Academic Regulations and Procedures

Academic Honor System

A major concern of any educational institution, ranking with its concern for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, is the maintenance of high standards of integrity and responsibility in the academic community. The Florida State University recognizes the responsibility of both faculty and students in developing and maintaining these standards.
The legal foundation for the coordinatedefforts of faculty and students to uphold academic integrity and combat academic dishonesty is provided in the Student Conduct Code (FAC 6C2-3.04), which can be found in the Florida State University Student Handbook.


Academic Honor Code

The academic honor system of The Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility:
1) To uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work;
2) To refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the University community; and
3) To foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community.


Violations of the Academic Honor Code

1) During examinations, violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include referring to information not specifically condoned by the instructor. It shall further include receiving information from a fellow student or another unauthorized source.
2) Regarding academic assignments, violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include representing another's work or any part thereof, be it published or unpublished, as one's own. It shall also include presenting or submitting any academic work in a manner that impairs the instructor's ability to assess the student's academic performance. For example, plagiarism includes failure to use quotation marks or other conventional markings around material quoted from any source.
3) Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include obtaining, distributing, or referring to a copy of an examination which the instructor/department has not authorized to be made available for such a purpose.
4) Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include any act which impedes the ability of other students to have fair access to materials assigned or suggested by the instructor. For example, removal or destruction of library or other source materials violates the Academic Honor Code.
5) Academic dishonesty shall include tampering with another student's work or impairing in any way the instructor's ability to assess the academic performance of another student.
6) Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include alteration of grades or any other records related to the academic performance of students. This shall also include submitting any false records in order to gain admission to the University.
7) Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include assisting, attempting to assist, or conspiring to assist another student in committing the offenses as outlined above.
8) Violations of the Academic Honor Code shall include attempting to commit any offense as outlined above.


Student Responsibility

1) Each student shall be responsible for abiding by the Academic Honor Code at all times. If required by the instructor, at the conclusion of each examination or submission of an assignment, each student shall sign a pledge that the student has neither given nor received aid from any unauthorized source during the examination or in preparing the assignment.
2) Any student who violates the Academic Honor Code is expected to report the violation to the instructor and/or the University judicial officer.
3) If a student observes cheating during an examination, the student should consult with the instructor of the course as soon as reasonable so that the cheating may be stopped. If a student otherwise observes or learns of another student's violation of the Academic Honor Code, the student shall either: (a) ask the student to report the violation to the instructor of the course and/or the University judicial officer or (b) report the violation to the instructor of the course and the University judicial officer. In the event that a student asks another student to report himself/herself and such student does not do so, then the student shall report, as soon as practicable, the violation to the instructor of the course and/or the University judicial officer. The student should provide the name of such student or students involved, if known, and furnish such evidence as is available to support the charge.


Faculty Responsibility

1) Any instructor may require the students to sign a pledge at the conclusion of each examination stating that they have neither given nor received aid from any unauthorized source during the examination.
2) An instructor may further define in writing the instructor's specification of the acts which shall constitute a violation of the Academic Honor Code as set forth in Section 6b. The definition shall be explained to each class and shall be effective thereafter for that class.
3) When an instructor believes that a student has violated the Academic Honor Code in one of the instructor's classes, the instructor should discuss the matter with the student. The instructor and student may resolve the problem in a manner acceptable to both. The instructor may consult with or invite the participation of the department chair or dean in the effort to reach an acceptable agreement with the student. The student may discuss the appropriateness of any academic response with the instructor's department chair or dean. Any agreement involving an academic penalty shall be put in writing, signed by both parties concerned, and reported by the instructor to the chair or dean and, for information only, to the University judicial officer. The student shall not be further penalized based on this report alone.
4) If a satisfactory resolution is not reached at the departmental level, the instructor shall refer the matter to an Academic Honor System Hearing Panel. These panels shall consist of five members: one faculty member from the department (school) concerned and appointed by the chair (dean), one faculty member not from the department concerned but appointed by the Dean of the Faculties, and two students appointed through procedures established by the Student Senate. The panel shall be chaired by the Dean of the Faculties or designee, who shall vote only in case of a tie. Procedures of this hearing panel shall be in compliance with Florida Administrative Code Rule 6C-6.105. The University judicial officer may sit as an ex-officio nonvoting member of the hearing panel. The decision of this panel shall be final with respect to the student's guilt or innocence and the appropriate academic penalty, if any. The student shall have the right to continue in the course during the hearing procedures. Should no determination be made before the end of the term, the instructor shall record an appropriate grade to reflect the situation until a final decision is made.
5) The chair of the Academic Honor System Hearing Panel shall be responsible for reporting the decision to the student, the instructor, and the University judicial officer; the latter shall determine whether further action should be taken under the Academic Honor Code.


