Academic Regulations

Student Responsibility

All colleges and universities establish certain requirements that must be met before a degree is granted. These requirements concern courses, majors, grade point average, residence requirements and other requirements with which the student must comply. Advisors, department heads and academic deans will advise a student on how to meet these requirements, but the student is responsible for fulfilling them. Upon completion of the required course work, authorized personnel of the University will determine if the student is eligible to receive a degree. If the requirements have not been met, the degree will be withheld until obligations have been fulfilled. It is important for each student to become acquainted with the degree requirements and to remain informed.

The University Catalog is presented not only to enable prospective students and others to learn about Grambling State University, but to state policies, requirements, regulations and procedures in such form as will help the student progress through school.


Classification of Students

Classification of students is based upon the number of credits earned. Classification is updated by the University computer system at the end of each semester.

Freshman

Less than 30 semester hours

Sophomore

30-59 semester hours

Junior

60-89 semester hours

Senior

90 or more semester hours

 


Student Load

Undergraduate students are classified full-time if they schedule twelve (12) or more semester hours for credit. However, a normal load is sixteen (16) hours per semester. A student may take in excess of eighteen (18) hours but not more than twenty-one (21) hours provided that the student has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 and the written approval of the appropriate college dean.

Six (6) semester hours constitute full-time status for a summer session. A student may take in excess of six (6) hours per summer session, but not more than nine (9) hours provided that the student has the written approval of the appropriate college dean.

Students enrolled concurrently at Grambling State University and another college or University may receive credit for no more than the maximum allowable Grambling State University load for any given semester or summer term.


Attendance

It is always the student’s responsibility to be aware of class attendance.  At Grambling State University, class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege. Students should attend all classes regularly and punctually. Failure to do so may jeopardize a student’s scholastic standing and lead to immediate suspension from the University.

Excused Absences: Within three (3) days of the student’s return to the University from an absence, the student who desires an excused absence must submit verification or documentation supporting the reason for the absence to the Counseling Center. The Director of the Counseling Center will give the student an approved excused absence form to be shared with the student’s instructors provided the documentation presented can be verified. Acceptable documentation includes those affidavits provided by doctors, lawyers, and other officials when appropriate. At the discretion of the respective instructors, documents may be reviewed for a decision.

Note: Official documents must be submitted to substantiate any request for an excused absence lasting longer than one week.

Unexcused Absences: For freshman and sophomore students, after four (4) unexcused absences and with agreement of the instructor, department head, and academic dean may be assigned a grade of “F.”

Junior and senior students are expected to attend all classes. Failure to do so may jeopardize the student’s academic standing. Students are not exempted from covered work, tests, or assignments, and an absence that occurs on the day of a quiz, examination, or an assignment may result in failure.

Tardiness: Tardiness is equivalent to an absence unless the instructor excuses it at the end of the class period. The student must take the initiative to seek an excused late entrance.


Grading System

The grades used in the assessment of the academic performance of students enrolled in courses offered by the University are listed. 

 

Letter Grade

Description

Quality Points Per Credit Hour

A

Excellent

4

B

Above Average

3

C

Average

2

D

Below Average

1

F

Fail

0

IP

Approved Course/In Progress

Not Computed

FN

Fail-Never Attended

0

W

Withdrawn

Not Computed

I

Incomplete

0

IX

Incomplete Extended

0

P

Pass

Not Computed

NC

No Credit

Not Computed

AU

Audit

Not Computed

Z

Approved Course/ Work Pending

Not Computed

 

Quality points earned for each course are determined by multiplying the number of quality points for each grade by the number of hours the course carries.  A student’s grade point average is computed by adding the total quality points for all courses for which quality point values may be computed, then dividing by the number of GPA hours (divisor). The grade of “P” will be awarded for nontraditional credit and non-credit courses only. Courses so credited will not be used in computing the grade point average.

The grade of “I” (incomplete) means that some relatively small part of the session’s work remains undone because of illness or other unavoidable reason. This mark is given in exceptional cases where the student has been passing a course and gives evidence of ability to pass the course if granted an opportunity to complete an assignment which was not completed by the termination of the course.  Prior to awarding a grade of “I,” the instructor must submit an Incomplete Assignment Form to the department head. Incomplete grades for graduate students must be changed within one academic year.  The department head, academic dean, and the vice president for academic affairs must approve the Grade Change Form. The grade of “I” becomes “F” on the academic transcript if it is not changed by the deadline.

The grade of “W” indicates withdrawal of the student from the University up to a specified date following mid-term. This date will be published in the university calendar. After this date, a student may not withdraw or drop classes. In extraordinary cases, the registrar may authorize resignation from the institution or the dropping of a course with the grade of “W” after the deadline. The instructor cannot change a “W” grade.

The grade of “AU” indicates that the course has been audited; however, no credit is allowed.

