BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

INTRODUCTION

OUR ADVISORS GET TO KNOW YOU

Faculty or other specially trained personnel act as advisors for undergraduate students. Entering freshmen are assigned to an advisor or advisement center affiliated with the student’s college or program. If students later change their college or field of concentration, they are assigned to a different advisor familiar with courses and requirements in the new field. If you have not declared a major and are a University Studies student, you will be assigned a professional advisor in the University Studies Program. To determine who your advisor is, you may call your major department or academic dean’s office, or you may access this information online using your personal log-on to UDSIS.

Matriculated students register for spring and fall semesters based on the following schedule:

The University strongly encourages all students to finalize course selections before the first day of classes. Nevertheless, students may still drop or add a course, or specify audit or pass/fail status using UDSIS Personal Access during the first 10 days of classes in the fall and spring, or during the first four days of winter and summer session classes. Students who change to or from a pass/fail status at any time should consult with an advisor. Freshmen should consult with their advisors before making any registration changes. All changes in registration, particularly those made using UDSIS during non-business hours, are subject to review by the University Registrar before they are considered final.

To add courses after the first 10 class days in the fall and spring or after the first four class days in winter and summer, students need approval from the instructor and the appropriate college dean. Other registration changes are permitted until the Academic Penalty Deadline, at the end of the eighth week of the semester or comparable period in Winter and Summer.

Students will receive a grade of “W” unless they withdraw from a course during the first 10 class days in the fall and spring, or during the first four class days in winter and summer. The University offers no tuition rebates for registration changes made after this period, and students who make late changes must pay a one-time $20 fee.

In extraordinary cases, a college dean may permit registration changes after the Academic Penalty Deadline. Students will not be permitted to drop courses simply to avoid a poor grade, even in circumstances resulting from a student change of major or due to a student registration error. A student may be allowed to withdraw from courses after the deadline at the discretion of the dean only when:

1. The student officially withdraws or is withdrawn from the University, or from all courses;
2. Medical reasons, substantiated by the University physician or University psychiatrist, warrant a reduction in the student’s course load; or
3. Unusual and extenuating personal problems warrant a reduction of the student’s course load.

THE BEST STUDENTS SHOW UP FOR CLASS

Students are expected to attend all their scheduled classes and laboratories and not to be absent without adequate reason.

Deficiency in any required work resulting from absence from class must be made up to the satisfaction of the instructor.

A student who is absent from a course without adequate reason may be assigned a failing grade. Students who are registered as Auditors are subject to the same attendance regulations as those registered for credit. Those Auditors who are reported for their excessive absence from class will receive a grade of LW in the course.

By action of the Faculty Senate, the responsibility for defining attendance expectations is left to the individual faculty member, subject to the guidelines given below. Thus, it is of great importance that early in each course the instructor make clear to each student what the attendance expectations are, and how absences due to “relatively minor” illnesses, as described below, are to be communicated. Students should check the syllabus for attendance expectations and means of communicating about minor illnesses.

It is the policy of the University of Delaware not to cancel classes on religious holidays. However, students and faculty are encouraged to exercise their own judgment pertaining to their attendance on these days. In addition, faculty are encouraged not to schedule examinations or require the submission of special assignments on the following days: the evenings before as well as the first two days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the fall term, Good Friday and the evening before and the first two days of Passover in the spring semester.

1. Absence on religious holidays listed in University calendars is recognized as an excused absence. Nevertheless, students are urged to remind the instructor of their intention to be absent on a particular upcoming holiday.
2. Absences on religious holidays not listed in University calendars, as well as absences due to athletic participation or other extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University, shall be recognized as excused absences when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first two weeks of the semester of these planned absences for the semester. Absences due to similar events that could not have been anticipated earlier in the semester will be recognized as excused absences upon advanced notification of the instructor by an appropriate faculty advisor or athletic coach.
3. Absences due to serious illness or death within a student’s family are recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence to the Dean’s Office of his or her college. The Dean’s Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student’s instructors for the term.
4. Absences due to serious illness of the student (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, or protracted medical illness or convalescence) shall also be recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence of the illness to the Dean’s Office of his or her college. Supportive evidence will be provided on the student’s request by Student Health Services directly to the respective Dean. For relatively minor, short-term illnesses of students (e.g., colds and flu, where attendance in class is undesirable), or their immediate family, the University system depends upon reasonable communication between students and faculty. If possible, students should report such illnesses before the affected class, following the directions of the instructor as provided at the beginning of the semester.
5. Absence due to short-term military duty in the National Guard or active reserve is recognized as an excused absence. To validate such an absence, the student should present evidence to the Dean’s Office of his or her college. The Dean’s Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student’s instructors for the term.
6. Students are not to be penalized if absent from an examination, lecture, laboratory, or other activity because of an excused absence. However, students are fully responsible for all material presented during their absence, and faculty are encouraged to provide opportunities, when feasible, for students to make up examinations and other work missed because of an excused absence.

