The Savannah State University Catalog provides you with the latest academic information. Your personal copy may be obtained from the Registrar's Office. Each semester the Registrar's Office also publishes a schedule of courses which informs you of the time, place and instructor of each course offered during a particular semester and contains information about registering for courses, dropping a course, withdrawing from the College and other pertinent academic information. You are urged to read both publications with care since you are responsible for knowing all academic regulations and requirements.

Certain academic regulations are listed in these pages and in the Student Handbook. You are expected to know them and refer to them when the occasion dictates.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to demonstrate a high standard of academic honesty in all phases of academic work and college life. Academic dishonesty represents an attack on intellectual integrity without which there can be no true education. In taking tests and examinations, completing homework, laboratory work, and writing papers, students are expected to perform honestly. Consequently, Savannah State has established the following policies for detected acts of academic dishonesty.

1. All cases of detected academic dishonesty will be reported by the faculty to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

2. Plagiarism or cheating in any academic work will result in a recorded grade of "F" for that work.

3. A second offense during the course of a student's academic career at Savannah State will result in an "F" for the course in which the academic dishonesty has occurred. In addition, students who have committed a second offense of academic dishonesty during their academic career at Savannah State will be placed on academic probation for a minimum of one semester.

4. A third incidence of academic dishonesty during a student's career at Savannah State will result in immediate dismissal from the College.

Auditor

An auditor is one who enrolls for informational instruction only. Regular attendance at class is customary without other participation and without credit. Audit registrations are not permitted in any applied music courses or in field biology courses. A student who is registered as an auditor may change to credit status within the three weeks following the first day of classes. A change from audit to credit status requires the approval of the instructor, the completion of all regular class work assigned, and payment of the balance of course fee due per credit status. A student who is registered for credit may change to audit status up to four weeks before the last day of classes. The specific dates are stated in the respective semester or term Class Schedule. Class Attendance

Each student is expected to attend all classes for which he/she is enrolled. The attendance policy for each course is determined by the instructor of each course. This policy shall be made known to the class at the beginning of each semester. It is the student's responsibility to know the policy on attendance for each course in which he/she is enrolled. It is the responsibility of students to attend every class session held when they are not ill, involved with a personal emergency, or traveling with approved team activities. Consistent class attendance and participation are essential to academic success. Poor class attendance is a major factor in nearly all cases of academic failure. Absences Due to Illness - students should contact their instructors at the earliest opportunity preferably prior to the class meeting (especially if any graded work is scheduled). Absences Due to Emergencies - students should notify the Student Affairs Office if they must leave the College for any extended period of time because of hospitalization, injuries, or family problems. Instructors will be contacted, but it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for any make-up work. The Instructor in each course is responsible for administering any deferred examination. Student-Athlete Absentee Form: student-athletes should complete an absentee form for each class missed due to competition away from the college. The forms should be requested at least two class days prior to the competition. The form confirms that you are participating in a college-sanctioned competition. It does not serve as an excused absence from that class. Your instructor has the final say in excused and unexcused absences and it is the student's responsibility to know and abide by that policy. A student who is inexcusably absent from class on a day on which a test or examination announced in advance is given will receive the grade of "F" and will not have the opportunity of making up the test. In case of an excused absence on such a day, he/she will consult with his/her instructor as to what arrangements are to be made for taking care of the situation.

D-F Repeat

A student is permitted to repeat a course in which a grade of D or F has been earned. In deciding to exercise the D and F repeat option, the student agrees to accept for the record the grade earned for the course as repeated. The earlier grade and grade points will remain on the transcript but will not be used in computing the student's grade point average and number of hours attempted/earned. The student will receive the grade and grade points of the repeat, which will be used in determining the grade point average and the number of hours attempted/earned. Upon completion of a course repeated for grade under the above policy, it is the student's responsibility to request the recalculation of the grade point average in the Office of the Registrar.

