Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Evening, Weekend, Online Academic Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Evening, Weekend, Online Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Guidelines/Policies (Graduate)


Academic Advising

An important aspect of academic life at Lakeland is the relationship between its students and their advisors.

While students are expected to be responsible for their own academic decisions and curricular requirements, they should know that, throughout their years at Lakeland, one sure source of friendly concern, supportive encouragement, and accurate academic advice is their advisor. The advising relationship can help students with the following:

  • Mapping out the path to degree completion
  • Selecting courses each semester
  • Communicating with offices on the main campus

Class Attendance and Participating Online

Students are expected to be present and actively engaged in all class sessions. For classroom-based instruction, this means students are present and punctual in all class sessions. For online instruction, this means students should log in a minimum of three days each week and participate in the discussion forum. For BlendEd® courses, students must follow the attendance requirements whichever way they choose to attend. Individual course instructors are responsible for clearly notifying students of their unique and specific class attendance policies.

Adding or Dropping Courses

Students may drop and add courses in accordance with the published add and drop schedule each term. Adding or dropping classes may be done online through my.lakeland.edu.

Students assume all responsibility for adding and/or dropping courses within the stated deadlines.

A course that is dropped will not be recorded on a student’s transcript.

Withdrawing from a Course

A student who wishes to withdraw from courses must do so in accordance with the withdrawal dates published for each term. Official withdrawal from a course requires that the student secure approval by telephone or email from his/her Kellett School advisor. Students assume all responsibility for withdrawal from courses including the full completion and submission of course withdrawal forms. Class absence without official withdrawal will result in a failing grade for the course.

Withdrawal from a course will be recorded as a “W” on a student’s transcript.

Administrative Drops for Non-Attendance

  1. Lakeland University reserves the right to administratively withdraw a student from class(es) for failure to attend classes or commence enrollment during the first part of the term without an approved excuse. Excused absences may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
  2. Withdrawals from full-term courses (Fall/Spring):
    • If a student fails to initiate the drop/withdrawal process and has never attended the class or commenced enrollment* by the 10th day of term for full length semesters or terms, the university will initiate an administrative withdrawal for non-attendance.
    • Tuition and financial aid refund calculations will be based on the day prior to the start of the term/semester.
  3. Withdrawals from short-term courses (7, 10, or 12-week courses):
    • If a student fails to initiate the drop/withdrawal process and has never attended the class or commenced enrollment* during the first five days of a 7-,10-, or 12-week course, the university will initiate an administrative withdrawal for non-attendance.
    • Tuition and financial aid refund calculations will be based on the day prior to the start of the term/semester.

*Commencing enrollment requires participation in the class in person or via Lakeland’s courseware system, Blackboard. Simply logging into a class via Blackboard does not qualify as commencing enrollment. An assignment must be submitted or the student must participate in a discussion board activity in order to “commence enrollment.”

Medical Withdrawal

Please refer to the section on Medical Withdrawal and Family Leave  for details.

Repeating a Course

A student may repeat a course for which he or she has already received a grade; however, students may repeat a course only one time and will receive credit for a course only once. The higher course grade will be recorded and used when calculating the GPA. The lower grade will remain on the transcript and will be marked with an asterisk.

Independent Study Courses-Graduate Program

Approval for courses taught on an independent study basis is contingent upon the availability of a qualified, experienced instructor and the permission of both the Assistant Provost for EWO Operations and Retention, or delegate, and the Provost. Regularly scheduled courses will be approved as independent studies only when they have been unavailable to students due to scheduling conflicts on the part of the university and when students need the independent study course as a prerequisite to another course, where, without the independent study, the student is unable to advance in the curriculum. The independent study course must follow the course description, learning objectives and contact hours that would be required if the course were taken in its “regular” format. With appropriate approvals, students may take up to two courses on an independent study basis in any one subject area.

If a student’s academic advisor believes the student would benefit from an independent study, the academic advisor should verify, with assistance from the Office of the Registrar if needed, whether the student is eligible for the independent study and whether the student must complete the course requested for independent study in the proposed term. When the proposal is for the independent completion of a regularly scheduled course, the student must provide a rationale for why he or she was unable to complete the course during the regularly scheduled time. The academic advisor must submit the proposal for independent study to the Assistant Provost for EWO Operations and Retention, or delegate. If supported, the Assistant Provost for EWO Operations and Retention, or delegate, will submit the proposal to the Provost. If the proposal is approved, the student must submit a completed independent study form to the Office of the Registrar when registering for the course. A copy of an approval from the Assistant Provost for EWO Operations and Retention, or delegate, and the Provost must accompany the form. Independent study forms are available from the academic advisor. The independent study form and approvals must be turned in to the Office of the Registrar no later than the last day to Add/Drop a course in each term.

Auditing a Course

A student may audit any Lakeland University course. Requirements for auditing a course are decided by the instructor. The minimal requirement for an audit is regular class attendance. Upon completion of the work assigned by the instructor, an auditing student will receive a letter grade of AU on his or her permanent academic record. No credit is earned for an audited course. Failure to meet the instructor’s conditions will be recorded as UAU; withdrawal from the course as WAU. Course enrollment may be converted to audit status on or before the date announced as the last day to withdraw as indicated on the academic calendar for the relevant term.

A reduced tuition rate is applied when a student completes an audited course. Students should refer to the tuition and fee schedule or their individual bills for specific rate information. There is no audit tuition reduction for a student who has enrolled under the PACE tuition plan or under other special tuition rates.