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| Baccalaureate Degree Requirements | ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES Baccalaureate Degree Requirements A University degree is awarded to a person who has performed satisfactorily in three different kinds of university courses: courses in a major program, courses in the core program, and elective courses of the student's choosing. (A) Major Program Courses A major program of studies is composed of a group of courses, as approved by the faculty, which prepares students for careers and vocations. Franciscan University of Steubenville offers academic majors in: Accounting, Anthropology, Biology, Business Administration (Economics, Finance, Management, Marketing), Chemistry, Classics, Communication Arts (Radio/TV, Journalism), Computer Science, Computer Information Science, Economics, Elementary Education (with additional certification for Kindergarten and Special Education), Engineering Science, English (Drama, Literature, Writing), French, History, Humanities and Catholic Culture, Mathematical Science, Mental Health and Human Services, Nursing, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, and Theology. Each major program consists of elementary courses and a minimum of 24 credit hours in upper level courses in which a student must earn at least a C (2.00) average. Most programs have more than the minimum number of credits and include a required number of courses in related fields of study, plus a thesis or seminar. Intermediate knowledge of a modern or classical language is required in all bachelor of arts programs. Four-year curriculum guides for each major program along with a description of each course in a program are given in the section of the catalog marked Degree Programs (see page 68). (B) Core Program Requirements The following core program requirements for graduation will apply to all entering students (new and readmitted):
Courses for the core program requirements are to be chosen from academic areas that are outside of the student's academic major area. (C) Elective Courses Sufficient elective course credits to complete at least the 124 credits needed for graduation are required. The actual number of elective credits varies with each major program, from a high of 36 to a low of 12 credits. (D) Language Requirement For students pursuing the bachelor of arts degree, the language requirement is 6 credits at the intermediate level in modern or classical language, i.e., French 201-202, German 201-202, Greek 201-202, Latin 201-202, and Spanish 201-202. For students not prepared to enter the intermediate level, a 6 credit elementary course is also required. The language requirement may also be satisfied by examination or other verification of proficiency. Associate Degrees An associate of arts degree is ordinarily a two-year university degree, which can be either a stepping-stone to a four-year bachelor's degree or a terminal degree for someone who chooses not to continue for the bachelor's degree. Franciscan University of Steubenville offers associate degrees in General Studies, Accounting, Business Administration, Child Development, and Theology. The associate degree in General Studies requires 39 credits in the student's chosen area of specialization or electives, plus 9 credits in communications core and 3 credits each in humanities, social science, theology, and natural science core requirements, for a total of 60 credits. The requirements for associate degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Child Development, and Theology are described in the Degree Section of this catalog. All associate degree programs require that the final 15 credits be earned at Franciscan University of Steubenville. An overall quality point average of 2.00 in all courses as well as a 2.00 average in the major courses are required. Standard admission procedures apply for associate degree programs, and all course credit is applicable to the requirements of a full bachelor's degree. Double Major Careful planning of a student's academic curriculum can accommodate a double major within four year's time. A careful use of electives can sometimes make this possible without exceeding the 124 credits needed for graduation. Note that a double major earns one bachelor's degree with two majors; this differs from a second bachelor's degree described below. Academic Minor A minor in a second academic area is available to students who are earning an undergraduate degree in a primary area. A minor requires a minimum of 18 semester credit hours with a 2.00 quality point average. To qualify for an academic minor, transfer students must earn at least 6 semester credit hours in upper-level classes at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The course requirements for academic minors are listed with the specific academic degree programs. Second Major It is possible for a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville to return to the University to earn a second major. This option is open to Franciscan University graduates only. If the previous major earned a bachelor of science degree, but the new degree is in the bachelor of arts area, the modern or classical language requirement must be met. Approval of the appropriate academic department chairperson must be given before a student can begin the second major. A 2.00 QPA in the major field of study must be earned. No additional degree is earned. Second Bachelor's Degree A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville may return to the University to earn a second bachelor's degree as long as it is different from the degree previously earned. For students earning a bachelor's degree at another institution, a second bachelor's degree may be earned at Franciscan University as long as it is a different major. Current core and major curriculum requirements must be fulfilled, including the modern or classical language requirement if a bachelor of arts degree is being earned. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours, beyond those earned prior to awarding of the first degree, must be completed with a 2.00 QPA. All students must have approval of the appropriate academic Department Chairperson. To qualify for graduation with a baccalaureate degree, a student will:
