2007-08 - Pitzer College

304 ACADEMIC POLICIES
ACADEMIC POLICIES
received in those Study Abroad programs for which grades enter the students’ GPA. In
addition, students must achieve at least a C average (a 2.00 GPA) in their field(s) of major.
Grades in courses taken elsewhere are excluded from the computation of grade point
averages, although the courses themselves may be accepted for transfer credit toward the
work required for graduation.
Students who do not maintain a grade point average of sufficient quality to ensure
eventual graduation are subject to dismissal. The Academic Standards Committee
normally dismisses students whose records indicate an inability to regain within a
reasonable length of time a grade point average which will qualify them for graduation.
Students whose academic records are otherwise less than satisfactory may receive notification
from the Academic Standards Committee on behalf of the faculty. Students whose
cumulative GPA drops below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation until the cumulative
GPA of 2.0 is regained. Students on academic probation may not receive any incompletes.
In accordance with Veteran’s Administration policy, students receiving veterans’ benefits
who are on academic probation for two semesters will not be allowed to continue
receiving these benefits. Notification of such students’ progress would be sent to the
Veterans’ Administration, as well as the conditions the student must meet to be taken off
academic probation.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Each instructor has the privilege of
establishing attendance requirements.
Incompletes
An “Incomplete” grade is given only when illness or other extenuating circumstances
legitimately prevent the completion of required work by the due date and may be
removed if all work is completed by the first day of the following semester. Students
withdrawing from the College, on leaves of absence, or studying abroad (other than
Pitzer programs), will have only one semester following their departure to complete such
work. An earlier date may be set for completion by the instructor. If the work is not
completed by the agreed-upon date, the course is automatically terminated with the
grade submitted by the faculty member on the basis of work previously completed.
Students on academic probation may not receive any incompletes.
Grade Changes
It is expected that the grade awarded at the end of the formal course period or of a
previously approved “Incomplete” interval, will be the final grade in the course. With the
approval of the Academic Standards Committee, instructors may change a grade up to
one year from the date on which the grade was originally awarded. The grade may be
changed only for reasons of clerical error or other seriously extenuating circumstances.
The completion of additional course work beyond the normal final date for such
completion falls under the rules governing “Incompletes” and is not, in itself, considered
justification for a change of grade. Petitions to change a grade (other than a previously
approved “Incomplete”) must be submitted to the Academic Standards Committee
within the allowable one-year time period; appeal procedures are outlined in the Faculty
Handbook which is available on the Pitzer Web site www.pitzer.edu.
Student Classification
Students’ class level is determined on the following basis: students who have successfully
completed eight courses are classified as a sophomore; sixteen courses, a junior; twentyfour
courses, a senior.
Student Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment)
establishes guidelines protecting the privacy of student records and gives college
students the right (subject to certain exceptions) to review their “education records” and
to challenge their contents in order to ensure that they are not inaccurate or misleading.
The act places clear limits on the release of information from the record: except as
provided in the law, material may be released only at the students’ specific written
request. Certain information known to be generally available from a variety of sources is
classified as “directory information” and may be released at any time unless students
have requested that it be withheld. Such directory information includes name, mailbox
number, telephone number, enrollment status, class year, major(s) and/or minor(s),
participation in officially recognized activities and sports, dates of attendance, degrees
and awards received, and most recent previous educational institution or agency attended.
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Students requesting recommendations in regard to admission to an educational
institution, an application for employment, or the receipt of an honor may waive their
right of access to these recommendations. Students requesting a letter of recommendation
may be asked to indicate to the writer whether they waive right of access.
A full statement giving details of the law and outlining policies regarding student records
is available in the Dean of Students’ Office. Students wishing to see their records should
make their request to the Registrar.
Athletic Eligibility
For students to be eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics at Pitzer College,
students must be enrolled in at least three full-credit courses (12 semester units) during
the semester of participation. The Academic Standards Committee, in consultation with
the Registrar and the Faculty Athletic Representative, will declare ineligible for
intercollegiate athletic competition any student whose academic performance the
committee deems seriously deficient (below a 2.00 GPA or on academic probation). Such
ineligibility shall be reviewed at the conclusion of each semester of ineligibility.