ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

See also: Application for Graduation—Prospective Date: December | May | Summer

STUDENT ADVISEMENT

Once a student has been admitted to the School of Communications he/she will be assigned alphabetically to an academic adviser from the Educational Advisory Services Office. All academic related matters (e.g. advisement, registration, change of program, etc.) must be approved by the advisers.

The academic advisers also work in conjunction with various student service offices throughout the University to assist students in all phases of campus life and educational development.

In order for a student (freshman or transfer) to declare a major in the School of Communications, the Scheme of Graduation Requirements form must be signed and dated by both the student and his/her academic adviser at the time the major is declared. One copy of the major form will be given to the student and the other copy will be a part of the student's record.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Transfer Students

All transfer students should note the residence requirement discussed below under Graduation Requirements.

Inter-University Transfer Students. Advanced standing will be determined by the number of credits accepted by the School of Communications from regionally accredited institutions. Courses with grades lower than C (including C-) or its equivalent are not acceptable for advanced standing. Transfer credit may be used to satisfy the major or the minor requirements if accepted by the department. However, the maximum number of credits accepted in the major field will be twelve (12) hours from a two-year accredited institution and eighteen (18) hours from a four-year accredited institution.

Intra-University Transfer Students. Students transferring to the School of Communications from another school or college at Howard University will have their previous work at Howard University evaluated for appropriateness to the SOC individual sequences.

Pre-Approval of Transfer of Credit for Non-Consortium Courses

If a School of Communications student wishes to take a course outside of Howard University AND outside of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the student must obtain written preapproval from his/her academic adviser, and, in some cases, from his/her department chair and the (Associate) Dean. Only grades of C (not C-) or better may be transferred.

• Simultaneous registration at Howard and another university: Student must obtain approval for non-Consortium courses from adviser, chair, and Dean's Office.
• Courses in the student's major: Student must obtain approval from adviser and chair.
• Other courses: Student must always obtain his/her adviser's approval.

The student initiates the process by bringing a copy of the catalogue description of the course to his/her adviser and filling out the Preapproval Form for Transfer of Credit for Courses Taken Outside the Washington Consortium of Universities.

After the form is completed, it is kept in the student file.

Grading Policy

Grading. Grade points are determined by multiplying the number of semester hours which a course yields by the grade point value of the grade received. The several grades yield grade points as follows: A=4 points, B=3points, C=2 points, D=1 point, and F=0 points. The grade point average is determined by dividing the sum of attempted semester hours into the sum of the points. Courses taken at other accredited institutions—except those in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (see below) and in the Howard University Exchange Program—will not be used to calculate the overall grade point average.

Pass/Fail. Except for those courses specifically designated as "Pass/Fail" by the School of Communications, students may enroll on a Pass/Fail basis only with the prior written approval of their Department Chairperson and the Dean. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors with a cumulative average of 2.0 or higher who enroll in at least 12 semester hours per semester may elect under the pass/fail arrangement, one additional course each semester in a department outside of their major and minor fields. Pass/Fail courses may be used to meet general elective requirements.

Incomplete Grades. Incomplete grades are given to students in accordance with policy established by the School of Communications. All incomplete grades carry an alternate grade (e.g. I/B, I/C, I/D, I/F). Students have until the end of the next semester in which they are enrolled in the University to remove the alternate grade. The alternate grade will become the permanent grade if students fail to complete the required assignments within the specified time period. In the event an instructor who awarded the incomplete grade is not in residence, it will be the responsibility of the Department Chairperson to determine the criteria for completion of unfinished assignments.

Repetition of Courses. A student may repeat only once a course for which he/she has received a grade of D or F. In such cases a single grade—the lowest —with its attendant credit shall be discounted in the calculation of the student’s cumulative average. In the event of two identical grades, only one shall be discounted. All grades are recorded on the transcript.

Course Load and Program Changes

Normal Load. A normal course load in the School of Communications is 15-18 semester hours. The maximum number of hours a student may enroll in is 21 hours in a semester.

Full-time Students. Full-time students are those who register for and complete a minimum of 12 semester hours per semester.

Part-time Students. Part-time students are those who register for and complete less than 12 semester hours per semester.

Change of Program. No change of program will be permitted after the announced deadline. Students may add or drop courses in accordance with the University's published schedule of classes. Program changes must be approved by the designated adviser. Students will receive a failing grade for a course in which they discontinue attendance unless they complete the proper change of program forms.

Total Withdrawal. The last day for students to effect total withdrawal from the University is as listed in the published schedule of classes. Students should consult their advisers concerning the process of total withdrawals.

Non-Credit Courses

The School of Communications reserves the right to establish compulsory non-credit courses, laboratories, and/or requirements in accordance with University regulations.

Class Attendance and Examinations

All students are expected to attend classes regularly and promptly. Students who are absent from any particular class or laboratory period are held responsible for the work that they missed.

Students are required to take all examinations on the dates announced unless there are extenuating circumstances as determined by the instructor. A student who is absent from an announced examination or an unannounced quiz due to extenuating circumstances may provide appropriate evidence to the faculty member if special consideration is desired.

Good Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing in the School of Communications is defined as students who have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA is less than 2.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students who entered the University prior to Fall, 1998, shall have two (2) additional semesters to remove probationary status. Students who entered the University in the Fall of 1998 and after shall have one (1) semester to remove probationary status. Probationary status is removed when a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is achieved.

