Academic Policies and Procedures
Advisors and Plan of Study
Graduate Advisors
Every student is assigned an advisor from the student's area of specialization. The advisor:
- Provides a vital link between the students, faculty and the dean
- Assists the degree candidate in developing a plan of study
- Approves all courses, including electives, accepted in the student's degree programs
All variances from the approved plan of study must be filed with the Registrar's Office. Plan of study forms are available in the Graduate and Continuing Education Office or the Registrar's Office.
Course Registration
Students must register for courses within the curriculum requirements as set in the College Catalog of the year of their matriculation. However, it is the right of the college to alter the requirements to meet statutory, educational, or professional standards.
For regularly scheduled courses, students must register before the second class meeting. Early registration is recommended for all degree seeking graduate students and graduate applicants in order to secure seats in the courses needed to proceed in degree programs. The regular registration period ends two weeks prior to the start of the semester, with late registration and late charges commencing thereafter. Please refer to the current semester course bulletin for specific dates.
Student Health Insurance
Every graduate student registered for 6.75 or more credits is required by law to purchase health insurance. Students must purchase the school sponsored health plan or show proof of comparable coverage in an alternate health plan in order to enroll. For more details, see Student Health Services section in this catalog.
Special Students
A special student holds a baccalaureate degree or higher and may take classes in most graduate or certificate programs, but is not matriculated as a degree candidate. Additional policies applying to special students are as follows:
- Special students are allowed to register for a maximum of 12 credits in one discipline.
- To register for courses beyond six semester hours, special students must matriculate or obtain written approval from the appropriate graduate program chair.
- Graduate courses at the 6000 level are exempt from
this policy.
- Credit from courses may apply to a degree only if prerequisites for the program are met, the student is matriculated, and approval is received from the program chair or advisor.
Waiver of Course Prerequisites
Waivers of course prerequisites, when authorized, are not to be construed either as waivers of program matriculation requirements or as waivers of credit hours required to complete a program.
Retention in a Graduate Degree Program
To maintain enrollment in a graduate program, students must:
- Earn a 2.8 average in undergraduate prerequisite course work as designated by individual graduate programs. Students must earn a 2.0 in all other undergraduate prerequisite course work outside of their major. Undergraduate prerequisite courses must be finished before graduate coursework can begin.
- Maintain a cumulative average of 3.0 in graduate coursework counted toward the degree or certificate.
- Adhere to the ethical/professional standards as defined by the profession and/or the academic department.
Probation and Academic Dismissal
- A student will be placed on probation if in any semester the student's graduate GPA falls between a 3.0 and a 2.75 cumulative average.
A student will be dismissed from the program:
- If the graduate cumulative average falls below 2.75.
- If the graduate cumulative average of a student on probation remains between 3.0 and 2.75 for two consecutive enrollment periods.
- If the student has accumulated more than six semester hours of graduate credit with a grade of 2.0 even though the graduate cumulative average remains 2.75 or higher.
- If the student has received a grade of 0.0.
- If the student's cumulative average in designated undergraduate prerequisite coursework falls below 2.8.
- If the student's cumulative average in undesignated undergraduate prerequisite coursework falls below 2.0.
- If the student violates ethical/professional standards as defined by the profession and/or the academic department.
Course Load
Graduate students must register for a minimum of nine credit hours in fall and/or spring to be considered full-time. Course load for part-time status is less than nine credit hours; half-time status is five credit hours.
Graduate assistants who work 20 hours per week and are registered for at least 6 credit hours are considered to have full-time status. Students who are registered for at least six credits in thesis, continuation of thesis, or internship/practicum are also considered to have full-time status.
The maximum course load for any graduate student is 12 credit hours in fall, spring or the combined summer I/II sessions. Six credit hours maximum may be taken in the winter session. Students who want to register for credit beyond the normal load must have written approval from the dean of graduate and continuing education prior to registering. Forms are available from the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education or from the academic advisors.
Continued Progress Toward Degree
Matriculated students who do not register for classes for a full academic year (fall, spring, and summer) must request a leave of absence by writing to the dean of graduate and continuing education. Without an approved request, a student is dismissed from the degree program.
Readmission to Degree Program
A student who has been dismissed from a program because of failure to request a leave of absence may reapply to the program.
A student who has been dismissed from a program for academic reasons may not register for further courses in that program at Fitchburg State College. After a minimum time period of one year, a student may apply to Fitchburg State College for readmission.
Readmission is contingent on the capability of the student to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and on evidence that there are sufficient courses remaining in the student's program to achieve a 3.0. GPA.
Students seeking readmission to a program must reapply by completing a Request for Curriculum Modification or Waiver of Academic Regulation Form. For those seeking readmission into a different degree program, the admissions process must be completed after permission from the dean is secured.
The program/policies in effect at the time of readmission are those that the student must follow.
Grade Substitution Policy
Students who have been dismissed from a graduate program on academic grounds and who are subsequently readmitted to a program may retake courses in which they have received a 2.0 or a 0.0 grade. If the class is repeated, the new grade will be substituted for the original grade in calculating the student's cumulative GPA. The original grade, however, will continue to appear on the transcript. Transfer courses cannot be used to substitute for courses in which a grade of 2.0 or a 0.0 has been obtained.
Grading System
4.0 Superior
3.0 or 3.5 Good
2.0 or 2.5 Passing
0 Failure
W Withdrew
IN Incomplete
IP In-Progress
Incomplete Course
An incomplete (IN) may be awarded with the recommendation of the instructor when the student has completed 80% of the coursework but cannot complete the rest due to illness or some other serious reason. The student must file a petition for an incomplete with the instructor prior to the last day of class. A student who has received an Incomplete in lieu of a course grade must make up the missing part or their coursework during the first four weeks of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in an automatic 0.0 for the course.
In-Progress Course
A grade of IP (In-Progress) may be awarded for thesis, practicum, internships, and clinical experience at the end of a given semester. Practicums and internships need to be completed within two semesters. The time limit for thesis is the six years allowed for the completion of a degree. If the thesis, internship and/or practicum are not completed within the allotted time then the IP grade will be changed to either an incomplete (IN) or a grade of 0.0.
Withdrawal from Courses
Withdrawal from courses may be made prior to the 11th class for regularly scheduled courses and prior to the 26th class hour for special scheduling or institute courses without academic penalty. Withdrawals may be initiated by phone by calling the Registrar's Office, or by visiting that office in the Sanders Administration Building. In either case, the student, the instructor and the advisor must receive a confirming copy of the completed course withdrawal form.
Students who withdraw by simply not attending class, automatically receive a failing grade for the course.
See tuition and fees refund policy in Tuition and Fees catalog section.
Cancellation of Course
The college may cancel courses for insufficient enrollment or for other reasons deemed to be in the best interest of the college. Students who registered for a course which is canceled may transfer to another course or receive a full refund of tuition and fees.
Course Changes
Changes to courses (drop/add) must be made by the second meeting. (Class meeting time defined as 2.5 hours) No change in credit is permitted after the second class meeting. After the start of the second class meeting, the dropping of a class will be considered a withdrawal.
Audit
Students may enroll in courses on an audit (or non-credit) basis. The availability of seating in all classes is determined after all degree seeking students, program applicants and credit-seeking students have registered. Permission of the instructor and the dean is required prior to registration. Tuition and fees for audited courses are the same as those which apply to the courses when taken for academic credit. Students enrolled on an audit basis must have completed all applicable course prerequisites in order to have achieved the sufficient level of knowledge and expertise required by the course content. Students who elect the audit option may be required to complete course assignments, papers, presentations and other work. Final grades are not issued, however, courses audited will be so noted on the student's transcript. A change from credit to audit status, or from audit to credit status, must be made by the second class meeting of the course (Class meeting is defined as 2.5 hours).
Independent Study Credit Policy
Independent study allows degree candidates to step outside of course offerings and explore a specialized area of study in a challenging new environment. Students are encouraged to seek out independent study opportunities under the guidance and supervision of a professor in whose specialization they wish to study. A maximum of six independent study credits is allowed in a master's degree program. Vouchers, graduate assistant tuition waivers, tuition remissions and veterans' tuition benefits may not be applied to independent study. Before embarking on an independent study applicants must receive approval from the instructor, advisor, and the dean of graduate and continuing education. Only on-campus faculty supervises independent studies. Independent study should not be substituted for any course listed in the current catalog.
Directed Study
Directed study allows a student to carry out a non-research project or participate in an activity under the direct supervision of a faculty member. In exceptional circumstances, it can be used to offer an existing course to an individual student. All directed studies require approval of faculty sponsor, advisor program chair and dean of graduate and continuing education.
Thesis
Several of the graduate programs at Fitchburg State College include a thesis requirement or thesis option. Students completing a thesis must adhere to the policies and standards set forth in the thesis guidelines. Thesis guidelines can be obtained through the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education or the student's academic department.
Second Master's Degree
Students interested in obtaining a second master's degree from Fitchburg State College are encouraged to speak to their past or present advisor and the Graduate Program Chair of the program they are considering. In some cases a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) program would be more appropriate. However, once having decided to pursue a second master's degree from Fitchburg State College students must in their application, include a recommendation from a professor or chair from their first master's degree from the college. Students should be aware that courses taken as part of the first master's program will not count toward a subsequent master's degree.
