Academic Policies and Procedures

Attendance

This policy establishes the obligations of students to adhere to class attendance standards. Students are responsible for maintaining regular and punctual attendance for each class session. Students who expect to miss or arrive late for class should notify the instructor in advance. Students who miss more than two unexcused class sessions, or an accumulation of five hours of class time, due to late arrival or tardiness, may receive a grade of F (fail) and may be required to repeat the course. Students whose absence or tardiness affects the quality of their work, or the work of the class, may be given a lower grade at the discretion of the faculty instructor.

Due to the unique structure of the practicum seminar courses, students who miss more than one class session in a semester may receive a grade of NC (no credit) and may be referred to the appropriate Student Development Committee for review.

Application of the Attendance Policy

This policy establishes the obligations of students to adhere to class attendance standards and the rights of instructors to give students lower or failing grades for breaches of the policy.

Instructors consider extenuating circumstances and/or student accommodation needs when applying the class attendance policy and therefore, have some discretion in providing accommodations to students whose attendance breaches the standard. Thus, instructors may develop an alternative plan for students who are unable to comply with the attendance policy, but only if the plan enables the student to meet the course exit competencies.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the University does treat pregnancy (including, but not limited to, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and recovery therefrom) and related conditions as a justification for which no penalty may be imposed for absences deemed medically necessary by the student’s physician. Requests for excused absences related to pregnancy or related conditions should be directed to the student’s instructor(s), and questions about Title IX should be directed to the University’s Title IX Coordinator. Appropriate documentation from the student’s physician specifying the length of absence needed for pregnancy or related conditions may be required in order to consider absences excused. At the conclusion of such excused absences, the student shall resume the status held at the time the absences began.

Accommodations due to pregnancy or related issues may need to be made in situations where an extended leave is medically necessary.

Statement of Student Responsibilities

Adler University expects students to:

1. Adhere to all applicable University policies and procedures
2. Uphold University rules applicable to conduct both in on-campus and off-campus settings, including clinical, field, internship, in-service, and other activities
3. Abide by local, state, and federal laws
4. Maintain academic honesty and integrity
5. Comply with ethical and professional standards applicable to their program of study
6. Contribute actively to the process of learning, including complying with attendance or participation requirements, completing assignments, and preparing for class
7. Conduct themselves in an ethical, professional, and civil manner
8. Demonstrate respect for the rights of others
9. Regularly monitor their student accounts

Academic Status

Students in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PSY.D.) program, please see the Psy.D. Program Policies Handbook for additional details on Academic statuses, SDC referrals, and SCEC referrals.

Academic Good Standing

To remain in academic good standing, a student must:

1. Maintain consistent enrollment
2. Take a course load that ensures steady movement toward degree completion within the maximum time limits outlined in the catalog
3. Meet all academic, comportment, and professional standards as well as applicable program requirements
4. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Note: The Department of Education additionally requires that students keep their accounts current and successfully complete (B grade or better) 70 percent of attempted coursework in each term in order to be eligible to receive federal student financial aid.

Academic Alert

Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 who earn a B- grade for the first time will be placed on Academic Alert status for the following semester.

Academic Warning

Students will be placed on Academic Warning when they meet any of the following conditions:

1. Earn a first grade of C with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
2. Earn a second B- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

This status will be in effect for one semester subsequent to the receipt of the second low grade.

Academic Probation

Students will be placed on Academic Probation the first time they meet any of the following conditions:

1. Earn a second grade of C
2. Earn a single D, F, WF, NC, or WNC grade without a prior history of low grades (B- or C)
3. Earn three or more grades of B-
4. Fall below a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Students on Academic Probation shall have a maximum of two consecutive semesters following the status change in which to address the issue that generated probationary status.

Academic Dismissal

Students may be subject to Academic Dismissal when they meet any of the following conditions:

1. Earn two or more grades of D, F, WF, NC, or WNC
2. Earn a third grade of C
3. Fail to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for two semesters
4. Fail to comply with any prior academic remediation plan

The transcript of a student who has been dismissed will carry the notation “Academic Dismissal.” Students who have been dismissed are ineligible to reapply to the University.

Satisfactory Progress

To maintain Satisfactory Progress, students must remain consistently registered until completion of all degree requirements and take a course load that ensures steady movement toward degree completion within the maximum time limits for the program.

Students who fail to register each term may be administratively withdrawn from the University, and “Administrative Withdrawal” will be indicated on the transcript.

Master’s students should complete a minimum of 12 credit hours every 12 months and must satisfactorily complete all of the requirements for graduation within five years of the date of first registration following admission to the program. For degree programs with more than 60 total credits, students may need to take up to 14 credits every 12 months in order to complete their degree requirements within five years.

Doctoral students should complete at least 18 credit hours every 12 months and must satisfactorily complete all requirements for graduation within seven years of the date of first registration following admission to the program. Students enrolled in dissertation or internship are considered to be maintaining minimum credit requirements for satisfactory academic progress.

Continuous Enrollment

Adler University requires students to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their academic program, including summer semesters. Students must request a leave of absence for any portion of their academic program when they cannot enroll. Students must be formally registered in the term in which their degree or certificate is conferred.

Students who have registered for all required coursework and are completing ancillary degree requirements must register for Continuous Enrollment, CER 001 , for all semesters leading up to the conferral of their degree or certificate. Students may register for this course a maximum of three times.

The enrollment status for this course is less than half time. The Continuous Enrollment course is not eligible for financial aid. Students are charged the universal fee of their highest program. Please see the Tuition and Fees  section for your program’s universal fee.

Students who fail to register for a degree requirement or Continuous Enrollment each term until conferral of their degree may be administratively withdrawn from the University. “Administrative Withdrawal” will be indicated on their transcript.

Student Referral Policy

Adler University requires all students to uphold the highest standards of academic, personal, and professional conduct. The Student Referral policy applies to all academic and professional training-related conduct, including online, on-campus, and at the training sites. Adler University reserves the right to exercise jurisdiction over events or actions occurring off campus, or in virtual communities where Adler University’s community interest is affected. This policy is designed to contribute to the personal as well as professional growth of the students and to ensure the welfare of Adler University and its related communities.

Student Development Committee (SDC)

The Student Development Committee (SDC) is a standing committee within each academic department that monitors students’ Academic Status and compliance with Student Responsibilities found in this Catalog. The primary function of the committee is to provide early and structured assistance to students in successfully completing their program.

The Registrar forwards a list of students who have fallen below Academic Good Standing to the appropriate departmental Student Development Committee at the beginning of each term. When students breach one or more of the Student Responsibilities, any employee of the Adler community may alert the appropriate Student Development Committee by submitting a Student SDC Referral form (available online).

The Student Development Committee reviews the grade reports and referral forms, determines the level of severity of the concern (outlined below), and may direct the student to take remedial action. Depending on the seriousness of the concern, the student will be referred to the Faculty Advisor, to meet with the Student Development Committee, or to the Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee. A description of the “Referral Process” is below.

Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee (SCEC)

Serious or repeated breaches of Academic Good Standing or of the Student Responsibilities policy will be addressed through the Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee (SCEC). The Committee will evaluate the referral, provide a plan for remediation if appropriate, and deliver a decision on the outcome. This decision may include dismissal or administrative withdrawal.

Referral Process

When students breach one or more of the Student Responsibilities, any employee of the Adler community may alert the appropriate Student Development Committee (SDC) by submitting an SDC Referral form (available online). Examples of why a student may be referred to SDC include, but are not limited to, when students: receive a grade of B- or lower; display a pattern of noncompliance at a training site; have been placed on a practicum or internship remediation plan; and/or demonstrate a lack of professional standards in or out of the classroom. Each academic department has its own SDC, which will complete the initial review of the referral.

At Adler University, our goal is to support students throughout their academic program. Referrals will be directed to the SDC, which will determine the level of severity of the concern in accordance with the criteria and direct the referral to the student’s Faculty Advisor, to review by the SDC, or to the Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee (SCEC).

The student referral process below denotes the role of each level of referral.

1. Students who display general difficulty with the process of learning or who fail to regularly monitor their student accounts will meet with their advisor. The role of the advisor is to offer support, help students develop an action plan, and monitor improvements.
2. Students who struggle to maintain expected grades, fail to comply with conduct standards, demonstrate a pattern of noncompliance during a field or practicum placement, are placed on a practicum or internship remediation plan, or display ethically questionable behavior will meet with the Student Development Committee (SDC). The role of the SDC is to help the student understand patterns of difficulty, identify recommended resources, and establish a plan for continued success.
3. Students who have a pattern of low grades, display egregious lapses in professional and/or ethical judgment and/or conduct, or fail to comply with earlier levels of intervention, will meet with the Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee (SCEC). The role of the SCEC is to determine whether students are able to continue studies at Adler University in a satisfactory manner.

The diagram below serves as a basic visual illustration of the process:

Advisor Level Referrals

SDC directs Faculty Advisors to meet with students who do any of the following:

• Fail to adhere to any applicable University policies and procedures (Student Responsibility 1.)
• Fail to contribute actively to the process of learning as outlined in the relevant syllabi, including complying with attendance or participation requirements, completing assignments, and preparing for class (Student Responsibility 6.)
• Fail to regularly monitor their student accounts (Student Responsibility 9.)
• Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy (Academic Misconduct )

Department-Level Referrals

SDC meets with students who do any of the following:

• Earn a single B-, C, D, F, NC, or NP grade (Academic Probation)
• Fall below a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for a semester (Academic Probation)
• Fail to adhere to any applicable University policies and procedures (Student Responsibility 1.)
• Conduct non-compliance in off-campus settings including clinical, field, internship, or in-service activities, as outlined in practicum documents or site-specific procedures, or is placed on a practicum or internship remediation plan (Student Responsibility 2.)
• Fail to comply with any ethical and professional standards applicable to their program of study (Student Responsibility 5.)
• Fail to conduct themselves in an ethical, professional, and civil manner (Student Responsibility 7.)
• Fail to demonstrate respect for the rights of others (Student Responsibility 8.)
• Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy (Academic Misconduct )

Institution-Level Referrals

SDC refers to SCEC students who do any of the following:

• Earn two (2) or more grades of B-, C, D, F, NC, or NP
• Fail to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for two (2) semesters
• Fail to comply with any prior academic remediation plan
• Fail to adhere to any applicable University policies and procedures (Student Responsibility 1.)
• Fail to abide by any local, state, and federal laws (United States), or federal, provincial, and municipal laws (Canada). See policies on Criminal Activity, Sexual Offense, Disorderly Behavior, Unauthorized Entry, and Weapons (Student Responsibility 3.)
• Any form of cheating on examinations, assignments, etc.
• Violations of the Adler University Academic Honesty Policy (Academic Misconduct )
• Violations of the Adler University Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
• Demonstrate an egregious lapse(s) in professional and/or ethical judgment/conduct

Please note that the descriptions above represent only a general overview of the student referral process. Further, some Student Responsibilities and policies or violations are listed in more than one level above. Hence, the unique details of an individual situation will be taken into consideration, and may warrant an approach not specifically outlined above.

SDC and SCEC Appeals

Students have the right to appeal the decisions made by the SDC or the SCEC. A student may appeal the decision based on the following criterion:

1. There is procedural error identified that indicates a substantial breach of institutional processes or procedures.
2. There is new information of a substantive nature that was not available at the time the decision was made. New information may require documentation.
3. The initial decision is biased or in violation of stated student rights.

Students who wish to appeal for reasons stated above must present an appeal in writing within 10 business days of the initial decision date.

Students who wish to appeal are encouraged to consult with their advisor and/or the Office of Student Affairs.

Qualifying Examinations

In addition to satisfying coursework, practica, and other program requirements, master’s and doctoral programs require qualifying exams that differ by program. Please consult the requirements for each program. Qualifying examinations are important requirements, providing students with the opportunity to integrate course material and practical training, reflect on their educational and training experiences, and apply their learning to clinical and social issues. In addition, the exams enable faculty to evaluate students’ progress toward expected learning outcomes.

Registration

Term schedules are published and updated online via Student Planner. Students register online, and registration deadlines are published each term. Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates. Students who wish to take more than 15 credits within a term must receive written approval from their Program Director.

