Undergraduate Catalog – Print Version (PDF: 4.66MB)

Academic HonorsLatin HonorsStudents earning baccalaureate degrees are eligible to receive Latin honorsbased on their overall or UB cumulative GPA (whichever is lower) on thefollowing scale:Average (based on 4.0 = A)3.20 cum laude3.50 magna cum laude3.75 summa cum laudeTo qualify for Latin honors, students must present a minimum of 90credit hours of graded undergraduate coursework with a minimum of 30credit hours completed at UB. Transfer work is included in determining thefinal overall grade point average.Departmental HonorsEach department has the prerogative of awarding the designations “withhighest distinction,” “with high distinction,” and “with distinction” tostudents who achieve a certain level of academic excellence and creativity.Criteria vary from department to department. Enrollment in a departmentalhonors program may be a prerequisite. Students should consult withtheir departmental advisor regarding the awarding of departmental honors.GraduationStudents must meet the following criteria in order to have degreesconferred:Application for DegreeStudents must file an Application for Degree Form with Student AcademicRecords and Financial Services prior to the published deadline dates listedbelow:June 1 graduation..............................................................February 1September 1 graduation............................................................ July 1February 1 graduation.......................................................October 1Students are encouraged to file their applications well before thedeadline dates. Degree forms received after the above deadlines will beprocessed for the next conferral date; the status of degree application isavailable on MyUB.A final evaluation of general education and university degree requirementswill be done by a degree auditor in Student Academic ProcessingServices. Each academic department determines if academic major requirementshave been met.Students who find that they are not eligible to graduate on their applieddegree conferral date must inform the Student Academic Records andFinancial Services in writing of their new degree conferral date.Note: Changing the “Expected Graduation Date” on MyUB is for financial aidpurposes only. This will not update the Application for Degree.When a degree is conferred, it is noted on the student’s academic record(transcript) and diploma. Diplomas are mailed to the address supplied bythe student within six weeks after the conferral date. Students should makecertain that the university has their correct mailing address. To check orupdate student address information, refer to MyUB at http://myub.buffalo.edu. Grades will not be changed after degree conferral except when errorsin the transcript occur.Settlement of ObligationsAll tuition, fees, late charges, and fines must be paid in order to receivediplomas or transcript services, including information about the student’sprogram completion in any form.CommencementFormal commencement exercises are held each May. All students who havegraduated the previous September or February, as well as students whohave applied for June degree conferral, are eligible to participate in theceremonies.Information regarding commencement activities is available from the Office of SpecialEvents Web site, http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/special/commencement.shtml.Graduation RatesThe four-year graduation rate of undergraduate students at the Universityat Buffalo approximates that of other major public research universities.Consistent with national trends, a number of University at Buffalo undergraduatestudents extend their graduation date to five years.RegistrationAcademic LoadThe normal load for undergraduate students is 15 credit hours per semester.Students are considered full-time when registered for 12 credit hours ormore; part-time when registered for less than 12 credit hours. Students whowish to register for more than 19 credit hours require an override from anacademic advisor.Adding, Dropping, and Resigning CoursesStudents may register for courses and make changes to their class scheduleat any time between the start of their registration window through the endof the first week of classes. Courses dropped during this period will notappear on the students’ transcripts and students are not financially responsiblefor these courses.Students modifying their course loads through the second week ofclasses should speak with Student Academic Records and Financial Servicesregarding financial responsibility and possible changes to financial aideligibility. For information about withdrawing from courses after the secondweek of classes, see “Resignation from Coursework at the University.”Students who drop all courses during the second week of classes willnot receive grades for such courses but will be responsible for a financialpenalty.Students who choose to resign from all courses after the second weekof classes will be responsible for a financial penalty and receive a grade of“R” for each course resigned until the end of the resignation period.Students can resign from courses using BIRD or via MyUB up until theend of the eleventh week of classes.Students are not permitted to sit in a class without proper registration.Students who are officially auditing a class cannot have the audit gradeoption converted to a letter grade option retroactively nor are studentspermitted to register for a class after the end of the second week of classes.Administrative Withdrawal from University CourseworkStudents wanting to withdraw from the university after the resignationperiod must consult their academic advisors for appropriate procedures,justification, and documentation to request an academic withdrawal (gradeof “W”). Academic withdrawals are approved only in circumstances whenimpact to academic performance due to a medical event, disability, death,or a medical event effecting an immediate family member, or active militaryservice is documented sufficiently. In a policy approved by the FacultySenate, requests for academic withdrawal that are based upon extraordinarycircumstances are only considered for all the registered courses in a givensemester. Requests for academic withdrawal made for selected courses in agiven semester are not approvable. Requests for academic withdrawal areonly approvable if submitted within one semester of the event. If a studenthas already received an academic withdrawalfor a given semester dueto an ongoing medical event, he/she will not receive approval for a subsequentsemester. However, if a student has received an academic withdrawalbecause of one medical event and then a different medical event occurs,such circumstances will be considered.Additional information including specific registration procedures can be found on theStudent Academic Records and Financial Services Web site at http://src.buffalo.edu.Leave of AbsenceStudents who will not be enrolling at the university in an upcoming semestershould file a Leave of Absence Form with the University in orderto secure their status at the time the leave of absence begins. Studentsseeking a leave of absence should visit an academic adviser prior to thesemester the leave is to begin, especially in cases when students intend tovisit another college or university. Forms requesting a leave of absence areUniversity at Buffalo • Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08 13ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES