Academic Regulations

ABSENCE BECAUSE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

“Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day, shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section.” (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151C, Section 2B).

CLASSROOM CONDUCT POLICY

Preamble

Framingham State University supports the principles of freedom of expression for both faculty and students. In order to maintain these principles, all students and course instructors are entitled to a safe, positive, and constructive teaching and learning environment. Disruptive or dangerous behaviors in classrooms and other academic settings can disturb teaching and learning, and these behaviors will not be tolerated. Any individual who engages in disruptive or dangerous behaviors in classrooms may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Classroom Conduct Policy found in the University undergraduate catalog.

Consistent with the principles described in the FSU Student Code of Conduct:

“The University has the power and responsibility to take proper disciplinary action against students whose behavior threatens or disrupts the mission of the University. This is the general principle governing the jurisdiction of the disciplinary authorities of the University. It means that the disciplinary powers of the University extend to behavior that disrupts the educational process and other activities that are recognized as the lawful mission of the University. It also means that it extends to behavior that violates the peace and order of the University in such a manner that members of the University cannot go about their proper business secure in their persons and property.”

This policy applies to all learning environments and modalities including the traditional classroom, online courses, laboratory settings, practicum and internship assignments and University sponsored off-campus learning activities (“field trips”).

Examples of disruptive or dangerous language and/or behavior, consistent with those noted in the Student Code of Conduct, are listed below and may be addressed and restricted to the extent that the behavior interferes with the teaching and learning process. This is not an exhaustive list. Faculty are encouraged to include language about expectations for classroom conduct in their syllabi and may choose to use these examples at their discretion.

• The use of derogatory, vulgar, and insulting language directed at an individual or group.

• Unsolicited, disruptive talking, noises, or behaviors in class, such as crosstalk or carrying on side conversations.

• Engagement in unyielding argument or debate. Frequent interruptions of the course instructor or students.

• Making rude, disrespectful, or inappropriate comments in class.

• Disruptive or distracting use of mobile technology or laptops that is not related to a classroom or academic activity.

• The failure to comply with a reasonable request made by a course instructor.

Examples of Disruptive Behaviors Associated with online/hybrid classes – consistent with the University’s Acceptable Use Policy.

• Posting rude, disrespectful, offensive, or inappropriate comments, photos, or videos on discussion boards.

• Unauthorized sharing of information posted in a course discussion board

• Intentionally posting links to websites that are not relevant or helpful to the course materials.

• Any violation of the University’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Examples of Dangerous Behavior

• Violations of the FSU Student Code of Conduct that occur in the classroom or learning environment.

• Directly communicated threats of imminent harm

• Self-injurious behavior during class

• Physical assault that is threatened or in progress during class

• Throwing objects or slamming doors during class

For Dangerous Behavior, faculty should contact University Police. After notification of University Police, the faculty member should notify the department chair and academic dean and then follow the procedures outlined above for disruptive behavior.

Progressive Approach to Handling Disruptive Behaviors

A progressive approach to handling disruptive behavior gives the student the opportunity to modify their behavior. It also gives the student time to seek out appropriate assistance from the Center for Academic Success and Achievement, the Office of the Dean of Students, or the Counseling Center if applicable.

For Disruptive Behavior, course instructors should pursue the following steps:

For the first reported incident:

1. The faculty member reports the incident of disruptive behavior in their class to the department chair, using the Disruptive Classroom Behavior Reporting Form.

2. This form will be filed in the Office of Academic Affairs.

3. The faculty member, department chair, and academic dean should communicate regarding the incident within 24 hours and prior to the next class period whenever possible.

4. Next steps are identified through collaboration among the faculty member, department chair, and academic dean prior to the next class period whenever possible. Depending on the severity of disruption, intervention options, which may be used separately or in combination, include the following:
   
   a) The department chair follows up with the student and discusses resources available for support. The faculty member has the option to attend this meeting.
   b) If advised by the chair or dean, depending on the severity of the incident, the faculty member submits a report to the Student Assistance Team (SAT).
   c) The faculty member contacts the Office of Community Standards to file a complaint or to consult and receive assistance.
   d) The faculty member contacts the Title IX Coordinator for students if the case involves allegations of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, and/or gender-based harassment.
   e) The academic dean notifies the Provost as needed.

For any Subsequent Event in the Same Class:

1. The faculty member reports a second or subsequent occurrence with this student on the Disruptive Behavior Reporting Form. The form should be forwarded to the chair and the academic dean within 24 hours of the incident. This form will be filed in the Office of Academic Affairs.

2. The student may be asked not to return to class until the involved parties have a chance to consult.

3. Prior to the next class meeting, the academic dean will contact the faculty member and the department chair to obtain additional information and consult. The academic dean will communicate with all parties involved through the duration of the removal from class (if the incident is not resolved prior to the next class meeting). A determination should be made within three business days.

4. After the consultation, the academic dean will consult with the Dean of Students and other parties as appropriate and may pursue formal academic disciplinary action.

5. If formal academic disciplinary action is warranted, the academic dean will contact the student in order to address any allegations.

6. The academic dean will follow up with the faculty member and department chair to communicate next steps or final outcomes.

7. Once a decision has been made, the academic dean will inform appropriate parties of outcome if necessary and appropriate (e.g. Office of Financial Aid, Office of Student Accounts, Dean of Students, Registrar, University Police).

8. The student may appeal any formal academic disciplinary action to the Dean of Students and Provost/Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

Appeal of Formal Academic Disciplinary Action

The student has five business days to submit a written appeal of the formal academic disciplinary action to the review board, which consists of the Dean of Students and the Provost/Vice-President for Academic Affairs. The grounds for the appeal are limited to

• A claim of a procedural error within the investigation and resolution process that would substantially change the outcome;
  or

• A consideration of new evidence that was not known at the time of the investigation that would substantially change the outcome.

All appeal decisions are final.

COURSE ATTENDANCE

Classroom instruction is a principle component of the educational process. Students and faculty have a mutual responsibility for contributing to the academic environment of the classroom. Consistent class attendance and participation in classroom activities are essential. Students are expected to attend all classes. Students should consult the course outline or syllabus to determine the relationships between attendance, including tardiness, and the goals, objectives, requirements, and grading of each course.
Per federal regulations, students are expected to engage in two (2) hours of study outside of class for each semester hour in class. At FSU, one (1) course credit equals four (4) semester hours and students would be expected to spend eight (8) hours of study outside of the classroom.

FIELD TRIP POLICY

Field trips must be approved in writing by the chair of the department to which the faculty member planning the trip belongs before any definite arrangements are made.

No special notice is required if the trip is to be completed during the normal class time. If a trip of longer duration than the normal class time is to be taken, it is the responsibility of the faculty member to publicly post notice of any such trip at least two weeks prior to its occurrence.

Participation on the part of the students will be on a voluntary basis when a field trip conflicts with regularly scheduled classes. Before any such field trip, the instructor must advise students that they will not be penalized for non-participation. If more than half of the students in another class are absent because of such a field trip, the instructor in that course may cancel the class.

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) designates certain information related to students as “Directory Information”. This gives the University the right to disclose such information to anyone inquiring without having to ask students for permission, unless the students specifically request in writing that all such information not be made public without their written consent. The categories of “Directory Information” at Framingham State University are as follows:

• Student’s legal name

• Mailing Address

• Major field of study

• Dates of attendance and Enrollment status for a particular semester (FT, HT, LT)

• Class standing (if an Undergraduate – Freshman, Sophomore, etc.)

• Degrees and awards received including Dean’s/President’s lists and graduation honors

• Participation in officially recognized sports

• Weight and Height of members of athletic teams

• Most recent previous educational institution attended by the student

A request form to prevent disclosure of directory information is available from the Office of the University Registrar.

PRIVACY RIGHTS OF STUDENTS

Students are hereby notified that Framingham State University complies with the provisions of federal laws governing the privacy and disclosure of student information. The University has adopted a policy for assuring this privacy. This policy defines types and locations of educational records, stipulates students’ and parents’ rights, describes procedures for parents and students to review and inspect educational records, and provides a procedure to file complaints concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the federal law. Copies of the institutional policy may be secured from the Office of the University Registrar web pages.

DECLARE OR CHANGE MAJOR, MAJOR CONCENTRATION, OR MINOR

Undergraduate students who wish to declare or change a major, major concentration, or minor may do so through the Office of the University Registrar.

COURSE REGISTRATION

The course registration period for an upcoming fall or spring term begins approximately midsemester of the current term. Students receive information for advising and registration from the Academic Advising Center and the Office of the University Registrar. Students are required to meet with their Academic Advisors to plan their upcoming course selections. After consulting with their advisors, students then register for the upcoming fall or spring term based on priority of registration and registration grouping.

Priority of Registration: Students in Commonwealth Honors Program are permitted to register first in their registration grouping followed by eligible varsity student-athletes, when registering for courses that coincide with their competitive seasons.

To ensure reasonable opportunity for course planning at registration, the registration groupings are based on the following:

(Expected Completion refers to the combination of previously completed courses, if any, including transfer coursework, along with currently enrolled courses).

ACADEMIC REGISTRATION HOLDS

Framingham State University places a registration hold on a student’s academic record for classes when a student has not met conditions or obligations due the University. To have the registration hold removed, contact the office that placed the registration hold. The office that has placed the registration hold is the only office that can lift the hold.

A hold may be placed on a student's academic record for a variety of reasons such as an unpaid bill or fine, failure to return books or equipment, or failure to be admitted to a degree program within the specified time limit. Most holds will prevent a student from registering for upcoming semesters and the release of a student's diploma. The department that places the hold must also remove the hold. A list of Registration Hold Codes, definitions, and contact information follows:

ADDING OR DROPPING COURSES

By logging into the portal, myFramingham:

• Students may add or drop a semester course or course sections without financial penalty in the Day Division if they do so before the end of the sixth academic day (see semester calendar).

• Students may add or drop a quarter course or course sections without financial penalty in the Day Division if they do so before the end of the third academic day (see semester calendar).

Please note the if the course if offered through the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education (GCE), financial penalties may occur as the course refunding rules being applied as different than those in the Day Division (see GCE Refund Polices web page).

If the course has prerequisites that are required, a student must obtain written approval from the course instructor for a prerequisite override to be sent an as email to the Office of the University Registrar before the end of the Course Add/Drop period.

Note: Non-attendance does not constitute being "dropped" from a course. Also, attending a course without having been officially "added" to the course does not constitute enrollment in the course.

WITHDRAWING FROM COURSES

Voluntary Course Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from a course or courses during the period between the end of the Course Add/Drop period through the end of the thirteenth week of the fall and spring semesters (or for a quarter course, no later than the end of the fifth full week of the quarter) regardless of their financial status at the University. Students who withdraw during this period will incur no academic penalty as far as the grade point average is concerned but will have a notation of “W” on their permanent records. Students will be notified of the specific deadlines via email during each semester. Students wishing to withdraw from a course must log onto myFramingham and select the course to drop before the end of the Course Withdrawal period (see semester calendar).

No student may withdraw from a course during the fall and spring semesters after the course withdrawal period ends unless there are extraordinary circumstances (such as documented hospitalization or sickness or the inability to withdraw by the deadline due to technical issues). In such cases, a “W” grade may be authorized with the approval of the Academic Dean of the College in which the course is housed or a designee in consultation with the course instructor and the appropriate academic dean.

Students do not receive grade points for Withdraw (W) grades, but a notation appears on the transcript.

Students who withdraw from all of their courses will be withdrawn from the University effective on the date when the latest voluntary course withdrawal took place. Students who withdraw from the University will need to apply for readmission when they are ready to return.

Administrative Course Withdrawal

Faculty may request that a student be administratively withdrawn from courses for non-attendance or non-participation in course activities. For this purpose, non-attendance is considered 21 consecutive calendar days of failure to engage in the course. At this point, a faculty member may initiate an administrative withdrawal.

Students who are administratively withdrawn from all of their courses will be withdrawn from the University. Students who are withdrawn from the University will need to apply for readmission when they are ready to return.

No refund will be given for nonrefundable deposits, or laboratory or course fees. Tuition and fee refunds will be assessed according to the University’s various refund policies. Withdrawal from courses can impact financial aid and a students’ eligibility for housing, participation in athletics, and Veterans benefits. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the financial aid, housing, athletics department, and Veterans services office in the event of a course withdrawal (if applicable).

An administrative withdrawal will result in a grade of “WN” (withdrawal non-attendance) if classes are withdrawn in the time between the end of the drop period and prior to the end of the 13th week of the semester for the fall and spring semesters or no later than the end of the fifth week of a quarter semester course. Students do not receive grade points for Withdraw (WN) grades, but a notation appears on the transcript.

SEMESTER COURSE LOAD

The minimum academic load for each semester for full-time undergraduate students is three (3) course credits, which is equivalent to 12 semester hours. The minimum program required for receipt of maximum educational benefit payment under the Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act of 1966 and for receipt of Social Security benefits as a dependent is three (3) course credits per semester.

The average academic load for most full-time undergraduate students is four (4) course credits, which is equivalent to 16 semester hours. It is recommended for timely degree completion for fulltime students to enroll in a minimum of four (4) course credits for each fall and spring semester to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four (4) years.

The average academic load for most full-time undergraduate students is four (4) course credits, which is equivalent to 16 semester hours. It is recommended for timely degree completion for fulltime students to enroll in a minimum of four (4) course credits for each fall and spring semester to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four (4) years.

Courses may not be “split,” that is, all classes in a given course must be taken by the student within the same section. A student may not register for two (2) courses that meet at the same time or overlap start/end times.

In the event that students desire to take a course offered through the Department of Continuing Education (CE) because one of an equivalent type is not available in the Day Division, they may request to change their Division Enrollment Status to Evening School (CE) in order to take the CE course. If this is done, students must pay the full cost of the CE course in addition to Day Division program charges.

REQUEST 5th COURSE POLICY

The maximum academic load for each semester for full-time students is five (5) course credits, which includes courses taken in Continuing Education as well as off-campus.

Requirements for taking a fifth course credit are:

• an overall GPA greater than or equal to 2.70;

• successful completion of at least 16 course-credits;

• at least one semester of four (4) course-credits completed for students who transferred 16 or more course credits;

• completion of three of the four (4) previous semesters with four (4) course-credits.

Students must complete the 5th Course Request form and submit it to the Office of the University Registrar. Students not meeting the policy requirements and therefore denied permission, may appeal to their major Department Chair prior to the end of the Course Add/Drop period. Department chairs may grant exceptions to the above stipulations in special circumstances.

COURSE CREDIT/NO CREDIT OPTION POLICY

The primary purpose of the Credit/No Credit Option is to afford students an opportunity to explore course work in areas outside of their regular degree requirements without the direct application of the normal letter grade scale to their grade point average (GPA). A course selected under the provisions of the Credit/No Credit Option, as outlined below, is assigned a grade of Credit (Cr) if the student earns a final grade of D- or above. The student is assigned a No Credit (NC) if the student earns a final grade below D-.

Matriculated undergraduate students are permitted to take up to four (4) courses on a Credit/No Credit basis during their entire degree program, subject to the following conditions:

1. Only one (1) course may be taken on a Credit/No Credit basis during enrollment in any fall, wintersession, spring, or summer term (in addition to those courses which are graded Credit/No Credit for all students in that course);

2. Excluded as Credit/No Credit Option courses are those in the following categories:
   
   a. Courses in the student’s academic major/concentration, including major-related, or in a minor. Once all major/concentration or minor requirements have been met, students may elect to take a course within the major department on a Credit/No Credit basis;
   
   b. Prerequisite courses in which a minimum grade is required for advancing into a requisite course that is required for major/concentration or minor requirements;

3. Timeframe for requesting the Credit/No Credit Option:
   
   a. A student must declare whether a course is Credit/No Credit by the last day of the course withdrawal period of the term. The student requesting to take a course on a Credit/No Credit basis will be notified by the Office of the University Registrar within one (1) business day regarding eligibility;
   
   b. A student who initially selects the Credit/No Credit Option may switch to the graded option on or before the final day for course withdrawal. The request to do so must be submitted in writing to the Office of the University Registrar;

4. If the student changes or declares a major or minor that requires a course or courses previously taken on a Credit/No Credit basis, the student’s records will be amended by the Office of the University Registrar to convert the Credit/No Credit to the actual grade submitted by the course instructor(s);

5. The instructor of the course is not informed that the student has filed a Credit/No Credit Option for the course. When the instructor submits a letter grade for the student, the Office of the University Registrar will convert it to a Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) grade.

6. A Credit grade grants the student course credit but does not count in computing the student’s GPA. A No Credit grade has no impact on the student’s GPA.

DIRECTED STUDY

Students who wish to take a regular university course in a term when it is not offered may seek to do so through a Directed Study option. However, students must understand that, because the appropriate FSU faculty must be available and approvals must be granted, the option of Directed Study for a particular course is not always available.
In a Directed Study, the FSU faculty member must agree to provide the student with close supervision, in achieving the same course objectives that would have been accomplished had the student taken the course on a regular class basis. Permission for Directed Study must be obtained from the subject/course faculty supervisor and the course department chair.
Forms for enrolling in Directed Study are available at the Office of the University Registrar. The completed forms must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar prior to the end of the Course Add/Drop at the start of the semester. Directed Study courses will appear on the student’s course history with the actual course prefix, number, and title as found in the Catalog.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent Study, which is faculty-supervised research or readings into areas of study outside the current curriculum, offers students the opportunity to investigate a research topic or readings independently, under the close supervision of a FSU faculty member. Independent Study will only be approved for research into areas of study that do not duplicate the University's current curriculum of courses. Independent Study courses can be approved for 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 course credit depending on the extent of the work being planned. The student will be responsible for meeting the departmental requirements of the Independent Study as outlined in the catalog description and approved by the FSU faculty supervisor and the course department chair. The FSU faculty sponsor will assume responsibility for coordinating the Independent Study, evaluating its results, and determining an appropriate grade. Forms for enrolling in Independent Study are available at the Office of the University Registrar. The completed forms must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar prior to the end of the Course Add/Drop at the start of the semester. Independent Study topics will be so designated on the student's transcript.

INTERNSHIP AND PRACTICUM

A number of departments within the University offer students the opportunity to enroll in an internship or practicum for academic credit. Such experiences provide students with the opportunity to undertake a supervised practical experience. An internship may be completed during any academic term. Students interested in an internship for academic credit should consult with their academic advisor and chair of department offering internship, before the semester in which they propose to begin an internship. Students who want to enroll in an internship must meet departmental internship requirements, as specified in the course description, and submit a written application to the faculty member who will supervise their internship and their department chair for approval. This application must include the following information:

• the academic term during which the internship will be undertaken;

• the name of the agency, company, or organization where the internship will be served;

• the on-site internship supervisor, including contact information;

• the work responsibilities of the student intern;

• academic value of the internship experience, including the goal(s) of the internship experience, the total number of hours of the internship, and a brief description of how the intern will be evaluated by the faculty supervisor and the on-site supervisor;

• the total number of hours of the internship must meet a minimum of 120 hours for each course credit unless a higher minimum is specified in the course description. Microinternships may be awarded course credit as follows: 0.25 course credit (minimum 30 hours), 0.5 course credit (minimum 60 hours), or 0.75 course credit (minimum 90 hours).

This information must be submitted on the departmental internship application form. Registration for an internship must be completed by the end of the Course Add/Drop period for the semester in which the internship will be served. As soon as the University Registrar has received the completed and approved internship application, signed by the faculty supervisor and department chair, the application will be processed and the student enrolled into the course.

TRANSFER COURSES (AFTER MATRICULATION)

Off-Campus Course Approvals

• Transfer credit is awarded for college-level courses only. Developmental coursework does not transfer but may be used for student placement purposes.

• Transfer credit is given only for courses in which the student received a grade of C- (1.70/4.00 scale) or higher.

• A Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit grade is not transferable unless otherwise indicated on the transcript key that the value of Pass or Credit is equal to a C- (1.70) or higher.

• Effective Fall 2022, coursework taken as an equivalent course from another institution may be used to replace a course previously taken at FSU. The transfer credit will replace the course taken at FSU as a Course Repeat (see Course Repeat Policy for details).

• Transfer credits and grades will not affect the Institutional GPA, but will be used in determining “attempted” credits when determining academic standing.

• Off-Campus Course Approval Request forms are available through the Office of the University Registrar or on the web at www.framingham.edu/registrar. Applications for approval of a course must be accompanied by the appropriate catalog description from that institution if the course is not found in R.A.M.S. (Records Articulation Management System). The student must submit the completed form to the Office of the University Registrar prior to taking the course.

• The Off-Campus Course Approval Request(s) will then be reviewed for course transferability as determined by the University Registrar. All approved courses transferred into Framingham State University after matriculation will be posted to the student’s academic record.

• All approved courses accepted in transfer will be awarded Framingham State University coursecredit in an amount equal equivalent to FSU’s course-credit. For example, transfer courses that bear 3 credits from the sending institution are the equivalent of 0.75 course-credits. Transfer courses that bear 4 credits from the sending institution are the equivalent of 1 course-credits. Transfer courses that bear 1 credit from the sending institution are the equivalent of 0.25 coursecredits.

• Please note: Matriculated undergraduate students may be allowed to transfer up to (3) graduatelevel courses taken at Framingham State University or other institutions toward undergraduate degree completion requirements.

• Transcripts of these approved courses must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar within six (6) weeks after the completion of the course. It is the student’s responsibility to have official transcripts sent directly by the institution to the Office of the University Registrar.

R.A.M.S. (Records Articulation Management System) for Transfer Course Equivalences at Framingham State University:

• The University Registrar maintains a list of articulated transfer courses in the Records Articulation Management System (RAMS). Courses displayed in RAMS are those that have previously been established as equivalent courses from other institutions.

• Students planning to take courses at other institutions should review this list to see if the courses that they plan to take are equivalent to FSU courses. Students can view general information regarding transfer course equivalencies for various institutions for planning purposes only. The information presented here is not a comprehensive list of all institutions and their transfer course equivalencies.

• Determination of transfer course equivalencies for courses not listed in R.A.M.S. rests with the Academic Department Chairs at FSU. The Academic Department chair of the department in which the course is offered reviews the transfer course equivalencies for a particular course.

• Students must use Off-Campus Course Approval Request forms to obtain approval for transfer courses prior to enrolling in courses at other institutions.

• Transferability and allocation of courses to General Education and/or free electives will be determined by the Office of University Registrar, in consultation with academic deans, in accordance with established transfer policies and course articulations.

• Course to course equivalencies and/or substitutions of transfer credit towards major/minor course requirements must be approved and determined by the department chair in which the major or minor is housed. After obtaining the appropriate signatures for approval of the course, the student must return the completed form to the Office of the University Registrar.

Study Abroad Course Approvals

• Students approved to enroll in a Study Abroad semester will need to complete Off-Campus Course Requests for courses prior to leaving for the study abroad semester. Please refer to the section regarding Off-Campus Course Requests forms. Note: often times students will enroll in a course or courses that they did not receive prior approval for. For these courses, the student should complete the request form at the start of the semester, else the courses completed may not be eligible to satisfy any major or minor requirements.

• In order to confirm course enrollment, an enrollment verification form listing the courses for which the student is enrolled will need to be completed by the host institution and sent directly from the host institution to the Office of the University Registrar at FSU. Any coursework listed on the enrollment verification which was not submitted for prior approval will be applied towards open/free elective, or in some cases towards general education requirements.

• Official transcripts are required to be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar in order for the transfer credit to be finalized. These official transcripts are typically generated by the host institution without the student needing to request this to be done.

MID-TERM WARNINGS

Major warnings (grade of “F”) and minor warnings (grade of “D”) may be issued to the student at the midpoint of any undergraduate course. These warning grades, if submitted by the course instructor, may be viewed by the student via my.framingham.edu. Warnings may also be issued by the course instructor directly to the student at any time if the student’s work is approaching a less than satisfactory level.

EXAMINATIONS

1. All examinations are to be given within the structure of the University policy regarding academic honesty.

2. Examinations, other than the final examinations, may be scheduled at the discretion of the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to follow whatever procedures are established and presented in writing to the students by the instructor at the start of each semester for such tests.

3. All University courses should have a culminating experience that consists of either a final examination or final course project. Final examinations must take place during the regularly scheduled examination periods. The length of time for the final examination is determined by the course instructor, but it must begin at the regularly scheduled examination time and may not exceed the allotted three (3) hour final exam time block. Final course projects should be due no later than the day and time of the scheduled final examination period for that class.

4. Students who are absent from a final examination should contact the instructor to discuss the reason for the absence. In accordance with the incomplete policy, a copy of the final examination may be sent to Center for Academic Support and Achievement (CASA). The exam will be administered on posted dates.

5. Examinations and other graded course materials should be made available to students in a timely fashion, in accordance with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974). If retained by faculty, they should be kept until the end of the next academic semester and should be made available for students’ review upon request.

GRADING SYSTEM

Framingham State University uses the following marking system:

INCOMPLETE GRADE POLICY

The Incomplete (IC) grade may be given to a student when the instructor is satisfied that circumstances beyond the student’s control prevented the student from completing the required work for the course. The grade of IC may only be awarded if it is mathematically possible for the student to pass the course with the completion of the remaining work. An incomplete cannot be considered until after the course withdrawal deadline has passed.

The student must submit a Request for Incomplete form to the instructor no later than the last day of the semester. If the instructor agrees with the request, they shall complete and sign the form. If extenuating circumstances prevent the student from completing the request form, the faculty member may initiate the incomplete request. An incomplete grade may not be considered passing for purposes of determining federal financial aid eligibility, athletic eligibility, or other purposes.
Faculty are required to assign the final grade that would be issued at the end of the semester (i.e., the final grade that will be issued if the student does not complete the work indicated on the incomplete contract form). The student and the faculty member shall agree upon a deadline for the completion of course work. The agreed upon deadline shall be no later the end of spring break for fall and wintersession courses, September 1st for spring courses and October 1st for summer courses.

ELIGIBILITY FOR ATHLETICS

Students participating in intercollegiate athletics must carry a full-time academic course load throughout the entire semester (minimum of three course-credits) and be in good academic standing. All athletes must pass six (6) course-credits (24 semester hours) during each year of attendance.

In addition, to be eligible for intercollegiate athletics, all student athletes must pass 24 semester hours (6 credit-bearing courses) within one calendar year of enrollment (September 1st to September 1st, or January 1st to January 1st if enrolled spring semester). All students must take a minimum of 12 semester hours (3 credit-bearing courses) during their season(s) of competition to be eligible to compete in athletics.

ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP

To hold any class or student organization office, students must be matriculated undergraduate students enrolled in a minimum of two course-credits per semester, and be in good academic standing.
Eligibility for student participation on the following university-wide governance committees is subject to the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Student Government Association selects all student representatives to serve on governance committees as outlined in the Massachusetts State College Association (MSCA) faculty contract. These students must be matriculated and enrolled full-time.

COURSE REPEAT POLICY - UNDERGRADUATE

Effective Fall 2022, the University has established the following policy for undergraduate students regarding the repeating of courses.

• You may repeat courses taken at the university, regardless of the original grade earned in these courses.

• If you choose to repeat a course, both grades for the course will be posted on your academic transcript but only the higher grade will be counted toward your grade point average (GPA). The repeated course will be noted on your transcript as an “excluded repeat”.

• Only Framingham State University grades are used to calculate your GPA.

• If you retake a course at FSU that has already transferred in, the transfer course will be removed.

• You may take an equivalent course from another institution to replace a course previously taken at FSU. The FSU course grade will not be calculated in your overall GPA, and the transfer credit will replace the course taken at FSU.

• The course repeated must be equivalent to the first course taken. In the event that the course no longer exists at FSU, an exception may be considered.

• You may not repeat a course after graduation as your academic transcript is finalized upon degree conferral.

Exceptions:

• Certain courses, such as Special Topics courses, among others, are designated as “repeatable for credit”. A grade earned in such a course cannot be replaced by a grade from a later retake of the course. This means that each grade will count toward your GPA, and each time you complete such a course you will earn credits.

• RAMS First-Year Seminars are defined as “the same course,” despite distinct course numbers and being offered by multiple departments. If you repeat a RAMS First-Year Seminar, you will receive credit for the course with the higher grade and, therefore, fulfill the General Education subdomain affiliated with that course.

Please note:

• The highest grade for the repeated course is used for your GPA, but all grades appear on your academic transcript.

• Repeating a previously passed course may affect your financial aid. You should consult with the Office of Financial Aid if you are considering repeating a course that you have previously passed.

• If you return to FSU for a second bachelor’s degree, you may not repeat any courses that were part of your first undergraduate degree.

GRADE APPEAL POLICY

Students have the right to discuss and review their academic performance with their instructors. Faculty have the right to establish grading standards. Faculty also have the responsibility to define general grading criteria in a course syllabus, communicate those criteria to students, and evaluate students based on those criteria.

Students may appeal final course grades (herein, grade) based on evidence of error, arbitrariness, and/or discrimination. Appeals must be based on concerns related to process and not on differences in judgment or opinion related to academic performance. The burden of proof rests on the student to demonstrate that the grade satisfies the criteria for appeal.

Error

• The instructor made a mistake in calculating the grade.

Arbitrariness
An arbitrary grade is considered to be one that is:

• A substantial departure from reasonable academic practice, such as arbitrarily assigning grades or determining a priori that a specified percentage of the class will receive a specific grade. To fairly represent a student’s true achievement, it is understood that failing grades on assessments should receive their true percentile value.

