Academic Regulations

Scale of Scholarship

Course work is graded as follows:

Poor. The grade of D: Poor is used for undergraduate coursework only and indicates that the student earned credit in the class; however, courses in which an undergraduate student earned a grade of D: Poor may not be used to satisfy major requirements, the foundation requirement in written communication, or course prerequisites for other courses.

Failure. The grade of F: Failure indicates that the student has received no credit for the course.

Audit. The grade of AU: Audit is recorded for a student who registers for a course as an auditor. The student may be required to submit assignments and take examinations at the discretion of the instructor. Once the student has enrolled as an auditor in a course, no change in the registration to earn credit may be made. Individuals seeking to audit a course must secure the written permission of the instructor or department before registering.

Auditors may register from the first day of class (but not earlier) through the add deadline. No auditor may hold a place in the class if needed for a credit student. Auditing is not permitted in independent/directed study or other courses as designated by the appropriate school.

Incomplete. The grade of I: Incomplete may be given to a student who has done work of a passing grade in a course but who has not completed that work. Incompletes awarded at the end of the fall semester must be removed by the end of the subsequent spring semester; incompletes awarded at the end of the spring and summer semesters must be removed by the end of the subsequent fall semester. At that time, the professor may report a grade within the ordinary scale of scholarship or a grade of NC: No Credit. If the professor does not submit a grade by the end of the subsequent semester, the registrar will automatically record a grade of F. In an exceptional case, a professor may petition the dean of the appropriate school before the end of the last week of classes for permission to extend the incomplete for another semester. A student should not re-enroll in a course for which I: Incomplete is the grade of record.

Satisfactory/Fail. Students may elect four academic courses on the satisfactory/fail basis during the four years of college, with no more than two in an academic year. Students who receive an S: Satisfactory grade will receive credit for the course, but the grade point average will not be affected. Satisfactory is defined as C- or above. However, a grade of F: Failure will be counted when computing the grade point average. Students who request to have a course graded on the satisfactory/fail basis may not alter this request once it is made, nor may students make this request after the first two weeks of the semester. The satisfactory/fail option cannot be used for courses presented to fulfill requirements in the student’s major or minor field; for the core curriculum’s liberal arts and sciences seminar, area studies, or the writing foundation requirement; or for study abroad courses. Core curriculum foundation requirements other than the writing requirement may be taken satisfactory/fail. However, for students pursuing teacher education certification, no courses of any kind may be taken satisfactory/fail.

Withdrawal. A grade of W: Withdrawal is recorded for a student who has officially withdrawn from a course. A student may withdraw from a course through the tenth week of the fall/spring semesters.

Withdrawal for Non-Attendance. The grade of WW: Withdrawal for Non-Attendance may be recorded for a student who either never attended a course for which the student registered or who ceased attending the course before the deadline to officially withdraw from the course. The student failed to officially withdraw from the course.

Administrative Withdrawal. The grade of WX: Administrative Withdrawal is recorded for a student who has had to withdraw from college due to serious illness or other extraordinary circumstances. This grade requires the written approval of the dean of the appropriate school

Unofficial Withdrawal. The grade of WU: Unofficial Withdrawal is recorded for a student who never attended any courses through the second week or who stopped attending all courses by the end of the sixth week of the semester.  The student must have also failed to officially withdraw and respond to inquiries from the Office of the Registrar. 

No Credit. The NC: No Credit grade is an option only for the removal of an incomplete grade.

In Progress. The grade of IP: In Progress is given when a course spans more than one semester and a grade cannot be awarded until the course is completed.

Not Reported. The grade of NR: Not Reported is a temporary grade assigned by the registrar in those cases where it is not possible to obtain a student’s grade from the instructor.

Quality Points

Quality points indicate the caliber of work done and are computed as follows: 1 semester hour with the grade of:

Change of Grade

Other than I (Incomplete) or IP (In Progress) grades, change in grades filed with the Office of the Registrar may be made only in cases of faculty or administrative error, and then only with the approval of the dean of the relevant college.