Classes are sometimes over-subscribed, and it is not always possible to accommodate all requests for assigned seats. To address this problem, the University has established a seat claim policy. Seat assignment in classes is based on such factors as earned credit hours, major, course status and intended audience. Students are expected to occupy their confirmed, assigned seats within a reasonable period of time. By action of the Faculty Senate, the following policy applies to all classes:

A matriculated undergraduate who needs to discontinue studies for medical reasons (e.g., surgery, pregnancy, illness, rehabilitation and other health-related circumstances) can request a medical leave of absence of no more than two semesters. Verification for the medical leave of absence must be presented to the appropriate college dean when the application for leave is made.

If a medical leave is granted, the student may later resume his or her studies without applying for readmission. If a student cannot return to the University at the end of the medical leave, his or her dean should be consulted.

Students may interrupt their studies for up to 15 consecutive months, and still remain in their degree programs. This grace period begins at the end of the student’s last semester of enrollment. During the grace period, students need not apply for readmission to register for classes.

Students who withdraw before the fall or spring semesters, or before the Academic Penalty Deadline (after the eighth week of class) may avoid any academic penalty by filling out the Withdrawal/Leave Notification Form through the Office of Campus Life, 218 Hullihen Hall, or the office of the dean of the student’s college.

After the Academic Penalty Deadline, withdrawals and leaves require permission from the assistant/associate dean of the student’s college. To initiate this process, the student should make an appointment with their college’s assistant/associate dean. The dean’s approval is granted only when non-academic extenuating circumstances exist, such as a serious illness or severe emotional crisis. Documentation by a physician or a counseling professional must be presented when requesting approval from the dean. Approval will not be given because of failing grades, circumstances resulting from a change in major or a student error in registration.

Students who decide to withdraw from the University after the Academic Penalty Deadline and who are failing in certain courses at the time of withdrawal will receive a failing grade in these courses if the dean of the student’s college indicates that the withdrawal is with penalty.

HOW WE GRADE YOU

At the end of each term grades are reported to students electronically. Reports of grades are available through UD & Me and SIS+ personal access website. The University uses a system of letter grades with plus and minus designators.

NOTE: In courses requiring a minimum letter grade (for example, a C or better), the minus grade (for example, C-), fulfills the requirement, unless 2.0 minimum is specified. Similarly, when a B or better is required, a B- fulfills the requirement. However, the quality points per credit for a C- are fewer than for a C (see chart below). Undergraduate students must achieve an overall cumulative grade point index of at least 2.0 for graduation.

The following final grades are used:

A Excellent	4.00 quality points per credit
A-	3.67 quality points per credit
B+	3.33 quality points per credit
B Good	3.00 quality points per credit
B-	2.67 quality points per credit
C+	2.33 quality points per credit
C Fair	2.00 quality points per credit
C-	1.67 quality points per credit
D+	1.33 quality points per credit
D Poor	1.00 quality points per credit
D-	0.67 quality points per credit
F Failure	0.00 quality points per credit
X - Failure	0.00 quality points per credit (Academic Dishonesty)
Z - Failure	0.00 quality points per credit (Unofficial Withdrawal)
L - Listener	Registration without credit or grade. Class attendance is required, but class participation is not.
LW - Listener Withdrawn	A listener who does not attend sufficient class meetings to be eligible, in the judgment of the instructor, for the grade of L will receive the grade LW.
NR	No grade required.
P - Passing	For specifically authorized courses. P grades are not calculated in indexes. (For further explanation, see Pass/Fail grade option section.)
W - Official Withdrawal	Passing at time of withdrawal.
WF - Official Withdrawal	Failing at time of withdrawal. Students permitted to withdraw after the announced deadlines who are doing failing work will receive a grade of F for the course unless the dean of their college approves their withdrawal "without penalty," in which case the student receives a grade of WF.

