This Academic Policies and Regulations section is divided into the following subsections. The subsections appear in the following order:

Policies for All Students

The Grading System

Additional Policies for Undergraduate Students

Additional Policies for Graduate Students

Acceleration Mechanisms for Undergraduate Students,
including AICE, AP, CLEP, Excelsior, IB and Military Service Credit (DSST)

Student Code of Conduct Regulations

Policies for All Students

Course Credits and Levels
The Semester System
Since fall 1981, credits for courses taken at FAU are based on the semester system, with the fall and spring semesters each comprising about 16 weeks and the summer semester comprising about 13 weeks. The summer semester is divided into three terms: summer term 1 is the entire summer semester, summer term 2 is the first six weeks of the summer semester and summer term 3 is the last six weeks of the summer semester. Courses are offered in all three summer terms. All credits awarded by FAU are semester credit hours. Quarter credits may be converted to semester credits by multiplying the quarter credits by 2/3 (i.e., 90 quarter credits = 60 semester credits).

The Trimester and Quarter Systems
FAU began offering courses in fall 1964 with credit based on the trimester system. In fall 1967, when the State University System of Florida switched to the quarter system, FAU began offering courses in quarter credits and did so through summer 1981. Transcripts printed during this period were in quarter credits using this formula: quarter credit = 3/2 trimester/semester credit (i.e., 90 quarter credits = 60 trimester/semester credits).

Course Levels
The level of a course determines whether it is an undergraduate or graduate course and whether it is an upper-division or lower-division course.

Courses at the 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 levels are undergraduate courses. Those at the 1000 and 2000 levels are considered lower-division courses; those at the 3000 and 4000 levels are upper-division courses. Courses at the 5000, 6000 and 7000 levels are graduate courses.

Course Numbering System
For detailed information, refer to Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS), Appendix C in the Appendices section of this catalog and to the SCNS website.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled University classes and to satisfy all academic objectives as outlined by the instructor. The effect of absences upon grades is determined by the instructor, and the University reserves the right to deal at any time with individual cases of non-attendance.

Students are responsible for arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence, such as illness, family emergencies, military obligation, court-imposed legal obligations or participation in University-approved activities. Examples of University-approved reasons for absences include participating on an athletic or scholastic team, musical and theatrical performances and debate activities. It is the student's responsibility to give the instructor notice prior to any anticipated absence and within a reasonable amount of time after an unanticipated absence, ordinarily by the next scheduled class meeting. Instructors must allow each student who is absent for a University-approved reason the opportunity to make up work missed without any reduction in the student's final course grade as a direct result of such absence.

Communication Devices
In order to enhance and maintain a productive atmosphere for education, personal communication devices, such as cell phones, are to be disabled in class sessions.

FAU Email
FAU's primary source for correspondence with students is through the student's FAU email. Messages sent by the University may include time-sensitive information regarding student accounts, announcements and class information. Students are responsible for checking their FAU email on a regular basis. FAU has partnered with Google to bring students Owl Apps, a gmail interface that replaces the MyFAU email and includes a 25 GB inbox, among other features. To switch to Owl Apps and for more information about FAU email, visit www.fau.edu/owlapps. For issues with logging into MyFAU, contact the Office of Information Technology Help Desk or 561-297-3999.

Exceptional Circumstance Withdrawal (Medical Withdrawal)
Students withdrawing from all classes in the current semester due to exceptional circumstances, such as illness of the student, military conscription, becoming primary care-giver to immediate family member or death of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, sibling or grandparent), may receive a refund, less non-refundable fees, if the request for exceptional circumstance withdrawal is granted. Students seeking exceptional circumstance withdrawals should contact the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at 561-297-2656 for the appropriate paperwork or visit www.fau.edu/dean.

Drop/Add and Withdrawal
Schedule changes may be made by accessing FAU Self-Service, available through MyFAU, by the appropriate deadlines. Drop/add requests and withdrawals also may be made through MyFAU.

For fall and spring semesters, the end of the eighth day of the semester (see Academic Calendar) is the last day for adding/dropping courses and changing sections without incurring a fee and without receiving a "W" on the transcript for dropped courses. Students may continue dropping courses without receiving a "W" on the transcript from the ninth through the 15th day of the semester, but they are fee-liable for the courses during this time.

If a student drops or withdraws from a course from the 16th day of the semester through the eighth week of classes, the student will receive a grade of "W" on the transcript and will be fee-liable for the course. The student may use MyFAU during this period to drop or withdraw from a course.

Beyond the eighth week of classes, drops or withdrawals from courses can only be arranged in person in the Office of the Registrar. After the eighth week of classes, a drop or withdrawal results in an "F" on the student's transcript and the student remains fee-liable.

The extended drop period does not apply during summer terms. To drop or withdraw from courses during summer terms, students should follow the procedures above, but note the shorter timeframes in which to complete the drops: the end of the first week of classes is the last day for adding/dropping courses and changing sections. Courses are fee-liable after this date. Refer to the Academic Calendar for specific deadlines (and consequences) to drop summer courses after the first week of classes.

Proportionate dates for dropping and withdrawing will be established for courses that are offered in less than the normal semester.

Dropping or withdrawing from courses in which the student is involved in academic irregularities is not permitted.

The subsections Refund of Registration Fees and Repeated Enrollment Fee in the Tuition, Fees and Refunds section of this catalog may be of interest.

Final Exam Period
Fall and spring term final course examinations will be scheduled during the final week of the term (see Final Exam Schedule for current term). Some final examinations may be scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays. The summer semesters do not have final examination periods; course examinations may be given at the discretion of the faculty member teaching the course.

Religious Accommodation
In accordance with rules of the Florida Board of Education and Florida law, students have the right to reasonable accommodations from the University in order to observe religious practices and beliefs with regard to admissions, registration, class attendance and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments.