Credit

Prior to September 1971, all credits were reported in semester hours. From September 1971 to spring 1977, credit for study at Dominican University was recorded in units. For conversion purposes, the value of a unit was 4 semester hours. Beginning summer 1977, credit was once again recorded in semester hours.

Repeating Courses

A student who has previously passed a Dominican course may repeat that course only once. If a passing grade is earned in the repeated course, the credit will be posted for the term in which the course was repeated and deducted from the totals for the term in which the course was previously passed. Both grades will remain in the student’s record and be posted to the student’s transcript. A student may repeat at Dominican a course he or she previously failed at Dominican until the student passes the course, at which time the above policy comes into effect.

Grade Forgiveness

If an undergraduate student repeats at Dominican a course in which a C-, D, or F grade was previously received in a course taken at Dominican, each grade will remain in the student’s record and be posted to the student’s transcript, but only the most recent grade will be counted in calculating the cumulative grade point average. If both grades are C or higher, both will be calculated into the cumulative grade point average.

If a graduate student repeats at Dominican a course previously taken at Dominican, each grade will remain in the student’s record and be posted to the student’s transcript, but only the most recent grade will be counted in calculating the cumulative grade point average.

Course Prerequisites

Courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher in order to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for other courses. If a student has a grade notation of incomplete in a course that serves as prerequisite coursework for another course for which the student is registered in a subsequent semester, and if that incomplete has not been resolved by the first day of class of that subsequent semester, the student should be considered as not having met the prerequisite for the other course and therefore will be dropped from that course, unless the student has consent of the instructor of that subsequent course.

Degree Requirements

Students are subject to the degree requirements in effect when they matriculate, which is the first semester they attend classes. Students may request to be subject to degree requirements of subsequent bulletins.

Intent to Graduate and Application for Graduation

During each registration period, students are asked to indicate whether they expect to graduate at the end of an upcoming semester. Students who indicate that they intend to graduate at the end of the semester for which they are registering will be required to complete a graduation application after they have completed registration for their final semester; the application can be submitted no later than the posted deadline for the final semester. Eligible students can submit applications for graduation online or in person in the Office of the Registrar. In addition, students are expected to complete the online Graduating Student Survey before the end of semester in which they complete degree requirements.

Degree Audit

Once the application is submitted and the student has registered for the final semester of classes, a degree audit will be conducted to confirm that the student is on track to fulfill all requirements for the degree as outlined in the appropriate degree requirements section of this bulletin. The audit includes all credit earned at Dominican, all transfer courses (only courses for which an official transcript has been received are included in the audit), and the current schedule. If the audit indicates that-pending successful completion of all courses for which the student registered-the students is on track to graduate, the student will receive email notification that the audit is complete and no changes to the schedule are necessary. If the audit indicates that the student is not on track to graduate, the student will receive email notification that it is necessary to make an appointment for an in-person graduation audit to review the student’s record against degree requirements and identify what steps are necessary to complete the degree.

Withdrawal

Students who wish to withdraw from the university must inform their college office in person or in writing. No refund is given for unauthorized withdrawal. Upon notification that the student has withdrawn from the university, grades of W will be recorded for all courses from which the student withdrew. When the student accounts office has received notice of withdrawal from the advising office, refunds, if appropriate, will be made in keeping with the schedule outlined on the Admission and Financial Aid  page.

Course Numbering System

Courses numbered 100 to 299 are ordinarily freshman and sophomore courses, 300 to 499 are ordinarily junior and senior courses, and courses numbered 500 and above are graduate courses. Courses numbered below 100 do not apply toward graduation requirements. Undergraduate students with senior standing are in some instances allowed to enroll in 500-level courses that would serve to fulfill undergraduate credit hours as well as graduate-level credit hours in the approved graduate program.

Changes in Class Schedule

The university reserves the right to cancel classes for insufficient enrollment.

Class Attendance

Responsibility for attendance rests with each student. In general, it is the university policy to expect students to attend all of their classes. Matters of class attendance are dealt with by the individual instructor as deemed advisable. In the case of prolonged absences because of health or other serious reasons, the student must notify the dean of the appropriate school. Student athletes should consult the Student Athlete Handbook for specific attendance policies pertaining to student athletes.