Preregistration tools such as the catalog, advisement sheet, and the progress tab in Student Planner are great resources. Students are strongly encouraged to ensure all course are in “registered” status prior to the end of the add/drop period. A student’s ability to add and drop courses and exams ends on the final date of the add/drop period. Students wishing to add courses or exams after the published add/drop period must submit the Registration Exception Form, located on the Registrar page on Adler Connect. The form must have approval from the course instructor and Program Director. Students will incur the late registration fee for courses and exams added after the published add/drop period. A hold will be placed on the student’s account until payment in full is submitted to Student Finance. Financial aid recipients should consult with the Office of Financial Aid. Students risk forfeiture of all earned grades if they are not officially registered for a course or exam.

Course Add / Drop

Students wishing to add or drop a course or exam must do so before, or during, the published registration and add/drop period. Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates.

Students must add or drop all courses or exams via Student Planner. A drop fee is assessed for each course or exam dropped once the course period begins. When a student drops a course or exam, the official drop date is the date the student drops the course or exam via Student Planner. Students who drop a course or exam during the add/drop period may receive refunds in accordance with the established refund policy. Students who are withdrawn due to disciplinary or academic reasons may receive a prorated refund. No refunds will be made when students never attend a course or stop attending class without officially withdrawing from the course.

If a student decides to take a leave of absence before the term starts or during the add/drop period, the student is required to log onto Student Planner to drop all of their courses and exams and complete the Leave of Absence Request form. Failure to do so will result in the student being charged the drop fee and/or tuition.

A student’s ability to add and drop courses and exams ends on the final date of the add/ drop period. Students who wish to drop a practicum or internship course must have prior approval from the Director, Civic Learning and Community Action or Director of Training.

Course Withdrawal and Withdrawal Fail

After the published add/drop period of a course period, a student who wishes to withdraw from a course or exam must send an email from their Adler University email account to their Faculty Advisor, Student Success Coach, or Program Director to obtain approval to withdraw. Notifying the instructor or ceasing class attendance/participation does not constitute an official withdrawal. The official date of the withdrawal is the date the student sends the email request to withdraw from the course or exam to their Faculty Advisor, Student Success Coach, or Program Director.

Students who stop attending class or request to withdraw from a course or exam after the published withdrawal grade (W grade) deadline will receive a WF grade or a final grade from the instructor that reflects the work completed and the work that was not completed. A WF grade factors into the GPA as an F. In addition, students may not withdraw from a course or exam after the published end date of the course or due date of the exam. Students are not eligible for a refund after the add/drop period concludes.

Please consult the academic calendar for the specific dates to withdraw from each of the course periods.

Leave of Absence

Students may take a Leave of Absence (LOA) due to illness or other extenuating circumstances by completing a Leave of Absence form, including necessary signatures, and submitting the form via their Adler University email account to the Office of the Registrar. It is the student’s responsibility to sign the leave of absence form and to understand the potential academic and financial implications of taking an LOA. The Office of the Registrar accepts the Leave of Absence request via email. Forms that are missing information and the student’s signature will be returned to the student.

An LOA may be taken for up to a total of three terms (one calendar year). The LOA form is located on the Registrar page on Adler Connect. Incomplete forms, including forms with missing signatures, will not be accepted by the Office of the Registrar.

If a student has accepted a practicum or internship prior to requesting a leave, or is completing a practicum/internship at the time of the request, the student must contact the Director of Training or Center for Civic Learning and Community Action prior to submission of the LOA. The LOA will be noted on the student’s transcript for each term until the student returns to Adler University. Time approved for an LOA does not impact the maximum time allowed for degree completion. LOA refers to the specific time period during a program when a student is not in active attendance. Students are strongly encouraged to monitor their Adler email account during their LOA. Students on an LOA are considered to have withdrawn for financial aid purposes, and their student loans will come due after any applicable grace period.

Students who do not return from an LOA by the agreed-upon term may be administratively withdrawn from Adler University. In order to be readmitted, administratively withdrawn students must submit a new application for admission no sooner than one year after the date upon which they were dismissed and, if admitted, must follow the program requirements in effect at the time of the new admission.

If a student decides to take a LOA before the term starts or during the add/drop period, the student is required to log onto Student Planner and drop all of their courses. Failure to do so will result in the student being charged the drop fee and/or tuition in accordance with the University’s tuition refund policy.