Students who wish to be excused from coursework, class activities or examinations must notify the instructor in advance of their intention to participate in religious observation and request an excused absence. The instructor will provide a reasonable opportunity to make up such excused absences.

Any student who feels aggrieved regarding religious accommodations may present a grievance to the director of Equal Opportunity Programs. Any such grievances will follow Florida Atlantic University's established grievance procedure regarding alleged discrimination.

Admission to Professional Programs
Certain courses of study at the University prepare students for entry into a profession, such as architecture, education, nursing and social work. Admission and retention in these programs may require adherence to a professional Code of Ethics. For the requirements of these degree programs, refer to the specific program's information in this catalog or to other materials provided by these programs.

Intellectual Property
As a condition of enrollment, students agree that the FAU Intellectual Property Policy applies to University personnel as defined in that policy in section C.1.b., which includes students involved in research who use appreciable University support. These individuals may be involved in research that could result in valuable intellectual property in which FAU may assert its rights. Students agree to abide by the Intellectual Property Policy of FAU regarding the assignment of intellectual property rights to FAU and the ownership of this intellectual property by FAU. Students further agree that all records that are generated as a part of their research will remain the property of FAU, and upon termination of their research or assistance in research, they will return all such records to their FAU supervisor.

In the event that students are employed by an entity or perform research for an entity other than FAU, which may result in intellectual property, they agree to obtain appropriate prior consent from that entity to the above stated terms.

Honors Convocation
An Honors Convocation is held each year to recognize high scholastic attainment by individual students and superior teaching by individual faculty members. The program consists of the presentation of various awards to outstanding scholars, the Distinguished Teacher of the Year, the Distinguished Researchers of the Year and Distinguished Service Award recipients.

Graduation Procedure
A student must apply for a degree by the end of the third week of the semester in which the student expects to graduate. The Application for Degree form is available here or in the Office of the Registrar.

It is the student's responsibility to meet all requirements for the degree. For the deadlines to apply for a degree, consult the Academic Calendar.

Commencement
A commencement ceremony is held at the end of each fall, spring and summer semester. Candidates for graduation will be emailed (to their FAU email) specific information regarding participation in the ceremony and tickets for guests.

Policy for the Use of Photographs and Videos
Florida Atlantic University routinely photographs and records video of college and departmental programs and student activities for educational and promotional purposes. These photographs and videos appear in official University marketing, fundraising and educational publications and materials, which include but are not limited to college and departmental brochures and newsletters, University websites (ex. FAU.edu and FAU.com), official University social media sites and other University publications and media outlets. For more information, contact Marketing and Creative Services at (561) 297-2080 or (561) 297-1352.

The Grading System

Florida Atlantic University has a plus/minus (+/-) grading system. Grades for the undergraduate and graduate courses are reported by the symbols indicated in the following table:

Administrative Notations
The following notations are not grades and are not assigned by instructors, but are entered administratively on the transcript when appropriate:

The "AU" notation carries no credit and indicates that the student registered for the course only as an auditor.

A "CR" notation indicates that the student received credit for the course by examination (see Credit by Examination later in this section).

A "W" notation indicates that the student withdrew from the course during the third to eighth week of the semester (see Drop/Add and Withdrawal in this section). The course appears on the transcript, but no credit is awarded and the course is not included in the grade point average.

The "WM" notation indicates that the student was granted an Exceptional Circumstance withdrawal.

When an instructor does not turn in a grade for a student in a particular course by the deadline for submission in the semester the course was taken, the Registrar will temporarily enter the notation "NR" on the transcript. The "NR" is not a grade, and courses so marked are not included in the grade point average. When the instructor submits a grade to the Registrar's Office, it will replace the "NR."

Incomplete Grades
A student who registers for a course but fails to complete the course requirements, without dropping the course, will normally receive a grade of "F" from the course instructor. A student who is passing a course but has not completed all the required work because of exceptional circumstances may, with the approval of the instructor, temporarily receive a grade of "I" (incomplete). The grade of "I" is neither passing nor failing, and it is not used in computing a student's grade point average. It indicates a grade deferral and must be changed to a grade other than "I" within a specified time frame, not to exceed one calendar year from the end of the semester during which the course was taken.

Students cannot graduate with a grade of incomplete ("I") on their FAU record. Additionally, students pursuing the A.A. degree cannot graduate with an “I” grade on their transcripts. Before certification for graduation, every incomplete designation must be resolved at both undergraduate and graduate levels. For A.A. students, any incomplete grades on the transcript must be resolved before applying for the degree. Possible ways to resolve "I" grades are:

1. Complete the work required in the agreement with the instructor for the "I" grade (noted on the Report of Incomplete form).

2. Request that the default grade suggested by the instructor on the faculty Report of Incomplete form be immediately recorded. With approval of either the instructor or department chair, a grade of "F" may be recorded if the instructor did not submit the required documentation with the "I" grade.

3. Petition to withdraw from the course, if exceptional circumstances show merit.

The "I" grade is used only when a student has not completed some portion of the work assigned to all students as a regular part of the course. It is not to be used to allow students to do extra work subsequently in order to raise the grade earned during the regular term. The instructor is required to record on the appropriate form, and file with the Registrar, the work that must be completed for a final grade, the time frame for completion and the grade that will be assigned if the work is not completed. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor for the timely completion of this work.

Changes of Grade
Instructors may, for appropriate reasons, change the grade awarded to a student in a given course within one year of the end of the semester in which the course was taken. If the student received an Incomplete ("I") grade at the conclusion of the course and a letter grade was subsequently assigned, that grade may be changed within one year of the date it was assigned. The new grade must be submitted to the Registrar on the appropriate form with the approval of the department in which the course was taught and the dean of that college.