• A grade assigned to a student on the basis of criteria that are a substantial, unreasonable, and unannounced departure from the instructor’s previously articulated standards.

• A grade resulting from an instructor adding items not listed on the syllabus, except for extra credit.

• Assigned to a student by resorting to unreasonable standards different from those which were applied to other students in that section of the course.

• Motivated by judgment outside of academic performance (e.g. ill will toward the student).

Discrimination
The University’s Equal Opportunity Plan (“EO Plan”) prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of membership in a protected class. A complaint may proceed under the Investigation and Resolution Procedures, the Title IX Informal Resolution Process, or the Title IX Formal Resolution Process outlined in the EO Plan when a student alleges that a grade was improper because of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual or gender harassment, domestic or dating violence, stalking or retaliation prohibited under the EO Plan. For example, a professor making a quid pro quo arrangement or directing hate/bias speech toward students or protected classes would be some of the types of behaviors that would be indicative of a discrimination-based grade appeal.

Grade Appeal Process

If a student is filing based on discrimination, prior to initiating the grade appeal, this complaint may be filed directly with the Equal Opportunity Officer “EO Officer” or University Title IX Coordinator. A student is never required to file a complaint under the EO Plan in order to initiate the Grade Appeal Process. See “EO Appeal Process” below.

For appeals based on error or arbitrariness:

Step One: Informal Appeal to the Instructor
If a student feels that they received a grade that is eligible for appeal, they should first contact the course instructor within four weeks of the official end of the semester or two weeks after the grades are posted, whichever is later. The student and instructor will have an informal discussion regarding the grade. If the issue is not resolved, the student moves on to Step Two. If the course instructor is no longer teaching at the University or is otherwise unavailable, the student’s initial grade complaint should go to the department chair.

Step Two: Formal Appeal to the Instructor
Within two weeks of the informal appeal decision, the student submits a formal appeal to the course instructor along with supporting documentation outlining why the grade is being appealed. The student must provide evidence that the grade satisfies the criteria for appeal. The course instructor will inform the student of the results of a further consideration of the grade in writing within two weeks of receipt of the formal complaint.

Step Three: Appeal to the Academic Department Chair
If, after hearing back from the instructor, the student still believes that the grade is eligible for appeal, the student should meet with the chair of the department in which the course was offered within two weeks after receipt of the appeal decision from the course instructor. The student will share the written appeal and documentation with the chair. The chair may meet also with the course instructor. The chair may not change the grade, but the course instructor may choose to do so after their discussion with the chair. The course instructor will notify the student and chair in writing within two weeks of their decision, after meeting with the chair.

Step Four: Appeal to the Academic Dean
If, after being informed of the course instructor's decision, the student still believes that the grade is eligible for appeal, the student may take up the matter with the academic dean of the college in which the course was offered (home department) within two weeks of receipt of the course instructor’s decision. The student will share the written appeal and documentation with the academic dean. After reviewing the student’s appeal and the course instructor’s response(s), the academic dean will discuss the matter with the student, the course instructor and/or the department chair. The academic dean may also invite the course instructor to submit a statement. The academic dean may also decide to hold a meeting at which both the student and course instructor may respond to the other's written statements and to any questions that the academic dean wishes to pose to them. If the academic dean determines that there is no merit to the appeal, the dean shall inform the student that the grade will stand. This ends the appeal process.

Step Five: Appeal to the Academic Policies Committee (APC)
If the academic dean determines that there may be merit to the appeal, they will refer the case to the Academic Policies Committee (APC). The Chair of APC will appoint a subcommittee consisting of three faculty members. No more than one member of this subcommittee shall be from the same department as the course instructor of the course in question. This hearing body will review the substance of the case and make recommendations regarding whether a grade change would be appropriate. The hearing body will have the authority, after a thorough review of all relevant assignments and related materials, to uphold the grade assigned by the instructor, to assign an appropriate grade, or to allow the student to accept a pass in the course rather than a letter grade. The decision of the subcommittee is final.

Note: In all meetings with the course instructor, department chair, or academic dean that are part of this appeals process, the student may bring a support person of their choice except for legal counsel.

For appeals based on discrimination:

If a student is filing based on discrimination, prior to initiating the grade appeal, this complaint may be filed directly with the Equal Opportunity Officer “EO Officer” or University Title IX Coordinator. A student is never required to file a complaint under the EO Plan in order to initiate the Grade Appeal Process. See “EO Appeal Process” below.

Note: If the department chair, academic dean, and/or the APC subcommittee is presented with allegations or otherwise determines that the grade appeal involves allegations of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, sexual or gender-based harassment, domestic or dating violence, stalking or retaliation as outlined in the University’s Equal Opportunity Plan (“EO Plan”), the deadline to file the formal appeal and other subsequent deadlines will be waived. These cases will be referred to the EO Officer or University Title IX Coordinator by the chair, dean, or the APC subcommittee before proceeding further. The remedy for policy violations in cases pursued under the procedures in the EO Plan may be determined and/or implemented in conjunction with Academic Affairs. If no violation of the EO Plan is found, or the student declines to file a complaint under the EO Plan, the EO Officer may refer the matter back to the grade appeal process.

EO Appeal Process: If the student elects to use the processes available under the EO Plan, the EO Officer or University Title IX Coordinator will implement the procedures as outlined in the EO Plan. The academic affairs Grade Appeal Process will be suspended pending review and determination under the EO Plan. If no violation of the EO plan is found, the EO Officer may refer the matter back to the grade appeal process. In the event of a finding of a violation of the EO Plan, the EO Officer will remand the matter to the Provost (or their designee) who will designate an appropriate person to decide the outcome of the grade appeal.

UNIVERSITY POLICY REGARDING ACADEMIC HONESTY

Integrity is essential to academic life. Consequently, students who enroll at Framingham State University agree to maintain high standards of academic honesty and scholarly practice. They shall be responsible for familiarizing themselves with the published university policies and procedures regarding academic honesty. Faculty members are required to reference the university policy on academic honesty in their syllabi, and they shall, at their discretion, include in their course syllabi additional statements on definitions of academic honesty and academic honesty policies specific to their courses if applicable.

Infractions of the Policy on Academic Honesty include, but are not limited to:

1. Plagiarism: claiming as one’s own work the published or unpublished literal or paraphrased work of another;

2. Cheating on exams, tests, quizzes, assignments, and papers, including the distribution or acceptance of these materials and other sources of information without the permission of the instructor(s);

3. Unauthorized collaboration with other individuals in the preparation of course assignments;

4. Submitting without authorization the same assignment for credit in more than one course;

5. Use of dishonest procedures in computer, laboratory, studio, or field work;

6. Misuse of the University’s technical and educational facilities either maliciously or for personal gain;

7. Falsification of forms used to document the academic record and to conduct the academic business of the University.

8. The enlistment of another individual or entity to complete one’s course work.

Procedures for Handling Cases of Alleged Infractions of Academic Honesty

When a course instructor suspects a student of academic dishonesty, they notify the student in writing of the alleged infraction as soon as possible after the discovery of the infraction. After an infraction, the course instructor administers appropriate penalties that range from resubmission of the work in question to failing the course, as determined by the course instructor. The student will have five business days to respond to the allegation in writing through email or the appropriate form. If the student does not dispute the allegation or the student does not respond to the charges within five business days, the course instructor reports the infraction to academichonesty@framingham.edu , using the appropriate form, serving as notice to the Office of Academic Affairs, Academic Deans, and the Academic Policies Committee (APC) Chair. This notification must take place within ten business days of the discovery of the infraction and should include any corroborating evidence.

If a student disputes the allegation of academic dishonesty, the alleged infraction will be heard by a subcommittee of APC in executive session. This subcommittee will be comprised of the APC Chair, up to three APC faculty members and up to two students recommended under the auspices of the Student Government Association. All members must be disinterested parties with allowances being made for members to recuse themselves if a conflict of interest is identified by any of the parties. The resulting subcommittee will always be composed of an odd number of voting members. The APC Chair’s role is to facilitate the meeting, and is not considered a voting member. A decision will be rendered based on a majority vote. The subcommittee will review the case within ten business days of receipt. The student, course instructor, and any relevant University personnel will be invited to the subcommittee hearing by the APC Chair, although attendance of those invited is not mandatory. The APC Chair will distribute any documentation and evidence received regarding the alleged infraction to the student and subcommittee prior to the hearing. The subcommittee will base their decision solely on any evidence or testimony presented during the hearing.

The student may have a support person accompany them to any scheduled APC Academic Honesty sub-committee meeting(s). A support person may not address any person involved in the hearing except for the student they are supporting; a support person who does not comply with these requirements may be dismissed by the presiding administrator

The standard of review used to evaluate the alleged academic infraction is preponderance of evidence, which is “more likely than not”. Within five business days after the meeting, the APC Chair will notify the student, the faculty member, and the Academic Dean of the subcommittee’s decision, which is final.

• If the student’s appeal is successful, the faculty member will update the grade in question within ten business days;

  Else

• If the student’s appeal is unsuccessful, the APC Chair reports the infraction to the Academic Dean and the Office of Academic Affairs for record-keeping purposes in writing within five business days.

All records of academic honesty policy violations will be maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs. Faculty are expected to report all incidents of academic honesty infractions.

In the case of multiple infractions:

Upon notification to an Academic Dean of a violation, the Academic Dean will determine if the student has previous infractions.

After a student’s second infraction at the University, the Academic Dean will notify the student that they must meet with the Academic Dean.

After a student’s third infraction at the University, the student shall be notified of permanent dismissal from the University by the Office of Academic Affairs. This penalty of dismissal can be appealed. Such an appeal must be made in writing to the University Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs within five (5) business days of notification of the penalty.

In the case that APC is not in session - June 1 st thru August 31st - at the time of the alleged infraction, the Academic Dean will report the alleged infraction to the Provost. The Provost will appoint a subcommittee consisting of an odd number of faculty, administration, and students, as appropriate. The Provost, or their designee, will be the non-voting facilitator of the hearing. The hearing and timeline will otherwise proceed as specified above.

SEMESTER HONORS

Dean’s List

A matriculated undergraduate student earns a place on this honor roll (published after the end of every fall and spring semester) for each fall and spring semester in which the student earns a GPA of 3.30 to 3.74.

President’s List

A matriculated undergraduate student earns a place on this honor roll (published after the end of every fall and spring semester) for each fall and spring semester in which the student earns a GPA of 3.75 to 4.00.

Additional Eligibility Considerations

A student obtaining either an “IC” grade or an extension for an “N” grade is not initially eligible for the Dean’s/President’s List but may petition in writing to the Office of the University Registrar to have their eligibility for the Dean’s/President’s List reviewed once the final grade has been submitted. Petitions must occur by the end of the semester that the grade was submitted.

COURSE RESIDENCY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

Completion of a minimum of 32 course-credits to include general education and major (and minor, if any) requirements in accordance with the Course Residency Policy as well as earn an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.00.
Effective Fall 2007, completion of a Baccalaureate Degree at Framingham State University requires that all students achieve a minimum 2.00 grade point average in their major requirements, including major-related courses taken outside of the home department in fulfillment of major requirements as well as satisfy the University’s course residency requirements.
Effective Fall 2018, completion of a minor requires that all students achieve a minimum 2.00 grade point average in their minor requirements as well as satisfy the University’s course residency requirements.

DEGREE COMPLETION/CONFERRAL

Notice of Degree Candidacy Application

The University confers degrees four times per year, in May, August 31st, December 31st, and January 31st . Diplomas are issued via mail to students approximately six to eight weeks following the degree conferral date.

There is only one University Commencement ceremony held annually in May.

Students are required submit the Notice of Degree Candidacy Applications to the Office of the University Registrar by the following dates:

Students will be assessed a $100.00 graduation fee at time of application. This fee will appear on the student’s account and will need to be settled before diploma is mailed.

*Conferral of a degree occurs only when the University Registrar finalizes the student’s academic record and confirms that all degree requirements have been met.

Commencement Ceremony Participation

Participation in the annual Commencement ceremony does not constitute conferral of the degree. Similarly, inclusion of a student’s name on such publications as the Commencement program does not confirm eligibility for the degree.

Beginning with the Spring 2011 Commencement Ceremony, all students must complete all degree requirements in order to participate in the Spring Commencement ceremony.
Appeals of this requirement with regards to participation in the annual Spring Commencement ceremony may be made only on one of the following bases:

1. The student has no more than two (2) courses remaining to complete degree requirements, has a minimum grade point average of 2.00, and has a highly extenuating, documented circumstance that would support a hardship exception to the requirement. The student must agree to register for and complete coursework by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.
   
   OR
   
   

2. The student has no more than two* (2) courses remaining to complete degree requirements, has a minimum grade point average of 2.50, and the student must agree to register for and complete coursework by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.

*Students who have only to complete their student teaching practicum semester may be allowed to participate in commencement, and agree to register for and complete the student teaching requirement by the December following the May Commencement Ceremony in which the student wishes to participate.

Students wishing to appeal on one of these bases must do so in writing. The appeal must be accompanied by a printout of the student’s degree audit and other appropriate documentation and submitted to the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Development no later than May 1st . Decisions on such appeals will be made within one week of their submittal and are final.

COMMENCEMENT HONORS

Latin Honors

The baccalaureate degree is conferred with honors upon a student with a final overall grade point average of:

To be eligible for Latin honors, a student must have completed all degree requirements and must have completed a minimum of 16 course-credits post-matriculation at Framingham State University.

College Marshals at Commencement

At the conclusion of each fall semester, a college marshal will be selected for each college from the graduating seniors. This marshal will lead their college into the commencement venue and will be recognized at commencement. The college marshals will be nominated by faculty in each college and selected by the academic dean of each college or by the provost and vice-president of academic affairs in the event of an academic dean vacancy. Criteria for class marshals include the following:

• Completion of all graduation requirements for the spring commencement;

• Attendance at spring commencement;

• An overall GPA, determined at the conclusion of the fall semester immediately prior to commencement, of 3.70 or higher with a minimum of 16 courses taken at FSU (16 coursecredit);

• Must maintain good academic and student conduct standing until commencement;

• A substantial record of civic engagement, leadership, and service at the university and beyond.

ACADEMIC STANDING

Academic Standing is the status that a student earns from their educational studies at an institution of higher education. Academic Standing at FSU is calculated at the end of each fall and spring semester.

Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, an undergraduate student must maintain an overall GPA as follows:

In order to graduate from the University, a student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.00 and at least a 2.00 GPA in the major as well as a 2.00 GPA in any minors. Some departments may have additional graduation requirements, including higher GPA required in the major.

Academic Warning

After grades are recorded at the end of each semester, students who have not achieved the minimum overall grade point average (GPA) for the number of courses completed are placed on academic warning for the following semester A student on Academic Warning must meet with their academic advisor within the first week of classes to review program requirements, course selection, course load, and commitments outside the classroom.

