s) in question except where earlier requests could not have been expected. Petitions for drops by exception will typically be granted only for medical or counseling reasons related to the course(s) to be dropped and will be considered by Student Health Services or the Center for Counseling and Student Development, respectively, upon receipt of appropriate documentation. Students whose petitions for drops by exception are denied by Student Health Services, the Center for Counseling and Student Development, or the Office of the Registrar may appeal the decision to the Student Academic Appellate Committee. Course Drop AllocationsIn pursuit of a degree at East Carolina University, a student may drop up to four courses (outside the schedule change period). Students may use these drops between the schedule change period and the last day to drop term-length courses without a grade. Drops not used roll forward to the following term. The number of course drops is prorated on the student’s credit hours (both ECU and transferred) at the time of implementation or the student’s initial matriculation as follows:First Undergraduate Degree
Second Undergraduate DegreeA student who needs no more than
Courses offered in nontraditional formats, e.g., concentrated or abbreviated time periods, must be designed to ensure an opportunity for preparation, reflection, and analysis concerning the subject matter. At least one calendar week of reflection and analysis should be provided to students for each semester hour of undergraduate credit awarded. Credit will not be allowed for courses which substantially duplicate courses already completed.
Upon AdmissionA student transferring to the university from another college or university will have transcripts evaluated by the Office of Admissions during the admissions process. Credit will be awarded for all transferable courses for which a grade of C or better was earned. Students are allowed to request an evaluation of transfer courses by consulting with their academic advisor. This evaluation will then be reviewed by the student’s academic unit. It is only upon the review by the academic unit that the student will know what additional courses are necessary to meet degree requirements. All courses and grades transferred become a part of the student’s transcript. Although transfer grades are not counted in a student’s ECU GPA, courses in which the student received a grade of D or F will be used in the calculation of the GPA for degrees with distinction.Students who have satisfactorily completed basic military training may receive credit for the exercise and sport science and/or health courses required for foundations curriculum upon submitting a DD-214 or DD-295 to the Office of the Registrar, Veteran’s Affairs. Students who have completed service schools while on active duty with the military may request an evaluation through the Office of Admissions. Credit will be awarded in accordance with the American Council on Education recommendations provided that the credit recommended is at the baccalaureate level; is applicable to the foundations curriculum requirements, to the student’s declared major field of study, or to the elective hours prescribed within the student’s designated program of study; and is comparable to courses offered at East Carolina University. While Enrolled in East Carolina UniversityApproval must be granted in writing by the student’s dean, director, or departmental chairperson and the Center for Academic Services prior to enrollment for transfer of any course taken at any other institution. An official transcript must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar immediately upon completion of the course(s). Only courses in which the student earns a C or better will be accepted in transfer. Permission is limited to 18 s.h. credit per semester or 7 s.h. credit per summer term. For purposes of this policy, correspondence courses are distinguished from distance education courses.
With specific authorization as indicated below, approval may be granted in the following instances:
A grade change resulting from re-examination must be on file in the Office of the Registrar one week after the originally scheduled examination.
Grade points are computed by multiplying the number of semester-hour credits by four for courses in which a grade of A is earned, by three for a grade of B, by two for a grade of C, by one for a grade of D. No grade points are given for a grade of F, but hours attempted are recorded for each attempt of a given course. (See Grade Replacement Policy, below.) The GPA is obtained by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted.
The Chancellor’s List is composed of the names of all full-time undergraduates who make four grade (quality) points per credit hour (4.0) on all work taken with no incomplete grades. The Dean’s List is composed of the names of all full-time undergraduates who make at least three and one-half grade (quality) points per credit hour (3.5) on all work taken with no grade below C and no incomplete grades. The Honor Roll is composed of the names of full-time undergraduates who make at least three grade (quality) points per credit hour (3.0) on all work taken with no grade below C and no incomplete grades.
To replace a grade, the student should request a grade replacement on the grade replacement form, register for the course during the registration period, and submit the form to the Office of the Registrar. For the student to implement the policy, the form should be submitted no later than the last day of classes of the semester in which the student retakes the course. Although the original grade will not be used in determining the GPA of the student, the original grade will remain on the student’s permanent academic record and will be included in the calculation for consideration for honors. The replacement grade, or last grade, stands. Students receiving an F on the replacement grade must repeat the course if credit is required for graduation. In the event that the original grade was a D, no additional credit hours will be awarded. The grade replacement policy does not apply to courses taken prior to fall 1994.
