Academic Policies and Grading

Academic Load and Full-Time Status

Graduate candidates must enroll in six or more credits per semester to be considered full-time.  A minimum of six credits is required for financial aid.

Graduate candidates carry anywhere from three to twelve credits per semester.  Candidates should refer to program handbooks or academic advisors for determining academic load.

Academic Standing

A graduate student must maintain a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) to remain in good academic standing. If the GPA drops below 3.00 or a grade of “C+” or lower is received, a student is placed on academic probation. A student remains on academic probation until their GPA meets or exceeds 3.00. By action of the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies, a student will be academically dismissed if:

1. the student receives two grades of “C+” or lower or one “F” at any time during his or her graduate study at the College or
2. the student fails to achieve academic progress while on academic probation. Academic progress is indicated by an increase in GPA every semester/session until a GPA of 3.00 is attained.

When one of the following above occurs, the student will be notified at that time that they have been academically dismissed effective at the end of the semester. The student can choose to continue in other classes in which they are registered in that semester, or they may drop/withdraw from these classes without financial penalty. Students will be dropped from courses in which they are registered in the following semester.

Students must have a GPA of at least 3.00 to graduate or receive a post-baccalaureate certificate.

A student has the right to appeal an academic dismissal. A written appeal must be sent to the Academic Policy and Standards Committee within 30 days after the notice of dismissal. The Academic Policy and Standards Committee will review the appeal and act on it in a timely fashion.

Dismissals from the College or the academic program may also result from failure to observe the graduate Professional Ethics & Standards. This can range from unethical or unprofessional conduct, unsuitability for one’s field of study, or failure to meet individual program requirements.

The Academic Policy and Standards Committee may be asked by program coordinators to review students for dismissals other than Professional Ethics & Standards violations. A student has the right to appeal such a dismissal to the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies within 30 days after the notice of dismissal. The committee will review the appeal in a timely fashion.

Add/Drop

Prior to the start of a course, students may add or drop a class. After classes start, students may add a class only if they have the approval of the instructor or program coordinator; an add/drop form, with the instructor’s signature, must be processed with the Registrar’s Office. Students may drop a course during the first two weeks of class (for summer courses only through the second class meeting), after that they must send an email from their official McDaniel College email address to the Registrar’s Office including name, student ID number, the course title, number and section for the course or courses to drop and a daytime phone number. Notifying the instructor of the class is common courtesy, but is NOT an official drop.

If a student drops a course(s) after the first two weeks of class, a grade of “W’ will be posted on the transcript.  A W is not calculated in the students’ GPA.  Students may not drop a class two weeks prior to the class ending without permission of the program coordinator.

Students who register for CUR-556 Introduction to the Capstone Experience or CUR-557 Capstone Experience Development, but fail to attend the single face-to-face session, will be automatically dropped from the course by the Registrar’s Office and will be assessed a forfeiture fee of $50 by the Bursar’s Office.

A person who has completed the admission requirements and who wishes to attend a course without satisfying the formal course requirements may do so by auditing the course.  An audit is entered on the record as “AU,” no credit hours attempted, and no grade or quality points awarded.  The instructor sets the amount of participation required in the course.  The charge is one-half the regular tuition.  While audited courses appear on student transcripts, they do not carry grades or credit.  If the student does not meet the instructor’s requirements, the instructor has the right to delete the course from the student’s record.  Although students must declare the audit option prior to the end of the second week of class, they can request a change from audit to letter grade up until the end of the semester.  Students who choose this option must complete course requirements as assigned, must have the instructor’s approval to change from audit to credit, and must pay the price differential. 

Dismissal from Program

If a student is dismissed from any academic graduate program, the student will be informed via email and in writing by US mail of the dismissal, including the reason for the dismissal, and any processes or procedures available to them to appeal the dismissal.

If a student is dismissed from an academic graduate program, but not from McDaniel College, the student will be informed of this distinction in writing by US mail.  In addition, the student will be informed:

• of any completed coursework that may be transferable to another certificate or degree program within the College, and the student will be provided with contact information to obtain additional information should they choose to explore options for remaining at McDaniel College.
• if they will be allowed to complete any courses in which they are currently enrolled.

Grades are available on the Archway within 48 hours of the completion of the class.

A student’s grade reflects the quality of the scholarly achievement. A total average of 3.00 (B) must be maintained in order to remain in good standing.

Letter grades are converted to numerical values on the following scale:

An Incomplete (I) grade may be given only for emergency reasons acceptable both to the instructor and the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies. A completed and signed Incomplete Grade Request Form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office.  The date of completion may not be longer than one academic term (Spring, Summer, or Fall) from the date when the Incomplete grade was issued. Any Incomplete grade which extends beyond the one-term time limit becomes an “F.”  While carrying an Incomplete grade, a student may not register for more than a total of six credits of additional course work.

A grade of IP (In Progress) may be given for students who are continuing to complete requirements for courses that extend beyond one semester, such as internships, special projects, etc. An IP grade can be carried up to one calendar year of the date the IP grade was submitted by the course instructor.

Grade Repeat Policy

During the course of a program, candidates may repeat only one course. While both grades will appear on the transcript, only the most recent grade is calculated into the GPA.

Grades submitted by the instructor are considered final and may be appealed only if:

1. a reporting or arithmetic error occurred which resulted in an incorrect grade. The instructor will submit a Change of Grade form to the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies for approval; or
2. the student believes the grade was prejudicial or capricious. In such cases, the student will first discuss the grade with the instructor. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of that discussion, then he or she will discuss the grade with the appropriate graduate program coordinator. If further discussion is necessary, the student may appeal the grade to the Academic Policy and Standards Committee. If a resolution cannot be reached, the student may then appeal the grade to the Dean of Graduate & Professional Studies.

The deadline for appealing a grade is the last day of classes of the semester following the term in which the course was taken.

Graduate GPA Requirement

In order to graduate from any master’s degree program or receive a post-baccalaureate certificate, students must meet all program requirements and have a GPA that meets or exceeds the 3.00 standard at the time of completion. Students whose GPA is below 3.00 at the time of program completion will be given one semester to raise the GPA to the required 3.00. The additional requirement will be determined by the program coordinator.

Application for Graduation

All students must submit an Application for Graduation, which is available on the McDaniel Portal under the self-service menu. Prior to filling out an application, students are encouraged to meet with their program coordinators or advisors to be sure they are eligible to graduate. The Registrar’s Office handles all graduation clearances. Diplomas are awarded three times a year - August, December, and May, however formal commencement exercises are held only in May.

Graduation Application Deadlines

August Graduation – July 1
December Graduation – November 1
May Graduation – April 1

Commencement Ceremony

A formal commencement ceremony is held only in May. Students who have completed all requirements prior to the May Commencement Ceremony are invited to participate in the ceremony. Beginning in early February, several campus offices will send Commencement Ceremony information.

Graduate students with only one degree requirement remaining (a course consisting of three-credits or fewer) may petition to walk in the May Commencement Ceremony if the final requirement will be completed by the end of the summer session. A remaining internship, capstone, thesis, or comprehensive exam is not allowed as a remaining requirement. The student’s program GPA must be 3.00 or higher at the time of the petition. A Request to Participate in Commencement must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies by May 1 prior to the Commencement Ceremony. The petition form may be obtained from the Program Coordinator or Advisor or online.

All inquiries about the Commencement Ceremony should be directed to the Registrar’s Office.

Records

Educational Records

Educational records are those records, files, documents, and other material directly related to a student and maintained by McDaniel College or any of its agents. The College assumes an implicit and justifiable trust as custodian of these records. Access to and release of student records are determined by College policy, which complies with Public Law 93-380 (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, often referred to as the Buckley Amendment). Copies of the College Policy on Release of Information About Students and of the U.S. Department of Education regulations implementing Public Law 93-380 are available in the Registrar’s Office.

Retention of Records

Academic records are held by the Registar’s Office. Transcript records are also permanently held by the Registrar’s Office. Documentation pertaining to the registration for each semester is held only for a period of one year. If any questions should arise regarding documentation of enrollment more than one year beyond registration for the course, it will be the student’s responsibility to produce proper documentation to support any claim for a change to the record.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are available through Parchment Ordering Service.  A $12.00 fee is charged for each official transcript requested.  Official transcript requests will not be honored if the student has any outstanding accounts at the College.  If you are a current student, you may order an official transcript through the portal.  If you are not a current student, follow the directions below:

• Go to www.mcdaniel.edu
• Move your cursor over” Alumni” at the top of the page
• Choose CONNECT from the yellow box
• On the next screen, page down to the paragraph about ordering transcripts
• Click on Parchment Ordering Service (it is a link in blue letters)

Current and former students should:

• Create an account with Parchment – be sure to complete as much information as you are able
• Be sure to select the correct transcript type.  Official electronic transcripts will arrive at their destination in about an hour; mailed transcripts take from 7 – 12 business days to arrive.
• If you wish to send the transcript to a specific indiviudal’s email adress, do NOT enter anything in the box that asks where you want it to go.  Instead, click on the link that asks if you want sent to yourself or another third party. 

If you need your transcript to include degree information or current semester grades, be sure to note it in the request.