Academic Penalties

Academic penalties shall include but not be limited to one or a combination of the following: 1) a lower or failing grade in the course, 2) a lower or failing grade or score on the assignment or examination, or 3) additional work to provide evidence of the student's academic performance and/or evidence that the student knows and understands the course material.

University Judicial Officer Responsibilities

1) The University judicial officer shall explore the circumstances and determine whether, in the light of the severity and frequency of the student's violations of the Academic Honor Code, any disciplinary penalty should be imposed. The student may elect a hearing before the Student Supreme Court.
2) The University judicial officer shall determine, with advice from the Student Supreme Court, appropriate disciplinary penalties for students found guilty of violations of the Academic Honor Code.
3) In all cases referred to the Student Supreme Court, the University judicial officer shall submit the report from the chair of the Academic Honor System Hearing Panel and a record of the student's history regarding academic integrity. The University judicial officer shall report the disposition of each case to the student, to the Dean of the Faculties, and to the instructor involved.


Student Supreme Court Responsibilities

1) The Student Supreme Court shall be responsible for hearing all cases brought before it by the University judicial officer. These proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the guidelines in the Student Conduct Code and other applicable University guidelines.
2) The Student Supreme Court shall, in the light of information concerning this violation and the student's entire history regarding academic integrity, hold hearings to determine a recommended disciplinary penalty in accordance with the procedures of the court.


Penalties

The following are the possible disciplinary penalties for violation of the Academic Honor Code, and they may be imposed singularly or in any combination.
1) Dismissal-an indefinite separation from the University. In order to be readmitted, a student dismissed for disciplinary reasons pursuant to the Academic Honor Code must file a petition for judicial clearance with the University judicial officer who will present the petition to the Honor System Committee for review and decision about whether or not the student shall receive a judicial clearance. All students who receive a judicial clearance will be permitted to return to the University on a probationary basis if they have also met applicable readmission criteria.
2) Suspension-a separation from the University for a specified period of time, not to exceed two years. During the period of suspension, a student is excluded from classes and all other University privileges or activities. At the conclusion of the period of suspension, the student will be permitted to return to the University on a probationary basis if the student has also met applicable readmission criteria.
3) Probation-a conditional retention of student status until the student graduates from the University or is separated from the University for a period of not less than four years. During the period of the probation, a student's University privileges may be restricted at the discretion of the University judicial officer.
4) Reprimand-a written statement from the University judicial officer expressing disapproval of conduct.
5) Nothing in this code shall preclude the imposition of other reasonable sanctions or a combination of sanctions within the authority and discretion of the appropriate tribunal.
6) Disciplinary records shall be maintained under the auspices of the Vice President for Student Affairs.


Honor System Committee

An Honor System Committee shall be appointed by the University President. The committee shall consist of three faculty selected from a list of six provided by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee and three students selected from a list of six provided by the Student Senate. Student members shall be appointed to serve terms of one year and faculty shall be appointed to serve terms of three years. The committee shall keep students and faculty informed concerning the provisions of the Academic Honor System, monitor the operation and effectiveness of the Academic Honor System, and make recommendations to the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate that it may deem appropriate.

Amendment Procedures

Amendments to the provisions of the Academic Honor System may be initiated by the above named committee, by the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, or by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Amendments to the Academic Honor System must be approved by the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate. After approval, amendments shall be forwarded to the University for implementation.

General Academic Appeals Process


Grievance Procedure

Students who feel that academic regulations and procedures have been improperly applied in specific instances may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process. In this process, the student brings a complaint first to the instructor, then to the department chair, and finally to the academic dean appropriate to the course involved, stopping at the level at which the complaint is resolved. After following this procedure if graduate students have not resolved their complaint, they must see the Dean of Graduate Studies prior to meeting with the Dean of the Faculties. If no resolution is reached, the student brings the complaint to the attention of the Dean of the Faculties for either resolution or referral to the Student Academic Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate. This committee has the authority to direct, through the Vice President for Academic Affairs, that corrective action be taken when justified.


Release of Student Information

The disclosure or publication of student information is governed by the policies of The Florida State University and the Board of Regents of the State University System of Florida within the framework of state and federal laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
The written consent of the student is required for the disclosure or publication of any information that is 1) personally identifiable of the student; and 2) a part of the educational record. Certain exceptions to that generality, both in types of information that can be disclosed and in access to that information, are allowed within the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, as described in the following paragraphs:
A. Subject to statutory conditions and limitations, prior consent of the student is not required for disclosure of information in the educational record to (or for):
1) Officials of the University with a legitimate educational interest;
2) Certain government agencies;
3) Accrediting organizations;
4) Certain financial aid matters;
5) Certain research circumstances;
6) Health and safety emergencies;
7) A Court pursuant to order or subpoena, so long as the student is notified in advance of the University's compliance; and
8) As otherwise provided by law.
B. Subject to statutory conditions and limitations, prior consent of the student is not required for disclosure of certain types of information for:
1) Portions of the educational record for which the student has signed a waiver;

2) Portions of the educational record which are exempted by law including records of law enforcement agencies of the University; employment records of the student within the University; personal records of instructional, supervisory, or administrative personnel; and alumni records related to that student; and

3) Records transmitted to another school or school system in which the student seeks or intends to enroll, since the University generally forwards these on request.
Note: More specific information regarding such exempted information can be obtained by contacting the Office of the University Registrar, A3900 University Center. For the complete text of the applicable statutes refer to Section 228.093, Florida Statutes, 20 U.S.C. 1232g, and 20 C.F.R. ß99.1, et seq.
C. Prior consent of the student is not required for disclosure of portions of the educational record defined by the institution as "Directory Information," which may be released via official media of the University:
1) Name, date, and place of birth;
2) Local address;
3) Permanent address;
4) Telephone number (if listed);
5) Classification;
6) Major field of study;
7) Participation in official University activities and sports;
8) Weight and height of members of athletic teams;
9) Dates of attendance at the University;
10) Degrees, honors, and awards received;
11) The most recently attended educational institution; and
12) Digitized photo (Florida State University Card).
Important. The information above, designated by the University as "Directory Information," may be released or published by the University without prior written consent of the student unless exception is made in writing by the student.

University Notification to Students

Each student is provided a voice mailbox and an associated personal identification number at the time of the issuance of his or her FSUCard. This voice mailbox is the University's official means of communicating with its students. It is the responsibility of each student to check this voice mailbox for administrative messages every seven calendar days. This action does not require the student to be on campus, nor even in the City of Tallahassee. Therefore, being out of town is not a justifiable excuse for not acting upon this responsibility.

Request to Prevent Publication of Directory Information

Students may inform the University in writing of their desire to prevent publication of such "Directory Information" or release of such information except as required by law. Appropriate forms for such action are made available by the Office of the University Registrar.
Notification to the University of a request to prevent publication or release of "Directory Information" via the University must be received prior to the first class meeting day of the fall semester of the academic year. Once received, that request will remain in effect until notification to the contrary, in writing, is received by the Office of the University Registrar.
Caution. Until the University can develop the necessary sophistication in our data systems, a student's request to prevent the release of publication of some of the items of "Directory Information" may result in preventing the publication of all items on that list, including graduation lists, honors, and award lists. The student can help avoid such errors with a gentle reminder to the Office of the University Registrar.
For complete information related to the policies outlined above or concerning the procedures regarding waivers and consent forms, or to challenge the accuracy of the educational record, please contact: The Registrar, Office of the University Registrar, A3900 University Center, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2480.


Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled University classes. The University reserves the right to deal at any time with individual cases of nonattendance. The effect of absences upon grades is determined by the instructor. Arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence is the responsibility of the student. A student reported for excessive absence in any course may be required by the academic dean to drop the course with the grade of "F."
Students reported absent for a period of two weeks or more may be readmitted only by permission of their academic dean. Upon readmission the dean may require a reduction of the academic load.

Religious Holy Days

The Florida State University policy on observance of religious holy days provides that students shall, upon notifying their instructor, be excused from class to observe a religious holy day of their faith. While students will be held responsible for the material covered in their absence, each student shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the work missed. Instructors and University administrators shall in no way arbitrarily penalize students who are absent from academic or social activities because of religious holy day observance. Students who feel that this policy has been improperly applied in specific instances may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process. In this process, the student brings a complaint first to the instructor, then to the department chair, and finally to the academic dean appropriate to the course involved, stopping at the level at which the complaint is resolved. If no resolution is reached, the student brings the complaint to the attention of the Dean of the Faculties for either resolution or referral to the Student Academic Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate. This committee has the authority to direct, through the Vice President for Academic Affairs, that corrective action be taken when justified. Consult the "General Academic Appeals Process" section of this chapter for a complete description.


Classification of Students

Students are classified as follows:
Graduate, any student admitted to a graduate program, classification 5;
Special Non-Degree Seeking without Baccalaureate Degree, classification 6;
Special Non-Degree Seeking with Baccalaureate Degree, classification 7;
Provisional, classification 8; and
Transient, classification 9.


Special (Non-Degree Seeking) Student Regulations

All new main campus special students will be required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $15 to the Cashier's Office at the time of fee payment.
Academic rules governing regular students (e.g., fees, drop/add, withdrawal, grading policies) also apply to special students with the following exceptions:
1) Special students may enroll for fewer than twelve (12) hours (underload) without permission;
2) In place of the retention schedule system for regular students, special students must meet the following requirement. After attempting twelve (12) semester hours, graduate special students must have achieved and must maintain a 3.0 ("B") grade point average in all courses attempted;
3) Failure to achieve or maintain the appropriate grade point average will result in a loss of registration privilege;
4) Special students may register for any course or courses on an S/U basis. Special students selecting courses for enrichment or other reasons where grades are not essential are advised to register on an S/U basis or on an audit basis.


Reclassification from Special Student to Regular Student Status

Request for change to regular student status from postbaccalaureate special student is processed through the Office of Admissions via standard admission procedures and requires approval of the appropriate department chair and dean. Note that the 60-day deadline for admission applies to all reclassification requests.
Work taken as a special student carries no degree credit. Up to twelve (12) semester credit hours earned as a graduate special student may be applied toward a graduate degree with approval of the appropriate department chair and dean at the time of reclassification provided that a grade of 3.0 ("B") or better has been achieved.


Full-Time Student Course Load

Recipients of stipends from the University, whether holders of fellowships or assistantships, must be full-time students.
The University reserves the right to determine full-time status based on course and/or research load. Special students are not required to obtain an underload permit.
Twelve (12) credit hours per semester constitutes a full-time load for graduate students and fellowship holders. A student who wishes to register for fewer than twelve (12) semester hours must have written approval from the academic dean prior to registration.
Nine (9) credit hours is defined as a full-time load for graduate assistantship holders on a quarter-time appointment or larger. Academic deans may grant exceptions to this policy for teaching assistants in those departments which conform to national course load policies in their disciplines. To satisfy the residence requirement, however, a doctoral student must be enrolled for twenty-four (24) semester hours during any period of 12 consecutive months.
The number of hours which a graduate student may carry without special permission is fifteen (15). A heavier load may be permitted by the academic dean.
Graduate-level courses may be modified downward in credit for an individual registrant by the academic dean.
Included in the calculation of student load are hours of graduate credit other than formal course work, e.g., hours in thesis or dissertation, in directed individual study, in supervised research, and in supervised teaching.



Faculty Degree Candidates

A faculty member of The Florida State University holding rank higher than that of instructor may not under any circumstances be a candidate for or receive a graduate degree from The Florida State University.



Course Examinations

Final examinations in undergraduate courses are discretionary within any given department, but all students, including graduate students, enrolled in an undergraduate course having a final examination are required to take the examination. The scheduling of a final examination, or a test in lieu of a final examination, at any time other than the regularly scheduled final examination period is a violation of University policy. A final examination may not be given during the examination period at a time other than that which appears in the printed Directory of Classes. If no final examination is scheduled, a test in lieu of the examination may not be given during the last week of classes but must be given during the final examination period.
Courses meeting every day at the same hour and classes meeting for more than one time period will hold examinations according to the time and day of the first scheduled class meeting of the week. For example, a class meeting for the first period on Tuesday and for the second period on Thursday will hold its examination at the exam time scheduled for the Tuesday first period.
Under special circumstances, exceptions to final examination policies for individual students will be given consideration by the appropriate academic dean.