When applicable, an “IP” (In Progress) is awarded to students enrolled in approved courses such as practica, internships, and others in which course requirements are normally not completed within one term.  A request to Assign IN Progress (IP) Grade Change Form must be submitted by the instructor of record to the department head, academic dean and the Academic Vice President/Provost for approval prior to submission to the Registrar’s Office.  The “IP” will remain until course requirements have been completed by the entire class unless there are students who have been recommended for graduation.    All IP Grades should be changed 60 days after the end of the semester in which the IP was awarded.  At that time a regular grade will be awarded. No credit will be given until the “IP” is converted to a regular grade.

The grade “Z” is for certain approved courses. When all work is completed, a Grade Change Form must be processed.

The grade of “FN” indicates that the student did not attend an examination. This grade will be used by the university to assist with the establishment of an official withdrawal date for the return of unearned student financial aid. Because of federal regulations, the last attended date is required for students who earn an “F” grade.  The date is required in order to determine Title IV Calculations


Course Numbering System

Courses are numbered according to the following system: 000-098, developmental courses; 100-199, freshman; 200-299, sophomore; 300-399, junior; 400-499, senior; 500-599, first-year graduate; 600-699, second-year graduate, 700 and above, courses beyond the master’s level.


Course Withdrawal and Drop Policy

Students may drop courses or may withdraw with grades of “W” up to a specified date following mid-term. The last day to drop courses or withdraw from the university is published in the University academic calendar.

After the published date, students may not drop courses or withdraw from the University. Students with extraordinary circumstances that require them to leave the University should seek an administrative withdrawal by submitting a request in writing with documentation to the University Registrar.  Dissatisfaction with an anticipated grade or a decision to change a major is not cause for an administrative withdrawal.   The student must show direct cause for his/her hardship, and must appeal immediately after the hardship. The instructor cannot change a grade to “W.”

If a student receives approval for an administrative withdrawal after the published date, the grade of “W” shall be assigned in all courses. If a student does not drop courses or withdraw officially from the University, the grade of “F” shall be assigned to all courses and he/she forfeits the right to a statement of honorable dismissal.

The statute of limitations for an appeal of a change in official academic records is 120 days after the end of the semester/session in which the grade is in question.


Class Schedule Adjustments (Adds and Drops)

Students should consult with the assigned academic advisors before initiating any change in registration.

Adding Courses for Credit

Courses may be added for credit by the advisor/student up to the end of registration. Students will be held responsible for all courses appearing on schedules unless changes were made in accordance with the regulations stated above. Students are strongly advised to check mid-term grades carefully and to drop or request the registrar to clear from the record courses or grades that appear in error. A student may change the section of a course offered in a semester or summer session in the same manner and time frame as that provided for adding courses.

Dropping Courses

For courses dropped within the time limit specified in the University academic calendar, the student receives the grade of “W.” It is the responsibility of the student to complete a Drop/Add Form and submit it to the Office of the Registrar after receiving approval from the appropriate academic advisor. A student who drops all courses must also withdraw from the University.  Students who are enrolled in 100% of their courses on-line are able to fax  a written request to drop courses to the Registrar’s Office on or before the last day to drop a course or withdraw from a course as specified in the University academic calendar.


Registration

Students are held individually responsible for information contained in this catalog. Failure to read and comply with policies, regulations and procedures will not exempt students from whatever penalties they may incur.

  1. All students at Grambling State University must be properly admitted to the University by the Office of Admissions before they register.
  2. Registration is complete only when registration requests have been properly recorded and all fees, deposits and charges are paid. Students are expected to pay all fees at the time of registration.
  3. Students are given credit only for those courses in which they are officially registered at the conclusion of the add/ drop period.
  4. Students will be held responsible for completing all courses for which they initially register, except for changes in registration which are officially filed in the Registrar’s Office.
  5. Students enrolled in courses who do not attend initial class meetings may be dropped from the class if demand for the course exceeds capacity. Departments following this practice will make reasonable efforts to inform students of this action.
  6. The University does not guarantee the availability of particular courses or sections thereof since admission to classes will be authorized only until the maximum number of students allowed in any section has been reached.
  7. Should a student or former student fail to pay a debt owed to the University, the University may withhold permission to register, use of facilities for which a fee is authorized to be charged, to receive services, materials, food or merchandise, or any combination of these.
  8. All first-time students born after 1956 will be required to present proof of measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria immunizations.

Veterans' Legislation and Military Status

Grambling State University has been approved by the State Approving Agency for the enrollment of veterans who are eligible for educational benefits under the GI Bill. The Office of Veterans Affairs provides information on educational benefits for veterans attending Grambling State University.

Veterans and eligible dependents should obtain an application for educational benefits from the Registrar’s Office located in Grambling Hall, Suite 18 or submit an application at www.gibill.va.gov.  Once the application has been submitted to the regional office for approval, the student will be contacted on their eligibility status.  If eligibility is declared, the student should obtain a Semester Benefits From our office.  This form must be completed every semester that benefits are to be used.

A veteran, dependent of a disabled or deceased veteran, or eligible persons who are in the National Guard or Reserves, must carry at least twelve (12) hours during the Spring and Fall semesters and at least six (6) during the summer sessions to be considered a full-time student.  Any change in full-time status must be reported and benefits may be reduced to reflect that change.

Veterans with at least one-year military service may be allowed a maximum of six semester credit hours in health and physical education, in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experience. Veterans should submit official copies of service records to the Registrar’s Office during the first semester of attendance.

Other services to veterans include work-study, tutorial assistance and vocational rehabilitation. These services are available to Grambling State University students who are veterans and dependents of service-connected disabled and deceased veterans and eligible persons who are in the National Guard or Reserves. 

 

Credit for Military Science

Veterans with at least one year military service may be allowed a maximum of six semester hours of credit in activity courses in the Department of Kinesiology, in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission on Accreditation of Service Experiences. Veterans should submit official copies of service records (DD-214) or transcripts to the Registrar’s Office during the first semester of attendance.

BRANCH OF SERVICE

REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS FROM:

Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps

Jst.doded.mil

Air Force

www.af.mil

 

Credit will be allowed for college-level courses completed by correspondence and/or group study through the United States Armed Forces Institute. Along with the application for admissions, official copies of these credits should be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment

 

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act

The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition and fees purposes:

  • A Veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty Program) or chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the institution within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

  • Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the institution within three years of the transferor's discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

  • Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person so described must have enrolled in the institution prior to the expiration of the three year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30 or chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code.

  • Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her formal State of residence).

  • Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.


Curriculum Change/Catalog

Students who desire to change their academic programs should seek the advice and consent of the department head and academic dean of both college/schools concerned. A Curriculum Change Form must be obtained from and filed in the Registrar’s Office to document the change within 48 hours with the required approvals.  If a new catalog is in effect when the changes become official, the student will be subject to the regulations of the new catalog.

Except where the State of Louisiana, the University of Louisiana System has set new requirements, a normally progressing student is expected to complete degree requirements as specified in the Grambling State University catalog for the year when the student is admitted to a program in one of the degree granting colleges/schools of the University. In the case of transfer students who are progressing normally at the sophomore or higher classification, the students must meet requirements specified in the catalog current when he/she enters and is admitted to a program at Grambling State University.

Students who discontinue study at Grambling State University for one or more semesters (including those on disciplinary or academic suspension) are not normally progressing students; therefore, they must meet requirements current with the semester in which they return.


Acceptance of Transfer Credits

Transfer credits will be evaluated by the Transfer Analyst in the Office of Admissions and added to the permanent record only for persons who are enrolled as degree seeking students. All credits earned at another college/university will be transferred to Grambling State University if the institution is regionally accredited. The grade point average(s) earned at the other accredited post-secondary institutions will be recorded on the transcript with all courses taken and the grades that were earned. However, the grade point average(s) earned at other accredited post -secondary institutions will not be used in determining the institutional grade point average at Grambling State University. All courses will be used to calculate the cumulative grade point average. Courses accepted for credit are not necessarily used toward a degree. Once a student has declared an academic major, the designated academic department advisor and/or dean will review all transfer credits to determine which courses will be accepted towards degree requirements and determine which transfer credits are equivalent to GSU courses.  All course substitutions will be submitted on the appropriate form and forwarded to the Office of the Registrar to be articulated on the student’s academic transcript within two (2) working days of evaluation by the academic department.  An undergraduate international applicant to the university must have his/her credentials evaluated through World Education Services (WES). The international transfer student will be responsible for all required fees associated with the WES evaluation.


Student Transfer Guide and Articulation System Matrices

To obtain the articulation matrices that indicate the correlation of courses among Louisiana’s public colleges and universities, students may either check with the Admissions Office or access it through the Board of Regents web page at https://regents.la.gov/.


Auditing Courses

A student who wants to enroll in a college credit course for personal enrichment and who does not want to earn college credit may select to audit the course. The decision should be made at the time of registration.

To audit a course the student must receive the approval of the department in which the course is offered (bring approval to the Registrar’s Office), pay the audit fee (same as fee charged for credit) and complete the registration procedure. However, a student may not take more than the maximum allowable hours during any semester; this includes hours audited. Students who audit will not receive credit. Anyone who wishes to change registration from audit to credit or from credit to audit must make the change before or on the last day of registration. A student may audit no more than one course in any semester. A course audited cannot be used to fulfill graduation requirements. A course previously audited may be taken for credit by enrolling in the course.


Grambling State University - Louisiana Tech University Inter-Institutional Cooperative Program (ICP)

Grambling State University and Louisiana Tech University operate an Inter-Institutional Cooperative Program (ICP). This program makes it possible for students to enroll for courses at both schools. Faculty exchange between the two institutions is also a part of the program.

Application for courses to be taken on the cooperating campuses must be made at the institution where admission requirements have been met and degree programs are being pursued. Credits earned may apply toward a degree at the home institution. The student’s dean or authorized representative must approve the course(s) selected and the course load.  A copy of the student’s transcript bearing the official seal will be furnished to his/her home institution.

An ICP student will be charged “full fees” at the home institution, regardless of course load. This will not require additional fees from the visiting institution.

Grambling State University students who are planning to graduate in the spring semester should NOT enroll in ICP courses; the grades will not be available by the graduation date.

Grambling students wishing to take a Louisiana Tech course should pick up and return the form to the Registrar’s Office.


Policy on Repeating Courses

When a student repeats a course, it is recorded on the transcript each time. All grades are used in calculating the cumulative grade point average (GPA). An adjusted GPA, which uses only the last grade earned if a class has been repeated, will be used where necessary for graduation. However, the adjusted GPA will not be printed on the transcript. The cumulative GPA is used to determine academic status (probation/suspension) and for the purpose of awarding honors and campus awards (effective the 2000 fall semester). Students should be aware that other four-year colleges and universities may not honor Grambling State University’s repeat policy.


Procedure for Appealing a Grade

It is an important part of the teaching responsibility of the faculty to provide careful evaluation and timely assignment of an appropriate grade to each enrolled student. There is a presumption that grades assigned are correct. It is the responsibility of the student appealing an assigned grade to demonstrate otherwise. In the absence of compelling reasons, such as instructor’s error or clerical error, etc., the grade determined by the instructor of record is to be considered final.

A student who believes based on evidence that is reviewable that an incorrect grade has been assigned may appeal by using the following procedure.

  1. The student should attempt to resolve the problem with the instructor who assigned the grade within thirty (30) calendar days after the end of the term in which the course was offered. If the instructor determines that an error was made in submitting the grade, a Grade Change Form, available in the office of the department head, must be initiated by the instructor immediately. Documentation to justify the change must be submitted with the form to the department head. The form must be approved by the department head and the dean of the college in which the course was offered. The form may be rejected with explanation at any stage in the approval process. If the grade change is approved by the college dean, the form and supporting documentation will be submitted by the dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for final approval. Once the Vice President for Academic Affairs approves the grade change the instructor will be notified by the Office of the Vice President. The instructor will pick up an approved request and submit it to the Registrar to complete the grade change process. The Vice President will return all rejected grade changes to the appropriate dean with written explanations. Explanations for rejection at any stage of the process will be shared by the party making the rejection with all persons involved in the process.
  2. If the student is not satisfied with the instructor’s decision, and has reviewable evidence to warrant a grade change, the student should submit a written appeal within 120 calendar days after the end of the term to the head of the department in which the course was offered.
  3. If the problem is not resolved at this level, the student should submit a written appeal to the college dean within ten (10) working days following receipt of the denial by the department head.
  4. If the problem is not resolved at the dean’s level, the student should submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within ten (10) working days of receiving the denial from the dean. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will review all evidence and findings and inform the student, instructor, department head, college dean, registrar, and other appropriate University personnel of the decision. This decision is final and ends the appeal process.
  5. Candidates for degrees should immediately notify their academic advisors of decisions made in response to their respective appeals.

Academic Status Policy

There are three categories of academic status for undergraduate students: academic good standing (eligible to be enrolled); academic probation (eligible to be enrolled) and academic suspension (not eligible to be enrolled) A student’s academic status is determined at the end of each semester and summer session. Although students will usually receive an official notification of academic status with their grades, such notice is not a prerequisite to students being placed on academic probation or suspension. The students have the responsibility to know their academic status prior to the beginning of each enrollment period.

Good Standing: A full-time student who maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 is in good standing. The University uses the cumulative GPA, rather than the adjusted GPA, to determine academic status (probation/suspension).

Academic Probation: An undergraduate student will be placed on academic probation whenever his/her cumulative average is below a 2.0 average. Once on academic probation, a student will remain on probation (as long as each semester or summer session’s average is at least 2.0) until the cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is achieved. Once a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is achieved, a student will be placed in academic good standing.

Academic Suspension: A student on academic probation will be suspended from Grambling State University at the conclusion of any semester or summer session in which a grade point average of at least 2.0 is not obtained. A first-time freshman, admitted in good standing, will not be suspended prior to the completion of two semesters of enrollment. Registration will be canceled for a student who registers and is then suspended. 

