Thibodaux, Louisiana 70310 1 (877) NICHOLLS nichweb@nicholls.edu

2002-2003 Undergraduate and
Graduate Bulletin

ACADEMIC PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS

The University Year

The university or academic year is divided into a summer session of about six weeks and fall and spring semesters of about 18 weeks each.

Exceptional Sessions

These sessions may be offered in the fall, spring, or summer sessions.  They may vary in length, but are generally about three weeks.

Intersessions

These sessions are generally held between semesters for a three week period.  Students may enroll in one course only during such sessions.  Students should contact the Office of Academic Affairs concerning the schedule of Intersessions.

Course Numbering System

In general, courses numbered below 100 are developmental, or remedial offerings at the pre-freshman level and are not acceptable for credit toward graduation.  Freshman courses are numbered in the 100 series, sophomore courses in the 200 series, junior courses in the 300 series, and senior courses in the 400 series.  Admission to courses numbered 300 or above requires sophomore standing and completion of six semester hours of non-developmental English and three semester hours of non-developmental mathematics.  Courses in 400 series offered for both undergraduate and graduate credit are indicated with an asterisk in this Bulletin in the COURSES OF INSTRUCTION section.  A freshman or sophomore cannot register for a course for graduate or undergraduate credit if a graduate student is enrolled in the course for credit.  Courses in the 500 series are for graduate students only. 

Student Classifications

Students are classified as follows:
Freshman - A student who has earned fewer than 30 semester hours of credit.
Sophomore - A student who has earned at least 30 semester hours of credit.
Junior - A student who has earned at least 60 semester hours of credit.
Senior - A student who has earned at least 90 semester hours of credit.
Graduate - A student who has received a baccalaureate degree and has been officially admitted to graduate studies.

Full-time - An undergraduate student who is taking at least 12 semester hours during a semester or at least six semester hours in a summer session, or a graduate student who is taking nine semester hours of credit, or its equivalent of scheduled work (thesis research or other work certified by the student's academic dean or graduate coordinator to be a full load), during a semester, or six semester hours, or its equivalent, in a summer session.  Generally, in academic matters requiring that students carry twelve semester hours to be a full-time student, a disabled student presenting documentation, appropriate to the specific disability, of a need to take fewer than twelve hours may be declared full-time.  The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Part-time - An undergraduate student who is taking fewer than 12 semester hours in a regular semester or fewer than six semester hours in a summer session.  Part-time students are subject to the same University rules as full-time students.  The rules governing students in scheduling required courses also apply to part-time students.  Graduate students are classified as part-time if enrolled for fewer than nine hours of credit during a semester or fewer than six hours during a summer session.

Credits and Semester Hours

Course work at Nicholls is measured in terms of credits or semester hours.  The value of each course of instruction and the requirements for graduation are stated in terms of semester hours.  A credit or semester hour generally represents one hour of class work a week.  For example, three-hour courses require the student to attend class three hours a week and also to do out-of-class assignments and preparation to earn three credits.  Exceptions exist, especially in regard to laboratory courses which may require more clock hours than do lecture courses.

Student Load

The number of semester hours required for the completion of each year of the curricula is established by each academic college.  Only with the written permission of the student's academic dean will a student be permitted to register for more than 21 credit hours for the fall or spring semester, or more than 12 credit hours for the summer session.  A student whose work is unsatisfactory because of an inability to carry a full schedule of classes may be required by the academic dean to drop one or more courses.

Final Examinations and Grade Reports

Examinations are administered at the end of each semester and summer session.  Reports of grades are mailed to the permanent (home) mailing address of the student. If there should be an error on the grade report, the Office of Records and Registration should be notified immediately.

Attendance

I. General Requirements

Class attendance is an obligation and a privilege, and students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled. Failure to do so will jeopardize their academic standing and may lead to immediate suspension from the university. Students who receive F?s for non-attendance in all classes in which they are enrolled will be administratively resigned from the university. Students are immediately placed upon academic suspension.

The university?s expectations concerning regular attendance apply to all students. Each instructor shall check the roll at each class meting, shall keep a permanent attendance record for each class, and shall report student absences to the office of the student?s academic dean. Students should seek information about the requirements of instructors in specific courses in the syllabi distributed in class. In addition, further regulations exist for the following categories of student: (1) Students regardless of student classification who are receiving V.A. educational benefits (including veterans, dependents of veterans, and war orphans) should be aware of additional regulations set by the V.A. (2) All students enrolled in developmental courses (English, Mathematics, Reading), Freshman Studies courses, English courses at the 100 level, History 101, and Mathematics 101 must met the attendance requirements given in Section II, below. (3) Students receiving financial aid should consult with a financial aid counselor to determine the impact of any change in their enrollment upon their financial aid eligibility.

Students shall submit written excuses for all class absences within three days after returning to classes to each of their instructors. Only excuses signed by doctors, parents, and deans will be accepted. A married student and a student 18 years of age or over may sign his or her own excuses.