Students who are on academic warning will have their overall GPA recalculated after completing an incomplete, a grade change, or a summer or wintersession course at FSU. This may result in students moving to good academic standing following the summer or wintersession terms or upon completion of course-work for a course in which the student earned an incomplete or had a grade change.

When a student is on academic warning, they need more time to focus on their academics, therefore they:

1. May carry no more than the normal academic load (4 courses).

2. May participate in clubs, societies, or organizations officially recognized by the University, but they may not hold or run for office nor may they serve on University governance or other appointed committees.

3. May participate in club or intramural athletics, but they may not participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Extended Warning

A student may be granted additional semesters of academic warning referred to as extended academic warning. Extended academic warning will be granted if the student’s semester GPA is a minimum of 2.00 even if the overall GPA remains below the minimum required GPA. Students should be aware that new courses completed at FSU during the semester of academic warning will add to the total number of courses, possibly raising the required minimum overall GPA to a higher level. Courses that are repeated count only once in the number of courses and only the most recent grade counts for GPA calculation.

Academic Suspension

Students who do not achieve good academic standing following the semester of academic warning may be suspended from the University. If a student is suspended from the University, the period of such suspension is one academic semester (fall or spring), during which the student is not a matriculated degree candidate at Framingham State University.

Suspended students may earn credit for courses taken at other institutions. However, consistent with the University’s policy on transfer courses, grades from other institutions are not counted in computing the GPA, and therefore do not constitute a grade repeat. Students taking courses offcampus are therefore advised to enroll only in new courses that have not been previously attempted at Framingham State University.

Suspension Appeals

Students who receive a notification of their academic suspension may petition the Academic Standing Committee for special consideration of reinstatement to continue for another semester. Students must submit an Academic Standing Appeal Form, within the time frame indicated in the letter of suspension, in order to be considered for reinstatement by the Academic Standing Committee.

The decision of the Academic Standing Committee is final and may not be appealed.

Readmission after Academic Suspension

1. If a student has been suspended from the University for academic reasons, the student may request readmission. Applications for such readmission will be reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee.

2. Students who have been suspended must follow the degree requirements stated in the University Catalog at the time of return or under special circumstances, the catalog in effect when they were first admitted.

ACADEMIC FRESH START READMISSION POLICY

Fresh Start Readmission Policy: Any student who has separated from Framingham State University due to voluntary withdrawal in good standing with an overall grade point average at or above 1.70 and less than a 2.00, or due to academic suspension/dismissal and had an overall grade point average below 2.00 at the time of separation is eligible to apply for readmission under the Fresh Start policy under certain conditions:

• The period of separation from the University must be at least two (2) consecutive semesters.

• The student supplies evidence of personal growth during the period of separation, in the form of two letters of recommendation.

Applicants to Academic Fresh Start will be reviewed by the Academic Standing Committee (ASC). Applications will be due August 1st for Fall semester and December 1st for Spring semester. When a student is accepted under the Fresh Start Policy, the previous Grade Point Average (GPA) will be cleared. Only courses taken after Fresh Start readmission will count toward the GPA. Previous courses in which a grade of C- (1.7) or better was earned will count as transfer credit toward graduation requirements but will not factor into the student’s GPA. Under the Fresh Start policy, students must complete at least eight (8) FSU courses, five (5) in the major, with an overall GPA of 2.00 in order to receive an undergraduate degree from FSU. The Fresh Start policy may be exercised only once. Once a student exercises the Fresh Start, it may not be rescinded. The student’s academic transcript will note the readmission status as Academic Fresh Start along with the semester the status commenced.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY

In the event that a student wishes to withdraw from the University, these procedures must be followed:

1. A Withdrawal from the University form may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students, or online from the Office of the University Registrar Forms link, and signatures obtained on the form from the following offices, in the order indicated:
   A. Dean of Students (or designee)
   B. Residence Life (if in residence hall)
   C. Financial Aid Office
   D. Student Accounts/Bursar’s Office
   E. Office of the University Registrar

2. Students officially withdrawing from the University after the Course Add/Drop period and before the deadline of the Course Withdrawal period (prior to the end of the tenth week of the semester; see semester calendar) will receive a notation of “WX” in all courses. If a student chooses to withdraw from the University after the thirteenth week of the semester, they will receive a final grade in all courses. Students with extraordinary circumstances (such as documented hospitalization or sickness) should consult with the Dean of Students.

3. All forms must be returned to the Office of the University Registrar. Note: A student is not officially withdrawn from the University until the appropriate form has been completed and has been validated by the Office of the University Registrar. Non-attendance does not constitute withdrawal from the University.

4. Students should refer to the University’s policy on refunds as outlined in the University Expenses section of this catalog.

Reinstatement after Withdrawal from the University

A student who voluntarily withdraws from the University without completing baccalaureate studies may request to return to the University as a degree-seeking student via Reinstatement. This includes students who were in good academic standing or on academic probation at the time of their voluntary withdrawal (note: students who were later suspended must submit a Readmission application). Students who have been withdrawn for more than one (1) semester must follow degree requirements stated in the University Catalog at the time of return. Reinstated students must satisfy outstanding student conduct code sanctions and outstanding Student Account balances prior to their return to the University.

SEMESTER LEAVE OF ABSENCE - UNDERGRADUATE

A Leave of Absence (LOA) is a temporary interruption of one's studies at Framingham State University (FSU) for either the Fall or Spring semester of the Academic Year (Intersession and Summer terms are excluded) for which the matriculated undergraduate student does not choose to enroll in classes. A Leave of Absence is related only to the student’s continued enrollment at the University and is not recognized by federal regulations.
Students may choose to request a Leave of Absence (LOA) from the university for a period of time not to exceed two consecutive semesters at a time. A student may request up to four (4) Leaves of Absence (LOA) during their enrollment at the University.
Students granted a LOA retain their admitted student status and remain eligible for the following privileges:

• Retain the university requirements in place for their academic programs at the time of their first semester at Framingham State University (FSU);

• FSU student e-mail and myFramingham access;

• Priority and self-registration for the approved semester of return.

Students granted a LOA are not considered registered students and as non-enrolled students are not eligible for:

• Financial aid disbursements during the semesters while on LOA. Students on a LOA are reported to lenders and loan service agencies as "not enrolled" and need to contact lenders for information on possible repayment requirements;

• Enrollment verification since they are reported as "not enrolled," which could affect eligibility for health insurance, etc.;

• Use of Campus Facilities, Fitness Center, Computer Labs, Student Health Services, or Whittemore Library access and borrowing privileges;

• Campus Housing during their LOA;

• Participation in varsity or intramural athletics, student clubs or any FSU sponsored activity or organization;

Prior to returning from a Leave of Absence, a student is expected to:

• Meet with their academic advisor;

• Address any outstanding financial obligations to the University;

• Register for courses prior to the start of the semester in which the student is returning;

• Follow the degree requirements as identified in the catalog at the time the student originally matriculated. The academic department chair may authorize an exception.

NOTE: Students who do not return following the approved term for their LOA, or those students who did not apply for LOA, are no longer considered matriculated and need to request reinstatement to the University if they wish to continue their coursework. Reinstated students do not retain their original Catalog year program requirements and must follow the most current requirements for the degree and their major.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a Leave of Absence, students must be eligible to register for classes and meet the following criteria:

1. Be a matriculated degree-seeking undergraduate student;

2. Be registered during the semester immediately prior to the beginning of the LOA;

3. Students who are participating in an FSU-sponsored study abroad program need not apply for a LOA; however, students who are participating in a non-FSU-sponsored study abroad program should take advantage of the LOA policy, if eligible;

4. Be eligible to attend the upcoming semester - cannot be on academic suspension at the end of the semester immediately prior to the beginning of the LOA;

5. Have no hold(s) (e.g., pending disciplinary status, financial, etc.) which would restrict registration. Note: Students with financial holds cannot be given consideration for a LOA.