First Suspension: The first period of suspension is normally for one regular semester. A student who has been suspended for academic reasons must submit a written appeal in order to be readmitted. Readmission is not automatic and the student must provide evidence that his/her academic performance will be better if readmission is granted.

A student suspended from the University for the first time at the end of the spring semester may attend the summer session without appeal. If the cumulative GPA is raised to 2.0 or higher, the student is placed in academic good standing and the suspension period is lifted. The student may then attend the fall semester without appeal. If the cumulative GPA is not raised to a 2.0 or higher in the summer session, the suspension for the fall semester will remain in effect. In this case, only one suspension is counted against the student.

Second or Subsequent Suspension: A student suspended from the University for a second or subsequent time at the end of the spring semester may also attend summer school. To be readmitted to any semester other than the summer session, he/she must appeal.

Second or subsequent suspensions shall be for one calendar year. The student may then apply for readmission, which may be granted, delayed, or denied. Readmission is dependent on the evidence that the student is able to provide that his/her academic performance will meet the minimum criterion of a 2.00 grade point average.

An undergraduate student suspended from a System university may not enroll in another university within the System for at least one calendar year, but may enroll in a community college. To ensure minimal or no loss of credits upon return to the university, it is recommended that the student consult with his/her university advisor regarding the choice of courses to be taken at the community college. Credits earned under these conditions may be accepted for a degree at the suspending institution provided grades of “C” or higher are earned in each of the courses to be transferred.

While on suspension, only credits earned during the summer sessions will be considered by Grambling State University for credit. Students who plan to take courses during the summer at a community college must consult their academic advisors about the courses that they intend to take.

Transfer students who have been suspended from other systems may appeal to enroll at a University of Louisiana institution during the academic suspension period only if they have a 2.0 cumulative average. Appeals may be granted or denied.

Appeals: If a student is on academic suspension due to extenuating circumstances, he/she may send a written appeal for immediate reinstatement to his/her academic dean. If the dean accepts the appeal, the academic dean recommends reinstatement to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who renders a final decision. If reinstatement is approved or denied, the Vice President for Academic Affairs instructs the Office of Admissions to inform the student.

Supporting documents for the extenuating circumstances must be sent along with the letter of appeal. Gaining readmission by appeal does not remove the suspension from the academic records.


Academic Renewal (Amnesty, Bankruptcy)

Undergraduate students may, at the time of application for admission or readmission to the University, file for academic renewal in the Registrar’s Office if they have not been enrolled in any college or university for a period of three calendar years immediately preceding their enrollment at Grambling. No courses that have previously been taken, whether passed or failed, will be counted in the student’s grade point average or toward graduation. However, the courses and grades will remain on the student’s scholastic records and transcripts. The grade point average for determining graduation honors will include all grades on the undergraduate record. Students are cautioned that many undergraduate professional curricula and most graduate and professional schools compute the undergraduate grade point average on all hours attempted when considering applications for admission. Grambling State University may choose to accept or not accept, in transfer, academic renewal granted at another institution. Academic renewal can be granted only once, regardless of the institutions attended.


Change of Grade

After a grade is submitted to the Registrar’s Office, the instructor of record may change the grade with verification to his department head that an error was made in reporting the grade. If the instructor determines that an error was made in submitting the grade, a Grade Change Form, available in the office of the department head, must be initiated by the instructor immediately. Documentation to justify the change must be submitted with the form to the department head. The form must be approved by the department head and the dean of the college in which the course was offered. The form may be rejected with explanation at any stage in the approval process. If the grade change is approved by the college dean, the form and supporting documentation will be submitted by the dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Once the Vice President for Academic Affairs approves the grade change the instructor will be notified by the Office of the Vice President. The instructor will pick up an approved request and submit it to the Registrar to complete the grade change process. The Vice President will return all rejected grade changes to the appropriate college dean with written explanations. Explanations for rejection at any stage of the process will be shared by the party making the rejection with all persons involved in the process.

Materials submitted after the official completion of a course may not be used as a means of continuing the course and thus changing a previously submitted grade. Only the grade of “I” established at the end of the course may be changed into a regular grade by the submission of additional material agreed upon previously. Any change of “I” to a grade for undergraduate students must be received in the Registrar’s Office by a designated date after midterm of the following semester that the student is enrolled or within one calendar year if the student does not enroll. Incompletes must be removed within one year for graduate students. “I” grades for undergraduate students are calculated as “F.” The instructor cannot change a grade to “W.”

When applicable, an “IP” (In Progress) is awarded to students enrolled in special identified courses such as practicums, internships, and others in which course requirements are normally not completed within one term. The “IP” will remain until course requirements have been completed. At that time a regular grade will be awarded. No credit will be given until the “IP” is converted to a regular grade for the entire class. The deadline for grade changes is 60 days after the end of the semester, unless the student has submitted a written appeal (see Procedure for Appealing a Grade).


Final Grade Reports

Students must check Banner web for their mid-term/final grades. Final grades will be available within three working days after grades are due from faculty.


Change of Address, Name, or Student I.D. Number

A student must give a home and a local address at the time of admission. If either addresses changes while the student is enrolled, the new address must immediately be filed in the Office of the Registrar. A student is responsible for the accuracy of the address currently on file in the offices of the University.

A student wishing to change the name on University records must complete the change of name form in the Office of the Registrar. The student must present official supporting documents for the name change. Other name changes are made upon presentation of a court order. To have a student identification number changed, the student must present official supporting documents for the change.


Transcript of Academic Record

Transcripts of student records will be issued only at the written request of the student. No transcript requests will be processed unless the student’s admissions file is complete and/or until all financial obligations to the University have been met. All transfer work will be recorded on the Grambling State University transcript. The University will not copy and release transcripts and/or test scores from other colleges/institutions. Students should request this information directly from the appropriate college/ university, high school, or testing service. Academic advisors may have access to students’ records for advising purposes only.

Transcripts are usually prepared within three working days after the request is received except during school holidays and the end of the semester. At the end of each semester, approximately ten working days are required to process a transcript request. Students may request an electronic or paper copy of their academic transcript.  Students can also print an unofficial transcript on Banner Web.   


First Year Experience for Transfer Students

A student who transfers to Grambling State University with 30 or more semester hours accepted by the University goes directly to the college or school of his/her major interest and will not be required to take FYE 101 and FYE 102.


Graduate Courses Open to Undergraduate Seniors

Students classified as seniors who have outstanding records of academic achievement may be allowed to register for graduate courses if they meet the following criteria:

  1. A grade point average of 3.20 or higher
  2. Need thirty or less credit hours to complete baccalaureate degree requirements.

A student who meets the criteria and desires to take graduate courses must also obtain the following approvals:

  1. Dean of the College for the student’s major
  1. Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research
  1. Department Head for the student’s major
  1. The student’s academic advisor.

Students may earn no more than 12 graduate credit hours while completing baccalaureate degree requirements. While taking graduate courses the student’s semester GPA must be above 3.00. If the student’s semester GPA falls below 3.00, the student will not be allowed to enroll in additional graduate courses. 


General Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

The baccalaureate degree requirements are listed.

  1. Completion of all course requirements in an academic major with no grades lower than D or specified academic program grade requirements
  2. Completion of all academic requirements in the General Education Program
  3. Completion of at least 120 credit hours of course work, unless otherwise required for accreditation and/or professional certification purposes
  4. Achievement of passing scores on examinations required for the chosen major
  5. Completion of the Rising Junior Examination (GET 300)
  6. A minimum grade point average of 2.00 cumulative grade point average of all hours pursued toward a degree, unless otherwise required for accreditation and/or professional certification purposes
  7. Earn at least 25 percent of the required credit hours for graduation in residence

To meet the grade point average requirement an adjusted grade point average may be used. The adjusted GPA uses the last grades earned in courses that have been repeated. The residence requirement may be waived by the college dean for a given student’s major field.

To receive the baccalaureate degree at one of the University’s commencement exercises a student must take the following steps:

  1. Clear all financial obligations to the University prior to taking final examinations in the final term of enrollment
  2. File an application for graduation in the office of the dean. This should be done at the time of registration in the last semester or summer session in which the candidate completes degree requirements. Each candidate must be recommended for graduation by the academic dean.
  3. Be present for the commencement exercise unless written approval to be absent is given by the candidate’s academic dean.

Correspondence and Extension Courses

Grambling State University does not offer correspondence work, but will accept a maximum of 30 semester hours of correspondence or extension credit from accredited institutions that offer such work. Any student who plans to take any work elsewhere must obtain written approval from his/her academic dean, a copy of which should be filed in the Registrar’s Office.


Time Limitation

Any student whose study plan does not result in completion of the baccalaureate degree requirements within 150% (188 credit hours) time frame of the degree program will lose eligibility for federal financial aid.


Requirements for Second Undergraduate Degrees

To receive a second bachelor’s degree, a student must earn a minimum of an additional thirty (30) semester hours and meet all requirements for the second degree.


Minors and Double Majors

The department head and the dean of the appropriate academic curriculum must approve requirements for minors and double majors. Students pursuing associate degrees cannot earn a minor.

The department head and the dean of the college of the appropriate academic curriculum must approve any substitutions for courses in a minor or a double major degree plan in advance. If a student is working toward degrees in different colleges, he/she must be enrolled in one of the colleges involved and develop degree plans with both deans.


Rising Junior Examination

The Rising Junior Examination is a required test in the University’s General Education Program. It is generally administered to sophomores who have earned between forty-five (45) and sixty (60) semester hours credit.

