Graduate Academic Policies

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Academic Conduct and the Honor Code

THE LAGRANGE COLLEGE GRADUATE COUNCIL SEEKS TO EDUCATE THE COLLEGE’S GRADUATE STUDENT COMMUNITY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND TO ENFORCE THE HONOR CODE WHEN VIOLATIONS OCCUR. THE HONOR CODE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IS MODIFIED FROM THAT ENFORCED FOR THE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT BODY BUT DOES SHARE SEVERAL COMMON POINTS WITH THE UNDERLYING EXPECTATION OF MORAL INTEGRITY FOR ALL ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS.

For placement in a course syllabus, the following language may be used:

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.

A complete description of the procedures, rights, and responsibilities comprising the Honor Code follow.

 

Student Responsibilities

All LaGrange College students accept the following responsibilities and are expected to conduct
themselves according to these values.

  • 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 report any incident which is believed to be a violation of the Honor Code to the program coordinator or department chair of their program.
  • To cooperate when called upon by the Graduate Council to testify in a hearing.
Student Rights

All LaGrange College students have the following rights and will be treated accordingly.

  • To be presumed innocent
  • To be granted a fair, impartial, and timely hearing comprised of the following members:
    • The chair of the Graduate Council,
    • A minimum of two other members of the Graduate Council, one of whom serves as the recorder and who may use written notes (handwritten or typed, transcribed or summarized) or media recordings (audio and/or video),
    • A graduate student peer (not necessarily in the same program as the accused
      student).
  • The program coordinator/department chair of the program in which the accused student is enrolled may only serve to provide information but may not participate in the decision-making process.
  • To face and question any witnesses at a hearing
  • To testify and present material 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 Chair of the Graduate Council must be made aware of this person's name and relationship to the student no less than twenty-four hours before the hearing. The observer's role is one of support, and this person will not be allowed to speak.
Principles

The Graduate Council (or a contingency thereof) will abide by the following principles when investigating or trying a scenario of alleged academic misconduct.

  1. To treat every member of the College community with impartiality and respect.
  2. To consider all facts and testimony before discussing or resolving any case.
  3. To preserve absolute confidentiality.
  4. To hold the College community to the highest standard of conduct, both to protect the community and to promote moral development.
  5. To support the mission of the College by conducting programs and enacting policies regarding the Honor Code that contribute to the moral development of the College community.
  6. To understand the fundamental differences between the nature of student discipline regarding academic integrity and the nature of criminal law. The Honor Code, its policies, procedures, and sanctions are meant to be in accordance with the mission of the College. They are not intended to resemble any activities within the criminal judicial process.
Academic Integrity Offenses

Academic integrity offenses are listed below. This list of academic integrity offenses is not exhaustive.

  • 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 Graduate Council as requested
  • Failure to maintain confidentiality regarding a case
  • And other offenses deemed in violation of academic integrity and/or the Honor Code.

 

Sanctions

One or more of the following sanctions may be imposed upon the offending student(s) when it is determined that there has been a violation of the Honor Code.

