Catalog 12-13.indd - McMurry University

Academic PoliciesACADEMIC POLICIES & INFORMATIONGRADESCalculated in the Grade Point Average:GENERAL DEFINITIONSTHE ACADEMIC YEAR differs from the calendar year in that it is onlynine months in duration, beginning late August and ending in May. Theacademic year begins with the FALL SEMESTER and ends with theSPRING SEMESTER. The academic year, therefore includes portionsof two calendar years. The SUMMER SESSION consists of two terms,each approximately fi ve and one-half weeks in duration. The MAY TERMis a three-week interim term which is scheduled after Spring Commencementand before the beginning of the Summer Session. It is describedmore fully in a later section under the heading of “Courses of Study.” Thestudent should refer to the UNIVERSITY CALENDAR which appears atthe beginning of this publication.CREDIT HOUR. McMurry University defi nes a credit hour in accordancewith the federal regulations. A credit hour as a reasonable approximationof the student learning outcomes that can be achieved in the contextof a course that requires 42-45 hours of student work including bothcontact time between student and faculty and the student’s independentwork. While hours of work and contact time can provide guidance in theestablishment of credit hour equivalencies, it is understood that the studentachievement associated with any credit hour can only be measuredadequately in terms of documented qualitative and quantitative outcomes.The successful completion of a credit hour will always take into considerationexpectations based on degree level, discipline, the type of learningexperience (e.g., didactic, clinical, practica, or internships), and the modeof delivery (e.g., face-to-face or online). This defi nition is a minimumstandard that does not restrict faculty from setting a higher standard thatrequires more student work per credit hour.TERM OF ENROLLMENT. Enrollment in a specifi ed semester or term isidentifi ed by the term designation (i.e. Fall, Spring, May, Summer I, SummerII). Example: A student enrolled in 6 hours for the full fall semester,plus 3 hours mini I and 3 hours mini II, is considered to be a full timestudent for the fall semester enrolled in 12 credit hours, since all fallcourses carry the same term designation. Final grades for all courses ina designated term are posted to the students’ transcripts at the end of thesemester.NUMBERING OF COURSES. Credit in college courses is counted insemester hours. (A course meeting three lecture hours per week forone semester has a credit value of three semester hours.) Freshmenlevelcourses are numbered in the 1000s; Sophomore-level courses arenumbered in the 2000s; Junior-level courses are numbered in the 3000s;and Senior-level courses are numbered in the 4000s. The second digitin the course number designates the number of semester hours credit forthe course; the third and fourth digits distinguish one course from another.All Junior- and Senior-level courses are called advanced courses andare numbered in the 3000s and 4000s. A student who does not have thenecessary standing or prerequisites will not be allowed to register for anadvanced course.Not Calculated in the Grade Point Average:WP Academic work was of passing quality at the time ofwithdrawal from a course.P The academic work was of passing quality but not includedin grade point calculation (assigned only in courses taught onPass/Fail basis)Grade SymbolsThe instructor is responsible for whatever grade symbol (A, A-, B+, B, B-,C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, P, I, WF, WP) is to be assigned. Other symbolsused are indications of registration or grade status and may or may notrequire action by an instructor and are NOT included in the GPA.GradeQuality PointsA 4.00A- 3.67B+ 3.33B 3.00B- 2.67C+ 2.33C 2.00C- 1.67D+ 1.33D 1.00D- (Passing) 0.67F (Failing) 0WF (Failing) 0I (Incomplete) 0WNRStudent withdrew from the course within the fi rst six weeks of aregular semester.Grade was not reported to Registrar.28