STUDENT COURSE LOAD

A normal load is 16 hours per semester. A student must carry 12 semester hours to be full-time. Full-time tuition covers 12 through 19 semester hours. A student who wishes to carry more than 19 semester hours may request permission to overload by petitioning the Assistant Provost for Academic Services. The 20th credit triggers the first per-credit overload charge, with each additional credit’s generating the same per-credit fee.

MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION

The unit of academic credit at Wittenberg is the semester credit. A candidate for a degree must, as part of the graduation requirements, pass a minimum of 130 semester credits depending upon the degree program and major. A normal academic program consists of 16 credits per semester.

STATUS OF STUDENTS: DEFINITION OF TERMS

Academic Dismissal

The permanent record of a student who has been dismissed from the University and who is not readmitted will be stamped Academic Dismissal. Notice of academic dismissal is printed on the permanent record and the details are specified in a letter from the University.

Disciplinary Probation

Students who because of personal conduct problems are permitted to continue only under specified conditions are designated as being on Disciplinary Probation. No entry is made on the permanent academic record. An appropriate notation is made in the students’ personal file.

Disciplinary Suspension

Students whose disciplinary problems warrant a Disciplinary Suspension are notified in writing, after a hearing and due process, by the Dean of Students. The letter specifies detail such as the minimum number of semesters of suspension from enrollment.

If a student is suspended from the University for disciplinary reasons during the course of a semester, grades of RW (Required Withdrawal) will be entered on the student’s permanent record.

Good Academic Standing

See Standards of Academic Progress.

Satisfactory Progress

A student is identified as making satisfactory progress towards a Wittenberg degree when enrolled full time (12-17 semester hours per semester), and continuing towards graduation within the context of a four-year undergraduate program.

STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS
(By Faculty action, February 7, 1995)

Traditional students are advised to complete 25 percent (32 to 33 semester credits) of the requirements in academic courses for the degree during each academic year. In order to meet acceptable academic standards, the student regularly enrolled as a degree candidate must accomplish the following:

          Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of:
                    1.667 at the end of the first semester
                    1.750 at the end of the second semester
                    1.850 at the end of the third semester
                    2.000 at the end of the fourth semester and thereafter

NOTE: The Board of Academic Standards may send informal letters of warning or concern to students when the grade point average or status shows signs of falling below acceptable levels.

At the end of the fourth semester and each semester thereafter, earn a grade point average of 2.000 or better

DEAN’S LIST
(By Faculty action, February 7, 1995 - Amended to Summer Dean’s List - March 16, 1999)

At the end of each fall and spring semester, a Dean’s List announces the names of students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.500 for a minimum of 12 graded semester credits. A traditional student is also eligible for the Dean’s List if, over the summer school sessions, completes 12 or more graded semester hours with a GPA (greater or equal to ) 3.5. Further, students so honored may not have received a grade of F or NC (No Credit) for the semester and may not have been under disciplinary probation or suspension any time during the semester.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

A. student is placed on this status in the event that the cumulative GPA , with at least 12 semester hours completed, falls below the minimum level appropriate for the number of credits completed.

 A student can also be placed in this status in the event of any of the following situations. (The concept of "succession does not require contiguity of semesters.)

B. A semester in which the student enrolls for 10 more semester hours with a term GPA below the minimum acceptable level in relation to the student 's cumultive credit total.

C.  A succession of two semesters in which the student fails to earn a grade of C or higher or enrolls for a total of 12 or more semester hours with a GPA for that span below the minimum acceptable in relation to the student's'cumulative credit total at the point of action.

D. A succession of three semeters in which  the GPA for that span is below the minimum accepatable level inrelation to to the student.

A student is removed from acadmic probation when theSemester GPA ,the GPA for the most recent two or three semesters, and the cumulative GPA all stand at the minimum acceptable level in relation to the Students cumulative semester hour total the point of most recent computation.

Any student on academic probation must have the academic adviser’s approval prior to adding, changing, or withdrawing from a class. Further, the student is to meet at least twice (in addition to the pre-registration conference) with the academic adviser during the semester to discuss current academic work and related matters. The adviser reports the nature of the discussion and recommendations considered to the Board of Academic Standards using the appropriate form. The forms are initially sent to the student, who is to take them to the adviser.

ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
(Revised May, 2000)

Academic suspension occurs at the end of a semester and involves the involuntary and immediate withdrawal of the student from Wittenberg University for a period of at least one full academic semester (excluding summer school). A student’s suspension results from any one of the following circumstances:

Failure to make sufficient progress toward meeting graduation requirements after being on probation for two or more consecutive semesters.

Grave academic difficulty during the first year may not be known until the end of the second semester. In such cases, the Board of Academic Standards may decide to suspend a student when the extent of academic deficiency warrants this action.

As earning a grade point average below 1.000 for any semester, the Board of Academic Standards will determine the status of the student after a review of the student’s grades for the current and previous semesters and of the reports of the student’s instructors. A suspension for gross academic disregard may occur at the end of any semester. suspension

of a term gpa below l.0.

The Board of Academic Standards will consider a timely letter of appeal from the academically suspended student but shall reverse its decision only when presented with new evidence of significant mitigating circumstances. The letter of appeal is to be typewritten and no more than two pages in length; it may include additional supportive information or give a corrective devised by the student. The office of the Assistant Provost for Academic Services provides information regarding the appeal process. Should the appeal of academic suspension be granted, the Board of Academic Standards will often stipulate a course of action specific to the student for the successful completion of future academic work. Should it be denied, the student may further appeal, but only in writing, to the Provost.

The communication to the Provost must demonstrate that the appeal did not receive a fair and impartial hearing or that an unfair sanction has been imposed.

READMISSION AFTER ACADEMIC SUSPENSION

A student suspended for academic reasons may be reinstated on probationary status after being away for at least one full semester, excluding summer session. To be reinstated a student must:

• Submit a petition to the Board of Academic Standards, prior to the semester the student wishes to return, requesting that they be reinstated to Wittenberg and outlining their plan for successfully accomplishing academic work. Petitions may be submitted between October 1 and December 1 for spring reinstatement and between June 1 and August 1 for fall reinstatement.
• Provide information about how the student used their time during the period of suspension, i.e., job, volunteer work, course work, or a combination thereof. Students may transfer in a maximum of 8 semester hours taken during the suspension period. Students are encouraged to consult with the Registrar prior to registering for courses to be taken while suspended from Wittenberg.
• Provide supporting materials including:
  • a transcript for any coursework taken during the suspension period and/or
  • a reference letter from a supervisor (for work or volunteer experience undertaken during this time) and/or a faculty member.
  • documentation of the successful completion of any other stipulations placed on the student by the Board.

The Board of Academic Standards reinstatement process is the first step for the student to attend. If the Board approves the return, the Business Office, Financial Aid and Dean of Students must still clear the student.

Upon reinstatement, the student must strive toward being removed from academic probation and must meet the minimum expectation of completion at least 12 semester credits with a semester grade point average of 2.0. The Board may add additional expectations on the students as appropriate–for example, a counseling referral, attendance in study skills workshops, regular meetings with a faculty advisor, etc.

A student on academic suspension may not receive a letter of good standing during the period of suspension.

This policy is in effect as of May, 2002.

ACADEMIC DISMISSAL

If an academically suspended student is readmitted, continues to remain on academic probation, and subsequently becomes liable for suspension a second time, academic dismissal shall result. Academic dismissal is a permanent separation from the University.