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Registrar
Credit Hours
One
credit is earned for each
semester hour (sh) of
collegiate coursework. The
usual structure of courses
is to meet 150 minutes per
week for an entire semester,
and following a final exam
this results in three (3 sh)
of credit earned. There are
many exceptions to this
structure, most involving
laboratory
and activity courses.
The
standard academic course
load is 15 to 17 sh in one
semester. A student doing
work of poor quality is
asked to reduce the number
of hours taken. A student's
request for
more than 18 sh must be
signed by the chairperson of
the major department. Such
privilege is granted only by
the Vice President for
Academic Affairs or his/her
designee on the basis of the
student's record.
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Grading
A quality point is the unit
of measurement of the
quality of work done by the
student. For graduation,
students must have to their
credit twice as many quality
points as they have semester
hours,
or a 2.0 GPA. Quality
points are computed as
follows:
|
Letter
Grade |
Quality
Points
Per Credit Hour |
Interpretation |
|
|
|
|
|
A
|
4.000 |
Excellent |
|
A-
|
3.700 |
|
|
B+ |
3.300 |
|
|
B
|
3.000 |
Good |
|
B- |
2.700 |
|
|
C+ |
2.300 |
|
|
C |
2.000 |
Fair |
|
C- |
1.700 |
|
|
D+ |
1.300 |
|
|
D |
1.000 |
Passing |
|
E |
.000 |
Failure |
|
F |
|
Failure* |
|
P |
|
Passed* |
|
CH |
|
Credit
w/Honors* |
|
CR |
|
Credit* |
|
NC |
|
No
Credit* |
|
INC |
|
Incomplete* |
|
AU |
|
Audit* |
|
W |
|
Withdrawal* |
|
WP |
|
Withdrawal/Passing* |
|
WF |
|
Withdrawal/Failing* |
|
*
Does not affect GPA;
"passed" indicates a
grade
of "D" or better.
The GPA
is obtained by dividing
the total quality points
a student has earned at
LHU by the total of
semester hours attempted
or scheduled (less those
semester hours taken as
pass/fail, repeated, or
credit/no credit or
transferred).
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Dean's List
The Dean's Honor List,
prepared at the end of each
semester, recognizes those
students who have achieved
academic distinction. To
qualify for the Dean's List,
the student must
have earned a GPA of at
least 3.5 in 12 hours of
letter grades.
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Crediting Life Experience
Life/work experiential
learning can be documented,
assessed
and evaluated to meet
credit-hour requirements in
a specified
area or to count as program
credits toward the
fulfillment
of degree requirements
offered by the College of
Education
and Human Services.
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Pass-Fail Option
Each
semester a student may be
permitted to take one course
outside the requirements of
his/her major on a pass-fail
basis and receive no letter
grade in that course. The
pass-fail option is limited
to 6.0 sh in the General
Education free elective
category. Courses taken on
a pass-fail basis are not
used in computing a
student's GPA.
Students must decide during
the first 15 days of
registration whether they
wish to take the course on a
pass-fail basis and, once
decided, cannot change that
decision. If students
repeat a course, they must
take it on the same basis as
they registered for it
originally. Students should
exercise extreme caution in
choosing this option as
employers and other schools
frequently are reluctant to
accept these grades.
The instructor will not be
notified of students taking
the course
on a pass-fail basis and the
Registrar's Office will translate
final grades from a letter
grade to a pass-fail grade.
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Repeat Policy
A
student may choose or may be
required to repeat a
course. The
first time a
course is repeated, the
additional quality points,
if any, are added to the
cumulative quality points,
and the credit hours for the
repeated course will not be
added to credit hours
attempted to calculate the
GPA.
If a course is taken three
or more times, the credit
hours attempted
will be
added to the denominator of
the formula for the quality
point average just as if a
new course were attempted.
Graduate Program Course
Repeats
Graduate students can repeat
a single course for grade
improvement only once.
Graduate students will be
limited to a total of two
repeats across the program.
The most recent grade
(regardless of whether it is
higher or lower) will be the
grade used for the GPA
calculation.
(March 2007,
PASSHE)
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Students who experience a
documented serious personal,
medical
or family emergency
that prevents completion of
the course work during the
final five weeks of the
session may
petition the instructor(s)
for additional time to
complete the
assignments/requirements. If
the quality of the student’s
efforts
has been satisfactory and
class attendance has been
regular,
the instructor(s) may, at
his/her discretion, assign
an “incomplete grade”
(INC). The student then
has
until the mid-point of
the subsequent session or
the summer session to submit
all outstanding course
assignments/ requirements.
If the student
fails to complete the
outstanding assignments, the
incomplete grade
automatically becomes an
“E” grade unless
an
extension is arranged with
the approval of the instructor(s) who should
notify the Registrar's Office.
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Academic
Probation
and Retention of Students
Effective fall 2005, a student who has attempted more than twelve semester hours
of credit and whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.000 at
the end of the summer term will be suspended for one semester.
Suspension appeals must be received within two weeks after the close of the
summer session. The basis for the successful appeal must be documented
extraordinary circumstances preventing the student from achieving a 2.000
cumulative grade point average.
EXPLANATIONS
Probationary status is awarded at the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters.
Suspension is awarded only at the conclusion of the summer sessions.
At the
end of the fall and spring semesters, students are notified of probationary status, i.e.
cumulative GPA less than 2.000. In addition, student transcripts will include
a probationary notation.
Any
student who has attempted more than 12.0 sh (cumulative) and has a cumulative
GPA less than 2.000 at the end of the summer sessions will be suspended.
Students should, therefore, carefully review their academic record at the end of
the spring semester to determine the need to enroll in summer classes at LHU.
Formal notification of suspension occurs in early August.
GPA is
not an issue for summer enrollment. Students may register for summer classes no
matter what their academic standing.
Remember that suspension appeals must be received within two weeks after the
close of the summer session. Again, students should carefully review their
academic record upon completion of summer courses. Appeals must document
extraordinary circumstances preventing adequate academic performance. Appeals
are submitted to the student’s college dean.
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Academic
Amnesty Policy
Students
returning to Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania after a minimum two-year
interruption in matriculation have two options available concerning their
previous academic record at the University.
For either option the student’s past academic record remains on the
transcript, and the student receives full credit for courses taken.
-
Option I Previously earned quality points will continue to be calculated in
the student’s grade point average.
-
Option II
Previously earned quality points will not be calculated in the
student’s grade-point average after readmission.
In
addition, readmitted students must meet the University’s requirements as well
as the individual departmental and certification requirements that are in place
the year in which they return. Credit
for courses already taken may be accepted toward graduation, but, at the
discretion of individual departments, students may be required to repeat those
courses in which significant changes in content have occurred.
Specific questions concerning these options should be
addressed to the Registrar's Office.
Academic Honesty Policy
A complete description of
the Academic Honesty Policy
is included in the
Student
Handbook.
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Grade Appeal Policy
Informal Procedure
If a student disagrees with
the final course grade
awarded by the instructor,
but has no basis for a
charge of "clerical or
mechanical error in
calculation or recording of
a grade: or "arbitrary and
capricious evaluation," the
student should discuss the
matter with the instructor,
and if unsatisfied, with the
department chairperson, and
if still unsatisfied with
the dean of the college in
which the course was
offered. In such
cases, the decision of the
instructor shall be final.
Formal Procedure
If a student believes that
an improper final course
grade has been assigned, an
appeal may be filed on the
following grounds:
1. Clerical or
Mechanical Error in
Calculation or Recording of
a Grade.
2. Arbitrary and
Capricious Evaluation:
Significant and unwarranted
deviation from grading
procedures and course
outlines set at the
beginning of the course
(ordinarily during the first
week of the course) or a
grade assigned arbitrarily
and capriciously on the
basis of whim, impulse or
caprice. The student
may not claim arbitrariness
and capriciousness if he/she
disagrees with the
subjective professional
evaluation of the
instructor.
The following steps must
be followed:
1. Consult on an
informal basis with the
faculty member who gave the
final grade.
2. If the faculty
member finds in the
student's favor, a grade
change will be processed at
the Registrar's Office.
3. If the faculty
member decides that the
grade given was correct, the
student will be notified in
writing by the faculty
member within 10 working
days. (Reasonable and
necessary extensions of time
may be granted by the
reviewing officer at any
point in the process.)
4. If no agreement
is reached at Step 1, the
student may prepare a
written complaint which
contains supporting evidence
and indicates the desired
solution. This
complaint must be submitted
to the departmental
chairperson* and the faculty
member within 20 regular
semester class days from the
date on which the grade was
imposed. The faculty
member, the student and the
chairperson shall meet
together to discuss the
complaint within ten working
days of the dated complaint.
The chairperson may conduct
whatever informal
investigation seems
necessary and should attempt
to achieve a negotiated
settlement. The
chairperson shall notify in
writing the student and the
faculty member of his/her
findings and decision within
10 working days.
* If the complaint is
directed against the
departmental chairperson,
the written complaint must
be submitted to the dean of
the college who shall select
a senior member of the
department to fill the
chairperson's role in this
procedure.
5. If the student
is still unsatisfied, he/she
may appeal in writing to the
dean of the college where
the grade was awarded within
10 working days of the dated
response of the departmental
chairperson. the
request must be accompanied
by a copy of the written
complaint.
6. Within 10
working days, the dean shall
hear the evidence by each
side and may collect further
evidence as desirable.
Both sides must be given
access to such evidence and
given the opportunity to
rebut it. The dean
shall attempt to achieve a
negotiated settlement and
will notify in writing the
student and faculty member
of his/her findings and
decision within 10 working
days.
7. If the student
is still dissatisfied,
he/she may appeal in writing
to the Provost/Vice
President for Academic
Affairs within 10 working
days of the dated response
of the dean. The
request must be accompanied
by a copy of the written
complaint.
8. Within 10
working days, the
Provost/Vice President shall
hear the evidence by each
side and may collect further
evidence as desirable.
Both sides must be given
access to such evidence and
given the opportunity to
rebut it. The
Provost/Vice President shall
attempt to achieve a
negotiated settlement and
will notify in writing the
student and faculty member
of his/her decision within
10 working days.
9. If the student
is still dissatisfied,
he/she may appeal in writing
to the President within 10
working days of the dated
response of the Provost/Vice
President.
The President shall hear
the evidence by each side
and may collect further
evidence as desirable.
Both sides must be given
access to such evidence and
given the opportunity to
rebut it.
The President shall take
whatever action is felt
necessary to restore equity
in the situation. This
includes the assignment of
an equitable letter grade or
a W or P where appropriate.
The President shall notify
in writing the student and
the faculty member of
his/her findings within 20
working days. The
decision of the President
shall be final within the
University.
Approved
as policy for appeal of
final course grades
beginning with fall semester
1995. (CDW,
10/13/1995)
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Class Standing
(Classification)
Number of credits required
for each class level.
0.0 – 29.5 Freshman
30.0 – 59.5 Sophomore
60.0 – 89.5 Junior
90.0+ – Senior
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Requirements for Graduation
and Certification
Four-year programs of study
at LHU lead to the degrees
of Bachelor of Arts,
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of
Science in Education,
and Bachelor of Science.
Ultimate responsibility
for the successful
completion of a degree
program lies with the
student; therefore, the
student must know and
observe the academic
policies and regulations of
the University and must meet
the requirements for
graduation. Students must
know the sources of academic
information and work closely
with an advisor in examining
program and course
requirements.
Teacher education majors
must have a 3.0 GPA, two
math courses, two English
courses, pass Praxis I and
Praxis II and complete an
approved course of study of
at least 120 sh.
International students
must apply for United States
citizenship in order to be
considered for Pennsylvania
state certification.
At least one hundred
twenty (120.00) earned hours
of work are required for
graduation for a bachelor's
degree.
Transfer students must
earn a minimum of 30 sh as
resident students in order
to receive a degree from
LHU.
No student shall be
graduated with less than one
year of resident work.
No student shall be
graduated with unpaid
college bills.
In order to receive
honors upon graduation from
LHU with a baccalaureate
degree, a student must
complete 60 sh at the
University. For students
who have completed 60 sh
excluding their last
semester, honors will be
based upon their QPA at that
time. Students who have
completed 45 sh excluding
their last semester and have
an honors QPA shall be so
listed in the graduation
program and announced, but
final determination of
honors will be based upon
their QPA at the end of
their last semester.
Cum Laude
3.50 to 3.59
Magna cum Laude
3.60 to 3.74
Summa cum Laude 3.75
to 4.00
Arts and Science students
majoring in art must present
a senior exhibition of
accomplishment; students
majoring in music must
present a senior recital.
All credentials for
graduation and applications
for teaching certification,
including transcripts of
credit from other
institutions, must be filed
on or before the last day of
the semester or session in
which a student expects to
graduate, otherwise
certification and graduation
will be postponed to the
next graduating date.
Students eligible for a
teaching certificate will
receive it as soon as
possible after it has been
released by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education.
Degree candidates in
teacher education must be
pronounced medically fit by
a licensed physician
qualified to practice
medicine
in Pennsylvania.
All candidates for a Bachelor of Arts degree must
achieve proficiency through level IV (course number 202) of French, German or
Spanish. Proficiency shall be demonstrated by successful completion of foreign
language IV or, with the approval of the chairperson of the Foreign Language
Department, a course to which level IV is a prerequisite.
The Foreign Language Department offers guidance in placing individual
students at a level appropriate to their background and ability.
Some Bachelor of Science programs also have a foreign
language requirement. B.S.
candidates should consult with their department chairpersons to determine if a
foreign language is required in their program.
The above requirements
for certificates and degrees
are valid only until the
date upon which the
Department of Education, the
Board of Governors, or the
State Board of Education
pass regulations which
supersede them.
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Nursing Program Graduation
Policy
Students must meet all
University and Nursing
Department requirements to
be eligible for graduation.
The requirements for
graduating from the
Associate of Science in
Nursing Program are as
follows:
-
Completion of the
Associate of Science in
Nursing curriculum - 69
sh;
-
“C” level
achievement in all
nursing courses and
courses in Anatomy and
Physiology I & II and
Microbiology; and
-
Attainment of a
scholastic average of at
least 2.7 GPA overall.
Following graduation, the
graduate is eligible to
apply for the NCLEX Exam for
registered nursing.
Students in the A.S.
Nursing Program who have
completed 34 or more of the
69 sh of degree credits at
LHUP with honors QPA,
excluding a final semester,
shall be so listed in the
graduation program. Final
determination of honors will
be based upon the QPA at the
end of the final semester.
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Requirements for
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an honor
bestowed upon one student
for each May graduation.
August and December
graduates of the previous
year are included in the
selection process. The
following criteria must be
met to be awarded
valedictorian:
Accumulation of at least
110 semester hour credits as
of the December before
graduation;
-
At least 96 semester
hours of credit earned
at Lock Haven University
as of the December
before graduation;
-
At least 7 semesters
as a full-time student
(summers are not counted
as a semester);
-
The grade point
average will be computed
using grades accumulated
as of the December
before graduation;
-
The necessary forms
for graduation must be
completed.
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Liberal Arts Seminars
Liberal Arts Seminars in the areas of the humanities,
social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences provide a context to
examine inter-relational aspects of knowledge and experience.
One seminar in each of the
above areas is required of all students majoring in any of the arts and sciences
who are candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Through
small group processes, assigned readings, informal conversations, and papers,
seminar participants become involved in a cross-disciplinary environment in
which each student is encouraged to develop informed insights and perspectives.
Seminars focus on elements of history, culture, and science that
influence the continuing development of human value systems and endeavors.
The substance of a particular seminar includes consideration of the
manner in which knowledge is developed and the impact of particular knowledge
on contemporary society and on life as it may be experienced in the future.
NOTE: All Liberal Arts
Seminars are designated with the course number 328.
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Choosing a Major
Definition of a Major
A major is a coherent,
in-depth program of study in
a particular discipline or
disciplines wherein the
student will develop and
demonstrate an increasing
awareness of both the
possibilities and the limits
of the major program of
study. The student will
demonstrate mastery of the
content, insights, skills
and techniques appropriate
to an undergraduate
education in a particular
body of knowledge. The
student will take courses
which are often sequential,
leading to advanced study in
the discipline(s).
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Definition of a Minor
A minor is a coherent
program in a particular
discipline or disciplines
taken in addition to a
major. Moreover, a minor
will enrich students'
educational experiences
through study of disciplines
or subject matter related to
a major, permit the
acquisition of skills useful
to educational or career
goals, or broaden
educational background in an
additional field of
knowledge. Students will
demonstrate familiarity with
the content, insights,
skills and techniques of a
particular body of
knowledge. A minor consists
of 18 to 24 sh defined by
the department(s); at least
six sh must be taken at the
300 level or above.
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Declaring Majors/Academic
Advisors
Web
site
Students should select a
major as early as they are
comfortable making the
choice. They should also
decide early whether to
pursue the Bachelor of Arts
or the Bachelor of Science
degree. All students will
be expected to have declared
an academic major prior to
the completion of the third
semester (45 sh). Delay in
declaring a major may result
in spending additional time
in completion of a degree.
Academic advisors attempt
to make information about
academic programs readily
available to students and to
assist them in working out
solutions to academic
problems. Students are
advised in course selection,
schedule development and
clarification of educational
goals. Ultimately, students
are responsible for their
academic decisions.
All students should be
aware that there is no
assurance they will be able
to declare any program they
choose. Programs with
limited capacity may be
restricted or closed.
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Exploratory Studies
Exploratory Studies Web site
For many entering students,
the freshman year provides
an opportunity to explore
potential life and career
goals and examine
the relationship between
those goals and specific
academic programs. If
students are undecided or
are intending to transfer to
some other institution for
graduation, they may
register as exploratory
studies Arts and Science
students. Even if
undecided, however, students
are urged to consider
selecting a major. Past
experience
has shown that many
individuals who intend to
transfer remain to
earn
their degrees at LHU. By
selecting a major, students
can save considerable time
and inconvenience should
they decide to remain.
Students who have not
declared a major are urged
to consult with the
Coordinator for Advising of
Exploratory Studies
Students. Through dialogue
with the Coordinator,
participation in assessment
activities, and the use of
various self-advisement
materials and resources,
they can gain information
helpful in selecting a
major. Once a student has
chosen an appropriate major,
the student must file a
petition for admission to
that major. The Coordinator
for Advising of Exploratory
Studies Students can provide
assistance in preparing
the application.
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Change of Major
A student may petition
for a change of academic
major after having enrolled
at LHUP. The application
will be reviewed with
respect to selected
aptitudes and academic
records, which are requested
in support of the
application. It must be
understood that students
accepted in a particular
major at the time of
admission to LHU are not
eligible for automatic
acceptance into another
major within the University
at a later date.
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Internship Programs
The University offers
interested and qualified
students an opportunity to
participate in various
internship programs which
provide field experiences to
supplement classroom
learning. Internship
information is available
from the appropriate dean.
Qualified students must
have completed 60 sh of
credit and have a 2.5 GPA
overall and in the major.
Students may apply for a
total of 15 sh of internship
credit. These programs are
not mandatory and may
require additional
justification for
administrative approval.
The Harrisburg Internship
Semester (THIS)
The Dixon University
Center at Harrisburg of the
State System of Higher
Education sponsors a student
internship each semester
during the academic year for
one outstanding student from
each of the 14 System
universities. The major
purposes of the internship
program are to provide
students with an important
practical experience and an
enriching academic
experience. Students are
placed in offices where they
participate directly in
public policy formulation.
The internship
experience is structured in
the following way:
I. GNED369 Harrisburg
Government Internship
This is the practical
component of the internship
experience, which includes
the day-to-day work
experience in a government
position.
II. GNED369 Harrisburg
Government Intern Project
One of the many advantages
of studying in Harrisburg is
the opportunity to develop
direct knowledge of state
politics and public policy
development. The intern
project component of the
THIS project serves three
purposes. First, it
encourages students to
focus their attention on a
particular aspect of state
government politics and
policy making. Second, the
requirement affords students
an opportunity to develop an
in-depth knowledge about
that subject. Third, it
gives the students the
opportunity to develop
skills in public research
and preparing a formal
written presentation.
III. POLI369 Seminar on
Public Policy making in
Harrisburg
Seminar meets one night per
week at the Dixon University
Center. This seminar
explores policy making
within the Harrisburg
community by looking
carefully at both the
institutions which shape the
state's political life and
those individuals who play a
major role
in influencing institutional
behavior. The seminar
serves a two-fold purpose:
first, to introduce students
to concepts that will help
them understand the
political environment in
which they will be working
on a daily basis; second, to
provide a focal point for
integrating their various
learning experiences in
Harrisburg.
Prospective student
interns are chosen in a
process which is determined
on each campus. The student
intern must, at the time
of appointment, have
maintained at least a 3.0
quality point average
in 45 undergraduate credit
hours. A student may be
chosen from any academic
major and the credits from
this program may be applied
to any discipline at the
approval of the appropriate
department(s).
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Satisfactory Progress
Minimum
satisfactory progress toward a degree shall be defined as the
successful completion of a minimum of 24 sh during each
academic year (including Summer school), while earning grade
averages sufficient to avoid probation.
Undergraduate Enrollment in
Graduate Courses
Undergraduate students
meeting the following
criteria may enroll in
graduate courses for
graduate credit.
The student must:
-
Be in the last
semester of the
Bachelor's program and
eligible for graduation
at the completion of the
semester.
-
Be in Good Academic
Standing with a minimum
3.0 GPA
-
Apply to the
graduate program and be
provisionally accepted.
Restrictions
Registration is limited
to a maximum of 6.0 graduate
credits.
The graduate credits will
not be counted toward
requirements needed for the
Baccalaureate degree.
(Approved
by Graduate Council
2003-2004)
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Updated
as of
12/07/2007 |