Medical Leave of Absence

A student who cannot begin or complete a term due to illness or other health related conditions may submit a request for a medical leave of absence.

Students must submit the Medical Leave of Absence form and provide documentation on official letterhead from their health care provider supporting their request for a medical leave of absence and the anticipated timeframe in which the student is able to resume coursework. The medical leave documentation from the health care provider does not have to indicate the student’s specific health condition.

Students may take a medical leave of absence for up to one year. Requests to extend a medical leave must be recommended by the student’s

health care provider. Documentation recommending the extension must be submitted from the student’s health care provider on official letterhead. A student returning from a medical leave of absence must provide documentation on official letterhead from their health care provider once their condition has been resolved or managed and the student is able to resume their studies.

Students are required to log onto Student Planner and drop all courses if they decide to take a medical leave of absence before the term starts or during the add/drop period. When a medical leave of absence is granted, withdraw (W) grades will be posted for courses that have not concluded but remain on the student’s schedule for that term.

Students may elect to petition for incomplete grades. If the petition is granted the student must sign an incomplete grade agreement and complete all coursework in accordance with the incomplete grade agreement. If a student has incomplete grades from prior terms, the deadline for completing the course is not changed by a leave of absence.

While a leave of absence for medical reasons may be granted at any time during the term, tuition is refunded in accordance with Adler University’s refund policy. Please see your campus’s Tuition Refund Policy in the most recent University catalog. Students taking a medical leave of absence who are recipients of U.S. Title IV financial aid should refer to the U.S. Financial Aid portion of the most recent catalog to determine the financial implications of their leave. A medical leave of absence may result in the partial or complete loss of financial aid for the term. Questions about individual cases should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid.

Students who stop attending classes without formally submitting a medical leave of absence request risk academic and financial consequences.

Academic consequences include, but are not limited to, receiving failing grades in all courses, being placed on academic probation, and academic dismissal. Financial consequences include, but are not limited to, incurring a balance which impacts the ability to register, and financial aid eligibility being suspended.

Administrative Withdrawal

Once enrolled, students are expected to maintain Academic Good Standing, meet all Student Responsibilities, maintain Satisfactory Progress, and register each consecutive term until completing the program in which they have been admitted. Students who fail to register for each consecutive term may be administratively withdrawn from Adler University. The University also retains the right to administratively withdraw students whose accounts are past due and to charge all associated fees.

“Administrative Withdrawal” will be noted on the transcripts of students who have been administratively withdrawn. Students who have been administratively withdrawn and wish to be reconsidered for matriculation must submit a new application for admission no sooner than one year after their administrative withdrawal and, if admitted, must meet the program requirements and policies in effect at the time of the new admission.

Students readmitted to the University may be eligible to receive up to 24 credits for coursework completed either at Adler University or another institution. Students who wish to appeal the decision of administrative withdrawal can follow the procedures of the Student Grievance and Appeal Policy posted online at adler.edu.

Withdrawal in Good Standing

Students may withdraw from Adler University in good standing by completing the Student Withdrawal form, including necessary signatures, and submitting the form via their Adler email account to the Office of the Registrar. The Student Withdrawal form is located on the Registrar page on Adler Connect. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the signatures on the student withdrawal form and to understand the potential academic and financial implications of withdrawing from the University. Forms that are missing information and signatures will be returned to the student. To withdraw in good standing, students must be in Academic Good Standing at the time of withdrawal, have completed all requirements for courses and clinical work for which they are registered, and may not be subject to pending disciplinary or academic inquiries. “Withdrawal” is noted on the transcript.

If a student decides to withdraw from Adler University before the term starts, or during the add/drop period, the student is required to log onto Student Planner and drop all of their courses. Failure to do so will result in the student being charged the drop fee and/or tuition in accordance with the University’s tuition refund policy.

Former students who wish to return to Adler University after withdrawing in good standing must submit a new application for admission and, if admitted, must follow the policies, procedures, and program requirements in effect at the time of the new admission. Students readmitted to Adler University may be eligible to receive up to 24 credits for coursework completed either at Adler or another institution.

