2005-07 Catalog
(Volume XLV * May 2005)

Persons To Whom Inquiries May Be Directed

Policy of Nondiscrimination

Academic Year Calendars

Section I: General Information

Section II: Admissions

Section III: Student Life

Section IV: Expenses and Financial Assistance

Section V: Academic Information

Section VI: Programs of Study

Section VII: Courses of Instruction

Directory

Catalog Home Page

SECTION V: Academic Information

Academic Performance

Office of Student Academic Support Services
The Office of Student Academic Support Services, headquartered in Knutti Hall 114, offers a variety of course work and services to assist students in achieving academic success at Shepherd. Among the responsibilities of this office are 1) the Academic Foundations Program, 2) the tutoring program, and 3) Writing Center.
The Academic Foundations Program at Shepherd is designed to bridge the gap between high school and University for interested students who do not meet the stated admissions standards. Through courses in reading, study skills, composition, and mathematics, the program can assist recent high school graduates and nontraditional students who wish to attend University but whose skills need further development. Academic foundations courses feature individualized instruction and learning assistance sessions outside of class. Completion of the Academic Foundations Program will assist students in being academically prepared to pursue a Shepherd University degree.
In addition to academic foundations course work for selected students, this office operates the University-wide learning center called the Study Center. The Study Center offers free tutoring in most academic courses to any interested Shepherd student. In addition to offering tutoring for a variety of academic subjects, the Study Center offers tutoring specifically for writing assignments from across the curriculum. The writing tutors are strong writers who must complete an upper division course on how to help students improve their academic writing. They can help with all stages of the writing process, including outlining, argument structure, documentation, and technical control. Besides peer tutors, the Study Center employs a support staff of professional learning resource specialists in the areas of mathematics, composition, reading, and study skills to work with students individually and in small groups. The Study Center also sponsors free workshops on how-to-study skills and computer-assisted, self-study materials to be used independently to improve specific reading, writing, and mathematics skills.

Attendance
Students are expected to attend class and to know and understand the specific attendance policies established by each of their instructors. Attendance policy for a given class is established by the instructor and stated in the course syllabus. Instructors will make reasonable accommodations for occasional, unavoidable absences based on highly legitimate grounds. Instructors will determine the most appropriate means of compensating for work unavoidably and legitimately missed in their classes. To be eligible for such substitute evaluation, students are responsible for discussing any absences with their instructors: such discussions must occur in advance of foreseeable absences and as soon as possible following unpredictable ones.
Students are expected to plan their class, work, and personal schedules to avoid potential conflicts. Legitimate reasons for class absences include documented and/or verifiable instances of the following: 1) death in the immediate family; 2) incapacitating illness or injury (not including any non-emergency doctors' appointments that could be scheduled at other times); 3) field trips required for other classes, intercollegiate competitions, or activities entailing official representation of Shepherd University; 4) seriously hazardous, weather-induced driving conditions (for commuter students only).
A student's evaluation in a course is the instructor's responsibility. A grade decision in a course must be made by the instructor prior to the initiation of a grade appeal. A student who believes his or her grade has been adversely affected by an instructor's inappropriate implementation of the attendance policy may pursue a grade appeal at the close of the semester.
1. A student who has a documented medical disability or chronic illness that may affect his/her ability to attend class regularly and/or to complete scheduled in-class, graded activities (e.g., exams, oral reports, lab assignments) should confer with his/her instructors as soon as possible after the semester begins. In consultation with the student (and with doctors or Shepherd staff when appropriate), the professor can develop a contingency plan to accommodate any absences that may occur because of the disability or illness. The instructor may create alternative assignments or otherwise determine the best means of assuring that the student's semester grade will not suffer should the student have to miss classes as a direct result of his/her disability or medical condition. To the greatest extent consistent with the particular disability involved, a chronically ill or disabled student will not only be treated equally with other students, but will also be equally expected to adhere to course policies and assignments established for all students.
2. In rare instances a student may suffer an unanticipated medical problem or must meet a military-service obligation requiring complete absence from school over an extended period (i.e., weeks rather than days). Such a situation will create the need to confer with instructors as soon as is feasible--possibly through a relative or other responsible surrogate. An instructor may be able to design alternative assignments that can be done independently. However, some courses by their nature do not lend themselves to compensation for prolonged periods of missed classes and assignments: for such classes, the alternatives may be limited to either a Withdrawal or an Incomplete specifically mandating that the student actually take some or all of the relevant course when it is next offered. In such circumstances, the Admissions and Credits Committee will review any necessary requests for waivers regarding institutional deadlines regarding Withdrawals or Incompletes when 1) the student's petition clearly and fully explains the situation calling for the waiver, 2) appropriate documentation is presented, 3) the request is supported in writing by both the instructor and the student's advisor, and 4) the student's request is made in a timely manner, but no later than the tenth class day of the following spring or fall semester.

Graduation with Honors
Honors are determined by the cumulative quality point average of the student's work at graduation. Until fall 2000 there will be two standards running for determining honors according to the catalog date of the student.
For students earning bachelor degrees following the 1997-99 Catalog or earlier catalogs, honors will be awarded according to these criteria: highest honors, Summa Cum Laude, 3.750 to 4.000; high honors, Magna Cum Laude, 3.500 to 3.749; and honors, Cum Laude, 3.000 to 3.499. For students entering the University as of fall 1999 or thereafter, or students using the 1999-2000 Catalog or any catalog thereafter, honors will be awarded according to these criteria: highest honors, Summa Cum Laude, 3.850 to 4.000 ; high honors, Magna Cum Laude, 3.700 to 3.849; and honors, Cum Laude, 3.500 to 3.699.
To graduate with honors in the Regents Bachelor of Arts Degree program, a student must have 80 semester hours of traditional credits, with 32 of these credits earned at Shepherd University.
For students earning an associate's degree only, honors will be awarded according to these criteria: honors, 3.50 to 3.74, and high honors, 3.75 to 4.00.
Note that when a student chooses to pursue a program in a later catalog than the one in effect upon admission, all aspects of that catalog will apply including the honors standards.

McMurran Scholars
In 1961 the faculty created the award of McMurran Scholar, which is the highest academic honor awarded at Shepherd University.
Joseph McMurran Scholars are individuals who are enrolled in a major program leading to the four-year baccalaureate degree and who: 1. Have been presented by the vice president for academic affairs to the Honors Committee as being eligible as a scholar, having amassed:
a. A minimum of 92 semester hours for which a traditional grade has been given (Pass-Fail, CLEP, special examination grades and veteran's credit do not count).
b. A minimum 3.8 quality point average.
2. Have completed two consecutive semesters of study at Shepherd University, exclusive of summer work, for an average of 15 credit hours per semester, or for an average of 12 credit hours per semester where the supervised teaching process is involved.
3. Have been nominated by a minimum of three faculty members who have sufficient knowledge of them for demonstrating the capacity and inclination to pursue scholarly inquiry. At least two of these faculty members should come from the nominee's major department, and the third should come either from this department or from a closely allied discipline.
4. Have subsequently been approved by the faculty at large (a listing of all nominees along with the names of the three faculty in support of each nominee will be distributed to the faculty at large). Any faculty member feeling he or she has just cause may challenge the nomination by submitting a statement of position to the Honors Committee chair. All challenges shall be returned to the originating department for consideration and action.
The elected Scholars are appropriately recognized at an annual formal University convocation and the commencement exercises.

Dean's List
To be named to the Dean's List, a student must earn at least 15 hours of work or be in the professional teaching block and must maintain a 3.4 average for the semester.

Assessment
The Shepherd University Mission Statement says "student learning is central to the culture of our institution and finding ways to improve student learning is a continuing process."
The University can derive many benefits from integrating a campus-wide assessment program. Academic departments have the opportunity to take the step back and reflect on what the departmental mission is, and what a graduate from that program will know, value, and be able to do. Students will find it very helpful to know the goals of the major and how each course in the program relates to those goals. Faculty will also be able to use the assessment results to determine if program goals are being met. If particular goals are not being met, faculty will have specific evidence concerning what curricular changes need to be made to improve student attainment of program goals. Academic support services, such as the library, student affairs, academic advisement, and financial aid, also make a tremendous contribution to student learning on campus. Thus, all programs can assess how they contribute to the learning environment and what changes they might make to maximize that learning experience.
Participation in Assessment Activities: Shepherd University requires student participation in assessment tests and surveys. The results enable the University to monitor its programs and services, to assist students in fulfilling their academic goals, and to fulfill reporting requirements to accrediting and government agencies. The assessment task force and the assessment coordinator oversee development and reporting of assessment activities. Both academic and administrative departments throughout the University will require student input about their functions from time to time.
Students will be notified when they are expected to participate in assessments. The assessments of freshman writing abilities and a survey of graduating seniors are well-established University-wide assessments. Sophomores' skills in general education outcomes will be undertaken regularly. In addition, each program conducts its own assessments of student learning. Other assessments will be conducted as needed. Generally these assessments can be completed in a modest period of time. The University will seek employers' input on the ability of graduates to perform in the workplace.
Failure to participate when required or any violation of the assessment or testing procedure can result in administrative action including withholding of grades and/or restriction from registration until the requirements are met.
Learning Communities: A learning community represents a groups of students who take two of the same classes, which are linked by theme or content. This program enhances students' entire University experience by allowing them to become part of a close-knit academic community sharing common academic, social, and residential experiences. Learning communities foster connections among students, students and teachers, and disciplines and ideas. Learning communities promote active, collaborative learning and allow exploration of diverse perspectives. Some learning communities will have a residence hall component to provide students with the chance to live with other students who are also interested in this innovative learning approach.

Academic Forgiveness Policy
Revised and approved November 11, 2002
The academic forgiveness policy does not alter, change, or amend any other existing policies at Shepherd University and is formulated to be consistent with Series 20 of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and supersedes all previous academic forgiveness policies at Shepherd University.
Academic forgiveness is intended for the student who is returning to University with a grade point deficiency. A student readmitted after July 1995 may be eligible for academic forgiveness unless the student has been placed on final academic suspension. (A student who has incurred three academic suspensions from any institution of higher education is on final academic suspension and does not qualify for academic forgiveness. However, a student on final suspension may appeal this decision to the Admissions and Credits Committee, according to procedures in the section titled "Academic Suspension" in the Shepherd University Catalog. If the third suspension in repealed, the student may apply for forgiveness by submitting a written request to the registrar as established below.) The Regents Bachelor of Arts Program is governed by a different forgiveness policy.
This policy covers only those students who have not been enrolled as a full-time student (12 or more semester credit hours) at any institution of higher learning during the five consecutive academic years immediately preceding the readmission semester. This policy is limited to students who have not yet been awarded their first academic degree. Academic forgiveness will be granted only once for any student.
To be eligible for academic forgiveness, a student who does not qualify for readmission because of a low GPA may be admitted to the University and placed on academic probation. The academic forgiveness policy may be applied after a readmitted student has earned 12 credit hours that apply toward graduation with a minimum GPA of 2.0. These 12 hours must be earned at Shepherd University.
During the first semester of re-enrollment, a student desiring academic forgiveness must complete a written request form and file it in the Office of the Registrar. This request must certify that the applicant has not been enrolled as a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) in any institution of higher learning during the five consecutive academic years immediately preceding the readmission semester. If the student has attended any institution of higher education on a part-time basis during the specified five-year period, the student must have earned at least a 2.0 GPA in all course work attempted.
This request will indicate whether the applicant wishes to exclude from the GPA calculation (1) all F and IF grades; or (2) all F, IF, and D grades earned prior to the five consecutive academic years immediately preceding the beginning of the readmission semester. This includes those grades appearing as transferred grades on the official transcript. If a student chooses to have all D grades excluded from the GPA calculation, it is with the understanding that the courses for which the D grades were earned cannot be used to satisfy any requirements for graduation.
When and if all prerequisite conditions have been met, academic forgiveness will be granted upon the successful completion of the readmission semester. The registrar will then officially calculate the student's current GPA. However, no grade will be removed from the permanent record. A student awarded forgiveness under this policy does not qualify for graduation with honors.
This policy pertains only to the calculation of the GPA required for graduation. Academic forgiveness does not pertain to a GPA calculated for special academic recognition (such as graduating with honors) or to the requirements for licensure boards, external agencies, or the West Virginia Board of Education.
The University is not bound by the decision of any other institution to disregard grades earned in University courses. Similarly, students should be aware that other institutions may not recognize academic forgiveness extended by Shepherd University.