Academic Integrity Policy

Students of the university must conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to maintain academic integrity will not be tolerated. The following definitions of plagiarism, cheating and academic dishonesty are provided for understanding and clarity.

Definitions of Plagiarism, Cheating, and Academic Dishonesty

Student plagiarism is the presentation of the writing or thinking of another as the student’s own. In written or oral work a student may make fair use of quotations, ideas, images, etc., that appear in others’ work only if the student gives appropriate credit to the original authors, thinkers, owners, or creators of that work. This includes material found on the internet and in electronic databases.

Cheating entails the use of unauthorized or prohibited aids in accomplishing assigned academic tasks. Obtaining unauthorized help on examinations, using prohibited notes on closed-note examinations, and depending on others for the writing of essays or the creation of other assigned work are all forms of cheating.

Academic dishonesty may also include other acts intended to misrepresent the authorship of academic work or to undermine the integrity of the classroom or of grades assigned for academic work. Deliberate acts threatening the integrity of library materials or the smooth operation of laboratories are among possible acts of academic dishonesty.

Sanctions for Violations of Academic Integrity

If an instructor determines that a student has violated the academic integrity policy, the instructor may choose to impose a sanction, ranging from refusal to accept a work project to a grade of F for the assignment or a grade of F for the course. When a sanction has been imposed, the instructor will inform the student in writing. The instructor must also inform the student that she/he has the right to appeal this sanction and refer the student to the academic appeals process described in this bulletin. The instructor will send a copy of this letter to the Office of the Dean of the college in which the course was offered. The dean will note whether a student, in her or his academic course work, has committed multiple violations of the academic integrity policy over time. In such cases, the dean may impose further sanctions, including warning/reprimand, failure of a course, suspension, or expulsion, with written notification to the student and instructor when appropriate. The student may appeal the dean’s sanction to the committee (within the appropriate college or school) responsible for overseeing educational policies.

Academic Appeals Process

Any disagreement with regard to academic procedure, including individual cases of alleged violation of academic integrity and final grades, should be first taken up with the instructor. If this does not settle the matter satisfactorily, the matter should be taken up with the department chair or school director, whichever is appropriate. If the issue cannot be resolved at the department level or with the school director, it should then be presented to the dean of the college/school in which the course was offered. If the issue is still not resolved, the student has the right to present the issue in writing to the committee of that dean’s college or school responsible for overseeing educational policies. The committee will request a written response from the instructor and may, at its discretion, seek further clarifications from the student, instructor, and/or dean. The committee will evaluate the student’s appeal and vote to approve or deny it. A written response will be sent directly to the student presenting the appeal, including grade adjustments if appropriate, with a copy to the faculty member. In the event of a successful appeal of an alleged violation of academic integrity, the original letter of notification from the instructor will be expunged from the dean’s file. Students wishing to file an appeal based on fall courses must do so no later than the end of the subsequent spring semester. Students wishing to file an appeal based on spring or summer courses must do so no later than the end of the subsequent fall semester.

Students with Special Needs

At Dominican University, no qualified individual with a disability will be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the university. The Office of the Dean of Students is a university resource promoting barrier-free environments (physical, program, information, attitude) and assisting the university in meeting its obligations under federal statutes and school tradition in regard to the rights of students with disabilities.

The Office of the Dean of Students coordinates providing necessary and appropriate services for students with special needs. Upon receipt of appropriate documentation of disability, the office assists by providing or arranging appropriate auxiliary aids and services, reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments, and consultation. In some instances the Office of the Dean of Students acts as a liaison with other appropriate state and federal agencies.

Students are encouraged to meet individually with the dean of students to determine what specific services and accommodations are needed. It is the responsibility of the student to make requests for auxiliary aids or special services at least three weeks prior to the start of a program or class.

The disability grievance procedure can be found in the student handbook, which can be requested from the Office of the Dean of Students.

Undergraduate Student Regulations

Classification

An undergraduate student will be classified as a sophomore if 28 semester hours have been completed, as a junior if 60 semester hours have been completed, and as a senior if 90 semester hours have been completed. A cumulative grade point average of 2.00 is required for conferral of a bachelor’s degree; a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 is required for conferral of a graduate degree.

Dean’s and Honors Lists

As a stimulus to academic achievement and in recognition of it, a dean’s list and an honors list are posted each semester. These lists are generated immediately following the posting of grades for the term. Undergraduate students with a semester grade point average of 3.80 based on 12 graded hours qualify for the dean’s list, and those with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 based on 12 graded hours in the current semester qualify for the honors list.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

A Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Business Adminstration, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is conferred upon a candidate who meets the requirements detailed in the Academic Program Information  section of this bulletin. Requirements for the Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, or Bachelor of Arts in Human Services degrees are outlined in the program listing. In addition to those and any other program-specific requirements, students are expected to:

• Earn a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Submit an Application for Graduation by the filing deadline to the Office of the Registrar
• Payment of all fees, including the graduation fee

Declining Performance, Probation, and Dismissal

To ensure students get the needed academic assistance when they are struggling, students who are not on probation, but have a semester grade point average below 2.0, will be encouraged to take advantage of the academic resources the university offers. If a student has a semester grade point average below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters and is not on probation, he or she will be required to:

• Meet with a staff member in the Academic Enrichment Center.
• Complete an Academic Success Plan.

Students are placed on probation if their Dominican cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00, at which point students are not in good academic standing. While on Academic Probation, students are required to:

• Register for ID 102 - Strategies for Academic Success  (3 credit hours).
  • Students who have a cumulative GPA of 1.67 or higher may register for a maximum of four additional courses.
  • Students who have a cumulative GPA below 1.67 may register for a maximum of three additional courses.
• Work with an advisor from Student Success and Engagement and with the faculty advisor to adjust schedules accordingly.
• Complete, and follow, an Academic Success Plan.
• Attend 15 hours of academic support arranged through the Academic Enrichment Center

Normally, students are dismissed if they have earned no credits by the end of their first semester or are on probation for two semesters. Students who have been dismissed must wait at least one semester before applying for readmission. Other restrictions may apply. Further details are available in the Student Success and Engagement Advising Office (Crown 100). Neither the university nor any of its officers shall be under any liability whatsoever for the actions of probation or dismissal.

Satisfactory Progress

Full-time students are expected to maintain an average rate of progress during each academic year of 12 earned credit hours per semester of registration. The university reserves the right to deny further full-time enrollment to a student who falls below this standard. Neither the university nor any of its officers shall be under any liability whatsoever for such denial. While 12 hours per semester are necessary for satisfactory progress, a student taking no more than 12 hours per semester will need more than ten semesters to complete the 124 hours required for a degree.

Exception to Normal Course Load

While the normal course load for full-time students is not fewer than 12 semester hours nor more than 18 semester hours, in an exceptional case it may be advisable for a student to take more than a normal load. In such a case, the student must first secure the permission of the advisor and then the permission of the dean of the appropriate school. In rare cases, the dean may approve up to 21 semester hours for the fall or spring semester. Students are permitted to enroll in no more than two courses (up to 8 total semester hours) in any one summer session (or in any combination of overlapping sessions) without the permission of the advisor and the dean of the appropriate school.

A student who has previously been placed on probation may petition for an overload only after having been in good academic standing for two full semesters.

There is a charge for an overload of 19 hours or more for a full-time student. The charge is equal to the part-time tuition rate per semester hour (see Admission and Financial Aid .)

Changes in Registration

An undergraduate-level course may be added or dropped no later than the sixth class day of the semester. A late registration fee may be charged to all students who register after the scheduled beginning of the semester. Students may add or drop courses online or by completing an add/drop form (complete with advisor’s signature) and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline, unless extenuating circumstances (requiring the dean’s approval) warrant an adjusted add or drop date.

