Academic Information You Should Know

As an Michigan Tech student, you are responsible for your own academic progress, but Michigan Tech faculty and staff are here to help you succeed. If you have any questions, contact the Student Affairs Office.

Student Affairs

Location: Administration 170

Telephone: 487-2212

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm

Email: studentaffairs@mtu.edu

Website: www.sa.mtu.edu

Student Affairs includes the office of the vice president for student affairs and the dean of students, and it is the center for many student services, including those for disabled students, academic standards, student discipline, and approval of late drops of courses and credit overloads.

Your Files

The Student Affairs Office maintains an individual file for each Michigan Tech student. These files include correspondence and helpful background information that are provided by the student. These files are confidential and are open only to the staff in the Student Affairs Office, Counseling Services, and other University personnel who have an educational need to know. Such information is essential to responsible counseling procedures and is treated with professional judgment. These files are destroyed one year after graduation or five years after a student leaves without graduating. Under federal law, students may review their records upon formal request to the dean of students.

Scholastic Standards

Graduation GPA Requirements

A minimum GPA of 2.00, both cumulative and in the major department or school, is required for all undergraduate degrees.

Undergraduate Academic Progress

The academic progress of degree-seeking undergraduate students is monitored, and those having academic difficulty may be asked to withdraw from specific courses, may be placed on academic probation or suspension, or may be dismissed.

Required Course Withdrawal

The dean of students may, on the recommendation of the department chair, require students to withdraw from any course or courses in which their preparation, progress, effort, or conduct is deemed unsatisfactory.

Academic Probation

Students who are not making satisfactory progress toward a degree are placed on academic probation. Academic probation is a strong warning to students that their scholastic performance is less than that expected by the University. Notices of academic probation are sent to students at the same time grades are sent at the end of the semester. Failure to improve after receiving a probation notice can result in academic suspension or dismissal from the University.

A student who is seeking the baccalaureate or associate degree is placed on academic probation under any of the following conditions:

• The University cumulative GPA is below 2.00.
• The GPA for the most recent semester is below 2.00.
• The cumulative GPA in the courses used to calculate departmental GPA is below 2.00, based on at least 16 credits.

A student will be removed from academic probation when all of the following conditions are met:

• The University cumulative GPA is 2.00 or greater.
• The GPA for the most recent semester is 2.00 or greater.
• The cumulative GPA in the major department is 2.00 or greater.

Academic Suspension and Dismissal

A student is eligible for academic suspension if the cumulative GPA is below 2.0 after a semester of academic probation or if the student is not restored to good academic standing after two semesters of probation regardless of the cumulative GPA. A student who receives a notice of academic suspension will not be permitted to enroll at the University for a specified period of time.

Upon receiving a first notice of academic suspension, a student must sit out for at least one semester, plus a summer. That is, a student suspended at the end of a fall semester may not reenroll until the following fall, and a student suspended at the end of a spring semester may not reenroll until the following spring. Upon receiving a second notice of academic suspension, a student must sit out two semesters, plus a summer. Upon reinstatement after a second suspension, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress within one semester will result in academic dismissal. There is no opportunity for reinstatement after academic dismissal.

Appeals of Academic Suspension/Dismissal

Appeals of academic suspension/dismissal will be considered if students can document that there are unusual or extenuating circumstances surrounding their recent academic performance. They must also be confident that they will be able to show significant academic progress. Students wishing to make such an appeal must do so in writing to the dean of students within five calendar days of receipt of the notice of suspension/dismissal. See this website: www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/petitionappeal.html.

Reinstatement

A student suspended for unsatisfactory academic progress may apply for reinstatement through a written request to the vice president for student affairs after a period of nonenrollment, or they can complete this form: www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/reinstate/.

A student who is reinstated after academic suspension will be reinstated on academic probation and shall be considered as having enrolled under the catalog and curriculum in effect at the time of reenrollment.

Upon reinstatement, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress by the end of one semester will result in a second suspension. Upon reinstatement after a second suspension, failure to achieve good academic standing or show substantial academic progress within one semester will result in academic dismissal. There is no opportunity for reinstatement after academic dismissal.

Dean's List

Each semester, the registrar submits to the dean of students the names of full-time undergraduate students who earn a 3.50 or higher Grade Point Average. This list is published as the Dean's List. When students earn a 4.00 GPA, both they and their parents receive a letter notifying them of the achievement.

Commencement

During the 2007-08 academic year, commencement ceremonies will be held on December 15, 2007, and May 3, 2008. Students are eligible to participate in commencement if they (1) are registered in classes that will complete all outstanding degree requirements, and (2) have an application for graduation* and a department-approved degree audit on file in the Degree Services Office two semesters prior to their expected graduation term.

