Academic Information and Policies

Academic Grievance Policy & Procedure

Student academic problems are to be handled initially between the student and the faculty member teaching the course involved. Students with academic grievances may use the Academic Grievance Policy and Procedure below.

Scope and Purpose

The purpose of this policy and procedure is to provide Champlain College students the opportunity for additional review of the facts pertaining to an academic decision affecting them. Procedures are designed to provide objective and fair treatment (as provided specifically in the procedures) of both students and faculty and to resolve disputes in a timely manner.

An academic grievance is a claim that a specific academic decision or action that affects the student’s academic record or status has violated published policies or procedures. The assignment of grades is not generally considered a justifiable grievance under this policy unless published policies or procedures have been violated. Only the Provost (chief academic officer) has the right to file an administrative grade change should a grievance involving a grade be accepted.

PROCEDURES

• Informal Resolution

1. A student who believes that he or she has been aggrieved must first attempt to seek an informal resolution with the other party involved in the dispute.
2. Disputes that are not resolved directly between the parties involved may be brought to the appropriate Dean’s office responsible for the course.   The Dean/designee will seek to reach an informal resolution between the parties.
3. If the matter is not resolved, then the student may choose to initiate the formal resolution process within the timelines established by this procedure.

• Formal Resolution

1. Student academic grievances must be specified in writing to the Dean/designee, along with supporting evidence that clearly identifies the cause of the grievance in relation to the definition of academic grievance included in this policy.
2. The second party to the dispute must also provide the Dean/designee with a written account of the matter in dispute.
3. The Dean/designee will reach a resolution by either holding an individual hearing or establishing an academic grievance committee where both parties participate, together or separately, to investigate the claims and counterclaims. Both parties shall receive all submitted documents. The administrator who facilitated the informal resolution process will not hear the case or be on a committee in the formal resolution process.
4. In instances when an academic grievance committee is convened, it will be composed of three faculty members and two students typically but not necessarily from within the division, but exclusive of those associated with the student, instructor, or program involved in the dispute.The academic grievance committee will make a recommendation to the dean.
5. Each party will make a presentation regarding his or her position. Each side is permitted to bring one support person (non-participating) to the hearing with advance notice to the Dean.
6. The Dean/designee will inform the student in writing of the decision. If the Dean recommends a grade change, the decision shall be sent to the Provost for approval and implementation.
7. The Dean’s decision may be appealed to the Provost by the student or the instructor, but only on the grounds of procedural violation. If an appeal is filed, the Provost or their designee may sustain or deny the appeal, may remand the matter for reconsideration by the Dean and/or rehearing by a third party, or may take other steps as the Provost deems appropriate.

TIMELINE

1. The formal academic grievance process must be initiated by submitting written notification to the Dean no later than thirty (30) academic/business days after the student is notified of the action under dispute.
2. The Dean must convene a formal hearing within ten academic/business days of receipt of the grievance, or as soon as practicable.
3. The Dean must communicate the decision to the student within ten academic/business days after the meetings have occurred.
4. If the student or instructor wishes to appeal on procedural grounds to the Provost, notification must be made in writing within five academic/business days of the Dean’s written notification of decision.
5. The grievance shall be resolved no later than the last day of final examinations in the following semester.

Academic Honors and Awards

Because of the compressed grading scale and higher academic standards that apply to students in master’s level programs, term-based honors and cum laude distinctions apply only to undergraduate students.

Academic Honesty

Introduction

In addition to skills and knowledge, Champlain College aims to teach students appropriate ethical and professional standards of conduct. The Academic Honesty Policy exists to inform students and faculty of their obligations in upholding the highest standards of professional and ethical integrity. All student academic work is subject to the Academic Honesty Policy.

It is the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with College-wide policy as well as to ensure that any assigned work-including examinations, tests, quizzes, term papers, reports, themes and other exercises conform to a strict standard of academic honesty.

Any attempt to deceive a faculty member or to help another student to do so will be considered a violation of this standard.

Instructor’s Intended Purpose

The student’s work must match the instructor’s intended purpose for an assignment. While the instructor will establish the intent of an assignment, each student must clarify outstanding questions of that intent for a given assignment. It is the responsibility of the student to understand and follow the intent articulated by the instructor. For example:

• If an assignment is intended to be strictly confined to work generated solely by the student, e.g. a research paper or individual presentation, then expropriation presented as the student’s own work is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.
• The student is expected to follow accepted academic protocol, as defined by the instructor, in citation referencing.
• If an assignment is intended for the student to carry out an original empirical study, then falsification or fabrication of data or presentation of data collected by someone else is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.
• If an assignment is intended to involve the participation of multiple students, the student will be expected to follow the parameters established by the instructor regarding individual versus group contributions to any work products. It is the responsibility of each student in the group to understand and follow the intent articulated by the instructor. Work which strays from that intent or is done by another individual or individuals in the group and claimed as a particular student’s own work or contribution to group work is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.
• If an assignment consists of building upon or mimicking a work, then the student will be expected to follow the parameters established by the instructor for that assignment. While it is expected that the student will clearly isolate the work he or she did from what already existed, this is up to the discretion of the instructor.
• If an assignment consists of a pastiche of other copyrighted works, where the student exercises their fair-use rights, the instructor may allow the student to use expropriated and appropriated work for credit.
• If an assignment is to participate in an online discussion, allowing someone else to log in to your account and to post to the discussion is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy.

Unauthorized Assistance

The student may not give or get any unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work. Group-work contexts often need extra clarification. For example, sharing work without explicit authorization to do so is a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. Students in doubt about the instructor’s expectations should seek clarification, or assume that the work must be completed individually.

Authorship

The student must clearly establish authorship of a work. Referenced work must be clearly documented, cited, and attributed, regardless of media or distribution. Adequate documentation must articulate the resources, and even sources of inspiration, directly employed in the creation of a work. Even in the case of work licensed as public domain or Copyright, (See: http://creativecommons.org/) both Faculty and the student must provide attribution of that work in order to uphold the standards of intent and authorship. Professional and Academic practice provides guidance about how to properly cite, reference, and attribute the intellectual property of others. For general examples, see Section 1.6.

Declaration

Online submission of, or placing one’s name on, an exam, assignment, or any course document is a statement of academic honor that the student has not received or given inappropriate assistance in completing it and that the student has complied with the Academic Honesty Policy in that work. Contributing to or obtaining material from an online assignment repository is considered a violation of academic honesty that can result in disciplinary action.

Documentation

In essence, the Academic Honesty Policy poses the following questions to all students:

• Who authored the work?
• Has the student given or accepted unauthorized assistance in the preparation of the work?
• Has the student successfully isolated his or her own authorship in the work?
• Has the student clearly documented his or her own authorship?
• Has the student met the instructor’s intended purpose for the assignment?

On each assignment, students are expected to isolate their authorship. This means that the Faculty member can precisely identify the student’s work. Documentation should embrace direct references, indirect references and background resources as required by the instructor. The Academic Honesty Policy requires the student to declare and document authorship.

Consequences

Any violation of the Academic Honesty Policy, as determined by the instructor, may result in sanctions. The instructor may also impose a sanction on the student that varies depending upon the instructor’s evaluation of the nature and gravity of the offense.

Possible sanctions from the instructor include but are not limited to, the following:

1. Requiring the student to redo the assignment;
2. Requiring the student to complete another assignment;
3. Assigning a grade of zero to the assignment;
4. Assigning a final grade of “F” for the course.

A student may appeal these decisions according to the Academic Grievance Procedure. This policy is not exclusive, and in addition to course-based penalties, students may be subject to additional sanctions at the college level, particularly offenses considered egregious. For students who are repeat offenders, additional sanctions may be required as a result of the College’s Conduct Review Process for conduct that violates both this policy and the standard described in section 2 of the College’s Standard of Conduct. All students in violation of the Academic Honesty Policy will be enrolled in a (free) course that educates students on information ethics. Completion of this course is designed to prevent future academic honesty violations and will be taken into consideration in determining appropriate sanctions if a subsequent violation occurs. Students who do not complete this requirement may not be allowed to continue in their program.

Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal

A matriculated graduate student who has attempted six (6) credits and has a cumulative GPA (CGPA) below 3.0 will be subject to dismissal.

At the discretion of the Assistant Provost or Dean, students eligible for dismissal may be offered a period of Conditional Probation to meet specified terms and demonstrated academic improvement to avoid academic dismissal.

 Academic Renewal

Under certain circumstances, unsatisfactory course grades may be coded so that they do not adversely impact the student’s CGPA. The following conditions apply to the Academic Renewal policy as a whole:

1. Academic Renewal will be granted only once
2. All courses and grades will appear on the student’s transcript with the addition of a code indicating Academic Renewal where appropriate
3. Academic Renewal will not be used to alter a student’s record for financial aid qualifications, scholarships or other purposes not outlined below
4. Only the Registrar’s Office, in consultation with division Deans, as appropriate, will make the change to the student’s record
5. This decision applies only to academic status and there may be additional financial aid implications

Students who are returning to Champlain may be eligible to have course grades eliminated from their CGPA calculation using the following criteria:

1. The student  Champlain College  and has been readmitted to a degree program
2. All courses in which a student earned less than a “B-” will no longer be used to calculate either the student’s overall CGPA or the credits earned toward graduation

Current students who have chosen to change majors may be eligible to have course grades eliminated from their CGPA calculation. The following conditions must apply:

1. The student must request that Academic Renewal be applied at the time of the change of major. (Changing from an associate’s program to a bachelor’s program does not constitute a change of major.)
2. The student must retain grades from any course in which they earned a “B-” or better
3. The student must retain any course or specific elective type that is required in the new major (exclusive of technical and business focus electives)
4. All courses not retained in the above points 2 and 3 will no longer be used in the calculation of the student’s overall CGPA or graduation credits
5. The student must stay enrolled in the new major. If the student elects to change back to the original major, the Academic Renewal will be reversed

Attendance

• Students are expected to attend all their classes. Not doing so may jeopardize their academic success. If illness, accident or similar circumstances make it impossible for a student to attend classes, the student should notify the appropriate faculty member(s). Instructors provide each student with a class-attendance policy in the syllabus.

  Attendance in online classes, for academic purposes, is defined as participation in the class activities through the submission of assignments, timely discussion posts and any other required means of communication. Depending on specific class requirements, participation may also be required on a specific weekly schedule as defined in the course syllabus.

  Champlain College requires students in a courses in Champlain College Online to demonstrate participation by Day 8 of the course.  “Participation” means that a student has completed a discussion post or submitted an assignment on or after the start date of the course.  If a student does not complete a post or an assignment by Day 8 of a course, the student will be automatically removed from the course(s) and their financial aid adjusted accordingly.

Audit Policy

Graduate courses may not be audited.

Certificate Program Enrollment

• Students who are already enrolled in a graduate degree program can add the certificate to their program by working with their academic advisor. Because of limited course offerings and course sequencing, students pursuing both a certificate program and a degree program are not guaranteed to complete both on the same timeline.
• Students not already in a degree program must be formally admitted to a Graduate Certificate program by following the application process. Enrollment in a Graduate Certificate program does not guarantee admission into a Graduate Degree program.
• Graduate Certificate students are subject to all appropriate academic policies including those of Academic Probation and Academic Dismissal.
• Students who are enrolled in a Graduate Certificate program, but who wish to change to a different Graduate Certificate program must consult with their academic advisor  to seek approval to change.

Certificate Requirements

To be eligible for a graduate certificate, the student must meet the following requirements:

1. Satisfactorily complete all requirements for the certificate selected.
2. Earn at least two-thirds of the certificate’s credits at Champlain College.
3. Achieve an overall cummulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in courses completed at Champlain College.

Students who are enrolled in a graduate program and elect to complete a graduate certificate must formally add the certificate to their program of study through the Registrar’s Office. Because of the limited course offerings and course sequencing, students pursuing both a certificate program and a graduate degree program are not guaranteed to complete both on the same timeline.

Change of Program

Requests for graduate program change will be reviewed by the academic advisor. Final approval rests with the Dean’s Office.

Changes in Courses or Schedules

A new course may be added to a student’s schedule only during the first five days of each 15-week semester or within the first three days of a 6- or 8-week term. Courses dropped from a student’s schedule during these same time periods of each semester or term will not be recorded on the academic transcript.

Students are advised to consult with their academic advisor before adjusting their schedule. Students receiving financial aid and making changes that affect their number of credits should first check with the Office of Financial Aid to determine the effect of such changes on aid eligibility.

Class-Related Behavior

Each instructor is authorized to maintain an in-person and/or online learning environment (including, but not limited to, classroom, laboratory, library, faculty office, etc.) that facilitates effective teaching, learning and safety. Through their class-related behavior, students should demonstrate that they are preparing seriously for the professional and/or corporate environments in which they will work after leaving the College. The College includes electronic communication in its definition of class-related behavior to include, but not limited to, email, video conference, telephone meetings, and activities in Canvas (or other platforms) related to each course.

Examples of inappropriate, disruptive class-related behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Any unauthorized use of electronic devices in the learning space;

• Personal conversations during class;

• Abusive language or epithets directed towards other persons;

• Posting inappropriate online posts;

• Refusing to comply with the directions of the instructor.

• Tardiness, leaving and returning during class, or leaving class early without permission from the professor;

Disruptive and disrespectful behavior on the part of any student will not be tolerated. Learning spaces that may involve a potential safety hazard to students under certain circumstances may inherently require that students adhere strictly to safety protocols, in addition to observing normal behavioral expectations.

Under the authority of this Class-Related Behavior Policy, an instructor may require that a student leave the learning space if the student is disruptive and does not heed a verbal or written first warning. In the online environment, an instructor may use their discretion to delete inappropriate posts. Return of the student to the learning space may require a written pledge by the student to abide by the rules of expected class-related decorum or safety.

Continued inappropriate conduct or safety violations may be grounds for dismissal from the course in question for the remainder of the semester. If an instructor determines that a student should be dismissed from a class for the remainder of the semester with a failing grade due to their class-related behavior, the instructor will provide to the student a written notice of that decision, which shall include a statement that the student may appeal the decision through the Academic Grievance Procedure. 

In addition to action taken by instructors under the authority of this Class-Related Behavior Policy, action may also be taken separately by the Office of Student Conduct under the College’s Conduct Review process, if a student’s class-related conduct may constitute a violation of the Champlain College Standard of Conduct.

