Governance Students’ Responsibility Catalog Policy Enrollment Status Class Status Attendance Policy Athletic Eligibility Auditing Adding and Withdrawing from Courses Assessment of Non-College Learning Course Retake Policy Course Repetition Declaration of a Major Dual Major Earning a Second Undergraduate Degree

Grading System Grade Appeals Progress Reports Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) Academic Standing Academic Probation and Suspension Policy on Academic Honesty College Withdrawal Academic Leave of Absence Dean's List Commencement Policy Graduation Requirements Commencement Honors Transcript (Academic Record) Student Records

Governance

The College Senate, the legislative body of the College, has jurisdiction over educational policy and programs. After appropriate administrative approval, the actions of the College Senate are subject to the approval of the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees.

Students' Responsibility

Students are responsible for being aware of and abiding by all College academic policies outlined in this catalog and in the Student Handbook. These include such things as Attendance Policy, Athletic Eligibility, Auditing, Schedule Adjustment/Withdrawal Policy, Course Retake Policy, Contract Course Work, Declaration of Major Policy, Grading System, Academic Standing, Academic Probation and Suspension, and Graduation Requirements.

Certain academic requirements must be met before a degree is granted. These requirements govern curricula and courses, majors and minors, and campus residence. Advisors, directors, and deans will help a student meet these requirements, but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. At the end of the student's course of study, the faculty and the Board of Trustees vote on conferring the degree. If requirements have not been satisfied, the degree will be withheld pending fulfillment.

Catalog Policy

Each new edition of the Keene State College Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog becomes effective at the opening of the fall semester following its publication.

To earn a degree or simultaneous degrees, including components such as a second major, specialization, or a minor, a student must complete all graduation requirements specified in the Keene State College Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog for the same academic year. The catalog to be used to determine graduation requirements may be no older than the academic year of official admission. Any student who leaves the College and who is subsequently readmitted to a degree program will be required to meet graduation requirements in effect for the semester of readmission.

Typically, students follow graduation requirements for the catalog in effect at the time of first enrollment as a degree student at Keene State College. A student may choose to follow graduation requirements from any subsequent catalog while matriculated. A student electing to change from one academic program (e.g., major) to another may retain his or her original catalog year provided it is possible for the student to complete the graduation requirements. If that is not possible, a student must select a more recent catalog to determine graduation requirements.

Enrollment Status

Course Load. The maximum credit load for matriculated undergraduate students is 20 credits. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the director of Academic Advising prior to registration for credit overloads. A student requesting an exception must do so in writing, including the number of credits to be attempted, specific courses, rationale, and an unofficial copy of his or her academic transcript. Additional tuition will be charged for credit overloads.

Academic Year. Full- and part-time enrollment status for each fall and spring semester is determined according to the following table.

UNDERGRADUATE

Credits	Status
12 or more	Full-time
9 - 11	3/4 time
6 - 8	Half-time
1 - 5	Less than half-time

Cooperative Education. A student participating in full-time or part-time cooperative education experience will be classified as a full-time or part-time student respectively if he or she meets the criteria described below. This classification by the Office of the Registrar will be solely for the purpose of establishing a student's status at the institution, not for payment of tuition. The student pays only for the number of credits for which he or she is registered.

Full-time student status is granted to a student working full-time (as defined by employer) for a minimum of 12 weeks during an academic semester in an approved cooperative education position. The student must also be registered simultaneously for 4 to 6 cooperative education credits at Keene State College. A student working part-time in a cooperative education position will be considered full-time by Keene State College if the total of cooperative education credits (maximum 3) and other course credits equals 12 or more credits during an academic semester. A student working part-time in a cooperative education position with fewer than 12 total credits during an academic semester will be considered to be a part-time student at Keene State College.

Summer Sessions. Full- and part-time enrollment status for each summer session is determined according to the following table. These summer criteria apply to academic status only and are different from regulated federal financial aid enrollment status criteria. See the Financial Aid Policies section of the Student Handbook.

UNDERGRADUATE

Credits	Status
6 or more	Full-time
4 - 5	3/4 time
3	Half-time
1 - 2	Less than half-time

The maximum credit load for undergraduate students is 8 credits per session. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the director of Continuing Education.