If a grading error is discovered or a student wishes to challenge a grade after more than one year has passed, an appeal must be submitted to the dean of Undergraduate Studies for undergraduate courses and the dean of the Graduate College for graduate courses for an exception to the one-year deadline. This appeal must be endorsed by the dean of the college in which the course was taught and must include documentation of the error that resulted in the assignment of an incorrect grade.

Grade changes other than "I" to a grade (e.g., "A" to "B," or "C" to "B") are documented in college records indicating the reason for the change (error in grading test, miscalculation, etc.).

Academic Actions are recalculated and updated as a result of grade changes; however, no grade changes are processed after graduation for courses used for that degree.

Grading Information Specifically for Undergraduate Students
The grades of "A" through "D-," "P" and "S" are passing grades, and credit is earned for courses in which they are awarded. Grades of "D+," "D" or "D-," while considered passing for undergraduate students, indicate weak performance. While the credits count toward graduation, some programs require certain courses to be passed with a "C" or better, or some other specific grade, to fulfill requirements for the major. No lower grade, such as a "C-" in this example, will satisfy these program requirements. (See the Degree Requirements section of this catalog for other requirements, such as Gordon Rule courses.) The grades of "F" and "U" are failing grades and do not earn credit.

From fall 1991 through summer 1997, the plus-only system was used in which "B+"=3.50, "C+"=2.50 and "D+"=1.50. Grades earned at FAU during this period will receive grade points according to that system.

Pass/Fail Grading Option
In certain designated undergraduate courses, undergraduates may elect to receive a grade of Pass ("P") or Fail ("F") rather than a standard grade. When undergraduates choose this option, they participate in the course the same way as students enrolled for a letter grade. The instructor is not informed that they have chosen the P/F option until the course is completed. At that time, students who would receive a passing letter grade receive a "P" instead; a "P" grade will be awarded credit but will not be counted in calculating the grade point average. Students who do not achieve passing work receive a grade of "F," which represents failing work and will be counted when calculating the grade point average.

This option is available only to undergraduate students and requires the approval of the college of the student's major; it is not available for courses in the student's major or to students on probation. The maximum credit available to any student on the pass/fail option is one course per term, with a maximum of 12 credits during a student's entire course of study.

Undergraduates wishing to take a course as pass/fail (provided the course is available for the P/F option) must select this grading option by the end of the first week of classes. During the second and third weeks of classes, students must file a petition with their colleges to select the P/F option or vice versa. Such changes will not be considered beyond the third week of classes unless students have not taken a test in the class, not had an assignment graded or not had any other assessment of class work. The only exception to this policy is if the student has transferred to another institution or program that requires a letter grade.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading
Certain courses are designated by the department offering them to be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. Unlike P/F grading, S/U grading is not an option for the student, but applies to all students in the course. In such courses, the grade of "S" indicates passing work and will be awarded credit for the course, but the course will not be included in the grade point average. The grade of "U" indicates failing work. The "U" is not awarded credit and is not included in the grade point average.

University Forgiveness Policy (Repeated Courses)
The University Forgiveness Policy permits an undergraduate student to repeat a 1000- to 4000-level FAU course and allow only the last grade to count in the grade point average. The policy permits undergraduate students in a five-year baccalaureate program to repeat a 5000-level course in that program and allow only the last grade to count in the grade point average.

Undergraduates are permitted to apply the forgiveness policy at any time prior to graduation to a grade earned in a course taken during the completion of their degree program at FAU. Students are permitted to apply the forgiveness policy to any grade earned in a course taken at FAU and repeated at FAU. This policy may be applied only twice during a student's study at the University and must be requested by the student for each course repeated.

Forgiveness Policy Request forms are available here or in the Office of the Registrar and should be submitted prior to or during registration for the term in which the course is to be repeated. The policy does not remove the previous grade, but eliminates the effect of that grade on the FAU cumulative GPA by removing it from the computation. Grades awarded due to academic irregularities cannot be repeated under the Forgiveness Policy. (See University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.001, Code of Academic Integrity.) For transferred courses, grade forgiveness by the prior institution will be honored by Florida Atlantic University.

In the event that a student chooses to repeat a course that is no longer offered by the University, it is the prerogative of the academic unit that offered the original course to either deny the student's request or to designate an appropriate, related substitute course.

Repeat Course Surcharge
In accordance with Florida Statute 1009.285, any student who registers for the same Florida Atlantic University undergraduate course more than two times will be charged a Repeat Course Surcharge for the third and subsequent enrollments in the course. An undergraduate-level course is numbered at the 1000, 2000, 3000 or 4000 level. All courses that are fee-liable will be counted as a registration. The amount of the charge will be determined each term, but is expected to represent the full cost of instruction.

Exceptions to the Repeat Course Surcharge are individualized study, courses that are repeated as a requirement of a major and courses that continue over multiple semesters. Courses repeated more than two times to increase the grade point average or meet minimum course grade requirements will be eligible for the surcharge.

According to the statute, a student may be granted an exception to the Repeat Course Surcharge upon approval by provost based upon a review of the individual circumstances presented by the student to document exceptional circumstance. Review will be initiated by student petition, which must provide all appropriate documentation to support the claim of exceptional circumstance. A student may appeal only once per course. Petition forms are available for this purpose and can be obtained here or from the Office of the Registrar.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Computation
Except as provided by the University Forgiveness Policy, an undergraduate student's grade point average is computed by dividing the sum of all grade points earned at FAU by the total number of credits in all courses for which the grades of "A" through "F" have been received. Courses in which grades of "AU," "CR," "W," "WM," "S," "U," "I" or "P" have been received will not be used in computing a student's grade point average.

Grading Information Specifically for Graduate Students
Passing grades: The grades of "A" through "C," and "S," are passing grades. Note: The grades of "B-," "C+" and "C," while considered passing for undergraduate students, are indicative of unsatisfactory work for graduate students and may not be accepted for some courses.

Failing grades: The grades of "C-," "D+," "D," "D-," "F" and "U" are failing grades. No credits are earned in courses in which grades of "AU," "CR," "F," "I," "U," "W" or "WM" are received.