Contact Hour

A unit of measure that represents an hour (50 minutes) of scheduled instruction given to students.

Course Load and Credit Hours

To be considered full-time, a master’s level student must enroll in 6 credit hours within the semester. For students in programs having two terms within a single semester, the required 6 credit hours may be taken in one or both of the shorter terms that fall within that semester. These requirements may be overridden by those of an individual program.

Students who wish to take more than six (6) credit hours in an online accelerated term and have a CGPA higher than 3.0 should consult with their academic advisor or program director for approval from the Academic Dean of their Division.

Course Registration Parameters

Graduate students may only enroll in coures for which they have met the prerequisite requirements and:

• Are required to fulfill academic requirements of the program in which they are currently enrolled or,
• Are approved by their program director.

Course Waivers and Course Substitutions

Graduate students seeking substitutions for required courses must work with their academic advisor to determine if a substitution request is appropriate. Each course substitution must ultimately be authorized by the Program Director of the student’s professional program.

Course Withdrawal

It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course. Students wishing to withdraw must alert their academic advisor. The withdrawal becomes effective as of the date of request. Notification by the student can be communicated in writing (Champlain email). Failure to formally withdraw may result in failing grades, reduction in financial aid and academic dismissal from the College. Deadlines for withdrawing are strictly enforced. Please contact your academic advisor for exact dates.

For example, students may withdraw from a 7-week course through the 5th week of the term and receive a grade of W, which is not calculated in the GPA. After the 5th week, individual course withdrawal is not permitted. If students withdraw from the College after the 5th week of the term, they will be withdrawn from all courses with W grades, which are not calculated in the GPA.

In addition to the above, there are instances in which the College may administratively withdraw a student. These include, but are not limited to, students removed from courses due to lack of attendance within the first 8 days, violations of the College’s Standard of Conduct or Class Related Behavior Policy. Students removed for disciplinary problems will have a grade of W assigned and will need to retake the course if it is a program requirement. 

Course Withdrawal without Academic Penalty

Credit Hour

Champlain College is responsible for regulating and maintaining standards related to the awarding of credit hours for student work consistent with national standards.  The College operates on the semester credit system using the standard Carnegie unit of 750 minutes of instruction per credit hour (2,250 minutes of instruction for a standard, three-hour course).

• One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester.

At least an equivalent amount of work as outlined above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.  

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

A student’s CGPA is calculated by multiplying the credit hours for each course by the grade point per credit hour of that course as determined by the final grade. For example, a 3-credit-hour course in which a student receives a “B” (3.0 grade points per credit hour) will equal 9.0 grade points for that course. The cumulative grade point average will then equal the total grade points divided by the total number of credit hours. Grades earned in transferred courses are not used in CGPA calculations.

Extended Campus Closure

Class during an Extended Campus Closure

Champlain College takes precautionary measures to ensure that your classes can continue in a “virtual environment” even during an extended emergency such as severe weather, contagious disease, physical infrastructure failure, campus closure, or similar incident. Classes will continue, either online through Canvas, a College-provided learning management system, or through some other process.

In the event of such an emergency, students are expected to continue instructor-designated class activities, as directed by the instructor. Due to the nature of the “virtual environment,” learning activities may differ slightly from those in the on-campus version of your courses. In order for this emergency preparedness plan to be effective, students are asked to do the following:

Immediately

• Ensure that you will have a computer and broadband Internet access at the location (home or other) in which you will reside during an extended campus closure.
• Prepare yourself with the basic skills of logging into Canvas, finding your courses and entering them.
• Participate in a “warm up” online activity in the “virtual environment” when directed to do so by your instructor.

During an Emergency

• Test your broadband Internet access immediately upon arriving at your chosen residence during the campus closure.
• Log into Canvas and enter your courses.
• Check for emergency information on Champlain College’s main website (www.Champlain.edu), which will indicate the semester week and day when Champlain classes will resume online.
• Enter each of your classes and go to the appropriate week of the class where you will receive directions from your instructor.

Curriculum Changes

The College reserves the right to adjust the curriculum and course content whenever such adjustments are academically appropriate and approved by the administration. The curriculum requirements in effect during the catalog year in which the student enters will remain in effect for that student unless the changes have no material effect on the student’s graduation date or the student wishes to pursue a more recent set of requirements.

Degree Requirements - Master’s

Dual Graduate Programs

Graduate students intending to pursue two different programs must complete the first program before enrolling in the program requirements of the second program.  Students must fulfill requirements of both programs, and there must be at least 18 unique credits between both programs.

Combined Bachelors-Masters (CBM) Programs

Program Definition

Selected Champlain College graduate programs offer a Combined Bachelors- Masters Program (CBM.) This program option is designed for exceptional undergraduate students to begin earning up to twelve graduate level credits while completing their undergraduate degree at Champlain.

Student Status

Students who are accepted into a CBM Program must continue to be enrolled as undergraduate students until the completion of their Bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree, participating students are then formally matriculated into their chosen graduate program. All graduate courses taken as part of an approved CBM program will be transferred into the selected graduate program at that time.

Admission

• The application form for a CBM Program should be completed no less than 4 months before the anticipated enrollment in the student’s first graduate course.
• Students applying for admission into a CBM program should show exceptional academic performance in their undergraduate studies. Typically, students should have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.3 and a GPA of at least 3.5 in their field of study.
• All applicants will be personally interviewed (face-to-face or via synchronous technology) by both their undergraduate program advisor AND the director of the program to which they are applying.
• Depending on the specific CBM Program, an application may require additional materials and/or documents such as: letter(s) of recommendation, portfolio of previous work, transcript(s) from previous college(s), a written statement of purpose or standardized graduate entrance examinations (GRE, GMAT, LSAT etc).
• Applicants to all CBM programs will be notified of their acceptance within four weeks of their completed application.

Program Participation

• Once accepted into a CBM Program students are responsible for following all program requirements and guidelines including any specific directions given by director of their CBM graduate program.
• In order to maintain active status in a CBM Program, students must meet minimum academic standards that include:
  1. A minimum term CGPA of 3.0 in all undergraduate courses which have been attempted.
  2. A minimum term CGPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses which have been attempted.
     
     Note: Specific CBM Program standards may exceed the above minimum standards and, when established, these standards take precedence over College standards above.
• Should a student fail to meet the academic requirements of the CBM program, the graduate program director will determine whether that student will be withdrawn from the CBM Program or placed on academic probation for continued participation in the CBM Program. Probationary status would allow continuation in the program subject to specific academic performance conditions.

Course Credit

• Graduate courses taken while a student is an undergraduate and which are taken as part of an approved CBM program may “double count” by using those courses to fulfill undergraduate course requirements and, upon graduation, transferring those graduate courses into the designated CBM graduate program.
• Graduate courses attempted while a student is an undergraduate as part of an approved CBM program must receive a grade of “C” or better in order to transfer into the designated graduate program. Graduate courses taken as part of the CBM Program and receiving a grade of below “C” must be repeated.
• Undergraduate courses, unless supplemented with specific activities that increase the academic rigor to graduate level, may not be used to waive graduate program requirements as part of a CBM/4+1 Program.
• Unless (1) otherwise stated in program requirements of a specific CBM Program or (2) exercised with permission of a student’s undergraduate and CBM program advisors, a maximum of twelve credit hours may be used (“double counted”) for both undergraduate and graduate credit.
• Students may complete courses beyond the twelve credit hours of graduate courses eligible for “double counting” but such credits may not be used for credit in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Using such courses for graduate credit, once matriculated into the selected graduate program, is acceptable.
• Students enrolled in any CBM program must follow their personal educational plan as outlined collaboratively by their CBM Program Director and undergraduate program advisor. Failure to follow the prescribed educational plan may result in dismissal from the CBM program.
• Students may withdraw from their CBM Program at any time.
• Students who withdraw or are dismissed from their CBM Program will not formally receive graduate credit for graduate courses taken as part of their undergraduate program requirements. While courses will be recognized internally by Champlain as having met graduate level requirements the transfer of those credits to any other institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Graduate Program Matriculation

• Upon completion of their undergraduate degree, students enrolled in a CBM Program must matriculate into their selected graduate program immediately. Upon matriculation into their graduate program, students will be given the full time-to-completion for their graduate program that is allowed traditionally accepted students.
• Students who withdraw or are involuntarily withdrawn from a CBM Program for any reason and who later wish to enter the Graduate Program associated from the CBM Program in which they were enrolled must apply for admission into that Graduate Program.

Grade Changes

Grades submitted to the Registrar’s Office are final.  Acceptable reasons for changing grades are:

• To correct an error in grade assignment;
• To remove a grade of Incomplete;
• To address the outcome of a student grade appeal through the appropriate processes set forth in this catalog.

Student requests for grade changes must be submitted to the faculty no later than 14 calendar days after the last day of the term in which the grade was earned. Students wishing to appeal an instructor’s denial of the grade change should follow the located in this catalog. All faculty requests for grade changes must be documented and approved by the Assistant Provost. 

Grade Appeal

GRADE APPEAL POLICY

Champlain College Online faculty are responsible for making a professional judgment about the quality of students’ academic work and performance. Policy and procedure have been established to give students an opportunity to appeal if there is reason to contest a grade received in a course offered through the College. The student must contact the faculty member within 14 calendar days of the grade posting. 

GRADE APPEAL PROCEDURES 

Step I. Student-Faculty Level 

The student must contact the faculty member in writing within 14 calendar days of posting of the grade in question to request a reconsideration of the final course grade, including in the written request the basis for the appeal. If the faculty member determines that there was an error in the grade calculation, or the request is otherwise appropriate, the faculty member can then initiate a change of grade for the course through the Assistant Provost. 

If the faculty member determines that there was no error in the grade assigned, he or she will explain in writing the criteria and process used in determining the grade. The faculty member will advise the student of his or her decision in writing within 14 calendar days, providing a copy to the Program Director responsible for the course. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, he or she may proceed to Step II. 

Step II. Program Director 

If the student wishes to appeal the faculty member’s decision to the Program Director responsible for the course, he or she must do so in writing within 14 calendar days of receiving the faculty member’s decision. The appeal should include the specific reasons for disputing the grade. The Program Director may request that the student or faculty member provide, within 7 days, in writing, further documentation as needed. 

The Program Director will respond in writing to the student with a copy to the faculty member and the student’s Academic Advisor within 14 days of receiving the appeal to either: 

1. Inform the student that there is not adequate reason to reconsider the grade. 

2. Request that the faculty member reconsider the grade based on the criteria of a lack of reasonable process in assigning the grade, and/or a lapse of professional judgment. If the student is not satisfied with the decision, he or she may proceed to Step III.

Step III. Assistant Provost 

If the student wishes to appeal the Program Director’s decision to the Assistant Provost, he or she must do so in writing within 7 calendar days of the date of the Program Director’s decision. The appeal should clearly state the ground(s) on which the student is asking to have the grade reviewed and any relevant information. The Program Director will forward all materials concerning steps already taken and information received in Step II to the Assistant Provost. The Assistant Provost will review the appeal and provide to the student and faculty member a final written decision. (A non-disclosed disability is not sufficient reason on its own for approval of a grade appeal.)

Grades - Term or Semester

At the end of each semester, faculty members submit to the registrar a final grade for each student.

*Courses in which students earn less than a 2.0 will not be considered for completion of the master’s degree program.

The grades SP and UP are to be used in connection with thesis courses where assigned work extends beyond a single academic term. They indicate that work is in progress and has been evaluated. 

The grade of SP will be assigned when a student has made satisfactory progress during a semester prior to the final semester of thesis courses; credit will be awarded with the grade of SP. The grade of UP will be assigned when the student’s progress has been unsatisfactory and no credit will be awarded. Both SP and UP will remain on the transcript for the semesters in which the grade was earned. In the final semester, when the thesis defense course is completed, a letter grade will be assigned for the course.

Hooding and Commencement

Students who have completed all their degree requirements will receive their hoods and diplomas at the Hooding and Commencement ceremony. Master’s students are eligible to participate as non-graduating participants in the Hooding and Commencement ceremony if they meet the following conditions:

1.  Are within three credits of meeting all requirements,

2.  Have a CGPA of 3.0 or higher

It should be noted that whereas both graduates and non-graduating participants are listed by name and hometown in the graduation program, non-graduating participants are ineligible to receive their diploma or have their name listed in local media until they have successfully completed their remaining academic requirements.

Diploma Name

Diplomas will be printed with the graduating student’s legal name or a derivative thereof. Honorifics, titles and previously earned degrees will not be permitted. On the graduation application, each student has the opportunity to write his/her name as he/she would like it to appear on the diploma. The College reserves the right to approve all diploma name requests.

Posthumous Degree Policy

Champlain College may award a graduate  degree posthumously in recognition of a student’s work and satisfactory progress toward the degree at the time of death.

A graduate degree may be awarded posthumously if:

1. At the time of death, the student was enrolled in courses required for completion of the degree or nearing completion of work required for award of the degree;
2. The student was in good academic standing ;
3. A favorable recommendation for award of the degree is made by the academic Dean;
4. The Provost approves the recommendation to award the degree.

Incomplete Work

With permission of the instructor, and with the approval of the Assistant Provost or Dean, an interim grade of incomplete may be assigned for a course in which the student has met the following criteria:

1. Completed a major portion of the course with a passing grade;
2. Been unable to complete course requirements before the end of the term because of documented illness or serious circumstance beyond the student’s control;
3. Obtained agreement from the instructor and arranged for resolution of the incomplete grade.

The following procedures apply:

1. The written request must be made to the instructor by, or on behalf of, the student before Wednesday of Week 7 of an 8-week course.
2. If an incomplete is approved by the Assistant Provost or Dean, the instructor will outline the remaining coursework and establish a timeline for completion.  The deadline should be as soon as possible, but no later than the mid-term date of the following term or semester.
   1. the end of the fourth week after the end of an 8 week course,
   2. the end of the eighth week after the end of a 15 week course.
3. Incompletes granted as a result of academic accommodations must be verified by the Counseling and Accommodations Center.
4. When the required work is complete, the earned grade will permanently replace the “I” grade on the transcript. If the work is not completed within the established time frame, the student will receive a grade of “F” for the course.
5. The student is responsible for making sure that the faculty member receives all required coursework according to the established timeline.

Independent Study

Independent study is defined as a course of study designed by a student to meet specific academic needs, taken outside regular classroom hours and supervised by one or more cooperating instructors. Regular college credit is given, and regular tuition is charged.

An independent study course may be undertaken under the following conditions:

1. Elective credits only will be given, with the number of credits (not to exceed 3) determined by the appropriate division Dean.
2. The student must propose the course to the supervising instructor at least five weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the work will be completed.
3. The student and faculty member will jointly develop a formal proposal, which must include:
   1. Reason(s) for requesting independent study in lieu of existing elective course(s)
   2. Course title, suggested level (100, 200, etc.) and description
   3. Names of instructor(s) who have agreed to supervise
   4. Number of credits to be granted, including a description of how the credit hour policies will be met
   5. Goals to be pursued
   6. Method of measuring achievement of learning outcomes
   7. Grade calculation
4. An instructor who has been asked to supervise such a study project must submit the project for approval to the division Dean and the Provost’s Office not later than three weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. At least five days prior to the beginning of the semester, the division Dean must notify the instructor, the student, the Provost and the Registrar’s Office, in writing, of his or her approval or reasons for rejection. A student who fails to complete an independent study course within a semester may be granted a period of time in which to finish comparable to that extended to those taking traditional courses.

Military Credit

Champlain College grants credit for military education following the guidelines issued by the American Council on Education.

Name Change

Students who petition to change their name in the College’s Student Information System must present legal documentation of the name change in the form of a court document, driver’s license, Social Security card or other acceptable legal document to the College.

Non-matriculated Students

A maximum of 6 credits may be completed by students who enroll with non-matriculated (non-degree) status.  To enroll as a non-degree student, a person must not already be enrolled in a program at Champlain College, and a short application must be completed.  If program or courses requested require prerequisites, proof of prerequisite knowledge will be requested.

Continuing beyond 6 credits requires application and acceptance into a degree or certificate program. Students seeking matriculated status must be admitted to the College through the appropriate Champlain admission office. 

Credit-based tuition and institutional policies for non-degree students are the same as those for degree-seeking students.  Enrolling as a non-matriculated student does not guarantee access to all campus services. Academic achievement in courses taken as a non-degree student does not guarantee admission to the institution.  

Special Student Status

Students may take two graduate-level courses under Special Student Status (three credit hours each) prior to formal application to a Graduate Degree program. After completing two courses, students will be blocked from further course registration until they have officially applied and been accepted into a Graduate Program.

To apply for Special Student Status:

• Complete the appropriate application,
• Submit a copy of the Bachelor’s Degree transcript.

Special Student Status Policies:

• Students taking courses under Special Student Status are not eligible for financial aid from Champlain College. Outside financial aid (private student loans, employer tuition reimbursement, etc.) from sources other than Champlain College may still be available.
• Completing courses under Special Student Status does not guarantee acceptance into a Graduate Degree program.

Student Bereavement Leave

Champlain College recognizes that a time of bereavement can be difficult for a student.  Students engaged in online only coursework are permited up to three (3) weekdays of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member. Requests for additional days must be made to the dean of the student’s division.

Requests for bereavement leave are managed by the dean or dean’s designee at each division. The student must provide appropriate documentation of the death. When approved, the dean will notify the student and the Registrar’s Office.  The Registrar’s Office will notify the faculty of the excused absences.  

While this policy excuses a student from class attendance, the student remains responsible for missed academic work. The student will work with each instructor to consider their available options and establish a plan to complete the missed coursework from their bereavement leave.

Program Completion

• Graduate Degree students must complete all program requirements within six years of beginning classes, unless otherwise noted.
• Graduate Certificate students must complete all program requirements within three years of beginning classes, unless otherwise noted.
• A Graduate program may have a specific time requirement for completion of the degree that will take precedent over the above standard timelines.
• In the event of the discontinuance of a program, a reasonable schedule for degree completion will be developed mutually by the student and program director.

Reenrollment and Readmission to Champlain College

Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from the college while in good standing will be required to submit an application for readmission.

Students who withdraw or are withdrawn from the college while on academic probation or who have been academically dismissed are required to submit a formal appeal to the Academic Dean in order to be reinstated.

Upon readmission, the student’s program requirements are those required for the most current catalog year. Additional conditions may apply to those reinstated following academic probation or dismissal .

Retaking Courses

A student can re-take no more than two courses throughout the program, and can re-take any given course only once. If a student fails three courses, that student is subject to dismissal. Any final grade below a “C” is unacceptable and the course must be re-taken. If a student re-takes a course, the higher grade becomes part of the CGPA. Both grades appear on the student’s academic transcript.

Technology Lab and Studio Usage

All Champlain College technology labs and studios have specific rules defining usage and a code of conduct. Some labs and studios may have additional protocols that must be followed based on usage. All Champlain College students using these facilities are required to follow this policy and accept its terms upon entry to the lab. This policy is posted publicly in each lab, and can be found under Student Resources and Policies in Canvas.

Failure to adhere to the usage terms and code of conduct may result in disciplinary action, which could include loss of access to campus technology labs.

Usage

1. While a class is in session, students who are not members of that class may not use a technology lab or studio without permission from faculty.
2. Classwork takes priority in campus technology labs and studios at all times. Students not engaged in class related work must yield their seat to those needing the computer/technology for homework if no others are available.
3. No food is allowed in the technology labs and studios. Beverages are allowed in containers with closeable lids.
4. All students using a technology lab or studio after 8:30PM and any time on weekends must have a working campus ID proving they have been authorized to use the space.
5. No student shall admit another student to a campus technology lab or studio that does not have authorized access via his/her student ID.
6. During unmonitored times, the door to the technology lab or studio must remain closed and locked.
7. Students are not allowed to use the podium and/or projection system without consent from a faculty member.
8. All students must wear headphones when listening to personal audio, or when working with audio that may disrupt the working environment for others.
9. All students must be courteous to other users in the technology labs and studios. Please avoid loud disruptive behavior, and profanity.
10. All students using a technology lab or studio are responsible for maintaining a safe, productive, and inclusive working environment for all.

Hardware and Software

1. All students must adhere to the User Agreement License of all software and files used in campus technology labs.
2. All students are responsible for logging off the system before leaving to protect their accounts.
3. Students must have prior authorization from faculty or Information Systems staff in order to upload and/or install any software files, add anything to the program launcher, or remove or relocate any software or desktop shortcuts.
4. Students must backup/save all of their files onto removable media or an external repository. Campus computers may not be used as storage devices.
5. If problems arise, email champsupport@champlain.edu. Include the computer number, a detailed description of the problem, and the date and time the problem occurred. Do not attempt to correct technical or facility problems yourself.
6. Do not remove any lab or studio equipment, hardware, software, or peripherals from the lab or studio without consent of faculty and Information Systems staff.

Transcripts

A transcript is an official copy of a student’s permanent record with the College and cannot be changed. Transcripts are issued by the Registrar’s Office only at the written request of the student or alumnus. Written requests can be made in person, via fax or via postal mail. Requests will be honored as quickly as possible in the order of application. However, during especially busy periods (Commencement, registration, etc.) there will be delays in processing, so transcripts should be requested well in advance. Five copies of a student’s transcript will be provided free of charge. A fee of $5 will be charged for each subsequent copy.

Official transcripts (those with the College seal) are sent only to a college or university, a state or federal agency, or an employer. Only under special circumstances will an official transcript be sent directly to the student. Unofficial transcripts for a student’s personal use do not bear the official seal of Champlain College and may be sent directly to students. Note: transcripts will be sent only when a student’s account is paid in full.

Transfer/Advanced Standing

All transfer applicants are required to submit official transcripts of their high school and college records and, if appropriate, prior graduate school records.

A student who transfers from another college may be given graduate credit for a limited number of credit hours for a major provided that similar required or elective courses are offered at Champlain College. The decision of the College in this regard will be based on criteria provided by the appropriate Program Director at Champlain College.

The maximum number of credit hours is determined as follows:

• All programs other than MFA and Emergent Media; six credit hours.
• The MFA and Emergent Media; nine credit hours.

Transfer credit is only allowed for courses in which the student has received a “B” (3.0) or better. Credit hours for transferred courses are given full value, but grades are not transferred to a student’s Champlain College permanent record and do not become part of a student’s cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at Champlain College.

Transfer to Other Institutions

Credit for courses taken at Champlain College is generally transferable to other institutions of higher education. However, because the decision of whether to grant credit for any particular course is made by the receiving institution and not by Champlain College, students should consult with officials at the receiving institution concerning the transferability of credits earned at Champlain College.

Tuition Rate

A graduate student’s tuition rate for all graduate courses taken will be based on the current tuition rate of the graduate program in which they are enrolled.

Withdrawal from College-Involuntary

The College reserves the right to withdraw any student for academic, safety or disciplinary reasons.  Additionally, any student who stops attending all their classes may be withdrawn from the College with or without the student’s consent. If a student wishes to contest the College’s initiation of an involuntary withdrawal that is for more than a temporary period, the College will provide an appeal opportunity.  The appeals procedure is specified in the College’s Conduct Review process. Submission of an appeal must include grounds for the appeal and any supporting evidence and be submitted within 5 business days of receiving the withdrawal notification, unless the student was incapacitated. Students will receive a decision within 5 business days, or as soon as possible, after the appeal has been submitted.

Withdrawal from College - Voluntary

Any student withdrawing from the College begins that process by working with their Academic Advisor. As part of the withdrawal process, the student will receive a statement setting forth the financial implications of his or her withdrawal. The withdrawal date recorded on the student’s official College record will be determined based on the requested date of the withdrawal.  It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from the College. A student who withdraws from the College without following this procedure jeopardizes his or her opportunity to receive any refund.