Grading System

It is the responsibility of the faculty to provide careful, detailed, timely, and thoughtful feedback and evaluation of students’ work. The policies pertinent to grading, as outlined in the Adler University Catalog, are as follows:

Chicago Campus

Traditional letter grades are given for most of the courses offered. A limited number of courses are evaluated on a credit/no credit basis. The grading system for the Chicago Campus is as follows:

Only two grades of C (for all programs except the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology) and no grades of D, F, NC, or AU may be counted toward completion of degree requirements. Psy.D. students who receive a grade of B- or below in a required course must retake the course and pass it with a grade of at least B. If the course is an elective, the student has the option to retake the course and achieve a grade of at least B, or elect a different elective and pass it with a grade of at least B. Please see the Doctor of Psychology Psy.D. Policies Handbook for additional details.

A maximum of six credit hours may be repeated to remediate deficient grades and qualify for graduation. Both the original course grade and the repeated course grade will be calculated in the overall GPA, and both will appear on the transcript.

Audit

Students registered to audit a course will receive, upon successful completion of the course, a designation of “AU” on their transcripts, which signifies neither credit nor a grade. Students cannot change an audited course to the credit option after the add/drop period ends. Please see the academic calendar for dates. Audited courses do not count toward graduation requirements and are not eligible for financial aid. Once an audited course is completed, it cannot be changed to credit at a later time.

Credit/No Credit

A grade of CR (credit) is assigned upon satisfactory completion of under-graduate prerequisite classes, professional development seminars, practicum seminars, practicum/internship requirements, qualifying examinations, the master’s thesis, and the doctoral dissertation.

A grade of NC (no credit) is assigned upon unsatisfactory performance in a practicum or a course offered on a credit/no credit basis. Grades of CR are not used in calculating the GPA; however, grades of NC, while not used in calculating the GPA but are considered failing grades for the purposes of academic Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Incomplete

An I (incomplete) grade will be granted only in exceptional situations when requirements for a course cannot be completed in the time allowed. An incomplete grade is allowed only with the written consent of the instructor and indicates that the student has presented a satisfactory reason for receiving an incomplete grade. Students must request an incomplete grade prior to the due date of the final requirement of the class in question.

For an incomplete grade to be granted, students must complete an Incomplete Grade Agreement form with the instructor. The form is available to faculty only on Adler Connect. The Incomplete Grade Agreement should state specifically what the student must do to satisfy the course requirements, including the instructor’s grading criteria and the agreed-upon completion date. The agreed-upon completion date cannot exceed the final date of the subsequent term in which the course was taken. A Grade Change form must be submitted by the instructor no later than two weeks from the agreed-upon completion date indicated on the Incomplete Grade Agreement. Incomplete grades automatically convert to a failing grade if a Grade Change form is not submitted two weeks after the agreed-upon completion date. The student and instructor must sign the Incomplete Grade Agreement. The instructor must submit the form to the Office of the Registrar via the instructor’s Adler email account. The Office of the Registrar will not accept the Incomplete Grade Agreement from the student. Please see the Incomplete Grade Agreement for complete details.

Receipt of one or more incomplete grades may preclude a student from enrolling in subsequent terms, may render the student ineligible for federal student aid, and may result in the student being referred to the Student Development Committee.

If the coursework is not successfully completed within the time limit established by the instructor, the incomplete grade will be changed to an F (fail) or NC (no credit).

In Progress

A temporary grade of IP (in progress) can be given to students who are engaged in applied field experiences (e.g., practicum, internship), or who are pending completion of a comprehensive exam. The IP will be removed from the transcript when the final grade has been posted. The maximum time frame to complete course requirements for an IP grade is the final date of the subsequent term.

Transfer

A grade of TR is awarded for transfer credit from external institutions. Please see the Transfer Credit policy for details regarding course transferability. Transfer credit grades are not used to calculate a student’s cumulative grade point average. The TR grade is not utilized to calculate a student’s academic standing or credit attempted

Withdraw

A W grade indicates the student officially withdrew from a course with written permission of the student’s Department Chair or Program Director through the allowed withdrawal period. Please see the academic calendar for dates. The grade W is not counted in a student’s earned credit hours, nor calculated in the student’s GPA.

A W grade impacts a student’s time to complete his or her degree program.

