Undergraduate Academic Policies

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Honor Code

As a member of the student body of LaGrange College, I confirm my commitment to the ideals of civility, diversity, service, and excellence. Recognizing the significance of personal integrity in establishing these ideals within our community, I pledge that I will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate these unethical behaviors in others.

The Honor Code is the responsibility of every student, faculty member, and staff member at LaGrange College. The cooperation of all members of the College community is needed to promote an environment of academic integrity, scholarship, and discipline.

The Honor Code may be augmented for individual course needs, provided that any additions are listed in the course syllabus and do not detract from the letter or spirit of the Honor Code or jurisdiction of the Honor Council.

Student Responsibilities
  • to be honest and truthful in all academic matters, abiding by the letter and spirit of the Honor Code;
  • to consult with the appropriate persons to clarify issues regarding plagiarism, the correct attribution of sources, the acceptable limits of proofreading, editing, or input of others, and the allowable materials for examinations, reports, or any academic work;
  • to sign a pledge that no unauthorized aid has been given or received on any academic work;
  • to report any incident which is believed to be a violation of the Honor Code to the president of the Honor Council;
  • to cooperate when called upon by the Council to testify in a hearing.
Student Rights
  • to be presumed innocent;
  • to be granted a fair, impartial, and timely hearing;
  • to face and question any witnesses at a hearing;
  • to provide and share information on one's own behalf;
  • to be granted a separate hearing upon request, when the incident involves more than one person;
  • to be granted the right to subsequent appeal;
  • to be accompanied by a silent observer in a hearing. The Council president must be made aware of this person’s name and relationship to the student no less than twenty-four (24) hours before the hearing. The observer’s role is one of support, and this person will not be allowed to speak.
Examples of Offenses
  • academic cheating, including but not limited to the unauthorized use of books or notes, copying, or collaboration on examinations or any graded coursework;
  • unauthorized use of electronic devices and/or programs for or during examinations or any graded coursework;
  • plagiarism—the misuse of another person's words or ideas, presenting them as one's own, regardless of intent;
  • lying or presenting false information related to any academic matter;
  • forgery or misuse of official college documents;
  • theft of college property related to academic work;
  • aiding another in any of the above;
  • failure to report a violation of the Honor Code;
  • failure to appear before the Honor Council as requested;
  • failure to maintain confidentiality regarding a case;
  • any dishonest conduct related to Collegiate Enrichment requirements, including but not limited to, taking credit for attendance when one has not attended an event, either in whole or in part; or aiding another in attempting to take credit for attending an event one has not attended.
Sanctions

One of the following sanctions is imposed when it is determined that there has been a violation of the Honor Code. All students will also complete a program of remediation outlined in the following section.

  • A maximum of half (½) credit on the related assignment at the discretion of the professor
  • A zero on the related assignment
  • The final grade in the course lowered by one letter grade
  • An F in the course
  • Suspension from the College for one term, excluding summer, in a grade-related offense
  • Suspension from the College for one term, excluding summer, and an F in the course in a grade-related offense
  • Dismissal from the College and an F in the course in a grade-related offense
  • Revocation of a degree

All students will also complete a program of remediation outlined in the following section.

Remediation

All students found to have violated the Honor Code must complete a Remediation Program before being allowed to enroll in classes for the following semester. In course-related violations, they would also receive a sanction from the Honor Council. In certain non-course-related cases, the remediation program itself may be the sanction set by the Honor Council.

  1. A contract will be signed by the student which requires a Remediation Program to be completed within a month of the date of the initiation of the contract. If the sanction is imposed late in a semester, the president of the Honor Council will determine a reasonable time for its completion at the beginning of the next semester. If the student does not complete the program as agreed within one month, he or she will not be able to register for the following semester, not including summer, effectively accepting a suspension for a semester. It will be the student’s responsibility to make and keep all appointments named in the contract and to complete the program within the specified period.
  2. The student must make and keep appointments, while dressed appropriately (item 3), to meet with the following groups or members of the college community in person: the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) (or President of LaGrange College if VPAA is not available) and the member or members of the faculty involved. In each of these discussions the student should be prepared to explain his or her violation, discuss its impact both personally and on the college community, and hear what others’ thoughts and concerns may be about the violation. A minimum of thirty minutes is suggested for each meeting. The paper referred to in a following section (item 4) must be presented to the VPAA prior to his or her meeting with the student.
  3. Attire: Students meeting with the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) (or the President) must be dressed in attire that would be appropriate for a job interview. If the student shows up wearing inappropriate clothing, he or she will be required to reschedule their meeting.
  4. The student must write a typed paper, at least 750 words in length, reflecting on the experience of the violation and what he or she learned in the process of the meetings as reflected in the Honor Council’s Learning Outcomes. These papers, rendered anonymous, will be made available for the Honor Council to use at its discretion in its efforts to educate the student body regarding academic integrity. When the paper has been submitted and read by the Honor Council, the final step in satisfying the Remediation Program will be a meeting with the Honor Council. This is an opportunity for members of the Council to ask questions of the student about the process and outcome.

A complete description of Honor Code policies, rules, and regulations can be found in the Student Handbook, available on PantherNet. Handbooks are also available in the Office of Student Engagement.

General Academic Policies

Requirements for bachelor's degrees

LaGrange College’s undergraduate day program offers the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Science degree, the Bachelor of Music degree, the Bachelor of Business Administration degree, and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Baccalaureate degrees require a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit, including required coursework in the Ethos curriculum, Interim terms, and the major.

To be eligible for the degree, a student must meet all requirements for the degree (Ethos, Interim, major program, all necessary assessments, Collegiate Enrichment, 120 semester hours (or more, depending on major) of coursework, residency, and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all coursework taken at LaGrange College) and file a petition for the degree before the beginning of his or her final term. A student who does not earn a degree in ten full semesters or the equivalent may be denied further registration.

In order to graduate in four academic years, a student should enroll for at least 30 semester hours each academic year.  Twelve (12) semester hours is considered full-time in a regular semester. The maximum full course load is 16 semester hours; anything beyond is considered an overload. No student whose average is below 3.0 is permitted to enroll for more than 16 hours in any one term without the written permission of the VPAA.

To obtain a second bachelor's degree, at least 30 additional semester hours must be earned beyond the first degree, in a minimum of two semesters.

Unless otherwise specified in this Bulletin, grades of "C-" may be counted toward a major or minor, but the major or minor GPA must remain at or above 2.0 (or the departmental minimum) in order for a student to graduate with said major or minor. No grade below a “C-” in any course above the 1000 level may be applied toward a major or minor.

Specific Descriptions of Graduation Requirements

Bulletin - A student who enters LaGrange College under a given Bulletin generally will be graduated under the Ethos curriculum (the general education curriculum), credit hours requirement, and grade point average requirements of that Bulletin. Major requirements are those in force at the time when a student formally declares a major. If a student suspends his or her study and re-enters more than four years later, then he or she will graduate under the requirements of the Bulletin in effect at the time of re-entry.

Graduation Petition - Students in their last year of college work must have an audit of their course credits and planned courses examined upon registration for their final semester in residence. The major advisor and the Registrar assist the student in completing this petition. No student may participate in Commencement exercises if he or she has not completed a graduation petition.

Outcomes-Based Assessments - Students at LaGrange College will participate in the evaluation of the extent to which institutional education goals are being achieved. This evaluation will be in both the Ethos curriculum and the major. College-wide assessment days for seniors are administered in October for December graduates and March for May graduates. Dates and times can be found on the Academic Calendar. For major assessments, consult the specific majors for details.

Upper Division Credit- As a requirement for graduation, students must complete a minimum of 30 upper-division (3000 and 4000 level) semester credit hours.

Residency - There are two ways in which a student may meet residency requirements for graduation:

  1. The student must be in residence for the last 39 credit hours; or
  2. 51* credit hours of the last 60 credit hours must be earned at LaGrange College.

*With prior approval of the academic advisor and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), up to nine (9) hours of the last 60 credit hours may be earned as a transient student at another accredited institution. Transient credit is awarded only for courses in which the grade of "C-" or better is earned.

Collegiate Enrichment- Because the intellectual and cultural opportunities during one’s college years are exceptionally rich, and because exposure to a variety of cultural experiences and participation in a lively collegial atmosphere during one’s intellectually formative years is vital to the concept of a liberal education, LaGrange College is dedicated to assisting in this enrichment by requiring all students to accumulate a prescribed number of Collegiate Enrichment (CE) credits over the course of their undergraduate careers at the college.