Timeline

A withdrawal from the university form may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Students, or online from the Office of the University Registrar Forms link.

If a student requests the LOA before the end of the add/drop period, the request must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar no later than the end of the Course Add/Drop period for the fall or spring semester. The University Registrar makes the final decision to approve or deny a request for a LOA based on the aforementioned criteria.

Students requesting a Leave of Absence after the end of the Course Add/Drop and before the deadline to Withdraw from the University will need to submit the request to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students makes the final decision to approve or deny a request for a LOA after consulting with the University Registrar.

Registration information will be sent to the FSU email account and personal email account on file prior to the start of the next registration period and also approximately two weeks prior to the term the student is scheduled to return.

In order to remain active in the program before the Leave expires, the student must enroll in courses for the upcoming semester. The student may request to extend the Personal Leave of Absence for one (1) consecutive semester and must do so before the end of the Course Add/Drop period. Should the student not register once the Leave expires, the student will become Inactive (non-matriculated) at the University and will need to request reinstatement in order to resume their program of study.

CONDUCT SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION

Students may also be suspended through the Office of Community Standards for violations of the Student Code of Conduct outlined in the RAM Student Handbook.

If a student withdraws from the University during the course of the community standards conduct resolution process, the process will continue as documented in the Student Code of Conduct. If the student is found responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct leading to a Conduct Suspension or Expulsion after withdrawing or otherwise separating from the University, the documentation on the record for their separation from the University will be changed to Conduct Suspension or Expulsion.

Readmission after Conduct Suspension or Expulsion

A student who is expelled from the University for conduct reasons may not apply for readmission.

A student who is conduct suspended from the University may petition for readmission to complete degree-seeking coursework at the end of the conduct suspension period by completing the readmission process. A student who has been suspended for conduct reasons and is granted readmission must follow the degree requirements stated in the University Catalog at the time of return.

POLICY ON AUTHORSHIP

The following guidelines and best practices serve to set community standards for the valuable intellectual work that students and faculty at Framingham State University do together. As a primarily undergraduate institution that sets teaching and mentoring as a priority, the University holds that faculty and student collaborations are of great importance for our educational mission, and that are recognized and valued as part of the work that faculty do in order to fulfill the spirit and letter of our contract with the institution. Since faculty and student collaborations are happening daily as we engage in projects and inquiry in our classes, together they contribute to creative and analytical projects that are shared with wider audiences—either in conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, or other forms of publication, including online sharing, shows, and performances.

These proposed guidelines are shared with the understanding that our accomplishments as scholar/teachers in a primarily teaching institution include institutional recognition of and value for the work of mentoring student research through faculty and staff authorship and shared creative and research endeavors.

Acknowledgement of shared faculty and student work

Discussion about the amount and kind of credit to be given should occur at the start of an association between faculty or staff and students so that expectations are clear and the faculty or staff member and student can develop a shared understanding of what each person’s obligations and recognition will be. It is recognized that these arrangements may change over time and discussion should be re-opened at that time.

Guidelines for acknowledgement of student contributions to faculty work

Since it is a stated goal of this university to foster faculty-student collaboration and undergraduate research, these guidelines should be read to include rather than exclude students as co-authors of faculty publications. In this context, “publication” refers to papers, presentations and creative activities published in peer-reviewed professional journals, exhibitions, and/or festivals; projects and research presented at professional meetings and symposia; and performances outside the campus community. It does not include publications or exhibits in strictly “undergraduate” journals or shows.

Students should be considered as authors or co-authors when a project is substantially completed by the student, including data collection, analysis, writing of the final report, and executing creative production (e.g. capstone project, independent study, senior thesis), rather than a project for which the student only performs some closely supervised task (e.g. data transcription, routine data collection). In the latter case, students should be acknowledged but not listed as co-authors. If such work is contributed by all or most members of a class, perhaps even over several semesters, the faculty member should acknowledge, for example, the “Fall 2011-Fall 2013 classes in Anatomy and Physiology at Framingham State University.”

Frequently, it is necessary to combine the results of several student projects, often over several years, to produce a final product that is worthy of publication. Under these circumstances, the faculty member will need to write the final paper, combining information and analysis from several student projects. The faculty member should be first author of such papers, with the students as coauthors.

Guidelines for acknowledgement of faculty or staff contributions to student work

Faculty, as teachers and mentors, promote student learning and scholarship. As part of their teaching, faculty members commonly suggest topics for further study and advise students on methodologies that could be used in their course work. Faculty members also routinely assist students in their research/creative work and writing by providing detailed comments and critiques, by proposing alternative ways of communicating an idea, and by editing drafts. This by itself does not necessarily entitle the faculty to co-authorship. However, faculty members have a right to expect to be acknowledged and/or cited for their ideas and assistance. All authors, whether student or faculty members, have an obligation to properly cite works used and to credit ideas suggested to them by others, from both published and unpublished sources (e.g., oral communication). Authorship credit should be based on intellectual contribution. Editing of a paper alone, does not confer co‐authorship on the faculty member or editor. Acknowledgment of this assistance is appropriate. Editing that goes beyond simple correction of grammar, spelling, and punctuation in order to clarify meaning or to introduce new ideas or interpretation does make an intellectual contribution for which co‐authorship would be appropriate. The names of the authors should be listed in the order of their relative contributions to the publication (including research design, data acquisition, art/design direction, analysis and preparation of the manuscript, and production of creative projects).

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

The Framingham State University Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects participating in research conducted at FSU. The FSU IRB reviews research in the following three categories:

1. Research that is federally funded;

2. Research for which the sponsoring agency requires federal-level institutional review; and

3. Research that is voluntarily submitted by an applicant(s) for a federal-level institutional review.

It is expected that individuals conducting research associated with the University do so in accordance with the highest ethical and moral standards and accepted practices within their disciplines.

Information about the FSU IRB and IRB-related documents may be accessed on the University’s website.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

It is the policy of Framingham State University not to discriminate in education or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or national origin. The University operates under an Equal Opportunity, Diversity, and Affirmative Action Plan, as approved by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) and the University’s Board of Trustees, that promotes and maintains a policy of nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action. This plan incorporates by reference, and where applicable, the requirements of Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1968; Titles I and II of the Civil Rights Act of 1991; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its regulations found at 34 C.F.R. part 106; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; 72 1520495_1 Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988; Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; Section 402 of the Vietnam-era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; the reauthorized Violence Against Women Act, Pub. Law No. 113-4 (2013); the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act; the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended; Federal Executive Order 11246 of 1965, as amended by Executive Order 11375 of 1967; Federal Executive Order 12900 of 1994; Federal Executive Order 13145 of 2000; Federal Executive Order 13160 of 2000; Federal Executive Order 13166 of 2000; Massachusetts Civil Rights Act; Massachusetts General Laws Chapters 151B, 151C, and Chapter 149; St.2011, c. 199 (H3810), An Act Relative to Gender Identity; directives of the BHE, the Universities’ Boards of Trustees and the Commonwealth; and other applicable local, state and federal constitutions, statutes, regulations and executive orders.

Inquiries or advice concerning discrimination and the application of these policies, laws and regulations may be referred:

The University Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the University’s compliance with Title IX and the administration of the University’s Sexual Violence Policy. Any person with questions or concerns about any form of sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking and/or retaliation may also contact: