Academic Policies and Procedures

All degree seeking Students are admitted to the College by the Office of Admissions.

Full-time Students

A student is attending full-time if registered for a minimum of 12 credits in any semester. In order to complete degree requirements in the usual four years, students must enroll in an average of 15 credits per semester.

Part-time Students

A student is attending part-time if registered for fewer than 12 credits in a semester. Full-time students may petition to attend part-time for academic reasons with the approval from the student’s academic advisor and the Director of Academic Services.

Part-time students may not reside on campus, or participate in varsity sports.

Non-Degree Students

Non-degree seeking students may take courses for which they have sufficient preparation and background by registering for the courses in the Registrar’s Office. Non-degree students are subject to the same academic regulations as other students. Non-degree students who wish to apply for degree status must do so through the Admissions Office. If admitted, a maximum of ten (three or four-credit) courses taken at Stonehill College as a non-degree student may be applied toward completion of a degree program.

Special Non-Degree Students

Some students who would like to attend the College as a degree-seeking student are allowed to take full-time courses for which they have sufficient preparation and background with the approval of the Office of Admissions, in consultation with Academic Services. These special non-degree students are subject to the same academic regulations as other students. Special Non-degree students who wish to apply for degree status must do so through the Admissions Office. If admitted, a maximum of ten (three or four-credit) courses taken at Stonehill College as a non-degree student may be applied toward completion of a degree program. The academic status and continued enrollment of special non-degree students are reviewed at the conclusion of each academic term by the Admissions Office.

Registration

The academic year is divided into two semesters of approximately 15 weeks each.

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for conducting registration for classes and for all credit-bearing programs. The schedule of courses is updated regularly on the Registrar’s homepage at: www.stonehill.edu/registrar.xml .

The College reserves the right to make changes to or cancel any scheduled course offerings. Every attempt will be made to ensure that students can fulfill their programs of study in a timely manner.

Students who do not complete registration during the dates designated in the Academic Calendar may be assessed a $50.00 late registration fee. Students who have not registered by the completion of the Add/Drop period will be administratively withdrawn from the College and unable to register until readmitted through a process initiated in the Office of Academic Services.

Adding and Dropping Courses

A student may add or drop courses from the time he/she registers through the date listed on the Academic Calendar as the last day for Add/Drop. Students may adjust their schedule after the defined deadline only through petition to the Academic Review Board and may be subject to a $50.00 late registration fee.

Auditing Courses

Students may enroll in courses on an “Audit” basis, for no academic credit during the first two weeks of the semester, with the approval of the course instructor. The fee for auditing a course is one-half of the per-course tuition fee, unless it is being taken as part of a full-time course load. The audit is recorded on the student’s academic record as “AU”, but no grade or credits are assigned. An auditor is expected to attend classes, but is not required to complete assignments or to take examinations.

Credit Overload

Students seeking a B.A. or B.S.B.A. may enroll in up to 17 credits per semester (or 18 credits for B.S. programs). Students, after consulting with their faculty advisor, may petition to take a credit overload by completing a Credit Overload Application available on-line or in the Office of Academic Services.

Students will pay an additional fee for each credit registered for beyond 18 credits in a given semester (beyond 19 credits in the B.S. degree programs).

The following criteria apply to credit load:

  1. First year students are not allowed to take more than 17 credits per semester (18 credits for B.S. degree candidates) during the first academic year.
  2. Students must have a minimum semester GPA or cumulative GPA of 3.30 prior to registering for an overload.
  3. Registration for an overload will take place within the first seven class days of each semester, except for those courses that have no enrollment caps.
  4. The Director of Academic Services may approve exceptions to this policy in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Academic Progress

Class Attendance

Students are expected to be regular and prompt in their class attendance. In case of absence, students are responsible for all class work, assignments, and examinations. Any student who misses an examination (other than the Final Examination), a quiz, or any required classroom activity to which a grade is assigned, must consult the instructor as soon as possible regarding the opportunity to make up the work missed. In such cases, it is the instructor who determines whether or not the absence was legitimate; if it was, and if the student has consulted the instructor as soon as possible, the instructor must give a make-up examination or quiz, or provide the student with an equivalent basis for evaluation. If the absence is deemed not to have been legitimate, the instructor has the option to decide whether or not to provide an opportunity to make up the work.

If a student misses three consecutive weeks of classes, due to prolonged illness or any other reason, the instructor has the right to decide whether or not the student will be permitted to make up the work missed.

Absenteeism Due to Religious Holiday

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/her 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 may have been missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon the school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of these provisions.

Examinations

Final examinations are ordinarily held in all courses at the end of each semester. The Course Instructor may omit the conventional 2-hour final examination, in favor of a paper, project or take home exam. An exam may also be omitted with the approval of the appropriate Department Chairperson. In addition, other examinations, both written and oral, are given at the discretion of the instructor.

Final Exams are scheduled using a grid which minimizes time and classroom conflicts and attempts to minimize the chance of students having three exams scheduled in the same day. Final Exams should not be held on the scheduled Reading Day.

Only for extremely urgent and compelling reasons, such as illness, death in the immediate family, or religious exemption (see Absenteeism due to Religious Holiday above), may a final examination be taken out of regular schedule. The Office of Academic Services must be notified in all such cases and before the time of examination if possible. If approved, the examination is to be taken at a time set by the Office of Academic Services.

The value of the final examination is determined by the instructor. If a student misses the examination without sufficient reason, a grade of “F” is given for this part of the course requirements. The semester grade is then determined in the same way as for students who took the examination. The Final Examination Schedule can be viewed on the Registrar’s homepage: www.stonehill.edu/registrar.xml .

Grades and Evaluation

Depending upon the course, faculty members employ different means of evaluation. Since there are numerous variations in faculty policies and requirements, faculty members normally declare their grading criteria explicitly, considering mastery of course material, analytical skills, critical oral and written expression skills, originality, and creativity. The quality of work in a course is indicated by the following grades:

Undergraduate:

Grade Definition Quality Points Per Credit Hour
A Outstanding 4.00
A- 3.70
B+ 3.30
B Superior 3.00
B- 2.70
C+ 2.30
C Satisfactory 2.00
C- 1.70
D Passing but unsatisfactory 1.00
F Failure 0.00
IF Incomplete/Failure 0.00
AU Audit
I Incomplete
P Pass
S Satisfactory
U Unsatisfactory
W Withdrew


Administrative Grades:

IP In Progress
NS Not Submitted


Grades of “AU”, “I”, “P”, “S”, “U”, and “W” are not assigned quality points and are not included in the computing of the quality-point average.

An “IF” (Incomplete/Failure) is issued when a student has failed to meet the 30-day deadline for completing the work in an incomplete (“I”) course. An “IF” is assigned 0.00 quality points, and is calculated as an “F” when computing the students grade-point average.

“IP” (In Progress) is an administrative grade marker automatically assigned to any course that is currently in progress. Quality points are not assigned and are not included in the computing of the grade-point average.

“NS” (Not Submitted) is an administrative grade marker used to indicate that a grade was not submitted by the instructor by the final grading deadline. The “NS” will be replaced with a final grade upon receipt from the course instructor. Quality points are not assigned and the NS grade is not included in the computing of the grade-point average.

Military Science courses are graded “A” to “F”, but since grades are not included in the students grade point average the grade is noted with an asterisk on the transcript (e.g. A*).

Mid-Semester Grades

At mid-semester, faculty members are asked to submit grades to all undergraduates students who have earned a grade of C- or lower in any course to date as an indication of the need for improved performance. Students and their advisors are notified of any grades of C- or lower that are submitted. These grades are only an indication of current progress and are not recorded on a student’s transcript.

Incomplete or “I” Grades

The grade of “I’’ can be submitted by the instructor only after permission has been secured from the Office of the Dean of Faculty. It will be given to the student only when the failure to complete the work of the course is due to a serious reason such as prolonged illness. When students receive Incomplete grades, they are granted a period of 30 days, beginning from the last day of final exams, to complete the course work. Failure to complete the course work during this period results in a grade of “IF.”

Voluntary Course Withdrawal or “W” Grades

Students are expected to complete all courses, required or elective, in which they are enrolled. It is only for serious reasons that course withdrawal should be considered. Prior to withdrawal, students are strongly urged to consult with their instructor, advisor, and/or the Office of Academic Services, to review the academic consequences of withdrawal. Students are also urged to consult with Student Financial Services since withdrawals may have significant impact upon a student’s current or subsequent eligibility for financial aid and/or billed charges.

The grade of “W” is given only if a student has submitted a completed Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office. Authorized withdrawal from a course will be indicated on the student’s permanent academic record. Any student who does not follow the required procedure for withdrawal from a course will receive a failing grade.

Students may withdraw from individual courses until the last day for course withdrawal as determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs or his or her designee. The last day for course withdrawal will vary based on the Academic Calendar. Requests for course withdrawal after the deadline will be considered only for serious reasons such as prolonged illness.

Course Withdrawal for Medical Reasons

If course withdrawal is due to a medical reason, the College requires that the student provide primary medical documentation to the College’s Healthcare Professionals prior to the approval of the course withdrawal. The documentation required will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on the nature of the medical reason presented. In the case of a medical course withdrawal, the Director of Academic Services shall contact, based on the nature of the medical reason presented, either the Director of Counseling and Testing or the Director of Health Services (the Designated Healthcare Professional) and inform them of the need for a medical withdrawal consultation. The Designated Healthcare Professional will determine the documentation required, inform the student of the documentation required, review the documentation, and provide written confirmation to the Director of Academic Services that the documentation presented is sufficient. In the case of a medical course withdrawal, upon receipt of written confirmation of sufficiency, the Director of Academic Services may grant the course withdrawal.

Pass or “P” Grades

The grade of “P” is given to students who successfully complete a course in which they have exercised the Pass-Fail Option. To encourage students to broaden their intellectual interest, the College permits juniors or seniors to employ a Pass-Fail Option in one course each semester. The student who passes such a course will receive a grade of “P’’ with no quality points figured in the cumulative average. The student who fails such a course will receive a grade of “F’’ which is counted the same as any other failure. The Pass-Fail Option can be used only in a course which is a free elective and which is taken in a Department other than the student’s major or minor Department. For example, Majors or Minors in Business Administration may not take a course Pass-Fail if it has a designation of BUS. Students must fill out a Pass-Fail form in the Registrar’s Office during the first two weeks of the semester in order to exercise the Pass-Fail Option.

In addition to the above, any student, except a Foreign Language major or minor, who has previously completed the Foreign Language requirement, may elect the Pass-Fail Option in one or two additional Foreign Language courses, even if this exceeds the maximum number of Pass-Fail courses allowed.

Grade Reports

Students may access their grades on-line at the end of each semester. Upon written request of the student, the Registrar’s Office will mail a copy of the transcript to the student or to the student’s parents.

Grade-Point Average

The Semester grade-point average is based on all courses taken in that semester, including failures. It is calculated by (1) multiplying credits for each course by quality points assigned to each grade earned; (2) totaling points earned for all courses; and (3) dividing total points by the number of credits attempted. Cumulative grade-point average is calculated in the above manner for all courses taken at Stonehill College, including failures.

Grades earned in courses accepted in transfer, or in courses approved to be taken at other colleges, are not calculated in either the semester or the cumulative grade-point average.

Repeating a Course

Unless explicitly permitted in the course description, a student may not repeat a course once having attained a passing grade in the course. A student who fails to obtain a passing grade in a course may repeat the course and can secure credit by passing it. Even after a course has been repeated, the original failure remains in the cumulative grade-point-average and on the permanent transcript.

Grade Changes, Re-evaluation and Dispute Process

Only the instructor of a course can give a grade in that course or change a grade given. Any question on the part of the student concerning the correctness of a grade should be raised first with the instructor. If, after contacting the instructor and the respective department chair, a student does not believe the grade to be equitable, a Grade Re-evaluation Request should be filed in the Dean of the Faculty’s Office. Such a request must be made before the middle of the semester following the one in which the grade was given. If, after receiving the explanation of the instructor, the student still feels that the grade is unjust, he or she may appeal to the Academic Appeals Board within 2 weeks. Appeals should be filed in the Dean of the Faculty’s Office.

Academic Standing

Students are not only to pass their courses, but also must maintain an acceptable grade point average. Academic status is determined at the end of each semester during the academic year.

To be in good academic standing, a student must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00. Students who fail to achieve a 2.00 are subject to academic probation, separation, or dismissal.

Academic Probation

If a student earns lower than a 2.00, he/she is placed on Academic Probation. Probation remains in effect until the student achieves good academic standing. A first semester of probation has a variety of consequences, including that the student may be prohibited from participation in extra-curricular activities.

Academic Probation may be removed following successful completion of summer school/intersession courses, taken at Stonehill immediately after the semester in which the probation is incurred, if the student’s GPA reaches the appropriate standard.

Academic Separation

Students will be separated from the College for the following:

  1. Earning a combination of 3 “F”s in any one semester or 4 “F”s in two successive semesters.
  2. Qualifying for Academic Probation for the second successive semester, or for 3 non-consecutive semesters.

Appeal Procedures following Academic Separation

Students separated from the College by reason of academic deficiency have the right to appeal the decision to the Academic Review Board. Requests for such an appeal must be made in writing to the Office of Academic Services within a time frame noted in the letter of separation. Failure to appeal within the time stated will, under all but the most extraordinary circumstances, disallow such appeal. If a student’s appeal is denied, at least one full semester must elapse before applying for readmission. The right to appeal is restricted to two separations. A second separation results in permanent dismissal from the College.

Period of Separation

During the period of separation, a student may choose to take courses at another accredited institution. If so, those courses must be pre-approved by the Office of Academic Services. Only grades of “C” or better will be transferable. (“C-” grades will not transfer).

Readmission to the College Following Separation

After having been separated for at least one semester, a student may apply for readmission to the College. To do so, the student should send his or her request in writing or by e-mail to the Office of Academic Services. Upon receipt of this letter, a Petition for Readmission form will be sent to the student. This process may be initiated any time after March 15, but should be completed by July 1 for the fall semester. For the spring semester, this process must be completed between October 15 and December 1. In the event a student is readmitted, there is no guarantee of either housing on campus or financial aid. Inquiries about on-campus housing and/or financial aid should be directed to those specific offices.

Academic Dismissal

A student who has been readmitted after an academic separation may be permanently dismissed for the following:

  1. Earning lower than a 2.00 in a subsequent semester.
  2. Violating the Academic Integrity Policy.

Graduation Requirements

Class Year Assignment

The Vice President for Academic Affairs has charge of the classification, academic standing, and progress of students. Regardless of the point of admission, students are classified as sophomores if they have completed 10 courses; as juniors if they have completed 20 courses; as seniors if they have completed 30 courses. Students who are no more than 2 courses short of their required number are classified with the higher class.

Beginning with the entering Class of 2014, students will be classified as sophomores when they have reached 30 credits, as juniors when they have reached 60 credits, and as seniors when they have reached 90 credits. Students who are no more than six credits short of the required number may be classified with the higher class.

Requirements for Graduation

It is the personal responsibility of the student to ensure that all academic requirements in the general education, major and minor programs are satisfactorily completed.

The requirements for the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration are the following:

  1. satisfactory completion of all course requirements, including general education and major courses. Proof of a grade of “C” or higher for each transfer course; including those from Stonehill sponsored programs (both abroad and domestic), or those taken as part of SACHEM or any other consortia agreement, must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the due date for final senior grades.
  2. a cumulative grade-point average of a 2.00 or above, (a student who fails to achieve the minimum 2.00 average at the end of the fourth year may be granted on additional semester to achieve it);
  3. satisfactory completion of 40 three or four-credit courses, at least 20 of which must be taken at Stonehill; beginning with those students who enter the Fall of 2010, satisfactory completion of 120 credits, with at least 60 credits taken at Stonehill is required;
  4. attendance at the College for at least two years, one of which is normally the fourth year.
  5. an Application for Graduation on file in the Registrar’s Office.

The student is responsible for payment of all financial obligations to the College, and the diploma and academic transcript are withheld until such obligations have been satisfied.

Degrees ordinarily are conferred by the College at the public Commencement Exercises. Candidates for degrees are to be present at these exercises unless excused by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Graduation Dates

While Stonehill only holds one public Commencement Exercise in May, students who complete their degree requirements early may earn their degree at the end of the summer (September 1st) or at the end of the Fall semester (December 31st). May Commencement Exercises will normally be held on the 3rd Sunday of May, when May is a four week month, and on the 4th Sunday of May, when May is a five week month.

To be eligible for May Graduation

A student must satisfactorily complete all degree, major, and general education requirements by no later than the final due date for Spring senior grades.

The official date of graduation on the diploma and transcript will be the date of May Commencement.

To be eligible for September 1st Graduation

A student must satisfactorily complete all degree, major, and general education requirements by no later than August 20th of that year.

The official date of graduation on the diploma and transcript will be September 1. Diplomas will be mailed by October.

To be eligible for December 31st Graduation

A student must satisfactorily complete all degree, major, and general education requirements by no later than the final due date for Fall semester grades.

The official date of graduation on the diploma and transcript will be December 31st. Diplomas will be mailed by February.

Students who graduate on September 1st or December 31st will be considered part of the following year’s graduating class year. Students who continue part-time to complete their degree requirements may not be eligible for Financial Aid or student housing.

Participation in Commencement Exercises

Any student who has completed all official degree requirements by the final due date for Senior spring grades and who has an approved “Application for Graduation” on file in the Registrar’s Office will be allowed to participate in May Commencement Exercises.

Seniors who are within two courses of meeting their graduation requirements and have submitted an approved “Application to Participate in Commencement” to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of spring final exams may be eligible to participate in the May Commencement prior to completion of the final requirements. Students must also have an approved plan to complete these final requirements during the summer on file with the Office of Academic Services as part of the application to participate process.

Students approved to participate in Commencement prior to the completion of all final requirements will be noted in the Commencement Program without final honors designation. Diplomas will be mailed to these students upon completion and certification of all final requirements on the College’s next official date of degree conferment.

September graduates who participate in the May Commencement prior to their degree completion may not participate in the following May Commencement. September graduates who do not attend the May Commencement prior to degree completion are automatically included in the next May Commencement.

Normally, December graduates may not participate in the Commencement prior to degree completion. December graduates are automatically included in the May Commencement following degree completion.

Selection of a Major

Degree candidates must declare at least one major field of study before the end of the first semester of the junior year or prior to enrollment in the final 45 credits. Some majors require the selection of a concentration within the major.

Students who enter the College with an intended major and complete that major will be considered as having declared at the time of admission.

Undeclared students or students who wish to change their major must submit a Major Declaration Form, signed by the appropriate Department Chairperson or Program Director to the Registrar’s Office. Major Declaration Forms are available on myHill and in the Registrar’s and Academic Services Offices.

Double Major

A student may enroll in two majors, subject to the approval of the respective Department Chairpersons or Program Directors and in consultation with the Office of Academic Services. This option must be requested by completing the Declaration of Major Form and a four-year plan. Major Declaration Forms and Four-Year Plan Forms are available on myHill and in the Registrar’s and Academic Services Offices.

In some cases a student may need to enroll in more than 120 credits in order to satisfy the requirements of both majors. In some cases students will be assessed additional fees.

A student who satisfactorily completes two majors will receive one degree from the College, with this exception: If a student satisfactorily completes the requirements for two majors and the second major is in a different degree program (B.A. vs. B.S. vs. B.S.B.A.), a second degree will be awarded, even if it is completed after the student’s official graduation. The student will be given the option of selecting which degree will be presented at Commencement.

