Evening Degree Program - Academic Regulations and Policies

Academic Advising
Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor for academic advising as needed. Appointments can be scheduled for morning, afternoon and early evening. Assistance with degree planning and selection of courses is available to all degree seeking and special status students. Students with questions or concerns about coursework, faculty, policy, or other academic issues, may contact the evening degree program office for an appointment.

Registration
All evening degree program students may select courses in consultation with an advisor. Registration deadlines are published in the evening degree program schedule of classes each semester. Students are responsible for submitting paperwork for all registration procedures, including drop/add forms and withdrawal forms, by the published deadlines. Students are encouraged to register early to ensure optimum course selection. Students may register for two sessions at a time. The following sessions must be registered together:

• Session 1 & 2 (Fall)
• Session 3 & 4 (Spring)
• Session 5 & 6 (Summer)

Students anticipating the need for financial aid must register for two sessions at a time to meet federal regulations. Contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance.

Final Examinations
Final examinations are administered the last night of class. Final papers and other course requirements are due at that time unless otherwise stated in the course syllabus.

Class Attendance
The first day of class is imperative for a good start to a successful session. Students who do not attend the first scheduled day of class will be considered "no shows" unless they contact the instructor on or before the first day of the course. If a student does not attend the first scheduled day of class, he or she will be responsible for either dropping the course or withdrawing from the course.

Regular attendance at class sessions, laboratories, and examinations is an obligation which all students are expected to fulfill. Faculty members set attendance policies in their course syllabi.

Grading
Letter grades are submitted by faculty members at the end of each session. These grades become part of the student’s official record. Once entered, a grade may not be changed except by means of an officially executed Change of Grade form. Nonincomplete grades may not be challenged or changed after the end of the next session in which the grade in question was earned. Grade appeal procedures are located on this page.

A student’s cumulative grade-point average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the number of semester hours of work the student has attempted at Oglethorpe into the total number of quality points earned.

Notes: * –Grade has same effect as an "F" on the GPA. ** – Grade has no effect on the GPA; no credit awarded. *** – Grade has same effect as an "F" on the GPA. If a student is unable to complete the work for a course on time for reasons of health, family tragedy, or other circumstances the instructor deems appropriate, the grade "I" may be assigned. If the student completes and submits the work to the instructor within thirty days of exams (of the session in question), the instructor will evaluate the work and turn in a revised grade. Any "I" not changed by the professor within forty-five days of the last day of exams (of the session in question) will automatically be changed to a grade of "F". **** – Grade has no effect on the GPA; credit is awarded. Only work completed at Oglethorpe is reflected in the Oglethorpe GPA. Undergraduate students who entered Oglethorpe prior to Fall 1992 will be graded without the plus/minus system as follows:

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
After 30 semester hours are earned at Oglethorpe a student in good academic standing may register to take two courses on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. These courses cannot be taken in the same session and cannot be used to satisfy general education requirements or the student’s major or minor. The student must register for the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory designation by the end of the Drop/ Add period after which the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory designation cannot be changed. Satisfactory is defined as a "C-" or better.

Grade Appeals
The university considers instructors to be professional evaluators of the student’s academic performance, and expects them to assign grades fairly, without inconsistency or capriciousness. Whenever possible, students are urged to seek informal resolution with the instructor.

If a student believes that a course grade has been assigned in a capricious or inconsistent manner, and informal discussion with the instructor does not resolve the dispute to the student’s satisfaction, the student may appeal the grade through the process described below:

1. The student submits a written appeal to the instructor, within 14 days after the posting of the final grade, clearly stating the reasons he or she believes the grade was assigned in a capricious or inconsistent manner.
    
2. Within 14 days of receiving the written appeal, the instructor either changes the grade and so notifies the student, or responds to the student in writing, explaining why the extant grade is appropriate.
    
3. If the student is not satisfied with the explanation, he or she submits copies of the original appeal, the instructors response and one letter of explanation to state his or her reasons that the grade was assigned in a capricious or inconsistent manner. This information is submitted to the Evening Degree Program Director within 10 days of receiving the instructors written response.
    
4. Within 7 working days, the Evening Degree Program Director will request the instructor submit one letter of explanation to the Evening Degree Program Director stating why the student’s grade has not been assigned in a capricious or inconsistent manner.
    
5. The Evening Degree Program Director convenes and serves as chair of a ruling committee. The ruling committee will review the letters submitted by the student and the instructor. After reviewing the letters submitted, the ruling committee may request additional information before rendering a decision. The ruling committee is comprised of the Evening Degree Program Director, the Faculty Coordinator, and an instructor in an appropriate discipline.
    
6. If the ruling committee rules in favor of the instructor, written notification is given both to the instructor and to the student, and no further appeal is possible. If the committee rules in favor of the student, the chair advises the instructor to reconsider the grade. If the instructor refuses to change the grade, the ruling committee may submit a written recommendation for a grade change to the Provost, whose decision will be final and based upon a review of the materials that have been submitted and the process that has been followed.
    
7. The entire process must be concluded by the end of the subsequent session.

Normal Academic Load
The class schedule is accelerated to facilitate degree completion. The school year is divided into six eight-week sessions. Course offerings are planned and scheduled with the assumption that most students will take two courses per session. Each class meets 2 hours and 15 minutes, two evenings per week. Some Saturday classes are also available. Students may register for two courses per session which constitutes full-time status.

If a student intends to pursue more than two courses per session the approval of the Evening Degree Program Director is required.

Incompletes
If a student is unable to complete the work for a course on time for reasons of health, family tragedy, or other circumstances the instructor deems appropriate, the grade "I" may be assigned. If the student completes and submits the work to the instructor within thirty days of the last day of exams (of the session in question), the instructor will evaluate the work and turn in a revised grade. Any "I" not changed by the professor within forty-five days of the last day of exams (of the session in question) will automatically be changed to a grade of "F". The grade of "I" has the same effect as a grade of "F" on a student’s grade point average.

Auditing Courses
Regularly admitted Oglethorpe students may register for courses on an "audit" basis. A student who audits a course may attend for enrichment but will not be required to take examinations or complete other course requirements. In order to audit a course, an admitted student must request an Audit form from the evening degree program office and submit it to the instructor for approval. If the class is not closed, the instructor may accept the student as an audit by returning the signed form to the evening degree program office. The designation given for a class taken on an audit basis is "AU," and no credits or quality points are earned.

Students may register to take courses on an audit basis only during normal drop/ add periods. The fees for auditing courses are published by the Business Office.

Dean’s List
Students who earn a semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher carrying 12 semester hours or more during the fall, spring and summer semester are placed on the Dean’s Academic Honors List.

Graduation Requirements
To earn a evening degree program baccalaureate degree, the following requirements must be met:

1. Completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of course credit with an Oglethorpe cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 or higher. A minimum of 60 semester hours must be earned through coursework at Oglethorpe.
    
2. The maximum total number of semester hours that may be transferred into Oglethorpe is 60 semester hours. A minimum of 60 semester hours must be earned through coursework at Oglethorpe to satisfy the residency requirement for an Oglethorpe degree to be awarded. Prior to graduation, students must be in residence during their final two sessions.
    
3. Completion of the general education distribution requirements.
    
4. Completion of major field requirements, with at least 15 semester hours in the major taken at Oglethorpe.
    
5. Submission of an application for graduation to the Registrar’s Office by mid-October prior to completion of degree requirements the following December, May, or August.
    
6. Satisfaction of all financial and other obligations to the University and payment of a degree completion fee.
    
7. Formal approval from the evening degree program office for graduation.

Graduation Exercises
Graduation exercises are held once a year at the close of session 4 in May. Diplomas are awarded at the close of May commencement. To be eligible to participate in May graduation exercises, a student must have fulfilled all degree requirements prior to May commencement. Students completing requirements at the end of summer and fall are encouraged to participate in the following spring graduation exercises.

Good Standing, Probation and Academic Dismissal
To be in good standing students must achieve the cumulative grade-point averages specified below in relation to the number of semester hours they have completed.

Students who fail to achieve good standing are placed on probation. Students who do not achieve good standing for two consecutive sessions are subject to dismissal from the University for academic reasons.

New students, freshmen, or transfer students who fail all courses during their first two sessions at Oglethorpe are subject to dismissal, unless the student received a "W" in all courses or had to withdraw from all courses for medical reasons.

Students who have been dismissed for academic reasons may be readmitted after an absence of one session upon petition to the Provost. Students readmitted by petition must achieve good standing by the end of their second session as readmitted students or be subject to permanent dismissal.

Degrees With Latin Academic Honors
Undergraduate degrees with Latin academic honors are awarded as follows: cum laude for a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher; magna cum laude for 3.7 or higher; and summa cum laude for 3.9 or higher. Transfer work is not included in the determination for Latin academic honors.

Double Major Policy
A student may earn a double major subject to the following conditions:

1. The student must meet all requirements of both majors.
    
2. The student may count no more than four of the courses taken to meet the major requirements of one of the fields toward meeting the major requirements of the other field.
    
3. The transcript will list both majors. In case both majors result in the same degree, that degree will be awarded.
    
4. In case the two majors result in different degrees, the student will receive only one degree, that being the students’ choice of the two degree designations.

Earning a Second Add-On Major Policy
Students who have been awarded an Oglethorpe baccalaureate degree may return to earn a second major within that degree at the University. Upon completion of the requirements, the second major will be entered on the student’s record and transcript. No diploma will be awarded when the second major is within the degree already awarded. The requirements are:

1. Completion of an additional 30 semester hours of which a minimum of 15 must be completed at Oglethorpe.
    
2. Maintenance of a 2.0 of higher cumulative grade-point average.
    
3. Completion of a major other than the major(s) completed at the time the first degree was awarded, subject to the first two conditions listed above under the Double Major Policy.

