2012-13 Undergraduate Catalog - Missouri Valley College

hour are used to indicate the quality of a student's course work:
A 4.0
B 3.0
C 2.0
D 1.0
F 0.0
Academic work may also be given the following rating:
Incomplete (IN) – In rare instances, the Chief Academic Officer
can deem extreme extenuating circumstances that prohibit a
student from completing a course. Under such circumstance and
only with the prior approval of the Chief Academic Officer, the
Division Dean and the faculty member, a student can receive an
incomplete grade. The maximum timeframe for this work to be
completed is by the close of the next semester (fall, spring,
summer) but is to be determined by the faculty member. If the
incomplete work is not completed by the agreed upon time frame,
an automatic F will be assigned. An incomplete does not apply
to the GPA.
Withdrawal (W) - The last day for withdrawal from a course will
be a date as set annually on the academic calendar. A grade of
"W" is given through the sixth (6th) week of the semester. After
six weeks, the grade will be recorded as "WP" if the student has a
grade of "D" or better at the time of withdrawal, or "WF" if the
student is making a grade below "D". Grades of "WF" are
computed as "F" in the computation of all grade point averages.
Withdrawal after the twelfth (12th) week of the semester will result
in an "F" unless the withdrawal is by administrative approval.
Withdrawal from school is also withdrawal from classes.
Pass/Fail (P/F) - Students (sophomore and above) have the
option of selecting one course per term for the pass/fail grade.
This declaration must be made by the date specified on the
academic calendar. The request must bear the signature of the
student, faculty adviser, and the Registrar. The pass/fail option,
once exercised, is binding for the term. Courses in the major or
minor or classes previously taken for a grade may not be taken on
a Pass/Fail basis.
Audit (AU) - A course audited does not provide a grade or credit
hours.
Repeat - Courses in which a student has received a grade of "D"
or "F" may be repeated. The latest repeat grade in such cases
will be the grade of record. Courses with a grade of "C" or above
may not be repeated.
GRADE REPORTING
All students receive a complete grade report at mid-term of
the Fall and Spring semesters. All mid-term and final grades are
viewable on line with the student ID and PIN number.
GRADE APPEAL PROCESS
Students are responsible for meeting the standards for academic
performance established for the course/s in which they are
enrolled. The establishment of the criteria for grades and the
evaluation of student academic performance are the
responsibilities of the instructor.
The grade appeal procedure is available for the review of
allegedly capricious grading or clerical error by the instructor and
not for the purpose of evaluating the student’s academic
excellence in any particular course. Capricious grading consists of
any of the following:
1. The assignment of a grade to a particular student on
some basis other than the performance in the course;
2. The assignment of a grade to a particular student by
resorting to more demanding standards than were
applied to other students in the course;
3. The assignment of a grade by a substantial departure
from the instructor’s previously announced standards
as stated on the course syllabus.
Student Appeal Process
Step One - The student must discuss the course grade fully with
the instructor of the course. This must be done no later than thirty
(30) calendar days after the final grades for the class are posted.
Step Two - If the student desires to appeal the grade further, he
or she may discuss the matter with the relevant academic
department chairperson/dean no later than ten (10) calendar days
after the aforementioned thirty (30) day deadline. The department
chairperson/school dean shall notify the student, in writing, of the
department’s decision.
Step Three- If the appeal is not resolved at the department level,
the student may appeal to the Chief Academic Officer. This
appeal must be made in writing no later than ten (10) calendar
days after receipt of the departmental decision. The student must
submit his/her written appeal to the department chairperson/
school dean and request that the appeal and any relevant
documents regarding the case be sent to the Chief Academic
Officer. Examples of relevant documents include, but are not
limited to: 1) course syllabi, 2) course assignments, 3) the graded
work of the appellant, and 4) samples of the graded work of other
students who were in the same course as the appellant. The
department chairperson/school dean will obtain all relevant
documents from the course instructor and forward them to the
Chief Academic Officer within ten (10) calendar days of the
student’s request. The course instructor is expected to comply
with all requests for relevant documentation from his/her
department chairperson/dean. Upon review of the evidence, the
Chief Academic Officer may request any additional information
deemed necessary from the appellant and the course instructor.
The appellant and the department chairperson/dean must provide
the additional materials within five (5) calendar days of the Chief
Academic Officer’s request. If deemed necessary, the Chief
Academic Officer may convene a committee to review the
materials. The Chief Academic Officer will notify the student of the
committee’s decision in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of
receipt of the written appeal. This notification will be delivered by
regular mail to the postal address on file for the student and by e-
mail to the student’s MVC email address. The Chief Academic
Officer will also notify the course instructor, the department
chairperson/dean, and Registrar of the decision. This notification
will be transmitted to these individuals by campus e-mail. If it is
determined that the student’s grade ought to be changed, the
Chief Academic Officer must submit a Revised Grade Report
Form to the Registrar's Office. The Registrar will modify the
student’s transcript within ten (10) calendar days after receipt of
the form from the committee chairperson. The decision of the
Chief Academic Officer is final.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Dean's List - Composed of all full time students who have a
semester grade point average of 3.3 or higher for no fewer than
12 graded hours for a term and no "D", "F" or Incomplete grades.
The Dean's List is issued at the end of the Fall and Spring
semesters.
Presidential Scholar List - Composed of all full-time
students who have a grade point average of 3.9 or higher for both
Fall and Spring semesters.
LEARNING CENTER
The Learning Center is a center for academic support that is
located on the third floor of Baity Hall. Tutors in a variety of
subject areas will be available to work with students. The Director
of the Learning Center will oversee the program and make every
effort to meet student needs. The services in the Learning Center
are free to Missouri Valley College students.
12