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Academic Policies

Cancellation of Admission and Expulsion

1. Students who do not take any courses leading to the completion of their master's degree in a three-year period will be placed on inactive status. This means that if they are readmitted, they will be responsible for any new university or program requirements.
   
   
2. Students may be suspended or expelled for violation of academic standards, plagiarism, misrepresentation of background information, violation of items listed on the moral character statement and/or failure to pay debts.
   
   
3. Subsequent readmission follows the procedures for new admission under the catalog requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.
   
   
4. Whitworth University reserves the right to withhold credit, transcripts and diplomas until all campus debts are settled.
   
   
5. Any appeals must be presented in writing to the director/chair, Department of Graduate Studies in Education, within three weeks of the incident being appealed. (See complete appeal process under Appeals section.)

Academic Standards

1. Completion of a teacher education program is required for all master's degree and/or certification programs except MIT, M.Ed. Guidance and Counseling (School/Community Agency Setting), or M.Ed. in Administration (General).
   
   
2. A minimum of 33 semester credits in approved courses, following a signed degree plan, is required for all master's degrees. This is in addition to any required prerequisites.
   
   
3. Six semester credits (or nine quarter credits) of approved graduate credit may be transferred from other colleges or universities for degree purposes. Workshops, correspondence courses, seminars, video courses, or independent studies may not be transferred in from another college or university; nor may a course in which a grade of "C" or lower or a grade of "Pass" was assigned.
   
   
4. Master's degree and certification candidates must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all courses taken as part of an approved graduate degree. All master's degree programs require satisfactory completion of three written comprehensive exams (except M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling: School Certified, and M.Ed. in School Administration, which have their own designated comprehensive exams). The GSE Office has a listing of all courses in which comprehensive exams are available.
   
   
5. Prior to recommendation for Washington State Certification as an ESA school counselor, candidates must pass the state-required written ESA comprehensive exam as well as a review board where skills are demonstrated. Community agency counselors take the Washington State Licensing exam. Individuals make arrangements for this licensing exam directly through the state office. School administrators take the written comprehensive exam for administrators.
   
   
6. No credit toward a master's degree or certification program will be allowed for a course in which the student receives a grade of C- or below. Courses in which a grade of C- or lower is earned, if required for the degree or certification program, must be repeated. Following any term in which a student's grade point average is below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation. The student will be dismissed from the graduate program if three grades of C+, C or C- or lower are accumulated, or if it is necessary for the student to be placed on academic probation more than twice.
   
   
7. "Incomplete" is given only for emergency situations. Student and instructor sign a statement indicating reason for an "Incomplete" and file this with the registrar. The "Incomplete" must be removed within six weeks following the end of the term in which student enrolled.
   
   
8. "In-Progress" (IP) is given only for practicums, internships and research projects. "In-Progress" grades must be removed within six months of issuance. If not, the student must re-enroll and pay tuition again for the course.
   
   
9. All credits toward a graduate degree must be within six-year recency at the time of program completion. An analysis of coursework is made. In some cases, older courses need not be retaken but additional coursework be substituted. This is determined on an individual basis where specific recency may not be as relevant.
   
   
10. A six-semester-credit course load qualifies a student as full time during each term (fall, spring, summer). Nine semester credits represent an overload; this is not encouraged. Approval must be obtained from the GSE assistant director for an overload. The student's signature is obtained on an overload statement. Persons working full time are strongly encouraged not to exceed six semester credits per term.

Appeals

Student grade appeal procedure: The order of appeal for students who feel they have been unfairly graded is as follows:

1. the instructor of the course;
2. the director/chair of the Department of Graduate Studies in Education;
3. the dean of the School of Education;
4. the vice president for Academic Affairs (or designee).

Appeals for Other Issues

Discuss first with the coordinator of graduate advising. Then the right of appeal is available to all students in this order:

1. the director/chair, Department of Graduate Studies in Education;
2. committee composed of the dean at the School of Education. the director/chair of the Department of Graduate Studies in Education, and representatives of the School of Education;
3. the vice president for Academic Affairs or associate dean, the dean of the School of Education, the director/chair of Graduate Studies in Education, member of Professional Education Advisory Board, and advocate designated by student, if desired.

In cases where certification is refused, the student may also appeal to the appropriate Professional Education Advisory Board, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or State Board of Education.

All appeals must be presented in writing first to director/chair, Department of Graduate Studies in Education, within three weeks of the incident being appealed.