Academic
Integrity Policy
I.
Policy and Procedures for Disciplinary Action
As
described below, enforcement of the Academic Integrity Policy
will depend upon individual faculty members, upon an Academic
Integrity Officer for each school (designated by the dean),
and upon an All-College Academic Integrity Board. The board
will include three students and three faculty members (with
three student and three faculty alternates), as well as
one staff member from the Office of the Provost/Vice President
for Academic Affairs, who will vote only in case of a tie
and who will be responsible for all documentation relevant
to integrity matters. Responsibilities of faculty members,
Academic Integrity Officers, and the All-College Academic
Integrity Board are specified below. Records of academic
integrity violations will be kept in academic files in the
Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs.
If a faculty
member believes that a student has violated the Academic
Integrity Policy, the faculty member will first discuss
the matter with the student. Also, the faculty member may
choose to discuss the matter with the department chairperson.
The faculty member may also determine whether there is any
record of academic dishonesty in the students academic
file.
II.
Unintentional Violations
If
the faculty member is convinced that the lapse was not intentional,
then he/she need not refer the matter to the Academic Integrity
Officer (although that remains an option). The faculty member
will decide what consequence(s) seem(s) appropriate and
educational. Consequences may include:
- Allowing
the student to redo all or part of the work, if doing this
would give him/her beneficial experience, and
a) giving a full grade for the assignment, or
b) giving a diminished grade for the work.
or
- Assigning
a grade of zero or failing to the work.
After
the matter has been resolved, the faculty member may choose
to send a report to the schools Academic Integrity
Officer, although this is not required for unintentional
violations. If a report is sent, the student will be given
an opportunity to read and sign it.
III. Intentional
Violations
If
the violation seems intentional, then the faculty member
must report the case to the Academic Integrity Officer of
the school by which the course is offered. The Academic
Integrity Officer will talk with the student and with the
faculty member, and will gather any other information relevant
to the case. The Academic Integrity Officer will also check
whether there is a prior record of academic integrity violation(s)
by the student.
The Academic Integrity Officer will then use the gathered
information to decide whether to refer the case to the All-College
Academic Integrity Board. An Academic Integrity Board hearing
will be mandatory if there is a prior record of intentional
integrity violation(s). However, any case may be referred
to the All-College Academic Integrity Board. Thus, there
are two possible courses of action when an intentional violation
has been reported:
-
The Academic Integrity Officer considers the evidence
and decides on the appropriate consequence(s).
If the
Academic Integrity Policy was violated, the Academic Integrity
Officer, after consultation with the faculty member, will
determine the appropriate sanction(s) from the list of
options below. The Academic Integrity Officer will give
the student an opportunity to read the report to be filed
in his/her academic folder; the report will describe the
violation and the penalty. By signing at the end of the
report, the student will indicate either: I accept
this decision, or alternatively, I wish to
appeal to the All-College Academic Integrity Board.
If the student accepts the decision, then the matter will
not be forwarded to the Academic Integrity Board for a
hearing. The student may attach a personal statement to
the report.
If the
Academic Integrity Officer decides that no violation occurred,
then no report will be filed.
OR (Note: An All-College Academic Integrity
Board hearing is mandatory if the student has a prior
record of integrity violation(s).)
- The
Academic Integrity Officer refers the case to the All-College
Academic Integrity Board for a hearing.
The board
(with attendance of five members required for a quorum)
will meet as soon as possible with the student in question.
The faculty member who reported the violation will be
required to attend the hearing.
If the
board decides that there has been a violation, board members,
after consultation with the faculty member, will determine
the appropriate sanction(s) from the list of options below,
with severity determined by the nature of the violation
and by whether a prior record exists. The board will prepare
a report, describing the violation and the penalty for
the students academic folder. The student will be
given an opportunity to read and sign the report, and
may attach a personal statement to the report.
If the
board decides that no violation occurred, then no report
will be filed.
IV. Disciplinary
Options for Academic Integrity Officers and Board
An
Academic Integrity Officer or Academic Integrity Board shall
choose among the following disciplinary options:
For an unintentional violation:
- Allow
the student to redo all or part of the work, if doing
this would give him/her beneficial experience, and
a) give a full grade for the assignment, or
b) give a diminished grade for the assignment.
or
- Assign
a grade of zero or failing to the work.
For
an intentional violation:
- Allow
the student to redo all or part of the work, if doing
this would give him/her beneficial experience, and
a) give a full grade for the assignment, or
b) give a diminished grade for the assignment.
or
- Assign
a grade of zero or failing to the work.
or
- Record
a grade of F for the course. Furthermore, the student
may not withdraw from registration in the class.
or
- Record
a disciplinary F for the course; this F shall permanently
contribute to calculation of the grade point average (although
not explicitly labeled disciplinary on the transcript).
or
- Suspend
the student for the rest of the semester.
or
- Suspend
the student for the rest of the semester and for the following
semester. The board will determine whether credits earned
at another institution during these semesters may be transferred
for TCNJ credit.
or
- Dismiss
the student from The College.
V. Appeals
of Academic Integrity Decisions
Appeals may
be directed as follows:
- Any
decision by a faculty member may be appealed to the Academic
Integrity Officer, who will hear the case.
- Any
decision by the Academic Integrity Officer may be appealed
to the All-College Academic Integrity Board, which will
hear the case.
- Any
decision by the All-College Academic Integrity Board may
be appealed to the All-College Disciplinary Board. Appeals
of All-College Integrity Board decisions are heard by the
All-College Disciplinary Board at its discretion.
- All
decisions of the All-College Disciplinary Board are final.
VI. Integrity
Statement
Students
entering The College of New Jersey will receive a brochure
explaining The Colleges commitment to academic integrity
and the current policy and procedures for dealing with academic
integrity violations. They will be required to submit a
signed copy of the following integrity statement:
I
have received The College of New Jersey brochure on academic
integrity, and I understand and agree to abide by the
complete policy on academic integrity and procedures for
discipline of academic integrity violation as stated in
their entirety in the student handbook.
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Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) Policy
The College of New Jersey is committed to ensuring equal opportunity
and access to all members of the campus community in accordance
with Section 503/504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The College
prohibits discrimination against any student, employee, or
applicant on the basis of physical or mental disability, or
perceived disability. The College will provide reasonable
and appropriate accommodations to enable employees and students
to participate in the life of the campus community. Individuals
with disabilities are responsible for reporting and supplying
documentation verifying their disability. Requests for accommodations
must be initiated through the Office for Differing Abilities
Services. Appeals related to the provision of reasonable accommodations
by The College may be directed to the Office for Differing
Abilities Services or the Office of Equal Opportunity and
Affirmative Action.
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Attendance
College Attendance Policy
Every student is expected to participate in each of his/her
courses through regular attendance at lecture and laboratory
sessions. It is further expected that every student will be
present on time and prepared to participate when scheduled
class sessions begin.
At the first
class meeting of a semester, instructors are expected to distribute
in writing the attendance policies which apply to their courses.
While attendance itself is not used as a criterion for academic
evaluations, grading is frequently based on participation
in class discussion, laboratory work, performance, studio
practice, field experience, or other activities which may
take place during class sessions. If these areas for evaluation
make class attendance essential, the student may be penalized
for failure to perform satisfactorily in the required activities.
Students
who must miss classes due to participation in a field trip,
athletic event, or other official college function should
arrange with their instructors for such class absences well
in advance. The Office of Academic Affairs will verify, upon
request, the dates of and participation in such college functions.
In every instance, however, the student has the responsibility
to initiate arrangements for make-up work.
Student
Absences
Students are expected to attend class and complete assignments
as scheduled, to avoid outside conflicts (if possible), and
to enroll only in those classes that they can expect to attend
on a regular basis. Absences from class are handled between
students and instructors. The instructor may require documentation
to substantiate the reason for the absence. The instructor
should provide make-up opportunities for student absences
caused by illness, injury, death in the family, observance
of religious holidays, and similarly compelling personal reasons,
including physical disabilities. For lengthy absences,
make-up opportunities might not be feasible and are at the
discretion of the instructor.
The Office
of Academic Affairs will notify the faculty of the dates of
religious holidays on which large numbers of students are
likely to be absent and are, therefore, unsuitable for the
scheduling of examinations. Students have the responsibility
of notifying the instructors in advance of expected absences.
In cases
of absence for a week or more, students are to notify their
instructors immediately. If they are unable to do so they
may contact the Office of Records and Registration. The Office
of Records and Registration will notify the instructor of
the students absence. The notification is not an excuse
but simply a service provided by the Office of Records and
Registration. Notifications cannot be acted upon if received
after an absence. In every instance the student has the responsibility
to initiate arrangements for make-up work.
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Discrimination
and Sexual Harassment Policy
The College of New Jersey seeks to maintain a positive learning
and work environment for its students and employees. Such
an environment can exist only if all members of the campus
community treat each other with respect. The College, therefore,
prohibits illegal discrimination, including harassment, based
on another persons status. Status refers to race, creed,
color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, affectional or
sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability,
nationality or liability for service in the Armed Forces of
the United States. Discrimination in terms, conditions or
privileges of employment or discrimination in academic enrollment,
assignment, grade or the conferral of any academic or college-related
benefit violates college policy.
It is the
responsibility of all faculty, staff, and students to strive
to create a campus community free of all forms of discrimination.
This policy therefore applies to all employees and students.
Anyone who
encounters discrimination is urged to report incidents to
the equal opportunity and affirmative action office as soon
as possible.
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Student Complaint Appeal Procedure
- Each
department in the Schools of Art, Media, and Music; Culture
and Society; Education; Engineering; and Science may establish
its own complaint procedure and committee, preferably with
student members. Appeals in the Schools of Business and
Nursing shall go directly to their respective school committee.
- Each
school shall establish a procedure and committee for appeal
of complaints, and a procedure for selecting faculty for
an appeals panel, following these guidelines:
- At
least six faculty members shall be elected to the panel
for a term of two academic years. Three of these members
are to be drawn by lot for each appeal. For each appeal,
one faculty member from the department involved also
shall sit on the committee. If one member of the panel
is already from that department, no additional member
need be involved. A faculty member involved in the appeal
shall not sit on the committee hearing that appeal.
- The
SGA Executive Board shall choose at least six students
for each of the school panels. From each panel, three
are to be drawn by lot for each appeal. For each appeal,
if possible, one student from the department involved
shall also sit on the committee hearing that appeal.
If one member of the panel is already from that department,
no additional member need be involved. A student involved
in the appeal shall not sit on the committee hearing
that appeal.
- The
procedure for appeals shall be posted on bulletin boards
in each school and department and on relevant Web pages
accessible to students and faculty members. Copies shall
be sent to: the Student Affairs and Faculty Affairs
Councils of the Faculty Senate, the bargaining unit,
the provost/VPAA, the dean of student life, the SGA
Executive Board, and the appropriate dean.
- The
order of steps to be taken by a student having a complaint
against a faculty member shall be as follows. If either
party is not satisfied with the decision at any step, appeal
may be made to the next step.
A. Discussion with the faculty member.
B. Discussion with the chairperson of the department.
C. Appeal to the departmental complaint committee, if any.
D. Appeal to the school complaint committee.
E. Appeal to the dean of the school.
F. Appeal to the provost/vice president for academic affairs
or chief academic officer.
G. Appeal to the president of The College.
- The
complaint and the proposed solution from step B onward shall
be provided in writing to all parties involved, to the chairperson,
and to the next group or person appealed to. Minutes shall
be kept at each step and signed by all present. Hearings
at each step shall be held within 30 days after the request
for hearing. In steps B through G, both parties to the complaint
shall have the right to be present, to present testimony,
and to respond to testimony by the other party.
- The
statute of limitations on filing student appeals shall be
one semester following the end of the semester in which
the incident occurred.
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Student
Records Policy
Release of Transcripts and Disclosure of Educational Records
In order to comply with federal regulations, The College of
New Jersey has adopted institutional policies and procedures
to be followed with regard to the disclosure of information
from the education records of current and former students.
The student record policy of TCNJ conforms to the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-380). Copies
of Public Law 93-380 may be found in the Office of Records
and Registration. This policy gives a student the right to
inspect his or her educational record within a reasonable
length of time, to ask for interpretations, and to request
that any inaccuracies be corrected.
Copies of
the students official transcript are released only on
the written request of the student and only after all obligations
to The College, financial and otherwise, have been fulfilled.
Requests for transcripts should be made to the Office of Records
and Registration. There is no charge for this service. Transcripts
are issued within one week of receipt of the written request,
except during the beginning and ending weeks of each semester,
when more processing time may be required. Transcripts received
from other schools are the property of The College and are
not copied or released.
Grades and
personally identifiable financial information cannot be released
to parents, guardians, or other interested parties without
the specific permission of the student. Forms are available
in the Office of Records and Registration and must be completed
every semester for which a student wishes to release grades
to third parties.
With the
exception of directory information, TCNJ does not permit access
to or the release of education records without the written
consent of the student. Records release exceptions will be
made to the following: (a) to TCNJ officials, including faculty
and administrators who require such records in the proper
performance of their duties; (b) in connection with the students
application for or receipt of financial aid or Veterans Administration
benefits; (c) to organizations conducting studies for educational
and governmental agencies (in which case individual students
are neither identified nor identifiable); (d) U.S. government
agencies as listed in Public Law 93-380; (e) parents of a
dependent student as defined in the Internal Revenue Code
of 1954; (f) accrediting agencies; (g) to comply with a judicial
order or lawfully issued subpoena; and (h) appropriate persons
in connection with an emergency if the knowledge of such information
is necessary to protect the health or safety of a student
or any other person.
Directory
information is defined as: students name, hometown,
telephone number, e-mail address, date and place of birth,
entrance status, classification, major field of study, participation
in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and
height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance,
degrees and awards received, and the most recent educational
agency or institution previously attended by the student.
Students who do not wish their information released outside
TCNJ or published in the campus directory must give written
notice to the Office of Records and Registration annually
by the beginning of the fall semester.
TCNJ assigns
the Social Security number as the Student Identification Number.
Should any student object to this practice, he or she may
submit a written request to the Office of Records and Registration.
A non-identifiable number will be assigned.
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Academic
Honesty
All students are expected to adhere to standards of academic
honesty in their study at The College. Academic dishonesty
is any attempt by the student to gain academic advantage through
dishonest means; to submit, as his or her own, work which
has not been done by him- or herself; or to give improper
aid to another student in the completion of an assignment.
Such dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, submitting
as ones own a project, paper, test, or speech copied
from, partially copied, or partially paraphrased from the
work of another (whether the source is printed, under copyright,
or in manuscript form). Credit must be given for words quoted
or paraphrased. These standards apply to any academic work,
whether it is graded or ungraded, group or individual, written
or oral.
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Academic
Load
Students taking a minimum of 12 semester hours/credits per
semester are considered to be full-time students. This definition
of full-time study applies to the fall and spring semesters
and to the summer session. The normal academic load is 15
semester hours, although a student may carry up to 18 semester
hours without special permission. Permission to carry beyond
18 semester hours may be given by the department chairs to
sophomores, juniors, and seniors with at least a 3.3 GPA.
No student may take more than 21 semester hours in a semester.
Students may take a maximum of twelve semester hours during
the regular summer session. Additional credit may be earned
for work taken during the pre-session provided this does not
overlap the regular summer session.
Academic
Standing
(See section on Dismissal and Academic Standing.)
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Auditing
Courses
Auditors are students who attend a course but receive no academic
credit. They pay normal tuition and fees, and the individual
instructor determines the degree of class participation. In
order to audit a course, students must obtain permission from
the Office of Records and Registration prior to the last day
of Add/Drop each semester. Because only a limited number of
auditors can be accommodated, only students with bona fide
reasons will be allowed to audit. Once the decision has been
made to audit a course, a student may not request a letter
grade, nor may a student receive credit on The College of
New Jersey examinations.
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Changes
in Enrollment
Adding and Dropping Courses
Registered students may make adjustments to their schedules
from the day they initially register until the end of the
first week of classes. The Colleges Schedule of Classes
and the Records and Registration Web site (www.tcnj.edu/~recreg)
document specific semester dates. Schedule changes should
be made using The Colleges electronic registration system
(tess.tcnj.edu). In cases where a class enrollment is at its
designated maximum, the student must have written permission
from the department chairperson to enroll in the class.
Withdrawing
from a Course
Students may withdraw from a course up to the end of the ninth
week of the fall and spring semesters. The Colleges
Schedule of Classes and the Records and Registration Web site
(www.tcnj.edu/~recreg) document specific dates for each semester
and for summer school. To withdraw, a student must file the
appropriate form in the Office of Records and Registration.
Students withdrawing from courses within the withdrawal period
will automatically receive a grade of W, which has no effect
on the students grade point average. It is the students
responsibility to withdraw officially from a course. Failure
to withdraw formally may result in failing grades and dismissal.
Withdrawing
from The College
Students who withdraw from The College before the midpoint
of the semester will be given a grade of WD in all courses.
Withdrawal after that will result in the instructors assigning
the grades of WP or WU (which do not affect a students
GPA), or WF (which is calculated as an F in a students
GPA). A student may not withdraw from The College in the last
three weeks of a semester.
To withdraw
officially, a student should initiate the withdrawal process
in the Office of Student Life. It is the students
responsibility to withdraw officially from The College.
Failure to withdraw formally may result in failing grades,
dismissal, and additional financial obligations.
Dates for
the end of each semesters withdrawal period are listed
in The Colleges Schedule of Classes and on the Office
of Records and Registration Web site (www.tcnj.edu/~recreg).
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Class-Level
Definitions
Class level is determined by the students number of
earned hours. Only undergraduate degree candidates will be
assigned a class level. Class levels are used to determine
student eligibility for many college activities and procedures
(i.e., registration priority, parking privileges, on-campus
housing). Class levels are as follows:
Level |
Earned
Hours |
Entering
Freshman |
0 |
Freshman |
0.529.5 |
Sophomore |
3059.5 |
Junior |
6089.5 |
Senior |
90+ |
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Credit
by Examination
Advanced Placement
Credit may be awarded based on student achievement on many
of the CEEB Advanced Placement tests. A schedule of Advanced
Placement Equivalencies may be found on the Records and Registration
Web site (www.tcnj.edu/~recreg) or students may consult the
Office of Records and Registration for information on acceptable
tests and their scores.
CLEP
Credit may be awarded for a limited number of the College
Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Consult the Office
of Records and Registration for information on acceptable
tests and their scores.
All of the
policies concerning CLEP credit will be applied to evaluating
the CLEP credit awarded to transfer students who had received
CLEP credit from their previous institution.
CPEP
Transfer credit is awarded for CPEP (New York State Regents
Program) according to the recommendations of the appropriate
department.
International
Baccalaureate
College credit may be awarded to students completing International
Baccalaureate Programs. Programs will be reviewed on a case-by-case
basis.
Military
Service and DANTES
Credit may be awarded for U.S. military service schools and
for DANTES subject standardized examinations. Credit for service
school courses is given according to the recommendations of
the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in
the Armed Services. Credit for DANTES college-level tests
is given if equivalent courses are offered by The College
and if a passing score recommended by the American Council
on Education has been received.
The College
of New Jersey Examinations
Currently enrolled students wishing to earn credit through
The Colleges own examination process need the permission
of the chairperson of the department in which the examination
is being given. Forms for these examinations are available
either through the academic departments or through the Office
of Academic Affairs. Having once enrolled in a course, whether
for a regular grade, a pass/fail grade, or an audit grade,
a student may not elect to take the course on a credit-by-examination
basis. The fees for the examinations are based on the number
of credit hours to be awarded per examination:*
*Costs reflect 20012002 rates and are subject to change
at any time.
3
credits |
$40
(plus extra $20 for out-of-state students) |
46
credits |
$55
(plus extra $20 for out-of-state students) |
6+
credits |
$75
(plus extra $20 for out-of-state students) |
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Cross-Listed
Courses
A single course may be listed with different prefixes, numbers,
and titles under more than one department. These courses will
be so noted in this bulletin and in the Schedule of Classes.
For the purposes of satisfying any requirement, these courses
shall be treated as equivalent (except that departments or
programs required by accrediting agencies to offer specifically
titled courses may reserve the right to refuse to offer credit
to students taking cross-listed courses under the alternative
prefix and title). Under whichever prefix and title the course
has been taken, it may be counted only once by a student in
meeting graduation requirements.
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Dismissal
and Academic Standing
Academic Standing and Probation
A students academic standing at The College is determined
by his or her grade point average (based only on courses taken
at The College of New Jersey) and the total of quality hours
attempted at The College plus credits transferred from other
institutions. If a student has a cumulative grade point average
of 2.0 or above, he or she is considered as being in good
academic standing. A student whose cumulative grade point
average falls below 2.0 but who meets the following retention
standards is considered to be on academic probation but will
be allowed to continue at The College:
Total
TCNJ Minimum Quality Hours Plus Transfer Credit |
Minimum
Cumulative GPA at TCNJ Required to Avoid Dismissal |
714
semester hours |
1.0 |
1533
semester hours |
1.6 |
3456
semester hours |
1.8 |
over
56 |
2.0 |
Dismissal
from The College
At the end of each spring semester, all students below the
minimum retention standards are placed on The Colleges
Intent to Dismiss List. Dismissal may take place without a
students receiving any previous academic warning; and
a student may be dismissed whose cumulative grade point average
was above 2.0 in the previous semester. However, a student
must have attended The College of New Jersey for two semesters
before being subject to dismissal. Students placed on the
Intent to Dismiss List have several opportunities to secure
their removal from the list prior to final dismissal which
is posted in August. Those options are outlined in the students
Letter of Intent to Dismiss.
Every student
has the right to appeal an academic dismissal, and an appeal
application is sent to the student along with the Letter of
Intent to Dismiss. The appeal application and all supporting
documents must be submitted by the deadline date prescribed
in the Letter of Intent to Dismiss. A student who receives
a Letter of Intent to Dismiss at the end of the spring semester
is permitted to attend The College of New Jersey summer session
immediately after dismissal. If the grades earned during that
summer session raise the students cumulative grade point
average to within the retention standards, the pending dismissal
is rescinded.
Students
who have been academically dismissed from The College of New
Jersey may not be readmitted to The College until after a
minimum of two semesters (not including summer session) have
elapsed. See the section on Re-Admission and Re-Entry to The
College.
Dismissal
from the Major
A student who does not meet the departmental retention standards
may be dismissed from his or her major. That student remains
enrolled in The College but must immediately seek admission
to another major. Appeals of department dismissal may be made
to the appropriate academic dean. See section on Departmental/Program
Entrance, Retention, and Exit Standards.
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Enrollment
at Other Colleges (for currently enrolled TCNJ students)
Students currently enrolled at The College of New Jersey should
receive permission from the Office of Records and Registration
in order to take courses at another college or university.
Advanced approval guarantees that the course(s), if successfully
completed, will be accepted for transfer credit. Students
must request that an official transcript of their work be
sent to the Office of Records and Registration so that transfer
credit may be awarded. Grades awarded for work at other schools
are not calculated in the students grade point average
at The College of New Jersey.
Work transferred
to The College must have a minimum grade of C. Transfer work
normally is applied either in the semester following the semester
of its completion or in the first semester a student enters
or returns to The College. Exceptions may be made for graduating
students.
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Final
Examinations
Each course will have a comprehensive, integrative course
evaluation in the final week of the semester. For three-credit
courses, these will entail two-hour examination periods. In
most cases, there will be a written final examination, although
there may be departmentally approved alternative experiences.
Students should have no more than two evaluations in any given
day.
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Grading
The letter grades A through F have two principal functions:
awarding course credit and recognizing relative merit. By
awarding a grade of D or higher, an instructor certifies that
a student has successfully completed the requirements of a
course and, thereby, earned credit for that course. By awarding
a grade of F, an instructor certifies that a student has failed
to complete the requirements for a course and, thus, has not
earned credit for that course. In addition, instructors use
letter grades A through D to recognize the relative merit
of a students performance.
Additive
Credit
Additive credit is given for certain courses which may be
required of a student but are not counted toward graduation.
These courses may be graded either Pass/Unsatisfactory or
with a letter grade, but in either case are not included in
a students GPA or in the determination of the deans
list or graduation with honors. Courses given for additive
credit are considered credit-bearing for the purposes of financial
aid, tuition, and the determination of full-time student status.
Courses carrying additive credit are so marked in this bulletin
and have a course number below 100.
Calculating
the Grade Point Average
A students grade point average (GPA) is based only on
courses taken at The College of New Jersey. These include
courses taken during The Colleges summer session and
credits earned through the National Student Exchange program.
Not included in the calculation of the grade point average
are: courses below the 100 level; courses taken on a Pass/Unsatisfactory
basis; audited courses; courses transferred from other institutions;
and credits earned through international exchange/study abroad
programs.
The grade
point average is calculated by dividing a students total
quality points by his or her total quality hours. Quality
points are calculated by multiplying the number of credits
for a course by the weight of the grade (see grading system
above) earned in that course. For example, a student earning
a B in a four-credit course would receive 12 quality points
(four credits multiplied by a grade weight of three). Quality
hours are the sum of credits a student attempts (regardless
of whether the courses are passed) at TCNJ in courses graded
A through F (including WF) at the 100 level or above.
At the end
of each semester, students may access their grades showing
a cumulative grade point average as well as a grade point
average for that semester. Grades are available on The Colleges
electronic and telephone student systems.
Grading
System
Grade |
Weight |
Description |
A |
4.00 |
|
A- |
3.67 |
|
B+ |
3.33 |
|
B |
3.00 |
|
B- |
2.67 |
|
C+ |
2.33 |
|
C |
2.00 |
|
C- |
1.67 |
|
D+ |
1.33 |
|
D |
1.00 |
|
F |
0.00 |
|
P* |
Not
Calculated |
Passed |
U* |
Not
Calculated |
Unsatisfactory |
INC |
Not
Calculated |
Incomplete
work |
W |
Not
Calculated |
Withdrew
from course before midpoint of semester |
WD |
Not
Calculated |
Withdrew
from college before midpoint of semester |
WF |
0.00 |
Withdrew
from college, failing** |
WP |
Not
Calculated |
Withdrew
from college, passing** |
WU* |
Not
Calculated |
Withdrew
from college, unsatisfactory** |
CR |
Not
Calculated |
Requirement
met by examination |
AU |
Not
Calculated |
Audit |
IP |
Not
Calculated |
In
progress |
*Used
only for courses graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis.
**For withdrawals from college after the midpoint of the semester.
Incomplete
and In-Progress Grades
The grades INC (Incomplete) and IP (In Progress) may be used
when an instructor finds compelling reason for a student to
complete work for a course after that course has ended. INC
may only be given when a student is unable to complete a course
because of illness or other serious personal hardships. IP
may be used when there are compelling academic reasons for
permitting a student to complete work for a course after that
course has ended. Although IP is generally reserved for independent
studies, it may be used for students in courses other than
independent studies when there are compelling academic reasons
for doing so and the IP can be used without unfairness to
other students in the class. If, for example, several students
select an approved project for a term paper, laboratory report,
or creative assignment that turns out to require more time
for completion than is available before the end of the course,
then an instructor may permit all of the students who have
chosen that project the option of completing their work by
a set date in the following semester.
When an instructor
finds that a grade that he or she has previously awarded misrepresents
the completion of course requirements or the relative merit
of a students performance, that instructor may submit
a change of grade form. A change of grade requires approval
by the chair of the department or program in which the grade
was given and the dean of the school in which that department
or program is housed. The instructor will be required to state
his or her reason for requesting a grade change. Since INC
(Incomplete) and IP (In Progress) are the appropriate options
for allowing students to complete work after the end of a
course, late work is not an acceptable reason
for requesting a change of grade.
To give an incomplete grade, the instructor should file an
Incomplete Grade Form with the Office of Records and Registration.
This form will indicate the reason for giving the incomplete,
the requirements the student must meet in order to complete
the course, and the deadline for completion. If no deadline
is given, the date of March 15 is used for courses taken in
the fall semester and October 15 for courses taken in the
spring semester or summer session. Work which is still incomplete
at the time of the deadline will be assigned a grade of F.
It is the students responsibility to contact the
faculty member about completing course work and meeting the
deadline.
Pass/Unsatisfactory
Degree candidates with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above and
who have completed at least 25 semester hours are permitted
to take one free elective in a semester on a Pass/Unsatisfactory
basis. Neither the grade P nor U affects a students
GPA, but courses completed with a P are included among the
credits applied toward graduation. Courses taken Pass/Unsatisfactory
cannot be used to fulfill a students requirements for
a major, minor, or general education. Courses taken P/U do
not apply to the minimum number of credits needed to be on
the deans list or to graduate with honors. A maximum
of 12 credits may be earned with the P/U option. The P/U option
is not available during the summer session.
Students
apply for the P/U option at the Office of Records and Registration
and should not inform their instructors that they are using
this grading option. During the first four weeks of the semester
(or first two weeks of the quarter), students may change from
graded to ungraded status or return to graded status; no changes
may be made after this period. At the end of the semester,
instructors submit regular letter grades, and these grades
are converted into either P or U by the Office of Records
and Registration. Grades of A through D are considered passing;
F is unsatisfactory.
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Honors
Deans List
All degree candidates who complete 12 or more credits (other
than additive credits) in a semester with assigned letter
grades and who have earned a 3.5 GPA that semester are eligible
to be included in that semesters deans list. Pass
(P) is not an assigned letter grade and may not be used toward
meeting the requirements for the deans list.
Graduation
with Honors
To be eligible to graduate with honors, a student must have
earned at least 60 semester hours credit at The College of
New Jersey. These credits may not include courses taken on
a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis or additive credit or credits
earned through The Colleges credit-by-examination process.
Honors are awarded based on the cumulative grade point average
as follows:
3.4503.649 |
with
honors (cum laude) |
3.6503.849 |
with
high honors (magna cum laude) |
3.850
+ |
with
highest honors (summa cum laude) |
Students
graduating with honors will be sent an Honors Certificate
after graduation when final cumulative GPAs have been computed
and verified.
Honors
Program
College Honors Program
The Honors Program is open to entering freshmen as well as
currently enrolled students. Minimum requirements for entering
freshmen are either a combined SAT score of 1350 or graduation
in the top five percent of the high school class. Transfer
students need a minimum 3.4 average from their previous institutions.
Satisfactory
completion of the Honors Program is indicated on graduates
transcripts and Honors Certificates. Additional information
about the Honors Program can be found in this bulletin in
the section on College-Wide Programs.
Departmental
Honors Program
Students achieving academic distinction in their major may
be invited by their department to participate in departmental
honors. Departmental honors consist of six to 12 semester
hours of advanced honors course work in the major. A senior
research projectindependent research under the guidance
of a faculty specialistis required as part of the departmental
program. Most departmental honors programs involve juniors
and seniors. Requirements for participating departments are
included in the program listings for individual departments.
Up to nine
semester hours of departmental honors may be double counted
in The Colleges Honors Program. Satisfactory completion
of departmental honors is listed on a graduates transcript
and Honors Certificate.
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Immunization
Requirement
State law requires that students enrolled in New Jersey institutions
of higher education present a valid record of immunization
against certain preventable diseases. Proof of immunization
is needed for enrollment at The College, and records of these
immunizations are maintained at the student health center.
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Independent
Study
Independent study should be used for individual pursuit of
topics within or beyond a students major field of study
which transcend the regularly available curriculum. It normally
will involve research, primary source reading, or field work.
Degree candidates
who have completed at least 56 credits are eligible for independent
study. At least 15 of the credits must have been completed
at The College of New Jersey. A minimum grade point average
of 2.5 is required, subject to waiver by the department chair.
A student may enroll in no more than six credits of independent
study in a given semester. A department may limit the number
of independent study credits which a student is permitted
to complete within that departments programs.
An independent
study contract/enrollment form must be prepared by the student,
approved by the faculty sponsor and the department chairperson,
and submitted to the Office of Records and Registration at
the time the student registers for the course. Registration
for independent study will be accepted only through the first
week of the semester.
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Internships
The primary purpose of an internship is the development of
occupational or professional competence in an actual work
setting after theory education has been completed. Enrollment
is limited to upper-division students with a major or minor
in a program and at least a 2.5 GPA in that program. Additional
prerequisites and requirements may be established by individual
departments. As part of the internship, a substantial written
assignment (or portfolio) requiring research and/or creative
work is required.
Students
may take a second internship in the same program only in situations
where they will be able to apply essentially different knowledge,
methods, or skills than those applied in the prior internship.
This limitation does not, however, apply to a second internship
in a different program such as a second major or a minor.
A minimum
of 50 on-the-job hours is required for each hour of credit.
Students may apply no more than 12 internship credits toward
a degree, and each internship normally carries no more than
six credits except in specific cases in which a department
requires a single 12-credit internship. A maximum of 18 credit
hours, including the internship, may be taken during the semester
of the internship. Internships may be offered on either a
graded or pass/fail basis.
Each student
seeking to enroll in an internship must, together with a faculty
supervisor, develop a proposal indicating:
- The
number of credit hours from any previous internship, the
semester it was taken, and the firm or agency where the
internship was done.
- How
credits are to be earned and what on-the-job activities
will be required of the intern.
- The
specific knowledge, methods, and skills that will be developed
within the context of the internship.
- The
method of evaluating the internship to be used by the faculty
supervisor.
- The
firm or agency where the internship will be done.
- The
professional person at the firm or agency who will supervise
the student during the internship.
- The
extent to which there will be on-site visits by a supervising
faculty member.
Once
the proposal has been approved by the department chair, it
must be submitted to the Office of Records and Registration
by the end of the first week of the semester in which the
internship is to be completed.
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Majors/Minors
Also see section on Departmental/Program Entrance, Retention,
and Exit Standards.
Declaring
a Major
Students are admitted to The College with a specified major
or may choose to enter as Open Option students in a designated
school.
Any currently
enrolled student has the right to apply and be considered
for entrance into an academic major in accordance with program
entrance standards (see section on Departmental/Program Entrance,
Retention, and Exit Standards or www.tcnj.edu/~academic/ entreten.html).
Students should understand, however, that certain majors may
not be able to accept them because of high student demand.
Students
seeking to change a major should begin the process as early
as possible in the semester in which they wish to change their
major. This will help to ensure that students will meet any
departmental deadlines. It also will provide time for the
new major (if approved) to be effective for the next registration
and a new program evaluation to be completed.
Students
may download a Declaration of Major/ Minor Form from the Office
of Records and Registration Web site (www.tcnj.edu/~recreg)
or pick up a copy at the office in Green Hall. Students should
also print a copy of their TCNJ transcript from TESS (tess.tcnj.edu)
and take it with a completed Declaration of Major/Minor Form
and other required information to a meeting with the chair
of the department into which the change is requested. With
this information and discussion with the student, chairs will
make determinations as to whether major changes are approved.
When students are admitted to a major, they should be provided
with a statement of degree requirements. At the time the department
approves a students entrance, the department chair will
indicate on the Declaration of Major/Minor Form the bulletin
year under which the change is effective. Normally, the student
is expected to follow the requirements for the year in which
the change of major takes effect. Approved changes of major
will be effective on the date they are received by the Office
of Records and Registration and will be recorded as of that
date.
Second
Majors
Students may elect to take a second major. However, no more
than two majors may be elected and normally no more than one
major within a department. To elect a second major, a student
must apply to and be accepted by the department of the second
major. The process is similar to that of changing a major.
Course scheduling may make it difficult to complete some majors
simultaneously. Completion of a second major may take more
than the minimum number of credits required for a degree,
and it may prolong the period of study at The College of New
Jersey.
Students
completing a second major will receive only one degree. The
first major, as indicated by the student, will determine which
degree will be granted (BA, BS, etc.). However, all students
majoring in elementary education or early childhood education
take an additional academic major (see Department of Elementary/Early
Childhood Education) and receive the BS degree. The bulletin
in effect for the first major also applies to the second major.
The second
major may be dropped at any time. However, the election of
a second major or the switching of the first and second majors
must be done prior to the semester of graduation. A second
major cannot be completed after graduation.
Minors
A minor consists of a minimum of 18 semester hours in a specified
field other than ones major program as prescribed by
the minor department. Students are encouraged, but not required,
to pursue a minor in order to add an additional dimension
to their studies. However, The College cannot guarantee that
a student will be able to complete a minor because of limited
space availability in certain courses and because of complexities
of scheduling.
Only six
semester hours taken as part of a students major may
also be counted toward the students minor. However,
support courses in another department which are
required by the students major may be counted toward
the minor. All minors except those which are interdisciplinary
must include at least six semester hours of upper division
(i.e., 300- or 400-level) courses. At least half of the minor
must be completed at The College of New Jersey or through
a prior approved course exchange program.
To complete
a minor, students must receive approval of the department
offering the minor and then submit a Declaration of Major/Minor
Form in the Office of Records and Registration. Students follow
the course of study set out in the appropriate department
section of the bulletin for the year in which they declare
that minor. Students should declare a minor as soon as possible
but no later than the semester prior to graduation. A minor
cannot be completed after graduation.
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Non-Degree
Study
The College offers a limited opportunity for students to take
undergraduate courses on a non-degree basis. This option is
not available to students who attended another school (either
high school or college) within the past three years and who
are not able to meet the admission standards of The College.
Non-degree students normally are required to apply for admission
into a degree program before completing 30 semester hours
of course work at The College of New Jersey. However, those
who are taking courses for personal reasons may be permitted
to exceed this limit if they formally notify the academic
affairs office of their intention not to pursue a degree.
When non-degree students apply for entry into a degree program,
they follow the application procedures for transfer students
and must meet the same grade point average requirements.
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Obligations
Obligations to The College (e.g., tuition, fees, outstanding
library books, parking fines) which have not been fulfilled
may result in a students being prohibited from registering
for courses or in the withholding of a students transcript.
Delinquent loans (federal, state, or college) also may result
in the withholding of the students transcript. Students
may view their financial obligations and registration holds
on TESS (tess.tcnj.edu).
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Program
Entrance, Retention, Exit Standards
Every major program at The College has set standards for allowing
students to remain in their major program, to transfer within
The College from one major program to another, and to graduate
from a major program. The following are the college-wide standards
for program entrance, retention, and exit. Students should
consult the departmental listings in this bulletin or www.tcnj.edu/
~academic/entreten.html for the specific standards used by
an individual program.
- All
programs have a specific requirement for student retention
in their respective majors, consisting of a designated performance
standard in at least one and no more than three critical
content courses that represent the essential nature
of the discipline and upon which advanced courses are based.
- All
programs have a minimum specific entrance requirement for
students seeking to transfer into that major, consisting
of a designated performance standard in at least one and
no more than three foundation courses that are
predictive of success in the major. Students who successfully
complete the foundation course(s) have fulfilled the entrance
requirement for the major.
- Except
in cases where explicit grade point average (GPA) standards
are mandated for national or state accreditation or certification,
programs have an exit/graduation standard of a GPA of 2.0
in courses required within their respective majors. This
may include courses required for the major but offered outside
the major department. However, programs may set an additional
graduation/exit standard requiring a minimum grade of C
in some or all courses required in the major.
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Re-admission
and Re-entry to The College
Students who have discontinued their attendance at The College
for any reason must submit an application for re-admission
or re-entry to the Office of Admissions. Students who have
voluntarily not enrolled at The College for two consecutive
semesters (excluding summer session) are considered as having
discontinued their attendance at The College and must apply
for re-entry. Students who were academically dismissed from
The College may not apply for re-admission until two full
semesters have elapsed. All re-entering and re-admitted students
must be accepted into a major and meet the degree requirements
that are in effect at the time of their return to The College.
Conditional
Re-admission
Degree-seeking students who left The College of New Jersey
with a grade point average below 2.0 (or below the required
average for their intended program of study) may apply for
re-admission to TCNJ under the Conditional Re-admission Policy.
To be eligible for consideration under this policy, a student
must not have been enrolled at TCNJ for a period of at least
three years and must provide evidence that the problems responsible
for his or her initial failure at TCNJ have been resolved.
Applicants should apply to the Office of Admissions by March
1 for fall re-admission and November 1 for spring re-admission.
The committee responsible for hearing admissions appeals will
review applications for Conditional Re-admission. The dean
of the appropriate school to which the candidate seeks admission
will also review and approve the application.
Those approved
shall be conditionally admitted and allowed to take 24 semester
hours under this status. The student will be assigned to the
appropriate office for advisement, so that courses can be
scheduled that will meet the internal transfer requirements
of the intended major/ program of study. At the completion
of 24 semester hours, students will be re-reviewed for full
admission to TCNJ. For those granted full admission, no grades
received for previous academic work prior to Conditional Re-admission
will be included in the calculation for current GPA, and only
academic work with grades of C or better will be credited
toward requirements for the present degree program. The students
historical transcript will remain intact, but grades from
previous work will not be factored into the students
grade point average. Students may utilize this policy one
time. To receive a bachelors degree, and any honors
associated with it, under this policy, a student must complete
a minimum of 42 semester hours at The College of New Jersey.
Once the student has been re-evaluated and received full admission,
the student must complete his or her degree in accordance
with this policy.
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Registration
Students will select their courses for the next semester in
conjunction with their advisers during the announced registration
period each semester. After obtaining their advisers
approvals, they will enroll in their courses according to
a schedule and procedures announced by the Office of Records
and Registration. Registration for the fall semester generally
takes place in April, and registration for spring semester
in November.
Following
course enrollment, students will be sent a bill for their
tuition and fees. When the bill is returned to and processed
by the Office of Student Accounts, registration is completed.
All students who intend to be registered must pay their
bills in full. Failure to pay the bill by the stated deadline
will cause the students schedule to be deleted, and
the student will not be considered registered. It is the students
responsibility to determine that payment has reached and been
processed by The College. Students may check the status of
their accounts on The Electronic Student Services (TESS) at
http://tess.tcnj.edu. Students should check their account
status prior to the beginning of each semester. Summer
rules are different; see The Schedule of Classes.
Each semester,
there is an opportunity for registered students to adjust
their schedules by adding and/or dropping courses. Dates and
procedures for this activity are published in the master schedule
of classes each semester. Adds and drops must be completed
before the end of the first week of classes.
Late registration
occurs just prior to the beginning of classes each semester.
Students, who either did not previously register or who did
not complete their registration by attending to their bills,
may enroll in courses during this period. Late registration
and payment fees will be assessed to previously enrolled students
who register late. Students should understand that there is
limited course availability during final registration. The
dates for which late fees apply are published in The Schedule
of Classes each semester. Students will not be permitted to
register after the late registration period.
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Repeating
Courses
A student may repeat any course once. If a student desires
to take a course more than twice, permission must be obtained
from the chair of the department in which the student is majoring
and the chair of the department offering the course. Students
who fail to secure the proper permission will be dropped from
the course by the Office of Records and Registration. When
a course is repeated, only the highest grade is counted in
the grade point average* and toward meeting graduation requirements,
although all grades earned will appear on a transcript. Grades
are not automatically recalculated. Students must petition
for grade recalculation in the Office of Records and Registration.
*Except in the School of Engineering where the most current
grade is the one counted in the grade point average.
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Residence
Requirement
To receive a bachelors degree, a student must complete
a minimum of 42 semester hours at The College of New Jersey.
In the senior year (i.e., the students final 30 semester
hours), a maximum of nine semester hours may be taken at another
college. Academic departments may require that a specific
number of major courses or credits be taken at The College
of New Jersey. Academic departments also may require the student
to validate major courses taken at another school.
Within the
major, exceptions to the residence requirement within the
final 30 semester hours may be made by the department chair
with the concurrence of the appropriate dean; outside the
major, exceptions may be made by The Office of the Provost/Vice
President for Academic Affairs with the concurrence of the
appropriate dean. Regardless of exceptions granted with respect
to the final 30 semester hours, there are no exceptions to
the overall minimum of 42 semester hours required to earn
a bachelors degree at The College of New Jersey.
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Syllabi
During the first week of every course, a syllabus or course
document should be distributed. The syllabus contains the
following information: required materials such as textbooks,
lab manuals, and supplies; course topics; course requirements
such as exams, projects, assignments, term papers, field trips,
and laboratory experiences; criteria for determining the final
grade; and the attendance policy.
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Transfer
Credit
The College of New Jersey will accept transfer credit only
from regionally accredited institutions or newly established
colleges and universities approved as collegiate institutions
by their respective state department of higher education and
in the process of seeking accreditation through the appropriate
regional accrediting agency.
Grades of
C are accepted in transfer except when the students
major department has a policy requiring a higher grade for
a specific course. Transfer credit will not be awarded for
CLEP scores below TCNJs standards. Grades from transfer
courses are not used in calculating a students grade
point average at The College. No more than a total of 60 semester
hours of credit may be transferred from community colleges.
All transfer
students receive full credit toward graduation for acceptable
general education courses successfully completed at other
accredited institutions. Wherever possible, general education
courses completed elsewhere will be matched with specific
general education requirements from The College of New Jersey.
All transfer students must present or complete the total number
of semester hours in general education required by their degree
programs (53 for degree candidates in the Schools of Art,
Media, and Music; Culture and Society; and Science and 44
for degree candidates in other schools). If transfer students
do not present the required number, they must make up this
difference by completing general education requirements which
have not been matched with courses taken previously. Although
students may choose (with permission of their advisers) the
order in which they complete these remaining requirements,
they may not choose which requirements they must complete.
The Office of Records and Registration shall provide each
student with a list of requirements to be completed based
on the following categories:
- Rhetoric
- Mathematics
- Foreign
Languages (if required)
- One
Interdisciplinary Course
- Two
Natural Sciences Courses
- Two
Social Sciences Courses (one process, one content)
- Humanistic
and Artistic Perspectives
Transfer
students with fewer than 12 semester hours to complete in
this category may choose from any one of the following areas,
provided that they take no more than one course in any one
area. The areas are:
- Fine
and Performing Arts
- History
- Literature
- Philosophy
h. Remaining
Interdisciplinary Core Courses (If after completing all of
the above requirements, any difference in total semester hours
still remains, the student must complete the difference by
taking a second interdisciplinary course.) In addition, students
must complete any specific general education courses required
by the major department.
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