Contents
Enrollment and Course Request New students plan their course schedules in the summer prior to arriving on campus. Students will meet with an assigned faculty advisor during the orientation period of their first semester to discuss the schedule and the student's long-term academic goals. During each subsequent semester, students plan their course schedules with their adviser during the advising period which precedes registration. The course request period for spring semester occurs in late October/early November; the course request period for fall semester occurs in late March/early April. First-Year seminars are assigned on the basis of a preference questionnaire submitted by the student during the summer.
Calendar Courses are offered in two semesters, each totalling 15 weeks (including classes, a brief reading period, and final examinations). The fall semester begins in late August and concludes prior to the holidays. Students have a reading period of a few days after the end of classes in which to take stock of their work for the semester and prepare for the final examinations and papers which are scheduled at special times during the subsequent week. Spring semester begins near the end of January and runs through mid-May, following a similar pattern. The college offers a five-week summer school program each year in July and August. Classes meet daily, providing an intensive period of study. Students may register for a maximum of two courses per summer session. First-Year and sophomore students must meet with their advisers each semester for an advising session at which time they will receive an alternate PIN to be used during the course request period.
Class Size First-year seminars, all foreign language classes, courses on writing, and most upperclass seminars have class enrollments of approximately 15 students. A typical introductory course enrolls 35 students, most intermediate-level courses have 25 to 30 students, and 300-level courses usually enroll 25 students. Some introductory science course lectures enroll classes of 50 to 75 students, with accompanying laboratories for these courses conducted in sections of 12 to 28; others using a "workshop" approach meet for two hours of integrated lecture and lab for 20 to 25 students, three times a week. Advanced science classes and labs are usually under 25. Maximum class sizes are established in order to provide students with adequate opportunities to interact with their professors and with other students. As a result, students do not always gain access to their first choice of courses during a given course request period, and some majors are more difficult than others to initiate. Consistent with the college's commitment to overall balance, however, every effort is made to anticipate such problems and when necessary to open new course sections.
Course Load and Credit A normal schedule is four courses each semester. A student who wishes to carry fewer than three courses must receive permission to be part-time from the Registrar. A student's full or part-time status is determined at the end of the add/drop period. A student may register for up to 4.5 course credits without special permission each semester. After successfully completing his or her first semester, a student may register twice for a semester load of five course credits during his or her Dickinson career; registration for a fifth course may be completed only during the Add/Drop period.
Each course, unless otherwise noted in the course description, is equivalent to four semester hours. Credit for courses is based on the assumption that at least three hours of study accompany each class period (excluding labs). Half courses exist in only a few departments and may meet either for only half the semester or on a half-time basis for the entire semester. Physical education courses and some military science courses carry no academic course credit.
Course Schedule Students are responsible for selecting the courses in which they enroll and for the election of courses which will satisfy the requirements for graduation. Only those students who have completed all requirements for the degree are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony each May. Students enroll in four courses each semester. Normally, a course meets three times a week for 50 minutes or twice a week for 75 minutes; some upper class seminars meet just once during the week for three hours. Some natural and mathematical science courses meet in two-hour lecture and laboratory workshops several times a week or schedule advanced laboratories or field trips in single afternoon blocks. This variety in the weekly schedule provides class times suited to differing teaching methods and to the requirements of specific subjects. For example, brief but frequent meetings are often the best way to learn information, practice a skill, or discuss a series of related issues. Sometimes extended workshop sessions serve well the rhythms of a course that requires room to develop an idea or explore a problem or acquire a technique.
Changes in Course Schedules Students may make changes in their course registration during the first five days of the semester, referred to as the add/drop period. No change in registration is official until the student has made the change using the on-line registration system or confirmed the change in the Registrar's Office. Starting a course after the first few days of classes is usually not advisable. Students are expected to be properly registered for courses and in residence beginning on the first day of the semester. Students who fail to do so by the end of the add/drop period will be administratively withdrawn. Changes to or from the pass/fail option and in the use of the audit status require the instructor's permission. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the instructor's signature on a form and return that form to the Registrar's Office before the end of the add/drop period.
Changes in Course Level Certain courses in the languages are offered at several levels. Students who find themselves enrolled at an inappropriate level in these courses may change level with the approval of the instructor during an additional period of approximately two and a half weeks. (See college calendar for exact date.)
Auditing Courses A student may attend a course without credit by registering to audit the course. The permission of the instructor is required. Audit registration occurs during the add/drop period. A student who has received credit for a course may retake the same course on an audit basis. Students who are enrolled for three or more courses may audit without an additional fee. The instructor stipulates the requirements of the course for all auditors early in the semester. Courses taken as audits do not appear on a student's transcript unless the instructor authorizes such an entry at the end of the semester.
Late Changes in Course Schedule Add/drop and change-in-level deadlines are significant points in the semester beyond which any change in schedule affects academic performance. For this reason, students who want to make additions or changes in the level of their registration after these deadlines must make their request by petitioning the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. A student may withdraw from courses until 10 class meeting days after Roll Call of each semester. After this period, withdrawal will require a full review before the Committee on Academic Program and Standards. Withdrawal from a course will be indicated by the entry of a "W" grade in the student's record. Withdrawal is not an option for physical education courses. The option to withdraw from a course and the use of "W" grades without prior review and approval by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards is limited to two courses during a student's Dickinson career. Withdrawals involving a change from full-time to part-time status will be accepted only if the change of status has received prior approval by the Registrar. A student may petition the standards committee to drop a course from the record only when, through no fault of the student, no substantial participation in the course has occurred.
Grading Professors evaluate student achievement by the traditional means of written comments on papers and exams as well as by assigning letter grades. They are also available to students for individual conferences, to answer questions or discuss complaints, and just to talk further about some important matter raised in class. Faculty report an evaluation of student performance twice each semester. At mid-semester (Roll Call), the following grades are reported for all students: "S" indicating satisfactory achievement to date (work of "C" quality or above), "U" indicating unsatisfactory achievement (work of "C-" or below), "I" indicating incomplete work outstanding, and "NE" indicating no evaluation made by the faculty member (applicable to an entire course or section). These roll call grades are available to students via the college Website and are sent to advisers and serve as a useful benchmark for progress; however, they do not become part of the student's permanent record. At the end of each semester final grades are reported which become part of the student's permanent record. Once a grade has been reported to the Registrar's Office, it may not be changed unless the change has been requested by the instructor and approved by the Provost/Dean of the College. Students who think that a final grade may be inaccurate should begin by contacting the professor as soon as possible. If the professor confirms that a calculation or data entry error has occurred, the professor will submit a grade change request to the Provost/Dean of the College. This request must be submitted no later than Roll Call of the subsequent semester.
Students who, after requesting and receiving from the faculty member a detailed explanation of a grade, think that an assigned grade represents unfair or capricious grading should contact the Department Chairperson who will investigate the charge and report findings to the Provost/Dean of the College for further action.
Most coursework, independent study, and independent research work are graded on an A through F grading scale incorporating pluses and minuses. A student's cumulative average is based on letter grades received in Dickinson courses and at other colleges in the Central Pennsylvania Consortium (Franklin and Marshall and Gettysburg). Two other grading options, pass/fail and credit/no credit, exist and are explained below.
A through F Grading: All courses are offered for a letter grade unless otherwise listed in the bulletin or in the course offerings online. The letter grades reflect the achievement of Dickinson students in the following manner: A, exceptionally high level of achievement; B, substantial level of achievement; C, satisfactory level of achievement, the minimum average grade required for graduation; D, minimal level of achievement required to receive course credit; F, unacceptable level of achievement. Plus (+) and minus (-) are gradations of the letter grade scale.