Of the CE credits required for graduation, a student must include at least four (4) designated sustainability events. Students will be allowed to earn up to 20 Collegiate Enrichment credits through service. The service must be college-related (that is, sponsored by the college or by a college organization) and pre-approved by the Academic Services Committee.  An approval form can be found on the CE site on the college’s website. 1 hour of service will count as 1 CE credit.

Each semester, a list of approved Collegiate Enrichment programs, lectures, presentations, events, performances, recitals, etc., will be published on the College Web page. Many of these events will occur during the Contact Hour (from 11 a.m. until 12:20 p.m.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and some will double as required programs in the general education classes.

Because students at LaGrange College earn graduation credit through their attendance at Collegiate Enrichment events, the Honor Council takes seriously Honor Code violations relating to attendance at CE events. If a student knows in advance that she/he will have to leave an event early, that student should not have the ID card scanned. Questions about the accuracy of ID scanning should be addressed to the Collegiate Enrichment Committee.

Students will meet their CE graduation requirement according to the following schedule: 

Classification Earned Hours Upon Entry to LaGrange College Sem. Hrs.) CE Credits Needed to Graduate Sustainability CE credits Needed to Graduate Maximum Athletic CE Credits Allowed
New/Transfer/First-year 0-14.99 40 4 6
Transfer/First-year 15-29.99 35 4 5
Transfer Sophomore 30-44.99 30 3 4
Transfer Sophomore 45-59.99 25 3 4
Transfer Junior 60-74.99 20 2 3
Transfer Junior 75-80.99 15 2 2
Transfer Senior ≥ 81 10 1 1

Components of Academic Progression

Credit Hour Policy

LaGrange College determines the number of semester credit hours to be awarded based on the amount of time the typical student is expected to commit to successful completion of a course. Under the semester system, the awarding of one semester credit hour implies the expectation that a typical student will commit at least 40 hours of time engaged with the course material during a term. Usually, this commitment of time will imply work divided between one hour in class and two hours out of class, but other combinations are possible, based on the level of the course, the nature of assignments, and other factors.

First-Year Orientation

All first-year students are introduced to LaGrange College through a summer orientation program and a First Week Experience just prior to the beginning of Fall semester. This time is designed to acquaint first-year students with various phases of the life of the College, including traditions, procedures, and regulations. Students benefit from a proper introduction to the opportunities and responsibilities of college life.   During First Week, First Year Experience (FYE) classes will meet and first-year students will be introduced to the Honor Code and the Social Code.

Placement

Appropriate placement in certain courses is essential. Placement in mathematics and English is based on skills assessment or standardized test scores. Students who are not predicted to be successful in MATH 1101 are required to enroll in MATH 0100. This is a pre-Ethos Curriculum mathematics course, and credit in this course does not count toward the fulfillment of the 44 hours of Ethos requirements, but does count toward hours required for graduation. English placement is based on scores obtained on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Based on scores obtained, students are placed in an appropriate section (standard or honors) of ENGL 1101 (see description of English program).  

Students entering LaGrange College with two (2) years of high-school-level foreign language are placed in an intermediate level course of that language; or if the students choose, they may start the study of another language at the beginning level. Any student for whom English is not the native language may have the language requirement waived by submitting a written request to the Registrar from the student’s advisor and the Chair of the Department of Humanities. Those students who are allowed to waive the language requirement must still complete the minimum 120 hours for graduation.

Classification of Students

A student is classified as a first-year student if he or she has earned fewer than 30 hours of credit. A student is classified as a sophomore if he or she has earned 30-59 hours of credit. To be classified as a junior, a student must have completed 60 earned hours of credit. A student is classified as a senior upon having earned 90 hours of credit. A student should be alert to the fact that a minimum of 120 hours is required for graduation and that some majors may require more than 120 hours. Attaining these minimum progression requirements may not be sufficient to insure completion of graduation requirements within the two semesters of the senior year.

Declaration of Major Requirement

Students are assigned to the major designated on their application to the college. Each student is free to change his or her major at any time, but should do so only after consultation with an advisor.  The Major form is available from the Registrar’s Office and requires the signatures of the program coordinator and the department chair in the chosen major.

Registration and Advising

All students should register on the dates specified. All registration procedures for all terms are under the direction of the VPAA. Students have not completed registration until they have cleared the Registrar, the Office of Student Engagement, and the Business Office. Communications to the student will be through campus e-mail and/or a designated mailing address.

Each student is assigned to a faculty advisor, who assists the student in planning an academic program. However, the ultimate responsibility for meeting all requirements rests with the individual student.

