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Policies and Procedures

General

Auditing Courses

Students may register at the Office of Records and Registration to audit certain courses with the consent of the instructor. Payment for tuition and fees is required for all courses that are audited in accordance with the University's Tuition & Fee payment. Students auditing a course may not take the final examination or receive credit unless the course is later repeated for credit. A record is maintained in the Record's Office of all students auditing courses.

Developmental Courses

All students scoring below the mandated standards on the Math placement test must take refresher courses designed to help improve their skills. At the end of these courses, students must again take tests to determine whether they have met the required standards. Students may not begin University-level work in any subject in which they need refresher level courses until they have completed appropriate courses, including post-test requirements. Students who are required to complete refresher courses must complete these requirements within a designated time frame or they will be dismissed from the University:

  • Full-time students must complete all refresher courses within three semesters from the first semester of enrollment at the University.
  • Part-time students must complete all refresher courses by the time they have attempted 36 credit hours.

The refresher courses are:
DVMT108 - Elementary Algebra
DVMT109 - Intermediate Algebra

Declaring a Major

Admission to CSU is not an automatic guarantee of admission to a major program. Each major department interviews and accepts its own students. All degree-seeking students must complete all developmental courses before declaring a major. To officially declare a major, students must:

  • Complete the Declaration of Major form
  • Meet with the appropriate Chairperson for acceptance in the major and assignment of a departmental advisor;
  • Submit the completed Declaration of Major form to the Office of Academic Advisement.

Students must declare their major before completing 36 credit hours.

Attendance

Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. However, the Institutional Undergraduate Class Attendance Policy (IUCAP) allows students to have a specified number of unexcused absences: students are allowed unexcused absences up to two times the number of lecture hours for a course. A student who has unexcused absences exceeding two times the number of lecture hours for a course has surpassed the number of allowable unexcused absences and is in violation of the class attendance policy. The student who exceeds the allowable number of unexcused absences may receive a grade of AW or FX based on unsatisfactory class attendance. The course instructor determines whether a student's absences are excused or unexcused. The number of allowable unexcused absences is based in the number of class excused or unexcused lecture hours per week, not on the number of class meetings.

General Education Requirements

In addition to the requirements of any specific major program, every student wishing to earn a Bachelor's degree must complete the University's General Education Requirements (GER). The GER courses help students to develop the skills necessary for advanced study and for lifelong learning. All students entering the University during the fall of 1996 and thereafter, with the exceptions of students majoring in pre-engineering and early and elementary education, are required to complete 46 General Education credits. Students should consult the 2000-2002 Catalog for the GER courses and for the specific program requirements for their majors.

Technology Requirement

Effective Fall 2001

All students are required to complete a technology fluency course (MNSC 150) to satisfy graduation requirements.

Orientation Course Requirements

All entering freshmen, readmitted students who left as a result of academic difficulty, and transfer students with fewer than 25 credits are required to complete the Course ORIE 101 freshman seminar.

Schedule Adjustments

Adding & Droppin Courses

Students may ADD and DROP courses via Self Service online or submit the appropriate paperwork to the Office of Records and Registration to process these transactions before the deadline.

Students may add and drop courses during the designated add and drop periods. Students are allowed to replace a course in which they have dropped during the add period. The last day to add a course is printed in the academic calendar.

Courses that are dropped during the drop period are removed from students' records entirely. (Please note the difference between DROP and WITHDRAWAL). Students may not add or replace courses after the add deadline.

The last day to drop a course is printed in the academic calendar.

Withdrawal from Class

After the Drop period has ended, students may terminate their participation in classes by officially withdrawing from classes. They may fill out the proper form in the Record's Office or withdraw via self-service on-line. A grade of "W" is awarded. Students are encouraged to meet with their instructors & faculty advisors prior to withdrawing from course(s). No reversal of this transaction will be made once it is processed. Failure to properly withdraw from courses will result in "F" grades appearing on the student's transcript. Please note the last day to withdraw from a course is listed in the schedule booklet.

Withdrawal from University

Students withdrawing from the University may withdraw in the following manner:

  • via self-service online before the deadline or
  • obtaining & submitting the withdrawal form to the Office of Records and Registration before the deadline or
  • submitting a written and signed request to withdraw before the deadline:

Students who fail to comply with this regulation will receive grades of "F" instead of "W" in all courses.

Please note the last date to withdraw from the University is printed in the academic calendar.

Incomplete Grades

An instructor, under extenuating circumstances, may submit a grade of "I" for students who have failed to complete one or more requirements of a course by the end of the semester. Students must meet the following criteria:

  • successfully completed most of the course requirements and
  • legitimate reason(s) for not completing all assignments must be accepted by the instructor.

Students are allowed one semester following the one in which the "I" is incurred (not including the summer session) to complete the work and remove the incomplete grade. When submitting a grade of "I", the instructor must complete the Incomplete Grade Form by indicating the student's full name, social security number, complete address and the course discipline code, section number, semester and year. The instructor must provide the department chairperson with an explanation of the incomplete grades, the requirements that must be met to complete the course satisfactorily, along with the student's academic history in the course and the grade the student will be assigned if all requirements are not submitted by the end of the following semester. If the work has not been satisfactorily completed by the end of the following semester, the student will receive a grade of "F".

Independent Study

Students who have accumulated 64 credits or more must apply through their respective department and the office of the appropriate division dean to take a course on an independent study basis. Students must be in satisfactory academic standing with a minimum overall cumulative average of 3.00. Students applying for independent study must restrict their load to 19 semester hours or less during the semester in which independent study is attempted. Students may not take more than one (1) course per semester of independent study and no more than 12 semester hours of independent study are allowed at CSU. NOTE: Independent Study cannot be used to resolve schedule conflicts. Students are not allowed to register for classes that meet at the same time.

Inter-Institutional Registration

Full-time degree-seeking undergraduates who have earned at least 30 credits and are in good academic standing may take courses at other System institutions. ROTC participants are exempt from the 30-credit requirement. At least half of the semester credits must be taken at Coppin. All credits and grades earned shall be defined as resident credit and entered on the academic record.

Challenge Examination

Full-time matriculating undergraduates who have completed at least 12 semester hours of regular course work at Coppin with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 are eligible to take Coppin-administered challenge examinations to establish credit toward graduation. No more than 30 credit hours can be granted by examination, and no student may challenge a course in which he/she has previously registered. In the case of the transfer students, credit by examination will not be accepted for any part of the final 30 credit hours which must be completed in residence.

Applications for a fall semester challenge examination must be completed by the first week in August, and for a spring semester examination by the first week in January. In each case, the reporting of examination results must be completed prior to the end of the "Drop/ADD" period.

Course Substitution

Substitutions for courses required in instructional programs are permitted only in exceptional cases and must have written approval of the Department Chair and Division Dean.

Permission to take courses at another institution

Students may apply to take courses at another University or university to transfer back to CSU for GER or major credit. Written approval from the Department Chair, Division Dean, and the Registrar is required before taking courses.

Second Degree

All students applying for second degree must be certified by the Admissions Office. After certification, students must follow a degree plan designated by the appropriate major department.

Residency Requirements

It is the policy of the Board of Regents of the University of Maryland System to recognize the categories of in-state and out-of-state students for purposes of admission, tuition, and charge differentials. The student is responsible for providing the information necessary to establish eligibility for in-state status.

  1. All continuing students must complete as application for residency prior to the last published date to register. Applications can be obtained from the Records' Office
  2. The student shall notify the institution in writing within fifteen (15) days of any change of circumstances, which may alter in-state status.

A full copy of the policy is on file in the Records' Offices

Second Degree

All Students applying for second degree must be certified by the Admissions Office. After certification, students must follow a degree plan designated by the appropriate major department.

Transfer

Transfer Evaluations

Transfer students will receive their transfer evaluations in the mail before registration. Registration process is self-service. An EagleLinks' User ID and Password are required for on-line registration. Your User ID & Password will be mailed to you.

Readmit

CSU Transcript For Readmit Students

Readmitted students will receive a copy of their CSU transcript on the second day of New Student Orientation and Registration.

Other

Sexual Assault Policy

The Board of Regents is committed to providing an academic learning and working environment that is free from sexual assault and harassment and shall take preventive measures to insure that faculty, staff, students and visitors are appropriately protected from such actions. This safe environment includes all campus locations and all off-campus related activities and sites. The University will establish and distribute detailed procedures relating to the reporting and handling of cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Procedures can be found in accordance with the University's disciplinary and appeal procedures.

The University will investigate all complaints of sexual assault and sexual harassment, adjudicating them in accordance with the University's disciplinary and appeal procedures.

In addition, the University will routinely assess the safety of the campus environment and will take corrective action to alter any identified potential problem areas.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

(FERPA) of 1974 as amended

The University complies with the requirements of the Federal public law 93-380 (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as "The Buckley Amendment.")

In compliance with this Act, the University will only release without a student's signature that information that is so designated as directory information. Directory information is defined as the student's name, address, telephone number, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports and weight and height of team members, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by a student.

Students who do not wish to have directory information released are required to place on file in the Office of Records and Registration a "Request to Withhold Directory Information" form prior to the start of each semester.

Copies of this policy are in the possession of the Office of Records and Registration.

The "Buckley Amendment" provides students with the opportunity to review information contained in their "Education Records." Offices where students' education records are kept are: Records and Registration, and in some cases as applicable Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions. Students who wish to review their records may do so by making an appointment with the appropriate head of the office housing the record.

FERPA entitles students to certain rights as listed below:

  1. The right to inspect and review information contained in education records.
  2. The right to challenge the contents of their education records.
  3. The right to a hearing if the outcome of the challenge is unsatisfactory.
  4. The right to submit an explanatory statement for inclusion in the education record if the outcome of the hearing is unsatisfactory.
  5. The right to prevent disclosure, with certain exceptions, of personally identifiable information.
  6. The right to secure a copy of the institutional policy, which includes the location of all education records.
  7. The right to file complaints with the Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Coppin State University to comply with the Act.

For additional information regarding FERPA please contact the Office of Records and Registration room 153 in the Administration Building.

Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Coppin State University is committed to the philosophy of nondiscrimination for individuals with disabilities and ensures that all programs and activities of the University are in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA. Section 504 requires that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be denied access to, or the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any program or activity provided by any institution or entity receiving federal financial assistance. Under the ADA, the University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or provision of services, programs on activities. The Office of Special Services provides assistance to students with disabilities to enable them to integrate into all areas of University life. For further information regarding non-discrimination for individuals with disabilities, contact the coordinator of Special Services in the Counseling Center.

Emergency Closing

University closing as a result of inclement weather or other emergencies will be announced on most of Baltimore's radio stations. Emergency closing information is provided to these radio stations: WBAL (1090 AM), WBSB (104 FM), WCBM (680 AM), WLIF (102 FM), WPO (93 FM). Early morning decisions will generally be made by 6:30 a.m. Decisions regarding evening closings generally will be made after 4:30 p.m. The announcements will include one of the following:

  1. Coppin State University will be closed. This means that all classes, activities and use of University facilities are cancelled. All off-campus University classes and functions are also cancelled. Only plant operations personnel and assigned custodial staff should report to work as established by department policy.
  2. Coppin State University classes are cancelled - offices are open. Same as above, except all non-teaching personnel should report to work on time as scheduled.
  3. Coppin State University will delay opening until (time). This means that faculty, students, and staff are to report to designated areas at the time of opening.
  4. Coppin State University will close at (time). This means that all classes (on and off campus), activities, and performances are cancelled. All personnel except those required to handle the emergency will be dismissed at the specified time.

Because the conditions on campus do not necessarily reflect those in other parts of the country, students are urged to use their personal judgment in deciding whether to travel to the campus.

Smoking Policy

In order to provide a healthy, comfortable, and productive work environment for students and employees, Coppin became smoke-free as of September 1, 1990. By declaring itself smoke-free, the University prohibits smoking in all campus buildings.

Sickness and Accident Insurance Program (Health Insurance)

The Sickness and Accident Insurance (Health Insurance) is a mandatory program with a hard waiver process for all full-time students. Students who are insured by comparable carriers, such as HMO's, BC/BS, etc., may refuse this insurance with documented proof (insurance card). This documented proof must be presented during the specified waiving period (see calendar). Part-time students taking a minimum of six (6) credit hours are also eligible to apply for the program as well as Graduate students. Please contact the Vice President Earl H. Jenkins office at (410) 951-3933.

Academic Grievance

A student who believes that a grade was assigned in error, because of a mistake in calculation or an error in recording a grade, should consult the professor (or professors, in the case of a jointly taught course) before the second full week of classes in the regular semester following the semester of the contested grade to resolve the discrepancy. The student should complete and submit a request for grade review to the professor no later than the Monday of the second full week of classes in the subsequent semester. A request for grade review for the summer session should be submitted during the subsequent fall and winter sessions during the subsequent spring.

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