Academic Grievance Procedure
Students who have a grievance relating to a faculty member,
department chair, or dean are invited to discuss their academic grievance in
the following manner:
- concerns related to a faculty member that cannot be resolved between
the two parties should be discussed with the department chair on a person-to-person
basis;
- if the concern is related to the department chair (in schools with
departments), the grievance should be filed with the dean of the school;
- if the concern is related to the dean of the school, the grievance
should be filed with the Vice President and Provost;
- if the level of concern relates to the Vice President and Provost,
appropriate written documentation should be presented to the President of
the University.
Academic Probation, Warning, and Suspension
Probation Students may be placed on academic probation
or academic warning for failure to make satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Failure to make satisfactory progress can mean the failure to either meet a
certain grade point average in a given semester or to maintain a cumulative
grade point average at a specified level. Failure to make satisfactory progress
may also mean failure to earn enough academic credits in a given semester or
to earn a specified number of credits at the end of each academic year, (e.g.,
by the end of the student’s first year, second year, etc.). Probation is
in the nature of a warning that if credit or grade point deficiencies are not
rectified within a specified period of time, the student is subject to academic
suspension from the University. Students placed on academic probation have the
notation "Academic Probation" placed on their permanent academic records
following the term in which the probation action occurred. In the College of
Arts and Sciences, notations describing students’ academic shortcoming(s)
are placed on their permanent academic records following the term in which they
are placed on academic warning.
The schools of the University have different definitions of
what constitutes satisfactory academic progress. Students should consult their
school’s chapter in this catalog to determine the definition and possible
sanctions appropriate to their school.
Suspension Students who have been on probation or warning
and who continue to make less than satisfactory progress toward their degrees
will be suspended from the University. In most schools, a suspended student
may apply for readmission to the University after one calendar year. Applications
for readmission must be made in writing to the student’s dean. Students
who are readmitted after being suspended are considered to be on probation and
must meet specified academic objectives. Failure to meet those objectives will
result in a second academic suspension. A second academic suspension is considered
final.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
The Learning Needs and Evaluation Center (LNEC) provides a
range of services to students with disabilities. It is the student's responsibility
to inform the University of the need for accommodation due to a disability.
Requests for accommodations must be supported by appropriate documentation
and sent for review to the LNEC. When a student has a disability and requests
a reasonable accommodation, the LNEC will help identify accommodations and
coordinate these with students, faculty, and other University departments.
The LNEC may also facilitate access to other services within the University
that may benefit a student whether or not he or she is disabled. Accommodations
and/or services may include alternate text formats for course material, peer
note-taking, interpreting, housing arrangements, preliminary evaluation of
academic difficulties, and other interventions on an as-needed basis.
All accommodation requests should be submitted in a timely
manner, preferably before the semester begins, or not later than three weeks
into the semester.
Specific deadlines for certain types of accommodation requests are posted
on the LNEC's web site each term; however, every request is reviewed on a case-by-case
basis. For requests involving on-Grounds housing, appropriate deadlines within
the Housing office should also be met. Any questions should be referred to
the student's dean's office or the LNEC.
For more specific information about services and policies,
including guidelines and forms for documentation, see the LNEC web site at
www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/lnec.html.
To contact LNEC, call (434) 243-5181, (434) 243-5188 (Fax) or (434) 243-5189
(V/TTY). The LNEC is located at the Elson Student Health Center, 400 Brandon
Avenue, P.O. Box 800760, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0760.
Attendance in Classes
Faculty members have the right to establish attendance and
participation requirements in each of their courses. Course requirements (e.g.,
examinations, oral presentations, laboratory experiments, participation in discussion)
are in no sense waived due to absence from class. Instructors may establish
penalties when excessive absences would seriously hinder achievement in any
course.
Auditing Courses
Students may audit courses with the permission of the instructor.
Courses successfully taken on an audit basis have the symbol AU (audit) recorded
in the grade column of the academic record. As no credits or grade points are
earned in audited courses, these courses are not applicable toward a degree.
Instructors have the option of deciding whether students may or may not take
their courses on an audit basis. A grade of W is recorded for any student who
discontinues the audit after the drop deadline or who fails to meet the instructor’s
standards.
Awards for Academic Excellence
Exceptional academic achievement is recognized by the University
through various honors. The types of honors and their requirements are listed
below. The honors and distinguished majors programs available in the College
of Arts and Sciences are described in chapter 6.
Dean’s List Full-time students become eligible
for the dean’s list of their school at the end of each semester by demonstrating
superior academic achievement. To be eligible, students must take a minimum
of 12 graded credits (15 graded credits in Architecture, Commerce, and Engineering).
Courses taken on a credit/no-credit basis may not be counted toward the minimum
credits necessary to be on the dean’s list. Any student receiving an F,
NC, or NG is ineligible to be on the dean’s list. Minimum grade point average
requirements for the dean’s list may vary by school and are detailed in
subsequent chapters.
Intermediate Honors A certificate of Intermediate Honors
is awarded to the top twenty percent of those students in the College of Arts
and Sciences, School of Architecture, School of Engineering and Applied Science,
or School of Nursing who enter the University directly from high school or preparatory
school and earn at least 60 credits of course work in their first four regular
semesters. No more than twelve of the 60 required credits may be earned on a
CR/NC or S/U basis. Advanced placement and transfer credits do not count toward
the required credits.
Theses and Commencement Honors Students who demonstrate
high academic achievement in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree are eligible
to have their achievement recognized with certain inscriptions recorded on their
official academic records and diplomas. The honors designations and requirements
for each school are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Phi Beta Kappa To be eligible for election to Phi Beta
Kappa, students must have completed distinguished work in advanced courses in
several Arts and Sciences departments. While no set grade point average is established
for election, successful nominees have usually earned at least a 3.700, taken
upper-level work in several departments in the College, and carried more than
the minimum permitted 12-credit course load.
Changes in Schedules (Add/Drop/Withdrawal)
Changes in students’ class schedules are made by using
ISIS (www.virginia.edu/isis). If admission to a course requires instructor permission,
a form signed by the instructor must be submitted to either the dean’s
office of the school in which the student is enrolled or, if the student is
enrolled in the College, to the department offering the course. Students may
add and drop courses through the deadlines set by their school each semester.
After the drop deadline has passed, a grade is assigned by
the instructor depending upon the policies of the school in which the student
is enrolled. An appropriate withdrawal grade appears on the official academic
record.
No refunds are given for classes dropped after the mid-point
of the semester.
Specific add, drop, and withdrawal policies and dates may vary
by school and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Class Standing
Undergraduate students are categorized by class according to
the number of credits they have earned. Credits not completed or completed unsuccessfully
do not count toward the number of credits required for class standing. AP credits
and transfer credits are included in the computation of class standing. The
number of credits necessary for each of the classes is: 1st year: 0-29 credits
earned; 2nd year: 30-59 credits earned; 3rd year: 60-89 credits earned; 4th
year: 90 or more credits earned. Within the School of Architecture, students
in the design concentration are classified according to their studio level.
Continuing and Professional Studies Courses
Students enrolled in degree programs must obtain advance approval
from their school in order to take courses through the School of Continuing
and Professional Studies. With approval, a course taken through continuing and
professional studies may be counted toward degree requirements and, for undergraduates,
included in the computation of a grade point average. However, if advance approval
is not obtained, the continuing and professional studies courses do not apply
toward a degree program.
If a continuing and professional studies student subsequently
enrolls in a degree program, grades for continuing and professional studies
courses taken prior to enrollment in the degree program will be included in
the student’s grade point average as approved by the school offering the
degree.
Course Load
Each school has established the minimum and maximum number
of credits for which students are normally expected to register. Registration
for fewer credits than the minimum or more credits than the maximum requires
special permission from the dean’s office. Students who register for fewer
than their school’s minimum number of credits in a given semester have
a notation placed on their academic records indicating that they were enrolled
for a reduced course load during that semester. Course load requirements and
permission procedures may vary by school and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Cross-listed Courses
With appropriate approval, a course may be cross-listed under
more than one mnemonic or level, but only one section may be taken for degree
credit. Level 500 or higher cross-listed sections are normally reserved for
graduate students.
Deceased Student Academic Record Policy
Records for deceased students may be released to members of
the family or to other personnel with the approval of the family or representative
of the estate. Before such release, the Office of the University Registrar
may require, at its discretion, a copy of the death certificate or obituary.
Absent written approval from the family or representative of the estate, only
directory information will be released.
Enhanced Opportunities for Early Graduation
The University provides opportunities for students to obtain
a degree in fewer than four years in the various Arts and Sciences disciplines
by combining credits earned through the Advanced Placement program of the College
Entrance Examination Board, credits earned by overload (more than 15 credits
per semester), and attendance in at least one summer session, either here or
elsewhere.
In recent years, almost two percent of undergraduate students
earned degrees in three years or less. In the first-year entering classes, approximately
60% of all students earned some advanced placement (AP) credits, 34% earned
at least 15 AP credits, and 26% earned between 16 and 61 AP credits; these students
are thus eligible to shorten their time to graduate. Most students now either
reduce their course loads or graduate with extra credits. No regulation prohibits
students from graduating early, but early graduation from the undergraduate
schools other than the College is rare, because the sequencing of courses required
for professional degrees commonly requires four full years.
Final Examinations
Final examinations are given in courses during designated times
at the end of each semester, and only at the times designated by the Office
of the University Registrar. Faculty members are not authorized to change the
announced times of their examinations. Such changes may be authorized only by
a faculty member's dean's office, and then only for compelling reasons. All
students must have the opportunity to take the examination at the time announced.
Students are not permitted to take a final examination before
its regularly scheduled time. When genuinely serious conditions exist, students,
with the consent of the course instructor, may be allowed to postpone a final
examination until after the regular exam period. When the instructor concurs,
the student must submit a postponement request on a form provided by the dean's
office of the school in which the student is registered. Students will then
take the examination at the instructor's convenience, usually within four weeks
of the last day of the exam period.
Unexcused absence from a final examination results in an automatic
grade of F in the course.
Grading System
Records of academic achievement are maintained by the University
in terms of credits, grades, and grade points.
Credit The unit of credit at the University is the semester
credit. Each semester credit represents one class period of a minimum of 50
minutes per week for each week in the semester. Lecture-recitation courses require
a minimum of one 50-minute class period each week in the semester for every
one credit earned. Laboratories and field work require a minimum of two 50-minute
class periods (or the equivalent amount of time) for each week in the semester
for every one credit earned.
Grades Grades and symbols used to record academic progress
are listed in the following grading system table. Each school determines its
own grading system. Students are graded according to the grading system of the
school in which they are registered, not according to the grading system of
the school through which the course is taught. Additional regulations apply
to courses taught on a credit/no credit basis and are described in the section
titled Credit/No Credit Grades.
Grades and Grade Point Averages Grade points are assigned
to all grades and some symbols listed in the following grading system table.
Grade point averages are calculated by totaling the number of grade points earned,
then dividing that total by the number of credits carried toward the GPA.
|
Grade
|
Grade Points
|
Included in GPA
|
Credits Earned
|
|
A+(7)
|
4.000
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
A
|
4.000
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
A-
|
3.700
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
B+
|
3.300
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
B
|
3.000
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
B-
|
2.700
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
C+
|
2.300
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
C
|
2.000
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
C-
|
1.700
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
D+
|
1.300
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
D
|
1.000
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
D-
|
0.700
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
F
|
0.000
|
Y
|
N
|
|
Symbol
|
Definition
|
|
|
|
CR(2)
|
Credit
|
N
|
Y
|
|
NC(2)
|
No credit
|
N
|
N
|
|
W
|
Withdrawal
|
N
|
N
|
|
WP(3)(4)
|
Withdraw passing
|
N
|
N
|
|
WF(3)(4)
|
Withdraw failing
|
N
|
N
|
|
WD
|
Administrative withdrawal
|
N
|
N
|
|
S(3)
|
Satisfactory
|
N
|
Y
|
|
U(3)
|
Unsatisfactory
|
N
|
N
|
|
AU
|
Audit
|
N
|
N
|
|
IN
|
Incomplete
|
N
|
N
|
|
IV
|
Invalid grade
|
N
|
N
|
|
NG(6)
|
No grade
|
N
|
N
|
|
NR
|
Non-Resident
|
N
|
N
|
|
YR(1)(3)(5)
|
Year-long course
|
N
|
N
|
(1) Not valid in the School of Nursing.
(2) Commerce School courses (COMM) may not be taken on CR/NC basis.
(3) Not valid in the School of Commerce.
(4) Not valid in the College of Arts and Sciences.
(5) Not valid in the School of Architecture.
(6) Included in the GPA for undergraduate schools
(7) In the School of Law, an A+ carries 4.300 grade points.
Incompletes The symbol IN (incomplete) is used when
additional course work is required or examinations need to be taken in order
to fulfill the requirements of a given course. Policies governing the use of
the incomplete symbol may vary by school and are described in subsequent chapters.
Grade Changes No grade may be changed after it has been
submitted to the University Registrar without the approval of the dean. The
dean is not authorized by the faculty to change a grade except when an instructor
certifies that, because of an error in calculation or transcript, an incorrect
grade has been submitted. The deans are also authorized to change incomplete
or missing grades to an F or withdrawal. Instructors must submit grade change
forms to the student's dean's office (or to the director of Summer Session for
visiting and unclassified summer students) for approval. Except as noted below,
grades cannot be changed more than one semester following the end of the course.
College of Arts and Sciences: The College limits the
time in which a grade change is approved to the end of the semester following
the one in which the course was taken, except when there is indication that
the student violated the integrity of the course.
Commerce: Students who wish to appeal a Commerce grade
must first attempt to resolve the issue with the instructor of the course. The
appeal must be made in writing and filed within 30 days of the first class day
of the following semester. Absent a satisfactory outcome, the student should
submit a written appeal to the associate dean of the B.S. in Commerce degree
program, who will review the matter and consult with the Undergraduate Program
Committee. The final level of appeal is to the dean of the McIntire School.
Education: The Curry School limits the time in which
a grade change may be approved to one calendar year following the end of the
course.
Incomplete The notation IN (incomplete) indicates that
a final grade for the course is being withheld by the instructor until the student
completes all course requirements or examinations. A student may not request
an IN grade in an attempt to raise his or her grade. Prior to the end of the
course, students must initiate the request for an IN and secure the instructor's
approval. Except as noted below, grade changes from IN to a final grade cannot
be made more than one semester following the end of the course, and instructors
may set shorter deadlines. Except as noted below, a grade of IN becomes an F
if the course is not completed by the end of the following semester.
Architecture: IN grades must be resolved by the first
Friday in January for fall semester courses, and the last Friday in May for
spring semester courses. Grades which remain IN after those times will be administratively
changed to an F.
College of Arts and Sciences: A grade of IN becomes
an F ten days after the end of the examination period unless a form requesting
an extension of time has been signed by the course instructor and approved by
the Association Dean. An approved grade of IN does not convert to F until four
weeks after the end of the examination period. The faculty has adopted a policy
that, unless authorized by the dean's office, students must complete all course
work before taking the final examination. Instructors are not authorized to
extend the time for completion of course work without the dean's approval. Forms
for securing extensions are available in Garrett Hall.
Commerce: An IN grade becomes an F ten days following
the final examination unless arrangements have been made with the faculty member
and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs for work to be made up later.
Education: The timeline to complete an IN may be negotiated
with the instructor, but may not extend beyond one year of the semester in which
the course was taken. Students are expected to enter into a written contract
with the instructor specifying the remaining requirements and agreed-upon timeline.
It is the student's responsibility to file the incomplete agreement in the Curry
Admissions Office. After one year, if the student has not met the terms of the
incomplete agreement, the faculty member may submit a grade of NC, F, U, WP,
WF, or W; if no action is taken, the incomplete is administratively changed
to a W. In order to change a grade which is older than three years, the course
instructor may require that the student take the course again.
Engineering: A grade of IN becomes and F ten days following
the final examination. A maximum extension to the end of the subsequent fall
or spring semester may be granted upon special request to the dean's office.
Nursing: An IN grade remaining at the time of graduation
is converted to an F. For graduate students, a grade of IN becomes an F at the
end of the following semester of enrollment or within one calendar year, whichever
comes first. Graduate students with two or more IN grades may not enroll in
courses in subsequent terms.
No Grade The notation NG (no grade) is used when a grade
is not indicated by the instructor or when course grades are not submitted to
the University Registrar within two weeks following the end of the semester
(four weeks for Continuing and Professional Studies courses). The NG notation
is changed to a final grade upon receipt of the grade from the instructor by
the University Registrar. No student with an outstanding NG is eligible to receive
a degree or certificate.