Students who enter LaGrange College and have attempted fewer than 30 semester hours will be assigned a FYE advisor as their primary advisor and an area-of-interest advisor as their secondary advisor. The area of interest is determined from the student’s application for admission. The FYE advisor will act as the student’s first contact person. The area-of-interest advisor will act as a consultant in matters pertaining to major requirements. Students may declare their major or area of interest at any time, subject to program requirements; however, the FYE advisor will remain as the primary advisor and the major advisor will continue in the secondary advisor role for the entire first academic year.

Students with no area of interest or major will remain assigned to their FYE advisor as their primary advisor.

Attendance Policy

Students are responsible for understanding the policy presented by the instructor in the syllabus for each course, including the implications of the policy regarding successful performance in that course. For undergraduate students, absences are excused for two reasons.

  1. Medical reasons, when a medical professional has provided documentation indicating the date and time of an appointment, and/ or dates on which the student must not attend class related to the illness or condition.
  2. Participation in an official college event at which the student represents the college as a whole (e.g., athletic competitions and musical performances).

These absences shall have no direct penalty for the student; the student shall have the opportunity to make up any missed work occasioned by such excused absences.

Acceleration and Academic Overload

Students desiring to accelerate their college program may complete requirements in less than four (4) academic years. This may be accomplished by attending summer school and/or taking an academic overload. Permission to take an overload in any semester is granted only to those students who have earned at least a cumulative average of "B" (3.0), except that a student may take an overload during one semester of his or her senior year without respect to grade point average.

Alternate Methods of Obtaining Academic Credit

Credit by Examination and Exemption

Students entering LaGrange College may earn college credit as a result of their participation in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program, the College-Level Examination Program CLEP), or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Advanced Placement credit is accepted for those students who present evidence from their high schools that Advanced Placement courses have been completed and appropriate scores earned on the advanced placement test.CLEP exam scores of 50 or better will be reviewed and credit may be granted depending on the academic discipline; only 6 CLEP credit hours will be accepted for courses below the 3000-level. IB credit is awarded for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on the Higher Level examinations, with the exception of English as a Second Language. No credit is awarded solely for earning an IB Diploma, for IB Standard Level exams, or for scores below 5 on any Higher Level examination.

Applicants should submit requests for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credit during the summer prior to enrollment. An official IB transcript should be included with the student’s final high school transcript. Consultation with the academic departments may be required in some areas before final credit is awarded. If a waiver of requirements is granted, then the score on the examination used will be recorded on the student’s record in lieu of a letter grade.

The Office of the Registrar maintains a list of courses for which CLEP credit can be earned. Students should consult with their academic advisors before registering for a CLEP exam.

CLEP credit is not accepted for failed courses or for ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102. CLEP credits do not count towards residency requirements and are not included in the cumulative GPA.

Credit for Work Earned at a Two-Year Institution

Not more than 60 semester hours of credit earned at a two-year institution are counted toward the degree.   No credit is granted toward the degree for coursework taken at a two-year institution after a student has attained junior standing, except that up to 9 hours of transient credit from a two-year institution may be granted for courses that are below the LaGrange College 3000-level (the 60 credit-hour limit still applies).

The Ethos requirements will be considered fulfilled for students who have earned the Associate of Science degree at a SACSCOC accredited TCSG institution.

Credit Through United States Armed Forces Institute and Service Schools

Courses taken through the United States Armed Forces Institute and other recognized military educational programs are accepted in accordance with the policy governing transfer work when presented on official transcripts from accredited institutions. Nine (9) semester hours of elective credit will be allowed for military service credit, including USAFI correspondence courses and military service school courses as recommended by the American Council on Education. Academic credit for one activity course in physical education, up to a maximum of four, will be awarded for each two months served in the Armed Forces. The maximum credit possible, then, is thirteen (13) semester hours.   The Registrar should be contacted in order to obtain appropriate credit.   The telephone number for the Registrar is 706-880-8024.

Transient Work

Transient credit may be acquired at another regionally accredited institution while the student maintains permanently enrolled status at LaGrange College. For credit to be accepted, the student must obtain written permission from the VPAA through the Transient Request process prior to enrolling in the transient course at another institution.

Grades earned for transient work are not included in the cumulative grade point average. As stated in other sections of this Bulletin, a student will not be given permission to repeat any course at another institution in which a failing grade has been earned at LaGrange College.

Transient credit for courses within a student’s major will be accepted only from a four-year baccalaureate degree-conferring, regionally-accredited institution that offers a major in the specific discipline of the course being requested for credit. Even if another such institution offers a major in the specific discipline in which the course is being requested for credit, the department chair in that discipline retains the right to deny the request.

Basic parameters for transient work include:

  1. Students who have failed a course at LaGrange College may not take the course elsewhere for credit.
  2. Students who have earned a grade of “D” in a course, which may be considered unsatisfactory as defined by a student’s major requirement, must have the approval of the department chair in the student’s major in order to take the course elsewhere.
  3. Students are eligible to apply for transient course credit in lieu of a LaGrange College course that satisfies Ethos requirements when
    1. the LaGrange College course does not house a signature assessment or
    2. categorical or programmatic goal requirements have already been fulfilled by the submission of the corresponding signature assessment.
  4. Transient work with a grade of “C-“ or better is acceptable. Grades earned for transient work are not included in the institutional grade point average.
  5. After 60 semester hours have been completed, acceptable transient work from an institution that does not award the baccalaureate degree can be no more than 9 semester hours and courses must be below the 3000 level.

Transient credit permission will not be approved under any circumstances for courses in any semester, including summer, when that course is offered at LaGrange College, either online or in seat, during that same semester. 

Grades and Credit

The definitions of grades given at LaGrange College are as follows:

Letter Grade Evaluation Quality Points
A+ 4.00
A Superior 4.00
A- 3.75
B+ 3.25
B Above Average 3.00
B- 2.75
C+ 2.25
C Average 2.00
C- 1.75
D+ 1.25
D Below Average 1.00
F Failing 0.00
I Incomplete
P Pass
NC No Credit or Non-credit
W Withdrawn
AW Audit Withdrawn
AU Audit Complete
NR Grade not reported by instructor at the time the report issued.
Non-Credit

A student may register for a course on a non-credit basis, for which he or she pays full tuition. To have a grade of "NC" recorded, he or she must fulfill all course requirements.

Course Audit

All requests for audit courses must be approved in writing by the instructor. Only lecture courses may be audited. No new first-year student may audit any course during the first semester of residence at LaGrange College.

Incomplete Grade

A grade of Incomplete (I) will be recorded only for unusual and mitigating circumstances that occur near the end of a term and only for a student who has done satisfactory work up to that point. A grade of Incomplete may be extended to a graduate student engaged in a project that cannot be completed during the term of a course.

A grade of Incomplete must be accompanied by a designated date for completion recorded on the Incomplete Grade Agreement. Typically, this date should be no more than two (2) weeks beyond the last day of the term, but never later than the last day of the subsequent term (including summer, but not Interim.)

When a grade of Incomplete is not changed to a final grade by the designated date, the instructor will be notified by the Registrar. The grade will convert to an F at the close of the exam period of that term if no final grade has been submitted. Exceptions must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).

Withdrawal

A student who chooses to withdraw from a class prior to the close of the Drop/Add period may do so without the course appearing on his or her official transcript in any form. The Drop/Add period will normally end one calendar week following the first day of classes (except in situations in which a class has not yet met, in which case the Drop/Add period will extend one day beyond the first meeting of that class or classes, but only for students enrolled in such classes).

A student who chooses to withdraw from a class on or before the “Last Day to Withdraw with a ‘W’” will receive a “W” on his or her official transcript, regardless of standing in the class. The “Last Day to Withdraw with a ‘W’” will normally occur two weeks prior to the last day of classes of a regular semester-length course. This date is adjusted proportionately for shorter terms.

Students choosing to withdraw from a course (or courses) are subject to the LaGrange College Tuition and Fees Refund Policy.  Tuition and fee refunds will vary, according to that policy, depending on when students withdraw from their course(s).

Normally, no student will be permitted to withdraw officially from a class after the “Last Day to Withdraw with a ‘W.’” Exceptions may be granted for extenuating circumstances but must be approved by the VPAA. Normally, students who encounter hardship near the end of the term (serious illness, injury, family crises, etc.) will be encouraged to take an incomplete (I) grade for the course and complete unfinished work during the following term.

Please note: This policy does not preclude the possibility of an “administrative” withdrawal (in the case, for example, of a student who is disruptive of the learning experience of others) or a medical withdrawal (see below).