A student who possesses a baccalaureate degree and who is working toward a second baccalaureate degree must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all work attempted on the second baccalaureate degree. Certain academic programs require a GPA greater than 2.0 for admission. (See specific major requirements.) Please note that Academic Eligibility and Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid are not the same. Please contact Student Financial Aid for more information about Satisfactory Academic Progress for continuation of receipt of student financial aid at East Carolina University (http://www.ecu.edu/financial/).
Students on probation or suspended from the university are encouraged to attend summer school at East Carolina University in order to progress toward good academic standing.
A student will be placed on academic probation if he or she does not meet the current academic eligibility standards. Students on probation are required to meet with their advisor and attend an academic review session conducted by the Academic Advising and Support Center or his or her academic unit prior to registration for the next academic term (fall or spring). A student will remain on academic warning or probation until the required GPA is obtained or the student is suspended.
Appeals Of SuspensionA student who wishes to appeal his or her suspension must appeal in writing to the Student Academic Appellate Committee. The appeal form or letter must be received in the Office of the Registrar by 5:00 p.m. according to the following schedule:
The appeal should contain the following:
Continuing students who have served a portion of their suspension and who wish exemption from the remainder may submit a letter of appeal. This letter must be received according to the deadlines stated in the previous paragraph. The Student Academic Appellate Committee normally will not approve appeals from ineligible students unless they are based on personal or family problems of an extreme nature or on evidence of substantial academic improvement. In considering appeals for readmission for the fall semester, the committee normally expects students to attend summer school to demonstrate academic improvement. A successful appeal of academic suspension does not also grant an appeal to Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Please contact Student Financial Aid for more information (http://www.ecu.edu/financial/).
Following SuspensionFollowing an initial suspension of one semester and readmission to the university on academic probation, the student who fails to meet the required GPA while on probation will be suspended from the university for two semesters unless he or she earns at least a 2.5 GPA on a minimum of 12 attempted hours in the current probationary semester or two summer terms, has a total quality point deficit of 5 or fewer for the retention period and hours attempted, or is readmitted by the Student Academic Appellate Committee.Following the second suspension and readmission to the university on academic probation, the student who fails to meet the required GPA will be suspended from the university for an indefinite period of time, not less than three academic years, unless he or she earns at least a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a minimum of 12 attempted hours in the current probationary semester or two summer terms, has a total quality point deficit of 5 or fewer for the retention period and hours attempted, meets the required GPA by attending summer school at ECU, or is readmitted by the Student Academic Appellate Committee. A student may remove academic deficiencies only by attending East Carolina University. Quality points do not transfer. Special Readmission (Forgiveness) PolicyEast Carolina University students who have been out of school for a minimum of three consecutive academic years (six semesters, summer sessions excluded) may request special readmission. Such requests must be submitted in writing according to application deadline dates as specified above.Students who have been enrolled at another college or university since their last enrollment at East Carolina University must submit to the Office of Admissions official transcripts indicating that a minimum cumulative C average (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) has been earned in all transferable courses attempted. No transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at any institution of higher education during the initial three consecutive academic years. For courses taken in subsequent years, only those in which the student received a grade of C or better will be accepted for transfer credit at ECU. The sole exception is that students may attend ECU during summer sessions for credit. Subsequent GPAs of students readmitted under this policy will be computed without inclusion of previous course work in which a grade below C was received; credit toward graduation will not be allowed for such course work. However, this work will be included in calculations for consideration for degrees with distinction. A student may be readmitted under the Forgiveness Policy only one time. Those readmitted under this policy are on academic probation for the first 19 s.h. of attempted course work. At the end of the term in which the nineteenth semester hour is attempted, a minimum cumulative C average must have been earned at East Carolina University on all course work attempted since readmission under forgiveness. Failure to meet this stipulation will result in the student’s being ineligible, except for summer school, until such time as the C average is obtained.
During the first 40 percent of regularly scheduled class meetings, a student may withdraw from school without receiving grades for courses in which he or she is enrolled. After 40 percent of regularly scheduled class meetings, a student withdrawing from school shall receive a grade of F for all classes which he or she is failing at the time unless a determination is made by the Student Academic Appellate Committee that the failures were caused by circumstances beyond the student’s control.
A student has the right to file a complaint at any time with the US Department of Education. However, it is expected that the student normally would exhaust the available administrative remedies for relief according to the university grievance procedures before filing such a complaint.
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