HOW TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Course Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Each instructor keeps his or her own record of student absences and is free to determine the extent to which absences affect the final grades of students.
An instructor who feels a student is jeopardizing his or her class work by absences reports this to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies for such action as the dean considers appropriate. An instructor who judges a student's absences from his or her class to be excessive may exclude the student from class and assign a grade of F. Instructors taking such action must notify the dean in writing.
Absences from hour examinations must be explained satisfactorily to the instructor of the course
Course Repetition
Students have the opportunity to retake a course in which they have received an evaluative grade (A, B, C, D, or F) in order to improve their performance. When a course is repeated the first grade will remain visible on the transcript, but will be removed from the calculation of the cumulative grade point average and the grade point average for the semester in which the course was first taken. The new grade will then be used for calculation of the cumulative grade point average and the grade point
average for the semester in which it was earned, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the first grade. The student's transcript will show the
comment “Repeated: No credit awarded” directly below the original grade. However, if the first attempt of the course resulted in a passing grade, but the second attempt results in a failing grade, then the original grade will remain. Similarly, if a student withdraws from a course that is being repeated, the Course Repeat Option will not
be applied and the original grade will stand.
Course repetition may be exercised according to the following conditions:
- A student may not use the Pass/No Pass Option on a course that is being repeated.
- An academic action that occurred under the earlier grade is neither reversed nor removed from the record as a result of a change in the semester or cumulative averages that results from the repetition of one or more courses.
- All grades earned at Case Western Reserve
University, including those grades removed as a result of the application of the Course Repeat Option Policy, will be applied to the Scholarship GPA that is
reviewed in order to determine Case Western Reserve University merit-based scholarship retention.
- The course repeat option may not be exercised after
a degree has been awarded.
Similarly, if a student repeats a course for which he or she has already received either test (AP, IB, etc.) or transfer credit, the original credit will be removed and the
transcript will show the comment "Repeated: No credit awarded." Credit will instead be awarded for the course taken at Case Western Reserve University and the grade
will be included in GPA calculations.
CAUTION: Students who are the recipients of any form of federal financial aid (grants, loans, work study, etc.) and repeat a course that previously earned a passing grade
must enroll for a minimum of 12 credits for which credit had not been earned previously.
Proficiency Examinations
Departments within each academic unit offering undergraduate programs may choose to offer students the opportunity to earn course credit in specific courses by proficiency examination. To qualify for proficiency examination credit for a course, the student's examination performance must demonstrate knowledge and skills at a level no lower than that of an average student who successfully completes the course. Upon notification from the academic department, the Office of Undergraduate Studies will direct the Office of the Registrar to post credit for the course on the transcript. The grade will be recorded as PR, and will not be included in a student's grade point average.
ADVISEMENT REPORT
Click here for further information.
Assignment of the Incomplete Grade :
The Incomplete grade (I) is assigned by and at the discretion of the instructor when a) there are extenuating circumstances, explained to the instructor before the assignment of the grade, which clearly justify an extension of time beyond the requirements established for and met by other students in the class, and b) the student has been passing the course and only a small segment of the course, such as a term paper, remains to be completed. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of the circumstances preventing completion of all assigned work. In the absence of notification or adequate justification, the instructor has the authority to assign the student a final grade that assumes a failing grade for the missing work. An Incomplete grade should not be assigned a) when a student has been absent for much of the semester and/or has done little of the work required for a course, or b) because a student is absent from a final examination, unless the dean of undergraduate studies has authorized the grade.
The amount of additional time allowed the student to make up incomplete work should serve to accommodate the student while being fair to other students in the course. It should be proportional to the duration of a student's illness or absence and might be no more than a few days or weeks. At the extreme, it should not extend past the eleventh week of the session following the one in which the Incomplete grade was received. In certain cases (such as students on probation) the dean of undergraduate studies may establish an earlier date for completion of courses with Incomplete grades.
Changing the Incomplete Grade
When the student has completed the required work, the instructor shall enter in the Student Information System a final evaluative grade to replace the Incomplete. When a student fails to submit the work required for removing the Incomplete by the date established, the instructor shall enter a final grade that assumes a failing performance for the missing work. In the absence of the assignment of a grade by the instructor, the Registrar will convert the I to F when the deadline for making up Incomplete grades from a previous semester has passed.
MAJOR AND MINOR DECLARATIONS
- Obtain a DECLARATION OF MAJOR Form in the Office of Undergraduate Studies and take the form to the department representative in your intended major for his/her signature and assignment of a major advisor. A list of representatives is available here or in the current Handbook for Undergraduates.
- All students must also select which General Education/Core Requirements they are following.
- Bring the completed form to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. The declaration of major is not official unless it is submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
Follow the above procedure for declaring minors as well using a MINOR DECLARATION FORM. Complete and return the form to the Office of Undergraduate Studies.
PASS/NO PASS OPTION
Undergraduate students (degree candidates and non-degree students enrolled at the undergraduate level), other than students participating in the Pre-College Scholars program, may elect to take one course each fall and spring semester on a Pass/No Pass grading basis, provided they remain enrolled in at least 3 semester hours of courses for regular evaluative grades. Enrollment in courses that are graded on a Pass/No Pass basis (e.g., PHED 55A) does not preclude a student's use of the Pass/No Pass option in another courses taken that same term. The Pass/No Pass option is not available during the summer session or to undergraduate degree candidates enrolled at the graduate or professional levels through the IGS program or Senior Year in Professional Studies.
Instructors are not notified of a student's use of this option. They submit evaluative grades for all students and these are converted to Pass/No Pass in the Registrar's Office. Courses elected on a Pass/No Pass basis and completed with a grade of D or higher will be entered with the grade P on the student’s transcript. Courses taken Pass/No Pass for which a grade of F is earned will have NP entered on the transcript. Students who earn a P grade will earn credit for the course, while those who earn NP will not. Grades of P and NP are not included in computing the grade point average.
Students may submit an on-line Pass/No Pass Option form at any time in the fall or spring semester after the end of the drop/add period and before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the course withdrawal deadline for that semester (currently the 11th Friday of the semester for upperclass students, including new transfer students; and the last day of classes for first year students).
Use of the Pass/No Pass option is subject to the following restrictions:
1. All courses to be counted toward major, minor, or SAGES/general education/core requirements must be taken for regular evaluative grades. If a student opts for the Pass/No Pass option in a course, that course will not be counted toward any of these requirements.
2. Students majoring in any Weatherhead School of Management major (accounting or management) may not use the Pass/No Pass option for any Weatherhead School of Management courses (ACCT, BAFI, BLAW, ENTP, LHRP, MGMT, MIDS, MKMR, OPMT, ORBH, OPRE, PLCY), either required or elective.
3. The Pass/No Pass Option cannot be used for courses that are being repeated.
4. A decision to use the Pass/No Pass option is irrevocable unless the student needs that course to complete requirements for a major or minor declared in a subsequent semester. In that event, the student may request that the Office of Undergraduate Studies reveal the grade on the transcript at the start of the student's final term at Case Western Reserve University.
SCHEDULE CHANGES DROP/ADD
Changes in course schedules must be completed online or submitted to the Registrar's Office before the end of the second week of classes during the fall and spring semesters, and on or before the second day of classes during the summer session.
Make schedule changes online in SIS or fill out a DROP/ADD form (available in our office).
TRANSFER CREDIT
Students may receive credit by transfer from another accredited college, university, or technological institute in the United States or from institutions of higher education outside the United States under the following conditions:
- At the time of admission to Case Western Reserve University upon presentation of an official transcript from each institution previously attended. Credit will be awarded for courses equivalent or comparable to those offered by the University and completed with a grade of C or better. Any such courses taken prior to the student's graduation from high school must be listed in the college's catalog among courses offered for degree credit to the college's undergraduates, taken in the company of matriculated college students, and organized and taught by college faculty. In addition, to be considered for transfer credit, such courses must not have been used to fulfill high school graduation requirements. The allocation of transfer credit is determined by the Office of Undergraduate Studies in consultation with the appropriate department. The applicability of such transferred work toward the satisfaction of major or minor requirements will be determined by the major or minor department. Students who are eligible to receive transfer credit equivalent to ENGL 150, Expository Writing, are required to take the English placement examination for transfer students.
- After enrollment in the University, only when approval has been secured in advance from the Office of Undergraduate Studies. After matriculation in the University, undergraduates are not permitted to earn more than 15 semester hours as transient students at other accredited institutions. Credit earned elsewhere after matriculation is not applied toward the 60 hour minimum required in residence. Work taken through the cross registration program (see below) is treated as transfer credit.
Credit is not awarded for work done at an unaccredited institution in the United States except by proficiency examination in those departments offering that opportunity. The award of transfer credit for work done at institutions outside the United States is subject to departmental evaluation and to the recommendations of the National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Credentials.
A student dismissed for poor scholarship from any institution cannot receive credit by transfer for courses taken in the first two sessions after that dismissal without prior permission of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.
Grades for courses taken at other institutions will not be entered on the student's record nor will they be computed in the student's grade point average.
STUDY AT OTHER COLLEGES
If you are interested in taking summer classes at institutions other than Case and receiving transfer credit for the courses, pick up an OFF-CAMPUS STUDY REQUEST form in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, Sears 357, as soon as possible.
You must submit course descriptions in advance for the courses that you are interested in taking which will be evaluated by the Director of Advising and Evaluation for Off-Campus Study. The sooner you complete the form, the sooner you will be notified if the course that you are interested in taking has been approved. The submission deadline is April 15th.
After matriculation in Case, students are permitted to earn no more than a total of 15 semester hours at other accredited colleges or universities.
Case offers summer courses with half-priced tuition. Students will not normally be permitted to take elsewhere in Cuyahoga County courses that are offered at Case.
WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSES
After consultation with a dean in the Office of Undergraduate Studies, a student may withdraw from a course no later than the end of the 11th week of the semester and receive a grade of W. After this date, a student who withdraws from a course normally will receive a grade of F. In unusual circumstances, the dean may permit a student to withdraw from a course after the final date and receive a W. A freshman who is subject to the freshman grading practices (see "Good Standing" under Academic Standing, below) may withdraw from a course after the end of the 11th week, but no later than the last day of classes.
Notice of a withdrawal from a course must be transmitted by the student to the Registrar on the appropriate form, signed by the student's instructor, advisor and dean. Failure to attend class, or providing notice only to the instructor, does not constitute an official withdrawal from a course. Such an unofficial withdrawal normally will result in the student's being assigned the grade of F.
A student who withdraws from the University or is dismissed during a semester will receive the grade of WD for each course for which he or she is registered at the time of withdrawal. |