Application for Graduation Prospective graduates must file an application for graduation not later than the end of the semester preceding the one in which they expect to graduate. It is highly recommended that this be done by the end of the junior year. In the month of April, all juniors will receive an application for graduation in the mail. This is to be completed and returned to the Registrar's Office. Seniors completing their degree requirements in summer school, however, should request this application form at the Registrar's Office. If the student fails to carry out the above procedure within the prescribed period, the granting of the degree may be postponed until the next graduation date. Graduation With Honors Franciscan University of Steubenville awards baccalaureate degrees with honors for distinguished achievement in all courses taken at the institution. Students whose scholarship quotients are from 3.40 to 3.59 receive their degrees cum laude; those whose quotients are from 3.60 to 3.79 receive their degrees magna cum laude; and students who achieve a quotient of 3.80 or above receive a degree summa cum laude. Transfer students must earn their final 62 semester hours at Franciscan University to be eligible to graduate with honors. Students who return to the University for a second degree, with their first degree from the University, must earn an additional minimum of 31 semester credit hours to be eligible to graduate with honors. Their last immediate two semesters of full-time course work for the first degree will be used in calculating their quality point averages. The following constitutes the University's registration procedure:
Concurrent Registration Students taking courses at other institutions concurrently with their registration at the University will not be allowed credit for these courses unless written approval of the Dean of the Faculty has been received in advance. Students desiring to enroll in summer session courses at another institution must obtain permission from the Registrar prior to leaving campus in order to have the University recognize such credits. Auditing Classes Auditors are not required to participate in class discussions or examinations and do not receive credit; however, in order to have this designation recorded on their transcripts for the appropriate course, they must attend classes. Designation as an auditor should be made at registration or during the first two weeks of classes. The charge for auditing is the same as that for courses taken for credit. Course Withdrawal A student may withdraw from a course until a week after mid-terms. The final date for official withdrawal is published in the official University calendar. A withdrawal is not official until the withdrawal slip, completely signed, is returned to the Registrar's Office. The withdrawal slip must be signed by the Registrar before it is accepted at the Registrar's Office. No authorization will be given for withdrawal after this deadline. If a student officially withdraws from a course by the withdrawal deadline, a grade of withdrawal (W) is submitted at the conclusion of the semester by the instructor. The dates for withdrawal for academic purposes differ significantly from the withdrawal dates to receive a refund of fees paid. Please see Withdrawal Credit section under Refund Policy on page 42. Repeating a Course With the approval of the Dean of the Faculty, a student may repeat a course previously taken at the University in which a grade lower than C has been earned. The last grade received will be used to compute the student's grade point average. A course that is retaken will count only once toward graduation requirements. The student's transcript will show both the original grade for the course and the grade earned when the course was repeated. Transcripts Transcripts will be issued to educational institutions, government agencies, parents, or employers only upon the written release of the student. To obtain a transcript, the student must complete a Transcript Request Form (obtained at the Enrollment Services Desk on the ground floor of Starvaggi Hall) and submits it with a fee of $2 per copy. Transcripts are issued only after the student has fulfilled all financial obligations to the University. Due to federal regulations as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Franciscan University cannot accept requests made by telephone or e-mail and cannot send transcripts via FAX or e-mail. Academic Year and Summer Sessions The academic year is divided into fall and spring semesters, each of 15 weeks. The fall semester begins about the first of September and concludes just before the Christmas recess. The spring semester begins mid-January and ends in mid-May (see the Academic Calendar on page 6). The University conducts one mini-session and two five-week sessions during the summer. These sessions permit some students to accelerate their education. Summer sessions also offer students the opportunity to make up deficiencies in course work. Student are permitted to take one course in the mini-session and two courses in each regular summer session. This can add up to a whole semester worth of credit. Time-Shortening Options Students pay a comprehensive tuition fee that allows them to carry 12 to 18 hours per semester. While students are required to complete 124 semester hours for a bachelor's degree, they may carry as many as 144 hours over the four-year course of regular sessions (exclusive of summer school courses). If students are capable of carrying 18 hours each semester, they may be able to complete their degree in a shorter period of time. By attending summer school classes and paying the additional costs, some will be able to graduate in three years. Many others will be able to graduate in three and one-half years. In either case, because of the time saved, this represents a savings despite the additional cost of attending summer school classes. Other time-shortening options include the College Level Examination Program, Credit by Examination, and Advanced Placement Tests.
