Academic Regulations
Pre-registration
All
students returning to Delaware State
University following the current semester
of attendance should preregister during
the period prescribed in the Academic
Calendar. Returning students who
do not register prior to on-site registration
will be assessed a failure to preregister
fee. To participate in online registration,
a student must be advised and obtain
their unique alternate registration
PIN from their academic department.
(This PIN is different than the PIN
needed to view grades, students accounts
and financial aid information). A new
registration PIN is assigned to each
student for each system to ensure that
all matriculating students are advised
prior to registering each term.
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Registration
Every
student is expected to complete registration
before the first day of classes in
each semester. Students are advised
to see their assigned departmental
advisor during the preregistration
period specified in the Academic
Calendar to select courses for
the next semester. Students are officially
registered for a course only when they
have completed all procedures applying
to registration including making full-payment
or payment arrangements for any outstanding
balance. Students not officially registered
for a course will not receive credit
for the course at the end of the semester.
A
student who fails to register prior
to the Late Registration period which
begins on the first day of classes
is charged a late registration fee.
Returning students who register during
the late registration period are assessed
a failure to preregister fee and a
late registration fee.
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Online
Registration
It
is required that all degree seeking
students consult with an advisor prior
to registering. Students may have their
academic departments continue to enter
their registrations and schedule changes
(drop/adds) or they may register and
make adjustments to their schedule
online. To obtain their unique "alternate
registration PIN" for registering
online, students must see their academic
advisor after building their course
selections on the pre-printed Schedule
Request Form provided in the Registration
and Course Schedule Guide. To register
online, students may visit the University's student
services web site.
Students
may view their transcripts as well
as student accounts and financial aid
information at the student services
web site listed above. Unofficial transcripts
and schedules may also be printed.
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Change
in Major or Personal Data
Students
must submit major and personal data
(address or telephone number) changes
on the appropriate forms available
in the Office of Registration and Records
as often as necessary.
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Credit
Hours
Academic
work in University courses is measured
in semester hours of credit. A semester
hour is equal to fifty minutes of recitation
or lecture work per week for one semester.
A minimum of two hours of laboratory
work yields one semester hour.
Credit
will not be accepted for a course in
which a student is not officially registered,
nor will credit be granted for the
same course twice.
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Classification
of Students
| 0-29
Hours |
Freshman |
| 30-59
Hours |
Sophomore |
| 60-89
Hours |
Junior |
| 90
Hours and above |
Senior |
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Grading
System
A
grade is reported for each course in
which a student is enrolled. The grade
is an indication of the quality of
the student's performance in a course.
Mid-semester
and final grades will be issued to
all students for all courses enrolled.
Final grades become a part of the student's
permanent record and are used in computing
grade point averages. If a student
repeats a course, the highest grade
in the course is calculated in the
grade point average (GPA). The lower
grade earned in the course is disregarded
when calculating the GPA, but is not
deleted from the student's record.
On the student's transcript, an "E" placed
next to a course indicated the repetition
of a course excluded from the GPA and
an "I" indicates the repetition
of a course included in the GPA. The
GPA is computed by dividing the total
number of quality points by the total
number of GPA hours earned. Non-traditional
grades including grades of I, W, WA,
AU, S, U, and P are not computed in
the GPA.
Grade
changes must be approved by the dean
of the college or school in which the
student is a major during the semester
of instruction immediately following
the semester the grade was issued.
Grade changes for undecided majors
must be approved by the dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences. All grade
changes submitted later than the succeeding
semester must be approved by the provost
and vice president for academic affairs.
Approved grade changes will be forwarded
to the Office of Registration and Records
for processing.
The
grading system at Delaware State University
is shown below:
| Grade |
Quality
Points |
Explanation |
| A |
4.00 |
Excellent |
| B |
3.00 |
Good |
| C |
2.00 |
Fair |
| D |
1.00 |
Poor |
| F |
0.00 |
Failure |
| I |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Incomplete |
| W |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Withdrew |
| WA |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Administrative
Drop |
| AU |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Audit
- Not Taken For Credit |
| S |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Satisfactory |
| U |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Unsatisfactory |
| P |
(Not
Computed in GPA) |
Pass |
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Removal
of Incompletes
Incomplete
course work due to reasons clearly
beyond the control of the student will
yield the grade "I." This
grade must be removed by the end of
the first six weeks of the student's
next semester in attendance, otherwise
the grade "I" is automatically
changed to "F" by the Office
of Registration and Records.
Academically
suspended students who have "incompletes" may
register only if they have removed
the incompletes and achieved the necessary
2.00 average no later than the last
day of the late registration period.