  • A formal reprimand of the student(s) involved that will persist in institutional student records with the Offices of the Registrar and the VPAA.
  • A remediation plan as set forth by a graduate program, the Graduate Council, or the VPAA.
  • The complete failure of the work (a zero out of 100%) in which the violation occurred. Additional academic work of a substantial (but reasonable) manner may be assigned to the student to ensure course or programmatic outcomes have been satisfied. This work will not substitute for the work in which the violation occurred in the final calculation of the course grade of the student(s).
  • A grade of ‘NC’ will be reported in the course. The course must be retaken to satisfy program and degree requirements.
  • Failure of the course with a grade of ‘F’ in which the violation occurred.
  • Suspension from the graduate program of enrollment and the college for no less than the remainder of the academic term and no more than one academic year, effective immediately.
  • Expulsion from the institution, effective immediately. The student may not be readmitted to the institution for any degree.
Procedure Regarding A Suspected Violation Of The Honor Code
  • Report the alleged violation to the program coordinator or department chair of the appropriate graduate program. The Graduate Council, in consultation with the appropriate program/department representative, will determine if sufficient evidence exists for a hearing.
    • If the evidence is insufficient, the chair so notifies the party reporting the alleged violation.
    • If there is sufficient evidence for a hearing, the chair sets a date for the hearing and will select two full-time faculty members teaching in graduate programs plus a graduate student to serve as representative of the Graduate Council The chair will inform the person or persons accused of the violation that a hearing will take place, stating the specific accusation, the place, date, and time of the hearing, and requesting the names of any persons who should be called as witnesses. The chair will interview these persons to determine whether they have knowledge relevant to the suspected violation.
      • If a student accused of a violation does not appear for a preliminary interview when notified to do so, a hold will be placed on the student's transcript.
      • A hold will be placed on the transcript when it has been determined that the case will proceed to a hearing. This hold will be removed when the case has been resolved.
      • Campus email and communication through the campus post office will be considered means of official correspondence to students from the Graduate Council. Students are responsible for responding to these official means of communication. If any communication attempts are not responded to within one week of initial contact from the Graduate Council, the Council has the right to proceed with the case.
  • The student may choose to self-report the violation in a letter to the appropriate program/department representative or to the Graduate Council chair. As a result, no hearing will be called, but the Graduate Council will meet to determine the sanction. The student will be invited to meet with the Council and encouraged to address the Council before its deliberation to determine the sanction.
  • The chair presides at the hearing, after which the Graduate Council votes to determine whether or not a violation has occurred.
    • If the student is found not to have violated the Honor Code, the chair of the Graduate Council and recorder destroy the recording of the proceedings and so inform the VPAA and the student in writing.
    • If the student is found to have violated the Code, further deliberation by the Council determines the sanction to be imposed, and the student is notified in writing. The sanction is carried out by the VPAA.
    • If a case cannot be heard before the end of the grading period, the instructor will submit the grade of NR until the Graduate Council acts on the case. The Graduate Council reserves the right to conduct a hearing in absentia when the accused student fails to appear as notified and directed but should be considerate of the professional schedule of the accused. If a student is enrolled in an online program, the hearing may be conducted via videoconference using a tool that is widely available to LaGrange College students.
Appellate Procedure

Every person found to have violated the Honor Code has the right of subsequent appeal. Such appeal must be filed in writing within seven (7) days of notification of the sanction and is made to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). If the sanction determined by the Graduate Council is an F in the course, the student will be dropped from the course seven (7) days after the student has been notified of the sanction unless an appeal is filed. The Appeals Board shall be the President of the Faculty Assembly, the VPAA, the Graduate Council appeals representative, and a graduate student-at-large selected by the Graduate Council chair and the VPAA. Such appeals are heard from the written hearing summary, the audio recording of the hearing, and the written statement of the student requesting the appeal. Materials submitted as part of the case and the recording of the hearing will not be made available to the accused student. The Appeals Board has the authority to change the sanction in a case but is limited to the sanctions provided for in the policies of the Honor Code.

Common Questions

Will I violate the Code if I don't turn in students I know are cheating or have otherwise violated the Code?

Yes. The purpose of the Honor Code is to create a community of integrity. Lying, cheating, and stealing related to academic matters are violations of the Code, and students at LaGrange College should refuse to tolerate violations of the trust among students and between students and faculty established by the code.

What if I don't agree to sign the Code?

The Honor Code is a policy of the College, and refusal to sign it will not alter a student's requirement to abide by it.

In classes where tests are unproctoredd, isn't there just a higher incidence of cheating?

The process of educating the student body in the discipline of academic integrity is ongoing. Individual faculty members make the decision about when and how to offer students unproctoredd exams, and this is being done more frequently than before the Honor Code was implemented. Trust between faculty and students is one of the goals of any honor system, and as faculty trust in students increases, as the faculty becomes more confident that there are many students who will not tolerate dishonesty, unproctoredd exams will be administered more often. 

Why do we need an Honor Code?

Studies related to ethics and moral development in American colleges and universities consistently show students' failure to understand the value of intellectual property, and professional organizations also report concerns about the ethics of graduates entering fields such as engineering, business, and medicine. In a study completed at LaGrange College in January 1999, of 154 student respondents, only 48.1 percent agreed with the statement "There is peer support for academic honesty (for not cheating and not helping others cheat)." When the survey was administered again in 2004, four years after the implementation of the Code, that percentage had risen to 60.7 percent, a 12.6 percent increase.

Who decides cases of alleged violations of the Code?

The Graduate Council is comprised of program coordinators, department chairs, and/or elected representatives from each of the academic graduate programs as well as the Associate VPAA to whom graduate programs report.

Is it a violation of the Code to have someone else proofread my assignments and papers? 

Always ask your professor for clarification of what is acceptable for every assignment. In general, someone else's proofreading of your work would not be tolerated under the Code because it isn't your own work and may put you at an unfair advantage over other students. This is the professor's prerogative for each assignment, however, and it is your responsibility to ask about the limits of each assignment.

What about help from the Writing Center? Should I be worried about that?

No. Writing Center tutors understand the Code and the limitations it places on the type and scope of help they offer. They will not proofread, edit, or revise your papers. Their job is to provide peer tutoring and guide you in doing your own best work.

What is the process of a Graduate Council Hearing? 

All hearings are closed, and all matters before the Graduate Council are confidential. The chair prepares all parties for the hearing, presides, and assures fairness. The person accused of a violation is present throughout the hearing and may ask questions just as members do of all witnesses who come before the Graduate Council. The person accused of the violation will have the opportunity to be the last to speak, after all other parties have been dismissed from the hearing room. The Council will excuse everyone except its members and advisor in order to deliberate, and the decision will be delivered in writing to the accused and the VPAA of the College. If the person is found not to have committed a violation, the record of the hearing is destroyed.

What happens if a student is found in a hearing to have violated the Honor Code?

One of the sanctions will be immediately imposed. A sanction cannot be deferred. Summer term does not qualify for a suspension period.

What happens if a student who is confronted about a violation chooses to admit his or her violation of the Honor Code?

By self-reporting to the program coordinator, department chair or Graduate Council, a student will not be required to attend a hearing, but the Council will convene to impose a sanction. Even when the student chooses to admit the violation in a letter to the Honor Council, the student is encouraged to meet with the Council to fully explain the incident before the Council votes to impose a sanction.

 The Graduate 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 and its policies and procedures apply to all full-time and part-time students enrolled in all of its undergraduate and graduate programs, LaGrange at Albany, and the Evening College. By matriculation, students acknowledge the Honor Code to be a policy of LaGrange College. The Honor Pledge, "I pledge that I have neither given nor received unauthorized help on this examination or assignment, nor have I witnessed any violation of the Honor Code," is implied whether or not it is written on academic work.

The Honor Code was written by a committee of students and faculty and implemented in 1999. It has as its goal creating a community of scholars based on trust and responsibility.

Graduate Student Social Code

Although the Honor Code for graduate students at LaGrange College is different than recorded in the student handbook for general students, the Social Code (the statement of behavioral expectations for LaGrange College students) remains the same. Students enrolled in graduate programs at LaGrange College may find the Social code in the most recent version of the LaGrange College Student Handbook.

 

General Academic Policies

The Graduate Council

Convened by the Associate VPAA that oversees graduate affairs, the Graduate Council is comprised of the Department Chairs and/or Program Coordinators of the graduate programs and the Vice President for Enrollment. The Graduate Council, a recommending body, is focused on the resolution of issues facing graduate students, faculty, and graduate programs at LaGrange College and serves to create opportunities for those same constituencies through policy and/or practice. Additionally, the Graduate Council may serve in matters of dispute when called upon.