To take the Rising Junior Examination a student should enroll in GET 300, a non-credit course, at the beginning of the second semester of the sophomore year. Students enrolling in GET 300 should have earned at least 45 credit hours. Developmental courses cannot be counted in the 45 credit hours.


Academic Honors

The standard grade point averages for honors are outlined:

  • Honor Roll: A full-time student who makes a minimum 3.0 GPA will be placed on the honor roll for that semester.
  • Dean’s List: A full-time student who makes a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA will be placed on the Dean’s List.
  • President’s List: A full-time student who makes a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA will be placed on the President’s List.

 

Graduation Honors

Honor Status Cumulative GPA’s 

Cum laude

3.50 – 3.69

Magna cum laude

3.70 – 3.89

Summa cum laude

3.90 – 4.00

 

The GPA for all of the honor recognitions shall be the true cumulative GPA computed by utilizing all course grades earned. Please note the true cumulative GPA should be used for rankings, transcripts, and other purposes; the adjusted GPA may be used only for graduation purposes.

Students receiving their first associate degree may also receive special recognition for outstanding academic performance. The following conditions govern such recognition.

  1. Students must earn an average of 3.30 to 3.69 on all hours pursued for “Honors.”
  2. Students must earn an average of 3.70 or above for “Distinction.”
  3. Students must earn a total of 15 semester hours at Grambling State University.

Undergraduate Core Requirements for Graduation

Grambling State University General Education Course Requirements:

The Board of Regents Requirements

12

First Year Experience (FYE 101 & 102)

2

Health or Physical Education (activity)

1

Computer Literacy (CS 107)

3

Total:

18

 

Bachelor Degrees

The Board of Regents has designated both REQUIRED and SUGGESTED coursework in general education for baccalaureate degrees, and has urged all public colleges and universities to prominently display them in their respective catalogs, brochures, and other publications.

Students who complete the Regent’s SUGGESTED coursework with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) shall be awarded the Certificate of Excellence.

 

Board of Regents General Education Course Requirements:

English

6

Mathematics

6

Natural Sciences

9

Humanities

9

Fine Arts

3

Social Sciences

6

Total:

39

 


General Education Program

Through the General Education Program the University strives to achieve goals that complement and support its mission. Broadly, the program seeks to prepare graduates for lives of learning. On a more focused level the program seeks to prepare students for the study of a major academic discipline. The faculty believes that it is the responsibility of the University to produce graduates who will contribute to the advancement of civilization. Therefore, the faculty seeks in the General Education Program to provide students with a foundation of intellectual skills and knowledge to enable them to lead productive and ethical lives. The program aims to enable students to think critically, to analyze information, and use it to make logical decisions.

The General Education Program seeks to have students understand and appreciate the best of what humanity has created and produced the aesthetic and intellectual accomplishments.

The General Education Program is buttressed by four goals which the University aims to achieve for all students who matriculate as undergraduates. The General Education Program strives to:

  1. Provide students with a foundation for learning and for intellectual growth in an academic discipline;
  2. Prepare students for successful lives in an increasingly technical, dynamic, and complex society;
  3. Raise the intellectual aims and aspirations of students; and
  4. Develop in student’s high ethical standards, and a responsibility for the quality of life on earth.

These goals are pursued through a set of learning outcomes or objectives. The level of mastery of a given learning outcome is determined by the evaluation metrics. The learning outcomes and evaluation metrics provide a rationale for the courses and experiences that constitute the curriculum of the General Education Program.

 

General Education Curriculum 

English, ENG 101 & 102

6

Mathematics, MATH 131 & 132, or 147 & 148, or 153 & 154

6

Natural Science*, PHYS 153/154, PHYS 109/110, SCI 105/106, CHEM 105/106, CHEM 111/112, CHEM 101, BIOL 103/104, BIOL 113/114

3

Humanities, HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, HIST 104, HIST 201 or HIST 202; and ENG 200, ENG 201, ENG 203, ENG 204, ENG 205, ENG 206, HUM 200, HUM 201, HUM 202, PHIL 201, and/or any 100/200 level foreign language course

3

Fine Arts, ART 105, ART 210 , ART 215, ART 216, MUS 219
or THEA 100

3

Social/Behavioral Sciences, ECON 201, SOC 101, SOC 201, PSY 200, PS 201 and/or GEOG 201

6

First Year Experience, FYE 101 & 102

2

Total:

41

*Contingent upon department

Another major element of the General Education Program is a service learning requirement. All students must complete 160 hours of service learning that have been approved by the Director of Service Learning.

Some courses in the General Education Program have been designated as service learning courses. These are English 101 & 102, First Year Experience 101 & 102, History 101 & 104, Mathematics 147 & 148, and Social Science 101. A student in one of these courses can earn 20 service learning hours. The maximum number of service learning hours that can be earned this way is 80. The other 80 hours are earned by engaging in projects approved by the Director of Service Learning. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisors and the Director of Service Learning early in their matriculation about opportunities for service.

 

The undergraduate curriculum consists of the following elements:

General Education Program

41 hours

Major and Cognate Requirements

60 hours

Free Electives

18 hours

 

The free electives are limited only by the level of the courses taken:

100 level courses

3 hours

200 level courses

6 hours

300 and 400 level courses

9 hours

 


Academic Dishonesty

The University functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. Students should realize that deception for individual gain is an offense against the members of the entire community. Faculty members have a responsibility to take measures to preserve and transmit the values of the academic community. To this end, they are expected to instill in their students a respect for integrity and a desire to behave honestly. They are also expected to take measures to discourage student academic dishonesty.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty

  1. Cheating: possessing unauthorized sources of information during an examination; copying the work of another student or permitting copying by another student during an exam; completing an assignment, such as an exam, paper, lab report, or computer program for another student; submitting material produced by someone else; submitting out-of-class work for an in-class assignment; altering graded work and resubmitting it for regarding; retaining exams or other materials after they were supposed to be returned to an instructor, inventing data or falsifying data.
  2. Plagiarism: taking the words or ideas of another person and either copying or paraphrasing the work without giving credit to the source (e.g., through footnotes, quotation marks, reference citations).
  3. Other forms: providing material to another person with knowledge it will be improperly used, possessing another student’s work without permission, selling or purchasing materials for class assignments, altering another student’s assignment, knowingly furnishing false or incomplete academic information, altering documents affecting student records, forging a signature or falsifying information on any official academic document.

Dealing with Instances of Academic Dishonesty

Any act of cheating or plagiarism in a course by a student will be reported to the college/school dean and the student will receive an “F” for the course.

If a student has been reported to the dean for two instances of cheating and/or plagiarism, the student will be charged with persistent academic dishonesty. The student will be given the opportunity to respond to the charge at a hearing. If the student is found guilty, the student will be suspended for one academic year. If a student is charged twice with persistent academic dishonesty and is found guilty on both occasions of academic dishonesty, the student will be indefinitely suspended from the University.


Acceptable Use Policy for Computer Technology

The computing facilities at Grambling State University are provided for the use of Grambling State University students, faculty and staff in support of the programs of the University. All students, faculty and staff are responsible for seeing that these computing facilities are used in an effective, efficient, ethical and lawful manner.

The following policies relate to their use.

  1. Computer facilities and accounts are owned by the University and are to be used for university-related activities only. All access to central computer systems, including the issuing of passwords, must be approved through the Information Technology Center.
  2. Computer equipment and accounts are to be used only for the purpose for which they are assigned and are not to be used for commercial purposes or non-university related business.
  3. Others must not use an account assigned to an individual, by the Information Technology Center without explicit permission from the account holder and the Information Technology Center. The individual is responsible for the proper use of the account, including proper password protection.
  4. Programs and files are confidential. They may be made available to other authorized individuals with permission from appropriate authority. When performing maintenance every effort is made to insure the privacy of a user’s files. However, if violations are discovered, they will be reported immediately to the appropriate vice president.
  5. Electronic communications facilities (such as EMAIL) are for university-related activities only. Fraudulent, harassing or obscene messages, pictures and or other materials are not to be sent, retrieved, or stored.
  6. No one may deliberately attempt to degrade the performance of a computer system or to deprive authorized personnel of resources or access to any University computer system.
  7. Loopholes in computer security systems or knowledge of a special password must not be used to damage computer systems, obtain extra resources, take resources from another user, gain access to systems; or use systems for which proper authorization has not been given.
  8. Computer software protected by copyright is not to be copied from, or into, by using campus computing facilities, except as permitted by law or by the contract with the owner of the copyright. This means that such software may only be copied in order to make back-up copies, if permitted by the copyright owner. The number of copies and distribution of the copies may not be done in such a way that the number of simultaneous users in a department exceeds the number of original copies purchased by that department.

An individual’s computer use privileges may be suspended immediately upon the discovery of a possible violation of these policies. Such suspected violations will be confidentially reported to the appropriate faculty, supervisors, department heads, Information Technology staff, and vice presidents.

The appropriate administrative staff or supervising department head will judge an offense as either major or minor. The Information Technology Center Security Administrator and the supervising department head will investigate the first offense. Additional offenses will be regarded as major offenses. Appeals relating to minor offenses may be made to the supervising vice presidents. The supervising vice presidents will address all major offenses once reported.

Violations of the policies will be dealt with in the same manner as violations of other University policies and may result in disciplinary review. In such a review, the full range of disciplinary sanctions is available, including the loss of computer use privileges, dismissal from the University, and legal action.

Violation of some of the above policies may constitute a criminal offense. Individuals using campus computer facilities should be familiar with the Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:73, Computer Related Crimes.