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Academic
Load
A
normal load is 15-18 credit hours per
semester. The normal load may be exceeded
under the following circumstances:
- The
Academic Advisor may approve as many
as 19 hours if the curriculum of
the department specifically calls
for more than 18 hours.
- On
the approval of both the department
chairperson and the academic dean,
a student may schedule an overload
not to exceed 21 hours if the student
has a 3.00 cumulative average (minimum)
and if during the previous semester
the student carried 15 or more hours,
and did not fail any course and earned
a 3.00 grade point average (minimum).
In special cases exceptions to the
19 or more hours requirement may
be made with the approval of both
the department chairperson and the
academic dean.
- On
the approval of both the department
chairperson and the academic dean,
any senior may schedule a maximum
of 21 hours if the overload will
allow the student to graduate in
that semester. A student who registers
for work in excess of an approved
load shall be required by the provost
and vice president of academic affairs
to drop the overload. A student may
not register for any course at another
institution when in regular attendance
at the University unless the student
has the approval of both the department
chairperson and the academic dean.
In both cases, the hours taken will
be considered a part of that semester's
total academic load.
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Overload
Fee
For
all course overloads, students will
pay a fee equivalent to the cost-per-credit
for each hour that exceeds 19 credits.
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Full-Time
Status
The
minimum course load for full-time status
is 12 credit hours per semester. A
full-time student is normally expected
to complete 30 credit hours of course-work
each academic year (Fall, Spring and
Summer terms); and must complete a
minimum of 24 hours of course work
each academic year to qualify for financial
aid. In addition, full-time students
must meet the academic regulations
stated elsewhere on this page.
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Class
Attendance Policy
Regular
class attendance is a vital part of
the educational process. Students are
required to attend all classes. If
a faculty member chooses to evaluate
attendance as part of a grade for a
course, such a policy must be written
in the syllabus, which is distributed
at the beginning of a course. The policy
must state what part of the course
grade is based on attendance and how
individual absences will be assessed.
If a faculty member declines to integrate
attendance as part of a course grade,
under no circumstances may a student's
final grade be reduced solely because
of class absences.
The
Office of the Provost and Vice-President
for Academic Affairs issues excuses
for students who are absent from classes
while participating in official University
related activities or on University
related travel. In all other cases,
only the instructor can approve a student's
request to be excused from class.
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Adding
and Dropping Classes Online
Eligible
students without financial holds are
permitted to add and drop classes online
at the University's student
services web site. The approval
to adjust the course schedule online
must be obtained from the student's
academic advisor prior to going online
to adjust his/her schedule.
Adding
Classes
To
add a class, students may go online
after obtaining approval from their
academic advisor or department chair
or follow the steps below:
- Obtain
a Notice of Class Change form (Drop/Add
Slip) from the academic department
- Complete
the student and class information
parts of the form
- Obtain
the signatures of the appropriate
instructor and the appropriate advisor/chairperson
- Submit
the completed form to the Office
of Records and Registration. The
effective date of the add is the
date the slip is filed in the Records
Office
The
deadline for adding classes is outlined
in the Academic
Calendar. Exceptions to the deadline
period set forth shall be allowed only
in cases involving extraordinary circumstances.
Such exceptions shall be at the sole
discretion of the appropriate academic
dean.
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Dropping
Classes
To
drop a class, students may go online
after obtaining approval from their
academic advisor or department chair
or follow the steps below:
1.
Through the End of Late Registration
a.
Obtain the Notice of Class Change
form (Drop Slip) from the academic
department.
b. Have instructors and advisors/chairs sign and
date the form
c. Submit the form to the Office of Records and
Registration. The effective date of the drop is
the date the slip is filed in the Records Office.
Courses dropped prior to the end of the Late Registration
Period will not appear on the student's grade report
or transcript. See the Refund
Policy statement to determine financial responsibility,
if any, for courses dropped during this period.
2.
After Late Registration through the
Scheduled Last Day for Dropping Classes
a.
Obtain the Notice of Class Change
form (Drop Slip) from the academic
department.
b. Have instructors and advisors/chairs sign and
date the form
c. Submit the form to the Office of Records and
Registration. The effective date of the drop is
the date the slip is filed in the Records Office.
The dropped course will appear on the grade report
and transcript with a grade of "W" for "Withdrew." See
the Refund
Policy statement to determine financial responsibility,
if any, for courses dropped during this period.
3.
After the Scheduled Last Day for
Dropping Classes and up to the Last
Week of Classes.
a.
