Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Drop and Withdrawal

Students wishing to drop a course must do so before or during the published add/drop deadline (Day 10 of the term). On the final day of the add/drop deadline (Day 10 of the term), students will have until 12pm CST to submit add/drop requests to the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising (DSEAA) Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates.

If you are taking more than one course, the official date of the drop is the date DSEAA receives the request and revises the term registration. If you are only taking one course, this constitutes taking a leave of absence for the term. DSEAA will provide you with the appropriate documentation and will highly encourage you to assess your financial situation with the Financial Aid Office and/or Student Accounts. The official date of the drop is the date the Office of the Registrar receives written notification from the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising of the student’s last participation in a required course activity, with a request to drop the course.

Students who withdraw from a course(s) after the add/drop deadline, but before the Withdrawal W deadline, will receive a W grade for the course and have financial liability for tuition. Students who withdraw from a course after the Withdrawal W deadline will receive a WF or WNC for the course (which is the same as a failing grade) and have financial liability. Please consult the academic calendar for specific dates.

Failure to provide official notification of withdrawal may result in administrative withdrawal.

Attendance Policy

Students enrolled in online programs for which campus attendance is not required must fulfill the following attendance requirements:

• Students must log in to the Learning Management System (CANVAS) and participate in their course(s), at least one time, during the Add/Drop period, which is within the first seven days of class (the first seven days commencing with the start date of the course).

• Students that do not log in to the Learning Management System (CANVAS) and participate in their course(s) within the first 10 days of the term may be administratively withdrawn from the course in which there was no participation, or from the entire term if the student did not participate in any of their multiple courses.

• Every week thereafter (academic week consists of 12:00 a.m. Monday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday), students must participate twice.

• Participation Options:

  • Student posting in a discussion forum

  • Student submission of an academic assignment

  • Student submission of an exam

If a student’s online activity indicates no participation for 14 days from the previous date of participation, students may be administratively withdrawn from the course, term, or university.

Transfer Credit

Students accepted for admission may be granted transfer credit for degree-level courses previously taken at another accredited institution. Upon enrollment into a degree program, students may request a review of their academic history, and a determination about granting transfer credit will be made at the discretion of the University. Requesting transfer credit involves a review of previous academic work, including official transcripts with the grades earned. Course syllabi may also be requested, when applicable.

It is Adler University’s policy that a request for transfer credit for all courses within a student’s program must be received with all supporting documentation no later than the first day of the first course of the student’s degree program.

Transfer credit requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Courses completed with a B or better grade, and completed within 10 years of the date of the student’s program matriculation, will be considered for transfer credit. In some cases, credit earned more than 10 years prior to the start of a student’s program may be considered for transfer. Students must request consideration in writing, including a justification for their request. Students may transfer up to 12 credits toward any Online Campus master’s degree program. Students may transfer up to 38 credits toward the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology degree program. Students may transfer in up to 41 credits toward the Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership.

Leave of Absence

A Leave of Absence (LOA) refers to the specific time period during a program when a student is not in active attendance. 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.

Applicants admitted on a conditional basis are not eligible to take a leave of absence until they no longer occupy conditional status.

Master’s degree students may take an LOA for no more than two consecutive full-course periods, with a total not to exceed four full-course periods. Doctoral degree students may take an LOA for no more than two consecutive full-course periods, with a total not to exceed six full-course periods.

Students may take an LOA  by completing a Leave of Absence form, including necessary signatures, and submitting it to the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising.

Students who desire an additional one-term leave of absence past two consecutive full-course periods may provide a written request to the Director of Student Experience and Academic Advising.  However, the total number of leaves may not extend past three LOA’s at any given time nor exceed four course periods for Master’s students and six course periods for Doctoral students.

The LOA will be noted on the student’s transcript for each course period. Time approved for an LOA does not change or lengthen the maximum time allowed for degree completion.

Students who do not return from an LOA by the agreed-upon term may be administratively withdrawn from the University.

Administrative Withdrawal

A student may be administratively withdrawn for the following reasons:

• A student does not maintain continuous enrollment by being registered or on an approved leave of absence prior to the add/drop deadline;
• A student does not meet attendance standards; or
• A student does not return from a leave of absence by the agreed upon add/drop deadline.

Administrative Withdrawal” will be noted on the student’s transcript.

Students who wish to appeal the decision of administrative withdrawal can follow the procedures of the Student Grievance and Appeal Procedure listed in the Student Handbook. In the event a student is administratively withdrawn from the University, the Office of Financial Aid is required by federal law to recalculate a student’s eligibility for financial aid awards.

Readmission

Students who were previously enrolled at Adler University and seek readmission within one calendar year of their withdrawal or dismissal must submit a written petition to re-enter to the Executive Dean of the Online Campus, [email protected]. The petition should include an explanation of the circumstances for which they were withdrawn or dismissed and how they plan to be successful upon re-entry. If the petition is approved, students will be directed to the admissions team, [email protected], for instructions on how to apply. Readmission applicants are subject to current admissions requirements. If the petition is denied, the student will need to wait until one calendar year has passed from the time of withdrawal or dismissal to submit a new application for admission.

Students who were previously enrolled at Adler University and seek readmission after more than one calendar year of their withdrawal or dismissal are required to submit a new application for admission and will be evaluated according to current admission requirements. As part of their application, students will need to submit a written statement that includes an explanation of the circumstances for which they were withdrawn or dismissed and how they plan to be successful upon re-entry.

If readmitted, applicants/students are subject to the program requirements in effect at the time of the new application. Students must also satisfy all outstanding student account balances. A formal audit of previously completed coursework will be undertaken only after acceptance into a degree program.

For students seeking readmission after military service, please see the Active Duty Military section provided earlier in the catalog.

Withdrawal in Good Standing

Students may withdraw from Adler University in good standing by completing the Student Withdrawal form and submitting it to the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising. To withdraw in good standing, students must be in academic good standing at the time of withdrawal, have completed all requirements for courses for which they are registered, and may not be subject to pending disciplinary or academic inquiry. “Withdrawal” is noted on the transcript.

Former students who wish to return to the 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.

Grading System

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

Online Campus

Repeat Coursework

A maximum of nine credit hours may be repeated for master’s-level students and 12 credit hours, including requisite coursework, may be repeated for doctoral-level students. Each course may only be repeated once. The highest grade earned for a course will be used in the overall GPA, and all prior grades will appear on the transcript. Students admitted on a conditional basis are not eligible to repeat coursework until they achieve a full admission status.

Grades of 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.

Grades of 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 within 48 hours of the end of the course.

For an incomplete grade to be considered, students must petition their instructor in writing, via their Adler email account, for an incomplete no later than 48 hours prior to the end of the course, or the student will receive the earned grade. The faculty member must submit the incomplete grade agreement to the student and Program Director within 24 hours of the end of the course.

The incomplete grade agreement must state specifically what the student must do to satisfy the course requirements, including the instructor’s grading criteria and the agreed upon completion date. Students must complete and submit outstanding coursework by the agreed-upon deadline in order for a corresponding Grade Change form to be processed. The faculty member must submit the Grade Change form to the Office of the Registrar via their Adler email account by the end of the add/drop period of the next eight-week course period. If the form is not submitted by the deadline, the grade will be converted to an F.

Grade Appeals

A student may appeal a final course grade for the following reasons:

• Breach of written policy or procedure
• Bias
• Clerical or administrative error

Grade Appeal Process

First Level: A student who wishes to appeal a grade for any of the criteria above must first appeal to the instructor. To do so, the student must email the instructor of record via their Adler email account, stating that they wish to appeal and explaining the reason(s) for questioning the final grade.

The deadline for a student to take the complaint to the faculty member and the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising is the fifth calendar day of the next course period. A decision by the course instructor will be communicated to the student within 10 days of the date the appeal was received.

