Undergraduate Catalog – Print Version (PDF: 4.66MB)

Overall GPAThe overall GPA is the ratio of the number of grade points earned atall institutions (UB and transfer) to the number of graded credits at allinstitutions. The student’s DARS report includes the overall average. DARSreports can be accessed via MyUB at http://myub.buffalo.edu.Grade Points EarnedThe number of grade points earned is the sum of the products of thecredit hours associated with courses taken and the numerical equivalents ofthe grades earned for those courses.Graded CreditsGraded credits are the total number of credits for which the student hasearned a letter grade.Dean’s ListFull-time undergraduate students who demonstrate academic excellenceby earning a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.6 while completing aminimum of 15 credit hours, of which 12 are graded credits, are named tothe Dean’s List at the end of each semester. Letters of notification are sentto qualifying students in January for the previous fall semester; June forthe previous spring semester; and a Dean’s List notation will appear on thestudent’s transcript.Repeat PolicyA student may repeat a given course only once for the purposes of improvinghis or her grade point average. When a course is repeated, the creditsearned count once for purposes of satisfying degree requirements and forpurposes of calculating the student’s GPA. When a course is repeated, thegrade that is counted in calculating the GPA is the grade earned the secondtime, even if that grade is lower than the grade earned the first time. Allcourses taken and all grades earned will appear on the student’s UB transcript.When a course has been repeated, the first grade appears on the UBtranscript with a symbol and note indicating that it has been replaced bythe later grade in the computation of the UB GPA.Courses in which a student earns a passing grade during a registrationbeyond the second time may be applied toward General Education requirements.However, each academic department has the authority to decidewhether or not courses may be repeated to meet program requirements.Prior to registering for a course for the second time or more, studentsmust check with their major or minor department to determine if this ispermissible.The repeat policy does not apply, except by appeal, to courses thatmay have different content from semester to semester (e.g., Special Topicscourses) and that are designed to be taken more than once for additionalcredits each time. The repeatable status of courses so designated is indicatedin the course descriptions in the online version of this catalog. A latergrade in such a course may replace an earlier grade only if the content ofthe two courses is essentially the same.Students may not repeat courses in which they have a grade of Incomplete.However, after the “I” is changed to a grade the course may berepeated.S/U grading is not an option for courses that are repeated.Repeat Policy as It Applies to Transfer WorkStudents may repeat at UB courses previously taken elsewhere. Credit isonly awarded for the second taking of the course; therefore, the previouslyawarded transfer credit will be voided.Students may repeat courses taken at UB at other institutions. If thestudent passed the UB course and repeats this course at another institution,no transfer credit will be awarded. The student’s UB credit and UBGPA will not be affected. The benefits are only to demonstrate subjectproficiency.If the student failed the UB course and repeats this course at anotherinstitution, transfer credit will be awarded. The student’s UB GPA,however, will not be affected.Please note: For the Repeat Policy to take effect, transfer courses must first be articulatedwith UB courses. (Consult with a UB advisor and the course articulation listed atTAURUS for proper course selection.)The Effect of the Repeat Policy on Prior Academic StandingThe repeat policy does not entitle any student to a retroactive degree, Latinhonors, Dean’s List placement, or other awards or recognition that wouldhave been forthcoming had the student’s GPA been computed under thenew algorithm on a previous occasion. The historical record of students onprobation or who have been dismissed academically in a past semester willnot be changed as a result of the repeat policy.The Effect of the Repeat Policy on Financial AidRepeating a course may affect student eligibility for financial aid. Studentsreceiving financial aid should confer with a financial aid or academic advisorprior to registering for a repeated course.Second Chance PolicyStudents who have been readmitted to the University at Buffalo after havingacademic difficulty during previous attendance at UB may be eligiblefor forgiveness of previous grades. If approved:.2.3..2.All credits and grades earned prior to the student’s break in attendanceat UB will not be calculated into the student’s cumulative UB creditsand GPA;All previously completed UB coursework cannot count towards degreerequirements, major acceptance criteria, or course prerequisites; andAlthough not included in the cumulative GPA calculation, grades willremain on the transcript.Students must meet the following eligibility criteria:Students must not have attended the University at Buffalo for at leasttwo and a half academic years (five consecutive fall and spring semesters);andStudents must demonstrate maturity and ability to succeed academically,usually through activities during their time away from UB. Examplesinclude, but are not limited to: successful study at another higher educationinstitution, voluntary service, full-time work in a field related to thestudent’s major, and honorable military service.Applications must be submitted to the Scholastic Standards Committeeprior to graduation. All Scholastic Standards Committee approvals arefinal and cannot be reversed. If denied, students may apply again after 12months. Students may apply no more than 3 times. The Second ChancePolicy can be applied to a student record only once during the student’sacademic career at UB, and cannot be applied if UB’s previous academicforgiveness policy (Fresh Start) has already been applied.Application of the Second Chance Policy may affect academic standingand financial aid. Reentering students should discuss their options with anacademic advisor and a financial aid advisor. Applications must be reviewedand signed by an academic advisor.The Second Chance Policy does not apply to transfer coursework.Access to Grade InformationStudents may obtain their grades for a specific semester, or a complete recordof their grades, by calling the university’s voice-response system, BIRD,at (716) 645-7800, or by accessing MyUB at http://myub.buffalo.edu.TranscriptsStudents may have official transcripts of their UB academic work sent attheir request as indicated on the Transcript Request form, available onMyUB and the SARFS Web site. Forms may be faxed, mailed or droppedoff at the Student Response Center in 232 Capen Hall. Official transcriptswill not be released for students who have university financial obligations,including Bursar (B), Institutional loan (G), Traffic (T), or Financial Obligation(N) checkstops.Mid-Semester ReviewStudents who are new to UB are often unaware of the academic norms oftheir new environment and their standing with respect to those norms. Tohelp these students to acclimate successfully, instructors of first-semesterstudents are asked to provide mid-semester evaluations using indicatorcodes for students’ coursework. Indicator codes are Satisfactory (S),Unsatisfactory (U), or progress not yet available (I). Mid-semester progressreports received from faculty are transmitted to students and to students’University at Buffalo • Undergraduate Catalog 2007-08 21ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES