Academic Regulations

Honor Code

All Converse graduate students are governed by the Converse Honor Code. For graduate students the primary area of interest is the principle that “a student does not cheat.” Instructors do need to require “pledged” work, which means that the work (e.g., quiz, test, paper, project, etc.) is the student’s own work. Students need to put the word “pledged” on assigned work handed in. Stealing, of course, is a violation of the Honor Code.

If a student commits an honor violation, the student has 24 hours to report it to the appropriate dean or Chair, after which time the professor or staff person must report the incident.
The appropriate dean or Chair will report the violation to the Graduate Standards Committee for a decision and penalty assessment if there is a violation. The Graduate Standards Committee consists of the Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies, chair; three members of Graduate Council (one liberal arts, one education, and one music faculty member), a graduate student appointed by the Provost, and a student member of the music advisory board. If the Graduate Standards Committee assesses a penalty, the student may appeal the decision to the Provost, whose decision is final. (See HIPPA - Notice of Privacy Practices)

Removal Policy

The Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies may remove a graduate student from class or a program for “appropriate reasons.” These may include but are not limited to poor academic performance (cumulate GPA below a 3.0); a grade of F in a single course; a serious academic integrity offense; behavior that is considered dangerous to others or self.
Students removed from a class or program will be notified in writing. Within three days of receipt of this notice, the student may request an appeal before the Graduate Standards Committee comprised of the Dean (Chair of the committee) three members of the Graduate Council, and a graduate student from a program other than the student’s, who is appointed by the Dean.
If the Graduate Standards Committee rules in favor of the student, the student may continue the class or program. If the committee supports the decision to remove the student, the student may appeal in writing to the Provost within three days of the receipt of the Graduate Standards Committee’s decision. The Provost’s decision is final and a finding against the student will result in an Involuntary Separation from Converse University and its graduate programs.

Early Commencement Requirements

Under certain conditions, students who have not completed the degree requirements are allowed to participate in graduation exercises. The following regulations govern this privilege:

1. A student must be present and participate in the graduation ceremony.
2. Only students who will complete all their course work before the end of Summer Session 3 and can show that these classes will be offered, providing a signed statement from their adviser, are eligible to be early commencement candidates for May graduation. If a student participates in early commencement in good faith but does not complete degree requirements by the end of Summer Session 3, he or she must reapply for graduation.
3. To qualify for early commencement, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point ration of 3.0 by the end of the Spring Term in which he or she has applied to early commence and must have no incomplete grades that have not been made up or completed.
4. In case of illness or emergency, students may appeal the requirements stated above to a committee comprised of the Dean of the School of Education Graduate Studies, the student’s academic adviser, and the Associate Provost.
5. In the official commencement program, the early commencement candidates are identified with an asterisk. The following statement appears at the end of the roster of graduates: “Early commencement participants who will complete their requirements within the following academic year.”
6. The early commencement participants receive blank diplomas at the May exercises. They receive their official diplomas at the end of the summer, contingent upon the completion of all requirements, with the appropriate finish date appearing on the diploma.
7. An early commencement student who fails to achieve the required grade point ratio, or fails to meet the required number of hours for graduation by the end of the summer is automatically disqualified from receiving the official diploma until the academic deficiencies are removed. Ordinarily this means that such students are not eligible to receive their official diplomas until the following May. Diplomas are only ordered in May and August.
8. Participation in the graduation exercises is regarded by the University as ceremonial and symbolic. Students may not consider themselves graduates of the
   University in any legal or official sense until the Registrar of the University has certified that the students have met all the requirements for graduation and conferral of degree.
   Information is available at my.Converse.edu for the following categories of graduates: May graduates who plan to attend the graduation ceremony; May graduates who do not plan to attend the graduation ceremony; Summer graduates who plan to attend the May graduation ceremony (early commencers); Summer graduates who do not plan to attend the May graduation ceremony. Log onto my.Converse.edu; go to Student section; go to Student Life; click on sidebar Commencement; choose Graduate; click on the appropriate category.

Resolution Procedures for Student Complaints

Converse provides all members of its academic community the opportunity to present grievances for resolution. The University has established procedures for students, as well as faculty and staff, to register and resolve complaints. The Graduate Student Handbook outlines for students the procedures for filing grievances against faculty and staff; for reporting sexual harassment and sexual misconduct; and for pursuing Honor Board and alcohol and drug abuse cases. The Graduate Student Handbook can we found on the web at my.converse.edu.

