Academic Regulations

Academic Petition Policy
Academic Progression Policy
Academic Skills Courses & Placement Assessment
Cancelled Classes
Class Attendance
Course Numbering System
Credit Hour Load
Incomplete Grades
Placement Assessment
Prerequisites
Undergraduate Repeat Policy
Withdrawal from the University

 

Academic Petition Policy

Academic policies and procedures are the building blocks of all academic planning at Chicago State University. All students are expected to be familiar with University policies. Knowing these policies and referencing them on a regular basis allows students, faculty, staff, and administrators the ability to operate under the same set of expectations as all parties work together to achieve the best possible student experience.

Exceptions to policy may be requested in writing and delivered to the Office of the Registrar using the Academic Petition form.  Requests for exceptions are to be clearly written and expected to include a detailed explanation about why the student believes an exception is warranted, required appropriate signatures, and attached supporting documentation where applicable. 

Effective Summer 2011: Academic petitions for any term prior to Fall 2011 must be submitted by October 5, 2011.

• Students can petition for administrative withdrawal or other registration modifications due to extenuating circumstances within 60 days of the term’s end date. With each petition, students are required to submit evidence of the circumstance and proof of attendance/grade from each instructor.

• Students can petition for an extension of the deadline to remove an Incomplete (“I” grade) for a period not to exceed one additional semester. The petition must include written consent of the instructor of record as well as the extension deadline date. In addition, a petition for an extension must be submitted 30 days prior to the final date of completion as listed on the Incomplete Grade Request and Contract form.
• Students can petition for reinstatement after dismissal for not maintaining academic standards.  The student must present the request for reinstatement using the academic petition form and must include written consent of the college dean or designee. All petitions for reinstatement must be filed by the following dates:  Fall term: July 15; Spring term: November 15; Summer term: May 1.
• All academic petitions submitted to the Office of the Registrar are reviewed within sixty (60) days of receipt by the Academic Petition Committee. Students will receive notification of a decision within 30 days of the review.
• Decisions of the Academic Petition Committee are final.

The Academic Petition form can be obtained in the Office of the Registrar, ADM 128. The form is also available online at the following websites: www.csu.edu/RecordsandRegistration/ or www.csu.edu/coursebulletin/.

Academic Progression Policy
A student who has not successfully completed the academic skills requirements will have a hold(s) placed on his/her record that will remain until the specified requirements have been met.

Academic Skills Courses & Placement Assessment
Freshmen: Once accepted for admission to Chicago State University, all freshmen must take the university diagnostic examinations in English, mathematics and reading by the end of the first term in residence. All freshmen must either meet the minimal requirements of the university diagnostic examinations in English and Reading or pass the appropriate academic skills course, namely, English 1230 or 1240, Reading 1500, or Math 0990. To exit from these courses, students must pass the appropriate examination.

Transfer Students: Transfer students who have not completed an associate's degree (A.A. degree or A.S. degree) must take proficiency examinations in English and reading. Transfer students who transfer general education math courses with a grade of C or better and whose majors do not require additional mathematics courses do not have to take the proficiency examination in mathematics.  Transfer students who do not transfer general education math courses or who are required by their majors to take more math, must take the proficiency examinations in mathematics.

Transfer students who have earned an associate's degree (A.A. degree or A.S. degree) or who have completed sixty (60) hours or more from a combination of two-year and four-year institutions, and who have completed the Illinois General Education Core, are not required to take the proficiency examinations in English, reading and math unless the courses are required as prerequisites for other courses.

Questions about the courses, the examinations, or preparation materials should be addressed to the appropriate department chairperson:

 

Subject	Chairperson	Office	Phone (773)
Mathematics	Dr. K. Attele	HWH 332	995-2102
English	Dr. R. Chierico	HWH 301A	995-2350
Reading	Dr. C. Busch	ED 219	995-2086

 

Cancelled Classes
The university reserves the right to limit the size of classes and to cancel classes for which there is insufficient enrollment. If the class for which you are registered is cancelled, you will automatically be dropped from the class. If you do not register for an alternative class, a tuition refund will be processed to your account, according to the refund policy. Students receiving financial aid may wish to consult with their financial aid counselor concerning any award implications.

Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend all class sessions in the course sections for which they are registered unless prevented by illness, an official university activity, or other urgent and unavoidable reasons. The responsibility for maintaining class attendance records rests with each faculty member. Students are expected to consult with instructors to complete class work and all assignments when classes are missed.

The following is the university policy on class attendance:

• An instructor may drop students who do not attend the first day of class and make no attempt to contact the instructor or department chairperson prior to the absence. The instructor may report students who do not attend the first two weeks of class without evidence of a legitimate excuse to the registrar, who will drop the student from the class.

• Instructors are required to monitor and keep records of the attendance of students at all class meetings. If a student’s total absences are equal to or exceed the equivalent of two weeks of instruction, the instructor may drop the student from the course with a grade of W by Wednesday, September 21, 2011. The instructor may assign a nonattendance grade of W/A or W/N. (See WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY)

• To drop or withdraw from courses, the student must use the drop/withdrawal form, have an advisor sign it, and then submit the form to the registrar’s office. If a student stops attending a class but fails to withdraw officially from the class before the official drop date, the result may be a failing grade. Although the instructor may drop a student for nonattendance, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to drop the class. (See WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY).

