Morris College

Academic Progress

To remain in good standing at Morris College, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and demonstrate steady progress toward degree completion within the expected timeframe. Students are considered on track for timely graduation when they are enrolled in an average of 15 or more credit hours per semester, complete requireed coursework for their major, and maintain both a semester and cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.

Good Academic Standing 

Your academic standing reflects your overall academic performance and progress toward your degree. Students meeting academic requirements are in “good academic standing.” Students whose performance falls below standards may be placed on academic probation, which serves as a notice that improvement is required.

Continued lack of progress may result in academic suspension or academic dismissal. Academic standing can affect financial aid eligibility, registration, and continued enrollment.

Academic Warning 

Students may be placed on academic warning if indicators suggest they are at risk of academic probation or delayed graduation. While on warning, students remain in good academic standing but should take corrective action if any of the following occur:

– A major is not declared after earning 30 credit hours
– The student fails to average 15 credit hours
– Two or more failing grades are received at midterm
– Required course sequences are not followed.

Academic Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 are placed on academic probation and provided structured academic support to improve performance. Probationary status is recorded on the official academic transcript.

While on probation, students may enroll in no more than 15 credit hours and are not eligible to participate in college-sponsored organizations or activities that require travel or missed class time. Students remaining on probation after the spring semester are encouraged to enroll in summer coursework to improve their GPA and restore good standing.

Academic Separation

Students who do not raise their cumulative GPA to at least 2.0 while on probation may be academically separated from the College for a period of one academic year.

Academic Dismissal

Students who return from academic separation and fail to achieve a semester cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher may be dismissed from Morris College.

Study Leave

Students approved for concurrent enrollment at another institution must submit the appropriate study leave documentation to the Office of Records and Registration. Requests should specify the length of study and the intended semester of return. Coursework completed during an approved study leave may be accepted for credit if grades of C or higher are earned and approval is granted in advance.

Re-entry Following Leave

Students returning from an approved leave of absence must notify the Office of Admissions and the Office of Records and Registration no later than July 1 for full enrollment or December 1 for spring enrollment. Students are responsible for resolving all financial obligations and submitting housing requests, if applicable, prior to enrollment.

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is expected in all situations at Morris College. Morris College students are expected to have the self-confidence, the self-respect, and the good judgment to recognize that a sound education requires doing one’s own work. Thus, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are the basis for failure, according to the college’s policy.

Dishonest work of the following kinds will result in a student being penalized:
• Use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations
• Use of any portion of books, papers, or notes copied from any source (including electronic transmission) without acknowledgment
• Use of bribery, threats, or any other means of coercion to influence any college official, faculty member, or employee responsible for processing grades, evaluating grades or for maintaining academic records
• Use of forgery, alteration, unauthorized possession, or misuse of college documents pertaining to academic records, including, but not limited to, late or retroactive change to schedule forms and late or retroactive withdrawal of application forms
• Use of any other misleading or dishonest practice.

Full Time

The number of credit hours in which the student is enrolled on the day following the
published last day to add/drop a class will be used as official enrollment for financial assistance
purposes; full-time status is 12 or more hours.

Less Than Full Time

A part-time undergraduate student is enrolled in less than twelve (12) semester hours. Parttime students must meet the same grade point average requirement for eligibility as a full-time
student and must earn the same percentage of the part-time hours enrolled. Students who attend
with mixed enrollment (e.g., full-time-first semester and part-time-second semester) must earn
12 hours for the full-time semester and 75 percent of the part-time hours.

Auditing

Any student may be granted the privilege of noncredit enrollment in a credit course upon
approval of the student’s advisor and the Academic Dean. This “auditing” privilege carries full
rights to class participation, but it does not carry academic credit. The auditing privilege is
subject to the same fees as credit courses.

Credit Hour Load

The normal credit hour load for a full-time student range from 12 to 18 credit hours a
semester. A student on academic probation, however, may not enroll for more than 13 hours a
semester. A student with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher for the preceding semester may
enroll for 19 to 21 credit hours, with the approval of his or her academic advisor and the
academic dean.

Registration

Registration is open to all persons admitted to Morris College by the Office of Enrollment
Management. Students may register in the fall, spring, or summer according to dates listed in
the official academic calendar. All faculty and staff members assist in the registration process
during the designated periods.
Registration is normally held for two days. New freshmen are registered on the first day.
Continuing and transfer students are registered on the second day. Students are directed through
the following process:
1. Fee payment/permit to register
2. Academic clearance
3. Advisement
4. Registration approval
5. Fee assessment
6. Financial aid
7. Terminal control
8. I.D. cards
9. Library
10. PlacementandCooperativeEducation

Class Attendance

Students are required to regularly attend all classes for which they are officially registered; and faculty members are required to keep complete and accurate attendance records for all students officially registered in their classes. A student who compiles a record of absences that exceeds twice the number of weekly class meetings will be dropped from the course with a grade of WP and WF. The maximum number of absences permitted for a class that meets four times a week is eight; for a class that meets three times a week, six; for a class that meets twice a week, four; and for a class that meets once a week, two. A student who receives a WP or a WF because of documented extended personal illness or natural disaster such as tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or blizzard may appeal for reinstatement in the class. The letter of appeal must be submitted to the chairperson of the division to which the student is assigned within three workdays. The student must continue to attend class until a decision on the appeal is rendered. Students will be excused from class to participate in official activities of the College such as choir engagements, intercollegiate athletic contests, and field trips.

Grading System

Academic achievement at Morris is indicated by the following letter grades, numerical grades and grade points used in calculating grade-point averages:

• A (90-100): 4 points | Excellent
• B (80-89): 3 points | Good; Above Average
• C (70-79): 2 | Satisfactory; average
• D (60-69): 1 point | Poor, but passing
• F (Below 60): 0 points | Failure

Noncredit

• U (Below 70): 0 points | Unsatisfactory
• S (Above 69): 0 points | Satisfactory

“U” and “S” grades are used in all noncredit courses.

“I” (incomplete) denotes that the student failed to complete all requirements for a course.

“X” denotes that the student was absent from the final examination.

“X” and “I” grades incurred during the academic year must be removed by the end of the succeeding semester (whether or not the student is enrolled); otherwise, the grade of “F” will be recorded on the permanent record. Similarly, “X” and “I” grades incurred during the summer sessions must be removed by the end of the succeeding semester (whether or not the student is enrolled); otherwise, the grade of “F” will be recorded on the permanent record.

“WP” denotes withdrew passing from a course, if the student is performing satisfactorily at the time of withdrawal.

“WF” denotes withdrew failing from a course after the deadline for dropping a course, or because of excessive absences.

“AU” denotes “audit” and is listed in the computer module only.

The following grade symbol is also used but is not included in computing the grade-point average: “W” denotes withdrawal from the College.

Grade Point Average

The grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. In order to receive a degree, a student must attain an overall average of “C” (2.00) and no grade less than “C” in his major and minor areas which are offered to meet graduation requirements. “Major and minor areas” include courses listed in the “Other Required Courses” section of each program outline, with the exception of JRS 300, in which a student must earn a “B.”

Transfer Credits

Transfer credits include hours
earned at institutions other than Morris College and will be used to determine the student’s
classification. Transfer hours will be included in “total hours attempted” in determining the
189 hours requirement and to determine the cumulative grade point average required. Transfer
students are required to earn the required number of hours depending upon enrollment status
(full or part-time). Hours transferred in any time after the student enrollment (at least 1
semester) will be used to assist the student in regaining financial aid eligibility