Graduation Requirements
Students must:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the degree program with no graduate coursework below a 2.0
- Successfully complete all program requirements
- Submit completed petitions/waivers for review to the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education no later than the eighth week of the spring semester prior to anticipated graduation
- Students who are writing a thesis should refer to the thesis guidelines for specific requirements
- An application for degree or certificate must be filed with the Registrar's Office no later than September 15 for May graduation or March 1 for January graduation.
Time Limits
Graduate degree programs must be completed within six years of the date of the student's first course in the program.
Petition for Review
Students must request a review of their folder prior to the semester in which they will complete requirements for the degree. An application for degree or certificate must be filed with the Registrar's Office no later than September 15 for May graduation or March 1 for January graduation. Obtain forms from the Registrar's Office or at www.fsc.edu/registrar/regconf.html.
Academic Dishonesty Policy
Academic dishonesty in all its forms, including cheating, fabrication, plagiarism and the facilitating of academic dishonesty by aiding and abetting any of the aforementioned is not tolerated at Fitchburg State College. Violators will be subject to the college's Office of Academic Affairs established judicial process.
Student Complaints Policy
Right to Confer
- A student who is dissatisfied with a grade or any aspect of instruction has a right to confer with the instructor.
- A student who is dissatisfied with a grade, any aspect of instruction, or academic decision of a graduate program bearing on their status in a graduate program, has a right to confer with their advisor.
- A student who is dissatisfied with a grade, any aspect of instruction, or academic decision of a graduate program bearing on their status in a graduate program, has a right to confer with the program's graduate program chair and department chair.
- A student seeking advice on how to proceed with a complaint about a grade, any aspect of instruction, or academic decision of a graduate program bearing on their status in a graduate program, has a right to confer with the dean of student and academic life. International students also have a right to confer with the Office of International Education.
Department/Program Responsibilities
- Departments/programs will make their policies and procedures for mediating/arbitrating student complaints readily available to students as a part of a department/program handbook, or, as a separate document.
- Entering matriculated students will be apprised of the department's/program's policies and procedures for mediating/arbitrating student complaints as a part of their orientation to the program.
- Each department/program will file its policies and procedures for mediating/arbitrating student complaints with the Office of the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education.
- Every effort should be made by the graduate program chair, in accordance with department/program policies and procedures, to informally mediate student complaints concerning academic matters.
- If informal mediation cannot be achieved, the complaint will be formally arbitrated at the department/program level in accordance with its policies and procedures for doing so. Usually, this will involve the participation of the department's Graduate Committee.
- The burden of proof rests with the student.
- Departmental/program decisions may be appealed on procedural grounds when bias is alleged.
Dean of Education or Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education Responsibilities
- A student alleging bias may contest a department's/program's decision on procedural grounds by filing a formal appeal in writing to the dean of education or dean of graduate and continuing education.
- In a timely manner, the dean's office will conduct an investigation and will forward its findings and the student's written appeal, to the Graduate Council.
- The Graduate Council will consider the appeal at its next available meeting.
- Within two weeks of the meeting, the chair of the Graduate Council will forward a written recommendation to the dean.
- The dean, then, will communicate a decision in writing to the student, the Graduate Council, and the graduate program chair.
- The final decision is made by the dean.
- If it is decided that the department/program failed to appropriately follow its procedures for mediating/arbitrating student complaints, the case will be reheard within the department with the dean serving ex officio as a non-voting member of the committee.
- If it is decided that the department/program was unbiased-that it appropriately followed its procedures for mediating/arbitrating student complaints-the department's/program's decision will stand.
Non-Academic Student Complaints
- When sexual harassment, racial discrimination or other prohibited/illegal behaviors are alleged by a student to have occurred, the student should address their complaint to the director of human resources/Affirmative Action.
Educator Licensure Programs
The Fitchburg State College Office of Graduate and Continuing Education offers courses which may be used for licensure purposes in several different areas, including early childhood, elementary, middle school, secondary, special education, counseling, and school administration. Licensure is the function of the Commonwealth's Department of Education, not the college.
Please contact the Educator Licensure Office for information on teacher licensure programs at (978) 665-3239. Students are advised to address any question regarding licensure to:
Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street
Malden, Massachusetts 02148-5023
781-338-3000
www.doe.mass.edu
Transcripts
Unofficial transcripts are available to students online. Official transcripts may also be requested online. Each student receives one official transcript free of charge. For each additional transcript, there's a $5 fee. For more information, see www.fsc.edu/registrar/
To obtain a transcript write to:
Office of the Registrar
Fitchburg State College
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, MA 01420-2697
|