Withdraw Fail

A grade of WF indicates withdrawal from a class or exam without proper authorization and is also assigned for withdrawal after the “W” grade deadline (see the academic calendar for dates), when a student ceases attending a course or exam, or never attends a course or exam. A course with WF is counted as attempted credit hours in the computation of academic standing, is calculated as an F in the student’s GPA, and impacts a student’s time to complete his or her degree program.

Withdraw No Credit

A grade of Withdraw No Credit, WNC, indicates withdrawal from a credit (CR) or no credit (NC) class or exam without proper authorization and is also assigned for withdrawal after the “W” grade deadline (see the academic calendar for dates), when a student ceases attending a course or exam, or never attends a course or exam. Grades of WNC are not used in calculating the GPA and are considered failing grades for the purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress and impacts a student’s time to complete their degree program.

Grade Corrections and Grade Appeals

A student may appeal a final course grade for one or more of the following criteria:

• The faculty member violated a specific Adler University rule or policy pertaining to grading, including refusal to discuss a grade with the student.

• The faculty member did not provide stated grading criteria and a grading scale, did not follow the stated criteria or grading scale, or applied either of them inconsistently.

• A clerical or administrative error was made in the process of recording or reporting the grade, and the faculty member has not corrected it.

• The faculty member did not report any grade for the individual student.

• The grade reflects discriminatory, biased, abusive, exploitive, or otherwise improper conduct toward the individual student. These allegations will be referred to the appropriate office, as determined by legal counsel, for investigation. The scope of the investigation will be limited to the allegation(s) and will not address the grade appeal. Hence, the following appeal process may be placed on hold during the investigation of the alleged discrimination but will not circumvent the grade appeal process. The Program Director and Department Chair (Second Level) will be informed of the determination of the investigation. Should the appeal involve the Program Director or the Chair as the instructor, his or her immediate supervisor will be informed. Due to the confidential nature of harassment, discrimination, and Title IX investigations, the substance of the investigation will not be shared, only the outcome. In cases where a violation has been found, the Second Level reviewer will assess whether the violation impacted the appellant’s grade. Determination of the final grade will be made through the formal grade appeal process.

Appeal Process

For the purpose of this procedure, “days” means academic/business days, not calendar days. Dates when classes are not in session will not count toward the timeline. “Term” means fall, spring, or summer academic terms.

First Level: Appeal to the Faculty Member

• A student who wishes to appeal a grade for any of the criteria (A through D above) must first notify the instructor of record by email that they wish to appeal and discuss the reason(s) for questioning the final grade. If the grade appeal uses criterion E, then students may appeal directly to the Program Director or Department Chair (Second Level).

• The deadline for a student to take the complaint to the faculty member is 5 p.m. CST on the 10th business day of the semester following the final grade being appealed.

• A student having a verbal discussion of an appeal related to criteria A through D above must follow up with an email or written statement to the instructor summarizing  

   the basis of the appeal.

• In most cases, the discussion between the student and the instructor should suffice to resolve the issue. The instructor must respond in writing to the student, copying the Department Chair or Program Director, within five business days of the student’s email concerning the disputed grade.

Second Level: Appeal to the Department Chair/Program Director

If the student’s concerns remain unresolved after discussion with the instructor, or if the instructor does not respond within the allotted time of five business days, the student may submit a written Grade Appeal form according to the following process. The Grade Appeal form must be submitted within 10 business days of the response from the instructor.

In the case of receiving no response from the instructor after five business days, students can submit the written Grade Appeal form to the Program Director or Chair directly. This timeline may not apply in situations where criterion E was designated as the basis of the appeal.

Completion of the Grade Appeal Form, to include:

• The criterion for the appeal (see A through E of the grade appeal criteria above)

• The grounds for challenging the original grade

• A description of the remedy sought

• Full documentation of the efforts taken to date to resolve the appeal of the grade

Submission of the completed Grade Appeal Form to:

• Chair or Program Director responsible for the degree program

• Instructor of record

Departmental Review (within 20 business days of Grade Appeal form submission). Upon receiving a Grade Appeal form, the Department Chair or Program Director will review the appeal documents, including the instructor’s response to the student, within the department or program.

The Chair or Program Director will determine the outcome of the appeal and communicate it to the student and the instructor. The departmental review process, terminating with notification from the Chair or Program Director, is to be completed within 20 business days of Grade Appeal form submission.

