2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

to and the schedule best serves the academic needs of the student.
Once arranged, scheduled courses for undergraduates cannot be
changed without the academic adviser’s written permission, except
for changes between sections of the same course before the end of
the first week of class. The academic adviser is available throughout
the academic year for consultation by appointment, and students
are strongly encouraged to seek the counsel of their academic
adviser in other matters beyond registration and schedule changes.
Florida Tech University Online students are advised by the online
coordinator or academic program chair of their major.
Extended studies students should contact their program chair or the
site director at their location for advising issues.
transcripts
All courses taken at Florida Tech are indicated in chronological
order on the student’s academic transcript. A request for a
transcript may be made in writing to the Office of the Registrar,
Records Unit, with the appropriate fee enclosed, by logging in to
PAWS or by fax to (321) 674-7827. Students with holds on their
accounts will not be able to order transcripts online.
Grade Point average (GPa)
A student’s academic standing is expressed by the cumulative GPA,
determined by dividing the total number of grade points earned at
Florida Tech by the total number of credit hours attempted. The
number of grade points for each course is the product of the credit
hours for the course, and A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Plus
and minus grades (e.g., B+) are not used at Florida Tech. The GPA
is truncated at three digits. In the case of multiple degrees earned
as a graduate student, the transcript reports both an overall GPA
for all courses taken and program GPAs based on courses that
apply to each degree.
Undergraduate and graduate GPAs are never combined. An undergraduate
student who takes a graduate course and wishes it to be
included on his or her undergraduate transcript must submit a
written request to the registrar’s office. Once the graduate course
has been included on the undergraduate transcript it cannot be
used toward fulfillment of the requirements of any graduate degree,
except in the case of students participating in an accelerated master’s
program. Accelerated or fast track programs are not available
in all majors or colleges.
notification of Grades
At the end of each semester (or 8-week term for Florida Tech
University Online students), the registrar’s office notifies enrolled
students of grades earned by posting them to the student’s records
in PAWS. These grades become a part of the official student permanent
record and are not subject to change, except on authorization
from the instructor, academic unit head and respective dean.
Melbourne Campus
During the ninth week of classes, Melbourne campus students not
making satisfactory progress in 1000- and 2000-level courses are
notified of their status by mail.
Florida Tech University Online
Florida Tech University Online students receive an electronic communication
if their progress is unacceptable.
26 Florida Tech
Incomplete Work
An I is given when a course cannot be completed because of
circumstances beyond the student’s control. The I indicates the
coursework is qualitatively satisfactory and there is a reasonable
expectancy that completion of the remaining work would result
in a passing grade. The instructor must provide a statement of
the work to be completed to the head of the academic unit. The
student must complete the work at the earliest possible time but
before the beginning of the seventh week of the following semester
(fourth week for Florida Tech University Online), unless an earlier
deadline is established at the time the I is recorded and the student
is notified of this fact. Incomplete grades from the spring semester
automatically become an F after the sixth week of the following fall
semester.
A waiver of the six-week time limitation requires written permission
of the cognizant dean. The I will automatically become an F
in the seventh week (fifth week for Florida Tech University Online)
unless an approved waiver with a satisfactory completion date has
been received by the registrar’s office.
College of Aeronautics flight courses (AVF) are exempt from the
six-week time limit. Flight courses still carrying an I after one
calendar year will automatically become an F unless a waiver stating
a satisfactory completion date signed by the director of FIT Aviation
and approved by the dean of the college has been received by the
registrar’s office.
Petition to Graduate
Melbourne Campus and Extended Studies Students
A student planning to receive any degree must file a Petition to
Graduate no later than the date shown in the academic calendar
appropriate to their admission status (Melbourne campus or
extended studies). Students filing petitions after the due date are
subject to a late fee and may not be able to graduate as planned
because of insufficient time to verify completion of requirements.
Petitions are available online (www.fit.edu/registrar/forms), from
the registrar’s office, respective academic unit or extended studies
site. A petition to graduate must be accompanied by a degree/
program plan signed by the academic unit.
Florida Tech University Online Students
A Florida Tech University Online student planning to receive
any degree must file a Petition to Graduate on their PAWS
account no later than the date shown in the academic calendar
appropriate to online programs. Online students are not
permitted to file late petitions. Any documents submitted after
the deadline will automatically be processed for the next 8-week
term for graduation purposes.
drop/Withdrawal Policy
Students are responsible for maintaining written evidence of all
drops/withdrawals. Telephone and email drops/withdrawals will
not be accepted. Failure to attend classes or verbal notification
to instructors does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal.
Students who drop or withdraw without filing the proper form will
receive a failing grade of F.