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> MSU Policy and Procedures > Graduation Guarantee Programs
Graduation Guarantee Programs
August 1995
What Are the Graduation Guarantee Programs?With its Graduation
Guarantee programs, Montana State University-Bozeman offers serious,
goal-oriented incoming freshmen guaranteed savings in time and money as they
work toward the completion of their baccalaureate degree programs. In signed
contracts, the University and its participating students commit themselves to
achieving cost-effective programs of study. Two types of contracts are
available: 1) a four-year contract for most majors, and 2) a five-year contract
for Architecture majors.
The University's CommitmentsThe University will provide eligible
students with advising about their academic programs and with the courses they
need to complete them. To assist students in their plans to graduate in
four/five years, the University will:
The Students' CommitmentsStudents shall follow the academic advice
provided and take the courses which are available to them. If they are committed
to graduating in four years, they must:
- Be first-time MSU-Bozeman freshmen (including freshmen with Advanced
Placement, but excluding freshmen admitted on provisional, part-time status).
- Take all applicable placement examinations (e.g., English, mathematics,
languages, etc.) and earn placement in college-level courses in these areas
prior to the beginning of their first-semester classes.
- Declare majors prior to earning 45 credits. (If students change majors,
they may be unable to complete the requirements of the new majors
within the four-year time frames of the contracts. Students cannot change
out of Architecture and continue a five-year contract.)
- Meet with their academic advisors every semester to ensure that the
courses they select will meet all program requirements (major, college, and
University) within their contract periods.
- Enroll in classes each semester at their assigned registration times. They
may need to adjust their preferred schedules to take courses they need when
they are offered.
- Complete the average number of credits necessary each academic year
to meet the minimum credit requirements for graduation. (Students may need to
attend Summer Session to achieve the necessary rate of progress.)
- Maintain the grade point averages required by the University and
particular majors. Students must earn grades sufficient to allow them to
enroll in the next level of required courses in order not to repeat courses
and thereby lose time.
Is the Four-Year Guarantee Program for You?The Four-Year Guarantee
Program is not for all students. There are many good reasons why you may choose
to take longer than four years to graduate.
- You may have pre-college work (e.g., in English or mathematics) to
complete before you can proceed with college-level courses.
- You may be enrolled in a high-credit major with a very strict sequencing
of courses.
- You may have family or work responsibilities that prevent you from
completing an average of 16 credits per semester.
- You may find your interests change while you are at MSU-Bozeman, leading
you to change your major field of study.
- You may involve yourself in internships in preparation for your
post-graduate career.
- You may take specific additional courses to meet the requirements of
admission to a professional school.
- You may involve yourself in time-consuming research opportunities in
preparation for graduate or professional school.
- You may choose to study abroad for a year.
- You may choose to involve yourself heavily in extracurricular activities
as a citizen of the campus and community.
Each of the choices that you make may enhance your education,
yet they make it more difficult to finish the Four-Year Guarantee on schedule.
Nevertheless, many students in each of the above circumstances can finish their
degree programs in four years.
More information and Graduation Guarantee forms are available from the
colleges and departments.
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