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For students, academic issues are a part of daily life. This chapter describes many of the policies and definitions that apply to academic life at Mountain State University. It covers such issues as credit hours, grades, dropping and adding classes, grade point average, and graduation requirements.
If you have any questions or issues related to your academic work at Mountain State University, you can get help from an academic advisor or the Student Services Office.
COUGAR WEB
Cougar Web, MSU’s web-based information service, can answer many of your academic questions. You can check your grades, access an unofficial transcript or graduation report, or request a change of address. Log on at online.mountainstate.edu.
ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic year for traditional programs consists of two 15-week semesters. Fall semester begins in late August and ends in mid-December, and spring semester begins in early January and ends in mid-May. The University calendar also includes two summer sessions of four and a half weeks each. Summer sessions begin in late May or early June and end in early August. Summer study can provide an opportunity to complete prerequisites or requirements more quickly. Some academic programs require summer enrollment.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Mountain State University credits are expressed in semester hours. One semester hour of credit is equivalent to 15 class hours of instruction; the class-hour equivalent for laboratory courses varies by program.
CATALOG POLICY
Students are subject to degree and program requirements listed in the catalog that is in effect when they first register for classes at MSU; students in selective enrollment programs are subject to degree and program requirements listed in the catalog that is in effect at the time of admission into the program. You may choose to follow the requirements listed in a more recent catalog
if they better meet your academic needs.
If you interrupt your program of study for two or more consecutive terms (excluding summer sessions), you are subject to the requirements in effect when you re-enroll. Similarly, if you change your major program of study, you are subject to the requirements in effect at the time of the change, except by permission of the dean of your school.
All programs and policies are subject to change and correction. See the University website for archived and current catalog
information.
STUDENT CLASSIFICATION
The total number of hours you have earned determines your student classification. The following classifications apply to students in bachelor’s degree programs:
1–26 hours Freshman
27–64 hours Sophomore
65–89 hours Junior
90+ hours Senior
These classifications correspond with course numbers:
100 to 199 Freshman
200 to 299 Sophomore
300 to 399 Junior
400 to 499 Senior
These classifications may differ for financial aid purposes.
ENROLLMENT STATUS
For University purposes, a full-time student is one who is enrolled in 12 or more hours for a semester or 6 hours for a summer session, and a part-time student is one enrolled in fewer than 12 hours.
Other enrollment categories include special student, a provisionally admitted student who does not meet the University’s regular admission standards or who is not working toward a certificate or degree, and auditor, a student who is not attempting to earn a grade or credit.
These classifications may differ for financial aid purposes. If you are receiving financial aid or veterans benefits, check requirements for definitions of full-time student status.
To complete most bachelor’s degree programs in four years, you should take an average of 16 hours a semester. Higher course loads are permitted, although a
maximum load of 15 hours is recommended for first-semester freshmen. You may enroll in more than 18 hours a semester only with the permission of your dean.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME
To ensure that you receive University information, it is important to keep Student Services informed of any change in your contact information. Student Services processes all changes of name, address, and telephone number.
Forms for changing your address or name are available at Student Services or on the Registrar’s Office section of the University website. You can file a change of address on Cougar Web. Name change requests must be accompanied by official documentation (for example, a copy of a marriage certificate or divorce decree).
PRIVACY
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, or FERPA, protects the privacy of student records. The act governs the release of educational records and your right to view your educational records and request correction of any inaccuracy. It also covers the release of such directory information as your name, address, and telephone number, as well as the procedure for requesting that access to such information be limited. The full policy is available online at www.mountainstate.edu/current/policies/family_ed.aspx or from Student Affairs.
You can authorize the University to release certain educational records to specific individuals by submitting a FERPA release form to Student Services. Forms are available from Student Services or on the Registrar’s Office section of the MSU website.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
All students are responsible for knowing and following Mountain State University’s Student Code of Contact, which describes the University’s rules and regulations for academic honesty and personal conduct. It also describes the process through which students are charged with violations, the disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed for violations, and the appeals process. The Student Code of Conduct is available from the Student Affairs Office or on the MSU website.
PROHIBITION AGAINST RECORDING
University policy prohibits the recording of any conversation, whether in person or on the telephone, without the express consent of all parties involved. Recording of lectures and/or other material presented during class sessions is permitted only with the permission of the instructor and any other presenters.
ATTENDANCE
If you do not attend a class for which you have registered within the first week of class, the registrar’s office will be notified and you will be dropped from the class roster. If you do not drop or officially withdraw by the designated deadline, however, you will be ineligible for a refund and will be responsible for all charges. You may also be required to return a portion of any financial aid you have received. See Dropping, Withdrawal, and Refunds in the Registration and Payment chapter for additional information.
Similarly, students in online classes are required to “attend” their classes through active participation online within the first week of class to confirm their enrollment and attendance. Students taking an independent study class are required to contact their instructor within the first three weeks of registration to establish communication.
ASSESSMENT
Mountain State University routinely collects data from students regarding their perceptions, intellectual growth, and skills development. Student learning assessments contribute significantly to institutional effectiveness, particularly in evaluation of the undergraduate student experience. Assessment activities are integrated into each course. The University carefully reviews assessment results and constantly seeks ways to improve program content, delivery, and learning outcomes. Undergraduate students are required to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge and skills commensurate with expectations and proficiency in their academic field.
RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS
The University’s Institutional Review Board, or IRB, must approve in advance any project or study that involves human subjects. Changing standards in human subject research have greatly expanded the types of research requiring IRB review.
Health sciences students should meet with the chair of the IRB if there is any question as to whether a research project may be subject to review. Students in other fields can check with a program administrator about the possible need for IRB review.
A list of current IRB members is included in the Faculty and Staff section.
ACADEMIC ADVISING
Your academic advisor is your primary contact for questions concerning your program
of study, course selections, change of major, academic achievement, and degree requirements. The Academic Advising Office also has personal interest surveys, career exploration materials, job demand and salary information for various occupations, and other resources for selecting a field of study.
If you are undecided on a major, you can use SIGI3 (System of Interactive Guidance and Information, pronounced “siggy three”) to help you plan your career. SIGI3 combines the capabilities of the Internet with thoroughly researched information about occupations, work-related values, interests, skills, educational programs, and other factors. To access SIGI3, click on the SIGI link from Cougar e-mail or Cougar Web and choose “I want to create a new SIGI3 ID.”
You can access a record of your academic progress at any time with the graduation report on Cougar Web. This report identifies the hours you have earned against your degree requirements. The graduation report is an unofficial report; the Office of the Registrar conducts an official audit when you apply for graduation.
Each student is responsible for fulfilling all course, program, and graduation requirements. Advising services are available to all students. Additional information on advising services is available from the Academic Advising Office or on the academic advising section of the website.
GRADES
Your academic performance is measured by the grades you receive. Mountain State University uses the following grades:
- A Superior. 4 quality points per credit hour.
- B Good. 3 quality points per credit hour.
- C Average. 2 quality points per credit
hour.
- D Lowest passing grade. 1 quality
point per credit hour. Not consid-
ered a passing grade for some programs, including selective enrollment programs; see graduation and program information for details. May not be transferable.
- F Failure to meet minimum compe- tencies. No quality points.
- P Pass. Credit only; no quality points.
- W Withdrew. Student withdrawal from the course during the designated withdrawal period. No credit or quality points.
- DFS Academic Fresh Start, original
grade of D. No quality points.
- FFS Academic Fresh Start, original grade of F. No quality points.
- WIP Work in progress. Indicates enroll- ment in the course.
- I Incomplete. Indicates that the
course has not been completed for some unavoidable reason that
is acceptable to the instructor. Converts to a letter grade when work is completed or to F if work
is not completed by the end of the
following semester. Students
must contact the instructor for
assignments.
- AU Audit. No credit or quality points.
D* Repeat of course with original grade of D. No quality points.
F* Repeat of course with original grade of F. No quality points.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
The value of each grade, together with the credit value for the course, determines the number of quality points you have earned. The grade point average, or GPA, is the average of those quality points. It is computed on the basis of all classes for which you have registered except those in which you have received a grade of P, W, WP, WIP, DFS, FFS, D*, F*, or AU.
A semester GPA is based on the classes in a given semester; a cumulative GPA includes all of your coursework at Mountain State University.
You can compute your cumulative or semester GPA with the GPA calculator on Cougar Web or by following the following formula:
- Multiply course credit hours for each course by the quality point value for that course.
- Add the total quality points for all courses.
- Add the total credit hours for all courses attempted, with the exception of P, W, WP, WIP, DFS, FFS, D*, F*, and AU.
- Divide the total quality points earned by the total credit hours.
GRADE REPORTS
Although faculty members report both midterm and final grades to Student Services for all traditional classes, you will be issued a midterm grade only if your midterm grade is D or F. Student Services posts final grades for all students following each semester. Grades for independent study and team learning (cohort) classes are issued following each course with no midterm grades.
Midterm and final grades are available on Cougar Web. To receive a final grade report by mail, submit a request to the registrar that includes your full name, student ID number, and signature. You must submit a new request each semester. Federal privacy laws prohibit the release of grade information by telephone.
TRANSCRIPTS
Your transcript is the official record of your academic work at Mountain State University. The first official transcript you request is provided at no cost; a fee is charged for all additional copies. You must satisfy all of your financial obligations to the University before you can receive an official transcript. Credit awarded for training does not appear on your official transcript until all degree requirements have been met and your degree is certified.
Because of federal regulations and privacy concerns, you must submit transcript requests in writing to Student Services. Transcript request forms are available from Student Services or the Registrar’s Office section of University website. Requests should include your full name, your previous name if applicable, your student ID number and Social Security number, your dates of attendance, and your signature. If the transcript is to be sent directly to another institution, include the full name and address. Mail transcript requests to Mountain State University, Student Services / Transcript Request, Box 9003, Beckley, WV 25802-9003.
You can access an unofficial transcript on Cougar Web.
ACADEMIC APPEALS
If you have questions regarding your final grade for a class, begin by discussing them with the instructor of record. The policy and process for academic appeals are available online at www.mountainstate.edu/current/policies/appeals.aspx or from the Student Affairs Office.
DISPUTED RECORDS
You have up to one year after a class ends to dispute any of your academic, student account, or financial aid records pertaining to that class. Disputations of student records are not considered after a year has passed.
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
MSU maintains standards for academic progress that are in accordance with U.S. Department of Education requirements.
Academically, these standards incorporate two areas: completion rate and cumulative grade point average. (A third standard, total credit hours measured against a maximum calculated for your program of study, applies only to financial aid recipients.)
These standards apply to students in all undergraduate degree programs; a slightly different set of standards and processes, described later in this chapter, apply to those in nondegree certificate programs.
Completion Rate
At the end of each academic year, the number of credit hours you have attempted is measured against the number of credit hours you have earned (that is, the hours for which you have received a grade of A, B, C, or D). This comparison includes any course in which you remained after the add-drop period. You must meet the following standard to maintain satisfactory academic progress:
Attempted Percentage
credit hours completed
1–26 50
27+ 67
Withdrawals, incompletes, and failures are considered attempted but not earned hours. Passing credits for pass/fail courses are considered attempted and earned hours; failing grades in pass/fail courses are considered attempted but not earned. Repeated courses and courses for which you have been granted academic forgiveness are included in the calculation of both attempted and earned hours.
Audited courses and those taken in English Language Training (ELT) are not considered credits attempted or earned.
Transfer work graded C or better that applies to your program of study is included. Transcripted transfer credits of W, F, or D do not count in the calculation of either attempted or earned hours.
Credits taken during a consortium agreement with another institution are not considered as attempted unless they are transferred to MSU. Consortium credits from another institution taken at MSU are considered in satisfactory academic progress calculations.
Cumulative GPA
Your cumulative grade point average is reviewed at the end of each academic year (including summer sessions, fall, and spring terms). This comparison includes any course in which you remained after the add-drop period. You must meet the following standard to maintain satisfactory academic progress:
Attempted Minimum
credit hours GPA
1–26 1.77
27+ 2.00
Grades of A, B, C, D, and F are used to calculate your cumulative GPA. The first attempt of a repeated course is counted toward your cumulative GPA. Incomplete grades are not counted until an actual grade is awarded for the course.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Students in Nondegree Certificate Programs
If you are enrolled in a nondegree certificate program, your completion rate and grade point average are reviewed when you are halfway through your program requirements. To maintain satisfactory academic progress, you must have successfully completed at least 67 percent of your attempted credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. If you are placed on probation for failing to meet satisfactory academic progress standards, your probationary period will be for the next 12 credit hours you attempt.
ACADEMIC SANCTIONS
Academic sanctions result when you fail to meet MSU’s standards for satisfactory academic progress. Sanctions are determined at the end of fall and spring semester. You will be notified by mail if you are placed under an academic sanction. Academic sanctions may affect your financial aid status; see the financial aid chapter for additional information.
The University has three escalating levels of academic sanction:
Academic Warning
Students who do not meet academic progress standards when grades are calculated at the end of the semester are placed on academic warning.
Academic Probation
Students on academic warning who do not meet academic progress standards are placed on academic probation. During the semester spent on academic probation, students are not allowed to carry more than 12 credit hours. They must meet academic progress standards to avoid academic suspension.
Academic Suspension
Students on academic probation who do not meet academic progress standards are placed on academic suspension. Students who have been academically suspended from the University are not permitted to register for classes for the term of the suspension.
Preregistered students who are subsequently suspended are administratively dropped from all courses before the start of the semester. Summer terms do not count as a term of suspension.
ACADEMIC FORGIVENESS
The University provides two academic forgiveness options for students who wish to improve their academic record: D/F Repeat and Academic Fresh Start.
The University cannot guarantee transferability of either option; check the transfer requirements of the college or university you plan to attend. Academic forgiveness does not apply to financial aid standards for satisfactory academic progress.
If you are working toward a second degree, courses that you took before the certification of your first degree and whose grades were included in the GPA calculation for your first degree are not eligible for either type of academic forgiveness.
D/F Repeat
Students may repeat up to 21 hours of coursework in which they have earned a grade of D or F. When you repeat a course under this policy, the original grade is replaced by the new grade in calculating your GPA, although the original grade is not deleted from your transcript. Courses cannot be repeated after you receive your degree.
Academic Fresh Start
You may request academic forgiveness of earlier poor academic performance under the Academic Fresh Start policy, which allows all previous coursework graded D or F to be excluded from GPA calculations. Students are eligible for Academic Fresh Start only once.
Eligible students can apply by submitting a written request to the Dean of Students. Upon approval, Student Services will make the appropriate changes to the transcript.
To be eligible for academic forgiveness under the Academic Fresh Start Policy, you must meet these requirements:
- Demonstrate enrollment at MSU or transfer from another school.
- If you are a full-time student, complete at least 12 hours in one term with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and no grade below a C; if you are a part-time student, enroll in two consecutive semesters at MSU with at least 12 credit hours, a GPA of 2.0 or higher, and no grade below a C.
- Not be taking your last 24 hours before graduation.
If your request for academic forgiveness is approved, you will receive credit and a grade for all applicable previous coursework with a grade of C or better but not for previous coursework with a grade of D or F. All
previous coursework graded D or F will
remain on your transcript as DFS or FFS and will be excluded from computation of your GPA. Academic Fresh Start does not apply to courses graded WF.
ACADEMIC HONORS
The University maintains two honors lists for students in associate, bachelor’s, and certificate programs. Lists are compiled at the end of fall and spring semester for campus-based students. Honors for distance learning students are determined in November for the previous spring semester, March for the previous summer term, and August for the previous fall semester. Honors criteria are listed below.
Dean’s List
Complete 12 or more credit hours in the semester with a minimum semester GPA of 3.5.
President’s List
Complete 12 or more credit hours in the semester with a semester GPA of 4.0.
See Graduation with Honors later in this
chapter for information on honors designation for graduating students.
SECOND ASSOCIATE OR
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
If you have already completed the requirements for an associate or bachelor’s degree from Mountain State University, you may earn a second degree by completing required coursework for the program of study. You must complete a separate internship or practicum experience for each degree.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for graduation from Mountain State University, you must meet all University requirements:
- Earn at least 120 credit hours for a bachelor’s degree, 64 hours for an associate degree, or 32 hours for a certificate. Some degrees require more than the minimum 120 hours; see program requirements for details.
- Earn at least 30 credit hours at MSU for a bachelor’s degree, 18 hours for an associate degree, or 6 hours for a certificate.
- Earn at least 3 credit hours at an MSU campus or approved site for any degree or certificate, unless you are enrolled in an online program.
- Fulfill the general education requirements at your degree level (associate or bachelor’s). Graduates earning a certificate are not required to fulfill a general education requirement.
- Complete ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 with a grade of C or better.
- Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0.
- Fulfill all requirements of your program of study.
- Complete all core requirements within your program of study with a grade of C or better. (See program listings or check with the Registrar’s Office for details.)
- Fulfill all financial obligations to the
University.
- Submit a graduation application (available from Student Services or on the MSU website) and pay the application fee by the appropriate deadline.
For more information, see “Office of the Registrar” in the Current Students section of the University’s website. Requirements for graduate degrees are listed in the current edition of the graduate catalog.
Degree Audit
After you apply for graduation, Student
Services will conduct a degree audit to ensure that you are meeting all requirements for your degree. You will be notified by letter of the results of your graduation audit. Contact the Registrar’s Office immediately if the results of the graduation audit do not agree with your records.
Students are responsible for meeting their course, program, and graduation requirements. Check with an academic advisor if you have any doubts about meeting your requirements for graduation.
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES
Degrees are formally conferred on the last day of fall and spring semester and each summer session. Degrees are certified and diplomas mailed after the conferral date of the semester in which all degree requirements are met. Conferral dates for cohort and online programs may vary.
COMMENCEMENT
The University’s main Commencement ceremony is held in Beckley at the end of spring semester. Commencement is open to students in traditional programs who completed their requirements in the previous fall semester; those completing requirements in the spring or summer sessions are eligible to participate based on expected successful completion of all work undertaken. Students on a nontraditional schedule who will complete their requirements by August 31 are also eligible to participate.
Dates for branch campus ceremonies vary. Commencement information is available from the Student Services representative on each campus.
All eligible graduates are encouraged to take part in a Commencement ceremony. You must apply by March 1 if you wish to participate in the ceremony or have your name printed in the program.
GRADUATION WITH HONORS
Bachelor’s and associate degree candidates who have achieved special distinction in academic work are eligible for graduation with honors. Honors designations for recognition in the Commencement ceremony and program are determined by your cumulative local grade point average (that is, including only coursework completed at MSU) at the end of the fall semester before Commencement. Final honors designations are determined at the time of degree certification on the basis of cumulative local grade point average and are included on the diploma and official transcript.
Bachelor’s Degree Honors Distinctions
Three Latin honors distinctions are recognized at the bachelor’s degree level: summa cum laude, or highest honors, for those with a GPA of 3.85 to 4.0; magna cum laude, or high honors, for those with a GPA of 3.7 to 3.84, and cum laude, or honors, for those with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.69.
Associate Degree Honors Distinctions
Associate degree honors distinctions are highest honors, for those with a GPA of 3.85 to 4.0; high honors, for those with a GPA of 3.7 to 3.84; and honors, for those with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.69.
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