Thesis/dissertation grades: All thesis/dissertation credits receive a grade of "S"or "U."

The grades "S" and "U" are used to indicate satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance in courses approved for such grading. The Pass/Fail (P/F) option is not available for graduate courses.

A student who registers for a course but fails to meet the course requirements, without officially dropping the course, will receive a grade of "F" in the course. See Drop/Add section. In extraordinary circumstances, the faculty may record "NR," which will appear on the transcript as "NR" until the situation is resolved.

Additional Policies for Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate Student Classification
Undergraduate student classification is determined by the number of credits completed at all institutions as follows:

Freshmen and sophomores are lower-division students, whereas juniors and seniors are upper-division students. Students who have not received a baccalaureate degree and students who are seeking a second baccalaureate degree are undergraduates.

Deadline for Declaring a Major

Students who have not declared a major or pre-major (in those programs with pre-majors) must declare a major or pre-major during the semester in which they reach 45 credits. Transfer students who matriculate with 45 or more credits must declare a major or pre-major during their first semester at FAU. Students reaching this threshold will not be able to register for courses until a major or pre-major has been declared. Once approved by the college in which the chosen major is housed, students should complete an Undergraduate Major/Minor Change form and submit the form to the Registrar's Office for final action. Forms are available online at www.fau.edu/registrar/forms.php. Students in a pre-major must declare a major prior to earning 72 credits, unless given a written waiver of this rule by the dean of their college.

Continuous Enrollment/Catalog Year
A student who has completed at least 1 credit during each academic year is considered to have satisfied the minimum requirements for "continuous enrollment."

Catalog year determines the set of academic requirements (general education and the major) that must be fulfilled for graduation. A student who has been continuously enrolled at FAU may be awarded a degree by satisfying the degree requirements defined in any catalog in effect during the period of continuous enrollment leading up to graduation. Students must follow a single catalog, not a combination of catalogs, to meet graduation requirements.

For students who earned an A.A. degree from a Florida public community or state college or another Florida public university, the period of continuous enrollment may be extended to include a contiguous period of continuous enrollment at the former institution. Such students may use the FAU catalog in effect at the time they began their most recent period of continuous enrollment at any of the Florida public institutions.

If a required course ceases to be offered prior to a student's graduation, appropriate adjustments should be recommended by the student's academic advisor and approved by the dean of the college offering the student's major. The University will make every reasonable effort to honor the curriculum requirements appropriate to each student's catalog year.

Acceleration Mechanisms
Several accelerated programs are available to undergraduates. To learn about these, refer to Acceleration Mechanisms for Undergraduate Students, appearing later in this section.

Double Majors
Undergraduate students may pursue two majors. If the two majors are in different degrees, such as a B.A. and a B.S., students will receive the degree in the major that they have designated as their primary major. A double major does not require a minimum number of hours beyond those necessary for completing degree requirements (120 or more hours). To graduate with double majors, students must first declare the primary college and major of their choice on the application for admission. Then, undergraduates must inform the second college and department of their intent by completing a Second Major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Undergraduates must consult with both departments to ensure that all courses needed for graduation are completed. The same catalog year must be used for both majors. A minimum of 21 credits must be applied exclusively toward requirements in the primary major. Students may not pursue a double major in the same academic program, such as a B.A. and B.S. in Biology.

Students wishing to pursue a second major and receive two different degrees should refer to the requirements for a Second Baccalaureate Degree, appearing in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Change of Major
Undergraduate students contemplating a change of major should consult with their advisor. Changing the major requires permission of the new department and satisfaction of the same academic qualifications as for new applicants for admission to that department (see Lower-Division College and Department Requirements and Recommended Courses in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog). To change the major, an undergraduate must satisfy the prerequisite coursework required for the new major. Other restrictions may apply for admission to certain programs. Undergraduates who change their major are subject to the degree requirements in the new major in effect at the time of the change.

Changing the major to a department in a different college requires the Application for Undergraduate Change of College form, which is available at the Office of the Registrar and in most college offices. The form needed to change the major to a department in the same college is available in the college office.

Good Academic Standing
At Florida Atlantic University, students are in good standing if they are eligible to continue or re-enroll at the University, even if on probation.

Satisfactory Academic Record
To graduate from Florida Atlantic University, an undergraduate must achieve a satisfactory academic record. A satisfactory academic record is defined as an average of "C" or better on all work attempted (2.0 on a 4.0 scale). Certain majors may require higher standards.

Freshman Warning and Academic Probation
At Florida Atlantic University, freshman warning and academic probation mean that either a student's cumulative grade point average or grade point average in any specific term has fallen below a 2.0. These designations are intended to alert students of the need to improve their academic performance.

Freshman Warning
Freshman warning applies only to freshmen who fail to earn a 2.0 average in their first semester. Students on freshman warning are required to meet with their advisors in Freshman Academic Advising Services for special assistance in improving their academic performance.

Academic Probation
Except for first-semester freshmen, all other undergraduate students who fail to earn a satisfactory average (2.0 or higher) on all work attempted in any term are considered to be on academic probation. Students on academic probation who fail to earn a 2.0 average on all work attempted in any term but have a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher at FAU will be continued on academic probation. Students on academic probation who earn a 2.0 average or higher in the next period of enrollment but whose cumulative average at FAU is lower than 2.0 will be continued on academic probation. Undergraduates on academic probation should seek assistance from their academic advisors in improving their academic performance.

Academic probation is removed when an undergraduate student earns at least a 2.0 average in all work attempted during the next period of enrollment and has a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher at Florida Atlantic University.

Suspension and Dismissal
An undergraduate student on academic probation who fails to earn a 2.0 average in all work attempted in any term and who has a cumulative average of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University will be suspended from the University. If at any time after having once been suspended, an undergraduate student fails to earn a 2.0 average in all work attempted in any term and has a cumulative average of lower than 2.0 at Florida Atlantic University, the student will be dismissed from the University.