To withdraw from an individual course, a student must confer with the Registrar’s Office. Failure to withdraw officially through this office may result in the assignment of an "F."

Medical Withdrawal

Medical withdrawal is defined as complete withdrawal without academic penalty for reasons of health. Except in circumstances of emergency, a licensed health care provider or a qualified counselor must provide a written recommendation for medical withdrawal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). This written recommendation must be on file prior to approval for withdrawal. Anytime medical withdrawal is initiated, the student’s instructors, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Business Office will be notified by the Registrar. The re-entry of the student following medical withdrawal for medical reasons requires a clearance from the attending physician, a licensed health care provider, or a qualified counselor with an evaluation of the student’s potential to resume study successfully at LaGrange College. The VPAA will review this evaluation and make the decision concerning the student’s re-entry.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

The grade point average is computed by multiplying the quality points earned in each course by the course credit-hour value, summing for all courses, and then dividing the sum by the total number of credit hours. If a student has received credit for a course and repeats that course, then he or she receives no additional credit toward the degree. In computing the student's average, GPA hours and quality points are counted on all attempts.

Grade Reporting

Mid-Term Grade Reporting

Mid-term grades for both fall and spring semester terms (but not for Summer and Interim terms) will be reported for all courses as either A-F or S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory).

Final Grade Reporting

Letter grades are assigned and recorded for each course at the end of each term. Both mid-term and final grades are available to students on the Web.

Transcripts

Students are entitled to transcripts of their record; however, no transcripts will be issued for any student who is under financial obligation to the College or who has Honor Council or VPAA’s Holds. Transcript requests can be made at the website of the Office of the Registrar. Transcripts will be issued promptly; however, at the beginning and end of terms, some delay may be unavoidable. Unofficial transcripts may be obtained from the online student module of the MyLC.

Student Grade Appeal

The initial determination of a student's grade is entirely the prerogative of the instructor. However, a student who wishes to contest a course grade or other academic decision may initiate an appeal by the procedures outlined below. Grade appeals must be initiated no later than mid-term of the academic term following that in which the grade was assigned. The date of the academic term is defined in the College calendar in the front of this Bulletin.

The following procedures govern all student requests for grade changes:

  • The student should first attempt to resolve the matter by discussing the question with the course instructor.
  • If the student and the instructor are unable to reach a resolution, the student must then submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The appeal must state the manner in which the course syllabus was violated.
  • The VPAA shall then seek an informal conference between the student and the instructor to settle the grievance to the satisfaction of the two parties involved. If no resolution can be found, then the VPAA will deliver the student's appeal, together with any other pertinent documents provided by the student and/or the instructor, to the Review Panel of the Academic Policies Committee for its determination.
  • The Review Panel shall then convene to conduct a preliminary review of the appeal, after which the Chair of the Review Panel will set times convenient to the student and the instructor for hearing both sides of the dispute.
  • It is the responsibility of the Review Panel to make every reasonable effort to complete its deliberations prior to the end of the term in which an appeal was initiated.
  • Upon completion of its hearings, the Review Panel will report its findings to the VPAA. The VPAA will, in turn, inform the principal parties involved of whether the student's request for a change of grade or other decision was denied or approved.

Course Repetition

Students may repeat courses taken at LaGrange College to improve their earned course grades and institutional grade point averages (GPA). It is recommended that this be done in the semester following the first attempt or as soon as the course is offered again. If the course is repeated, only the higher grade is used in the calculation of the institutional GPA. 

A student who has failed a course at LaGrange College is not allowed to take the course elsewhere.  Thus, all courses in which a grade of “F” is earned at LaGrange College must be repeated at LaGrange College. 

All hours attempted and grades earned will appear on the transcript, but only the highest grade will be counted in the institutional GPA. Some courses are specifically designed for repetition and will be counted toward the degree and in the institutional GPA according to the number of repeat/credit hours allowed as designated in the Bulletin.  By registering for a course for which credit has already been received, a student forfeits duplicate credit toward graduation. If a student chooses to withdraw with a W from a course that has been repeated, then only the highest grade from the previous attempt(s) will be included in GPA calculations. 

Students should be aware that repeating a course could affect financial aid. Please see the Financial Aid section of the Bulletin for details. 

This calculation will go into effect for all course reattempts and for all students beginning in Fall 2022.  The GPAs of students with multiple course attempts before that semester will not be recalculated to reflect this policy change.   

 

Academic Honors

Academic honors at graduation are based on the student’s grade point average.   These honors are awarded only to those students who have completed their last 60 semester hours at LaGrange College and

  1. have attained a quality point average of 3.50 to 3.74 may be granted the bachelor’s degree cum laude or
  2. have attained a quality point average of 3.75 to 3.89 may be granted the bachelor’s degree magna cum laude or
  3. have attained a quality point average of 3.90 to 4.0 may be granted the bachelor’s degree  summa cum laude.

At the end of each academic semester, students who have maintained a 3.60 cumulative grade point average on a minimum of 12 GPA hours of work will be placed on the VPAA's List.

Upon graduation, students who have been in residence at LaGrange College (as transfer students in the day program) for at least 42-59 semester hours and have attained a grade point average of 3.50 or higher may be granted the bachelor’s degree with distinction.

Academic Standing and Probation

Students are placed on academic probation when the quality of work is such that progress toward graduation is in jeopardy. The purpose of probation is to warn. It is not a penalty. Students on probation will be notified, and the regulations governing probation will be called to their attention.  

To stay in good academic standing, a student must maintain the following LaGrange College cumulative grade point average (GPA):

  • with fewer than 30 earned hours, a minimum 1.75 LaGrange College GPA;
  • with 30-59 earned hours, a minimum 1.9 LaGrange College GPA; and
  • with 60 earned hours or more, a minimum 2.0 LaGrange College GPA.

When placed on academic probation, a student will have two semesters to remove probationary status. Failure to do so could result in suspension at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), who will evaluate the student’s academic progress.

In addition, a student may be placed on probation or suspended, at the discretion of the VPAA, for any of the following reasons:

  • failure to make at least a 1.0 GPA in any term
  • failure to earn at least three credit hours in any term
  • failure to successfully complete ENGL 1101 within the first 30 semester hours of enrollment at LaGrange College
  • failure to pass the initial mathematics course into which the student is placed within the first 30 semester hours of enrollment at LaGrange College
  • failure to successfully complete one core mathematics course (Math 1101 or higher) within the first 45 semester  hours of enrollment at LaGrange College

Students may be suspended for other academic reasons, such as Honor Code violations. In the case of part-time students, the extent of application of these regulations will be at the discretion of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). Normally, all applications of the regulations will be based upon a full academic load.

A letter from the VPAA is sent to the student providing information on standing. “Probation One” means that the student's next term will be the first term on probation, etc. “Dean's Decision” means that the student's academic records have been given to the VPAA for action.

Academic Forgiveness

Academic forgiveness is a process which allows a student to have his or her prior academic record adjusted if:

  1. four (4) or more calendar years have elapsed since the period of last enrollment at LaGrange College;
  2. the student applying for forgiveness has completed a minimum of 12 semester hours since readmission to LaGrange College and has earned a GPA of 2.0, with no course grade lower than "C-," since the time of readmission.

The student may petition for forgiveness through the Academic Council, and, if approved, the College will:

  1. apply toward the student's Core Curriculum and elective requirements, but not necessarily toward the student's academic major or minor, all those courses in which the student earned a grade of "C-" or better;
  2. set the student's cumulative grade point average to 0.0;
  3. require the student to successfully complete a minimum of 30 semester hours after bankruptcy declaration in order to graduate;
  4. and allow all graduation requirements (see LaGrange College Bulletin) to remain the same and apply equally, except that students who have petitioned for and received academic forgiveness will not be eligible to receive honors at graduation.

LaGrange College will maintain the student's complete record, including those courses excluded from the GPA by the granting of forgiveness. No coursework will be expunged from the student's academic record. The student's official transcript will clearly indicate that the student has been granted academic forgiveness. Ordinarily, no transfer or transient credits will be accepted after academic forgiveness. A student may be granted academic forgiveness only once during his or her academic career at LaGrange College.

Student Petition of Academic Policy

Students may petition for exception to published academic policy. The Academic Council reviews the petition.

