Graduate Academic Regulations

Registration

Early registration. A special advisement and early registration period is held each semester. Before early registration begins, all advisors set aside ample time to be available for academic advisement for the upcoming semester. Students are encouraged to make an appointment each semester to take advantage of this opportunity.

Late registration and schedule change. Students who do not register early may register during late registration prior to the first day of classes. Additionally, students who wish to change their schedules may do so during the late registration and schedule change periods.

Students may register using the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) on the university's Web. Please refer to the Columbus State University Schedule of Courses book or the Class Schedules page on the university's Web for specific dates and information regarding early registration, late registration and schedule change.

Course Eligibility

Courses numbered 6000 and above are open only to graduate students. Courses with 5000 numbers are open to both graduate and advanced-standing undergraduate students. In these courses, however, graduate students must do more extensive reading, prepare additional reports, and produce papers or other projects requiring more intensive research.

Undergraduate Students and Graduate Work. Undergraduate students with a minimum institutional grade point average of 2.75 who are within six semester hours of completing the baccalaureate degree from Columbus State University may register for graduate courses upon recommendation of their advisor. The total course load may not exceed 12 semester hours. A grade of B or better is required for use toward a master's degree. No more than nine semester hours of graduate credit may be earned before completion of the baccalaureate degree. Under no circumstances may a course be used for both graduate and undergraduate credit. Students must submit an application for graduation prior to registering for graduate courses; the registrar will verify eligibility for enrollment.

Graduate Assistantships

A student holding an appointment as a graduate assistant must be fully admitted to a graduate degree program, be in good academic standing, and earn a minimum of nine and maximum of 10 semester hours of graduate course work (or required prerequisites) during the period in which the assistantship is held. Work assignments cannot exceed 19 hours per week. Students interested in seeking an assistantship should contact the dean of the college offering the graduate program in which they are enrolled.

Study Loads

Maximum study load. The maximum course load for any graduate student is 12 semester hours. Students holding graduate assistantships must register for at least nine, but no more than 10 semester hours of graduate credit. In all cases, graduate students are urged to register only for the number of hours they can complete successfully.

Enrollment status (*). Enrollment status for graduate students is based on the number of hours enrolled during a semester, as follows:

* For summer terms, enrollment status certification other than for financial aid is determined as follows: 6 semester hours or more, full time; 3-5 semester hours, half time; and 1-2 semester hours, less than half time.

Students on financial aid seeking information about how enrollment status may affect financial aid should contact the Financial Aid office.

Class Attendance and Withdrawal

Attendance policy. Attendance policy is ordinarily established by individual faculty. If an instructor does not provide a written attendance policy statement during the first week of classes, a student is permitted to accumulate a total of nine hours of absences in a three credit-hour course, or the equivalent in courses carrying other credit hours. Regular attendance at class or laboratory is a student obligation. Students are expected to account to individual instructors for absences and, at the discretion of the instructors, to make up all work missed because of absence. Students absent from a previously announced quiz or test may be given a zero on the quiz or test. To be permitted to take a final examination at a time other than the date and time published on the Web at https://www.columbusstate.edu/academics/exams/, students must have permission of the instructor and the dean of the college offering the course.

Excessive absence policy. Anytime during the semester a student exceeds the total number of hours of absences allowed, an instructor may drop the student for excessive absences with a grade of WF. Students may regain admittance to a course only by permission of the instructor. A student auditing a course who fails to meet class participation and assignment requirements or who exceeds the total number of allowed absences may be dropped from the course by the instructor and assigned a grade of W.

Absence for military duty. Military reservists who are called to active duty or active duty military personnel who receive change-of-station orders during an academic semester may officially withdraw with a full refund of matriculation fees upon showing official orders. Those who have completed sufficient work may be awarded a grade and credit or an I (Incomplete) grade.

Course withdrawals. Students who wish to drop a course after the last official day of schedule change must officially withdraw from the course. Students must withdraw using the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) on the university's Web. Prior to the W grade deadline as published on the Web under Registration Information on the Class Schedules page, a grade of W will be assigned by the registrar unless a grade of WF has already been assigned by the registrar for excessive absences. A grade of WF will be assigned when a withdrawal form is received in the Office of the Registrar after the deadline. A student may appeal the assignment of a WF grade by submitting to the Office of the Registrar documentation of non-academic hardship. Students may not withdraw from a required learning support course with a grade of W while remaining in degree level courses. To remain in degree level courses, the grade in the learning support course must be a WF and would be considered a learning support attempt. A grade of W will not affect a student's GPA. However, withdrawing from classes could affect a student's future enrollment status, especially for those receiving financial aid. It is the student's responsibility to determine the impact withdrawing from classes would have on academic standing and degree progress. Refer to the Registration, Policies, and Services section on the Web under the Class Schedules page for specific dates and additional information regarding course withdrawal.

Grades and Grade Point Averages

Columbus State University uses a 4.0 grade point system.