A student's cumulative average is based on the numerical value assigned to letter grades:
A 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D- 0.67
F 0.00
Pass/Fail Grading: The pass/fail grading system in courses for academic credit is an option intended to encourage students to venture into new intellectual fields. This option is available on a limited basis to students after the first semester of their freshman year.
Under this system, "pass" is defined as work of a quality earning a grade of at least "C" and "fail" is defined as work of a quality earning a grade of "C-" or below unless the instructor indicates a different criterion for the grade of "pass." Taking a course on the pass/fail basis requires approval of the instructor. In courses numbered 300 and above, pass/fail may be taken by permission of the instructor only. It is the responsibility of each individual instructor to indicate at the beginning of the course the standards for passing and failing work in that course. Some departments may prohibit use of the pass/fail option in specific courses and, normally, pass/fail work should not be included among courses taken for the major or minor program requirements.
Courses taught on the credit/no credit system may not be taken on a pass/fail basis. Students may elect to take no more than one course on a pass/fail basis each semester and no more than a total of four pass/fail courses among the 32 required for graduation. Changes to or from a pass/fail grading basis must be made during the add/drop period.
Courses offered only as pass/fail (i.e., when the student has no option to take as a regularly graded course) are not included in the four course limit referenced above.
Credit/No Credit Grading: Credit/no credit grading, in contrast to the pass/fail system, is not the student's option. Each semester a few courses are offered on the credit/no credit basis at the request of the instructors and with the approval of the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. All students registering for a course offered for credit/no credit will be evaluated on that basis. Mastery of the course's objectives is considered a satisfactory completion of the course and results in a grade of "credit." Failure in the course results in a grade of "no credit." Normally, internships are offered on a credit/no credit basis. As with the pass/fail system, neither grade results in a change to the student's cumulative average. The option to enroll in credit/no credit courses is open to all students including first-semester first-year students (except internships, normally limited to juniors and seniors) with no maximum number of credit/no credit enrollments.
Incomplete Grades: A grade of "incomplete" may be reported only in cases in which illness or other serious emergency has prevented the student from completing the work for the marking period. No incomplete is in effect until a form has been filed with the Registrar that states the reasons under which it has been granted, contains an evaluation of the student's work to the date of the incomplete, and is signed by both student and instructor. An incomplete may not be reported because of negligence or procrastination on the part of the student. An incomplete grade must be cleared before Roll Call of the following semester unless an exception is granted by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. In every case, the incomplete must be cleared before the end of the second semester following. If an incomplete has not been cleared within stipulated time limits, the appropriate grade indicating a lack of satisfactory completion will be recorded.
Grades in Year Courses: Independent Study and Independent Research registered for year-long activity, as well as several senior seminars, may receive either a letter grade for the term or an "S" grade with course credit. Upon completion of the second semester, an "S" grade may be converted to a letter grade along with the second semester's letter grade and credit.
Course Failure: A letter grade of "F," a "fail" under the pass/fail system, or a "no credit" under the credit/no credit system are all evaluations expressing failure in a course. The letter grade of "F" results in a reduction of the cumulative average, while "fail" and "no credit" do not change the average. A failed course may be retaken for credit. In the case of letter-graded courses, both the original grade and the new grade are calculated in the average. All failing grades continue to appear on the student's academic record regardless of course repetition.
Progress toward the Degree: Normally, students complete either the B.A. or the B.S. degree programs in eight semesters by taking four courses per semester. Students are expected to meet all requirements for graduation in effect at the time of their matriculation. Responsibility rests with the student for the election of such courses that will satisfy the requirements of the college for graduation.
A minimum of 16 courses must be taken on the Dickinson campus. A student must be accepted for a major field of concentration by the time he or she earns junior standing. A student who does not have a declaration of a major on file in the Registrar's Office by the end of the semester in which the sixteenth course (counting towards the degree) is completed may be required to withdraw from the college. Six of the last eight or the last four courses in a student's program must be taken on campus in order to fulfill the senior residence requirement. All course work taken at other institutions after admission as a degree candidate must have prior approval from the Registrar (for domestic study during summer school) or the Associate Dean of the College/Executive Director of Global Education (for international study at any time during the year and domestic study for an academic semester). A student must be in good standing and obtain prior approval to study at another institution during the academic year. Approval for this status can be granted for one semester or one year. Students may transfer up to one full year of academic work (a total of 9 courses) if prior approval of the program has been obtained.
Minimum Standards The faculty assumes that every student admitted to Dickinson will be able to qualify for graduation. However, the opportunity to continue at Dickinson is a privilege that a student must earn by academic achievement. A student who fails to meet the minimum grade point average for his or her class will be required to withdraw unless the Subcommittee on Academic Program Standards takes action otherwise. Dickinson College reserves the right, at any time, to require withdrawal from the college of any student whose academic performance or personal conduct on or off the college campus is, in the sole judgment of the college, unsatisfactory or detrimental to the best interests of the college. Neither the college, nor any of its trustees, officers, faculty, or administrative staff shall be subject to any liability whatsoever on account of such action. Action by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards may include a warning or placing a student on academic probation.
The minimum average for a first-year student to be in good academic standing is 1.75. At the end of the first semester of the first year, students falling below 1.75 will be placed on academic probation and required to participate actively in the Steps to Academic Success Program for the following semester. Students below 1.00 after the first semester are typically required to withdraw. At the end of the second semester of the first year, students with cumulative grade point averages below 1.75 will be required to withdraw unless they actively participated in the Steps to Academic Success Program and made significant improvement toward the required 1.75 cumulative grade point average. In this case, the student may be permitted to continue in Dickinson's summer school on probation. Students who fail to meet the probationary grade point average AND do not participate actively in the Steps program will be required to withdraw from the college.
The minimum average for a sophomore to be in good academic standing is 2.00. At the end of the first semester of the sophomore year, students falling below 2.00 will be placed on academic probation and required to participate actively in the Steps to Academic Success Program for the following semester. At the end of the second semester, sophomores with cumulative grade point averages below 2.00 will be required to withdraw unless they actively participated in the Steps to Academic Success Program and made significant improvement toward the 2.00 cumulative grade point average. In this case, the student may be permitted to continue in Dickinson's summer school on probation. Students who fail to meet the probationary grade point average AND do not participate actively in the Steps program will be required to withdraw from the college.
Juniors and seniors must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00. Juniors and seniors who have below a 2.00 at the end of the first semester of the academic year will be placed on probation for the second semester. Juniors with a grade point average below a 2.00 at the end of the academic year will be required to withdraw. In order to graduate a senior must have a minimum grade point average of 2.00.
A student on probation must show significant improvement during the semester of probation (and participated actively in the Steps to Academic Success Program if so required) in order to remain at the college.
In addition to maintaining a minimum grade point average, students are expected to make satisfactory quantitative progress toward the completion of degree requirements. Full-time students are normally expected to complete at least 4 courses each semester and to progress one grade level each year. Evaluation of progress occurs at the end of the academic year when grades for spring semester are posted. First-year students become sophomores when seven courses creditable toward graduation are completed. Sophomores achieve junior status after 15 courses and juniors become seniors after 23 courses. For students who fail to progress one grade level and for part-time students, satisfactory academic progress will be measured by comparing the number of courses attempted to the number completed successfully. Attempted courses include all withdrawals, incompletes, and failures. To be considered to be progressing satisfactorily, students must have completed successfully the following percentage of courses attempted:
First year students - 60 percent
Sophomores - 70 percent
Juniors Seniors - 80 percent
The Subcommittee on Academic Standards interprets and applies these standards on a case-by-case basis at the end of each semester. The Subcommittee on Academic Standards may warn a student if his or her semester average falls below the minimum required cumulative grade point average even when the cumulative average allows the student to remain in good academic standing; continued performance at current level would remove student from good academic standing.
The Subcommittee on Academic Standards may place a student on academic probation if the student has proven ability to achieve the established probationary average; a low semester average does not include any failing grades; or, while on probation the student's average meets or exceeds the established probationary average when the cumulative average remains below the minimum for good standing.
A student with three consecutive semesters with averages below 2.00 will be required to withdraw from the college, even if his or her cumulative grade point average remains above a 2.00. Students on academic probation are determined to be making satisfactory progress for the purpose of receiving financial aid. A student with a semester grade point average of 0.00 will be required to withdraw even if his or her cumulative average remains above a 2.00.
Dean's List Full-time degree-seeking students who, in a given semester, earn a superior academic average are named to the Dean's List. Academic qualification for inclusion on the Dean's List requires that the student earns a 3.70 academic average for the semester, with no grades lower than a C- and no incomplete grades. A minimum of three courses must be completed for a grade, and the student must have a cumulative grade-point average greater than 2.00. Students with records in violation of the community standards or who engage in other behaviors that the dean judges inimical to the mission of the college
may be ineligible for the Dean's List. Students who are on "suspension","stayed suspension" and/or affiliated with organizations banned by the college
are typically ineligible for the Dean's List.
Credit for Course Work at Other Institutions Course work submitted by transfer students is evaluated by the registrar after a preliminary and tentative appraisal has been performed by the admissions counselor. In general, coursework taken at accredited colleges or universities that parallels the curriculum at Dickinson is transferable provided grades of C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better have been earned. College-level course work will be evaluated according to the following criteria: (1) must be listed on an official transcript of an accredited institution; (2) must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; (3) must indicate a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale); (4) must have liberal arts content; (5) must be offered in a setting which allows for interaction between student and instructor (i.e., no credit will be awarded for correspondence, on-line or one-way video courses). A maximum of 16 courses may be accepted for transfer. Transfer students must then complete the remaining 16 courses toward graduation on campus. Students admitted as transfer students to Dickinson College with 12 courses (2nd semester Sophomores) may count up to a year of study abroad on Dickinson Programs toward the residency requirement and students who transfer with 16 courses (1st semester Juniors) may count a semester of study abroad on Dickinson Programs toward the residency requirement.
Dickinson students who desire to study away from campus for summer study or during the academic year must obtain prior approval of the program of study. College-level course work will be evaluated according to the following criteria: (1) must be listed on an official transcript of an accredited institution; (2) must be a minimum of 3 credit hours; (3) must indicate a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale); (4) must have liberal arts content; (5) must be offered in a setting which allows for interaction between student and instructor (i.e., no credit will be awarded for correspondence, on-line or one-way video courses). Students in good academic standing may receive up to a total of four transfer course credits for summer or January-term study at other approved institutions; they may be taken in a combination of one or more summers. Off-campus study during the academic year is normally limited to a maximum of four courses for one semester or eight courses for a full academic year.
In addition, off-campus study in the senior year, if it precludes a student from being on campus for six of the last eight courses, or the last four courses, preceding graduation, requires special approval from the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. Special approval is also necessary for participation in more than two semesters of study off campus or for participation in more than one off-campus program.
Final determination of credit and satisfaction of Dickinson distribution and language requirements will be determined by the Registrar.
Leave of Absence An approved leave of absence for one semester or one year enables a student to maintain enrollment at the college. An approved leave of absence meets one of the following descriptions. 1)This status may be granted by the student's class dean and is subject to renewal. A student on an approved leave of absence may request permission to study on a part-time basis at another institution, and to transfer credit to the student's Dickinson record. Permission to study at another institution while on leave of absence must be received from the Registrar in writing prior to registering for the courses. 2) This status may be granted by the Associate Dean of the College/Executive Director of Global Education for those students who have been denied permission to study abroad in designated locations for safety reasons. Students in this category may request review of their course work for transfer upon return to Dickinson College; course work is subject to the college's criteria for transferable work.
A voluntary leave of absence may be granted prior to the date of Roll Call for any given semester. "W" (for withdrawal) grades will be recorded in lieu of a regular grade for all registered courses.