Refund of Cohort Application Fee

Any application fee paid to McDaniel College in anticipation of starting in a graduate degree or certificate cohort program will be refunded in full if the cohort is not run due to under-enrollment. If a student chooses to enter another cohort or matriculate as an open enrollment student, the application fee will be applied to the new program and the student will not be entitled to a refund.

Second Master’s Degree

Students may be enrolled in and complete courses toward two Master’s degrees at McDaniel College.  Students seeking two Master’s degrees must complete the requirements for each degree prior to that degree being awarded.  Degrees will be awarded independently upon completion.  A total of 60 credits must be completed before the second degree will be awarded.

A maximum of six graduate level credits (or nine for CED School Guidance or 12 for CED Clinical Mental Health) may be transferred from a previous institution to each degree providing the 60 credit total is met prior to the awarding of the second degree. Credit may be earned no earlier than six years prior to the start of the Master’s programs.  Only grades of A and B may be transferred.

Student Catalog

Students adhere to the program requirements as stated in the graduate catalog for the academic year in which they are admitted. While students may request to follow the requirements in a newer catalog, students may not follow the requirements prior to the academic year in which the student is admitted. If a student has been withdrawn, and is subsequently readmitted, one of the following occurs:

• If the readmission is within the student’s original program time limitationin which to earn the Master’s degree (six years from the start of the firstcourse) or Post- Baccalaureate Certificate (four years from the start of thefirst course), the student follows program requirements in the originalcatalog.

• If the readmission occurs after the original time limitations noted above,the student follows program requirements in the current catalog.

Time Limitation

Once a student enters a Master’s degree program as a degree-seeking student, they will have six years from the start of their first course to complete all degree requirements. 

Once a student enters a post-baccalaureate certificate program, they will have four years from the start of their first course to complete all certificate program requirements.

Appeals for extension of the six-year or four-year limit must be submitted to the Academic Policy and Standards Committee.

Once a student is enrolled as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, they will remain an active student as long as one course is attempted during a two-year period.  Any student who does not attempt to complete a course during a two-year period will become inactive.

Students may request a leave of absence for up to 12 months for personal circumstances, extending their time for completion of the degree or certificate. Please contact the Registrar’s Office.

Transfer Credit

Credit earned at another institution must be presented to the program coordinator or academic adviser for approval. Specific restrictions are:

• transfer credit must be from institutions accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education;
• the work must be equal in scope and content to that offered by McDaniel College;
• only grades of A and B may be transferred;
• a maximum of six graduate level transfer credits may be accepted from other accredited institutions or from a previous McDaniel College master’s degree except for:
  • HRM and CED (School Guidance) students may transfer up to nine credits
  • RDS (Reading Specialist) students may transfer up to ten credits from the Wilson Reading Program
  • CED (Community Mental Health) students may transfer up to 12 credits;
• individuals seeking a second Master’s degree must earn a minimum of 60 graduate credits;
• credits may be earned no earlier than six years prior to beginning the master’s degree program; and
• official transcripts must be submitted before credits will be posted on a student’s McDaniel record and catalog course descriptions may be requested.

Students seeking transfer credit from coursework earned at an institution outside the U.S. must submit an official transcript(s) that has been evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.  McDaniel College recommends World Education Services (wes.org) but will accept an evaluation from any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (naces.org) member.

VA Monthly GI Bill® Rate of Pursuit/Training Time for Chapters 30, 1606, and 35

Training Time

The VA Training Time refers to how the Department of Veterans Affairs views your course load, in order to determine the amount of benefit you will be paid. When your GI Bill® benefit is certified, your school certifying official is required to report the number of credit hours you are taking and your training time for each enrollment period.

The chart below reflects how training time is calculated for graduate students based on the length of the enrollment period and the number of credit hours of enrollment. Keep in mind that the VA training times indicated below are for the individual enrollment periods only. Each sub-term must be considered individually and cannot be combined with other enrollment periods for the assignment of a training time.

Graduate Semester/Sub-Term Lengths

Graduate Summer Term Lengths

VA Students

Students using Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits (Chapter 33) and Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Benefits (Chapter 31) at McDaniel College will be allowed to attend McDaniel College for up to 90 days from the date the beneficiary provides a certificate of eligibility, or valid VAF 28-1905. A McDaniel College Request for Benefits Form must accompany the certificate of eligibility or Valid VAF 28-1905 and should be submitted to the Veterans A.  McDaniel College will not impose a penalty, or require as student to borrow additional funds to cover tuition and fees due to late payments from VA. 

Withdrawal from the College

If students determine they are unable to complete their academic program or continue enrollment in classes, they should withdraw from the College. It is assumed that students will not withdraw from the College during a term. However, if such a withdrawal is necessary during the term, please refer to the add/drop policy. Students must notify the Registrar’s Office in writing if they intend to withdraw from the College (email from the McDaniel email will suffice).