Graduate Students. Graduate student enrollment status is described in the "Graduate Study in Education" section of this catalog.

Class Status

Class status is determined according to total credits earned and recorded on the student's permanent academic record at Keene State College.

CLASS STATUS

Freshman	0 - 29
Sophomore	30 - 59
Junior	60 - 89
Senior	90 to completion

Attendance Policy

This policy emphasizes the correlation between attendance and academic achievement.

A student is expected to attend all class meetings of courses in which he or she is enrolled. Any form of attendance used by an individual professor as a criterion for evaluation must be specified in the course syllabus and presented to students during the first week of classes.

A student who misses in excess of three weeks of classes prior to the eleventh week of the semester (for any reason whatsoever) must withdraw from the course. The student must follow the regular withdrawal procedure. The faculty member may waive this policy at his or her discretion, but if the faculty member wishes to enforce the policy, he/she will inform the student in writing, who then must initiate the withdrawal. A student so notified who fails to withdraw from the course will be given an F for the course.

An instructor must take attendance in a course at the first class session. At the beginning of the first class session, the instructor may "give away" the seat that has been reserved for any student who has failed to attend the first class without an excused absence. The student whose reserved seat has been reassigned must formally withdraw from the course.

A student expecting to be absent from a class meeting that is a scheduled date for tests, projects, papers, or similar assignments must contact the instructor before the absence (if possible) to arrange for making up work that will be missed.

Make-up procedures apply only to excused absences, including those arising from an emergency. Excused absences include: adverse weather conditions, illness, accident, death in the family, occurrences deemed proper by the instructor, and approved activities. Approved activities include: field trips, scheduled athletic events, off-campus use of academic resources, and authorized special projects.

Make-up procedures for excused absences are determined with the individual instructor; they carry no penalty to the student unless he/she fails to comply with the arrangements agreed upon. Instructors are not obliged to provide make-ups for unexcused absences.

Any student who feels that an instructor has incorrectly handled a request for an excused absence has the right to appeal that decision to the appropriate divisional dean. The decision of the dean is final.

Religious Holidays. Students have the right to practice the religion of their choice. Each semester, students should submit to their instructors, by the end of the second week of classes, a written list of religious holidays whose observance will cause them to be absent from class. Students are expected to make up missed work. Faculty are expected to make reasonable attempts to accommodate students who are appropriately following this policy.

Athletic Eligibility

Keene State College is a member of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and its regional affiliate, the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), and the Little East Conference (LEC). Student athletes must meet all the eligibility requirements of the NCAA in order to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

NCAA eligibility includes, but is not limited to, these requirements:

• must be a full-time student, enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester and matriculated into a 4-year degree granting program
• must be accepted through the regular admissions process of the College
• must be in good academic standing as determined by the institution (see Academic Standing)
• must have passed 24 credits applicable to a degree in the preceding two full-time semesters (summer sessions may be included) or must have passed an average of 12 credits applicable to a degree per full-time semester of attendance
• has 10 full-time semesters to complete four years of eligibility.
• Transfer students from two-year and four-year institutions must meet additional requirements. Contact the Athletic Department for more information.

At the beginning of each semester of competition, each participating student's academic record is reviewed by the Registrar, the Director of Athletics, and the NCAA faculty representative. Eligibility must be certified before a student competes; eligibility interpretations are governed by the NCAA.

Auditing

Under the audit policy, potential students are encouraged to enroll in courses that provide an opportunity for them to assess their capacity to do college-level work for credit or that enable them to explore a discipline of interest.

Students may register to audit a course on a "space available" basis. Class participation is determined by the instructor; the student does not have to take examinations and does not receive credit for the course. The audit fee is fifty percent of the tuition fee for lecture courses. For studio, computer programming, laboratory/field studies, or skill courses, the fee is 100 percent of the tuition fee.

Students admitted as auditors may not change their registrations to "credit" after the second week of classes; students registered for credit may not change to "audit" after the second week of classes.

Schedule Adjustment and Course Withdrawal Policy

Adding a Course. Students may add a course (without fee) beginning with the first day of the semester through the completion of classes on the seventh calendar day of the semester. Any course added during the one-week period requires the signature of the instructor on a Schedule Adjustment form. The signed form must be submitted to the Registrar's office prior to the end of the period.

In the case of a course scheduled to begin on a date other than the beginning of a semester, a student has the option of adding the course (without fee) any time from the start of the semester through the seventh calendar day after the course start date. The instructor's signature is required on a Schedule Adjustment form. The signed form must be submitted to the Registrar's office prior to the end of the seventh calendar day after the course start date.

Late Course Addition. Normally, courses are not added more than seven calendar days after the beginning of the course. Any course addition occurring more than seven calendar days after the beginning of the course requires the instructor's signature on a Schedule Adjustment form and payment of a fee. The signed form must be submitted to the Registrar's office. In the case of Independent Studies, the Schedule Adjustment form must be submitted during the first week of classes to avoid a late addition fee. The Special Permission form may follow later once all parties have signed off.

Dropping a Course. Once students register for a course, they are responsible for dropping any course they decide not to attend or are required by policy to drop.

Students may drop a course (without fee) at any point prior to the first day of the semester through the completion of classes on the seventh calendar day of the semester. Students may drop a course by listing the course on a Schedule Adjustment form and submitting the form to the Registrar's office or dropping the course electronically using their MyKSC account. Any course dropped during this time period will not be recorded on a student's permanent academic record.

Students may drop a course (without fee) scheduled to begin on a date other than the beginning of a semester at any point prior to the first day of the semester through the seventh calendar day after the course start date using the procedure specified in the preceding paragraph. Courses dropped during this time period will not be recorded on a student's permanent academic record.

Prior to the end of the course withdrawal period students may drop a course by listing the course on a Schedule Adjustment form and submitting the form to the Registrar's office or dropping the course electronically using their MyKSC account. A "W" will be recorded on the student's permanent record. The "W" will not affect the student's grade point average.

After the 11th week, students will receive a letter grade for the course as assigned by the course instructor. This grade will be recorded on the student's official academic record and, depending on the grade, will be included in the student's grade point average. The default grade for a student who has registered for a course that he or she did not attend will be a "W".

Students requesting a change of grade in a course they believe they have dropped or withdrawn from must initiate the request for change within one calendar year of the conclusion of the semester in question. Course schedule adjustment and withdrawal regulations and timelines for sessions other than the traditional fall and spring semesters (e.g., summer sessions and quarter terms) are published in the Keene State College Academic Calendar or the appropriate bulletins pertaining to those sessions.

Assessment of Non-College Learning

Students whose independently acquired knowledge and/or skills are equivalent to those normally gained in an undergraduate college program may attempt to earn college credits through assessment of non-college learning. There are two options available: credits by examination and credits by portfolio assessment. The following criteria must be met:

1. The student is admitted to Keene State College.
2. Credits do not duplicate credits from other sources which have been applied toward Keene State College degree requirements.
3. Keene State College will accept up to 60 credit hours in a four-year program and up to 30 credit hours in a two-year program.
4. Credits may be applied toward Integrative Studies Program requirements or elective credits, or may replace major requirements if approved by the faculty of the major discipline through the course substitution process.

Credits by Examination. Testing programs recognized by Keene State College include the following: the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), American College Testing Proficiency Examination Program (ACT/PEP), and formally approved discipline examinations. The student must score at or above the 50th percentile in order to be eligible for credit.

The CLEP General Examinations may be taken by any student who has not enrolled in or completed a college-level course in the discipline covered by the examination. Credits earned may be applied toward Integrative Studies Program requirements or open electives.

The CLEP Subject Examination may be taken by any student who has not enrolled in or completed an equivalent or more advanced course in the discipline covered by the examination.

The ACT/PEP examination may be taken by any student who has not enrolled in or completed an equivalent or more advanced course in the discipline covered by the examination.

Academic disciplines may offer opportunities for students to demonstrate competence through approved standardized examinations or faculty-designed assessment instruments. Such examinations must be approved by the faculty of the discipline and the appropriate dean. Disciplines that offer such examinations will provide students with a written policy regarding the administration of the assessment instruments, the standards of expected performance, the procedure for evaluation, and the process for awarding credit.