The following temporary grades are used:

I - Incomplete	For uncompleted assignments, absences from final or other examinations, or any other course work not completed by the end of the semester.
S - Satisfactory progress	For thesis, research, dissertation, independent study, special problems, distance learning and other courses which span two semesters or in which assignments extend beyond the grading deadline in a given semester.
U - Unsatisfactory progress	For thesis, research, dissertation, independent study, special problems, distance learning and other courses which span two semesters or in which assignments extend beyond the grading deadline in a given semester.
	Temporary grades of S and U are recorded for work in progress pending completion of the project(s). Final grades are reported only at the end of the semester in which the work was completed.
N	No grade reported by instructor.

All students, whether or not they intend to return to the University, may remove temporary grades from their records by adhering to the following regulations:

• A grade of I (Incomplete) must be removed not later than the end of the first two weeks of the semester immediately following the course in question. Incomplete work for the fall semester and Winter Session must be completed within the first two weeks of the spring semester; incomplete work in the spring semester and summer sessions must be completed within the first two weeks of the following fall semester. Under extenuating circumstances, such as prolonged illness, the faculty member, with the additional approval of the dean, may approve extensions of these limits.
• At the time of grading, instructors who give an I grade must submit copies of the Incomplete Grade Explanation Form to the department chair, the instructor’s dean, the student’s dean and the Registrar’s Office, but only when the grade to be awarded, if the work is not completed, is not an F. This form will show (1) the nature of the incomplete (absent from final examination, absent from hourly examination, project or paper not turned in, etc.), (2) the reason for the incomplete (illness, accident or injury, serious illness or death in immediate family, etc.), and (3) the grade to be awarded to the student in the course if the work is not completed. If, after the time limit stated above, the uncompleted work has not been made up, the grade will automatically be recorded as an F if the instructor has not designated otherwise by submitting the Incomplete Grade Explanation form. Control and approval of all incomplete grades, including those given for absence from the final examination, will rest with the dean of each college.
• Temporary grades of S and U may stand until the completion of the thesis or research, at which time final grades of A, B, C, D (plus or minus), or F will be recorded. These grades replace all S or U grades in preceding periods of enrollment. Students may not graduate if their records contain any temporary grades.

PASS/FAIL IS SOMETIMES AN OPTION

Some courses are offered only on a pass/fail basis. In addition, each semester matriculated students have the option to take one course that is offered on a letter-grade basis as a pass/fail course. The total number of credits earned on a pass/fail basis may not exceed 24 in the baccalaureate degree program, excluding those courses that are graded pass/fail only. In addition, a course taken on a pass/fail basis cannot be used to fulfill the University multicultural requirement.

Some colleges do not permit pass/fail courses to be used to complete degree requirements, and in most instances a pass/fail course can only be used as a free elective. Sometimes a student may take a “free elective” course on a pass/fail basis, then later change to a college or major which classifies that course as a requirement. In that event, upon petition through the dean’s office, the letter grade earned in the course may be posted and the student may receive credit for fulfilling a course requirement. Students are encouraged to consult with and obtain approval from their advisors in the selection of courses to be taken on a pass/fail basis.

The cumulative grade point index (also known as GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of quality points by the total number of quality hours. The quality points for each course are obtained by multiplying the quality point value for each grade by the credits for that course: e.g., a grade of A in a three credit course would earn 12 quality points (4 quality points x 3 credits). A minimum average of C, or a scholastic index of 2.0, in all work taken at the University of Delaware is required for the baccalaureate degree. Both term and GPAs are calculated and reported to students after each grading period.

A grade of Z is equal to a grade of F in calculating the index (0 quality points per credit). For courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis, F grades are included in the calculation of the grade point index, but P grades are not. All other grades for courses taken for credit at the University are included in the calculation of the index, including the first and later grades for courses that have been repeated. The credits for courses repeated to improve a grade are counted only once toward the minimum required for graduation.

If a baccalaureate degree has been awarded previously from the University of Delaware and then the student returns to another academic degree program, a separate grade point index will be calculated for the second program. However, a single grade point index is calculated for students who elect to pursue more than one baccalaureate degree simultaneously.

Students are expected to maintain an overall average of C (2.0 grade point index), and full-time students must enroll in at least 12 credits per semester. Academic probation or dismissal may result when the quality-point deficit is more than 12.99 points.

The Dean’s List, an honor conferred at the end of the fall and spring semesters, recognizes outstanding academic performance by students. Full-time students (12 credits/semester) who have earned a minimum 3.33 GPA for a given semester are honored with Dean’s List recognition for that semester. (For students entering prior to the class of 1998, the minimum requirement is a 3.25 semester GPA.)

WHAT YEAR ARE YOU?

FULL-TIME UNDERGRADUATES
Students who pre-register or enroll for 12 credit hours or more during the fall or spring semesters are considered full-time. A normal schedule consists of four or five major courses, subject to the following credit limitations:

• For freshmen, a normal load should not exceed 17 credits, excluding SkilMod, military science, and activity courses in music and physical education. A reduced schedule of four academic courses, plus SkilMod, may be suggested for some freshmen by faculty advisors.
• For upperclass students not on probation, a normal load should not exceed 18 credits, unless prescribed by the curriculum. An additional fee at the per-credit-hour rate applies to each credit in excess of 17.
• Students on academic probation may not register for more than four academic courses, excluding SkilMod, military science and activity courses in music and physical education.
• In determining course load for University purposes, registration as an auditor or pass/fail is included. Zero-level courses (e.g., MATH 010) also determine course load, although they do not count toward credit for graduation.

PART-TIME UNDERGRADUATES
Any student pre-registered or enrolled for fewer than 12 credits during the fall or spring semesters is classified as a part-time student. Part-time students admitted to the University’s undergraduate division are also considered degree candidates. All other students attending on a part-time basis are classified as Professional and Continuing Studies students, i.e., not pursuing a formal degree. For purposes of determining course load, registration as an auditor or pass/fail is included.

OVERLOAD
The dean’s office of the student’s college may approve a course and credit load greater than those defined above if the student has a cumulative grade-point index of at least 2.5 and an index of at least 3.0 for the preceding semester. Students are never allowed to register for more than 22 credits–even if some courses are completed on a Pass/Fail or auditor basis. Additional fees must be paid when registering for more than 17 credits.

The University of Delaware accepts credits from regionally accredited institutions in which the students received a grade of "C" or better in college-level courses (not remedial). Pass/Fail grades are not accepted. To receive a University of Delaware degree, admitted students must complete 90 of the first 100 credits or 30 of the last 36 credits, full- or part-time, at the University of Delaware. The following formula is used to convert quarter hours to semester hours: quarter hours x 2/3 (or .667) = semester hours.

The University Transfer Center will complete a preliminary evaluation of transfer credits once a student is admitted. The final determination regarding equivalent coursework and the number of credit hours applicable to your degree program at the University of Delaware rests with the Dean of your College. Departments may require applicants to repeat outdated courses and/or coursework completed more than seven calendar years earlier. Admitted students should be prepared to provide course descriptions for faculty review, if their coursework transfers as departmental elective credit.

Students enrolled at the University of Delaware who wish to complete work for credit at another institution must meet with a staff member in the University Transfer Center and complete a Transfer Credit Evaluation form prior to enrolling in such courses in order to assure transferability of coursework. Credits and quality points for work completed elsewhere will not be included in the student’s University of Delaware cumulative grade-point index. For more detailed instructions regarding approval procedures, visit the University Transfer Center in the Student Services Building.

Specific degree requirements may be modified with permission and approval from the department chair and/or dean’s office, upon petition by the student and presentation of a compelling case:

EXEMPTION
A student may request to be excused from a course requirement, receiving no credit for the course and no reduction in the total number of credits required for the degree.

WAIVER
A student may request to be excused from a course requirement, thereby reducing the total number of credits required for the degree by the amount of credit for the course requirement being waived.

CHOOSE THE TYPE OF MAJOR THAT SUITS YOU

SINGLE MAJOR
A department major typically consists of at least 30 credits with specified and elective courses determined by the department. A minimum grade of C- is normally required in all major courses.

DOUBLE MAJOR
To complete a double major, a student must fulfill the major requirements of two majors within the same degree, e.g., two majors which lead to the Bachelor of Arts or two leading to the Bachelor of Science. Admission to the double major requires approval of both departments and the dean(s) of the college(s). The minimum grade required in all courses within the major is the same as that needed for a single major.

For students who are undecided about their choice of major, the University Studies Program provides the opportunity to discover and to investigate various options. Because of the structure of the baccalaureate degree, it is possible for students during their first semesters to choose coursework that allows them to be on track for a number of different majors. Since there is a good deal of overlap in required courses for many majors and degree programs, University Studies students may consider several major options before committing to a particular one. It is often possible to plan course schedules for the first one or two semester(s) that will fulfill requirements in more than one potential major, with the exception of highly structured programs.

University Studies (UST) students are assigned to professional advisors in the University Studies Program. The advisors work one-to- one with UST students to choose their courses, prepare to meet major entrance requirements, and design an overall academic plan that will enable students to get the most out of their University education. Freshman UST students are given an opportunity to participate in LIFE (Learning: Integrated Freshman Experience), taking either a LIFE cluster designed especially for UST students, or enrolling in a traditional LIFE cluster along with students in declared majors.

In some cases, a student is allowed to simultaneously pursue two baccalaureate degrees. The following regulations apply to a student seeking two concurrent degrees:

• A student must fulfill all requirements for both degrees. He or she may be awarded two degrees at the same time only if the degrees are different (e.g., Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts). If a student is pursuing two fields of study for which the same degree is awarded, only one degree will be granted, but with a double major (e.g., Bachelor of Arts with majors in English and History).
• To be eligible for a second degree, the student must earn at least 30 credits in addition to those required for the first degree. When the two degrees are being earned concurrently and are to be awarded at the same time, the “first degree” is considered to be the degree that requires the smaller number of total credits.

CHANGE OF MAJOR POLICY

EVERY STUDENT MUST ATTAIN PROFICIENCY IN WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

The top students in each graduating class receive special recognition in the form of academic honors. The following rules for honors apply:

• Summa Cum Laude. The top 1 percent of the students of each undergraduate college’s graduating class will receive the degree Summa Cum Laude, providing that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.75 at the end of his or her course of study.
• Magna Cum Laude. The next 4 percent of the students of each undergraduate college’s graduating class will receive the degree Magna Cum Laude, providing that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.5 at the end of his or her course of study.
• Cum Laude. The next highest 8 percent of the students of each undergraduate college’s graduating class will receive the degree Cum Laude providing that each student obtains a minimum overall index of 3.25 at the end of his or her course of study.

DEGREE WITH DISTINCTION IN A MAJOR FIELD
Students may earn a Degree with Distinction in their major field upon completion of special and independent research during the senior year. Applications for a Degree with Distinction must be submitted before the end of the junior year. Applicants should have a general scholastic grade point index of not less than 3.0 and an index of not less than 3.5 in the major at the end of the junior year.

1. Computation of Grade-Point Average (GPA) for academic major:
   1. Students with a single major: GPA will be computed on courses of program requirements that satisfy the major.
   2. Students with a double major: GPA will be computed on the major in which the thesis is to be written. Students with a double major have the option of integrating their two majors into a single thesis. The GPA in each major must be 3.5. The thesis committee must include representatives from both majors.
   3. Students seeking the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies: GPA will be computed using the upper-division level courses (prefix of 300 or 400) specified in the student’s contract on file in the Dean’s Office, College of Arts and Sciences.
2. Students enrolled for Senior Thesis leading to the Degree with Distinction who are also enrolled for Honors Senior Thesis leading to the Honors Degree with Distinction must complete two distinct theses, each of which must stand on its own merit. The theses may be related but must not in any essential way duplicate one another. Evidence that two distinct theses have been prepared to satisfy the requirements of each degree program must be provided by the student. 3. The thesis for the Degree with Distinction must include a title page that provides for the following required signatures:
   1. Student’s departmental thesis advisor;
   2. Faculty member from the student’s thesis committee;
   3. Committee member, Faculty Senate Committee on Student and Faculty Honors;
   4. Chair, Faculty Senate Committee on Student and Faculty Honors.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE
Each student must satisfy the following general requirements for graduation, in addition to the academic requirements of the particular college and curriculum chosen: