Graduate Catalog 2011-2013 - SUNY Institute of Technology

Academic Requirements and Policies
Continuous Registration: All graduate students must maintain
continuous registration, equal to or greater than one credit while
doing their final thesis, project, or capstone experience. Students
can do this by registering for CMT 600 - Continuous Registration.
(Computer Science students completing a thesis will register for CS
599 and Telecommunications students completing a thesis will register
for TEL 599). This may be taken up to six semesters at which
time it is expected that all program requirements will have been met.
Withdrawal: To retain good academic standing, students who withdraw
voluntarily must officially withdraw through the Registrar’s
Office. Students who do not officially withdraw may receive failing
grades in any courses not completed. The student who withdraws
voluntarily without being granted a leave of absence loses matriculation
status. Should the student desire to return at a later time, the
student must file a Readmission Application for Graduate Study with
the Registrar’s Office and be approved for readmission. (Admission/
graduation requirements in effect at the time of re-entry will apply.)
Leave of Absence: Leave of absence for a specified period of time
may be granted to a student not subject to academic dismissal. A
student applying for a leave of absence must give a definite date for
re-registration at SUNYIT. A student not returning for re-registration
within the specified time will be classified as an official withdrawal.
Application for a leave of absence must be made to the chairperson
of the department in which the student is enrolled.
Graduate Course Requirements
Class Attendance: Each student is expected to attend class regularly in
order to achieve the maximum benefit from educational activities. The
student is responsible for all classwork missed, regardless of the reasons
for absence. Each instructor sets the standards of performance to be
met by each student for each course in keeping with the standards and
policies of SUNY and the college, or department. Expected performance
is defined at the beginning of the course. The student’s performance
in relation to the established standards shall determine the student’s
grade in a course.
Time Requirement for Courses: It is the policy of SUNYIT for all
courses offered to conform to the New York State Education Regulations
requiring at least 15 hours of instruction* and at least 30 hours of
supplementary assignments for each semester credit hour awarded in
lecture/discussion courses. For example, a three credit course requires
at least three hours of instruction plus supplementary assignments requiring
at least six additional hours each week for the 15-week semester.
Courses involving laboratories, independent studies, tutorials, or practicum
experiences are required to have some combination of instruction,
laboratory work, and/or supplementary assignments equaling at least
45 hours for each credit awarded.
* Inclusive of examinations. An hour of instruction equates to 50
minutes of actual class time.
Substitution of Courses: The academic department chairperson may
allow substitutions for a particular credit course required in a program
or curriculum. The student’s advisor must formally recommend the
substitution as part of the petition for waiver.
Independent Study: Independent study projects are designed to provide
matriculated students with the opportunity for a learning experience
in a specific area of knowledge not provided by regular courses at
SUNYIT. They are not to be used in lieu of courses listed in the general
catalog, nor are they to be considered guaranteed offerings; they are
available to the student as facilities, faculty, time, and interest permit.
Within these guidelines each academic department defines its concept
of independent study.
Responsibility for planning, conducting, and reporting on an independent
study project rests with the student. However, students are to seek the
assistance of a faculty member in developing proposals. The student
must submit a proposal to the faculty member specifying educational
goals, proposed methods of evaluation, duration of the project, and the
number of credit hours. The completed proposal is reviewed by the
chairperson of the subject area. Registration for independent study can
only occur after the proposal has been approved by that chairperson. Independent
study courses cannot be added after the normal add date for
the semester. A copy of the proposal must be filed with the registrar in
order to be registered by the Registrar’s Office. At the end of the study
period, the faculty member will receive documentation of the results,
assign an appropriate grade, and forward the grade with an abstract
to the registrar.
Auditing: Students must complete a Course Audit Registration
Form for a course to be taken for audit. The form must be signed
by the instructor of the course and the chair of the department
within which the course is offered. Students taking courses for
audit may submit audit form beginning the first day of class and
no later than the last day to add classes. Tuition and fees are not
charged for audited courses, and there will be no notation of these
courses on the college transcript. Note: Online and hybrid courses
can not be audited.
Adding or Dropping a Course: A student may add or drop a course,
without academic record, by completing the appropriate forms available
in the Registrar’s Office and obtaining the required approvals (refer to
the comprehensive academic calendar for appropriate dates). During
the third through tenth week of the semester, any student dropping
a course receives a “W” grade. After the tenth week of class, a letter
grade A-F is assigned.
Section Changes: Change of section is accomplished by the use of an
add/drop form.
Final Grade Reports: Students should carefully review their final
grade reports that are available on Banner web at the conclusion of
each semester. Errors should be immediately reported to the Registrar’s
Office. Students have one year from the end of any semester in
which to request, in writing, a correction to their academic record,
and must provide appropriate documentation to support the request.
Students Unable to Register or Attend Classes on Certain Days
Because of Religious Beliefs. The SUNY policy on attendance in
class states: No person shall be expelled from or be refused admission
as a student to an institution of higher education for the reason that
the student is unable, because of religious beliefs, to register or attend
classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirements
on a particular day or days.
Any student in an institution of higher education who is unable, because
of religious beliefs, to attend classes on a particular day or days shall,
because of such absence on the particular day or days, be excused from
any examination or any study or work requirements.
It shall be the responsibility of the faculty and of the administrative officials
of each institution of higher education to make available to each student who
is absent from school, because of religious beliefs, an equivalent opportunity
to make up any examination, study, or work requirements which the
student may have missed because of such absence on any particular
day or days. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for
making available to said student such equivalent opportunity.
If registration, classes, examinations, study, or work requirements or
opportunity to register are held on Friday after four o’clock post meridian,
or on Saturday, similar, or make-up classes, examinations, study,
or work requirements shall be made available on other days, where it is
possible and practicable to do so. No special fees shall be charged to the
8 Graduate Catalog 2011-2013