Second Level: A student may appeal the instructor-level appeal decision by submitting a written request to the corresponding Program Director. The Program Director will review the appeal and respond to the student within 10 days. This decision is final. If the course instructor and Program Director are the same person, a student may appeal the instructor- level appeal by submitting a request to the Department Chair.

Registration

The Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising (DSEAA) administratively registers new and current students for all courses. Typically, students take one 3-credit course in every course period. There may be some terms where a 3-credit course runs alongside a  required 0.5 or 1-credit courses.   Master’s  students may request to take more than one 3-credit course per term by submitting a written request with rationale to their Academic Advisor. Doctoral students make this request to their Cohort Mentor.  Upon approval, the Department of Student Experience and Academic Advising will adjust the student’s degree completion plan and register the student accordingly.

Statement of Student Responsibilities

Adler University expects that students will:

1. Adhere to all applicable University policies and procedures
2. Uphold all rules applicable to conduct in on- and off-campus settings, including but not limited to field, internship, in-service activities, or other activities
3. Abide by all local, state/provincial, and national laws
4. Maintain academic honesty and integrity
5. Comply with all ethical and professional standards applicable to their program of study
6. Contribute actively to the process of learning, including complying with attendance and participation requirements, completing assignments, and preparing for class
7. Conduct themselves in an ethical, professional, and civil manner
8. Demonstrate respect for others
9. Regularly monitor and manage payment for tuition, fees, and other miscellaneous charges such that they maintain current payment of their student accounts

Satisfactory Academic Progress/ Minimum Cumulative GPA Standards

In order for students to maintain satisfactory academic progress, they must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA may be dismissed. Master’s students need to complete their degree requirements for graduation within five years of the date of first registration following admission to the program. Doctoral students need to complete their degree requirements for graduation within seven years of the date of first registration following admission to the program.

Academic Status

Academic Good Standing

To remain in academic good standing, a student must:

• Maintain consistent enrollment
• Take a course load that ensures steady movement toward degree completion within the maximum limits outlined in the catalog
• Meet all Student Responsibilities and applicable program requirements
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Complete each course with no less than a C grade for letter-grade master’s-level courses, a B- for letter-grade doctoral-level courses, or a CR grade for credit/no-credit courses in master’s-level and doctoral-level courses

Academic Probation

Students may be placed on academic probation the first time they meet either of the following conditions:

• Fall below a 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Receive a grade below C in a required letter-grade master’s-level course, a grade below a B- in a required letter-grade doctoral-level course, or a grade of NC for a credit/no-credit course; see Repeat Course Policy for information on repeating courses

Students on Academic Probation must meet all aspects of Academic Good Standing within three consecutive course periods or they may be dismissed.

Dismissal

Students may be subject to dismissal when they fail to meet the Statement of Student Responsibilities outlined in the catalog or any other policies applicable to students as identified in the Student Handbook. Students may be subject to dismissal if they meet the following conditions:

• Student is on probation and does not return to Academic Good Standing within the maximum probationary period.
• Student fails to comply with an academic remediation plan.
• Master’s-level student earns two or more grades of D, F, or NC.
• Doctoral-level student earns two or more grades of C, D, F, or NC.
• Students fails to maintain minimum cumulative standards.
• Student admitted on a conditional basis earns one grade of D, F, or NC, or falls below  a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their first two courses.
• Student admitted on a provisional basis fails to submit all remaining collateral, as defined in their acceptance letter, prior to the end of student’s first course.

Students who meet any of the Online Campus’s dismissal criteria or have been referred for a potential violation of the Statement of Student Responsibilities will be referred to the Online Campus Student Comprehensive Evaluation Committee (SCEC). SCEC will evaluate the referral and determine a final outcome, which may include a plan for remediation or sanctions up to and including dismissal. Students admitted on a conditional or provisional basis will not be referred to SCEC.

The University reserves the right to dismiss students whose accounts are past due and to charge all associated fees. The transcript of a student who has been dismissed will carry a notation of “Dismissal.”

Students who wish to appeal the decision of dismissal can follow the procedures of the Student Grievance and Appeal Procedure listed in the Student Handbook.