Registration for Classes

Graduate students may register for classes for future terms on the date that advisement for the future term begins. Graduate students should meet with their adviser prior to registering for classes.
Registration may be accomplished in one of the following manners:

Online registration: Graduate students may register online via my.converse. Students must have a user name and password that is provided by Campus Technology in order to participate in online registration.

Once the student signs into my.converse, they should follow these steps to register:

1. Click on Student in the purple are at top of the screen
2. Click on Course Registration on the left of the screen;
3. Choose the term you wish to register for classes and select classes;
4. Click submit.

The course schedule will be available on the student portal for viewing.

All financial obligations must be resolved by the date set by the University. Accounts that are outstanding after these dates will result in the classes being cancelled.

Students who have any holds on their record may Initial Certification students need to take a majority of their courses at Converse in classes restricted to graduate students and make sure they take the majority of their courses with full-time Converse faculty. Advisers are available to help students meet these two requirements.

Advisers will approve course selections and will attempt to meet the professional, academic, and certification needs of each student. It is the responsibility of the student, and not the adviser, to see that requirements are met. Secondary and middle level students must maintain a B (3.0) average in Content Area courses as well as a B (3.0) average in overall program coursework. For all other programs, students must maintain an overall B (3.0) average.

Retaking a Course

A student may retake any course in which he/she has earned a grade of F at Converse, subject to the following conditions:

1. The student may retake a course no more than one time;
2. The student must take the course at Converse to receive any benefits provided by these regulations in grade average;
3. The student must retake the course before completing more than two courses for which it is a prerequisite;
4. The student may not take an overload during any term in which he/she takes such a course;
5. No grade will be removed from the student’s record, and the grade and quality points (if any) earned in the retaking of a course will be regularly entered upon the student’s record;
6. A course which is failed will count against a student only once; on the other hand, the student will not receive hours credit for passing a course more than once, and if retaking a course in which an F was previously earned, a student will not receive a total of quality points for that course larger than that allowed for the highest grade he/she ears in the course.

Graduate Grading Scale

Other Symbols

I Incomplete
W Withdrawn
P or F Pass/Fail (used only in specified courses)

A grade of I automatically becomes an F unless the student completes the course requirements by the end of the next long term. To receive an Incomplete, the student must have the permission of the instructor who is teaching the course. The Instructor, in consultation with the student, determines the requirements that the student must complete to receive a grade. These requirements are listed on an “Incomplete Contract” form that may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. The grade of “I” will continue to show on the student’s record, along with the grade the student receives after the course requirements are met.

A grade of W is available in special circumstances and only with the approval of the Registrar and the appropriate academic Dean, or Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies.
Courses with pass/fail grades grant no quality points for passing.

Graduate students must use the University web site to review grade reports, as paper copies are not mailed to students. This requires a user ID number, available from CT in the Kuhn Building. Your user ID number will also permit graduate students to use campus computer labs.

Audit

Students must obtain permission to audit from the instructor of the graduate course concerned and from their academic advisers or their major professors. Audited hours do not count in the student’s course load.

Certain types of courses require an active participation by the student that would be incompatible with the nature of auditing; for example, courses in music or a laboratory science. Ordinarily a student may not audit courses of this type, and under no circumstances will the student be exempted from tuition charges and fees for such courses. A student who wishes to change from credit to audit in a course may do so only during the drop/add period at the beginning of the term.

Calendar

Converse University operates within the framework of a three-term calendar, which is arranged in the following pattern: fourteen weeks (fall term), four weeks (January term), and fourteen weeks (spring term). The fall term extends from late August through mid-December; the January term is one calendar month, and the spring term from early-February through May. Students may earn up to 15 semester hours of credit in the summer sessions. Academic work and credits are measured by the standards of the semester system.

Program Requirements and Advising

Converse University graduate degree requires a minimum of 30 graduate hours with several programs requiring additional hours. Specific course requirements for each graduate curriculum are available on the Converse website (www.converse.edu.) Degree requirements are subject to change, partly in response to changes in teacher certification mandated by accrediting agencies and state law or policy. Students are responsible for new requirements that are put into effect during their course

of study. Advisers will make every effort to keep up with changing requirements and will assist students in meeting their course obligations. Adviser worksheets are helpful in this process, especially in detailing specific test requirements (such as Miller Analogy Test and Praxis II), exit requirements (such as assessment portfolios), and related certification requirements for those pursuing teacher certification.

Admissions

Students are admitted to Converse University Graduate Studies on the basis of meeting of the admission requirements of the specific degree program to which a student applies. These requirements always include a review of academic credentials and additional information submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants are not required to disclose any disability on their applications for Graduate Admissions. However, once admitted, a graduate student seeking reasonable academic or physical accommodations for a disability should immediately contact the Case Manager of Student Success to obtain an accommodation form. Converse University reserves the right in its sole discretion to rescind any notice of acceptance or admission of any incoming student at any time prior to matriculation.

Requirements for Degree

The graduate student must:

1. Complete all requirements of the degree program, including any requirements specific to the program such as PRAXIS tests, by the end of the spring term;
2. Have all transfer work sent to the Registrar, and approved by their appropriate dean, and program advisor, by the deadline to submit the Application for Degree form;
3. Complete all coursework, including any incomplete courses, with grades submitted to the Registrar by the required date for graduates at the end of the spring term;
4. Request and complete the Application for Degree form by the deadline for May Commencement;
5. Complete the graduate questionnaire, for which students will receive a link through their Converse email; and
6. Fulfill all financial obligations and have cleared any outstanding business with the University one week prior to the Commencement exercises.

Transfer Credit

Students may receive degree credit for previously completed graduate work with the approval of the Converse graduate adviser under the following guidelines:

1. The graduate transfer work – a maximum of 9 credits (6 for the Master of Music degree) – has been deemed appropriate for the given Converse program of graduate studies;
2. The prior graduate credits have been completed within five years of beginning the Converse degree program and from an accredited institution;
3. All approved transfer courses have received grades of “B” or better; and,
4. The student has sent official transcripts of the graduate credits to the appropriate program adviser.
5. Credit did not apply toward degree requirements in another program.
6. Policies governing transfer hours in the EdD program are covered by separate regulations.
7. Converse University may award academic credit from military service only after an official transcript from ACE (American Council on Education) is sent for evaluation. Credit is awarded on a case by case basis.

Transfer Policy for EdD Students

All requests for transfer decisions must be made at the time of orientation prior to the start of the fall semester. After a student is accepted into the EdD program, if he or she wishes to apply for transfer or CAEL credit, he or she needs to meet with the cohort advisor. Some students may have initiated conversations before admissions, but an official transfer plan, written into the Plan of Study, must be in place before August classes start.

Students with a great deal of life experience but little or no doctoral level course work may apply to receive CAEL (Council for Adult Experiential Learning) credit for up to 15 credit hours. This is done through interviews and review of CV. These hours may also include some core exam classes, but CAEL candidates must still take and pass the Comprehensive Exam. Only the PLP Department Head or Dean of the Graduate School may approve CAEL credit.

Probationary Period

Graduate students are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout their program of studies. Students admitted “provisionally” are required to demonstrate a “B” average in their first 12 hours of graduate study and must maintain a 3.0 average throughout the remainder of the degree program. Failure to maintain this academic level of performance will result in a reinstatement of the probationary status. Any graduate student who fails a graduate course or demonstrates unacceptable academic progress will be disqualified from the degree program. Such students may petition for readmission after a minimum of two semesters. Readmission is approved on a case-by-case basis.

Admission Requirements and Regulations for International Students

Converse University encourages the enrollment of students from other countries. Application processes, timeline, requirements, and materials, including the Declaration and Certification of Finances, are available on the University website.

Admission of international students is based on academic credentials and English proficiency of the candidate as well as completion of any US Federal or State requirements. Students must submit proof of financial means to study in the United States by completing the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form. Financial verification for international students is required to issue the immigration document (I-20). TheI-20 is an immigration document used for the purpose of visa issuance outside the United States or for the immigration process “notification transfer” for students already in the United States.

Eligibility for admission is based on the applicant’s total academic record, including grades, test results, academic courses, and overall academic performance. Applicants who have completed university-level work overseas must have earned satisfactory grades on all such university-level work attempted and be in good standing. Converse University requires that all international academic documents (secondary or postsecondary transcripts, mark sheets, certificates, leaving examination results, etc.) be formally evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). WES can be contacted at www.wes.org and ECE at www.ece.org. Students are required to pay a fee to either WES or ECE for such services. More information on evaluation services can be found on the University website and by contacting the Graduate Admissions Office.