Grading System

Definition	Grade	Quality Points Per Credit Hour
Excellent	A	4.00
	A-	3.75
Good	B+	3.25
	B	3.00
	B-	2.75
Average	C+	2.25
	C	2.00
	C-	1.75
Poor	D+	1.25
	D	1.00
	D-	0.75
Failure	F	0.00
Pass	P	N/A
Satisfactory	S	N/A
Unsatisfactory	U	N/A
Incomplete	I	N/A
Incomplete Expired	IE	0.00
No Grade Received from Instructor	NG	N/A
No Grade Expired	GE	0.00
Withdrawn while Passing	W	N/A
Withdrawn with Dean's Permission	WD	N/A
Examination Credit	EC	N/A
Departmental Examination	ED	N/A

Grade Point Average

Quality points are assigned for each semester hour as listed above. In computation of the required grade point average (GPA) for retention and conferral of a degree, the total number of quality points is divided by the total number of semester hours for which letter grades are received. A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average for courses taken at The Florida State University falls below a 3.0 at the end of a term (not counting courses for which "S" or "U" grades may be given) will be placed on academic probation.
With the approval of the department, the academic dean, and the dean of graduate studies, some graduate course work taken at The Florida State University will be excluded from the student's GPA. Permission for The Florida State University GPA to begin as a new calculation for graduate students shall be granted in the following admission/readmission circumstances:
1) When seven or more years have elapsed since a student was actively enrolled in a graduate degree program at The Florida State University;
2) A student has earned a master's/specialist/doctorate degree from The Florida State University and is seeking a second master's/specialist/doctorate; or
3) A student has earned a master's/specialist degree from The Florida State University and is seeking a doctorate in a different major.
On the other hand, The Florida State University GPA will not begin as a new calculation for graduate students in the following admission/readmission circumstances:
1) During any period of time less than seven years in which the student was not actively enrolled in a graduate degree program at The Florida State University; or
2) A student has earned a master's/specialist degree from The Florida State University and is seeking a doctorate in the same major.
All requests for exception to this policy and its specifications must be endorsed by the student's academic dean and submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies for approval.


Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading

With the permission of the major professor or chair of the student's major department, a student may enroll in as many as six (6) semester hours during the master's degree program or up to nine (9) semester hours during the doctoral program on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A student's registration in a course under the S/U option must be indicated on the proper form to the Office of the University Registrar from the major professor or chair of the student's major department. A student may change to a letter-grade (A, B, C) or S/U basis during the first four weeks of a term. Please note that some courses are offered for S/U grade only and are not available for a letter grade.
Semester hour restrictions as stated above on the S/U option do not apply to courses normally offered on the basis of the S/U grading system, including courses in the College of Law for students of other graduate programs. Such hours are exempt from the total stipulated as permissible in the preceding paragraph.
In individual study, thesis, dissertation, recital, supervised research, and internship credit, as well as for courses taken on the S/U option, the assigned grade will be "S" (satisfactory) or "U" (unsatisfactory). Although course hours with a grade of "S" will be credited toward a degree, the "S" and "U" grades are not used in determining grade averages for admission to candidacy or for conferral of a degree.



Grading Practices

At the end of each term, a report of each student's grades is made available via The Florida State University Administrative Voice Mailbox (AVM). Grades may be obtained by dialing 1-888-FSU-CARD followed by the student's social security number and four-digit PIN.
Grades earned at another institution cannot be used to improve a grade point average or eliminate a quality point deficiency at The Florida State University.
A student who is passing a course but has not completed all of the required work in the course at the end of the term may, with the permission of the instructor, be assigned a grade of "I." This may include excused absences from final examinations. Grades of "I" are not assigned to any courses if a student withdraws from the University. Unless the instructor notifies the Office of the University Registrar of an extension in time, an "I" or an "NG" not removed by the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled will be recorded as "IE" or "GE." Both "IE" and "GE" compute as an "F" in grade point average calculations. An "I" will be changed to a final grade at the time the student completes the required work. Students may not reregister for courses in which incomplete grades ("I") or no grade ("NG") have been received. If they do so, the original "I" or "NG" will automatically be changed to "F." This "F" grade is not repeatable under the forgiveness policy and is so indicated on the student's permanent record. A grade of "I" or "NG" in a course that is approved for "S" or "U" grades only which is not removed by the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled will automatically become "U," unless the instructor notifies the Office of the University Registrar that there is to be an extension of time.
Once a final grade in a course has been reported by the instructor to the Office of the University Registrar, it cannot be changed except in cases of error in recording. A change in a grade may be made only by permission of the department head and the dean of the college or school.



Grade Appeals System

Graduate students may appeal grades they think have been inequitably awarded.
The purpose of the grade appeals system is to afford an opportunity for a graduate student to appeal a grade the student feels was inequitably awarded, in that it involved a gross violation of the instructor's own specified grading standards (which the instructor has an obligation to announce at the beginning of the course). The student may appeal the grade in the following manner.
Step 1.The student must approach the instructor in question to discuss the grade and attempt to resolve any differences. A student not in residence for the succeeding term or a resident student who is unable to resolve the differences with the instructor must file an appeal with the instructor's program or department chair, whichever is appropriate, within 60 days following the assignment of the disputed grade.
Step 2.If still dissatisfied, the student may, after filing a written statement with the program or department chair explaining the basis for the appeal, appear before a board composed of three students nominated by the program or departmental student advisory committee or its counterpart. A negative decision by the board will end the appeal. A favorable decision will be referred to the departmental board described in Step 3. The student advisory board acts as a screening body and determines solely whether the appeal is consonant with the criteria indicated above. The student advisory board must be appointed and its decision made within three weeks of the time that the written statement has been filed with the program or department chair.
Step 3.A department board composed of three faculty members and two students appointed by the chair must be selected for each case. The departmental board must be appointed and its decision made within three weeks of the time the student advisory board has reached a favorable decision on the grade appeal. A unanimous decision shall be final and binding on all parties concerned. A majority opinion may be appealed by the student or the faculty member to a college-wide board appointed by the dean of the college from nominees supplied by the faculty and student advisory committees respectively. The appeal from the decision of the departmental board must be made by the dissatisfied party within three weeks of the time that decision has been made. The college-wide board must be appointed and its decision made within three weeks of the time that the written appeal has been filed with the dean of the college. The majority decision of this college-wide appeal body shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.
Each committee and board is charged with hearing the instructor in question, if the instructor wishes.

Faculty Senate Committee on Student Academic Relations

The Faculty Senate committee on student academic relations hears appeals from students concerning decisions about their academic work which they believe to have been arrived at improperly or unprofessionally in departments, schools, or colleges. The committee comprises five faculty members, appointed annually by the Faculty Senate steering committee with the advice and consent of the Senate for staggered two-year terms, and two students, one undergraduate and one graduate, appointed annually by the University President. The committee elects its chair annually from the faculty representatives and reports its findings and recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Students wishing to make appeals to the committee on student academic relations should consult the Dean of the Faculties. Appeals to this committee are made after all other available remedies have been exhausted.


Forgiveness Policy

A graduate student may repeat one time a course in which a grade of "C+" (2.25) or lower has been made. The course shall be repeated on a letter-grade basis. Only the grade and credit received in the second attempt shall be used in computing the overall grade point average. However, the original grade will remain posted on the student's permanent record, but will not be used in computing the overall grade point average. A student may repeat no more than two courses under this rule, and no course in which a grade of "B-" (2.75) or above was received may be repeated to improve the grade. If this Graduate Bulletin specifically allows additional credit for repetition of a course, each repetition shall be used in computing the grade point average unless the student has prior permission from the Dean of Graduate Studies to take the course to improve the grade. Grades earned at another institution cannot be used to improve a grade point average or eliminate a quality point deficiency at The Florida State University.
A student is required to submit to the Office of the University Registrar the signed form for grade forgiveness by the midterm date of that term in which the course is being repeated. At any time prior to that midterm date, the student may also submit a written request to cancel the signed form for grade forgiveness for that course, but no change will be allowed after the midterm date.




Suspension, Dismissal, and Reinstatement

The University reserves the right to exclude at any time a student whose conduct is deemed improper or prejudicial to the interest of the University community or whose academic performance is substandard.
A graduate student whose cumulative grade point average for courses taken at The Florida State University falls below 3.0 at the end of a term (not counting courses for which "S" or "U" grades may be given) will be considered "not in good standing" by the University and will be placed on academic probation. If a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is not attained by the end of the next full term of enrollment, the student will not be permitted to register for graduate study-including registering as a special student. However, at that time the major professor may petition the academic dean and the Dean of Graduate Studies for consideration of special circumstances which the professor thinks constitute justification for an exception to this regulation, but under no circumstances will a student be allowed more than one additional term of probation. Owing to the differential uses of the designation, "academic probation" shall not appear on permanent records of regular graduate students. After one probationary period, however, a student whose average falls within the probationary range will receive automatic dismissal.



Readmission

Returning students who 1) have been dismissed from the University and have not been enrolled for one term or more (including the summer term); 2) withdrew or canceled their registration during a previous term of attendance; or 3) have been out of school for two or more consecutive terms (including the summer term), must submit an application for readmission to the readmissions section of the Office of the University Registrar. This application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the term for which readmission is desired. (Consult the Directory of Classes for specific application deadlines.) Readmitted former students are subject to retention requirements in effect at the time of reentrance. Students claiming classification as Florida residents must also reestablish their eligibility for this classification when applying for readmission.
Any student who attempts college work at any institution other than The Florida State University (including correspondence work) must have official transcripts sent to the readmission section of the Office of the University Registrar. Official transcripts issued directly to students are not acceptable for evaluation and entrance requirements. The University reserves the right to refuse readmission to any student who has an unsatisfactory academic, conduct, or health record. Students who are denied readmission to the University may appeal that decision by filing a written petition with the Dean of Graduate Studies.


Withdrawal From the University

All students, including regular (degree seeking), special (non-degree seeking) and all State University System (SUS) transient students, who wish to leave the University during a term must formally withdraw. Dropping all classes does not constitute formal withdrawal. Students who do not attend classes and fail to withdraw will be assigned grades of "F" for each course. Withdrawals are initiated in the withdrawal services section of the Office of the Dean of Students in the University Center.
The statement "Withdrew from the University" will appear on the transcripts of students who properly withdraw within the first four weeks of class. After that date, depending on the quality of work at the time of withdrawal, grades of "W" or "F" will be assigned by instructors and placed on the student's transcript with the withdrawal statement. Under unusual circumstances and upon recommendation of the appropriate academic dean, a student withdrawing from the University may receive "WD" grades in all courses taken that term.
Students who cancel their enrollment during the first five days of classes for a term are not held liable for tuition and registration fees. Those who have paid are eligible for a full refund. Students who withdraw after the first five days of classes but prior to the end of the fourth week of classes are eligible for a 25 percent refund of tuition and registration fees, less the building and capital improvement fees; this deadline is adjusted for shorter summer terms. Students who withdraw after this deadline are fully liable for fees and are not eligible for a refund, except as provided in policies set forth by the Board of Regents and The Florida State University.
Should a student wish to register at the University at a later date, a formal application for readmission must be made at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the term in which the student wishes to reenroll. (See "Readmission" above.)
For further information on refunds for first time at FSU students, see "Refunds of Fees" in the Financial Information section of this General Bulletin.


Supervised Research and Teaching

Students may be granted credit for supervised research and supervised teaching at the option of their department. A student may register for such activity more than one term, using the same numbers and, again at the option of the department, may count the hours in meeting residency requirements for the degree program. No more than three (3) semester hours of supervised research credit and three (3) semester hours of supervised teaching credit may be counted toward the master's degree. The normal limit for candidates for doctoral degrees is five (5) semester hours in each category.


Credit for Short Courses

Short courses are offerings that are not regular curricular offerings. Credit will not be given for any short course or for similar program in excess of the equivalent of one (1) credit hour for each week of the program, provided that each week contains the equivalent of fifteen (15) contact hours. In no case shall credit be given for any short course or institute or similar program having a duration of less than two full weeks.


Individual Study Courses

A student registered for an individual study course must attend at least one conference a week on the campus. Directed individual studies are not permitted during an intersession period. The graduate-level directed individual study (DIS) is for S/U or letter-grade credit at the discretion of the department.


Changing of Major Department

Admission to graduate study is contingent on approval by the department in which the student proposes to major. Therefore, a student is not free to change major departments at will. A change must have the approval of the chair of the department into which the student proposes to transfer and of the academic dean of that department. The chair of the new department should notify the Office of the University Registrar of the change.