Academic Regulations
Two committees are chiefly responsible for regulating the academic program. The Educational Program Committee, which includes students in its membership, is responsible for the overall academic program, including requirements for the degree and departmental offerings. The Standards and Standing Committee has broad responsibility, subject to faculty review, to frame and implement procedures to insure that the instructional standards and aims of the College are met.
The regulations that follow are not comprehensive but are included here for the sake of easy reference by faculty and students. Any variation from academic regulations requires the formal approval of the Faculty. Students submit requests for variations from academic regulations to the appropriate faculty committees that make recommendations to the faculty. Requests for reconsideration of faculty decisions in light of new evidence will be considered by the committees making the initial recommendations. Students are encouraged to inquire in the Registrar’s Office in the event that variations seem necessary.
REGISTRATION AND COURSE LOAD
All students are required to register for classes during the Enrollment Clearance/ Registration process held on the day prior to the first day of classes each semester. Students who register for a semester on or after the first day of classes must pay the late registration fee. No late registrations will be accepted after the end of the Drop/Add period in any semester or summer term.Qualification as a full-time, degree student requires registration for a minimum of twelve (12) credits in a semester. A normal course load for a full-time student is 16 credits. Registration for fewer than 12 or more than 18 credits by a full-time student must be approved in advance by the Standards and Standing Committee. Students must be aware that in order to earn the total credits for a degree, sixteen credits in each of the eight semesters is needed. Less than 16 credits in any one semester must be matched by more than 16 credits in another semester or by summer session credits.
Degree-seeking students who register for eleven (11) credits or less in any one semester are classified as part-time students. It should be noted that students living in the residence hall must pay the full comprehensive tuition, regardless of the number of credits taken in the semester. Part-time students are not eligible to live in the residence halls; however, pending the availability of rooms and approval by the Dean of Students, part-time students may be allowed residence in College dormitories. Part-time status also affects eligibility for financial aid and intercollegiate athletics. Normally, no student may carry more than eighteen (18) credits in a single semester or more than twelve (12) credits in a summer term. Computation of the total credits permitted per semester includes directed inquiries and concurrent enrollment at other institutions.
First-year students may not enroll in more than four courses in any one semester. A year’s residence with satisfactory grades is the usual prerequisite for taking more than the maximum number of courses.
Degree students may obtain permission to audit no more than one course per semester, without payment of fee, by agreement with the professor concerned. Audited courses are not included in the number of credits carried, nor are they recorded on the permanent record. Special, non-degree students (those students not seeking a degree) may enroll in more than eight (8) credits only with the permission of the Provost.
COURSE PREREQUISITES AND CO-REQUISITES
Course prerequisites and co-requisites are requirements for entry into a course that state the background, experience, or related coursework that is needed for success in that course and to establish a relative order in which certain courses need to be taken. These requirements are set by the department based on experience and judgment.A prerequisite is a requirement that must be met in advance of taking the course. If the prerequisite is stated as a course by number, then that course must have been completed satisfactorily at Rhodes or accepted by Rhodes as transfer credit from another institution before the student can enroll in the desired course.
A co-requisite is a requirement that must be met at the same time as the course is being taken if that requirement has not already been met. If the co-requisite is stated as a numbered course, then that co-requisite course must be taken at the same time or credit for the co-requisite course must have already been earned.
A linked co-requisite is a course requirement that must be taken at the same time as the course to which it is linked. In most cases, the linked co-requisite courses will be a three-credit lecture course and a one-credit laboratory. Enrollment in one linked co-requisite course is permitted only if that course has been failed previously. If enrollment in one linked co-requisite is discontinued either by dropping or withdrawing, a student may not continue enrollment in the other linked course. Successful completion of both linked courses is required in order for a foundation requirement to be met.
In some cases a prerequisite may not be stated in terms of a numbered course. For example, a prerequisite may be “a designated course or permission of instructor” or “Permission of the department.” In some cases, a prerequisite may require a specific class standing, e.g. “Junior or Senior class standing” or “First-year students only.” These conditions express flexible arrangements that a department may use to manage course prerequisites. “Permission of the instructor” is the most flexible and requires that the student receive the approval of the instructor before enrolling in that course. A student who does not meet a specific course-numbered prerequisite for a desired course must get permission of the department prior to enrolling in that course. Students not meeting a specific class standing requirement may be asked to drop the courses from their schedules.