Participation in a commencement ceremony is NOT equivalent to graduation. Since the ceremony occurs before final grades are submitted, it is not possible to determine if all degree requirements are met at that time. Graduation becomes official after all grades are received and the degree notation is placed on the academic record.

Student Academic Grievances

(Tech Policy Statement)

Michigan Technological University recognizes the need for a mechanism to assure that student grievances about faculty actions are evaluated fairly and equitably and, for this purpose, establishes the procedures outlined below.

Student complaints that are related to academic integrity or alleged discrimination and/or harassment are not covered under this policy or procedure. In such cases, students are directed to the Scientific Misconduct Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy (available from department chairs and the Student Affairs Office), or to the Affirmative Programs Office to proceed with their complaints. Likewise, complaints about University policy and procedure should be directed to the responsible office or unit.

Procedure

Preparing the grievance—Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisor or other trusted mentor to clarify the specific grievances, discuss appropriate approaches to the resolution of the issue, and ensure their understanding of the procedures outlined below.

Making the grievance—Students should first present their grievance in an informal discussion with the faculty member involved. If the student does not feel that a satisfactory explanation or resolution has been reached through these discussions, he or she may initiate review of the grievance by the faculty member's supervisor, in the following order:

• The student should make an appointment with the supervisor for an informal discussion of the grievance. If the grievance cannot be resolved at that time, the student will be advised to prepare and file a written statement of grievance.
• A written statement of the grievance will be submitted to the faculty member's supervisor with attached documentation (e.g., syllabi, relevant assignments, relevant teacher responses to the assignments, grading criteria, papers, tests, quizzes, portfolios, etc.)

Resolution of the Grievance (This is how a student grievance is addressed)

• The supervisor will review the complaint in a timely manner with the faculty member concerned. The supervisor may also seek review by appropriate faculty or a faculty committee within the department/school. If consultation with others is necessary, the supervisor must summarize each consultation in writing to the student, the faculty member concerned, and the consultant. The supervisor will wait a reasonable time for response from these individuals before making a decision.
• The supervisor provides a written decision to the student with copies to the faculty member involved, the provost, and the vice president for student affairs.

Appeal Process

The student complainant may wish to appeal the decision of the faculty member's supervisor. If so, the appeal must be made in writing to the dean of the college/school within five working days of the original decision. The scope of the appeal is limited to one of the following:

• The student may have new information not available at the time the supervisor reviewed the case that would significantly affect the evaluation of the grievance.
• The student may be able to demonstrate that the procedural guidelines established in this document were breached and that such departure from established procedure significantly affected the outcome of the case.

It should be understood by students that faculty also have a right to appeal a decision rendered by their supervisor, in accordance with the Faculty Grievance Policy outlined in Appendix C of the Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Handbook.

The dean of the college/school will provide a written response to the student with copies to the faculty member involved, the supervisor who made the initial decision, and the dean of students.

Ombudsperson

The Office of the Ombudsperson is designed to provide a fair and effective means of bringing a complaint to an impartial person who has investigative powers. This office is intended to be used only after normal channels have failed. All information is held in strict confidence between the complainant and the ombudsperson. The ombudsperson does not have authority to take disciplinary action, reverse decisions, or circumvent regulations. After hearing complaints, the ombudsperson will recommend action or decide that complaints are unfounded or beyond the ombudsperson's jurisdiction.

Contact the Provost office at 487-2440 for more information.

Disciplinary Procedures

The discipline process at Michigan Tech is designed to promote a commitment to education and growth of each individual while ensuring the integrity of the campus as a whole. This includes protecting the rights of each individual, supporting community standards (as outlined in University regulations), and helping students change their behavior (when necessary) to become responsible members of the community.

When a perceived violation of University regulations occurs and an incident report is written, an administrative hearing officer from the Student Affairs Office or Residence Life will determine if there is a basis for bringing charges against a student. If not, then the incident is resolved at this point. If the student is charged with a conduct violation, he or she will attend an initial conference with an administrative hearing officer to review the charges and the range of sanctions that apply to the violation. The student may then accept responsibility for the violation or choose from a range of alternatives. In cases of possible suspension or expulsion, the student is entitled to an administrative hearing or a hearing before the University Judiciary Committee (excluding complaints of sexual misconduct) or the Academic Integrity Committee. If the student is determined to be responsible, a sanction is assigned. (A more detailed description of the disciplinary process and sanctions can be found in Student Rights and Responsibilities in the University Community and the Academic Integrity Policy.) For more information about the disciplinary process, contact the Student Affairs Office.

University Rules and the Law

The University may charge students for failure to comply with any local, state, or federal laws, including those governing sexual misconduct, as described under the University regulation Maintenance of Public Order. For more information, see Student Rights and Responsibilities or visit this website: www.sa.mtu.edu/dean/judicial/policies/code/.