Returning After Suspension
A suspended student is eligible to re-enroll after a minimum of one semester and will return on academic probation due to previous suspension. All students returning from suspension are required to meet with an academic advisor, at which time the terms of re-enrollment will be specified. Students suspended with 59 or fewer earned credits will meet with an AcCESS academic advisor. AcCESS Program information may be found in the Student Services and Activities section of this catalog. Students with 60 or more earned credits will meet with an academic advisor in their college.

Returning After Dismissal
A dismissed student, after a minimum of one year away from the University, may seek re-entry by reapplying to the University and petitioning for approval from the students' college. If a student is seeking to be admitted to a college different from the original college, the approval of the college into which the student seeks to be readmitted is required. If at any time after having once been dismissed, an undergraduate student has a term and cumulative average below 2.0, the student will be dismissed from the University permanently.

Deferred Probation, Suspension and Dismissal
If an undergraduate student takes a single course (or a single course and linked laboratory) in a term and earns a semester GPA of less than a 2.0, and if this would result in the student being placed on probation or being suspended or dismissed, the action will be deferred until the end of the next term in which the student is enrolled. At that time, any academic action will be based on the grades earned in the "next term" and/or the cumulative GPA. In the event of deferred action, the student's academic status will remain the same action as at the end of the semester preceding the "single course" semester.

Dean's List
The University recognizes superior academic performance at the end of each semester by the publication of a Dean's List for each college of the University. To be included in this list, an undergraduate student must complete a full-time load (at least 12 credits) with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and must rank in the upper 10 percent of the students enrolled in the college. The selection of Dean's List students is based on grades reported on the official grade reporting date for each semester. No changes are made to the list as a result of grade changes and removal of "I" grades. Grades of "NR," "P," "S" and "AU" are not used in determining eligibility for the Dean's List.

President's List
In recognition of superior academic achievement, the President's List is published at the end of each semester of the academic year. This list includes the names of all undergraduate students who have completed 12 or more credits and who have attained a grade point average of 4.0. The selection of President's List students is based on grades reported on the official grade reporting date for each semester. No changes are made to the list as a result of grade changes and removal of "I" grades. Grades of "NR," "P," "S" and "AU" are not used in determining eligibility for the President's List.

Baccalaureate Degrees of Distinction
FAU recognizes superior academic performance by granting baccalaureate degrees of distinction to undergraduates who have earned at least 45 credits at FAU as follows:

cum laude for an FAU average of 3.50;

magna cum laude for an FAU average of 3.70;

summa cum laude for an FAU average of 3.90.

An undergraduate transfer student may qualify for a degree of distinction based on all work taken at the upper division (other institutions and FAU), a minimum of 45 credits, if the student has not completed 45 credits at FAU.

An undergraduate earning a second baccalaureate may qualify for a degree of distinction based on all work completed at FAU, a minimum of 30 credits.

All undergraduates receiving degrees of distinction must be recommended for that distinction by the faculty granting that degree.

Graduation Policy for Undergraduate Students
Florida Atlantic University helps students meet their academic goals by monitoring academic progress toward their degree.

If an undergraduate student has completed his or her respective degree requirements, the academic dean of the student's program confirms this and the student is eligible to be awarded the degree, the University reserves the right to award the degree. Once the degree is awarded, the student must be readmitted to Florida Atlantic University in order to enroll in any courses.

Students pursuing double majors or dual degrees must formally notify their academic dean of their intent. Undergraduate students pursuing dual degrees in different disciplines must obtain formal approval of their academic dean, following established University procedures for such approvals.

Excess Hour Surcharge
According to Florida Statute 1009.286, students who entered a State of Florida community college or university for the first time in fall 2009 or thereafter will be subject to an excess hour surcharge, which could result in a surcharge on tuition. Students shall pay an excess hour surcharge equal to 50 percent of the tuition rate for each credit hour in excess of 120 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled. For example, if the student’s degree program requires 120 credits, an excess hour surcharge will be assessed if the student takes more than 144 credits.

The statute was since amended and now mandates that students entering a State of Florida community college or university for the first time in fall 2011 or thereafter shall pay an excess hour surcharge equal to 100 percent of the tuition rate for each credit hour in excess of 115 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled. As an example, students enrolled in a degree program that requires 120 credits will be assessed the excess hour surcharge if they go beyond 138 credits.

Credits taken at FAU and all credits earned at another institution (i.e., transfer credits) apply to the excess hour calculation. However, some credit hours are not factored in the calculation. These include Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Dual Enrollment credits, among others. Please refer to the statute for a list of the included credit hours and exceptions.

Students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisors and review their degree audits each semester to ensure they meet degree requirements in an efficient manner and avoid the increased tuition mandated by this legislation.

Petitions
Academic Petitions Process
Students are expected to be familiar with and to conform to the regulations of the University. An academic petition may be filed when a particular academic requirement or regulation causes undue hardship for the student. Please note that this process does not concern itself with grade reviews (see University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.002, Student Academic Grievance Procedures for Grade Reviews) nor does it act on any financial matters, including refunds for dropped classes or withdrawals (see Fee Petitions and Other Petitions below).

Degree-seeking undergraduate students with declared majors submit their petitions to their college's student services office. Degree-seeking students with undeclared majors submit their petitions to the college in which their major is offered.

Non-degree-seeking students should direct their petitions to the college, department or program to which their request applies.

A non-degree-seeking student wishing to withdraw from two or more course(s) must submit an application to Freshman Advising Academic Services.



The procedures to file an academic petition are as follows:

1. Petitioner must fill out an Undergraduate Petition form. The form may be picked up at the college's student services office or at Freshman Academic Advising Services. Once the form is filled out, the petitioner must attach any pertinent information in support of the petition (i.e., medical reports, records, verifying letters, memos from instructors, etc.).

Note: Petitioner must provide documentation supporting the request. The petition will be deferred until the required documentation is received.

2. A typewritten statement describing the extenuating circumstances of the petitioner's request must be submitted with the Undergraduate Petition form.

3. An updated copy of the petitioner's transcript must be submitted with the Undergraduate Petition form.

4. Petitioner must return, signed and dated, the original page of the completed petition form to the college's student services office or Freshman Academic Advising Services, whichever applies.

5. The decision of the college representatives will be communicated to the petitioner in writing by mail or by email.

6. No petitions will be accepted after the student has graduated.

Academic Appeals
Appeals of petition decisions also may be heard in the colleges, at their discretion, by individuals or groups not involved in the original findings.

Fee Petitions
Contact the Controller's Office if the petition relates to refunds, waivers or withdrawal from courses for other than exceptional circumstances.

Other Petitions
Withdrawal for exceptional circumstances is a type of petition for which the Office of Student Affairs is responsible. This type of petition is discussed in detail in two sections of this University Catalog: above in this section and in the Tuition, Fees and Refunds section.

Additional Policies for Graduate Students

Academic Appeals
Exceptions to graduate policies and procedures must be submitted for approval using Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement. All requests must be reviewed by the degree-granting program, the appropriate college dean and the dean of the Graduate College.

Academic Progression Plan
Graduate students not meeting minimum academic standards may be required to submit a signed and completed Academic Progression Plan (APP) to the Graduate College to continue in their program of study. The minimum university-wide, cumulative GPA requirement for degree-seeking graduate students is a 3.0 GPA. Note: Individual graduate programs may specify more stringent or specialized requirements beyond this minimum requirement.

If required to do so, students will develop an APP with their academic advisor or program coordinator, gather the necessary signatures and submit the form to the Graduate College. The advisor or program coordinator may recommend dismissal instead of developing and approving an APP.  In this case, the dean of the Graduate College will initiate the dismissal process.

Students with an approved APP who are successfully following its requirements may continue in their graduate degree program. Students are required to follow the prescribed plan until such time as all conditions in the plan have been satisfied. For a student who fails to meet the requirements stipulated in the APP, the Graduate College will place a hold on the student's registration and, in consultation with the appropriate graduate program, initiate the dismissal process unless a revised APP is submitted and approved by the Graduate College. A revised APP will be required if the department does not recommend dismissal, and pending acceptance by the dean of the Graduate College, the student will be allowed to continue in the degree program. A graduate student who is dismissed and subsequently enrolls as a non-degree-seeking graduate student, or as a graduate student at another institution, may not have this coursework count toward fulfilling degree requirements should the student ever be readmitted into the same graduate program at FAU.



Change of Major
Degree-seeking graduate students who change from one major to another must complete a new application, pay a $30 application fee and have their credentials reviewed in the same manner as all other students applying for admission.

Continuous Enrollment
Graduate students are required to enroll for at least 1 credit during at least two semesters (fall, spring or summer) of every academic year in order to remain eligible for the degree. Students who have been admitted to candidacy normally should enroll in the Thesis (6971) or Dissertation (7980) course in their departments. Those who have not yet been admitted to candidacy, but do not need to take additional courses, should enroll in an appropriate Directed Independent Study course or Advanced Research course.

Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment, as defined above, lose their eligibility for the degree. In such cases, students are required to submit a new application and pay a new $30 application fee. In addition, students may be required to register for additional credits of Directed Independent Study, Thesis or Dissertation in an amount equal to the number of such credits missed while not continuously enrolled.

Full-Time Enrollment and Petitions
For fall and spring semesters: Graduate students registered for 9 or more credits are considered full-time, registrations for 7 credits are considered 3/4-time and registrations for 5 credits are considered half-time. For the summer semester: Graduate students registered for 6 credits are considered full-time, registrations for 5 credits are considered 3/4-time and registrations for 3 credits are considered half-time.

Graduate students may petition to take fewer credits and maintain full-time graduate student status. Students must meet the eligibility guidelines below to submit the petition (Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement) and must satisfy at least one of the following four conditions:

1. Master's degree students who have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in thesis credits may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.

2. Doctoral degree students who have advanced to candidacy, have completed all required coursework as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled in dissertation credits may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 3 credits.

3. All graduate students who have completed all coursework and thesis/dissertation credits as listed on their approved Plan of Study and are only enrolled to satisfy continuous enrollment requirements to complete their thesis or dissertation may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of at least 1 credit.

4. All graduate students in their last semester of study, as verified by their approved Plan of Study, may petition to be classified as full-time graduate students with an enrollment of the remaining credits needed to complete their degree.

1. An approved Plan of Study on file in the Graduate College;

2. Maintained continuous enrollment during the previous 12-month period;

3. Enrolled in the minimum number of credits as stipulated by one of the four applicable conditions above.

1. File a new graduate admissions application with appropriate documentation.

2. Re-establish Florida residency for tuition purposes.

3. Be in good academic standing (eligible to return) at FAU and at any institution attended since the last period of enrollment at FAU.

4. Provide official transcripts to the Graduate College from any institution attended since the last period of enrollment at FAU.

5. Submit proof of conformity to the Measles Immunization Policy of the State University System for graduate students under the age of 40 who have not previously submitted this information.

6. Students who were enrolled without being fully admitted into a graduate degree program will not be eligible to return.

7. Returning students will be admitted under the catalog guidelines in place at the time of re-admission.

Recency of Credits
No credit that is more than 10 years old at the time the Florida Atlantic University graduate degree is awarded may be counted toward that degree. Credits transferred into or applied to an FAU program are considered earned in the first semester of enrollment at FAU. Note: Individual graduate programs may have stricter recency of credit time limits.

Residence Requirements
All graduate degree-seeking students must register for at least one credit in the term in which the degree is to be awarded. The residence requirement for all graduate degrees will be determined by the graduate program offering the degree.

Satisfactory Academic Performance
To remain in good academic standing, each graduate student at Florida Atlantic University must maintain a satisfactory record. A cumulative 3.0 average must be maintained on all degree requirements listed on the Plan of Study. This is the minimum quality necessary for a graduate degree at Florida Atlantic University. Note: Individual degree programs may have higher academic performance standards.

Transfer Credits
Master's programs may accept a maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution beyond a baccalaureate degree. Doctoral programs may accept a maximum of 36 credits earned elsewhere in an approved graduate program. A maximum of 6 graduate credits earned from another institution in a non-degree-seeking status may be transferred. The Graduate College reserves the right to request a professional evaluation of credits transferred from universities outside the U.S.

Acceptance of transfer credits for a course is dependent upon the following provisions:

1. The student received a grade of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale in the course to be transferred.

2. The course was taken at a regionally accredited institution.

3. The course is relevant to the graduate program in which the student is accepted, as judged by the graduate or supervisory committee of the department or program.

4. The course is listed on the official transcript received by the Graduate College.

5. The course was completed within six years preceding admission to the program.

Since many graduate programs do not accept transfer credits that have been applied to a completed degree, the student should consult the department offering the degree. See individual departments for particular degree requirements.

Acceleration Mechanisms for Undergraduate Students

FAU participates in numerous programs that afford students the opportunity to accelerate their degree programs if they so desire. The accelerated programs and policies appear below. Note: Test scores and credits awarded under each program are subject to change when mandated by the state. The scores and credits listed in the current catalog at the time the test is taken will determine the credits that will be awarded. The FAU catalog is the only official source to determine credit to be awarded by FAU for acceleration mechanisms.

Correspondence Courses

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses

Credit by Examination, including:

Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE)
Advanced Placement (AP)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
International Baccalaureate (IB)

Excelsior College Examinations

Military Service School Credit:

DSST Examination Program

Correspondence Courses – Undergraduates
The University may award up to 10 credits of correspondence coursework toward admission provided the credit earned was "C" or higher and appears on the transcript of a regionally accredited college or university. Acceptability of such credit for advanced standing and/or degree credit will be determined by the individual college. Credit earned in this manner will be treated as transfer credit.

The State University System of Florida offers a program of about 80 courses by correspondence through the Division of Continuing Education of the University of Florida. Courses are offered in each of the following departments: Advertising, Anthropology, Art, Business, Criminology and Law, Economics, Education, English, English as a Second Language, Geography, Geology, Germanic and Slavic Languages, History, Journalism, Latin, Linguistics, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Relations, Religion, Romance Languages, Sociology, Statistics, Study Skills and Textiles. Correspondence courses are also offered in the professional programs of Dietary Management, Insurance Pre-Licensing, Legal Assistant and Water Management. Program information and course details may be obtained here, or by calling the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Florida: 800-327-4218 or 352-392-1711.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses
Undergraduate students within 20 credits of fulfilling their baccalaureate degree requirements and who have at least a 3.0 average may enroll in certain graduate courses for credit with permission of their department chair and the instructor of the course. A maximum of 10 graduate credits, taken before the student has fulfilled the baccalaureate degree requirements, may be applied to a graduate program with the approval of the department. No credits applied toward the undergraduate degree may be used to fulfill requirements for the graduate degree unless specifically approved.

Undergraduate students who do not meet the above stated criteria may petition to enroll in graduate courses. Form 10-Request to Waive a University Requirement may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar or the Graduate College and requires the signature of the student’s advisor, department chair, college dean and dean of the Graduate College. A transcript must be attached to the form.

Credit by Examination – Undergraduates
Credit by Examination may be earned from the Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE), Advanced Placement (AP) Policy, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Credit will not be awarded for examinations covering the same areas or for comparable college courses already completed. Students are urged to consult with the dean of their college in order to ascertain which examinations would be appropriate for their degree program. A maximum of 45 credits may be earned by examination. Note that although college credit may be earned from AICE, AP and IB examinations, this credit may only be earned while the student is in high school. Credit earned in this manner will be treated as transfer credit.



Advanced International Certificate in Education (AICE) – Undergraduates
The AICE program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system of "A-Levels."

* Award credit for ENC 1102 if student has credit for ENC 1101.

Advanced Placement (AP) – Undergraduates
Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are given at the end of the year in high school Advanced Placement courses. Students may earn credits for Advanced Placement examinations taken in high schools as specified below. Credit will not be awarded for both AP and CLEP examinations covering the same course material. Official test scores sent directly from the testing center to Florida Atlantic University are required in order to award credit. To request official scores and for information visit www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html or call 888-225-5427 or 609-771-7300.

* Based on previous credit earned.
** MUT 1001 if composite score is 3 or higher.
*** MUT 1111 and MUT 1241 if both aural and non-aural subscores are 3 or higher.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – Undergraduates
Undergraduate students may earn credits from the CLEP examinations provided they have not received comparable college credit in the CLEP examination area or have not completed a more advanced course in which the accumulation of knowledge or skills in the examination is essential. Minimum scores are subject to change at any time. Official scores must be sent to FAU from the testing center. Scores cannot be posted from other institutions' transcripts. To obtain official scores, visit www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/scores.html for a Transcript Request form and other pertinent information or call 800-257-9558.

* Students who are awarded IB credit will receive Gordon Rule credit for these courses.
** All students study 20th century world history. Students also study a 100-year period between 1750 and the present in one of several regions. The second course for which credit is awarded is dependent on the area of specialization.
*** The elective course must be in theatre history, performance, stagecraft, theory or literature, depending on student's strengths.



Excelsior College Examinations – Undergraduates
The table below provides information related to the Excelsior exam and subtest areas for which credit is awarded. More detailed information can be found at www.excelsior.edu.

Military Service School Credit – Undergraduates
The University may award up to 10 credits of Military Service School credits toward admission, as evaluated and recommended in the American Council on Education publication, Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Acceptability of such credit will be determined by the individual college. Alternatively, up to 8 credits of the maximum 10 may be granted for ROTC credit. Credit earned for ROTC courses will be acceptable for advance standing or degree credit and such credit will be considered free electives.

To apply for such credit, military veterans or active duty service members should submit one of the following forms of documentation, and evidence of appropriate test scores on the DSST Examination Program (formerly DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) in college and technical subjects. See DSST exams and scores below the required documentation details.

Required Documentation:
United States Army
Active duty status on or after October 1, 1981, must request an Army/American Council on Education
Registry Transcript from:

http://aarts.army.mil

Department of the Army
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
1600 Spearhead Division Avenue, Dept. 410
Fort Knox, Kentucky 40122
ATTN: AARTS

Active duty status prior to October 1, 1981, submit:
DD214/DD295 Course Completion Certificates

United States Air Force
Request a Community College of the Air Force (if applicable) transcript from:

www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/transcripts.asp 

CCAF/DESS
100 South Turner Boulevard
Gunter Annex, AL 36114-3011
800-646-1858/847-446-1027

or submit:
DD214/DD295 Course Completion Certificates

United States Navy, Marine Corps
Request a Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript from:

https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/dsp_vec.cfm

from your local Navy College Office or Marine Corps Lifelong Learning Center or

from the Navy College Program: 877-838-1659 or email: vec@navy.mil

United States Coast Guard
Request an Official United States Coast Guard Transcript from:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/active_duty/go_to_college/official_transcript.asp

or by calling 405-954-0072

Department of Defense
Request a Defense Language Institute Transcript (if applicable) from:

http://www.dliflc.edu/dlitranscripts.html

Defense Language Institute
Foreign Language Center
ATFL-APO-AR
(Attn: Registrar's Office)
Monterey, CA 93944   
831-242-6455



DSST Examination Program – Undergraduates  
The table below provides information related to the DSST exams. For more details, visit www.getcollegecredit.com.

Responsibility and Discipline
Florida Atlantic University is dedicated to the intellectual, social and moral development of students in order to provide responsible leaders who can work effectively in a democratic society.

Under the authority granted by the Florida Board of Governors, the University has the right and responsibility to determine who shall be admitted to the institution, the conduct or behavior acceptable to the institution and under what conditions one may continue as a student. As a condition for admission to the University, students agree to abide by the policies and regulations of the institution. The president of the University has responsibility for student conduct and discipline. That responsibility shall be exercised through the University Student Code of Conduct.

Every student is subject to federal and state law, respective county and city ordinances and all Florida Board of Governors and University rules and regulations. Violations of these laws, ordinances or rules and regulations may subject the violator to appropriate disciplinary action by University authorities.

The president or approved designee shall have the authority, after notice to the student of the charges and a hearing thereon, to expel or otherwise discipline any student found to have violated a rule or regulation of the Florida Board of Governors or the University or any law or ordinance.

The president or approved designee shall have the authority to order any student to cease and desist any activity that in the president's or designee's judgment disrupts the orderly operation of the institution. Any student failing to abide by the cease and desist order shall be subject to interim suspension pending a hearing.

The conviction of a student for a criminal offense of a kind that interferes with the educational or orderly operation of the University or of a kind which, if the student were allowed to remain enrolled, would endanger the health, safety or property of members of the academic community, shall be sufficient grounds for expulsion or other disciplinary action against such student.

Except as provided above, in all student violations of non-academic rules and regulations, a student shall be afforded adequate notice of charges, a reasonable time to answer, a fair and impartial hearing and a decision. The final administrative appeal shall be to the president or approved designee who may reopen the hearing, order a new hearing or accept determination of sanctions. In the conclusion of the appeal process, the decision of the president or president's designee shall be final. For full details of the FAU Student Code of Conduct, see University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.007 at www.fau.edu/regulations.

Code of Academic Integrity
Students at Florida Atlantic University are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Academic dishonesty is considered a serious breach of these ethical standards because it interferes with the University mission to provide a high-quality education in which no student enjoys an unfair advantage over any other. Academic dishonesty is also destructive of the University community, which is grounded in a system of mutual trust and places high value on personal integrity and individual responsibility.

The FAU Code of Academic Integrity describes the expectations for students' ethical academic conduct and the procedures for charging a student with a violation of the Code. It also outlines the procedures for students to appeal such charges.

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following:
(A)  Cheating

i.  The unauthorized use of notes, books, electronic devices or other study aids while taking an examination or working on an assignment.

ii.  Providing unauthorized assistance to or receiving assistance from another student during an examination or while working on an assignment.

iii.  Having someone take an exam or complete an assignment in one's place.

iv.  Securing an exam, receiving an unauthorized copy of an exam or sharing a copy of an exam.

i.  The presentation of words from any other source or another person as one's own without proper quotation and citation.

ii.  Putting someone else's ideas or facts into your own words (paraphrasing) without proper citation.

iii.  Turning in someone else's work as one's own, including the buying and selling of term papers or assignments.

i.  Falsifying or inventing information, data or citations.

ii.  Failing to comply with examination regulations or failing to obey the instructions of an examination proctor.

iii.  Submitting the same paper or assignment, or part thereof, in more than one class without the written consent of both instructors.

iv.  Any other form of academic cheating, plagiarism or dishonesty.

For full details of the FAU Code Academic Integrity, see University Regulations, Chapter 4, Regulation 4.001 at www.fau.edu/regulations

University Regulations
Additional rules regarding student responsibility and discipline and a host of other regulations are set out in the Florida Atlantic University Regulations. University Regulations are subject to change without notice. For the University Regulations in effect at any given time, visit www.fau.edu/regulations.