CLASS STANDING
Under the foundations curriculum, a minimum of 30 credits are required for admission to the Sophomore class, 63 credits for admission to the Junior class, and 96 credits for admission to the Senior class. It should be noted that a minimum of 32 credits must be earned per year in order to accumulate the 128 credits needed for graduation in four years.CLASS ATTENDANCE
Rhodes, as a residential college of the liberal arts and sciences, considers interactive engagement with other students and the professor, in a structured setting, to be one of the essential and central components of the academic program. Students enrolled at the institution make a commitment to participate fully in their education, which includes attending class. Absenteeism is not to be taken lightly.Any student who fails to attend the first day of a class without providing prior notice of his or her absence to the instructor of the course or the chairperson of the department may be asked to drop the course upon request of the instructor. The student is responsible for dropping the class officially upon notification that such action has been taken.
Specific attendance policies are set by individual instructors, who state them in the course syllabi and during the first class sessions. Students are responsible for knowing the attendance policy in each of their courses, for obtaining and mastering material covered during an absence, and for determining, in consultation with the instructor, whether and under what conditions make-up work will be permitted.
Student’s should understand if undertaking college-sanctioned activities (e.g., varsity athletics, internships, and off-campus competitions connected with courses) that their participation in such activities may come at the cost of absences from other courses or even forfeiting credit on certain assignments when making them up is not feasible. It is the student’s responsibility to address the issues related to missing a class whatever the reason for the absence.
If, in accordance with the course policies, the instructor determines that excessive absences are jeopardizing a student’s ability to obtain a passing grade in the course, the instructor may make written request to the Dean of the College that the student be removed from the course with a grade of F. If a student is removed from two or more courses in the same semester for this reason, the student may be asked to withdraw from the College.
CLASS PREPARATION
A student is expected to spend a minimum of forty-six hours of academic study for every enrolled credit. This principle applies to tutorial and directed inquiry study as well as to regular course work during the academic year. Time spent on a per assignment basis will vary depending on the nature of the class assignments; however, on an average, a minimum of seven hours per week outside of class is expected for active preparation for a three credit course.SCHEDULE CHANGES
During the first week of classes in each semester, courses may be added and/or dropped from a student’s schedule if approved by the instructor of each course being dropped and/or added. Students may drop classes until the end of the third week of the semester. The drop/add period for those courses that begin or end at mid-semester or at other irregular dates is one week from the beginning of the course. No extended drop period exists for these irregularly scheduled courses. Approval of a course underload must be obtained if the resulting course load is less than 12 credits. No credit will be awarded retroactively for courses for which a student failed to register properly, including physical education.Any student who fails to attend the first day of class without providing prior notice of his or her absence to the instructor of the course or the chairperson of the department may be removed from the course upon request of the instructor to the Registrar.
WITHDRAWAL FROM CLASS
Students withdrawing from a course between the beginning of the fourth week and the end of the ninth week of a semester will receive either a grade of WP (withdrew passing) or WF (withdrew failing). Neither grade is computed in the student’s grade point average.Withdrawal from a course is not official until the appropriate form with all required approvals is submitted by the student to the Registrar’s Office. A request to withdraw from a class which does not receive the approval of the instructor and the faculty advisor may be appealed to the Standards and Standing Committee through the Registrar’s Office.
The request to withdraw from a class after the ninth week requires the approval of the Standards and Standing Committee in addition to the approvals of the instructor and the student’s faculty advisor. Students are expected to continue to attend classes until there is official notice that the request for withdrawal from class has been approved. No request for withdrawal from a class will be considered after the last day of classes.
Unauthorized withdrawal from any class constitutes a failure in the course. A student who withdraws from all courses in a semester is considered to be withdrawn from the college and must follow the appropriate procedure described below.