Tardiness is treated as an absence, unless satisfactory explanation is made to the instructor at the end of the class period. Students should seek information concerning penalties for excessive tardiness within the published guidelines of course syllabi.

Absences for authorized trips from the university or to special duties or activities at the university may be excused by the vice president for Academic Affairs. Faculty and staff members in charge of these trips and activities must submit a list of student participants to the vice president at least two days prior to the trip or activity. Authorized activities include athletic events, music events, student conventions, religious meetings, field trips, rallies, music festivals, and similar activities. It is the responsibility of each student to make up necessary course work missed and covered by an excused absence.

II. Specific Attendance Policy for All Students Enrolled in Developmental Courses (English, Mathematics, Reading), Freshman Studies Courses, English Courses at the 100 level, HIST 101, and MATH 101.

A student shall submit excuses for all class absences immediately upon returning to class. Only documented excuses will be accepted, e.g., illness verified by a physician.

Three unexcused absences in a three-hour course will constitute grounds for placing a student on attendance probation. Upon accruing four unexcused absences the student will be administratively dropped from the class by the dean of Junior Division or by the appropriate academic dean with a grade of F for excessive absences.

Tardiness is treated as an absence, as indicated above. Students must refer to the course syllabus for regulations regarding tardiness in a specific class.

By the end of the university?s 14^th class day, every student in a developmental, Freshman Studies, English course at the 100 level, History 101, or Mathematics 101 will have signed the Notification of Attendance Form and returned it to the instructor.

Upon returning to class, students accruing three unexcused absences will be notified by their instructor that they have been placed on attendance probation.

Upon the fourth unexcused absence, the instructor will indicate the date of the absence and sign the form, attach a signed drop slip to the form and send the documents to the dean of Junior Division.

The dean of Junior Division will either notify the student in writing that he or she has been dropped from the class with an F for excessive unexcused absences will refer the student?s case to the appropriate college dean for similar action.

Students who are dropped from all classes for excessive absences will be administratively resigned from the university. They will be placed upon academic suspension and will not be eligible to re-enter the university until the expiration of one semester. Upon his or her re-entry to the university, the student will be placed upon academic probation.

Grading System

The University uses a 4-point grading system.  Grades are assigned as follows: A - superior; B - above average; C - average; D - below average; F - failure; I - incomplete; X - in progress (course based, not for individual students); S - satisfactory; U - unsatisfactory.  The grade AU means the course has been audited.  A W indicates withdrawal of the student from a course through the last day to drop a course as listed in the current University calendar.  Once a W has been entered on a student's permanent record, it cannot be changed or removed from the record.

Grades of AU, I, S, U, X, and W are not used in the computation of a grade-point average because those grades do not carry quality points.

Exceptions to the grading system for graduate students are explained in the GRADUATE STUDIES section of this Bulletin.

Quality Points and Average

Quality points are the numerical value assigned to letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F.  A student passing a course with a grade of A will receive four quality points for each semester hour of credit; a grade of B, three quality points; a grade of C, two quality points; a grade of D, one quality point. A grade of F carries no quality points.  A grade of I is not computed in the grade-point average until it is resolved into a final grade.  Grades of AU, S, U, X and W are not counted in the computation of the student's overall average and carry no quality points.

Degree of Precision in Grade-Point Averages

For all academic purposes, grade-point averages shall be specified to four significant figures (three decimal places), with the last figure to reflect rounding from a five-significant-figure (four decimal places) average where such is available.  If the fourth figure after the decimal point is at least a five, upward rounding shall occur.  In the consideration of the relative rank in class, a student's average may be carried to four decimal places.  Regardless of the results of rounding, no student shall be deemed to have graduated with a 4.0 average if any grade other than A or S for courses completed appears on the transcript including repeated courses.

Change of Grade

After a grade is recorded in the Office of Records and Registration, it can be changed only upon certification by the instructor on the proper form obtained from the instructor's academic dean.  The change of grade must be approved by the dean of instructor's college and the Office of Records and Registration.  Once the form is completed and turned in to the Office of Records and Registration, the instructor must sign the official grade book indicating the grade change.  Once the grade of W has been entered on a student's permanent record, it cannot be changed or withdrawn from the record.  An instructor cannot change a grade to W.

I Grades

A grade of I may be given for work which could not be completed because of circumstances beyond the student's control and will not be given to a student doing unsatisfactory work.  A grade of I is not counted in the grade-point average until it is resolved into a final grade.  The same procedure is used to change an I grade as stated in Change of Grade.  However, a grade of I must be resolved within one calendar year following the semester in which the I grade was received, or the I grade will automatically be changed to F.

Repeating Courses

Effective with summer 1997, all grades for each course appear on a student's transcript and all hours attempted and total quality points earned are used in calculating the official cumulative (external) grade-point average.  This is the official GPA posted on the transcript and used to determine academic honors, class standing, and academic probation and suspension.  In all cases of repeated courses, the hours earned can only be credited once.

Course Drop and Resignation Policy

A student may drop a course or courses with a grade of W or may resign from the University with a grade of W prior to the date specified in the University Calendar.  After that date a student may not drop a course or resign from the institution without receiving F's in all courses taken. In extraordinary circumstances the student's academic dean may authorize resignation with grades of W or dropping a course with the grade of W.  Extraordinary cases do not include dissatisfaction with an anticipated grade or the decision to change a major.

Academic Probation

A student, including a first time entering freshman, will be placed on academic probation whenever the official cumulative (external) average is 10 or more quality points below a 2.0 average (A = 4.0); that is, when the total number of quality hours completed, multiplied by two, exceeds quality points earned by 10 or more.

A student on academic probation will be suspended from the University at the conclusion of any semester or summer session in which he or she fails to earn a semester grade-point average of 2.0.

First-Time Suspension

1. A student who is suspended for the first time for scholastic reasons may not be considered for readmission until he or she has been out of the institution for one regular semester. However,  a student suspended at the end of the spring semester may enroll for the immediately following summer session without appeal.

2. If the student raises his or her official cumulative (external) grade-point average to 2.0 or higher, then the student will be placed in good academic standing and the suspension lifted. This student may then enroll for the fall semester without an appeal.

3. If the student does not raise his or her official cumulative (external) grade-point average to 2.0 at the end of the summer session, then the suspension is in effect for the fall semester. In this case, only one suspension is counted against the student.

Two or more Suspensions

1. A student who has been suspended more than once for scholastic reasons must remain out of the University for at least one calendar year from the semester of suspension.

2. No credits earned by the student at another institution while under suspension can be used toward a degree at the University.

3. A student suspended from a University of Louisiana System institution may not enroll in another university within the system, but may enroll in a community college with approval of both the suspending institution and the community college. Credits earned under these conditions will not be accepted for a degree at the suspending institution and will not be accepted for degree credit at another system university.

Appeal of Suspension for Undergraduate Students

If the suspended student wishes to appeal the period of suspension, he or she may appeal to the University Academic Policies and Standards Committee or a waiver of the suspension period, provided he or she can document justification for a waiver.  Extenuating circumstances are primarily serious illness/injury, death in the family, natural disaster, national defense, or a traumatic event which interrupts the student's academic program.  Students who cannot document proof of extenuating circumstances showing direct cause cannot apply for a waiver of the suspension period.

The Appeal for Waiver of Suspension Period form and documentation must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs as soon as possible, but not later than ten days prior to the first day of classes.

Appeal Procedures for Graduate Students

Graduate students should refer to the GRADUATE STUDIES section of this Bulletin for appeal procedures.

Academic Honors

Honor Roll - A full-time undergraduate student enrolled for at least 12 hours who makes at least a 3.00 grade-point average in any semester.  
Dean?s List ? At the end of each semester, the office of the dean of each undergraduate academic unit publishes in an appropriate form the names of all full-time undergraduate honor-roll students who earned a semester average of at least 3.200.  
President's List - At the end of each semester, the office of the dean of each undergraduate academic unit publishes in an appropriate form the names of all full-time undergraduate honor-roll students who earned a semester average of at least 3.500.  
Honors at Graduation - (Degrees with Honors.)

Student Participation in Assessment

The University regularly and systematically measures the effectiveness of its programs and services.  In the process, it depends upon the cooperation and assistance of many students.  Before they graduate, students are required to complete a nationally-normed general education competency examination.  Each degree candidate must also successfully complete competency examinations in English and mathematics which are administered by the departments of English and mathematics, respectively.  Students may also be required by their department to complete other general examinations or assessments prior to graduation.  Students are often selected to participate in inventories, tests and surveys, the results of which allow administrators and faculty to make needed improvements.

The Honors Program

The Honors Program is a multidisciplinary program designed with the highly-motivated students in mind.  The mission of the Honors Program is to create enhanced educational experiences for a community of intellectually curious and academically talented students by providing challenging and creative opportunities that foster a life-long love of learning.  Through innovative teaching, honors students receive a distinctly personal education that significantly involves them in the learning process.  Because enrollment is limited, Honors classes allow students to learn in small groups.

The Honors Program offers honors alternatives to several courses within the general education curriculum as well as classes that reflect the interdisciplinary focus of the program. Honors students are also eligible to serve on the Honors Student Council, a student-led group that organizes extra-curricular activities for the program.

To be eligible, entering students must have a minimum composite ACT score of 24 and either a high school cumulative average of 3.25 or a ranking in the top 10% of their graduating class.  Currently enrolled students may apply for admission after completing 15 semester hours with a 3.25 official cumulative (external) average.

Upon completion of 24 hours of Honors courses and two hours of The Honors Forum class, all with at least a 3.25 official cumulative (external) average, the student will be awarded a certificate at an annual Honors Awards Ceremony and receive recognition on his/her official transcript.