Student Records and FERPA Regulations

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FERPA) (20 U.S.C. §1232g; 34CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
  • FERPA gives students who are currently or formerly enrolled rights and authority over the disclosure of their student record, regardless of age. Students have the right to inspect and review their education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
  • Students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, then the student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

  • school officials with legitimate educational interest;
  • other schools to which a student is transferring;
  • specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
  • appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
  • organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
  • accrediting organizations;
  • to comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
  • appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
  • State and local authorities pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information. LaGrange College defines Directory Information as:

  • Student’s Complete Name
  • Telephone Numbers
  • Addresses
  • LaGrange College email address
  • Enrollment Status
  • Most recent Classification and Curriculum
  • Term/Dates of Attendance
  • Degrees and awards received
  • Participation in Recognized Activities and Sports
  • Photographs, video or other electronic image (released only in connection with official College publications and media)
  • Height and weight for student athletes

Schools are required to notify students of Directory Information annually. LaGrange College maintains a readily available list of Directory Information at all times in the Bulletin and on the Office of the Registrar website. In addition, an email notification to the campus community at the beginning of each Fall semester is sent by the Registrar’s Office. If a student does not want Directory Information disclosed about them, they can obtain a FERPA form from the Office of the Registrar and opt out of Directory Information.

For additional information about FERPA, visit the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act website.

 

Protection of Students Enrolled in Distance Education Courses at LaGrange College

FERPA

LaGrange College complies with all of the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FERPA). We are committed to protecting the privacy of a student’s educational record regardless of delivery method. The Registrar is the point of contact for all FERPA related issues, and all employees are informed and trained of their responsibilities of unauthorized release of confidential records or information. Because an online environment creates a record of student activity, it is subject to FERPA privacy rights, unlike verbal exchanges in a physical classroom.

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act FERPA) affords certain rights to students with respect to their educational records. They include the right to review their educational records; request an amendment to the records; consent to or restrict disclosure of personally identifiable information; and file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning the College’s alleged failure to comply with FERPA requirements. Copies of LaGrange College’s policies and procedures for reviewing educational records and requests for amendment of the records may be obtained from the Registrar’s Office at Banks Hall, 601 Broad Street, LaGrange, GA 30240. LaGrange College’s FERPA Policy is available in the LaGrange College Bulletin.

Identity Verification in Distance Learning Courses

The identity verification process for online courses protects student’s privacy through the use of a secure portal, with a secure login and student-selected password.

Faculty Responsibility

Faculty and staff understand and carry out a commitment to confidentiality, integrity, and security to protect the privacy of students who participate in distance learning activities. Students’ records are kept private by the instructor, except in cases where academic staff or administration access the course, with legitimate educational interest under FERPA guidelines.

In order to maintain course security and protect student privacy, faculty do not access or attempt to access another employee's or student's account without proper authorization.

Student Responsibility

In order to maintain confidentiality, portal login passwords are generated by the student and the resetting of any password is completed through contact with authorized LaGrange College IT staff (support@lagrange.edu or call 706.880.8000). It is the student’s responsibility to keep their password confidential.

Only work submitted to open forums, like discussion boards, can be accessed by other students; other assignments, grades and correspondence are not viewable by other students.

Proctored Examinations

Students engaged in distance courses that incorporate timed, written exams may be required to engage the services of a proctor for the purposes of verifying their identity and maintaining the integrity of the exams. Students are responsible for locating a legitimate proctor in their local region as well as expenses associated with the use of that service.

Students may choose to make alternate testing arrangements with their professors on the LaGrange College campus or appointments for the proctoring of an exam, free of charge, at the college’s Panther Academic Center for Excellence (PACE@lagrange.edu, 706.880.8652).

International Students

A student who is on a student visa in the United States is subject to special regulations mandated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the United States Government. As the institution that issues documents certifying student status, LaGrange College is subject to USCIS regulations as a matter of law. USCIS regulations change from time to time, so students are encouraged to contact the Office of Global Engagement when questions about USCIS regulations arise. Under current guidelines, persons with student visas must be enrolled for a full academic load (at least 12 semester hours) during the required Fall and Spring semesters. Federal regulations concerning "status" for all international students on an F-1 visa state that any student who falls below 12 semester hours during these terms will be considered out-of-status and their I-20 will be terminated requiring them to leave the country immediately. USCIS also has strict regulations regarding the number of online credits allowed per semester and employment.  Any questions about these regulations can be directed to the Office of Global Engagement.

English proficiency is fundamental to a successful academic course at LaGrange College. Therefore, in addition to the minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) may require that a student enroll and successfully complete an English as a Second Language ESL) program if it is apparent that a student's English continues to jeopardize a successful academic career.  LaGrange College is not approved by the USCIS’s Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP) to offer ESL programs.  If needed, the Office of Global Engagement can suggest programs for the student to contact.