Credit/No Credit Grades Students have the option of
receiving the grades CR (credit) or NC (no credit) in place of A-F grades. This
option is selected when student registers for the course. Instructors have the
right to deny students permission to take courses on a CR/NC basis. If this
occurs, students may either change back to the regular grading option or drop
the courses entirely. Courses taken for CR/NC may not be used for any major
or basic area requirements without departmental approval. Specific CR/NC policies
for each school are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Graduation and Diplomas
Students who have completed all degree requirements in both
their major and their school, and who have observed the rules and regulations
of the University, including the Honor Code, and who are otherwise in good standing,
will be recommended to the faculty of their school for a conferral a degree
by the University of Virginia. A list of the degrees conferred by the University
and the minimum number of credits required for each degree is included in Part
II. To receive a degree from the University, students must achieve a minimum
grade point average of 2.000 in courses required for graduation.
Students must be enrolled in a degree-granting school in the
semester in which they expect to be graduated. Degree candidates who do not
enroll for credits must enroll for the non-resident status.
Students may earn a degree from only one undergraduate school
in a semester. Undergraduate students who complete the requirements for more
than one undergraduate degree program will be awarded a double major. This notation
is placed on the transcript but not on the diploma.
The University reserves the right to withhold the degrees of
financially delinquent students or when students have engaged in Standards of
Conduct violations at or prior to graduation ceremonies. The University also
reserves the right to revoke degrees previously conferred when the student has
not satisfied the rules and regulations of the University or is found to be
in breach of the Honor System.
No student with an outstanding NG is eligible to receive a
degree or certificate.
Ceremony The University conducts a graduation ceremony
each May to recognize and honor those students who have completed all degree
requirements during the previous academic year. Students who graduate at the
end of the summer or fall semesters are invited to attend the ceremony following
their graduation. Summer and fall graduates may not participate in a ceremony
conducted prior to the actual awarding of their degrees.
Diplomas Students who graduate in May can receive their
diplomas at the commencement exercises held on the Lawn, or they may pay a fee
to have the diploma mailed to them. Students who graduate in August or December
may either pick up their diploma in the Office of the University Registrar or
pay a fee to have the diploma mailed to them.
Replacement/Duplicate Diplomas Lost or damaged diplomas
may be replaced upon written request and payment of $50 plus a mailing fee.
An original replacement will be issued. If the original diploma is lost, a notarized
statement verifying the loss is required and the replacement diploma will have
the word ‘replacement’ inscribed at the bottom.
In cases of legitimate professional reason, a one-time request
can be made for a ‘duplicate’ diploma upon payment of $50 plus a mailing
fee. A duplicate diploma will have the word ‘copy’ inscribed at the
bottom.
Replacement and duplicate diplomas are printed in diploma format
in use at the time of the request. When possible, the degree title and signatures
of president, dean, and university registrar in use at the time the original
diploma was awarded will be used, but the title and/or signatures currently
in use will be substituted if necessary.
Diploma replicas will conform to the format and signatures
in use at the time of request.
Additional information about replacement and duplicate diplomas
can be obtained by contacting the diploma coordinator at the Office of the University
Registrar.
Honorary Degrees
The University of Virginia does not award honorary degrees.
In conjunction with the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, the University
presents the Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture and the Thomas Jefferson
Medal in Law each spring. These awards, recognizing excellence in two fields
of interest to Jefferson, constitute the University’s highest recognition
of scholars outside the University.
Leaves of Absence and Withdrawals
Voluntary Leaves of Absence Students who wish to take
a voluntary leave of absence for either a semester or a year must apply for
such leave at their dean’s office. Most schools require students on leave
to apply for readmission at least 60 days prior to final registration for the
semester in which they intend to enroll. See specific school chapters for deadlines.
Students on an approved leave of absence have the notation "on academic
leave" entered on their permanent academic record following the semester
during which they last registered at the University. Policies governing leaves
and readmission may vary by school and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Educational Leaves of Absence Students who wish to take
a leave of absence to pursue educational interests at another educational institution
in the United States must apply for a leave of absence at their dean’s
office. Students who wish to study abroad in an accredited program or at an
accredited foreign university must apply for a leave of absence at the International
Studies Office. While on such an approved leave, a student must register at
the University of Virginia as a non-resident and pay a non-resident fee; this
indicates that he or she is on an approved leave of absence pursuing educational
interests elsewhere. Students registered for an approved leave may pre-enroll
for courses and do not have to apply for readmission to the University, although
they must notify their dean’s office or the International Studies Office
of when they intend to return.
Exclusion From Courses A student who is making no real
progress in a course, or whose behavior is detracting from the course, may be
excluded from that course by the dean with a grade of W or F. Students have
five calendar days following written notification of this exclusion in which
to appeal. Until the final disposition of the appeal, the student is considered
enrolled in the course.
Enforced Withdrawal Students may be forced to withdraw
from the University for habitual delinquency in class, habitual idleness, or
any other fault that prevents the student from fulfilling the purpose implied
by registration at the University. Students who are forced to withdraw during
a given term will have the notation "enforced withdrawal (date)"
entered on their permanent academic records following the semester in which
the action occurred. A grade of W (withdrawal) or WD (administrative withdrawal)
will be entered for each course in which the student was registered. Students
who have been forced to withdraw must apply for readmission to their dean’s
office in the same manner as suspended students.
Medical Withdrawal Students who withdraw for reasons
of health must obtain permission from the Department of Student Health. A grade
of W (withdrawal) will be entered for each course in which the student was registered.
Subsequent medical clearance from the Department of Student Health is required
for readmission.
Voluntary Withdrawal Students may withdraw from the
University before the conclusion of a semester with the following conditions:
- Students under the age of 18 must give notice to their parents or
legal guardians of their intention to withdraw. Evidence of this notice
must be provided at the time of withdrawal.
- Applications for withdrawal must be made in writing to the student’s
academic dean’s office and must be approved by the dean.
- Failure to comply with the above regulations will subject a student to
suspension from the University by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Any student who withdraws without having obtained permission is recorded
as having been suspended with a grade of F recorded for each course.
- Students who withdraw from the University voluntarily will have the notation
"withdrew (date)" recorded on their permanent academic record.
Students who withdraw will receive grades of W, WP, or WF in their courses,
depending upon the school in which they are enrolled.
Specific voluntary withdrawal and readmission policies may
vary by school and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Appeals Students have the right to appeal the imposition
of sanctions. During the pendency of his or her appeal, a student's standing
remains status quo.
Non-Resident Status
The non-resident status is reserved for students who are not
taking courses or pursuing research, but who need to be enrolled at the University
for certain administrative reasons, including finishing incompletes, awaiting
graduation, or while simultaneously enrolled through the School of Continuing
and Professional Studies. This status is for students who are not in residence
in one of the degree-granting schools of the University and bears no relation
to the student’s in- or out-of-state tuition status. Non-resident students
are considered to be enrolled less than half-time and receive no student I.D.
card privileges.
Petitions
Exceptions to academic regulations may be requested by petitioning
the appropriate faculty committee or dean’s office in the student’s
school of enrollment. Petition forms and information concerning the proper procedures
for requesting exceptions to academic regulations may be requested in the deans’
offices.
Posthumous Degrees
Upon the recommendation of the faculty of the appropriate school,
the general faculty of the University may make a posthumous award of the degree
or degrees a student had been pursuing if all requirements were likely to have
been completed during the final year for which the student was registered had
it not been for the intervention of death or debilitating illness.
The vice president for student affairs is responsible for ensuring
that appropriate procedures to implement this policy are established in the
various schools of the University. The policy is retroactive.
Readmission
Students who have not enrolled at the University for a semester
or more, and who are not on an educational leave of absence, must be formally
readmitted, regardless of whether they are on an approved leave of absence.
For readmission, a student must be cleared by his or her academic dean, the
Department of Student Health, and the Office of the Dean of Students. Application
for readmission must be made to the academic dean’s office of the student’s
school at least sixty days in advance of the next university registration period.
The School of Commerce and the College of Arts and Sciences have slightly different
policies regarding readmission procedures and deadlines. Additional information
about school readmission policies can be found in subsequent chapters.
Registration
Students must complete final registration by using ISIS in
order to be considered duly enrolled students. Specific instructions are available
each semester at www.virginia.edu/registrar. The late registration period begins
the day after the end of regular registration. Students who pre-enroll in courses
but do not complete the registration process by the deadline will be dropped
from all courses. The final deadline for registration is seven weeks after the
first day of classes. Students who have not completed registration by that date
are not allowed to register for the semester, receive credit for the semester,
or receive a degree during the semester. No student will be permitted to register
after the final deadline unless the delay in registration was a result of University
actions. Inability to pay tuition and fees by the deadlines imposed by the university
bursar does not constitute an acceptable reason for registering late.
A late fee of $25 is charged to students who register after
regular registration through the end of the second full week of the semester.
After the second week, a $50 fee is charged.
Payment of tuition and fees is considered part of the registration
process. Failure to pay tuition and fees by the dates established by the university
will result in suspension from the University (see the chapter on tuition and
fees). By registering, the student assumes an obligation to pay for that semester’s
tuition and fees.
All suspensions–financial, disciplinary, or academic–must
be cleared before a student is permitted to register at the University. Students
who are terminated for non-academic reasons during the semester, and who seek
reinstatement in the same semester, are readmitted and reregistered by the university
registrar in coordination with their dean’s office. Students seeking reinstatement
must obtain a termination clearance form approved by the terminating authority.
This form must be presented to the university registrar prior to the tenth class
day before the last day of scheduled classes. Students are not allowed to be
readmitted or reregistered after this deadline, and they are not permitted to
receive credit for that semester or to receive a degree in that semester.
Individuals who fail to register are not considered University
of Virginia students and are not certified as being enrolled at the University
for any purpose. Registered students must enroll in at least the minimum number
of credits required by their school, or they must cancel their registration.
Repeated Courses
Courses may be repeated for credit only with the permission
of the student’s dean’s office. However, the original course continues
to appear on the official academic record and counts in the calculation of the
grade point average. Regulations concerning repeated courses may vary by school
and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Student Status
Students must have completed the registration process at the
beginning of the fall and spring semesters and be current in all financial obligations
to the University in order to be considered enrolled at the University. Satisfaction
of one of the following criteria confers full-time or part-time status on an
undergraduate student during a given semester for the purpose of enrollment
certification and deferment of student loans. Separate criteria may apply for
tuition, fees, and financial aid.
Full-Time Students Registration for twelve or more credits
in a semester constitutes full-time status for the purpose of loan deferments
and enrollment certification.
Part-Time Students Any student carrying fewer than twelve
credits (or fewer than nine credits in the College of Arts and Sciences) is
considered to be enrolled part-time. Registration for fewer than twelve credits
is permitted only under extraordinary circumstances and only with the permission
of the dean’s office (see the section titled Course Load). Students wishing
to carry fewer than twelve credits may register through the School of Continuing
and Professional Studies with the permission of their dean. Undergraduate students
who have obtained such permission are restricted to taking a maximum of two
courses each semester (plus any corequisite lab or discussion sections). College
students are limited to a maximum of 16 total credits taken in the School of
Continuing and Professional Studies.
Thesis Opportunities
The opportunity to write a thesis for credit is available to
participants in distinguished majors programs and to majors in some departments
or schools. See subsequent school chapters for details.
Transcripts
Transcripts of courses taken, grades given, and degrees received
at the University of Virginia are maintained in the Office of the University
Registrar in accordance with the policies of the American Association of Collegiate
Registrars and Admissions Officers. As the transcript is a record of all academic
work attempted at the University, it is not possible to segregate individual
courses or semesters or to print only undergraduate or graduate work. Current
students may view their records in their dean’s office or in the Office
of the University Registrar upon proof of identification. Students may obtain
copies of transcripts from the Office of the University Registrar by making
a written or on-line request authorizing the release of the transcript. A
$4
fee is charged for each copy. The University of Virginia reserves the right
to withhold the transcripts of students who have unfulfilled financial or
administrative
obligations with the University.
Access to student records is protected by the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Any student attempting to gain access to, or
possession of, another student’s record will be subject to disciplinary
proceedings and suspension from the University.
Transfer Credit
General Policies The University of Virginia
grants transfer credit based on an analysis of the content, level, and comparability
of the courses taken, the applicability of the courses to the student's intended
major and degree program, the quality of the student's performance in the courses,
and the accreditation of the institution at which the work was completed.
Credit is allowed only for those courses in which a grade of
C or better has been earned. Some programs may require a grade of B or better.
Only credits are accepted in transfer; grades are not transferred and do not
affect the student’s cumulative grade point average at the University of
Virginia. Credit from institutions on a system other than the semester system
is converted to semester credits. Students receive no more, and may receive
fewer, than the number of credits earned at the host institutions.
Following acceptance of a transfer application, at least half
of the credits necessary for a given degree must be earned in a University of
Virginia program of study. This requirement is effective for all transfer students
who apply for admission during the 1999-2000 academic year and thereafter. Each
school determines the precise requirements that must be met for its degree.
Undergraduate transfer students who were admitted during or
before the 1998-1999 academic year are subject to the requirements that existed
at the time of their admission. These requirements read: "Undergraduate
students must take at least fifty-four credits of course work in residence at
the University of Virginia to be granted their degrees. (In some cases, a student
must earn more than sixty credits to satisfy degree requirements. This variation
depends on the school). A maximum of sixty-six credits may be transferred to
the University from a combination of testing programs and academic institutions."
Students who matriculated fall 2000 or thereafter must earn
a minimum of 60 credits at UVA, if they have 60 or more non-UVA credits. Those
with fewer non-UVA credits must earn correspondingly more UVA credits.
Policies governing transfer credit may vary by school, and
are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Credit From Foreign Institutions The University of Virginia
grants credit for courses taken at recognized foreign tertiary-level educational
institutions. Foreign educational institutions that are chartered and authorized
by their respective national governments (generally through the Ministries of
Education) are considered "recognized." Credit is awarded for courses
judged to have been completed at a C level or above. The amount of credit granted
does not exceed that given for the comparable University course. The University
of Virginia applies the general guidelines for awarding credit given by the
National Council on the Evaluation of Foreign Student Credentials and the National
Association for Foreign Student Affairs.
Credit By Examination The University of Virginia participates
in the Advanced Placement Examinations Program of the Educational Testing Service
and the International Baccalaureate Examination Program. Students who receive
grades deemed satisfactory by the academic unit to which they seek admission
may receive academic credit. The University does not participate in the College
Level Examination Program, the College Proficiency Exam, or the USAFI and DANTES
programs of the United States Military Forces.
Admission From Another Undergraduate Institution Transfer
credits taken before matriculation may be used to fulfill area requirements,
but they may not be used to fulfill major requirements without being granted
special permission by the department. Policies regarding transfer credits may
vary by school and are detailed in subsequent chapters.
Additional Information for Newly Admitted Transfer Students
The Office of Admission refers applicants’ official transcripts to the
academic division to which the individual seeks admission. Each division evaluates
the transcripts and informs students which credits have been accepted for transfer.
Students seeking admission are responsible for sending the
admission office, at the earliest possible date, official transcripts from each
institution attended and grades for each advanced placement examination taken
that were not submitted at the time of application. Credit can be granted only
on the basis of official transcripts sent directly from the educational institutions
to the admission office, or on the basis of test scores sent directly from the
Educational Testing Service to the admission office. Students completing courses
at foreign institutions must submit course descriptions and/or syllabi to determine
comparability to University of Virginia courses. Students will be notified if
further information is required.
Transfer credit is evaluated only for the degree program to
which students are admitted and is subject to change if students change degree
programs. The amount of credit awarded determines class standing. Thus, if credit
is not granted for all previous work, the class standing of students at the
University of Virginia may differ from what it had been at previous institutions.
Policies on transfer credit and class standing may vary by school and are detailed
in subsequent chapters.
Enrolled Students Taking Course Work at Other Institutions
University of Virginia students must secure the permission of their dean’s
office prior to enrolling in courses at another institution and transferring
academic credit back to the University to apply toward their degree program.
After completing such work, students must have official transcripts from the
institution in which the courses were taken sent to the appropriate dean’s
office at the University. Approval to take courses on a pass/fail basis must
also be obtained prior to taking the courses. Courses in which "pass"
or "credit" grades are received must be certified as equivalent to
a grade of C or higher to be accepted. Courses applied toward the major may
not be transferred to the University from another institution without special
permission of the department.
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University
Regulations: Academic Regulations