International applicants whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Converse University requires a minimum score of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 79-80 (Internet) for admission into all Master’s programs. Applicants to the Graduate Performance Diploma program in music must show a score of at least 473 on the paper version of the test, 183 on the electronic test, or 68 on the Internet test. SAT I and ACT results must also be submitted for admission and scholarship consideration. The TOEFL requirement may be waived under certain circumstances. In addition to meeting the regular admission requirements, international applicants needing a student visa (F-1) must show ability to meet financial obligations of tuition, fees, and living expenses before an I-20 can be issued. Current (less than one year old) letters of financial support must accompany the Declaration and Certification of Finances Form. Having sufficient funds for the cost of living and educational expenses is required by US Immigration regulations. The Declaration and Certification of Finances form is required before an I-20 can be issued. Graduate international students are required to carry a full course load each Term. For graduate students who are non-music majors shall maintain fulltime enrollment by enrolling in 9 hours for both Fall and Spring terms and 3 hours for Jan Term while an international graduate students majoring in music must enroll in 7 hours for both Fall and Spring terms and 1 hour in Jan Term. International students on nonimmigrant visas are not eligible for state or federally-funded loans or scholarships in the United States. Limited scholarships may be available from the university based on athletic ability, talent, and academic qualifications.

Health and accident insurance are mandatory for all international students on nonimmigrant visas enrolled at Converse University. Proof of insurance is required before the student can be admitted.

Service Members Readmission Policy

Service members who leave for active duty will be readmitted to Converse University with the same academic status achieved when last attending our when last admitted. A leave of absence (LOA) will pertain to service members if they depart while enrolled in classes. This applies to any student who cannot attend due to military service.

Service members whose education is disrupted for more than 30 consecutive days will be withdrawn from courses.

Graduate service members may re-enroll in classes once they notify the Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies of their intention to return. Service members have five years to complete their degrees under the same catalog.

Directed Independent Study Courses

The University offers Directed Independent Study according to these general principles:

1. When a graduate student needs a DIS course, it may be provided if the need for the DIS course meets University guidelines and is approved by the student’s adviser, the DIS course instructor of record, the program coordinator, and the Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies. Such courses require higher than normal fees from students.
2. DIS courses are not considered a part of a faculty member’s normal teaching load unless scheduled and advertised, e.g. some “special topics” courses.
3. While the University cannot guarantee that students can be offered a DIS in an existing course, under unusually compelling circumstances a student may request approval for a DIS. Such a request should be made from a student only:
   1. If a course is required for program completion, but is not scheduled so that one or more students can enroll.
   2. If a student has an unalterable schedule conflict.
   3. If a student needs a course to correct an out-of-sequence program
   4. If a student has special circumstances that require a “special topics” that is not offered as a regularly scheduled course and can only be taken as DIS.
   5. If a student has compelling personal circumstance, such as a health problem.
      1. Conditions and Qualifications for Faculty:
         1. If a regular course does not lend itself to DIS, a faculty member should decline to offer the course in this format, i.e., courses that depend on classroom discussion or class interaction or other skill courses.
         2. Normally, a faculty member should not carry more than a total of four (4) DIS students in any term. Exceptions to this load must be based on extenuating student circumstances and must be approved, in advance, by the Dean of the School of Education and Graduate Studies.
      2. Procedures:
         1. Directed Independent Study Approval Forms can be secured by graduate students from the office of the School of Education and Graduate Studies or from the Registrar’s Office. The form must be completed and approved prior to registration. A student is not enrolled in the DIS until the form is on file with the Registrar. One copy of the form should be on file with the instructor and in the office of the School of Education and Graduate Studies.
            1. An initial conference must be held with the instructor during which all aspects of the DIS course must be discussed and recorded on the DIS approval form. If the DIS course is a regularly scheduled course, a copy of the course syllabus must be attached to the DIS approval form.
            2. A minimum of six (6) contact hours with the instructor is required.
         2. Graduate students, who otherwise qualify for the DIS and cannot secure the support of a faculty member, may discuss individual problems with their advisor first and the Dean of the School and Education and Graduate Studies second.
      3. Fees:
         These policies concerning fees are currently in place:
         1. Graduate Students and Converse II students pay current per credit hour costs for a DIS course.
         2. Faculty are remunerated for Graduate and Converse II courses at a specified rate per credit hour.

Professional Development Courses

Converse provides graduate credit for approved professional development (PD) courses sponsored by school districts for their faculty and staff. For students admitted to a graduate degree program after January 1, 2005, there is a limit of 6 semester hours of PD course work that can apply toward meeting Converse MEd degree requirements.

NOTE: PD courses may not be counted towards EdS, EdD programs or Special Education Programs.

Undergraduate Courses

Graduate students may on occasion need to complete one or more undergraduate courses for teacher certification. We restrict all 100- and 200-level courses to our undergraduate population but can allow graduate students to take 300- and 400-level undergraduate courses on a space-available basis. Only courses listed at 500- and 600-level can count toward a graduate degree.