Credits by Portfolio Assessment. It is possible to seek credit for learning derived from work and life experience through documentation of acquired knowledge and/or skills.

The decision to award credits is made by the chair of the department associated with the credits being sought. The department chair reviews the completed portfolio and recommends to the Registrar the number of credits to be awarded in the assessed areas. A $50 per credit fee is charged per credit attempted. Further information on opportunities for assessment of non-college learning may be obtained in the Elliot Center.

Course Retake Policy

Students have the option of retaking a course, not designated as repeatable, one time for the purpose of improving a grade if the original grade is “CD” or lower. Both grades received in the course will be entered on the transcript; but only the second grade, whether higher or lower, will be used in calculating the grade point average. Credit will be given only once. Any subsequent enrollment, for the purpose of meeting department requirements, may be allowed only at the discretion of the department and with the written permission of the department chairperson, which is submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

Courses transferred from accredited colleges or universities may also be used under the Course Retake Policy. For a course to be accepted, a grade of “C” or better must be attained. As is true for any course transferred into Keene State College, the grade is not entered on the transcript nor calculated as part of the grade point average. The original grade earned at Keene State College will no longer be factored into the grade point average, but it remains on the transcript.

Students taking advantage of the policy must register for the course, pay tuition, and complete and submit course substitution and course retake forms available in the Elliot Center.

Opportunities to use the Course Retake Policy end upon baccalaureate graduation. The Course Retake Policy does not apply to courses taken for graduate credit.

Course Repetition

Courses may be designated as repeatable by academic departments and programs. Departments and programs must state in course descriptions the maximum number of credits a student may receive or whether a student may receive unlimited credit. Departments and programs must also state whether the permission of the instructor is required. Prerequisites may be specified by departments and programs as topics change.

Declaration of a Major

Students declare a major by completing a form provided by their academic advisor or the Elliot Center and returning it to the Elliot Center. Students may declare a major any time after admission but must do so by the time they have earned 60 credits. The Registrar will deny access to course selection for any student who has earned 60 semester hours and has not declared a major.

Dual Major

A dual major is defined as an academic program that includes one degree and a minimum of two majors (e.g., B.S. Management/Economics). A student earning a dual major must complete the Integrative Studies requirements specified by the degree (e.g., Bachelor of Science). Restrictions regarding the use of Integrative Studies-eligible courses required by the major(s) are waived. The student must complete all courses required by each major.

Students will be awarded only one bachelor's degree (a B.A. or B.S.) at a single commencement ceremony. Exceptions to this policy are noted in the section "Earning a Second Undergraduate Degree" below. However, students may complete a dual major and the second major may be in a different degree program. Thus, students who complete the requirements for more than one major under a single degree may declare and be awarded the bachelor's degree with a dual major (e.g., B.A. Psychology/Sociology). In cases where the majors are in different degree programs (B.A. and B.S.), students must indicate on their Intent to Graduate forms how the diploma should list the majors (e.g., B.S. Management/Psychology or B.A. Psychology/Management).

Earning a Second Undergraduate Degree

Consecutive Second Degree. A student who has completed one undergraduate degree may earn an additional undergraduate degree by completing the requirements for the second degree. The student completing a second degree must satisfy the Integrative Studies requirements for the second degree. Restrictions regarding the use of Integrative Studies-eligible courses required by the major(s) are waived.

Candidates for a second bachelor's degree must apply through the regular admission process and complete a minimum of 24 credits beyond the first degree. Normally, work toward the second degree must be completed within six years of the time the applicant is officially admitted to the program. Credits used to satisfy the requirements of one or more bachelor's degrees may not be used to satisfy the requirements of a graduate degree.

Simultaneous Second Degree. The conferring of two bachelor's degrees at the same commencement requires completion of a minimum of 144 credits (120 plus 24), including fulfillment of requirements for both degree programs. Restrictions regarding the use of Integrative Studies-eligible courses required by the major(s) are waived. The conferring of an associate and a bachelor's degree at the same commencement requires completion of all requirements for both degree programs. The same exception to Integrative Studies restrictions applies.

Updated: September 15, 2009