If you are registered for a class and you are informed that your name does not appear on the official preliminary and/or subsequent class rosters, it is your responsibility to investigate the matter immediately by contacting the Office of Records and Registration.

Course Numbering System

The course numbering system has changed from the use of three-digit course numbers to four-digit course numbers. For a full listing of the three-digit course numbers and the equivalent four-digit course numbers, please visit the following website: www.csu.edu/coursebulletin/ .

 

Courses Numbers	Level
0900 to 0999	Developmental
1000 to 1999	Freshman
2000 to 2999	Sophomore
3000 to 3999	Junior
4000 to 4999	Senior
5000 to 5999	Masters
6000 to 6999	Doctoral / Professional

 

Credit Hour Load
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

The maximum credit hour load for the Fall semester is 16 credit hours. Students whose CSU cumulative grade point average is 3.0 or better may register for a program of 18 semester hours. Additional hours beyond 16 must be approved by the department. The Office of the Registrar must record that approval in the system.

Although there is no minimum credit-hour load for students, the following minimum credit-hour loads are recommended: Veterans receiving benefits under Public Law 89-358 (Veterans Re-adjustments Benefits Act of 1966) must carry 12 credit hours to be eligible for full subsistence allowances during the semester. Students may not be registered at other colleges without written permission from the Academic Evaluation and Advisement Office, ADM 128. This permission MUST be obtained prior to registration at either college.

F-1 international students must carry a minimum of 12 hours during fall and spring terms to maintain lawful F-1 student status in the United States.

GRADUATE STUDENTS:

The maximum credit hour load of graduate courses is 12 hours in the fall semester. Exceptions to the graduate course credit hour load may be made with the approval of the graduate faculty advisors and/or the department chairperson and the graduate dean. Students may not be registered at other colleges and universities without approval of their advisors and the graduate dean. Permission must be obtained prior to registration at either college.

Incomplete Grades
A student may request a grade of Incomplete (I) in a non-academic skills course if extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances have prevented completion of the required course work. By requesting an Incomplete, the student agrees to complete of the required course work in accordance to the Incomplete (I) Grade Request & Contract form. If a student does not complete the course work by the specified date, the grade if I will be replaced by the default grade as stated in the contract.

A request for a grade of Incomplete must be initiated by the student and must be submitted in writing using the Incomplete (I) Grade Request & Contract form. The contract must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by November 15, 2011. Contracts submitted after this deadline may not be processes and result in the default grade of F.

The Incomplete (I) Grade Request & Contract form can be obtained in the Office of the Registrar, ADM 128. The form is also available online at www.csu.edu/RecordsandRegistration/ or at www.csu.edu/coursebulletin/ .

Placement Assessment (ADM 126)
Students must have a picture ID to take the placement assessment. The placement assessment schedule is posted in the office, as well as on the examination office web site www.csu.edu/examinations/.

Prerequisites
Prerequisites are listed in the university catalog or on CSU’s website at www.csu.edu/catalogs. A student should not attempt to register for a course unless she/he meets the prerequisites, if any, for the course. If a student does not meet the prerequisite for a course, the student may be dropped from the course. Please consult your academic advisor about prerequisites for your courses.

Undergraduate Repeat Policy
Students are allowed to repeat a course and have the highest grade earned count toward their cumulative grade point average. Please note that certain financial aid programs may not cover the tuition for repeated courses. Students should contact a financial aid advisor when attempting to repeat a course, to determine eligibility.

Withdrawal from the University

Students who withdraw from the university by August 30 are eligible for a total refund of all mandatory fees. Students are permitted to withdraw from the university until Wednesday, September 21, after completing a change of program/ withdrawal form. Students who withdraw from the university at any time from August 31 to September 21 are eligible for a 50% refund of the eligible tuition and fees. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals made after September 21, 2011.

Students must receive the approval of the advisor, bursar and the financial aid office to withdraw during this period. Additional signatures of a chairperson and/or dean may be required. Student athletes must also receive approval from the Athletics Department. A withdrawal from the university is not complete until the appropriate form is submitted, approved and processed by the Office of the Registrar. 

Students who withdraw must also complete a withdrawal survey when they submit their withdrawal form to the Office of the Registrar, ADM 128. The Change of Program/Withdrawal and the Post Mid-Term Drop/Withdrawal forms should be submitted in person by the student.

Errors in the information provided on a drop/withdrawal form are the student’s responsibility.

Students can request to drop or withdraw from a course from September 22, 2011 until Monday, November 28, 2011 using the Post Mid-Term Drop/Withdrawal form. The form must have the instructor’s signature, student’s signature, and the grade of W/P or W/F must be circled by the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the signed form to the Office of the Registrar, ADM 128, no later than Monday, November 28, 2011. Forms submitted after Monday, November 28, 2011 will not be accepted.

Students can also request to totally withdraw from the University prior to the start of the final exam period. Each instructor must sign the post mid-term drop form in the space for written permission and circle the grade of W/P or W/F. It is the student’s responsibility to submit the signed form to the Office of the Registrar no later than Monday, November 28, 2011 prior to the start of the final exam period. Grades of either W/P or W/F will appear on the final grade sheet for students who have requested a total withdrawal prior to the final exam period.

Students who do not opt to drop or withdraw after midterm or request a total withdrawal for the semester prior to final exams will receive grades of A, B, C, D, I, P, or F as final grades.

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