Departmental review may be governed to an extent by accreditation requirements applicable to the program.

Third Level: Appeal to Academic Affairs Grade Appeal Committee

(within 10 business days of departmental determination)

If the departmental review process does not result in resolution of the student’s concerns, the student has 10 business days after receiving the determination to notify the Department Chair or Program Director that they wish  to appeal the decision. The Department Chair or Program Director shall then direct the Grade Appeal form and all associated communications to the Chair of the Faculty Council, who will refer this appeal to the Grade Appeal Committee, an ad-hoc faculty committee that provides a higher level of appeal beyond the department. The ad-hoc faculty committee is to be established by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Council, as needed, and is to consist of no fewer than three faculty members.

The Grade Appeal Committee shall convene a meeting, choose a chair, and review all relevant and supporting documents. The committee shall consult with the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) and make a final decision within 20 business days of having received the Grade Appeal form and supporting documentation. After a final decision is made by the Grade Appeal Committee, the Grade Appeal Committee Chair will respond directly to the student to communicate the decision as well as the basis for the outcome. This written response consists of an e-mail, as well as a paper copy sent to the student’s address on file in the registrar’s office.

The instructor, program director/department chair, and the VPAA shall also be included in the communication. The decision of the Grade Appeal Committee is final.

COMMONLY CITED EXCEPTION: If the instructor of record is also serving as Chair or Program Director, the student, after an unsuccessful attempt at

resolution with the faculty member, may direct the Grade Appeal form to the immediate supervisor, who will serve as the second-level reviewer. Should the student not be satisfied with the second-level reviewer’s decision, the student will request an appeal to the Grade Appeal Committee by notifying the second-level reviewer that they wish to appeal.

Degree Conferral

The Office of the Registrar is the department that processes degree conferrals at the University. The degree conferral process is an ongoing process and is not restricted to one time of the year. The annual commencement ceremony is not related to how degrees are conferred.

The Office of the Registrar will perform a comprehensive audit of a student’s entire academic record once:

• the graduation application is submitted (due dates are available on the academic calendar)

• all grades are posted by the student’s instructors

• all other degree requirements have been fulfilled (including practicum/ externship/internship/Social Justice Practicum; for doctoral students this also includes the student’s upload of their final dissertation and the student’s academic program’s approval of the uploaded final dissertation).

Final Grades

Instructors are required to post grades no later than five business days after the end of the course period.

Once an instructor posts final grades, the grades are immediately available for the student to view in Student Planner. Questions regarding missing grades should always be referred to the instructor on record (instructor name is located on the student’s schedule). Since faculty are responsible for posting final grades, the Office of the Registrar does not have knowledge regarding the status of missing grades.

Internship/Practicum/Externship/Social Justice Practicum

Students are required to have all internship/practicum/externship/Social Justice Practicum requirements complete before degree conferral.

Students with questions regarding the status of their internship/practicum/ externship/Social Justice Practicum grades, or questions regarding where documentation should be sent from their training sites, should connect directly with the instructor of record (instructor name is located on the student’s schedule). The Office of the Registrar has no involvement in training related courses and does not obtain or retain documentation relating to these experiences.

Once all grades are posted and all degree requirements are completed (including practicum, internship, submission of the final dissertation to the student’s academic department, and confirmation from the student’s academic program the final dissertation has been accepted) auditing for degree conferral commences.

Degree Conferral Process

Please allow up to 30 calendar days from the point all degree requirements have been satisfied, or 30 calendar days from the point your last grade was posted by your instructor, for your degree to be conferred. Students will receive email notification to their Adler Uniiversity email account once their degree has been posted to their academic record.

Students are automatically in queue for degree conferral once all degree requirements (including practicum, internship, submission of the final dissertation to their academic department, and confirmation from the academic program their final dissertation has been accepted) are fulfilled.

Students who anticipate beginning a job or post-doc by a specific date, should plan ahead by submitting all degree requirements well in advance of their start date.

The degree completion and conferral dates reflected on a student’s transcript will reflect the date all degree requirements were satisfied (this includes last dates of attendance posted by instructors for each course, completion of practicum and internship, submission of the final dissertation to their academic department, and confirmation from their academic program their final dissertation has been accepted).