Finals Examinations

In some cases procedures other than final examinations may be used as a part of a student's evaluation. Such a substitute procedure should be noted on the course syllabus and be approved by the Department Chair and Dean of the College. There are occasions when the time and date of a final examination may be changed according to the following policy: A student having three final examinations scheduled on one day may request an adjustment by:

1. Listing the courses scheduled for examination in alphabetical order

2. Taking the final examinations given in the first and third classes

3. Requesting a change in the date of the final examination from the professor of the second class.

Grade Reports

Grade reports are issued by the Registrar at the end of each semester. Related to students' grades, instructors will use testing devices such as quizzes and examinations frequently enough to establish a pattern of regular study of course content by the students. Within reasonable time, instructors in courses will return quizzes, examinations, papers, and projects in order that students may know at least the general level of personal performance of courses.

Incomplete Grades

Courses in which a student received a grade of "I" must be completed within the following semester, excluding summer sessions; otherwise these grades become "F". The responsibility rests with the student in making up the work required, or taking the examination to change an "I" within the allotted time.

Withdrawal from Course

A student may withdraw from a course during the first week of classes with no entry on his or her official college transcript. From the second through the tenth week of classes (or two thirds of the semester for classes not offered on a regular basis), a student may withdraw from a course with a grade of W on the transcript. Courses may be added only during the first five days of classes. A student who finds it necessary to drop a course or withdraw from college after registration must complete the proper form in the Registrar's Office or give WRITTEN notice, by mail, to the Registrar's Office. THE DATE OF WITHDRAWAL IS NOT THE DAY THE STUDENT STOPS GOING TO CLASS BUT THE DATE THE PROPER WITHDRAWAL NOTICE IS RECEIVED IN THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE. Students who fail to comply with this regulation will receive an "F" for all courses for which they have registered and forfeit all tuition refunds. The dates and refund schedule are listed in the current Class Schedule.

Pass/Fail Option

A junior or senior may choose to take one course per semester on a Pass/Fail basis. These must be chosen from courses not included in the General Education requirements nor in the Department of the major or minor. Required related courses for any major or minor may not be completed under the Pass/Fail option. Undergraduate internships, practices, and field based experiences shall be offered on the Pass/Fail option at the discretion of the Department and College; such courses may be in addition to the one course chosen for that semester. For the Bachelor of Commerce degree, the Pass/Fall Option does not apply to any courses taken in the area of emphasis. The total number of courses taken on the Pass/Fail basis may not exceed four, excluding internships, practices, and field based experiences. No quality points will be assigned to a grade of "Pass" which will be entered on record as "Hours Earned" but not as "Hours Attempted." A grade of "C" or better will be required to receive a "Pass." A grade of "Fail" will be treated in the same fashion as any other failure. A student who is registered on Pass/Fail basis may change to grade status or a student registered for grade may change to Pass/Fail status within the three weeks following the first day of classes. A change from Pass/Fail to grade or from grade to Pass/Fail requires the approval of the instructor. The specific date per term/semester by which change of status must be completed is stated in the respective semester or term Class Schedule.

Severe Weather

In all cases of severe weather the Vice President for Academic Affairs will officially announce delayed or cancelled classes. The following is the class schedule for bad weather.

Waiver or Exception, Degree Requirements and Academic Policies

Students seeking a waiver or exception related to degree requirements or academic policies or the College must petition the Subcommittee for Waiver or Exception for decision. The proper form must be obtained from the Registrar. After the form is completed, the student returns the form to the Office of the Registrar for the action of the Committee (see below). For information and assistance regarding these procedures contact the Registrar. The Subcommittee for Waiver and Exception determined action on all undergraduate and graduate petitions concerning waiver of degree requirements or exception to the academic policies of Savannah State. Specifically the Subcommittee for Waiver or Exception:

1. Considers and determines action on all petitions for waiver of degree requirements or for exception to academic policy of Savannah State, undergraduate and graduate levels, provided petitions are submitted with comments from the Academic Advisor and the Chairperson of the Department;

2. Determines action on petitions of waiver or exception which develops after a student's admission to Savannah State;

3. Receives petitions for waiver or exceptions from the Office of the Registrar;

4. Meets according to predetermined schedule during the fall and spring semesters or shall meet as necessary to consider petitions requiring action;

5. Upon utilizing the appropriate form, reports actions on petitions to the Registrar;

6. Maintains in the Office of the Registrar the minutes of each meeting stating the petition considered, the name of the student associated with the petition, the action of the Subcommittee.

If, following the action of the Subcommittee, a student desires to appeal the decision he/she must contact the Vice President for Academic Affairs.