11824_JFKU_Catalog Front Cover.indd - John F. Kennedy University

General Informationincluded in the official student file. If the college committeedetermines that compelling reasons exist for changing thegrade, it will request that the instructor submit a Petition fora Grade Change, providing the instructor with a writtenexplanation of its reasons to use as supportingdocumentation. Should the instructor decline, he or she mustprovide a written explanation for refusal.4.5.3 e college ASC, after considering the instructor’s refusaland explanation, and upon again concluding that it would beunjust to allow the original grade to stand, will thendetermine what grade is to be assigned. e new grade maybe higher than, the same as, or lower than the original grade.having made this determination, the members of thecommittee will submit the Petition for a Grade Change withfull supporting documentation to the registrar. einstructor, student, and appropriate program chair andcollege Dean will be advised of the new grade by theregistrar. Under no circumstances may persons other thanthe original faculty member or the college-level committeechange a grade. Should the college committee feel that theinstructor’s written explanation justifies the original grade,the committee will report this in writing to the student andinstructor and the matter will be closed. A copy of the writtenconclusion will be included in the official student file.4.6 Instructor Petition for Grade Change. e Petition for GradeChange procedure affirms the principle that grades shouldbe considered final. e Petition procedure recognizes,however, that mathematical errors can be made, and that aninstructor who recognizes their error after submitting maysubmit a petition for a change of grade. Instructors may notinitiate Petitions on grounds of arbitrariness or prejudice.e process for instructor-initiated Petitions is:4.6.1 Instructors of record should submit a Petition for a GradeChange, with full supporting documentation, to theappropriate program chair for review and recommendation.4.6.2 e program chair reviews the Petition and forwards theirrecommendation to the college dean for review and approval.4.6.3 e college dean forwards the approved Petition will fullsupporting documentation to the registrar no later than theend of the academic term following the term in which thegrade in question was assigned. Petitions submitted after thisdeadline will not be considered. If the college dean deniesthe Petition, it is returned to the student with a writtenexplanation of the reason(s) for denial.4.6.4 e registrar completes action on the Petition and notifiesthe student, instructor, and program chair.5. RESPONSIBILITIES5.1 Instructors have the responsibility to provide carefulevaluation of performance and the timely assignment andsubmission of appropriate grades. Course grading methodsshould be explained to students at the beginning of the termand included in the course syllabus in accordance with theUniversity Syllabus template. JFK University presumes thatthe judgment of the instructor of record is authoritative, andthat the final grades assigned are correct.5.2 It is incumbent upon the student to substantiate the claimthat his or her final grade represents a clerical ormathematical error or unfair treatment as compared to thestandard applied to other students. only the final grade in acourse may be appealed. e grade assigned by theinstructor of record is to be considered final in the absenceof compelling reasons such as prejudice or error.Prerequisite Courses for Master’s Programsto ensure that students have sufficient background for graduatework, master’s degree programs may require undergraduateprerequisite courses. Students who have not completed the coursesprior to admission are required to do so during the first year ofgraduate study. Certain programs in the College of Graduate andProfessional Studies recommend that its students completeprerequisite courses in the quarter prior to beginning the graduateprogram; however, students may integrate any requiredundergraduate courses into the first year of graduate work.Prerequisite courses may be taken for Credit/no Credit grading asan alternative to letter grading. If a prerequisite course is taken fora letter grade, a grade of B or higher must be earned. Letter gradesfor prerequisite courses completed at JFK University are includedin the cumulative grade-point average for the graduate program. Ifa graduate student receives a low letter grade in an undergraduateprerequisite course, it may result in being placed on academicprobation. Students should be aware that many employers requireletter grades in all courses for tuition reimbursement.Undergraduate prerequisite courses may be satisfied throughacceptable coursework at an institution whose accreditation isrecognized by the Council for higher education Accreditation(CheA), through CLeP or DSSt exam, or through Credit byAssessment. Additional information is available from the registrar’soffice.Prerequisite Courses for Doctoral Programsto ensure that students have sufficient background fordoctoral-level work, the program requires undergraduateprerequisite courses. ese courses must be successfully completedprior to enrollment in the doctoral program. Prerequisite coursesmay be taken for Credit/no Credit grading as an alternative to lettergrading. If a letter-graded prerequisite course is completed after thebachelor’s degree has been awarded, a grade of B or higher must beearned.Program Transfer or Change of ProgramSome students decide after matriculation that they are better suitedfor another program at the University. In such cases, students mayapply to transfer to the new program by completing a Change ofProgram form. e advisor of the new program will go over therequirements and, if accepting the student, will sign approval on theChange of Program Form. e Change of Program form is only foruse by students who wish transfer within academic levels. Studentsapplying to a different level, e.g., graduate to doctoral, must gothrough the admissions office. Please visit the registrar’s office formore information.Repeating CoursesUndergraduate students may repeat a course in which they earneda C- and below. Graduate students may repeat a course in whichthey earned a B- and below. Law students in good academicstanding may repeat a course in which they earned less than a 70 orin which they did not receive a credit grade. Law students not ingood academic standing may repeat a course in which they earneda grade or score less than that required for satisfactory academic14 General Information John F. KenneDy UnIverSIty