Obtain the Notice of Class Change
form (Drop Slip) from the academic
department
b. Have instructors and advisors/chairs sign and
date the form
c. Students must obtain the signature of the dean
of the school/college. The dean is the only University
official who may approve the dropping of a class
at this point in the semester. The appropriate
dean shall permit students who officially request
to drop specific classes from their academic schedules
to do so only in cases involving extraordinary
circumstances that are clearly beyond the control
of the students making such a request. In no case
shall a student be permitted to drop a class for
any reason that relates exclusively to academic
performance.
d. Submit the form to the Office of Registration
and Records. The course will appear on the grade
report and transcript with a grade of "WA" for "Administrative
Withdrawal."
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Withdrawal
from the University
To
withdraw from the University, students
must follow the steps listed below:
Official
Withdrawal from the University
- Obtain
a Withdrawal From the University form
from the Counseling Office
- Complete
the form in consultation with a counselor
in that office and obtain his/her
signature on the form
- Follow
instructions from the counselor and
on the form
A
student who withdraws from the University
on or prior to the last day to withdraw
from the University will receive a
grade of "W" in each course
for which he/she is enrolled at that
time. A student who officially withdraws
from the University at any time after
the last publicized date for withdrawal
from the University will receive a "WA" in
all courses for that semester.
Administrative
Withdrawal from the University
If
a student, for some compelling reason
(such as documented extreme personal
difficulty or documented medical reason),
requests to be administratively withdrawn
from the University for a previous
semester, then that student must follow
the procedure listed below.
Administrative
withdrawal from the University is rarely
granted, but some students' circumstances
may require it. Approval for administrative
withdrawal from the University is approved
by the provost and vice president for
academic affairs:
- The
student must submit in writing the
request for administrative withdrawal
from the University, along with documentation,
to the appropriate academic dean.
The request must state the reason(s)
for the request and specify the semester
to be withdrawn.
- The
dean submits his or her recommendation
to the provost and vice president
for academic affairs
- If
the provost and vice president for
academic affairs approves the request,
then the student is reported to the
Office of Registration and Records
as "Administratively Withdrawn" and
a grade of "WA" is assigned
for all courses taken during that
semester. The provost and vice president
for academic affairs also informs
the student in writing of his/her
decision.
Note:
If a student has received financial
aid, including a refund, from Title
IV funds and completed less than
60 percent of the semester from which
he/she wishes to withdraw, then that
student must refund the percentage
of financial aid corresponding to
the percentage of the semester the
student has not completed.
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Auditing
Persons
who wish to attend a course without
receiving credit for it must obtain
the approval of the instructor and
the academic advisor. As auditors,
students are entitled to the advisory
services of the instructor. Persons
with a full-time load pay no additional
fees for auditing. Persons carrying
less than a twelve (12) credit-hour
load are charged the per credit hour
fee for the course. The final grade
of "AU" is assigned to the
course and does not affect the grade
point average. Courses taken for audit
do not count toward full-time enrollment
nor for financial aid eligibility.
Official
requests to audit a course are accepted
by the Office of Records and Registration
during the period between pre-registration
and late registration. (The period
for submitting a request to audit a
course coincides with the add period).
The Notice of Class Change form (Drop/Add
Slip) should be used to change a course
to audit status.
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Major
Academic Advisors
Each
student will be assigned a faculty
advisor by their academic department.
At a minimum, the advisor will meet
with the student each semester during
preregistration and officially approve
the program of study before the student
registers online or in the academic
department.
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Satisfactory Academic Program
Satisfactory Academic Progress will be reviewed at the end of the academic year. All students who lose financial aid eligibility are eligible to appeal the decision by following the appeal process.
The Financial Aid Office evaluates students on the basis of grade point average (GPA), credit hour completion, and maximum time frame.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured by two criteria: quantitative and qualitative.
Qualitative refers to the grade point average. To receive financial aid, a student must maintain a minimum qualitative measure of progress defined as cumulative GPA as listed below:
| Hours Attempted |
Minimum Grade Point Average |
| 1 — 29 |
1.70 |
| 30 — 59 |
1.80 |
| 60 — 89 |
1.90 |
| 90 — 120 |
2.00 |
Delaware State University calculations will include all hours attempted.
Undergraduate Policy:
Financial Aid Probation:
Students on financial aid probation will remain eligible for financial aid. If a 2.0 cumulative GPA is not maintained at the end of the next enrollment period, the student is immediately placed on Financial Aid Warning.
Financial Aid Warning:
Students on financial aid warning will remain eligible for financial aid. If a 2.0 cumulative grade point average is not maintained at the end of the next enrollment period, the student is immediately ineligible for financial aid. A student may petition for reinstatement based on the guidelines listed in the “Appeals Procedures” policies.
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General
Probation
Any
student who has been dismissed, suspended,
or placed on disciplinary probation
may not represent the University in
any public activity nor hold any elective
office or appointment of responsibility
during the semester affected.
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Final
Examinations
Examinations
are required in each course. Final
examinations will be administered during
the final examination period in the
academic calendar of that academic
year. A final
examination schedule is available
for viewing on the web site or in the
University's Course Schedule and Registration
Guide obtainable in academic departments.
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Foreign
Language
All
students are required to take at least
six credit hours of the same foreign
language to satisfy the General
Education Program requirements.
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Lifetime
Fitness and Wellness
All
students are required to take a two
(2) credit hour lifetime fitness and
wellness course as part of the General
Education curricula. This course
is modified when the need exists for
those individuals who are unable to
participate in normal physical activity
or for those individuals who are non-traditional
students.
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Electives
A
student may select the minimum designated
number of electives based on interests
and major departmental requirements.
Selecting required or free electives
should be done in consultation with
the faculty advisor.
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Transcript
Requests
A
transcript of a student's academic
record is released to a third party
upon the written signed request of
the student. A Transcript
Request form is available on the
web site. In accordance with the Family
Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA),
exceptions to this include release
of academic records to University officials
with legitimate educational interests
and transfer institutions.
An
official transcript, one bearing the
seal and Registrar's signature, is
sent from the Office of Registration
and Records directly to the official
or institution specified by the student.
There is a fee of $7.50 for each transcript
requested. A request for a transcript
normally will be processed within 72
hours, except during peak work periods
such as registration, preregistration,
final examinations, and commencement.
Transcripts
submitted by the student from other
institutions become the property of
Delaware State University and are not
reissued or copied for release. Requests
for other institutions' transcripts
must be made directly to the respective
institution.
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Notification
of Rights under FERPA for Delaware
State University Students
The
Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA) affords students certain
rights with respect to their education
records. They are:
(1)
The right to inspect and review the
student's education records within
45 days of the day the University receives
a request for access.
Students
should submit to the registrar, dean,
head of the academic department, or
other appropriate official, written
requests that identify the record(s)
they wish to inspect. The University
official will make arrangements for
access and notify the student of the
time and place where the records may
be inspected. If the records are not
maintained by the University official
to whom the request was submitted,
that official shall advise the student
of the correct official to whom the
request should be addressed.
(2)
The right to request the amendment
of the student's education records
that the student believes are inaccurate
or misleading.
Students
may ask the University to amend a record
that they believe is inaccurate or
misleading. They should write the University
official responsible for the record,
clearly identify the part of the record
they want changed, and specify why
it is inaccurate or misleading.
If
the University decides not to amend
the record as requested by the student,
the University will notify the student
of the decision and advise the student
of his or her right to a hearing regarding
the request for amendment. Additional
information regarding the hearing procedures
will be provided to the student when
notified of the right to a hearing.
(3)
The right to consent to disclosures
of personally identifiable information
contained in the student's education
records, except to the extent that
FERPA authorizes disclosure without
consent.
One
exception which permits disclosure
without consent is disclosure to school
officials with legitimate educational
interests. A school official is a person
employed by the University in an administrative,
supervisory, academic or research,
or support staff position (including
law enforcement unit personnel and
health staff); a person or company
with whom the University has contracted
(such as an attorney, auditor, or collection
agent); a person serving on the Board
of Trustees; or a student serving on
an official committee, such as a disciplinary
or grievance committee, or assisting
another school official in performing
his or her tasks.
A
school official has a legitimate educational
interest if the official needs to review
an education record in order to fulfill
his or her professional responsibility.
Upon
request, the University discloses education
records without consent to officials
of another school in which a student
seeks or intends to enroll.
(4)
The right to file a complaint with
the U.S. Department of Education concerning
alleged failures by Delaware State
University to comply with the requirements
of FERPA. The name and address of the
office that administers FERPA is:
Family
Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
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Directory
Information
The
Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act permits the release of directory-type
information to third parties outside
the institution without written consent
of the student provided the student
has been given the opportunity to withhold
such disclosure.
The
University releases, upon inquiry to
third parties outside the University,
directory information without written
consent of the student. Directory information
includes name, address, telephone number,
college, class, major, dates of attendance,
and degree, honors, and awards conferred.
Students may withhold directory information
by going to the Office of Records and
Registration.
Note:
While the withholding request may be
made at any time, students wishing
to have directory information withheld
from the student directory should submit
their requests no later than three
weeks prior to the first day of fall
semester classes.