Declaration of an Interdisciplinary Major

In lieu of declaring one major field of study, degree candidates may declare an individually designed interdisciplinary major before the end of the first semester of the junior year or prior to enrollment in the final 45 credits. Should degree candidates declare an interdisciplinary major as a second major, they may do so up to the first semester of the senior year.

Students who wish to declare an interdisciplinary major must complete the Declaration of Major form and submit a program proposal that includes a statement describing educational goals sought, and the sequence of courses that would enable the student to achieve these goals. The course content must be focused upon a specific theme, and must include a significant number of courses beyond the introductory level and a senior Capstone experience. The program proposal must be approved by a faculty advisor as well as by the Program Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Studies.

Selection of Minor

A student may choose a disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary minor area of study, either as an alternative field of specialization or for intellectual enrichment. Generally a minor consists of no more than six courses and ensures breadth and depth beyond the introductory level and outside the major.

A student may declare a maximum of one disciplinary minor and one interdisciplinary minor.

To declare or change a minor a student must submit a Minor Declaration Form, signed by the appropriate minor program advisor to the Registrar’s Office. Minor Declaration Forms are available on myHill and in the Registrar’s and Academic Services Offices. Students wishing to create an interdisciplinary minor will also be required to submit an additional application which is available in the Program Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Studies’ Office.

Dean’s List

Full-time students achieve the distinction of Dean’s List in any semester in which they successfully complete all their courses (no grades of “I” or “W”) and achieve a semester average of 3.50 or above with a minimum of 12 credits graded in a traditional rubric and no grade of “C” or below. An exception to this policy will be made for students who receive an incomplete grade due to a course extending beyond the end of the semester. Part-time students are not eligible for this honor.

Honors at Graduation

Honors at graduation are awarded to recipients of undergraduate degrees for the following cumulative grade-point averages based on a minimum of 60 credits taken at Stonehill:

Stonehill College Academic Honor Code, Policy and Procedures

Academic Honor Code

In the context of a community of scholarship and faith, and anchored in a belief in the inherent dignity of each person, the students, faculty, staff and administration of Stonehill College maintain an uncompromising commitment to academic integrity. We promote a climate of intellectual and ethical integrity and vigorously uphold the fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, and the responsibility while fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect within and beyond the classroom. Any violation of these basic values threatens the integrity of the educational process, the development of ideas, and the unrestricted exchange of knowledge. Therefore, we will not participate in or tolerate academic dishonesty.

Academic Integrity Policy

All member of the College community have the responsibility to be familiar with, to support, and to abide by the College’s Academic Honor Code. This responsibility includes reporting knowledge of or suspected violations of this policy to the appropriate faculty member or to the Director of Academic Services or designee.

Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy include but are not limited to the following actions:

  1. Presenting another’s work as if it were one’s own;
  2. Failing to acknowledge or document a source even if the action is unintended (i.e., plagiarism);
  3. Giving or receiving, or attempting to give or receive, unauthorized assistance or information in an assignment or examination;
  4. Fabricating data;
  5. Submitting the same assignment in two or more courses without prior permission of the respective instructors;
  6. Having another person write a paper or sit for an examination;
  7. Unauthorized use or electronic devices to complete work; or
  8. Furnishing false information, including lying or fabricating excuses, for incomplete work.

Each year, the Vice President for Academic Affairs is responsible for maintaining and publishing a set of procedures relative to the Academic Integrity Policy. These procedures can be accessed through the Office of Academic Services.

Academic Integrity Procedures

Authority

  1. The Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) is responsible for the overall administration of the Academic Honor Code. Under the direction of the VPAA, the Director of Academic Services or designee has been charged with the day-to-day responsibility for the administration of the Academic Honor Code, including the development and execution of all procedural rules related to academic integrity. The Director of Academic Services or designee is also responsible for protecting the rights of all parties involved throughout the entire hearing process. All Academic Integrity Reports will be held in confidential files in the Office of Academic Services.
  2. The Director of Academic Service or designee gives each faculty member the right to approach a student suspected of violating the Academic Integrity Policy to determine whether or not a violation has occurred, and if so, decide the appropriate sanction for the violation.
  3. The Director of Academic Services or designee gives authority to the Academic Integrity Board (AIB) to conduct hearings on alleged violations of the academic integrity policy when an agreement cannot be reached between the faculty member and student regarding the violation or the sanction.
  4. The Director of Academic Services or designee gives authority to the Academic Appeals Board (AAB) to hear appeal cases regarding violations of the academic integrity policy.

Academic Hearing Boards

The purpose of the Academic Integrity Board (AIB) is to review statements from a charged student, the faculty member, and witnesses with knowledge of the incident when there is a dispute over either the alleged violation or sanction. The AIB determines whether or not the charged student violated the academic integrity policy, and determines the nature of the sanction if the charged student is found responsible.

The AIB contains representatives from students, faculty, and administrators. Because these hearings must occur soon after the alleged event, a representing group of faculty and students will be trained so that a quorum of five AIB members can be present to conduct a hearing. The Board will be comprised of two faculty, two students, and Director of Academic Services or designee who serves as chair of the Board. The Director of Community Standards serves as an “ex officio” member of the Board, ensuring appropriate procedures are followed. Members of the College community may nominate student members of AIB. From these nominations, the Student Government Association will appoint students to serve on the AIB for the following academic year. The Faculty Senate will appoint two faculty members from each division and fill any vacancies during the year by appointment. Members of the AIB may not serve of the Academic Appeals Board.

The Academic Appeals Board (AAB) is charged with hearing all requests for appeals resulting from an AIB hearing. A quorum of three AAB members must be present to conduct a hearing. The AAB is comprised of one faculty member and one student representative, chaired by the Dean of Faculty or designee. Members of the College community may nominate student members for the AAB. From these nominations, the Student Government Association will appoint students to serve on the AAB for the following academic year. The Faculty Senate will appoint one faculty from each division and fill any vacancies during the year by appointment. Members of the AAB may not serve on the Academic Integrity Board. It is expected that all hearing board members be impartial. All decisions by the AIB and AAB will be arrived at by a simple majority vote. The chairperson will vote only in case of a tie. All board findings are reviewed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs before being released.

In order to participate on either board, all members must complete a training process. The term of office for AIB and AAB board members will be two years for faculty members and one year for students. There are no specific term limits for board members. Student members of the AIB and AAB must be full-time students in good academic and disciplinary standing. If a student member does not maintain good academic or disciplinary standing, he or she will be removed from the AIB or AAB for that academic year. A member of the AIB or AAB may be removed from the Board for non-fulfillment of duties essential to the position. A majority vote of the members is required for removal.

Charged students are required to attend all hearings related to academic integrity violations. Hearings are not open to the public and are confidential in nature. Therefore, friends, parents, siblings, or legal counsel may not be permitted in the room where the hearing takes place but, may wait nearby for support purposes. However, charged students are encouraged to be advised by an advocate during the process, which is defined as a faculty, administrator, staff member or member from the student body who is not an attorney.

In the absence of a functioning AIB or AAB, such as before the appointment of members or at the end of an academic semester, the Director of Academic Services or designee may appoint an impartial group of faculty, administrators, and students to review the case.

Initiation of Academic Integrity Procedures

Faculty members must respect the student’s right to confidentiality during this process. Discussion of any matters related to the event that would violate the student’s confidentiality should be avoided. Faculty members seeking advice from others should not use the names of the alleged students and should be careful not to reveal confidential information. Designated staff members in the Office of Academic Services are available for confidential consultation.

When a faculty member suspects a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, the faculty member meets privately with the student (in person, or by phone with email documentation, if a face-to-face meeting is impossible, as can happen at the end of a semester) as soon as possible but within five business days of discovering the alleged violation, presents the evidence, and asks for an explanation. Specific time limits within the process may be extended for reasonable cause at the discretion of the Director of Academic Services or designee. The faculty member and the student may arrive at one of the following conclusions:

In cases where the personal safety of a faculty member is a concern, the faculty member may either request a third party to be present when meeting with the student or may report the violation directly to the chair of the AIB or designee without prior discussion of the incident with the student.

The student and faculty member involved will be contacted by the chair of the AIB to arrange a date, time and place of the hearing through a written notice. During this contact, the faculty member and student can recommend witnesses.

Formal AIB hearings will be conducted as soon as possible but no sooner than two business days nor more than ten business days after the charged student has been notified.

Specific time limits within the process may be extended for reasonable cause at the discretion of the Director of Academic Services or designee.

Students Rights to formal AIB and AAB Board Hearings

A charged student will be considered notified of the charges once the Academic Integrity Incident Report has been mailed to the student’s local or campus address on file with the College.

A student charged with allegedly violating the Academic Integrity Policy will be entitled to:

  1. be notified of the date, time and place of the formal discipline hearing, as well as the names of the witnesses (if applicable) called to the hearing;
  2. receive notice of the fact that failure to appear for a formal hearing may result in the hearing being conducted in the absence of the charged student;
  3. provide in writing the names of witnesses with knowledge of the incident that may appear at a formal discipline hearing on his/her behalf to the Director of Academic Services or designee, within twenty-four hours of the hearing. Character witnesses are not permitted;
  4. be notified of the fact that he/she may request additional information about the Honor Code;
  5. challenge the composition of the hearing board with cause;
  6. present his/her case;
  7. decline to answer any questions or make any statements during a formal board hearing. Such silence will not be used against the charged student; however, the outcome of the formal hearing will be based upon the information of lack thereof presented at the hearing
  8. be advised by an advocate, who is defined as a faculty, administrator, staff member or member of the student body who is not an attorney.
  9. be informed in writing of the decision and sanction, if any, within three business days of a hearing; and
  10. request an appeal of the decision resulting from an AIB hearing with five business days of receiving the decision in writing. A charged student is entitled to one appeal.

