ACADEMIC RULES

Matriculated Student

A student is considered matriculated if he/she is pursuing one of our registered programs.

Credit Hours

USC operates on a semester calendar.  Credit hours are measured on a semester credit basis.  One semester credit hour represents 750 minutes of instruction.

Minimum Graduation Requirements

All prescribed courses for each program must be completed with a final cumulative average of at least 2.0 in order for a student to be eligible for graduation.

Academic Recognition

President’s List-a matriculated student who has a semester average of at least 3.75 with a minimum of 12 credit hours carried and no incompletes or withdrawals.

Dean’s List-a matriculated student who has a semester average of 3.25 to 3.74 with a minimum of 12 credit hours carried and no incompletes or withdrawals.

Course Deficiency

After the seventh week of each semester, a report showing the subject(s) in which a student has a deficiency will be mailed to the student’s home.  This deficiency report serves as a warning indicating the need for improved performance.

Grading System

The method of grading is as follows:

Letter Numerical Value

A  = 93+

A- = 90-92

B+= 87-89

B  = 83-86

B- = 80-82

C+= 77-79

Letter Numerical Value

C  = 73-76

C- = 70-72

D+= 67-69

D  = 63-66

F  = 62-

FT Fail—Administratively Terminated

Inc. Incomplete in assigned work—With the approval of the Instructor and/or the Executive Vice President of Academics or Campus Director, a student who has not completed required work in a specified course may receive a grade of incomplete.  This grade must be removed within 7 weeks after the start of the next semester or the grade will be rated as a failure. The highest grade a student may receive for an Incomplete is a “B” without review of the Executive Vice President of Academics.

P Passing—This grade is not calculated in the cumulative average.  However, the course is used in credits (equated) attempted.

PR Passing with Restrictions—This grade is reserved only for individuals with a permanent disability who are unable to fulfill speed requirements in Ty.101.

W Indicates withdrawal within the first 3 weeks of each semester.

WF Indicates withdrawal after the third week of each semester when a student is failing, and the course must be repeated.*

WP Indicates withdrawal after the third week of each semester when a student is passing, and the course must be repeated.*

*No course withdrawal will be authorized after the tenth week of a semester or seventh week of the summer semester.

Adding and Dropping Classes

A student may not add a class after the second week of the semester without approval of the Campus Director or the Executive Vice President of Academics.

A student may not drop a class after the third week of the semester without penalty.

A quality point system is used to determine the quality of work acceptable for graduation.  Grades carry quality points each semester as follows:

Letter Quality Points

A   = 4.0

A-  = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B   = 3.0

B-  = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

Letter Quality Points

C   = 2.0

C-  = 1.7

D+ = 1.3

D   = 1.0

F   = 0.0

An “F” grade will not be calculated into the cumulative average after the subject has been satisfactorily completed. However, the “F” and/or “FT” will remain on the transcript.

A failed subject must be repeated if it is at all possible the next semester it is taught.  A student may only repeat a particular course three times.  In order to attempt a failed course for the fourth time, permission must be granted from the Executive Vice President of Academics.

Transcripts of grades are issued following the end of each semester. No transcript will be released for any reason unless the student’s account is paid in full.

Grade Grievance

If a student feels that his/her grade is not accurate, he/she must take the following steps:  Make an appointment with the faculty member to review his/her grade in the course.  If the student is still not satisfied with the outcome, he/she must write to the Executive Vice President of Academics to explain the situation and request a grade change.  The Executive Vice President of Academics will review the situation and make any necessary inquiries of the faculty member, the student or both.  Once the Executive Vice President of Academics has made a decision, the student and the faculty member will be notified in writing of the decision.  No change of grade will be allowed after the third week of the semester immediately following the semester for which the grade change has been requested.

Learning Disabled Policy

Any student with written professional documentation of a learning disability may request special services as defined in USC’s Learning Disabled Policy.  Students must inform the Campus Director, the Executive Vice President of Academics or The Learning Center of this need and provide written evidence.  Information about USC’s Learning Disabled Policy may be found on the USC website at www.uscny.edu.