Requirements For Graduate Degrees

A Summary

LaGrange College’s graduate program offers the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree, the Master of Education, and the Education Specialist degrees. All graduate degrees require a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit as prescribed by each academic program.

To be eligible for the degree, a student must meet all requirements for the degree (program curriculum, internships, etc. and must maintain a 3.0 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.

Prescribed course loads are offered by each program are recommended to ensure optimize the opportunity to graduate in a timely manner.

To obtain an additional graduate degree, the full program must be completed.

Each academic program prescribes its own standards, in addition to those of this bulletin, in terms of permitted course grades and minimum standards.

Specific Descriptions Of Graduation Requirements

Bulletin - A student who enters LaGrange College under a given Bulletin generally will be graduated under the credit hours requirement and grade point average requirements of that Bulletin. 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 graduate course work must have an audit of their course credits and planned courses examined upon registration for their final semester. Their academic advisor and the Registrar will 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 evaluations of the extent to which institutional education goals are being achieved. Individual programs may require that students be assessed using appropriate instruments.

 

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.

Registration And Advising

All students should register on the dates specified. All registration procedures for all terms are under the direction of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). Students have not completed registration until they have cleared the Registrar, the Office of Student Engagement, and the Business Office.

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.

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. Absences are excused for two reasons. 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.

  • 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.
  • Participation in an official college event at which the student represents the college as a whole (e.g., athletic competitions and musical performances).

 

Alternative Methods of Obtaining Academic Credit

 Transient Work

Transient credit (credit earned from other regionally accredited institutions while the student is enrolled in a LaGrange College graduate program) is not typically granted.

Requests for transient credit by students who are in good academic standing must be submitted using the Request for Transient Credit and Conformation of Good Academic Standing prior to enrolling in the transient course at another institution. The request must receive approval from the student's advisor, the chair of the respective graduate degree program, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).

If a student has not been awarded graduate-level transfer credits toward their degree from other institutions, then s/he may be granted as many as six graduate-level transient credit hours. In all other cases, a student may be granted permission to earn no more than three graduate-level transient credit hours toward the degree from other institutions. The final twelve hours of the graduate degree must be taken at LaGrange College.

Appeals can be made to the VPAA in cases of demonstrated hardship.

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.

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.

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.

A candidate may audit a course by paying the audit fee. All requests for audit courses must be approved in writing by the instructor and Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). Only lecture courses may be audited.

 

Incomplete

An "I" is a temporary grade, assigned by an instructor to students who are doing satisfactory work and who cannot complete the course due to circumstances beyond their control. This option should only be pursued after the majority of the course or tasks in the course have been completed by the student. For other circumstances, students may submit academic petitions.

A grade of Incomplete must be accompanied by a designated date for completion recorded on the Incomplete Grade Agreement. This date should be reasonably close to the conclusion of the term for efficient completion of the expected work. It is recommended that the incomplete not extend past the first day of the subsequent term. A default grade can be submitted by the instructor should the student fail to submit their required work by the designated date.

Should conditions prohibiting satisfactory completion of a course arise before the majority of the duration or tasks of the course have been completed, candidates should withdraw. Choosing to withdraw before 60% of the term has been completed may create charges related to financial aid.

Graduate programs or instructors may set dates that are more restrictive than that which is set in this policy. Students should refer to sections of the Graduate Bulletin that pertain to their academic programs, program-specific handbooks, or the syllabi of their courses.

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.

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 obviate 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 or to completely withdraw from the college, a student must confer with the Registrar’s Office. Failure to withdraw officially through this office may result in the assignment of an"F" in one or more courses.

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 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.

Record Retention

Final grades are recorded on the student record (official transcript). Final grades and LaGrange College transcripts are retained in perpetuity by the Office of the Registrar. 

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 online from 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. portal

Student Grade Appeals

Graduate candidates at LaGrange College have the right to appeal academic decisions including grades. Appeals by candidates must be in writing and the response to the candidate must be written. Appeals must first be submitted to the level which originated the decision.

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 candidate should first attempt to resolve the matter by discussing the question with the course instructor.
  • If the candidate and the instructor are unable to reach a resolution, the candidate 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 candidate 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 candidate's appeal, together with any other pertinent documents provided by the candidate 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 candidate and the instructor for hearing both sides of the dispute.
  • Upon completion of its hearings, the Review Panel will report its findings to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA will, in turn, inform the principal parties involved of whether the candidate's request for a change of grade or other decision was denied or approved.

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.

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 Standing and Probation

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (B) or better to remain in good academic standing. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Programmatically relevant courses in which a student has earned a grade lower than C- must be retaken and the student must earn a grade at or better than C- in order to successfully complete the program. Students who fail two courses may be removed from their programs.

Academic 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.

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

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 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 his/her standing. “Probation One” means that the student's next term will be the first term on probation, etc. “VPAA's Decision” means that the student's academic records have been given to the VPAA for action.

Process for Academic Grievances

I. Rights and Responsibilities

Students with an academic grievance have the following rights:
  1. A fellow graduate student can accompany the student throughout the entire process to serve as a witness when appropriate.
  2. An additional individual who is silent throughout the process but is present to offer support.
  3. An unbiased process of review.
  4. An expectation of no more than 48 hours of receipt of the grievance before a response regarding the receipt is sent to the student.
  5. An expectation of no more than 10 business days in which an attempted resolution to the grievance will be initiated.
  6. Clearly stated decisions throughout the grievance/appeals process.
Students are responsible for the following:
  1. To submit their own grievances.
  2. For awareness of the policies contained in this document.

II. Applicable scenarios for this policy. If the grievance is not academic in nature, then students should seek to resolve the difficulties via the processes outlined in the LaGrange College Social Code. The Social Code clearly defines appropriate pathways of action for any non-academic grievance, including behavioral and sexual misconduct (Title IX violations). If the grievance is academic in nature, the student should begin following this procedure within 30 days of the incident that generates the grievance.

III. Summary. The student with an academic grievance should first attempt an amiable, informal, and in-person resolution with the individual with whom the grievance originated. If that attempt fails, the student should then initiate a formal process, always using their LaGrange College email address, at the immediate level above the one with whom the grievance originated but was not resolved.

IV. Policy.

  1. Informal Address. Informally address the grievance.
    1. The student sets an appointment with the individual with whom the grievance has arisen to speak about the scenario. Students should share concerns clearly, with evidence to support their claims.
    2. If the resolution is not satisfactory to the student, s/he should proceed with the remainder of this process.
  2. Graduate Program Coordinator. Notify the graduate program coordinator. of the grievance within the body of the email using your school email address. The grievance should be submitted in a clearly written statement with any evidence that may support the grievance.
    1. If there is no graduate program coordinator for the graduate program, please proceed to the department chair.
    2. If the graduate program coordinator does not satisfactorily resolve the problem in the opinion of the student, s/he should proceed with the remainder of this process.
  3. Department Chair. Notify the department chair of the grievance within the body of the email using your school email address. The grievance should be submitted in a clearly written statement with any evidence that may support the grievance. If the department chair does not satisfactorily resolve the problem in the opinion of the student, s/he should proceed with the remainder of this process.
  4. Ad hoc committee of the Graduate Council.  Notify the Associate Vice President who oversees the Graduate Council of the grievance within the body of the email using your school email address. The grievance should be submitted in a clearly written statement with any evidences that may support the grievance. Upon receipt of the student’s written response, the AVPAA shall appoint an ad hoc grievance committee to hear and make a recommendation regarding the grievance. The AVPAA shall appoint, from the membership of the graduate faculty a non-voting committee chair, from outside the department of origin of the grievance, and two committee members. One graduate student will be appointed as a voting committee member from a slate of nominees put forward by members of the Graduate Council for the dual purposes of peer review of the problem and assurances of fair treatment of the student. If the ad hoc committee does not satisfactorily resolve the problem in the opinion of the student, s/he should proceed with the remainder of this process.
  5. Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Notify the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA, officeofthevpaa@lagrange.edu) of the grievance within the body of the email using your school email address. Students should share concerns clearly, with evidence to support their claims. A representative of the Office of the VPAA (the Associate VPAA that works with graduate programs or the VPAA) will generate a resolution to the grievance. This decision will be final; the representative of the Office of the VPAA has the authority and responsibility to fully and completely resolve the grievance.

V. Glossary

  1. Graduate Faculty. Members of the faculty—visiting assistant, assistant, associate, and full professors-- who teach in LaGrange College graduate programs.
  2. Graduate Council. A council that regularly meets to discuss issues related to graduate programs at LaGrange College. The representative from the program is typically the department chair or the program coordinator.
  3. Grievance. Perception of unfair treatment with regards to a grade in a course.
  4. Ad hoc.  Literally translated to be ‘as needed.’

 

Dismissal Policy

Programmatic and institutional dismissals from graduate programs are defined and governed according to the following policies. Dismissal policies of individual programs supersede these policies.

Programmatic Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the graduate program in which they are enrolled if they can no longer raise their GPA to a 3.0 or have remained on academic probation for two semesters. Students may also be dismissed due to repeated (and documented) demonstration of a demeanor unsuited to practicing the profession of the discipline and program or due to being so sanctioned as a result of an Honor Code or Social Code violation.

At the conclusion of each term, graduate program coordinators and/or the Registrar will review the academic progress of the students in their programs. According to either this policy or the policies in the handbooks of their respective programs, the names of students who meet the criteria for probation will be shared with the Office of the VPAA. For students who are found to meet the criteria for dismissal, graduate program coordinators will notify the Office of the VPAA detailing full procedures that have been followed and that have led to the process for dismissal.

Students who have been dismissed from a graduate program but have reapplied to a different graduate program will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Institutional Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the institution due to significant behavioral issues (see the Social Code) or due to sanctions arising from an Honor Code Violation.

Students who have been previously dismissed from the institution but have reapplied to a graduate program will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

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. §1232gg; 34CFRR 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 parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

  • Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's 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 parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
  • Parents or eligible 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 parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, then the parent or eligible 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 parent or eligible 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 (34CFRR § 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, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information, such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights underFERPAA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

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

 

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 USCISS) 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 6 semester hours for graduate students) at all times. Federal regulations concerning “status” for all international students on an F-1 visa state that any student who falls below 6 semester hours at any time will be considered out-of-status and their I-20 terminated. Options for reinstatement can be discussed with 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 attend a special, intensive English language course at another institution if it is apparent that a student's English continues to jeopardize a successful academic career.

 

Requesting a Transcript

LaGrange College transcript request process is now entirely online - no more submitting paper or PDF forms. Through our online electronic transcript request and fulfillment process, you have:

  • online access any time of the day or night,
  • the ability to process multiple transcripts at one time,
  • secure payment processing,
  • and real-time, end-to-end tracking.

 

  • Electronic

While electronic transcripts are considered official as long as the document has not been altered, be sure to confirm with your recipient that they accept this format before ordering.
Cost: $10.00

  • Paper

A paper transcript is considered official only as long as it remains in its sealed envelope. Do not open the sealed envelope if you are forwarding the document to another party.
Cost: $12.50

  • In-Office requests - Issued on demand

Cost $15.00

Create an account through Parchment Exchange, whereyou’lll be guided through the transcript request process. Be sure to save your login information for future requests.

Parchment will only send official transcripts. If you have a hold or a business office balance on your account that would prevent you from ordering an official copy and you would like an unofficial copy, please contact the Registrar’s Office. There is a $10.00 processing fee for unofficial transcripts.