ACADEMIC PROBATION AND SUSPENSION

If students do not progress academically as well as they need to, the University will impose either probation or suspension. Probation allows students to continue course work under certain restrictions, while suspension usually requires students to sit out at least one term. The University does not impose either probation or suspension until the student has completed a minimum of 12 hours.

Probation and suspension have the following objectives:

1. To indicate that the student's achievement is below the standards required for graduation.
2. To give the student with inadequate grades a chance to seek timely help from instructors, counselors, or other appropriate sources and to prove his/her ability to make reasonable academic progress.
3. To prevent the student who lacks the required motivation or maturity from building a deficiency of quality points that cannot later be overcome.
4. To prevent a student from continuing a program beyond a point at which the successful completion of a curriculum seems highly unlikely.

Academic probation is imposed when both the most recent term's grade point average and the LSUS cumulative grade point average have fallen below 2.0.

The following policies apply to all students on academic probation. Both transfer and continuing students are subject to these policies:

1. The student may enroll for no more than 12 hours of credit in a regular term and 6 hours in a summer term.
2. The student must remain on probation until a minimum of 12 hours are attempted at LSUS.
3. The student will continue on probation if, after these 12 hours, the LSUS cumulative average is below 2.0 but the most recent term's average is 2.0 or above.
4. The student will be removed from probation any time after these 12 hours that both the LSUS cumulative and most recent term's averages are 2.0 or above.

Academic suspension occurs when students already on probation do not meet specified academic standards. Suspension for the first time greatly limits the student's course load; suspension for the second time or third time requires that the student must sit out one or more terms. An academic suspension cancels any early registration.

Length of Academic Suspension: A first or second time suspension normally remains in effect for either one regular term or an entire summer. That is, a student suspended at the end of the fall term normally remains on suspension until the first summer session, a student suspended at the end of the spring term until the following fall, and a student suspended at the end of a summer session until the following spring.

A normal one term suspension occurs under the following circumstances:

1. A student admitted conditionally does not achieve a 2.0 grade point average in the first 12 hours of attendance. The student is not eligible for conditional readmission.
2. A student has completed 12 hours or more on academic probation and has neither raised the cumulative average to 2.0 nor made a 2.0 in the most recently completed term.

Restrictions:

1. A first or second suspension requires the student to sit out one regular term or summer. However, on the first suspension the student may opt for conditional readmission. A conditional readmission allows the student to take a reduced course load at LSUS only of no fewer than 3 hours and no more than 6 hours for a regular term or summer. Students taking classes must get permission from their dean at least two working days before registration. If the student achieves a 2.0 in this course work, the suspension will be lifted, but the student will continue on probation; if not, the student will be placed on suspension a second time.
2. A third suspension requires the student to sit out one calendar year.

The following policies apply to all students on academic suspension:

1. A student on academic suspension may not apply any credits earned elsewhere during the period of suspension towards a degree at LSUS.
2. A student on academic suspension may register to audit courses in the University, with the approval of the student's dean.
3. A student must reapply for admission after sitting out a period of suspension.

ORIGINALITY OF WORK

In all academic areas it is imperative that work be original or that explicit acknowledgment be given for the use of other persons' ideas or language. Students should consult with instructors to learn specific procedures appropriate for documenting the work of others in each field. Students are required to purchase Understanding Plagiarism and must use it throughout their academic career. Breaches of academic honesty can result in disciplinary measures ranging from lowering of a grade to permanent compulsory expulsion from the University. (See “LSUS Student Handbook” for additional information.)

ACADEMIC BANKRUPTCY POLICY

The undergraduate student who has not been enrolled in a college or university for three consecutive years may elect, only once, to deny all work attempted at all colleges or universities prior to the three year period. The three year period need not necessarily immediately precede the exercise of this option. This work will appear on the student's permanent record but will not be used in computing the grade average. The student's record will not be altered to reflect academic bankruptcy until after the student has enrolled in the University.

The student must apply for and declare academic bankruptcy for credit courses in the Admissions and Records Office at the time of application for admission or readmission to LSUS or within one calendar year from the first day of enrollment or re enrollment. The declaration must be completed prior to the deadline for resigning from the University in the term or term in which it is made. A decision to declare academic bankruptcy is irreversible. Students should be aware that not all colleges and universities recognize academic bankruptcy policies of another institution, and may consider all courses previously attempted when determining admissibility or establishing a transfer grade point average. LSUS will consider all grades, including those for courses bankrupted, in awarding honors.

CLASS ATTENDANCE

Students at LSUS are expected to give their scholastic obligations first consideration. Students should not schedule classes that conflict with their employment and should come to class regularly and punctually. An absence, avoidable or unavoidable, does not relieve the student from responsibility for coursework.

1. Reporting of absences by faculty. An instructor will report excessive absences to a student's dean when the absences may cause failure in the course or lower the student's course grade.
2. Consequences of excessive absences. The student's dean will endeavor to determine the reasons for the student's absences. After consulting the instructor, the dean may advise the student to withdraw from the class or to attend class regularly. Continued nonattendance does not constitute a formal withdrawal from a class and will result in a non-rescindable “F” grade.
3. Absences for authorized events. An authorized event is a University sanctioned activity where the student is representing the University. A student who will miss class for an authorized event must arrange for missed assignments or exams with each instructor. If the instructor has concern about the event or questions make up work, the student must contact the university official in charge of the event, who will secure written approval from the student's dean. Students are permitted to make up exams or assignments missed for participating in authorized University events. Arrangements or make up work must be made with the instructor before the event.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Final examinations are required in all courses and are given in accordance with the schedule issued by the Admissions and Records Office. Any exception to this requirement must be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

A student absent from a final examination because of illness or other valid reason may take a special examination upon the approval of the student's dean. The responsibility for notifying the dean's office rests with the student.

A student with three or more exams in one day may petition through his/her Academic Dean to take only two exams on the same day.

GRADING PROCEDURES

Grading System

Numerical Expression of Letter Grades
For purposes of converting numerical grades on student transcripts from other institutions to LSUS letter grades, the following scale is used: A, 93 100; B, 85 92; C, 77 84; D, 65 76; F, failure, below 65. This scale is not to be construed as the grading scale for courses taken at LSUS.

Pass/No Credit Option
Details regarding the pass/no credit option are contained within individual college's requirement sections of this catalog. Additional information may be obtained from the office of the student's dean.

In addition to this elective option, certain courses grade all students on a pass/no credit basis. Such courses are identified in the lists of undergraduate and graduate courses in this catalog.

See also “GRADUATE PROGRAMS.”

Repeated Courses
A student may repeat a course for which a grade has been previously earned, and all courses pursued, including all repeated courses, are recorded on the transcript. However, the last grade earned determines the acceptability of the course for degree credit. Consequently, if a grade of F is earned when the course is repeated, the prior credit is lost. Except for courses which are designated as “repeat for credit,” a course may be counted only once in the total hours for a degree. All grades earned in the course are used in computing the grade point averages (term, LSUS, and cumulative

If a course number or title changes, the Chair of the Department and the Dean of the College offering the course must approve a request to repeat.

See the “Graduate Programs” section of this catalog for regulations regarding repeated graduate course.

WARNING: Upon presentation of an LSUS transcript to another institution for evaluation, it is the prerogative of that institution to include or exclude repeated courses in the calculation of the GPA. The inclusion of previously excluded grades of repeated courses generally lowers the GPA. This is of particular importance to students making application to graduate studies or professional schools.

Repeated course policies from other colleges and universities are not recognized by LSUS.

Note: The LSU School of Allied Health Professions does not share this policy. Transferring students should consult an Allied Health adviser for details.

Repeatable Courses
Courses may not be repeated for additional credit unless the catalog course description specifies that the course is repeatable. This is not to be confused with retaking a course for which a grade has been earned. (See “Repeated Courses.”)

ACADEMIC RECORDS

Grade Reports
Reports of final grades are sent to the student at the home address after each term and summer term. The University does not issue mid-term grade reports.

Honor Lists
Each term LSUS honors full time undergraduate students whose term averages are at least 3.5 (Dean's List) or 3.8 (Chancellor's List).

Transcript of Record
A student may obtain a transcript, provided there are no financial obligations to the University. The transcript request must be signed by the student and submitted along with payment of the transcript fee at least two days prior to issuance of the transcript. Transcripts are not issued for seven working days following the end of a term or term. If the official transcript is not received by the other institution within thirty days, an official transcript will be re-issued, at no cost, and mailed to the institution to which it was originally sent.

Appeals of Final Grades Assigned in Courses
A student must initiate a written appeal within 30 days after the beginning of the next regular term (i.e., fall or spring, exclusive of summer), and the appeal must be based clearly on alleged instructor prejudice, bad faith, capricious action, or similar reason. Neither a lower than expected grade nor the alleged difficulty of a course or test warrants an appeal. If the faculty member who assigned the grade being appealed is an academic administrator then that faculty member is excused from the decision making process after Step A. A replacement will be appointed ad hoc by the Chancellor, or if the Chancellor is the teacher, by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

1. A student who has a question about a final grade must discuss the matter with the faculty member before initiating an appeal. The formal appeal process begins when the student presents to the faculty member a completed, signed, and dated Student Appeal Form, available in departmental offices, including copies of all pertinent documentation, requesting the faculty member to reconsider a final grade. The faculty member must respond in writing within three working days, regardless of the outcome. Clerical errors must be corrected as soon as possible by appropriate action.
2. If the student and faculty member do not resolve the matter, and the student wishes to pursue the appeal, the student will ask the faculty member to forward the Student Appeal Form to the chair of the department in which the course was taught. Within three working days after the faculty member’s written response, the student will make a written request to the chair of the department in which the course was taught, for a meeting of the chair, the faculty member, and the student. The request will clearly state the purpose of the meeting, the faculty member’s name, and the areas of disagreement. The chair will confer with the student and the faculty member in an effort to reach an agreement. If an agreement is reached, all three parties will initial the statement of agreement.
3. If the student wishes to appeal further, he or she should ask that the chair forward all documents to the dean of the college in which the course is offered. Within three working days of the meeting with the chair, the student must submit a written appeal to the dean, summarizing the points of disagreement with the chair. Upon receiving the appeal, the dean must, within three working days, forward copies to the chair and faculty member concerned, who may reply, within three working days, with individually written statements supporting their previous actions. Copies of any written replies must be forwarded to the student. When replies from the chair and faculty member have been received, the dean will meet, within three working days, with the student, faculty member, and chair in an effort to reach an agreement.
4. If the agreement is not satisfactory to the student, the faculty member, or the chair, the dean will refer the appeal to an ad hoc committee appointed by the Dean from within the college. The ad hoc committee will be composed of three faculty members (no more than two from the same department) and two students who will be voting members the dean will designate a chair for the committee but should make no prejudicial statements to the committee or the chair. The committee will hold a hearing with the department chair, the faculty member, and the student. After deliberation, the committee will make its recommendation in writing to the dean. Within 30 calendar days after receiving the student’s appeal, the dean must make a written decision, listing the reasons supporting the decision. Copies must be given to all parties, to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and to the student’s dean.
5. If any party to the appeal believes that a serious procedural error in the appeal occurred, or that there was an abuse of discretionary authority in reaching the decision, a written petition for review may be filed with the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This petition, which must be filed within five working days after receiving the dean's decision, must contain a complete statement of the alleged serious procedural error or examples of abuse of discretionary authority and also must contain reasons for the relief requested. Copies of all documents produced in the appeal must accompany the petition. Copies should be sent to all parties to the appeal and to the student’s dean. The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will decide within ten working days after receiving the petition whether further action should be taken. In reaching this decision, the Vice Chancellor may ask other parties to the appeal to make a written reply to the request for a review; or these parties, on their own, may make a written reply. If the decision is reached that a review is not justified, the student and all other parities, including the student’s dean, will be notified. If the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs decides to respond favorably to the petition for review, a formal meeting will be held with all parties. Based on discussions at this meeting, as well as on all written materials furnished, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will reject or affirm the decision already made. Once a decision is reached, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will notify all parties and the students' dean of the decision. If, at any stage in the process, a decision requires change in an official university record, the faculty member must comply with all university regulations and procedures necessary to accomplish the change. The decision of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs shall conclude the matter.

Information regarding additional student appeals and the Code of Student Conduct can be located in the LSUS Student Handbook. For further information contact the Office of Student Affairs (318) 797-5116.