Academic Advising The principal responsibility for fulfilling graduation requirements rests with the individual student. However, it is strongly recommended that students seek academic advice from the teaching faculty. The faculty members' duties to those who seek their counsel are to assist students in classroom performance; to direct students in the area of the subject matter they teach; to aid students in understanding the varied possibilities and directions of a life's career within the student's chosen field; and to recommend courses that will correct a weakness or enhance the student's desired goals and interests. Students who have chosen a major are advised by a faculty member from the major department. Students who have not yet chosen a major are advised by an assigned faculty member. Each student must fulfill all general, procedural, and specific requirements and abide by all pertinent academic regulations in order to earn a degree at Franciscan University. It is the student's responsibility to learn the requirements, policies, and procedures governing the program being followed and to act accordingly. Students should understand that an advisor's signature indicates only that the advisor has been consulted, not that the advisor necessarily agrees with the decision or action of the student. Authority of Instructors No student will be permitted to enter upon the study of any subject if, in the opinion of the instructor and with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty, the preparation necessary to insure competent work is lacking. Every student is required to satisfy the instructor in each course of study, in such a way as the instructor may determine that the work of the course is being performed in a satisfactory manner. Assignments are due when specified by the instructor. Instructors will periodically report to the Dean of the Faculty the names of students whose attendance or work is unsatisfactory. With the approval of the Dean of the Faculty, instructors may at any time dismiss from a course any student who, in their judgment, has neglected the course work. A student thus excluded will be recorded as having failed in the course, unless the instructor determines otherwise. Class Attendance The University fosters a policy of student participation in which all students are expected to attend every course class for which they are registered. Regular and punctual class attendance is a privilege extended to capable, qualified men and women who have indicated their desire to be responsible members of the University community. This privilege may be withdrawn in any course by an action of dismissal. At the beginning of the semester, each instructor states a policy regarding absences. Thereafter, class attendance is a matter solely between the instructor and the student. Mid-Term Grade Reports Students who are doing less than average quality in their course work are notified through a Deficiency Report that is sent halfway through a semester. All students may obtain grades from their course instructors. These reports are sent directly to students who may decide at this time to withdraw from the designated course. Examinations Examinations are held at the close of each semester or upon the completion of a particular unit of study. Before any student may be given a special examination covering the subject matter, approval of the Dean of the Faculty and payment of a special fee is necessary. A fee is charged for each special semester examination. FRESHMAN - Students who have earned 0 to 26 credit hours with the required quality point average of 1.80. SOPHOMORE - Students who have earned from 27 to 59 credit hours with the required quality point average of 2.00. JUNIOR - Students who have earned from 60 to 87 credit hours with the required quality point average of 2.00. SENIOR - Students who have earned 88 or more credit hours with the required quality point average of 2.00. The University's official grading system is as follows:
Other Grades Recorded P - Passing = No quality points. This grade is allowed only in classes approved by the Academic Dean. W - Withdrew = no quality points. I - Incomplete. This grade indicates that the work has not been completed because of factors that in the opinion of the instructor were outside the control of the student. Permission for this grade must be obtained from the Dean of the Faculty. The student has 30 days after the beginning of the succeeding semester to remove an incomplete grade. If it is not removed within that period, the grade automatically becomes F. CE - Credit by examination = no quality points. NR - Not Reported. This grade is given if a grade is not reported by a faculty member. Students should contact the faculty member when an NR appears on the grade report. Quality Point Average A student's academic standing at the University is measured by the quality point average. To find this QPA, multiply the number of credit hours attempted by the numerical value of the grade (A=4; B+=3.3; etc.) This total is a student's quality points. Divide this total by the number of credit hours attempted to obtain the quality point average. For example:
Quality Point Average and Graduation To graduate a student must have:
Note: Students may achieve an overall 2.00 QPA and not be eligible for graduation if they lack the necessary 2.00 QPA in the major program. Internships An internship is a work-experience opportunity with the purpose of expanding education by applying accumulated knowledge in an academic field of study. This purpose presupposes a student has accumulated a background of knowledge in an applicable discipline. Therefore, the availability of internships is limited to upper-level students, normally seniors. Students are approved individually by the academic department that grants the credits for the work experience. With special permission, juniors may participate in the program. A student may earn from one to six academic credits for the work experience, six being the maximum number of credits any student may earn while at the University. These credits are based upon one semester credit per 50 hours of applicable work experience. Internships are arranged through the Career Planning and Services Office, unless required and thus arranged by specific academic departments. They are conducted under the guidance of the student's academic advisor. Internships must be approved before a student can begin the work experience for credit. The student must also register for the internship during the normal advanced scheduling and registration periods. Students interested in an internships should talk with their academic advisors and the Director of the Career Planning and Services Office. Directed Study Program Upper-level students may desire to develop their knowledge beyond that which is achieved in normal course work. To this end, students may pursue an in-depth study of a particular subject through a Directed Study Program and earn recognition by receiving academic credit. The student will develop a Learning Contract in consultation with a full-time faculty member of the University. The student's work will be guided by the faculty member using the tutorial method. Students may earn 1 to 3 semester credit hours for each Directed Study. A maximum of 3 credit hours may be earned through Directed Study. A fee of $100 per credit hour is charged in addition to regular tuition for the Directed Study. A student must have the following qualifications to pursue Directed Study:
Students interested in the Directed Study Program can obtain a list of requirements from the Office of the Dean of Faculty during the semester prior to the one in which they wish to earn credit. A program of study must be approved before a student registers for credit. Special Topics Courses Most academic departments offer special courses in addition to courses described in this catalog. The content of such a course changes annually to include material not covered in required courses or in major elective courses. The Dean of the Faculty must authorize the offering of all such courses according to guidelines laid down by the Curriculum Committee of the faculty. Special Topics courses are often of current, popular interest and maintain the standard of academic excellence required of all regularly offered courses. MBA 4 + 1 Program Franciscan University of Steubenville has implemented a special program for qualified Accounting and Business Administration majors who enter Franciscan University as freshmen. Upon entering their senior year, these students may take graduate-level courses. By thus participating in the Master of Business Administration Program during their senior year, they can receive their undergraduate degree and then complete the MBA Program one year later. Senior students, in other degree programs, may also participate in this program provided they have completed all the undergraduate business and accounting courses required for the MBA Program. Information on the specific criteria that must be met by all students to participate in the program is available from the Chairman of the Accounting and Business Administration Department. Pre-Law Students who wish to prepare for the legal profession at Franciscan University of Steubenville will discover a number of academic programs to equip them for the rigor of study in law school. Since most law schools do not require a specific college academic major, students may choose any major that will help them individually to develop skills that are essential for the practice of law. Vital skills to be developed in pre-law study include: verbal skills, analytical and quantitative skills, and a critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals. In addition to choosing a particular academic major program of studies, students should carefully select a program of elective courses that will augment their preparations for the study and practice of law. Pre-Med, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, and Pharmacy Pre-professional preparation for careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, pharmacy, and other health sciences may be met in either the usual four-year Biology or Chemistry Program. Basic courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics are acceptable to all schools. Admission requirements in English, humanities, foreign language, and social studies vary among these schools. Evidence of service to the community and/or volunteer hours in a specific field may also be a requirement for admission to a professional school. Pre-Theologate Program "Through sacred ordination and mission...priests are promoted to the service of Christ the Teacher, Priest, and King; they are given a share in His ministry, through which the Church here on earth is being ceaselessly built into the People of God" ("Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests," Second Vatican Council). Understanding the vital role of the priesthood in the Church, Franciscan University of Steubenville offers a pre-theologate program to begin training men for the priesthood. This four-year college program prepares men academically and spiritually for entrance into a major seminary (called a theologate). The core of this program focuses on a balanced preparation in philosophy, theology, and living the spiritual life. The University will award a "Pre-theologate Certificate" to a man who is a member of a pre-theologate household and successfully completes the program. This certificate may greatly facilitate entrance into a major seminary or religious order. Self-Directed Study Skills Program Professionally prepared materials, including tapes and workbooks, are available in our language laboratory for students to use throughout the year. The topics covered include listening and notetaking, problem solving, supplementary spelling, and spelling and vocabulary building. Optional Practical Training An international student may apply for authorization of temporary off-campus employment by submitting an I-538 form demonstrating that the employment is directly related to the student's major area of study and commensurate with the student's educational level. Forms are available from the Director of International Students. One hundred students from any major are given the opportunity to study at Franciscan University of Steubenville's campus in Austria for one semester, usually during the sophomore year. Nestled in the foothills of the Austrian Alps, the campus is located in the small village of Gaming, at a newly renovated 14th-century Carthusian monastery. Classes are taught in English by Franciscan University of Steubenville professors using the normal University grading system. To be eligible, a student must be of at least sophomore status. Transfer students are normally required to spend at least one semester studying on the Steubenville campus before being eligible to study in Austria. Tuition, room, and board at the Austrian campus are the same as the Steubenville campus. Additional costs include travel, fees for book rental, and excursions that are part of the curriculum. Students in the Honors Program should see the notation "Honors Students Studying in Gaming" under the Honors Program section below. Students studying Latin or Greek should see the notation "Latin and Greek for Students Studying in Gaming" under "Classics" in the Languages section of this catalog. The Honors Program is based on the close reading and vigorous discussion of a curriculum of "great books" comprising what is aptly described by Matthew Arnold as "the best that has been thought and said." Students of the Honors Program critically study many of the great works of the Western tradition including the works of such writers as Homer, Plato, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jefferson, Kant, Marx, John Paul II, and others. Close reading and vigorous discussion in the seminar mode is the norm for Honors classes so that the large and ultimate questions of life can be aired and given due attention. The aim of these seminars is truth: Together, by critical discussion, students and professors seek the truth contained in the great authors, seek to uncover their errors, and generally delight in the goodness of their mutual pursuit. Thus, guided always by the teaching authority of the Church, students and professors consider such questions as: man's nature, his place and purpose before God, the universe, and the community of men. We hope that from this mutual pursuit will develop a community of scholars formed in the love of learning within which students will discuss, debate, ponder, write, and thereby learn in the highest tradition of the liberal arts. To graduate as an Honors Scholar from Franciscan University, a student must successfully complete 32 credit hours of Honors work, or the equivalent of 8 four-credit-hour Honors seminars. For the beginning freshman, this requirement is met by taking 1 four-credit-hour Honors seminar each semester for eight semesters at the University. The 32 hours of Honors seminars satisfy the entire humanities and social science core and four out of five courses required in the communications core. Admission Requirements The student must complete an Honors Program application and normally must present a cumulative average for high school course work of B+ or its equivalent and a score of 1100 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT. However, all admissions are subject to the judgment and discretion of the Honors Program Admissions Committee. GPA Requirements Students are required to maintain an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Failure to do so will make those students subject to dismissal from the Honors Program upon an evaluation by the Honors Program Chairman and the Dean of the Faculty. Honors students whose cumulative GPA drops below a 2.0 will be subject to immediate dismissal from the program upon an evaluation by the Honors Program Chairman and the Dean of the Faculty. Honors students are also required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all Honors Program course work. Honors students who complete their honors course work with a GPA below 3.0 will receive all credit for each course but will not receive the Honors Scholar notation on their diplomas or permanent transcripts. The honors student who consistently performs below 3.0 in honors courses will be subject to an evaluation by the Honors Program Chairman and the Dean of the Faculty to determine whether or not the student should continue in the Honors Program. Transfer Students Because of the growing number of transfer students to Franciscan University, the Honors Committee understands that all students who qualify for the Honors Program may not attend the University for a full eight semesters. The following provisions have been made to accommodate the needs of those students who desire to pursue the challenges of the Honors Program, but who will not complete eight semesters of course work at Franciscan University: Sophomores - Franciscan University students and transfer students who will remain at the University for at least six semesters may enter the Honors Program as sophomores, on a space available basis, once the following conditions have been met:
Juniors - Transfer students who will remain at Franciscan University for at least four semesters and who have participated in a comparable Honors Program at their previous colleges or universities may enter the Honors Program as juniors on a space available basis, once the following conditions have been met:
Honors Students Studying in Gaming, Austria Honors students who decide to study for a semester in Gaming, Austria, shall register for Honors GA, e.g., Hon 202 GA, etc. These students will be required to read the books assigned for the course independently and will write a final essay examination (2 hours, pass/fail) during the time for final exams in Gaming. The examination question will be provided by the Director of the Honors Program. Students will mail the completed examination to the Director in Steubenville for evaluation, and he will assign a pass or fail grade for the course based upon performance on the examination. This work will be counted as a four-credit class for purposes of the minimum number of credits that students are required to take in Gaming. Students will not be required to pay any extra fees or tuition for this procedure. Since, as a norm, students study in Gaming during either the sophomore or junior years, three copies of each book required for sophomore Honors seminars, namely Hon 201 and 202, and for the junior Honors seminars, namely Hon 301 and 302, will be kept in the library in Gaming and will be available for student use. Students who elect to go to Gaming during their freshman or senior year will be required to provide their own course books. The total course load to be taken by the Honors student in the semester abroad program may be reduced to 12 credit hours plus the Honors course. Every honors student must take Seminar VII: The 20th Century for credit. Dean's List Immediately following the close of each semester, the Dean of the Faculty announces the names of students who achieved scholarship quotients of 3.4 or above for the preceding grading period. To be eligible the student must carry a minimum of 15 semester hours, except during their last semester before graduation when 12 hours suffice. Honors Convocation Each year the University community convenes to recognize students who merit academic recognition. At this convocation, the University presents its honor awards, departments present their departmental honor awards, and students are received into honorary societies. Honorary Societies Alpha Chi - This is a national collegiate honor society, one of the three in America open to both men and women. Membership is bestowed on students of high moral character who have attained superior scholarship and exhibited leadership qualities. Students become eligible for membership by achieving a 3.80 cumulative quality point average after a minimum of five semesters of full-time study or 60 semester hours at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Baconian Society - The Baconian Society was founded at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1950 by the first president of the University, the late Very Rev. Daniel W. Egan. Named in honor of the Franciscan philosopher Roger Bacon, the society is the campus equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa and is the highest academic award offered the BA graduate. To be eligible for membership, a student must have a high cumulative average in a BA program, have completed the last 90 credits at the University, and participated in campus life. Other honorary societies at Franciscan University include Kappa Delta Pi, a national educational honor society; Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology; and Sigma Tau Delta, the national English honor society. ACADEMIC PROBATION AND DISMISSAL If a student's QPA is below that required for the class, the student is placed in one of three categories, depending upon the decision of the Academic Review Board: 1. Probation: This means that a student has one academic semester to attain the needed average or be subject to dismissal. Probation is not devised as a punishment period but rather as a protective measure. Thus, no student on probation may hold any office in any class, club, organization, sorority, fraternity, or an editorial position on any student publication. Students who have received notification by the Academic Review Board that they are on academic probation have a special responsibility to restrict activities that might interfere with academic work and to work diligently to remove that deficiency. They are also obligated to seek extra help from the Career Planning and Services Office and from their individual instructors. 2. Freshman Warning: Ordinarily, first-semester freshman students are not placed on probation. Instead, the Academic Review Board will issue a warning to those who do not achieve a 1.80 QPA at the end of their first semester. However, the conditions of probation, as given above, will apply to those students on freshman warning. 3. Extended Probation: This is conditional probation, wherein the Academic Review Board specifies a course of action for the student to take. The extension of probation is conditioned upon the student's accepting and fulfilling the conditions specified by the board. 4. Dismissal: Freshman students may be dismissed if they fail at the end of the first year of studies to achieve the required quality point average. All other students are subject to dismissal if, after one period of probation in any semester of their programs, they fail to achieve the required cumulative quality point averages for their classes. Students who earn a 1.00 quality point average or less in one semester are subject to dismissal, regardless of their class. Cheating Students who cheat on any test or plagiarize a paper shall fail the course and have a memorandum of this action placed in their file. If a student repeats this action, dismissal will result, with the action so noted in the student's permanent record. Reinstatement Students who have been dismissed from the University are ineligible to apply for readmission until the lapse of one semester. Students desiring readmission after the expiration of this period, must submit an application for readmission along with a petition to the Dean of the Faculty. These forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office. If reinstated, the student will enroll on probation; if the student fails to meet the minimum cumulative quality point average required for his class, the student will be subject to dismissal at the end of the semester. Students dismissed a second time may not apply for readmission. The decision of the Academic Review Board is final. FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE POLICY STATEMENT ON THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 is a Federal law stating (a) that a written institutional policy must be established and (b) that a statement of adopted procedures covering the privacy rights of students be made available. The law provides that the institution will maintain the confidentiality of student education records. Access to Records Policy Franciscan University of Steubenville accords all the rights under the law to students who are declared independent. No one outside the institution shall have access to, nor will the institution disclose, any information from students' education records without the written consent of students, except Educational Rights to personnel within the institution, to officials of other institutions in which students seek to enroll, to persons or organizations providing students' financial aid, to accrediting agencies carrying out their accreditation function, to persons in compliance with a judicial order, and to persons in an emergency in order to protect the health or safety of students or other persons. All these exceptions are permitted under the act. Within the University community, only those members, individually or collectively, acting in the students' educational interests are allowed access to student education records. These members include personnel in the administrative offices and academic personnel within the limitations of their need to know. Release of Student Information to Parents Within the limits of the law, Franciscan University will consider releasing information from a dependent student's record to his or her parents. If the student has not given the approval to release such information, the parent must provide written documentation (i.e., copy of tax form) verifying that the student was declared a dependent student on the parent's most recent tax form. This verification should be mailed to the Director of Enrollment Services. Certification that a student has dependent status will be honored for only the current academic year; therefore, requests for release of information in subsequent academic semesters must be preceded by updated documentation. Non-directory information of students with independent status cannot be released to parents or any third party without the student's written consent. Student Directory At its discretion, the institution may provide directory information in accordance with the provisions of the act to include: student name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, class schedule, dates of attendance, degrees, awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, and weight and height of members of athletic teams. Students may withhold directory information by notifying the Registrar in writing within two weeks after the first day of class for the fall term. Students beginning their studies in the spring term, may notify the Registrar in writing within two weeks after the first day of class for the spring term. Request for non-disclosure will be honored by the institution for only one academic year; therefore, authorization to withhold directory information must be filed annually in the Enrollment Services Department. Student Rights The law provides students with the right to inspect and review information contained in their education records, to challenge the contents of their education records, to have a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory, and to submit explanatory statements for inclusion in their files should they feel the decisions of the hearing panels are unacceptable. Students wishing to review their education records must make written requests to the Registrar for academic records, the Director of Student Life for disciplinary records, or the Director of Career Planning and Services for placement records. Only records covered by the act will be made available within 45 days of the request. Students may have copies made of their records with certain exceptions (e.g., a copy of the academic records for which financial "hold" exists or a transcript of an original or source document, which exists elsewhere). These copies would be made at the student's expense at prevailing rates listed in the current catalog. Education records do not include records of instructional, administrative, and educational personnel that are the sole possession of the maker. Such records are not accessible or revealed to any individual except a temporary substitute. Also not included are records of the law enforcement unit, the University student health records, employment records, or alumni records. Health records, however, may be reviewed by physicians of the student's choosing. Students may not inspect and review the following as outlined by the act: financial information submitted by their parents; confidential letters and recommendations associated with admissions, employment, job placement, or honors to which they have waived their rights of inspection and review; or education records containing information about more than one student, in which case the institution will permit access only to that part of the record that pertains to the inquiring student. The institution is not required to permit students to inspect and review confidential letters and recommendations placed in their files prior to January 1, 1975, provided those letters were collected under established policies of confidentiality and were used only for the purpose for which they were collected. Challenge of Information Students who believe that their education records contain information that is inaccurate or misleading, or is otherwise in violation of their privacy or other rights, may discuss their problems informally with the administrator maintaining the records in question. If the decisions are in agreement with the students' requests, the appropriate records will be amended. If not, students will be notified within a reasonable period of time that the records will not be amended, and they will be informed of their right to a formal hearing. Requests for a formal hearing must be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty who, within a reasonable period of time after receiving such requests, will inform students of the date, place, and time of the hearing. Students may present evidence relevant to the issues raised and may be assisted or represented at the hearing by one or more persons of their choice, including attorneys, at the students' expense. The hearing panel that will adjudicate such challenges will be the Dean of the Faculty, the Director of Student Life, and the Department Chairman. Hearings Decisions of the hearing panels will be final, will be based solely on the evidence presented at the hearing, will consist of written statements summarizing the evidence and stating the reasons for the decisions, and will be delivered to all parties concerned. The education records will be corrected or amended in accordance with the decisions of the hearing panels, if the decisions are in favor of the student. If the decisions are unsatisfactory to the student, the student may place statements commenting on the information in the records with the education records, or statements setting forth any reasons for disagreeing with the decisions of the hearing panels. The statements will be placed in the education records, maintained as part of the students' records, and released whenever the records in question are disclosed. Students who believe that the adjudications of their challenges were
unfair or not in keeping with the provisions of the act may request in writing, assistance
from the President of the institution. Further, students who believe that their rights
have been abridged, may file complaints with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Office (FERPA), Department of Health and Human Resources, Washington, DC 20201, concerning
the alleged failures of Franciscan University of Steubenville to comply with Revisions and clarifications will be published as experience with the law and institution's policy warrants. |
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