Explanation of Grade Point Averages

The following grade point averages are computed and are used to determine the fulfillment of academic requirements. The semester, Regents' (cumulative), institutional, and overall grade point averages appear on the official academic transcript. The formula above is used to compute all grade point averages. GPA hours are determined using grades of A, B, C, D, F, and WF, excluding courses numbered 0001-0999.

Semester grade point average is computed using GPA hours attempted and grade points earned for the semester, excluding courses numbered 0001-0999.

Regents' (cumulative) grade point average is computed using the total number of GPA hours attempted at Columbus State University and the total number of grade points earned at Columbus State University, excluding courses numbered 0001-0999. Courses repeated for a better grade will be averaged into the Regents' grade point average every time taken.

Institutional grade point average is computed using the total number of GPA hours attempted at Columbus State University and the total number of grade points earned at Columbus State University (excluding courses numbered 0001-0999) after omitting grades in previous courses which have been taken and repeated at Columbus State University.

Overall grade point average is computed using the total number of GPA hours attempted at Columbus State University and all other institutions attended and the total number of grade points earned at Columbus State University and all other institutions attended (excluding courses numbered 0001-0999) after omitting grades in previous courses which have been taken and repeated at Columbus State University.

Degree progress grade point average is computed using the total number of credit hours applied to the degree and the total number of grade points applied to the degree.

Major grade point average is computed using the total number of grade points earned in major courses (as designated by the department offering the major) and the total number of credit hours for those courses.

Grade Changes

Final grades will not be changed after one calendar year from the date assigned except by appeal to, and subsequent approval by, the university's Academic Standards Committee. A grade that appears to be incorrect should be reported to the instructor promptly.

Grade Reports and Transcripts

Reports of final grades are mailed to students' mailing addresses and are available using the Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) on the Web. The academic transcript includes all undergraduate and graduate credit courses taken at Columbus State University. Transcripts should be requested at least one week prior to the date needed. University policies regarding release of academic records and compliance with regulations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (the "Buckley Amendment") are published in the Columbus State University Student Handbook.

Repetition of Courses

Students repeating a course for which credit has already been earned either at Columbus State University or by transfer of credits from another institution forfeit the previous credit in that course (except in the case of courses that may be repeated for credit). The student's final grade in the course will be the one made on repetition (even if the grade in the previous course is higher). After earning a graduate degree at Columbus State University, a student will forfeit credit earned for courses taken as repeats after graduation (except in the case of courses that may be repeated for credit).

Academic Standing

Required academic standing. Students enrolled in a degree program must maintain a minimum graduate overall grade point average of 3.0. A maximum of two courses (not to exceed eight semester credit hours) with a grade of C may apply to any degree. Non-degree students must maintain a minimum graduate overall grade point average of 2.0.

Academic probation. Occurs when a student enrolled in a degree program earns a grade of "C" or less in two graduate courses or the overall grade point average falls below 3.0. A non-degree student is placed on probation when the graduate overall grade point average falls below 2.0 during the first nine graduate semester hours attempted.

Academic exclusion. Occurs when a student enrolled in a degree program earns a grade of "C" or less in more than two graduate courses or after nine graduate semester hours have been attempted while on probation and without attaining a 3.0 graduate overall grade point average. A non-degree student is placed on exclusion when the graduate overall grade point average falls below 2.0 after nine graduate semester hours have been attempted. The length of exclusion will be a minimum of two terms.

Reinstatement on academic probation. After the mandatory period of exclusion, a student on academic exclusion must apply and be reinstated by the appropriate program director, either to a degree program or to non-degree status, in order to continue graduate study. Students enrolled in a degree program who earn a grade of "C" or less in a graduate course after reinstatement will be placed on exclusion, and must meet with the appropriate program director to determine eligibility for continued enrollment.

Residence and Time Limits

Residence requirement. A minimum of 75 percent of the graduate credit hours required for a master's degree must be taken at Columbus State University. For the specialist degree, the minimum residence requirement is 20 graduate credit hours taken at Columbus State University. Asynchronous (online) and distance learning courses administered through Columbus State University constitute courses taken in residence.

Time limits. All work credited toward a graduate degree must be completed within seven years. Extension of time may be granted only on conditions beyond the control of the student. In each instance a formal statement outlining the conditions upon which the extension of time is requested should be addressed to the director of the specific graduate program.

Graduation

Deadlines. Applications for graduation and graduation fees must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar one semester prior to the anticipated semester of completion. The following documentation must be on file in the Office of the Registrar no later than one week prior to the first day of final examinations:

• a completed application for graduation
• official transcripts showing all transfer work
• approved grade change forms for incomplete grades
• verification of approved substitutions
• verification that all financial obligations to the university have been met

Students who satisfy the above requirements will be considered candidates for graduation, and will be eligible to participate in graduation ceremonies upon successful completion of all degree requirements.

Graduation ceremony. A graduation ceremony is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters. Students who do not plan to attend the ceremony must indicate so on the application for graduation.