Division of Academic Affairs

Recent Academic Policy Changes and Clarifications

Declaration of major

· Students with 75 credits in progress will be required to declare a major prior to registering for the next semester. Previously students were allowed to complete 75 credits before they were blocked from future registrations.

· Students who have 75 credits completed will not be able to declare a major with restrictive entrance requirements (GPA, courses, etc.). Previously there was no credit cap on being allowed to declare a major.

· Pre-majors are no longer valid once a student has completed 75 credits. Previously there was no time limit on the pre-major status.

· The policy changes regarding declaration of major went into effect 11/1/06.

Double majors/dual degrees; minors· Students may earn two majors as long as at least 15 credits of the second major are not contained in the program plan of the first. Previously there was no college-wide policy.

· Majors must be of the same degree type (BA, BS, etc.) (policy clarification)

· Students pursuing a B.S. in Education (early childhood, childhood and adolescence) may not declare a major in the same teaching subject associated with the education degree. Previously there was no college-wide policy.

· Students may earn two degrees as long as at least 15 credits of the major for the second degree are not contained in the program plan of the major for the first degree; the student earns at least 150 credits; the general education programs associated with each type of degree are met. Previously no credits from the first major could be used in the major of the second degree.· Students may earn a minor as long as at least half of the credits for the minor are not contained on the program plan of the major. Previously there was no college-wide policy.· The policy changes regarding double majors/dual degrees and minors went into effect 6/1/06.

 

Incompletes

· Students have until the mid-point of the following semester to complete an incomplete. Incompletes that are not completed by that date will change to “F” if the student is registered for that semester. In extenuating circumstances, the instructor may extend the deadline one additional semester. Work that is not completed by the new deadline will become an “F” if the student is registered for that semester or become a permanent incomplete of the student is not registered. No further grade changes will be permitted. Previously there was no limitation on the number of extensions that could be granted; the policy regarding permanent incompletes remains the same. The policy changes regarding incompletes went into effect 11/1/06.

Progress towards degree

· A student whose semester GPA falls below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters is eligible for academic probation. Previously academic probation was only issued when a student’s cumulative average fell below a 2.0. This policy change went into effect in May 2006.

· Students who are accumulating more the minimum number of credits required to earn a degree (120) are expected to be taking courses required for graduation. The college reserves the right to refuse the registration of a student not complying with this expectation. Previously there was no policy on taking courses beyond those needed to graduate. This policy change went into effect 11/1/06.

· Students who have completed 120 credits will not be allowed to withdraw from a course without permission of the Dean of the college that houses the major. Previously there was no credit cap on withdrawing from courses. This policy change went into effect 9/11/06.

· A course may only be attempted for a grade twice. A grade is defined as including A-F, W, S/U or R. A student who has a compelling case to attempt a course a third time may present his/her case to the appropriate Dean. Previously there was no limit on the number of times a student could attempt a course. This policy change went into effect 11/1/06.

Post-matriculation Transfer Credit Policy

· Courses eligible for post-matriculation of transfer credit must be aligned with the disciplines currently taught at SUNY New Paltz. Further, the Deans of the Schools that house professional programs (business, communication disorders, education, engineering and nursing) must approve courses students wish to take to meet general degree requirements (as opposed to major requirements, which will continue to be approved by the chair of the department). Cross-registration, which is a specific way of taking transfer credits post-matriculation, also must conform to this policy. Previously there was no requirement that a course be aligned with the current New Paltz curriculum to be eligible for transfer; Academic Advising approved all courses for general degree requirements. This policy change went into effect May 2006.