Earning a Second Baccalaureate Degree
Students who have completed a baccalaureate degree may be awarded a second and different baccalaureate degree. Upon completion of the requirements, the student’s record and transcript will reflect the conferring of a second degree and a diploma will be awarded.
For students who have earned their first baccalaureate degree at Oglethorpe, the same requirements listed above under Earning a Second Add-On Major Apply.
For students who have earned their first baccalaureate degree at another institution, this degree is treated as transfer credit. Up to a maximum of 60 semester hours may be accepted at Oglethorpe. The requirements for the second degree are:

1. Satisfaction of Oglethorpe General Education requirements.
2. Completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours at Oglethorpe.
3. Maintenance of a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average.
4. Completion of a major other than the major(s) completed at the time the first degree was awarded.

All transfer policies stated in the section of this Bulletin entitled Transfer Students and Transfer Policies apply.

Student Classification
For administrative and other official purposes, undergraduate students are classified according to the number of semester hours successfully completed. Classification is as follows: 0 to 30 hours – freshman; 31 to 60 hours – sophomore; 61 to 90 hours – junior; 91 hours and above – senior.

Evening Degree Program Students Seeking Transient Status
Evening degree program students may pursue classes at another accredited institution with the approval of his or her advisor and the Registrar. Failure to obtain this approval may result in the denial of credit. Students must be in good academic and financial standing with Oglethorpe University. Transient request forms are available in the evening degree program office.

Course Level
In the Evening Degree Program Academic section of this website, disciplines and majors are listed. Respective courses under each are designated by a prefix that identifies the discipline and a four-digit number. The first digit indicates the level of the course: 1 = freshman level, 2 = sophomore level, 3 = junior level, and 4 = senior level. (A 5 or 6 typically denote a graduate-level course.) Higher-level courses in a discipline are typically designed to build upon the content of lower level courses in that discipline and other specified prerequisite courses.

The number of hours refers to the semester hours of credit per semester, which are earned by the successful completion of the course.

Withdrawal From a Course
From the conclusion of the Drop/Add period through mid-session, the grade "W" or "WF" is assigned at the instructor’s discretion to a student who withdraws from a course and turns in a properly executed withdrawal form at the evening degree program office. After the withdrawal period the grade "WF" is assigned. Only in the case of prolonged illness (a physician’s letter must be submitted directly to the evening degree program office) or withdrawal from the University will a "W" be assigned.

Withdrawal From the University
Students who wish to withdraw from the University during a session are required to complete the appropriate form, which is available at the evening degree program office. The grade "W" or "WF" will be assigned for courses in progress, depending upon the student’s academic progress in those courses.

Repetition of Courses
Courses may be repeated only if an unsatisfactory grade ("D," "F," "FA," or "WF") was received in the course. When a course is repeated, both grades are calculated into the student’s grade-point average, but no additional semester hours of credit are earned.

For courses completed prior to 1984, consult the Registrar for applicable regulations.

Access to Student Records/ Release of Information
To comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly called the Buckley Amendment, Oglethorpe University informs students of their rights under this act in the student handbook, The O Book. Three basic rights are covered by this act: (1) The student’s right to have access to personal records, (2) the right of a hearing to challenge the content of a record, and (3) the right to give consent for the release of identifying data.

Additional information may be obtained from The O Book and from the Registrar.

Oglethorpe Honor Code
Persons who come to Oglethorpe University for work and study join a community that is committed to high standards of academic honesty. The Honor Code contains the responsibilities we accept by becoming members of the community.

The students and faculty of Oglethorpe University expect each other to be truthful in the academic endeavor they share. Faculty assume students complete work honestly and act toward them in ways consistent with that assumption.

Oglethorpe welcomes all admitted students who accept our principles of honest behavior. We believe that this Code will enrich our years at the University and allow us to begin practicing the honorable, self-governed lives expected of society’s leaders.

Students pledge that they have completed assignments honestly by attaching the following statement to each test, paper, overnight work, in-class essay, or other work designated by professors:

I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment. Signed _____________________________

It will be the responsibility of the student to provide these pledges by either attaching them on a separate sheet or typing them as part of the assignment. The instructor also should remind the class to sign the pledge. The pledge serves as an affirmation of the student’s and the instructor’s belief in the principles of the honor code. Assigned work should not be considered complete without the pledge.

Since it is assumed that students act according to their pledge, faculty abstain from any practices whose purpose is to ascertain that students have been dishonest unless there is a compelling reason to believe that cheating has taken place. Instructors should invite their own students to discuss with them actions or policies that appear to be at variance with the assumption of honesty.

All credit courses offered by the University are covered by the Honor Code, and all cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be handled in accordance with its provisions. It is the responsibility of faculty members to make clear how the Code applies to specific courses and to follow its procedures. The Oglethorpe University Judicial Review Board serves as the final arbitor in all disputes concerning the Honor Code. For complete text of the Honor Code, please see The O Book, the student handbook.