Academic Policies

Students are expected to demonstrate a high standard of academic honesty in all phases of academic work and college life. Academic dishonesty represents an attack on intellectual integrity without which there can be no true education. In taking tests and examinations, completing homework, laboratory work, and writing papers, students are expected to perform honestly. Consequently, Savannah State has established the following policies for detected acts of academic dishonesty.

1. All cases of detected academic dishonesty will be reported by the faculty to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
2. Plagiarism or cheating in any academic work will result in a recorded grade of “F” for that work.
3. A second offense during the course of a student’s academic career at Savannah State will result in an “F” for the course in which the academic dishonesty has occurred. In addition, students who have committed a second offense of academic dishonesty during their academic career at Savannah State will be placed on academic probation for a minimum of one semester.
4. A third incidence of academic dishonesty during a student’s career at Savannah State will result in immediate dismissal from the College.

An auditor is one who enrolls for informational instruction only. Regular attendance at class is customary without other participation and without credit. Auditors may not change to credit status once the semester begins.

Students registered as auditors shall be required to pay the regular tuition and fees for enrollment and shall be prohibited from receiving credit at any later time for course work that they completed as auditors. Prior to registration, students must notify their academic advisor and the Registrar’s Office about their request to audit.

The letter grade “V” will be used on the academic transcript for any course audited.

Each student is expected to attend all classes for which he/she is enrolled. At the beginning of each term, faculty are required to verify attendance of each student. Students who do not attend during the official attendance verification period will be dropped from the class for non-attendance. The attendance policy for each course is determined by the instructor of each course. This policy shall be made known to the class at the beginning of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to know the policy on attendance for each course in which he/she is enrolled. It is the responsibility of students to attend every class session held when they are not ill, involved with a personal emergency, or traveling with approved team activities. Consistent class attendance and participation are essential to academic success. Poor class attendance is a major factor in nearly all cases of academic failure.

Absences Due to Illness – students should contact their instructors at the earliest opportunity preferably prior to the class meeting (especially if any graded work is scheduled).

Absences Due to Emergencies – students should notify the Student Affairs Office if they must leave the College for any extended period of time because of hospitalization, injuries, or family problems. Instructors will be contacted, but it is the responsibility of the student to arrange for any make-up work. The Instructor in each course is responsible for administering any deferred examination.

Student-Athlete Absentee Form: student-athletes should complete an absentee form for each class missed due to competition away from the college. The forms should be requested at least two class days prior to the competition. The form confirms that you are participating in a college-sanctioned competition. It does not serve as an excused absence from that class. Your instructor has the final say in excused and unexcused absences and it is the student’s responsibility to know and abide by that policy. A student who is inexcusably absent from class on a day on which a test or examination announced in advance is given will receive the grade of “F” and will not have the opportunity of making up the test. In case of an excused absence on such a day, he/she will consult with his/her instructor as to what arrangements are to be made for taking care of the situation.

Students may repeat courses in which grades D, F, or WF were earned. The highest grade will count in computing the grade point average for degree requirements. If the same grade is earned, the most recent grade will count in the grade point average calculations. Courses may be repeated any time before the first degree is awarded.

• Earned hours will be applied only once toward graduation requirements.
• It is recommended that students not repeat any courses for credit in which they have earned a grade of C or better.
• All attempted courses and grades will remain on the academic transcript. The previous attempts will be noted but excluded from GPA calculations.

Students who are planning to apply for admission to graduate school should take note that most graduate/professional schools recalculate GPAs based upon all courses that students have attempted during their college career. Thus, any repeated courses may include both grades in consideration for graduate school admission.

In some cases procedures other than final examinations may be used as a part of a student’s evaluation. Such a substitute procedure should be noted on the course syllabus and be approved by the Department Chair and Dean of the College. There are occasions when the time and date of a final examination may be changed according to the following policy: A student having three final examinations scheduled on one day may request an adjustment by:

1. Listing the courses scheduled for examination in alphabetical order
2. Taking the final examinations given in the first and third classes
3. Requesting a change in the date of the final examination from the professor of the second class.

The University uses letters to indicate quality of academic work. “A” is the highest grade; “D” is the lowest passing grade, except when a “C” is required. The grade “F” indicates a failure to meet the minimum requirements of a course. Grade distinctions and quality point values are:

*Indicates grades not included in calculation of grade point average

Grade Symbols

# (Academic Renewal) – Course grade not counted in computation of Grade Point Average and hours earned
% (Learning Support) – Course grade not counted in computation of Grade Point Average and hours earned
E (Course Repeated/Excluded) – Course grade excluded from grade point average and hours earned
I (Course Repeated/Included) – Course grade included in grade point average and hours earned
V (Audit) – This symbol indicates permission to sit for a course without receiving quality points or a grade other than “V.” Students may not transfer from audit to credit or vice versa. Students may register on a credit basis for a course that has previously been
K (Credit) – This symbol indicates credit for the course via a credit by examination program approved by the faculty of the University. A “K” may be assigned for courses that have previously been audited if institutional procedures for credit by examination are followed.

An incomplete (“I”) grade indicates that the student was doing satisfactory work, but for extenuating non-academic reasons beyond their control, were unable to meet the requirements of the course. The extenuating circumstance must occur within the last month of the semester. Students may remove the “I” grade by completing the remaining requirements. The instructor is responsible for keeping a record of all “I” grades assigned and the justification as to why the professor assigned the student the “I” grade.

Ideally, an “I” grade should be removed during the following semester, but no later than one calendar year post the assignment of the incomplete. If the incomplete grade is not satisfactorily removed by the end of one calendar year, it will be changed to an “F” by the Office of the Registrar and the student must retake the course to receive credit. Students are responsible for initiating the completion of requirements with the instructor.

The “I” grade will not be given to a student:

• Who is not passing the course (i.e., who had unsatisfactory performance on the work completed).
• Who has a record of poor attendance.
• As a substitute for a failing grade.
• To provide an opportunity for doing additional work after the submission of final grades to improve the grade in a course.

For financial aid purposes a grade of “I” (incomplete) is counted as an F.  Grade changes received after the first 10 days of the following semester will not be included in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculation.

Savannah State is not obligated to drop students for failure to attend classes. It is the student’s obligation to drop classes, and students’ failure to officially drop a course prior to the end of the add/drop period could lead to financial and academic consequences.

After the late add/drop period and prior to the midterm, students may withdraw every class except the last class using the online registration process in PAWS. In order to withdraw the last class, an electronic withdrawal form must be submitted. Students will automatically receive a W, if they officially withdraw before the published deadline. For all academic dates, including add/drop period and withdrawal deadlines, please refer to the published academic calendar.

Types of withdrawals:

• Withdrawal before midterm
• Withdrawal after midterm
• Hardship withdrawals
• Military Withdrawal
• Administrative Withdrawals