Academic Probation
At the end of each grading period each student's Shepherd University and cumulative grade point average is calculated. The calculation is determined by dividing the number of earned quality points by the number of quality hours. In the computation of the Shepherd and cumulative grade point average, a grade of I will not be included in the quality hours. When the grade of I is replaced by a passing or failing grade, the student's grade point average will be revised by the Office of the Registrar.
Freshman/New Transfer Students: At the conclusion of the first semester of attendance at Shepherd University, a student must attain a 2.0 Shepherd University and semester average. If the student fails to achieve a 2.0 in the first semester of residency, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student must then attain a 2.0 on all course work, excluding academic foundations courses, attempted during the next semester at Shepherd University.
Continuing Students: A student who has been enrolled for more than one semester and whose Shepherd University GPA or cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 in any semester will be placed on probation. If the student fails to attain a 2.0 semester average during the next semester, that student will be suspended for the following semester.
To be removed from probation, a student must attain BOTH a 2.0 Shepherd University GPA and a cumulative GPA (includes course work attempted from other institutions).

Academic Suspension
During a period of academic suspension, no credits earned at another institution will be accepted at Shepherd.
Summer School: Suspension will be waived temporarily for those who wish to attend either one or both summer sessions (at Shepherd) immediately following notice of suspension. The student placed on probation at the beginning of the fall semester must attain a 2.0 institutional grade point average on his or her combined hours for the fall, spring, and summer session(s) to be eligible to return for the following fall semester. The student placed on probation at the beginning of the spring semester must attain a 2.0 institutional grade point average on his or her combined hours for the spring and summer session(s) to be eligible to return for the following fall semester.
The student who has been suspended from the University for the first time may apply for readmission after one semester by completing an application for admission. The student who has been suspended from the University for the second time may apply for readmission after one academic year by completing an application for admission. The student who has been suspended from the University for the third time may apply for readmission after one academic year by completing an application for admission and petitioning the Admissions and Credits Committee. The Admissions and Credits Committee will review the application and render a decision in writing to the applicant.
The student on probation who withdraws from the University after the first five weeks of the semester will not be permitted to enroll in the University for the next regular semester or summer school. Any student who fails 50 percent or more of work attempted in any semester is subject to dismissal at the end of that semester.
Appeals to the above regulations may be made to the Admissions and Credits Committee.
Students receiving federal financial aid must also adhere to a satisfactory academic progress requirement. The specifics of this requirement may be found in the Catalog under the Section IV, Expenses and Financial Assistance.

Academic Dishonesty
Cheating in all its forms, including plagiarism and cheating on visual work, is considered an academic matter to be controlled and acted upon by the individual faculty member.
Students guilty of academic dishonesty on examinations in any course shall receive, as a minimum penalty, a grade of F in that course. Such action shall be taken by the instructor, with written notification to the appropriate University administrators. Repeated offenses shall subject the student to suspension or dismissal from the University. Students involved in facilitating academic dishonesty among others, such as by the unauthorized dissemination of examination materials, will be subject to disciplinary action beyond that called for by their own cheating in a course.
Plagiarism is "the act of stealing and using, as one's own, the ideas, or the expression of the ideas of another." Whether that other is another student or a published author, plagiarism is cheating. Detailed instructions on avoiding plagiarism will be provided in required English courses, and comments also may be made by instructors in other courses for which papers are written. Guidelines and policies affecting dishonesty and most other aspects of student life may be found in the Shepherd University Student Handbook.

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