Students may withdraw from a course through the tenth week of the semester by filing proper notice with the registrar. Before withdrawing from a course, a student is expected to consult with an academic advisor. The signature of the academic advisor must accompany the withdrawal form, which the student then files with the registrar. Upon proper filing, the registrar will record a grade of W: Withdrawal for the course. Financial aid and/or scholarship recipients should consult the Office of Financial Aid before withdrawing from a course.

Course Intensification Option

Undergraduate students may propose a special project for earning 1 additional semester hour credit in one course in which they are already enrolled. The course must be listed in the undergraduate course schedule for 3 or more credit hours. The student is responsible for completing a course intensification application (available in the Office of the Registrar) and obtaining written permission from the instructor.

Approved applications with a drop/add form signed by the student’s advisor must be filed in the Office of the Registrar by the end of the fourth week of the fall or spring semester, or by the end of the second week of Summer Session I or Summer Session II. Students who request the course intensification option may not alter this request once it has been approved-i.e., students may not drop the single credit. The course intensification option requires additional student work, and under no circumstances should it be considered a substitute for regular course work. Students will receive the same grade for the entire course, including the additional work completed as part of the course intensification.

Students may take no more than one course per semester with the intensification option. Some academic programs may require majors to take certain courses using the intensification option. Consult departmental program descriptions for more details.

Credits Earned Elsewhere

Permission of the academic advisor and the registrar is required for undergraduate students who wish to take courses at other institutions and have the courses credited toward the Dominican baccalaureate degree. Students must file a special transfer credit approval form in the Office of the Registrar that reflects this approval. For an upper division major course, permission of the major advisor is also required. Grades earned in courses completed elsewhere are not included in the Dominican cumulative grade point average when determining graduation honors and honor society enrollment. Grades earned in courses completed elsewhere are included in the cumulative grade point average for teacher certification purposes. Credit is only awarded for courses in which a student earns a grade of C- or higher.

Graduate Student Regulations

Degree Requirements

A degree may be conferred upon a candidate who has met the following requirements, in addition to the program-specific requirements (see the specific program for program-specific requirements):

• Satisfactory completion of all required courses and hours of credit
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Submitting an Application for Graduation by the filing deadline to the Office of the Registrar
• Payment of all fees, including the graduation fee

Declining Performance, Probation, and Dismissal

Dominican University reserves the right to deny registration to any student who, in the determination of the administration, is not progressing satisfactorily toward a degree or who, for other reasons, is deemed unsuitable for the program.

A graduate student is placed on probation if the individual’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.0 after at least three courses. Refer to the specific program of choice for any conditions that warrant student dismissal from the program.

Satisfactory Progress

Students are expected to make satisfactory academic progress leading to the successful completion of the degree and to complete the degree within six years of matriculation into the degree program. Individuals should refer to their specific program of choice for clarification of satisfactory academic progress.

Normal Course Load

Students should consult with their academic advisor on the appropriate course load for a given semester.

Changes in Registration

An graduate-level course may be added or dropped no later than the eleventh class day of the semester (or a proportional length of time for courses shorter than 15 weeks). A late registration fee may be charged to all students who register after the scheduled beginning of the semester. Students may add or drop courses online or by completing an add/drop form (complete with advisor signature, if required by the school or college) and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline, unless extenuating circumstances (requiring the dean’s approval) warrant an adjusted add or drop date.

Students may withdraw from a course through the tenth week of the semester by filing proper notice with the registrar. Before withdrawing from a course, a student is expected to consult with an academic advisor. If required by the school or college, the signature of the academic advisor must accompany the withdrawal form, which the student then files with the registrar. Upon proper filing, the registrar will record a grade of W: Withdrawal for the course. Financial aid and/or scholarship recipients should consult the Office of Financial Aid before withdrawing from a course.

Transfer Credit

Graduate-level credit from a regionally accredited college or university may be accepted in transfer at the time of matriculation into a Dominican University graduate program. All transfer credits are subject to approval by the receiving academic program. No transfer credit will be awarded unless an official transcript is provided showing that a grade of B or better was earned. Individuals should refer to the specific program of choice for any additional information.