While the laws of the community and University policies may overlap, they operate independently and do not substitute for each other. The University may enforce its own rules, whether or not legal proceedings are underway, and may use information from third-party sources, such as law enforcement agencies or the courts, to determine if University rules have been broken.

The University may enforce its rules whether sexual misconduct occurs on or off campus. Michigan Tech will make no attempt to shield members of the MTU community from the law and will not intervene in legal proceedings on behalf of either the victim or the accused.

Administrative Suspension and Medical Withdrawals

A convenient health-care facility and a University-sponsored counseling service help meet the medical and psychological needs of students. Students whose needs are beyond the resources of these services will be referred to off-campus facilities whenever possible.

However, sometimes a student's behavior makes him/her incapable of continuing as a successful member of the University community. If students' behavior is deemed potentially harmful to themselves or others; disruptive to the University community; and/or detrimental to themselves or others in the residence hall or classroom environment, they may lose certain privileges or be recommended to take a medical withdrawal from the University.

When such emergency or extenuating situations arise, the dean of students may immediately take any of the following actions: administratively suspend the student from a class or all classes, impose a no contact condition between the student and a complainant, relocate the student to another residence hall, and/or deny campus residency to the student. The University will subsequently provide the student with the opportunity for a hearing.

Office of Student Records and Registration

Location: Administration 110

Telephone: 487-2319

Website: www.admin.mtu.edu/em/

Registration

Students should register for classes during the initial registration period as indicated in the University calendar. Prior to registration, students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor for assistance in selecting appropriate courses. The Undergraduate Catalog <www.admin.mtu.edu/em> also contains important registration information regarding the following:

• course load
• prerequisite/corequisite responsibilities
• repeat rules
• dropping and adding courses
• graduation requirements

Change of Curriculum (Major)

Students should meet with an academic advisor in the department they wish to enter and obtain an Undergraduate Change/Addition of Major/Minor form from that department. The form must be signed by the advisor and the student and then returned to the Office of Student Records and Registration for the change to officially take place. This must be done by Wednesday of the second week of classes to be effective that semester.

Getting Your Grades

Grades are available on Banweb (Student Information System) after 5:00 pm Tuesday following Final Exam week.

Correcting Your Grades

A student having an error in a final course grade should contact the instructor and the registrar as soon as possible but no later than one month after the beginning of the next term. Graded student work (exams, papers, homework, etc.) which has not been returned to the student should be retained by the instructor of record for at least one month after the beginning of the next term or until existing disputes have been resolved.

Drop Policy

Special Requirement for First-Year Students

First-Year students must obtain approval from their academic advisor to drop a course. After the third week of the semester, instructor approval is also required to drop a course.

Drop Policy for All Students, Including First-Year Students

Students may drop courses through the end of the third week of a semester without a grade being reported. Courses dropped between the beginning of the fourth week and the end of the eighth week of a semester will be indicated by a grade of W on the transcript.

Late Drop of Courses

After the eighth week of a semester, a student may request a late drop from the Student Affairs Office, which will consider only those requests that clearly involve extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control. Check out this web site: www.admin.mtu.edu/dos/latedrop.htm.

Prerequisites

Students must have the appropriate prerequisites to register for a course. The minimum grade required for a prerequisite is a D. However, students are strongly encouraged to repeat courses in which grades of CD or D were earned before progressing to an advanced course.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer equivalent credit from another institution. A grade of C or better must be earned in the equivalent course(s) at the other institution to be accepted by MTU. Equivalent courses can be viewed on the Web by selecting Transfer Equivalencies in the A2Z search on www.mtu.edu. Students may also contact the transfer services coordinator in the Office of Student Records and Registration for information.

Repeating a Course

Students may not repeat courses in which they have earned a grade of C or better. When a course is repeated, the most recent grade will be used to calculate the GPA, credits earned toward graduation, and determination of class standings. When a course is repeated, any credit previously earned under the course number is forfeited and the transcript will indicate NR (No grade-repeated) for the earlier attempt. Students must have the permission of the dean of students and their academic advisor for the third attempt at any one course. Courses exempt from the repeat rule are those that may be repeated for credit as indicated in the course description.

Records—Privacy and Access

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

The right to inspect

Students may request to inspect their education records within forty-five days of the day the University receives a request for access.

The right to request ammendment

Students may request to amend records believed to be inaccurate or misleading.

The right to consent to disclosures

Students may consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

The right to file a complaint

Students have the right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Questions about FERPA may be directed to Michigan Technological University, Office of Student Records and Registration, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295. The complete policy is available on the Office of Student Records and Registration website under Services, University Policy.