{"id":698,"date":"2012-09-10T20:03:53","date_gmt":"2012-09-10T20:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/grad1213\/academic-policies\/"},"modified":"2019-08-14T09:06:53","modified_gmt":"2019-08-14T13:06:53","slug":"academic-policies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catalogs.wcsu.edu\/grad2021\/academic-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND POLICIES"},"content":{"rendered":"

Course Registration<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Student Responsibility\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is the student\u2019s responsibility to ensure that courses taken meet degree requirements. Courses taken without a graduate program coordinator\u2019s permission may not be approved for a degree program. All students accepted by the\u00a0Office of Graduate\u00a0Admissions\u00a0must follow a program approved by a graduate program coordinator. Substitute courses may replace required courses only if approved by the appropriate graduate coordinator.<\/span><\/p>\n

General Program Information<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Students should be aware that additional requirements may be imposed for certification or licensure (even once a plan of study has been prepared) if such requirements are imposed by outside licensing or accrediting agencies. A plan of study may be subject to revision to reflect such additional requirements<\/span><\/p>\n

Course Schedules <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For courses offered, consult the university website, using the Open\/Close system, or contact the\u00a0Office of Graduate Admissions\u00a0at (203) 837-8243.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The school deans, in conjunction with graduate coordinators and the Associate Director of Graduate Admissions,\u00a0reserve the right to make changes in faculty assignments and, if necessary, cancel announced courses. The deans also reserve the right to limit class size and to refuse registration when class limits have been reached.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students are encouraged to register early – at least one month prior to the start of the semester or the summer session<\/em> – to help ensure that the course(s) they plan to take will meet the minimal enrollment requirement and will actually be taught.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student Independent Study (SIS)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The SIS provides an opportunity for matriculated students, with faculty sponsorship and approval of the graduate coordinator, to design and develop their own projects and learning experiences. Graduate students planning an SIS must complete the approval process by the last day of the drop\/add registration period for a semester or term.<\/span><\/p>\n

Faculty-Developed Course <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Occasionally, an academic department may offer an experimental course, labeled X98, to determine its value to the total departmental program or in response to a particular request from a group of students<\/span><\/p>\n

Registration Procedures<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Graduate students may register for classes in one of\u00a0six ways:<\/span><\/p>\n

Web:<\/strong> Matriculated graduate students who have a\u00a0MyBanner Account\u00a0are able to register via the web. Web registration is available to matriculated students only. <\/span><\/p>\n

Email:<\/strong> Students may send an email to graduateadmissions@wcsu.edu <\/span><\/p>\n

Online Registration Form:<\/strong> Current student may use the online registration form: https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/graduate\/forms\/course-registration.asp <\/span><\/p>\n

Fax:<\/strong> Students may register by fax, using the registration forms available on the website or at the Office of Graduate Admissions, Old Main, Room\u00a0101. The registration fax number is (203) 837-8326. No faxes will be accepted prior to midnight of the first day of registration. Any faxes received prior to that date will be processed at the end of the calendar day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mail:<\/strong> Students may mail their completed registration form\u00a0to Office of Graduate Admissions, Western Connecticut State University, 181 White Street,\u00a0Danbury, CT 06810\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Person:<\/strong> Students may register in person in the Office of Graduate Admissions, Old Main, Room\u00a0101.<\/span><\/p>\n

Credit\/Semester Hours<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To make satisfactory progress students must complete the required credits\/semester hours within the time frame allowed for the degree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many graduate programs include one or two courses\u00a0that must be taken after most other degree requirements are met. For example, in the M.S. in Education program, students opting for a non-thesis approach will register for ED 501 and ED 592 after completing at least 18 credits, including ED 500 and specific department requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students are advised to check with their graduate program coordinator to determine the specific requirement of their program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally, no course may be taken for extra credit. The only exception to this rule may be made when the extra credit will complete a student\u2019s degree requirements during the current semester or term. This exception is contingent upon the instructor\u2019s willingness to arrange additional work whereby the student may earn one extra credit over and above that allowed for the regular class. In such instances, an additional tuition payment for the extra semester hour is required.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Registration for standard summer courses is ordinarily limited to six credits per session and three credits in any sessions four weeks or less in length. Graduate students who wish to exceed that number must obtain permission from their graduate program coordinator or, if they have not yet been assigned a coordinator, from the Office of Graduate Admissions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Only matriculated graduate students may earn credit for a Student Independent Study (SIS). Proposals for such study must be approved by the graduate coordinator before the last day of the add\/drop registration period for the semester or term.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Graduate students may register to audit a class in the same way that they register to enroll. They receive no credit for an audited class but pay the same tuition as those who are taking the course for credit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Withdrawal from a Course (and how it may affect your grade)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Students who find it necessary to drop a course must immediately notify the\u00a0Office of Graduate Admissions\u00a0in writing. An official form for this purpose may be obtained in the Office of Graduate Admissions. Failure to withdraw in writing will generate a grade of\u00a0F for the course. Ordinarily, students do not withdraw from a course after mid-semester. It is not possible to withdraw by phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Students may withdraw from a full-semester course without penalty until the end of the tenth week of the semester.<\/span><\/p>\n

Withdrawals are recorded on the student\u2019s transcript with the notation \u201cW.\u201d There is no penalty attached to this notation. Withdrawals after the tenth week of a course normally result in an automatic penalty of WF. Withdrawals through the tenth week are initiated by the student in the\u00a0Office of Graduate Admissions. Later requests for withdrawal from a course without penalty are initiated through conference with the instructor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. The Connecticut Office of Higher Education became a member of SARA<\/a> in 2017, thus allowing Western Connecticut State University to apply to be a member of SARA. This allows Western Connecticut State University to accept students from all SARA approved states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student Complaints<\/span><\/p>\n

Pursuant to federal regulations and the terms of SARA, the Office of Higher Education is responsible for the investigation and resolution of out-of-state students\u2019 complaints against institutions of higher education based in Connecticut and offering distance education via SARA. Note that issues regarding student life, such as discipline, grading, etc., fall solely within the purview of the institution and are not generally investigated. Additionally, the Office of Higher Education does not investigate anonymous complaints or provide legal advice. Currently, SARA institutions are to:<\/span><\/p>\n