Required Leave of Absence Students are expected to be engaged actively in their academic coursework while enrolled at the College. Occasionally, it is deemed to be in the student's academic interest to take time off from academic study. In those cases, the Provost/Dean of the College may require a student to take up to one semester's leave of absence.
Student-initiated Medical Leave of Absence A student may request a medical leave of absence in order to obtain medical or psychological treatment which will enable the student to return to full-time academic study at the College. Students can initiate this process by consulting with the Health Center or Counseling Center.
1. A student may apply for a Medical Leave of Absence, (MLOA) at any time through the last day of exams in any given semester due to medical and/or psychological problems that are interfering with the ability of the student to meet the demands of College life, including both academic and social demands.
2. Before applying for MLOA, the student must consult with a professional at the Counseling Center and/or Health Center and must secure a recommendation from one of those offices to pursue the MLOA. A student may provide information from outside health care providers to the Counseling Center or Health Center, if he or she chooses, but is under no obligation to do so.
3. Upon recommendation of the Director of Counseling Services and/or the Director of Student Health Services, the Dean of Students or Provost and Dean of the College will make the final decision regarding approval of a voluntary Medical Leave of Absence.
4. During the time away from campus, a student is subject to the following conditions regarding student loans. Commencing with the date of authorization of the Medical Leave of Absence, a student with a federal Stafford loan must re-enroll at least half-time within six months, in order to avoid using up the grace period and entering repayment. Students are responsible for notifying their lender of their enrollment status. Perkins loans have a nine-month grace period. There is no grace period for other loans.
5. When a student takes a Medical Leave of Absence during the course of a semester, either the grade of "Withdrawal" (W) or "Incomplete" (I) will be recorded by the Registrar for those courses in which the student is enrolled. Students eligible to utilize the grade of "Incomplete" should follow instructions in the
College Bulletin.
6. In cases where a student is on a Medical Leave of Absence for a period of fewer than six weeks at the close of a semester, withdrawal from classes may not be necessary if the student can make arrangements to keep up with academic work or, if eligible, to receive "Incomplete" grades.
7. The usual policies for refunds and deposits apply as stated in the
College Bulletin.
8. While a student is on MLOA, he or she is to be separated from the campus completely unless prior approval for any visit is approved by the Dean of Students.
9. When a student on Medical Leave of Absence believes s/he is ready to return to the College, he or she must notify, in writing, the College office wherein the medical leave was initiated (Counseling Center or Health Center). Return to full-time active student status requires an evaluation from the Counseling Center or Health Center, or both, validating that the student is ready to resume studies and life at the College. Such an evaluation may include consideration of information from other health care providers offered by the student. The Counseling Center or Health Center shall make a recommendation to the Dean of Students or Provost and Dean of the College. The Dean of Students or Provost and Dean of the College will make the decision about whether to approve the student's return to the College. The Counseling Center or Health Center may make recommendations to the Dean of Students or Provost and Dean of the College regarding conditions of return or accommodations appropriate to support a student's condition. The student will receive written notification of those conditions and/or accommodation. Notification of intent to return is generally required no later than May 1 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester. Decisions on requests received after the foregoing dates will be made on a case-by-case basis.
College-initiated Medical Leave of Absence Dickinson College may place a student on MLOA without the student's consent at any time it is deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and well-being of the student, other students, other members of the College community or the interests of the College itself.
MLOA may be required when a student demonstrates danger to himself/ herself or others because he/she attempts or threatens suicide or homicide or engages in a behavior that threatens or could cause imminent life-threatening bodily harm to himself/herself or others.
Nothing in this policy shall limit the College's ability to respond to a student's behavior solely on the basis of the behavior itself.
The Dean of Students shall make the final decision regarding college-initiated MLOA. The Dean will consult with the professionals from Counseling and/or Health Services in order to arrive at a decision regarding medical leave. The student will be given oral and written notification of MLOA status as soon as possible. Such notification will include any terms or conditions of return which must be met by the student. The length of MLOA will be determined on a case-by-case basis. While a student is on MLOA, he or she is to be separated from the campus completely unless prior approval for any visit is approved by the Dean of Students.
When a student on Medical Leave of Absence believes s/he is ready to return to the College, he or she must notify, in writing, the Dean of Students and the College office wherein the medical leave was initiated (Counseling Center or Health Center). Return to full-time active student status requires an evaluation from the Counseling Center or Health Center, or both, validating that the student is ready to resume studies and life at the College and assuring that all conditions necessary for return have been met. Such an evaluation may include consideration of information from other health care providers offered by the student. The Counseling Center or Health Center shall make a recommendation to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students will make the decision about whether to approve the student's return to the College and any ongoing terms or conditions of return, based upon recommendations from the Counseling Center or Health Center. The Counseling Center or Health Center may also make recommendations to the Dean of Students regarding accommodations appropriate to support a student's condition. The student will receive written notification of those conditions and/or accommodation. Notification of intent to return is generally required no later than May 1 for the fall semester or November 1 for the spring semester. Decisions on requests received after the foregoing dates will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Withdrawal Withdrawal from the college, whether voluntary, required, or administrative, discontinues one's enrollment as a degree candidate. A student who withdraws and later wishes to return must make formal application to the Registrar for readmission. If the student's average was below the minimum class standard, the application will be considered by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. When possible, the student's academic advisor at the time of withdrawal will be consulted as a part of the committee's consideration of an application for readmission. If the student was required to withdraw for non-academic reasons, the application process will normally also include a clearance interview with a member of the counseling staff, as well as the possibility of additional documentation being required. Any conditions set forth by the college when the withdrawal became effective must be satisfied at the time of reapplication.
If a student withdraws from the college with disciplinary matters pending, whether social or academic in nature, the matter may proceed to disposition, in the sole discretion of the college. Under such circumstances, the student has all rights afforded under the policies of the college for such proceedings, including the right of participation. Any sanctions imposed, other than expulsion, shall be imposed should a student return to Dickinson College at a future date. A sanction of expulsion shall become effective immediately.
For those matters which did not proceed to disposition upon a student's withdrawal from Dickinson, should a student seek to be readmitted within one (1) calendar year of withdrawal, the disposition of the disciplinary matter will proceed at the time application for readmission is made and before a decision on readmission is made by the college.
For those matters which did not proceed to disposition upon a student's withdrawal from Dickinson, no student shall be considered for readmission if one (1) calendar year or more has passed from the time of withdrawal.
Voluntary: A student may withdraw voluntarily at any time, with "W" grades being recorded for all registered courses if the withdrawal is made on or before the last day of classes. If withdrawal is made during the final examination period, regular grades will be recorded. Students should contact their class dean to obtain the appropriate forms and information and to schedule an exit interview. Ordinarily, students must wait a full semester (not a summer session) after withdrawing from the college before making reapplication. Students who wish to reapply sooner must petition the Committee on Academic Program and Standards.
Required: Students whose academic average falls below the minimum standards for their class are required to withdraw. The Subcommittee on Academic Standards may make an exception and allow a student to continue enrollment on academic probation for which special requirements are established. A student may be eligible to apply for readmission by attending an accredited institution for one semester (not a summer session) with a full program of study approved in advance by the Registrar and the Subcommittee on Academic Standards, attaining a minimum average of 2.25, and having no grades lower than a C. Military service or satisfactory employment for at least one year may be substituted for a semester of academic work. Note: See below for additional criteria for readmission.
Administrative: Students who fail to register by the end of add/drop and who do not inform the Registrar's Office of their plans will be administratively withdrawn. Such students may apply for readmission. Note: See below for criteria for readmission.
Suspension from the College: Sanctions for Violation(s) of the Academic Provisions of the Community Standards A student suspended from the college may not participate in classes or other college activities and may not be on College property (except by appointment, arranged in advance with the Provost/Dean of the College or his or her designee or the Dean of Students or his or her designee) for a definite period of time as set forth in the notice of suspension. Students will receive "W" grades for all registered courses when suspension takes effect during the semester. Suspension extending beyond the semester in which action is taken shall consist of units of full semesters and/or summer sessions. In no case shall the suspension terminate prior to the end of a semester.
Courses taken at another institution during this period of suspension will not be accepted for transfer to Dickinson. See the
Community Standards and Procedures.
Suspension from the College: Sanctions for Violation(s) of the Social Provisions of the Community Standards For the individual, exclusion from classes, activities of the College, from residence halls, and/or use of facilities or other property of the college for a definite period of time as set forth in the notice of suspension (except by appointment, arranged in advance with the Provost/Dean of the College or designee or the Dean of Students or designee). Students will receive "W" grades for all registered courses when suspension takes effect during the semester. Suspension extending beyond the semester in which action is taken shall consist of units of full semesters and/or summer sessions. In no case shall the suspension terminate prior to the end of a semester. Conditions for readmission may be specified.
Courses taken at another institution during this period of suspension will not be accepted for transfer to Dickinson. See the
Community Standards and Procedures.
Readmission Any formerly matriculated student who wishes to re-enroll must file an application for readmission. Such applications should be filed with the Registrar prior to May 15 for the fall semester and prior to November 15 for the spring semester. If the student's average was below the minimum class standard, the application will be considered by the Subcommittee on Academic Standards. When possible, the student's academic advisor at the time of withdrawal will be consulted as a part of the committee's consideration of an application for readmission. If the student was required to withdraw for non-academic reasons, the application process will normally also include a clearance interview with a member of the counseling staff, as well as the possibility of additional documentation being required. Any conditions set forth by the college when the withdrawal became effective must be satisfied at the time of reapplication. A student who is readmitted must meet requirements in effect at the time of readmission.
Favorable action in readmission, either by an individual or a committee, does not necessarily constitute a guarantee of a space in the college. It is quite possible that a student applying for readmission might have fulfilled all requirements or conditions for readmission but still be denied access to the college for a particular semester or year because of space limitations.
A student who is absent from the college at least three years, and who is readmitted and successfully completes the equivalent of at least two semesters of work on campus, may petition the Subcommittee on Academic Standards to have course credits toward graduation and cumulative grade averages based only on work accomplished after the second matriculation. "Successful completion" will mean the attainment of at least a 2.00 average, or a higher probationary average, as stipulated by the committee.
Dismissal/Expulsion A student required to withdraw for a second time for academic reasons is dismissed from the college without the privilege of readmission at any time. Students who are separated from the college during any semester for disciplinary reasons, either social or academic, lose the opportunity to receive college credit for that semester. A student who is expelled does not have the privilege of readmission to the college at any time.
A non-degree student may be part-time (fewer than three courses) or full-time (between three and four courses) depending on the circumstances of admission. This status can be changed only by agreement with the office that admitted the student.
Non-degree students who are attending Dickinson while enrolled in another institution must be in good academic standing at their home school and have the recommendation of the appropriate official responsible for approval of their program. It is the responsibility of such students to obtain all advice necessary regarding their course selections and various grading options from their home institution.
Conversion to Degree Status Non-degree students may apply to the Office of Admissions for degree status. If approved, all coursework completed at Dickinson will be accepted toward the degree, provided that the student has more than 12 courses remaining to graduate. At least 12 courses must be taken while enrolled for a degree and with an approved major field of concentration. A minimum of 16 courses must be taken at Dickinson. In general, coursework taken at accredited colleges or universities that parallels the curriculum at Dickinson is transferable provided grades of C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better have been earned. In general, the student must meet all requirements for graduation in effect at the time of acceptance.
The
Community Standards & Procedures describe the standards for academic honesty at Dickinson College. The college statement on cheating and plagiarism can be found in this publication in the printed and online versions. See the
Community Standards and Procedures.