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Academic
Honors
The
President's and Dean's Lists
The President's
List will honor those students
who have distinguished themselves
by earning a 4.0 in all their classes
for the semester. Students must carry
and pass a minimum of 14 semester
hours, earning a grade of "A" in
all classes.
The Dean's
List includes students who have
earned a scholastic average of 3.25
to 3.99 and have completed fourteen
(14) or more degree (earned) credit
hours at the end of the semester
Any
grade of Incomplete will disqualify
a student from the President's List
or the Dean's List.
Graduation
With Honors
Honor
is awarded at graduation to the candidate
who has attended the University for
at least three years (90 semester hours)
and has met the following criteria:
SUMMA
CUM LAUDE for a scholastic average
of 3.75 or above.
MAGNA CUM LAUDE for a scholastic
average of 3.50 to 3.74.
CUM LAUDE for a scholastic
average of 3.25 to 3.49.
Honorable
Mention for Transfer Students
Honorable
Mention is awarded to transfer students
if they complete the last two years
of academic work toward graduation
(60 semester hours) at Delaware State
University and if the lower of the
two indices is a scholastic average
of 3.50 or greater.
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Graduation
Requirements
Courses
and Credits
The
minimum number of semester hours required
for graduation is one hundred and twenty-one
(121). This number varies with many
of the major programs. Candidates must
satisfactorily complete the requirements
of the major study area in which they
are enrolled to be eligible for graduation.
Of the minimum total of 121 semester
hours, fifty-two (52) hours of General
Education courses must be completed
by the candidate. General
Education Program Requirements are
available for viewing on the web site.
Grades
and Grade Point Averages
To
qualify for graduation, the following
grades and grade point averages must
be earned by the candidate:
- A
minimum overall grade point average
of 2.00 ("C")
- A
minimum grade of 2.00 ("C")
in each course in a field of specialization.
- A
minimum of 2.00 ("C") grade
point average for the last thirty
(30) semester hours of work at the
University.
Residence
Requirement
A
candidate for the baccalaureate degree
must complete the last thirty (30)
semester hours of credit at Delaware
State University. However, a student
may enroll in six to eight (6-8) hours
of courses at another institution upon
approval of the Department Chairperson
and the Academic Dean.
Students
who transfer from other institutions
must earn a minimum of thirty (30)
semester hours at Delaware State University.
Double
Degrees
A
student can be awarded two (2) degrees
at the same time only if the degrees
are different (e.g., Bachelor of Science
and a Bachelor of Arts degrees). If
a student is pursuing two (2) fields
of study for which the same degree
is awarded, then only one (1) degree
will be granted, but both fields of
study will be listed on the degree.
To be eligible for a second degree,
(1) course work must be taken in two
fields of study and; (2) the student
must satisfy the curriculum requirements
of both departments.
A
student returning to Delaware State
University for a second degree or major
must officially declare a major in
the second area and need only satisfy
the additional requirement for the
second major in order for the second
baccalaureate degree to be conferred.
Diplomas
are ordered by degree. One diploma
will be ordered for each degree earned
and will not be issued to a candidate
who has not satisfied all financial
obligations to the institution, including
loan programs administered by the University.
Application
for Graduation
Students
who intend to graduate should file
an application for graduation in the
Office of Registration and Records
by October 15. There is no guarantee
that diplomas or regalia will be available
for the graduation exercise for those
students who apply after the deadline.
Students
who have met degree requirements are
eligible for graduation at the close
of any semester. Degrees are awarded
on the students' transcripts upon completion
of all requirements with the actual
award date.
Degrees
are conferred once a year during the
University's annual commencement exercise
in May. Diplomas for all graduates
are issued only at this time. Summer
school and December graduates are eligible
to receive their diplomas at the graduation
exercise of the succeeding year.
Participation
in Graduation Exercises
Students
may participate in the annual graduation
exercises in May only if they satisfy
the following conditions:
- File
the application for graduation by
October 15
- Enroll
in all courses required to complete
degree requirements
- Satisfy all financial obligations to the University
- Complete Exit Interview
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Campus Security
Delaware State University is committed to assisting all members of the Delaware State University community in providing for their own safety and security.
Information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as, crime prevention, university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, crime statistics for the most recent three-year period, and disciplinary procedure is available on the DSU website at http://www.desu.edu/docs/year/police/2006CleryWeb.pdf.
If you would like a booklet containing this information, you can contact a representative of the DSU Department of Public Safety at 1200 N. DuPont Highway, Public Safety Bldg., Dover, DE 19901 or by phone at (302) 857-6290.
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