ACADEMIC STANDING

Semester Credits

Students are normally expected to earn four credits in each of eight semesters. A student who plans a course schedule with fewer than four or as many as six credits must have the approval of the faculty advisor and his or her class dean. A three-credit program is considered a schedule for which full tuition will be charged. A student who takes more than the normal number of credits for the purpose of acceleration will incur additional tuition charges (see the Acceleration section). Candidates for the undergraduate degree may not enroll as part-time students (fewer than three credits). The exception is for seniors completing the second half of their senior thesis who need only this credit to fulfill all degree requirements. They may enroll for only the one thesis credit in their last semester, but may be subject to acceleration charges since the semester will not count as a Wesleyan semester.

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Grading System

A student's academic performance in individual courses taken at Wesleyan will be graded either by the use of letter grades (A-F), or by the designations credit (CR) or unsatisfactory (U). At the discretion of the instructor, all the students in a course may be restricted to a single grading mode, or each student may be allowed to choose between the two modes. Instructors announce the grading options in WESMaps . In courses in which students have a choice of grading mode, the final choice must be made by the end of the drop/add period.

Whenever the credit/unsatisfactory mode is used, the faculty member is expected to submit to the Registrar's Office a written evaluation of the student's work in the course. Students' work in courses using letter grades is evaluated as follows: A, excellent; B, good; C, fair; D, passing but unsatisfactory; E, failure; and F, bad failure. These letter grades (with the exception of the grade of F) may be modified by the use of plus and minus signs.

The numerical equivalents of the letter grades are:

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Credit In Two-Semester Courses (Required Course Sequences)

The granting of credit in two-semester courses (indicated by the “Required Course Sequence” notation in WESMaps ) is contingent upon successful completion of both semesters. A student who has failed the first semester of a required course sequence may not continue in the second semester without the permission of the instructor and the dean of the college. A student who receives the grade of E (but not F) at midyear in a course running through the year and who is permitted by the instructor to continue the course in the second semester may receive credit for the first semester at the completion of the course upon the recommendation of the instructor to the dean of the college. At that time, the instructor may also recommend a revision of the first-semester grade. If this is not done, the grade for the first semester will remain recorded as E, but credit will be given for the first semester's work. A student who fails the second semester of a two-semester course loses credit for both semesters.

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Honors Program

A degree with honors can be earned two ways: (1) departmental honors will be awarded to the student who has done outstanding work in the major field of study and met the standards for honors or high honors set by the respective department or program; (2) honors in general scholarship will be awarded to the student who is a University major, or is working on an interdisciplinary thesis, or is working under a department other than the major. The candidate for honors in general scholarship must fulfill General Education Expectations and submit a senior thesis that meets the standard for honors or high honors set by the Committee on Honors.

In the fall semester of the senior year, all candidates for departmental honors must enroll in a senior thesis tutorial or ask that their department forward their names to the Honors Committee as candidates. For honors in general scholarship, each candidate must submit (1) a brief proposal describing the honors work; (2) a short statement telling how General Education Expectations have been or will be fulfilled; and (3) letters of support from the thesis tutor and the department chair of the student's major (or, in the case of a University major, from the Committee on University Majors). The completed thesis is due in mid-April. More detailed information is available from the Honors Coordinator.

University honors are the highest award Wesleyan bestows. To be eligible, a student must fulfill General Education Expectations, earn high honors (either departmental or in general scholarship), be recommended for University honors, and qualify in an oral examination administered by the Committee on Honors.

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Phi Beta Kappa

The oldest national scholastic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa at Wesleyan is limited to 12 percent of the graduating class each year. Election to the society is based on grades and fulfillment of the eligibility requirements described below.

Fall election is based on grades through the end of a student's junior year and fulfillment of the General Education Expectations (Stages 1 and 2). Normally between 10 and 15 students are elected in the fall; transfer students are not eligible for consideration at this time.

Spring election is based on grades through the end of a student's first semester of the senior year and fulfillment of the General Education Expectations (Stages 1 and 2). Transfer students are eligible for consideration at this time. It is preferred that students complete their General Education Expectations in their first semester senior year. However, a rationale for second-semester completion is not required provided that the secretary of the Gamma Chapter continuously monitors those students to guarantee completion of Stage 2 of the General Education Expectations.

In addition to fulfilling the General Education Expectations, students are expected to have a grade point average of 90 or above. Students are nominated by their major departments.

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Academic Review and Promotion

The University expects students to make good use of Wesleyan's educational resources. A student is expected to satisfy the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts within eight semesters. For regular promotion from semester to semester, an undergraduate is expected to maintain a cumulative average of 74 percent and satisfy the following minimum earned credit requirements. Pending credit (i.e. incomplete, ABs) with provisional failing grades may not be considered earned. Upon resolution of an incomplete or AB grade, a student's academic status will be reviewed. Changes in class standing are made at the end of each semester.

Under the graduation requirements for students who entered in the fall of 2000 or beyond, the minimum earned credit requirements are

• After one semester, two credits (four credits expected)
• After two semesters, six credits (eight credits expected)
• After three semesters, 10 credits (12 credits expected)
• After four semesters, 14 credits (16 credits expected)
• After five semesters, 18 credits (20 credits expected)
• After six semesters, 22 credits (24 credits expected)
• After seven semesters, 26 credits (28 credits expected)
• For promotion to the sophomore class, satisfactory completion of at least six credits
• For promotion to the junior class, satisfactory completion of at least 14 credits and acceptance as a major in a department
• For promotion to the senior class, satisfactory completion of at least 22 credits and acceptability for continuance as a major in a department

Students whose academic performance is deficient will be subject to the following forms of academic discipline, according to the seriousness of the deficiencies:

1.Warning—The mildest form of academic discipline, usually recommended for students whose academic work in one course is passing but unsatisfactory.

2.Probation—The category of academic discipline used when the academic deficiency is serious, usually involving failure to achieve the requisite cumulative average of 74 percent, failure in one course, or passing but unsatisfactory work in two or more courses. A student on probation is required to perform at a satisfactory level in all courses. Failure to do so usually results in more serious discipline. A student who receives more than two incompletes without the dean's permission may also be placed on probation.

3.Strict Probation—The category of discipline used in very serious cases of academic deficiency,usually involving at least one of the following conditions:

a. Failure in one course and passing but unsatisfactory work in another

b. Passing but unsatisfactory work in three or more courses

c. Unsatisfactory work in one or more courses while on probation

d. Credit deficiency for promotion

e. Earning two or fewer credits in a single semester

Students on strict probation are required to attend all classes, to complete all work on time, and meet regularly with their class dean. They also are not permitted to receive an incomplete without the class dean's approval. Two or more semesters on strict probation, sequential or not, may require a student to resign from the University.

4.Required Resignation—The category of discipline used when the student's academic performance is so deficient as to warrant the student's departure from the University for the purpose of correcting the deficiencies. The notation “resigned” will be entered on the student's official transcript. The performance of students who are required to resign will usually involve at least one of the following deficiencies:

a. For all students

(1) Failure to earn the required number of credits for promotion

b. If a student is in good standing

(1) Failure in two or more courses

(2) Failure in one course and passing but unsatisfactory (below C-) work in two others

c. If a student is on probation

(1) Failure in one course and passing but unsatisfactory work in one other

(2) Unsatisfactory work in three or more courses

d. If a student is on strict probation

(1) Failure in one or more courses

(2) Unsatisfactory work in two or more courses

(3) One or more unapproved incompletes

(4) Failure to earn removal from strict probation, even if there is a period of good standing

Students who are required to resign may not be on campus or in University housing, nor may they participate in student activities or the life of the college in any way. Students who are required to resign may be readmitted by the dean of the college after an absence of at least two semesters. The process of application for readmission requires a demonstration of academic preparedness and fulfillment of all the specified requirements for return. Students readmitted after being required to resign will be placed on strict probation.

5.Separation—The category of discipline used when the student's academic deficiencies are so serious to warrant the student's departure from the University without eligibility for read mission. The notation “separated” will be entered on the student's official transcript. Separation is imposed if a student's academic performance warrants required resignation for a second time.

6.Appeals—Students who are required to resign or are separated from the University and who have new information about the factors that they believe affected their performance may appeal their status to a subcommittee of the Educational Policy Committee. Student who wish to appeal must notify their class dean two days prior to the scheduled date on which appeals will be reviewed. Information about the appeals procedures will be provided by the students' class dean. Appeals are reviewed by members of the subcommittee of the Educational Policy Committee with attendance by the class deans and the dean of the college. Students may elect to attend their review or participate via telephone. The committee's decisions are final.

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Advanced Placement Credit

Students who have completed in secondary school an Advanced Placement course or its equivalent and have achieved a score of 4 or 5 in the corresponding Advanced Placement examination will be granted one or two credits. For students entering in the fall of 2000 or beyond, a maximum of two credits of any kind (including AP credit) earned before matriculation will apply toward graduation. While a maximum of two credits will be counted toward the Wesleyan degree, all such credits that have been duly approved by Wesleyan departments will be listed on the student's transcript.

In each case, the precise number of credits will be determined at the discretion of the relevant department. The department may stipulate the award of Advanced Placement credit upon the successful completion of any course or courses at any level in any department of the University. Should a department decline to designate a Wesleyan course for this purpose, the number of credits granted for the Advanced Placement course alone will be determined by that department.

Students may use up to two Advanced Placement credits for the purpose of acceleration. However, students are not permitted to use the credit to reduce the course load, to clear up failures or unsatisfactory work, or to count toward fulfillment of the General Education Expectations. Additional information about Advanced Placement credit may be obtained from the Dean's Office or from the relevant department.

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International Baccalaureate Program Credit

Students who have completed the International Baccalaureate (IB)course of study and have received a score of 5 to 7 on the corresponding IB examinations may be granted between one or two credits for the higher-level examination and .70 credits for the subsidiary-level examination toward the Wesleyan degree of Bachelor of Arts. In each case, the awarding of credits will be determined at the discretion of the relevant department. The department may stipulate the award of IB credit upon successful completion of course(s)at a specific level in the appropriate department of the University.

For students entering in the fall of 2000 or beyond, a maximum of two credits of any kind (including IB credit) earned prior to matriculation will apply toward graduation. While a maximum of two credits will be counted toward the Wesleyan degree, all such credits that have been duly approved by Wesleyan departments will be listed on the student's transcript. Students may use up to two IB credits for the purpose of acceleration, but not to reduce a semester's course load or to substitute for failures or unsatisfactory work. IB credit and Advanced Placement credit may not be given for the same course work.

Additional information about International Baccalaureate credit may be obtained from the Dean's Office or from the relevant departments.

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Acceleration

Students may complete work for the bachelor's degree in less than the normal eight semesters. Requests for acceleration should be made in writing to the students' class dean. This may be accomplished by (1) applying up to two pre-matriculant credits, such as approved transfer credits, Advanced Placement credits, A-level credits or International Baccalaureate credits toward satisfaction of degree requirements; (2) completing approved summer courses at Wesleyan or another institution; (3) completing independent study or education-in-the-field projects during a summer or an authorized leave of absence; or (4) completing additional Wesleyan courses (those beyond the normal number of credits) during the academic year.

Acceleration accomplished by completing additional Wesleyan courses during the academic year will be governed by the following guidelines:

1. If students complete course requirements for graduation in fewer than eight semesters by virtue of acceleration in academic-year courses at Wesleyan, additional payment will be required for the acceleration prior to the awarding of the degree. Up to two pre-matriculant credits earned through transfer credits, Advanced Placement, A-level or International Baccalaureate credits, and credits earned through summer study, independent study, or education-in-the-field completed during a summer or on a leave, and other approved non-Wesleyan programs are excluded from the fee requirement.

2. The standard tuition rate will entitle students to register for the recommended number of course credits to meet graduation requirements in eight semesters, four course credits in each of eight semesters for a total of 32 course credits.

3. Students will be considered to be accelerating if they register for more Wesleyan course credits than prescribed above, in which case the students, prior to graduation, will pay one-fifth of the semester tuition prevailing at the time of graduation for each course credit above the normal load.

4. If students pay eight semesters of tuition at Wesleyan, no additional charge will be made for courses taken above the normal course load.

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Special Students

The registrar may admit students to the undergraduate program as special, non-matriculated students. Individuals eligible include spouses of members of the faculty or administration, employees of the University, or persons living in the Middletown area. These special students may elect any number of courses with the instructors' approval and pay a tuition charge per credit up to full tuition, unless they are eligible for one of the two remission plans available to members of the Wesleyan community. Consult the Office of Human Resources for eligibility requirements.

Special students may not enroll in a course if their enrollment would displace a regular degree candidate.

No financial aid is available to special students.

Special students wishing to apply for admission to degree candidacy may do so through the Admission Office. Their applications will be reviewed with the same rigorous standards as those of other candidates for admission. Special students admitted to degree candidacy will be expected to satisfy normal degree requirements, including four semesters of full-time residency (at least three credits per semester) at Wesleyan or in Wesleyan-sponsored programs and the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 16 Wesleyan course credits.

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Transfer Students

Students wishing to apply to Wesleyan as transfer students must have been enrolled for at least one full academic year at another postsecondary academic institution and must have obtained the equivalent of at least six Wesleyan credits. A student who does not meet these conditions must apply for admission as a first-year student.

It is expected that transfer students will keep pace with the class to which they are officially assigned by the Office of the Dean; that is, the number of Wesleyan semesters available to transfer students to earn the Wesleyan degree will be determined by their class standing on entry. In certain exceptional cases, students may be allowed an additional semester(s) to complete requirements for the bachelor's degree upon petition to the dean of the college. Please see Degree Requirements for residency requirement.

Transfer students entering Wesleyan in the fall of their sophomore year are expected to declare a major by the first week of March of their sophomore year. Students entering in the spring should declare a major prior to the course preregistration for the subsequent semester. Transfer students who enter in their junior year must apply for acceptance into a major program as soon as possible, but no later than the end of their first semester at Wesleyan.

Credits approved for transfer from other institutions may be considered by the students' major department for inclusion in the major. Transfer students are encouraged to comply with Wesleyan's General Education Expectations.Transfer credits earned prior to matriculation at Wesleyan may be evaluated for general education equivalency. Please note that grades in courses must be a C- or better to be eligible for transfer of credit. No more than two credits may be transferred from one summer.

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High School Scholars

Wesleyan permits outstanding juniors and seniors from selected area high schools to take one course per semester at Wesleyan. Application is made through the guidance counselor at each high school. The completed application should be submitted to the Office of Admission.

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