Probationary students shall not be permitted to enroll in more than thirteen (13) hours in a semester and not more than six (6) hours in a summer session. Students on academic probation are required to visit the Educational Advisory Services in the School of Communications for counseling and assistance with respect to academic status, participation in University activities and other related matters.

Academic Suspension

Students failing to remove probationary status by the end of the next semester, exclusive of summer sessions, shall be suspended. Students may request permission for readmission, after serving one semester on suspension, by applying to the Dean of the School of Communications. It is expected that applicants for readmission will have provided tangible evidence of their readiness to meet academic standards in the School of Communications. Interim evidence should include satisfactory completion of academic work at another accredited institution of higher learning (recommended a GPA of 2.5 with at least 12 hours of coursework) and/or any other indications that the suspended student may now be reasonably expected to succeed academically where past performance has indicated otherwise.

Readmission after Suspension

After being suspended, a student is not eligible to apply for readmission for at least one semester. Readmission after academic suspension shall be considered only upon written application to the Dean and formal recommendation for readmission by the Student Affairs Committee. Students may apply for readmission on the basis of new evidence of their ability to achieve a 2.0 average.

Honors

Dean's List. The Dean's List is published at the end of each semester and is comprised of all full-time students (with at least 12 credit hours) who earned at least a 3.2 average for that semester.

Honors at Commencement. Honors at Commencement will be awarded as follows:

• Cum laude: a 3.2 to 3.49 cumulative GPA.
• Magna cum laude: a 3.5 to 3.79 cumulative GPA.
• Summa cum laude: a 3.8 or better cumulative GPA.

Students are not eligible to graduate with honors if they have not carried at least 12 credits for each semester enrolled (with the exception of the last semester in residence) and they have not completed the last half of the work required for their degree in residence at Howard. Although only the better of two grades earned for a repeated course contributes to the cumulative Grade Point Average, both grades are considered for the purposes of evaluating Honors at commencement.

Grades in non-credit courses are not considered in determining honors.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

In order to receive the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Communications the following requirements must be met:

• Completion of all departmental major and minor requirements.
• Completion of all general education requirements.
• Completion of the required 125semester hours.
• Completion of the last 30 semester hours at Howard University while enrolled in and under the advisement of the School of Communications (Residence Requirement).
• No more than 12 semester hours of "D" grades shall be counted towards the completion of the required 125 semester hours for graduation.
• Grades of courses to be applied toward the major in the School of Communications must be "C" or better. Only one "D" grade will be accepted in the minor. All other grades in the minor must be "C" or better.
• Earning of at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.00.
• Payment of all fees and the settlement of all other financial obligations with Howard University.
• Completion of an application for graduation with the advisory services at the time graduation status is determined.
• Completion of all academic and financial requirements.

CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES OF THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area includes The American University, The Catholic University of America, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, The George Washington University, Howard University, Marymount University, Mount Vernon College, Trinity College, The University of the District of Columbia, and the University of Maryland-College Park. The Consortium is a cooperative arrangement in post secondary education which is designed to permit the sharing of academic resources by member institutions and to offer qualified students the opportunity to enroll at other institutions for courses not available on their own campus. For information, call the Office of Records and Articulation at 806-2709.

Consortium classes are open to graduate students and undergraduate junior and senior students. (Off-campus courses in law, medicine, and dentistry may not be taken through the Consortium.)

Application forms for the Consortium are available in the Office of Records and Articulation.

The Regulations for the Consortium are published every semester in the Student Reference Manual and Directory of Classes. Howard University students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for participation in the Consortium:

• Be a fully admitted degree seeking student.
• Be actively enrolled in courses at Howard University at the same time that the consortium course is being taken and carry as many hours at Howard as at the other Consortium institution.
• Be in good academic standing.
• Obtain approval to participate in the Consortium.

SUMMER COURSES AT ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

• First, check with your adviser in the Educational Advisory Services to determine if the college or university you wish to attend is regionally accredited by the American Council on Education and obtain approval for courses you wish to attend.
• Students must obtain a grade of "C" or better in order to receive transfer credit.
• Once you complete the course(s), have the university which you attended forward an official transcript to your adviser. Your adviser will award the appropriate credit, based on the approved summer school forms.

STUDENT EXCHANGE

Students who have attained at least sophomore level classification [30 semester hours] are eligible to participate in a student exchange program, at a college with which Howard University has an exchange agreement. Fees will be paid to Howard University and grades earned will be calculated into semester hours and grade point average as though they were earned at Howard University. For information, call the Office of Domestic and International Exchanges at 806-2716.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

An international student must pursue a full course of study as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service Regulations governing non-immigrant "F-1" foreign students. The student must register for a minimum of 12 semester hours. Immigration questions should be directed to the Office of International Student Services at 806-7517.

FINANCIAL AID

Direct financial aid questions to the Office of Financial Aid at 806-2800.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Students who have complaints against faculty members may have these matters addressed as follows:

• The aggrieved student shall consult with the faculty member to resolve the issue.
• If the matter is not resolved to the student's satisfaction, the student may submit to the department chair, in writing, the particulars of the grievance.
• The department chair at his/her discretion, may render a decision or submit the grievance to the departmental Student Affairs Committee within 15 working days of receipt of the written grievance. If the departmental Student Affairs Committee receives the grievance, it must make its recommendation to the department chair within 15 working days of its receipt of the grievance.
• The aggrieved student may appeal the departmental level decision in writing to the School-wide Student Affairs Committee via the Office of the Dean. The School-wide Student Affairs Committee will make a recommendation to the Dean within 15 working days of its receipt of the grievance. There is no appeal of the Dean's decision.