INTERRUPTION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE COLLEGE
It is not uncommon for some students faced with family circumstances, health or other problems, or academic difficulty to consider interrupting participation in the College for a semester or longer. Students who find themselves in such situations are encouraged to confer with their academic advisors, the College Counseling Office, the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean for Student Academic Support, or the Registrar to discuss the variety of options available and the implications, advantages, and disadvantages of these options (personal, academic, and financial.)LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Application for and the granting of a Leave of Absence indicate a continuing relationship between the student and the College. Students may decide to apply for a Leave of Absence for a wide variety of reasons and the terms of the Leave of Absence granted are designed to reflect the individual’s needs and circumstances. These terms range from the resumption of studies at the time specified without further approval by College authorities to the requirement that the student satisfy the College that conditions are now such that the individual is likely to succeed and prosper on return.A Leave of Absence is granted only for one or two full semesters, and a student must make the request for a Leave of Absence in writing in advance to the Faculty Standards and Standing Committee. Students should obtain the necessary information and forms from the Dean of Students Office or the office of the Associate Dean for Student Academic Support. Students who are granted a Leave of Absence must also contact the Dean of Students in order to initiate the normal process of leaving campus.
A Leave of Absence is not normally granted for periods in excess of one year. A Leave of Absence is not given for the purpose of studying at another institution nor can it be given to students who are not in good academic standing. If circumstances warrant, a student may be approved to enroll in up to two courses at another institution while on leave. Students on Leave must return to the College at the specified time or be deemed to have withdrawn from the College necessitating application for readmission.
WITHDRAWAL FROM THE COLLEGE
In some instances a student may decide not to apply for a Leave of Absence but to withdraw from the College. Students who decide to withdraw from the College, either during or at the end of a semester, must contact the Dean of Students in order to initiate the withdrawal process. A letter of withdrawal must be filed with the Dean of Students and the entire withdrawal process completed before the student can be officially withdrawn from the College.Students who decide to return to the College after having withdrawn must apply for readmission. If a student withdraws from the College during or at the end of a semester, it is expected that readmission, if approved, will not take place until one full academic semester has lapsed. Applications for readmission are available from the Registrar. (See also “Voluntary Withdrawal and Removal From Campus” in the Campus Regulations and “Readmission of Students” in the Admissions section of this catalogue.)
EXAMINATIONS
The Honor Code represents what the students, the faculty, and the administration believe to be the best environment for the pursuit of the College’s educational aims. All tests and examinations are conducted under the Honor Code, and students are asked to indicate on their tests and final examinations that they have abided by the principles contained in the Honor Code.Normally every course for which credit is given has a final examination as a component. Final examinations are intended to assess students’ mastery of the subject matter of the course and are normally comprehensive in scope. In some courses the purposes of a final examination are best served by special testing: take-home examinations, departmentally administered oral examinations, special projects and assignments, for example. Whatever the testing method, the important factor is that students are asked to synthesize major concepts, approaches, and facts from the course, and to demonstrate that they can do this on their own.
Final examinations are given during the examination week according to the published schedule. A student with three examinations in a row (not to include reading days) may petition the Dean of the College to re-schedule no more than two examinations for later times in the examination period. Other changes because of extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness) must also be approved by the professor and the Dean. A professor may offer optional exam times for an entire class within the examination period, except for a Reading Day. Each member of the class must choose one of the optional times at least one week before the first day of examinations. The feasibility of implementing this option is left to the professor’s discretion.
A student who has a failing average on course work may be counseled before the final examination about the status of that work and about the role the final examination will play in determining the final grade, but the student is not excluded from taking the final examination. A student who has a passing average on course work but fails the final examination, and as a result has a failing average for the course, may be permitted to take a re-examination at the discretion of the instructor. The conditional grade of E (reexamination) is given in this case. The reexamination must be taken no later than the end of the second week of classes of the following semester.
A student who has a passing average on course work and who fails the final examination, but who earns a passing final grade, may be given the appropriate letter grade for the course.
Unexcused absence from a final examination automatically results in failure in the course. A student who is prevented by illness or other reason from taking the final examination at the scheduled time must present a written excuse or doctor’s certificate and will be given a conditional grade of X (incomplete). In some courses, due to the lesser weight given to the final examination in determining the final grade for the course, a professor may not wish to give the grade of F for an unexcused absence or the grade of X in the event of an excused absence. The professor’s policy on this matter is made clear at the beginning of the course so that there is no misunderstanding and so that it is clear that this situation is an exception to the general college policy. Consult the section on Conditional Grades for policies governing E and X grades.
CONDITIONAL GRADES: REEXAMINATIONS AND INCOMPLETES
A student with a grade of E (see Examinations) must notify the Registrar at least one week in advance of the scheduled time that the reexamination will be attempted. If the student passes the reexamination, a grade of D-, D, or D+ will be earned, unless the course was taken Pass/Fail, in which case the grade of P will be recorded. Seniors in the final semester of attendance may be eligible for reexamination without delay, at the discretion of the professor, if they fail a final examination and are given an E grade.The grade of X (incomplete) will be given to the student who is unable to complete course work, including the final examination, because of illness or other emergency. The appropriate form for the submission of the X grade must be submitted to the Registrar by the student and the professor by the deadline for the submission of final grades. Upon completion of the unfinished work and assignment of a grade by the professor, the student will receive a final grade.
All unfinished work must be completed and all final grades must be submitted by the professor to the Registrar’s office no later than the end of the fourth week of classes of the following semester. A student on an approved Leave of Absence or off-campus study program will have until the fourth week of the student’s next semester in attendance to have the grade submitted to the Registrar. If illness or other extraordinary circumstances prevent this deadline from being met, then a petition requesting an extension must be submitted to and approved by the Standards and Standing Committee. Conditional grades not removed by the deadline will automatically become grades of F.
GRADES AND GRADE POINTS
In official recording of academic work, the following symbols are employed: A, excellent; B, good; C, satisfactory; D, passing; P, pass; E, re-examination; X, incomplete; IP, course in progress; F, failure; WP, withdrew passing; WF, withdrew failing; NG, grade not submitted by professor. E and X grades are conditional and may be removed. A, B, C, D are employed with plus and minus notations.Grade points are used to determine a student’s grade point average. The number of grade points awarded per credit hour for each grade is as follows:
| Grade | Grade Pts | Grade | Grade Pts |
| A | 4.0 | C | 2.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | C- | 1.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B | 3.0 | D | 1.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | D- | 0.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | F | 0.0 |
The total number of grade points earned for all courses are divided by the number of credits attempted in order to calculate the grade point average. Credits with a grade of Pass are not included in the determination of the grade point average although those credits with a grade of Fail are included. The grades of WP and WF are not computed in the grade point average. Conditional grades earn no quality points and no credits until they are removed. Credit and grade points earned by students who return for additional course work after receiving a degree are not computed with the final degree grade point average. Instead, a new grade point average is computed for all work attempted after receiving a degree.
The major grade point average is computed using the same formula as above. In computing the grade point average in the major department, all courses taken in the major department, not just those courses required for the major, and any required cognate courses in other departments are used.
REPEATING A COURSE BECAUSE OF GRADE
Any student who has received a grade of D-, D, or D+ in a course may repeat the course for a higher grade. No additional credit may be earned when repeating a course for a higher grade. Any student who has failed a course may repeat the course for credit. The credits attempted and the grade points earned for each attempt of the course are included in the calculation of the student’s cumulative grade point average. However, only one failure of a course will be calculated in the grade point average.PASS-FAIL
A student may enroll in a class on a pass-fail basis with the permission of the instructor. No more than one course per semester with a maximum of six courses total is permitted under this program. Courses that are graded pass-fail only do not count against that limitation. The student wishing to take a course on a pass-fail basis must determine from the instructor the letter grade equivalent and the requirements for a grade of Pass. The pass-fail form with the instructor’s signature must be returned to the Registrar’s office during the first three weeks of class in a semester. The Pass/Fail option may not be used in courses taken to satisfy foundation or general degree requirements or courses taken to satisfy major or minor requirements including cognate courses.Courses with grades of Pass count neither for nor against a student in the computation of grade point averages, but a failing grade is computed in the grade point average.
GRADE REPORTS
Reports of student’s grades are available online on the Rhodes website at mid-semester and at the end of each semester. Students are responsible for keeping other family members correctly and currently informed of their academic standing and progress.GRADE QUERIES
On occasion a student may believe that a final grade assigned is incorrect. Under such circumstances, the student should contact the instructor of the course. If a mistake has been made, the instructor may make the request of the Provost that the grade be changed. The Provost will send that request, upon approval, to the Registrar who will make the change in the student’s official record. The period of time during which appeals of final grades can be made expires at the end of the fourth week of the semester following the posting of the grade. Student queries that are not resolved with the instructor may be appealed to the department chair.HONOR ROLL AND DEAN’S LIST
An Honor Roll and a Dean’s List are compiled at the end of each semester. To be considered for Honor Roll or Dean’s List, a student must be enrolled in at least 16 credits of academic work. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.85 or better. To qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must achieve a semester grade point average of 3.70 or better. Those students who choose to take a course under the Pass/Fail option must have a minimum of 12 (twelve) additional graded credits of work to be considered for either of these honors. Students who are enrolled in the Honors Program or independent Research and receive a grade of IP for that work will have their qualifying grade point average determined on all other graded work.ACADEMIC GOOD STANDING
Students are considered to be in Academic Good Standing unless they are on Academic Probation or Suspension. The Registrar’s Office will send statements to that effect to other institutions in order for current Rhodes students to attend summer sessions or other programs.ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION
To graduate, a student must have an overall grade point average of 2.000 (C) for all work attempted and for all work attempted in the major department. A student is subject to academic probation if the major grade point average falls below 2.000. A student is subject to academic probation or suspension if the cumulative grade point at the end of any semester falls below a minimum standard, which is dictated by the number of cumulative credits the student has earned. The cumulative standards are as follows:| Number of Credits Earned | Minimum GPA to Avoid Suspension |
Minimum GPA to Avoid Probation |
| 0-30 | 1.500 | 1.600 |
| 31-63 | 1.700 | 1.800 |
| 64-96 | 1.900 | 2.000 |
| 97 or more | 2.000 | 2.000 |
In addition, a student is subject to probation in any semester in which the student earns fewer than twelve (12) credits and earns a grade point average of less than 1.500.
A student on academic probation is not considered to be in good academic standing. Such students are ineligible to participate in some extracurricular activities, including intercollegiate athletics. A student is removed from academic probation upon attainment of the minimum standard grade point average based on the number of credits earned.
After being placed on academic probation, a student may be continued on academic probation for no more than two consecutive semesters. At the end of the third consecutive semester on academic probation, the student must be removed from probation or placed on academic suspension.
Academic suspension may be imposed at the end of the fall semester as well as at the end of the academic year. Fees will not be refunded or remitted, in whole or in part, in the event of a suspension imposed by the College.
The period of suspension is one semester. Following suspension, a student may apply for readmission. Any student placed on academic suspension by the College for a second time may not be readmitted. No credit may be transferred for work done at another institution during the period of academic suspension.
A student has the right to request reconsideration of academic suspension. The Faculty Standards and Standing Committee considers the request. The Committee may allow the student to continue on academic probation into the next academic semester under specified conditions for academic achievement if it finds that the failure to achieve academically was due principally to extenuating circumstances and that the student has taken appropriate measures to ensure future academic success.
Semester grade point averages are affected by the conditional grades of X and E. The above provisions will apply when either of these grades is on the record in question. The action to suspend or be placed on academic probation may be delayed until it is determined what the grade point average will be when the conditional grades are removed.
TRANSCRIPTS
Complete college records for each student are kept in the Registrar’s Office. Requests for transcripts must be in writing. Requests received via the Registrar’s fax machine will be accepted although transcripts will not be transmitted via the fax. No transcript will be issued to students, current or past, whose financial accounts are delinquent.FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT
Rhodes complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, commonly referred to as FERPA or the Buckley Amendment. This Act was enacted to protect the privacy of educational records. Under FERPA, students have the following rights regarding education records:- the right to inspect and review the student’s education records;
- the right to request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights;
- the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that the Act and the regulations authorize disclosure without consent;
- the right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the requirements of the Act and the regulations;
- the right to obtain a copy of the institution’s student records policy.
The institution at its discretion may disclose student record information without consent of disclosure to the parents of a dependent student as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and as verified by the institution. Full rights under the act shall be given to either parent, unless the College has been provided with evidence that there is a court order, state statute, or other legally binding document relating to such matters as divorce, separation or custody that specifically revokes these rights. The College also has the discretion to disclose to any parent or legal guardian of a student under the age of 21 information about a violation of any federal, state, or local law, or any rule or policy of the institution governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the institution determines that the student has committed a disciplinary violation with respect to such use or possession.
The procedures to be used by Rhodes for compliance with the provisions of FERPA are contained in The College Handbook. Copies of the policy can be found in the Registrar’s Office. Questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to this office.