Academic Integrity Board Hearings Procedure

The order of Academic Integrity Board hearings will proceed as follows:

  1. Review and signing of the Honesty Statement;
  2. Reading of the alleged violations(s);
  3. Charged student’s opportunity to challenge member(s) of the Academic Integrity Board for Bias;
  4. Charged student’s plea;
  5. Charged student’s statement;
  6. Faculty member’s statement;
  7. Witness’ statement(s);
  8. Person who believes he/she was the victim of the student’s Academic Integrity Violation statement;
  9. Charged student’s closing statement;
  10. Discussion and decision making in close session.

Sanctions

Faculty members and hearing boards review cases on their own individual merit and determine appropriate sanctions. Possible sanctions can include but are not limited to: warning, reduction or loss of credit for the assignment, or failure of the course. Sanctions of separation or dismissal from the College may only be imposed by the AIB and AAB. In the case of a student with past academic integrity violations, these violations will only be considered when a decision has been made and a sanction is being determined.

For a repeated offense, the AIB may separate the student for a minimum of two semesters. If a student who has been separated for past academic integrity violation is re-admitted and violates the policy again, the AIB permanently dismisses the student from the College. Sanctions do not become effective until the appeal process is completed.

The Director of Academic Services or designee may impose interim restriction(s) upon a student pending a formal board hearing. Interim restrictions become effective immediately without prior notice whenever the Director of Academic Services or designee, believes the student may cause serious disruption to the College community.

However, interim restrictions may include: separation from the College; restriction of communication with named individuals or faculty within the College community; or the restriction from attending a particular class.

Whenever reasonably possible, a meeting between the charged student and Director of Academic Services or designee will be held prior to the imposition of interim restrictions. The charged students will have the opportunity to meet with the Director of Academic Services or designee to present his/her version of the facts, and to indicate why interim restrictions should not be imposed. Following this meeting, the decision of the Director Of Academic Services or designee will be final.

Appeals

  1. If a student and faculty member both agree that a violation did occur and they are able to come to an agreement on an appropriate sanction, then this outcome may not be appealed.
  2. A charged student or faculty member may submit a request for an appeal of a decision or sanction resulting from AIB hearing no later than five business days after receiving written notice of the decision or sanction.
  3. A request for an appeal is to be submitted in writing to the Director of Academic Services or designee.
  4. The Director of Academic Services or designee refers the request to the Dean of Faculty or designee who serves as the chair of the AAB.
  5. Appeals will be considered based on the following criteria:
    1. Failure to follow the stated processes or procedures that significantly prejudices the outcome;
    2. Insufficient or inappropriate evidence used to justify a decision; or
    3. Unjustified sanction.
    1. Determine there are no grounds for the appeal, thus upholding the AIB decision;
    2. refer the case to the AIB that originally heard the case for re-consideration of special issues;
    3. change the original decision or sanction after reasonable review of the appeal request and the decision rationale of the AIB; or
    4. Determine the appeal request merits a formal appeal hearing and schedule a hearing no later than 10 business days from the date the request is reviewed. Typically, a formal appeal hearing would not be granted unless significant prejudices result from deviations of designated procedures.

    Academic Discipline Records

    1. Academic discipline records are educational records are maintained in the Office of Academic Services for seven years post-graduation. These records are kept confidential and are shared only under the following circumstances: (a) in the case of a repeated violation of the Academic Integrity Policy; (b) upon request of student; and, (c) upon request from law enforcement.
    2. Academic discipline records are not considered to be part of a student’s permanent academic record maintained by the College. However, a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy that results in a sanction of college separation or college dismissal is considered part of the student’s permanent record.

    Interpretation and Revisions

    Any questions of interpretation or application of the Academic Integrity Procedures will be referred to the Director of Academic Services or designee for determination.

    Credit Earned Away From Stonehill

    Transfer of Credit

    All courses taken away from Stonehill must be pre-approved by the Office of Academic Services. Only courses passed with a grade equivalent to the Stonehill grade of “C” or higher are accepted for credit transfer. An earned grade of “C-” will not transfer. Transfer grades are not recorded on the Stonehill transcript and are not included in the computation of the cumulative grade-point average. Credits earned abroad must be transferred to Stonehill College as soon possible after the semester abroad. It is the responsibility of the student to request that an official transcript be sent directly to the Academic Services Office at Stonehill College. The Academic Services Office in consultation with the appropriate academic departments makes the final determination of the applicability of courses in transfer to a major or minor sequence, as well as to fulfillment of General Education requirements.

    Upper-level courses required for completion of a student’s major, minor, or general education requirements are normally taken at Stonehill College. A number of courses (not to exceed more than half the required courses in a major or minor) may be accepted in transfer toward completion of major or minor requirements with approval from the appropriate chairperson.

    International Study

    A student registered at Stonehill College who wishes to take any course at an international college must submit an on line application for admission to International Programs, available on the Stonehill College Web page: www.stonehill.edu/internationalprograms.xml.

    Students who are approved for the Study Abroad Program by the Director of International Programs must obtain pre-approval for all academic courses they are planning to take at the international educational institution. Students must complete the Study Abroad Course Approval Form during the semester before they leave to be eligible to transfer credit back to Stonehill College. Students must have all courses in fulfillment of their major and/or minor requirements and departmental electives approved by the chairperson of the appropriate department. A member of the Academic Services Office must approve all other courses for transfer.

    Second semester seniors generally are not allowed to enroll in courses elsewhere during the spring semester.

    Advanced Placement

    The College participates in the Advanced Placement program administered by the College Entrance Examination Board. Each academic department establishes criteria for awarding placement and credit. Placement and credit awards are as follows:

    Advanced Placement Course
    		Score Stonehill Equivalent Credits
    Studio Arts 4 or 5 Studio Arts Elective 3
    Art History 4 or 5 Art History Elective 3
    Biology 4 or 5 Two Biology Electives 8
    Calculus AB 4 or 5 Calculus I (MTH 125 ) or Math Elective 4
    Calculus BC 4 Calculus I (MTH 125 ) or Math Elective 4
    Calculus BC 5 Calculus I (MTH 125 ) & II (MTH 126 ) 8
    Chemistry 4 or 5 General Chemistry (CHM 113 ) 4
    Computer Science A 4 or 5 Computer Science I (CSC 103 ) 4
    English Language Composition 4 or 5 General Elective 3
    English Literature/Composition 4 or 5 General Elective 3
    Environmental Science 4 or 5 Environmental Science Elective 3
    European History 5 European History Elective 3
    French Language 4 or 5 Advanced French I (FRN 331 ) & II (FRN 332 ) 6
    French Literature 4 or 5 Advanced French I (FRN 331 ) & II (FRN 332 ) 6
    German Language 4 or 5 Advanced German I (GRM 331 ) & II (GRM 333 ) 6
    Government & Politics U.S. 4 or 5 American Government & Politics (POL 123 ) 3
    Government & Politics Comp 4 or 5 International Politics (POL 143 ) 3
    Human Geography 4 or 5 General Elective 3
    Latin: Literature 4 or 5 Elementary Latin I (LAT 131 ) & II (LAT 132 ) 6
    Latin: Virgil 4 or 5 Elementary Latin I (LAT 131 ) & II (LAT 132 ) 6
    Economics - Micro 4 or 5 Microeconomic Principles (ECO 176 ) 3
    Economics - Macro 4 or 5 Macroeconomic Principles (ECO 178 ) 3
    Music Theory 4 or 5 Music Theory (VPM 240 ) 3
    Physics B 4 or 5 Two Physics Electives 8
    Physics C 4 or 5 Two Physics Electives 8
    Psychology 4 or 5 General Psychology (PSY 101 ) 3
    Spanish Language 4 or 5 Advanced Spanish I (SPA 331 ) & II (SPA 332 ) 6
    Spanish Literature 4 or 5 Advanced Spanish I (SPA 331 ) & II (SPA 332 ) 6
    Statistics 4 or 5 Basic Quantitative Techniques (MTH 145 ) 3
    U.S. History 5 U.S. History Elective 3
    World History 5 Work History Elective 3


    Students who have taken part in the Advanced Placement program during high school may request advanced credit. To receive credit, students must request that an official score report be sent to the Office of Academic Services. Requests should be made to: AP Exams, P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671.

    As noted above, generally a score of 4 or 5 is accepted for transfer as major or elective credit. Advanced Placement credit cannot be applied toward the Critical Encounters Core curriculum. In addition, students who are granted Stonehill College credit for Advanced Placement tests are not allowed to enroll in introductory courses in the same area(s) in which credit has been granted. All Advanced Placement Credits are approved by the Office of Academic Services.

    International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Policy

    Stonehill recognizes the level of academic achievement represented by the successful completion of coursework in the International Baccalaureate Program. Stonehill will award 6-8 credits (2 courses) of transfer credit for each Higher Level (HL) exam with a score of 5, 6, or 7. Credit will not be given for Standard Level examinations. Students who have taken both AP and IB examinations in the same subject area do not receive credit for both.

    The High School/College Dual Enrollment Policy

    Stonehill College recognizes that some students may be offered the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses prior to their high school graduation. The College is willing to consider the acceptance of the academic credits earned in such courses. Ordinarily, the College will accept no more than three courses in transfer under this policy. Students who successfully complete dual enrollment courses at accredited institutions should submit an official transcript to the Office of Academic Services by July 1.

    Courses are evaluated on an individual basis, according to the following criteria:

    Transcript Requests

    In order to protect a student’s right to privacy, a transcript can be released by the Registrar’s Office only at the written request of the student. Requests for transcripts must be made in writing to the Registrar’s Office and will not be accepted by telephone. Emailed requests will also not be accepted, except in cases where a scanned transcript request with student’s signature is attached to the email. To obtain an on line transcript request form, go to: www.stonehill.edu/registrar.xml .

    In accordance with the usual practice of colleges and universities, official transcripts normally are mailed directly by the College, not transmitted by the student. A transcript is official when it bears the seal of the College and the signature of the Registrar. Students may request unofficial transcripts for personal use. Transcripts will be issued only when all financial obligations to the College have been satisfied. There is no fee for transcripts.