Students seeking their first bachelor’s degree are classified according to the number of credit hours they have earned.

Class, Semester Hours Earned

• Freshman, 0-29 hours
• Sophomore, 30-59 hours
• Junior, 60-89 hours
• Senior, 90 or more

One semester hour represents the work completed in a lecture course that students attend for 50 minutes each week for 15 weeks; laboratory courses may require more than 50 minutes each week for one semester hour. One quarter hour of credit is equivalent to two-thirds of one semester hour; one semester hour equals one and one-half quarter hours.

Classifications not determined by the number of credit hours, are non-degree, senior with degree, and visiting student.

Class Attendance

Upon registration, students accept responsibility for attending classes and completing course work or officially withdrawing from classes in which they are not in attendance. It is the student’s responsibility to ascertain the policies of instructors with regard to absence from class, and to make arrangements satisfactory to instructors with regard to incomplete course work. Although absence from class does not constitute dropping a class or withdrawing from the University, failure to actively participate may result in a reduction or removal of financial aid. It is particularly important to attend the first meeting of an on-campus class, or login to the first session of an online class. Failure to attend the first session could result in your place being assigned to another student. However, failure to attend the first session of a course does not necessarily mean that you have been withdrawn from it. If you wish to withdraw from a course, and possibly qualify for a reduction of tuition and fees, you must formally withdraw from the course at the Service Center or send an email from your SIUE email account to servicecenter@siue.edu to request to be dropped from the class. Students are financially and academically responsible for all classes in which they are enrolled regardless of their attendance; however, eligibility to retain federal, state and institutional financial aid will be dependent on institutional record of continued attendance or active participation in class.

Academic Load

The normal academic load for students is 15 hours. The maximum is 19 hours. Students with a 3.25 grade point average or above for the preceding term may be permitted to take more than 19 hours in fall and spring terms or 12 hours in summer term with the approval of the dean or director of their academic unit. A normal load is 6 hours for summer term; the maximum summer load is 12. Students employed full-time should not register for more than six hours.

Students who carry 12 or more credit hours in fall or spring semesters or 6 credit hours in summer are considered full-time students. However, a student attending the University under scholarships, loans, or other types of financial aid requiring full-time enrollment should check to make certain this meets the requirements of the specific financial aid program. For enrollment certification purposes, University-sponsored cooperative education participation is considered equivalent to full time enrollment. This requires formal enrollment in an approved cooperative education course through the Career Development Center.

Undergraduate students are expected to spend at least two hours in preparation for every hour in class.

Exploratory students who wish to declare a major or minor should make an appointment with an advisor in Academic Advising to complete a major and/or minor approval form. Acceptance into the major program of study is at the discretion of the academic department. Students who are completing courses to meet high school course deficiencies and/or to satisfy entry competencies (i.e., required academic development courses) may apply for a major or minor only after successful completion of those requirements.

If students choose to change their major, they will communicate that desire with their current academic advisor.

If a student wishes to add a second major or a minor, that request will be submitted by the student's academic advisor. Students may request a minor when applying for a major, or later, by submitting a request to the major department.

Double Majors

Students may receive a single degree with a major in more than one discipline. A double major may provide richer preparation for graduate study or for a vocation. Those with a double major will have a first major, usually the one for which they first applied, and a second major. Students must satisfy all requirements for both majors, although some requirements need be accomplished only once. For example, general education requirements need to be satisfied only once. If both majors require a foreign language, only one foreign language is needed. Some majors require a minor concentration; students with a second major would satisfy the minor requirement. A double major is not the same as completing two degree programs. Requirements for a second baccalaureate degree appear in the graduation section of this catalog.

Requirements and Restrictions

• Bachelor’s degree completion is required within one academic year from admission to this program.
• Students retain undergraduate status until the bachelor’s degree is awarded.
• Undergraduate courses will count in the undergraduate hours and GPA only.
• Graduate courses will count in the graduate hours and GPA only (including shared credit courses).
• At least 50% of the graduate program must be completed with 500-level courses or higher.
• 400-level courses must be approved for graduate credit (see Graduate Catalog).
• Undergraduate credit (100-300 level) cannot satisfy graduate degree requirements.
• No graduate degree will be conferred prior to completion of the bachelor’s degree.
• Approval from the Graduate School dean is required for graduate degree substitutions or waivers.

Accelerated Option - Permits upper-level undergraduate students conditional acceptance to graduate programs and allows sharing of credit hours toward both the bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Between six hours and 12 hours, depending on the approved program, are completed to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Early Entry Option - Permits undergraduate students to complete graduate-level coursework but not share credit toward more than one degree.

• Courses numbered higher than 400-level apply to graduate degree only.
• Approved 400-level classes can apply to either the undergraduate or graduate degree. No course will fulfill the requirements of both degrees.

Grading System

The University uses the following grading symbols:

• A Excellent — 4 credit points
• B Good — 3 credit points
• C Satisfactory — 2 credit points
• D Poor — 1 credit point
• F Failure
• AU Audit — no grade or credit hours earned
• DE Deferred — used only for the first semester course of a two-semester Senior Assignment sequence.
• H Passed with Honors
• I Incomplete — all work required for the course during the term was not completed; students have the permission of the instructor to do so within a specified time period.  For more information about the incomplete grade policy, see the section titled Incomplete Grades.
• PR Progress — awarded only for foundation courses.  PR grades are not included in grade point average calculations.  To earn credit for a course in which a PR grade was earned, students must repeat the course and earn a passing grade.
• P Pass — used for courses taken under Pass/No Credit option.
• NC No Credit —  used for courses taken under Pass/No Credit option; no credit hours earned.
• NS Non attendance — used when the instructor has no record of attendance or active participation
• S Satisfactory — used for noncredit courses and thesis and may be used for internships or practica at the program's discretion
• U Unsatisfactory — used for noncredit courses and thesis and may be used for internships or practica at the program's discretion
• UW Unauthorized Withdrawal — calculated as an F in grade average
• W Withdrawal. Authorized withdrawal — work may not normally be completed
• WP Withdrew Passing
• WF Withdrew Failing — calculated as F in grade average
• WR Withdrawal by Registrar

For more information about withdrawal grades and procedures, refer to the sections titled Changes in Registration and Withdrawing from the University.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

Only SIUE courses are used in calculating the cumulative grade point average (GPA). The GPA is calculated as follows:

• A — 4 Points
• B — 3 Points
• C — 2 Points
• D — 1 Point
• F — 0 Points
• AU — Audit (0 Points)
• DE — Deferred (0 Points)
• I — Incomplete (0 Points)
• H — Passed with Honors (0 Points)
• PR — Progress (0 Points)
• P — Pass (0 Points)
• NC — No Credit (0 Points)
• NS — Non attendance (0 Points)
• S — Satisfactory (0 Points)
• U — Unsatisfactory (0 Points)
• UW — Unauthorized Withdrawal (0 Points)
• W — Withdrawal (0 Points)
• WP — Withdrew Passing (0 Points)
• WF — Withdrew Failing (0 Points)
• WR — Withdrawal by the Registrar (0 points)

• Quality hours are multiplied by grade points to obtain quality points for each course. Quality hours are awarded for courses with grades of A, B, C, D, F, UW, and WF.
• The quality hours column is totaled.
• The quality points column is totaled.
• Total quality points are divided by the total quality hours. Grade point averages are rounded to the third decimal.

Example

Twenty-one (21) quality points divided by 9 quality hours yields a 2.333 GPA (grade point average).

Incomplete Grades

A grade of I (Incomplete) may be awarded when a student has completed most of the work required for a class but is prevented by a medical or similar emergency from completing a small portion of the course requirement. Unless instructors have specified a shorter period of time, incomplete grades not completed within one year will automatically be changed to an F (graduation in the meantime notwithstanding). Instructors who specify a shorter period of time must communicate that stipulation in writing, with copies to the registrar, the department chair, and the student, at the time the incomplete is granted. Students who feel that mitigating circumstances justify an extension of the time limit may petition the faculty member who granted the incomplete. Faculty members who agree to grant extensions must inform the student, the department chair, and the registrar. Students completing work for a course in which they have a grade of Incomplete should not formally re-enroll in that course, but should meet with their instructor to determine requirements for completing the course.

Pass/No Credit

Under the Pass/No Credit option, students receive a Pass for grades A, B, C, and No Credit for grades of D or F. At the time of requesting Pass/No Credit, students may stipulate that they would rather receive the grade of D than No Credit.

Pass/No Credit is limited to courses outside general education requirements and major and minor requirements. Students may enroll in no more than 9 hours of undergraduate coursework under the pass/no credit option. These limitations do not apply to courses offered only for Pass/No Credit.

A decision to take a course on a Pass/No Credit basis must be declared no later than the eighth week of the fall or spring term and the sixth week of the summer session, and must be approved by the advisor. Undergraduate students registering for a course for credit may change to or from audit status during the first six weeks of fall or spring terms and through the first four weeks of the summer term. Thereafter, no change may be made. Some graduate schools and employers consider Pass equivalent to a C grade.

Auditing Courses

You may register for Audit status for courses, but will receive neither a letter grade nor credit. Students auditing classes pay the same tuition and fees as those registered for credit. If auditing students do not attend regularly, the instructor may determine that they should not receive “AU” grades for the courses.

Veterans attending under the GI Bill do not receive benefits for audited classes. Illinois State Assistance Commission Monetary Award and Pell (Basic) Grant recipients may not include audit classes as part of the total hours to qualify for payment.

Repeated Courses

Students may repeat courses at SIUE under the following conditions and restrictions:

• When a course is repeated, only the grade earned in the final attempt will be used in computing the grade point average. All grades will appear on the transcript.
• Credits earned for any course will be applied only once toward degree requirements, no matter how often the course is repeated.
• Students will not be permitted to repeat for credit a course which is a prerequisite for a course already successfully completed.
• Courses may not be repeated more than three times.

The University is not obligated to offer a course simply to provide students an opportunity to repeat a previously attempted course. Additionally, individual academic units and programs may set more stringent conditions and restrictions regarding repeated courses.

Final Examinations

Students who have more than two final examinations scheduled for the same day, or who have two examinations scheduled for the same time, may request that one of the examinations be rescheduled. This can be accomplished by submitting a written request to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, in Rendleman Hall, Room 1207. The request must include the student’s name, student identification number, and list of scheduled courses, and must be received by the Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management at least two weeks before the first day of the examination period.

Transcripts

Students may request official copies of their SIUE academic record. Transcripts may be requested online through our third party vendor, Parchment. Unofficial copies are available on CougarNet. Telephone requests for transcripts cannot be honored. Visit www.siue.edu/registrar for more information regarding transcript requests.

Academic Warning, Probation and Suspension

If you have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above, you are in good academic standing.

If your cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00, you will be placed on academic warning and will be subject to the restrictions placed on warning students. You will receive notification of this status and information regarding the Academic Warning, Probation and Suspension policy. If you are placed on academic warning, you are required to receive intensive academic counseling and advising during the next term of enrollment. An advisor will help you identify solutions and develop a plan of action. If you are on academic warning, you will not be returned to good standing until your cumulative average is 2.00 or higher.

If you are on academic warning and fail to attain a 2.00 term average, you will be placed on academic probation. While on academic probation, you will be required to enroll in an appropriate college success course as determined by your advisor.

If you are on academic probation and fail to attain a 2.0 term average, you will be placed on academic suspension. You will be ineligible to enroll for at least one term (fall, spring or summer). After one semester, you may return to SIUE. You will be required to meet with an advisor three times during the term. You will resume academic probation during your return enrollment.

If you are suspended for a second time, you must submit an appeal for reinstatement to be considered for return. You may re-enroll only upon favorable action by the Suspension Appeals Committee, provided that you agree to the stipulations, if any, set by the committee and that you agree to work closely with an advisor. You and your advisor must reach agreement upon a plan of action. Suspended students who have been permitted to re-enroll will return on probation. Students who are suspended a third time are ineligible to return to the university.

Plan of Action

A plan of action consists of specific steps designed to promote your successful return to good standing. A plan of action may include:

• reduction in number of credit hours attempted;
• change in academic major;
• enrollment in courses prescribed by the advisor, e.g., writing, reading, study skills;
• enrollment in courses in which you previously received a failing grade;
• career counseling;
• more frequent meetings with advisor;
• other advisor-recommended measures.

Academic Recognition

Students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship are included on the Deans’ List and recognized at Honors Convocation and Commencement.

To be included on the Deans’ List, a student’s term quality hours must be equal to or greater than 12 with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 for the term. Credit earned for out-of-class proficiency is not used in qualifying for the Deans’ List (published at the end of each term).

Graduating seniors who have achieved outstanding scholarship are recognized at Commencement in the graduation program; their diplomas and insignia on their regalia designate summa cum laude (3.9 or higher), magna cum laude (3.75-3.89), or cum laude (3.50-3.74).

Undergraduate students may elect to complete their degree under the requirements that appear in the undergraduate catalog in force at the time of their original matriculation as SIUE degree-seeking students or, subject to the approval of an academic advisor, may elect the requirements that appear in a succeeding catalog. This policy is subject to the following: No student may graduate under general education, major, or minor requirements published in a catalog more than seven years old without the written permission of the Dean of the college or school of the student’s major or first major. Written permission shall be submitted to the Registrar with the application for graduation.

A student may satisfy general education requirements from one catalog and major or minor requirements from a second catalog, provided that neither catalog exceeds the seven-year limit stated above. Bachelor’s degree candidates are expected to satisfy all general education requirements as well as all requirements for their academic major and any academic minor. Students intending to teach must meet the requirements for teacher certification. In addition, all candidates for a bachelor’s degree must satisfy all other University requirements, including a senior assignment (see Assessment and the Senior Assignment), and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.00 for work completed at SIUE. Academic program requirements may exceed University requirements.

Candidates for the degree must complete a minimum of 120 hours of credit in approved courses. Students transferring from an accredited two-year institution must earn at SIUE, or at any other accredited four-year institution, at least 60 of the semester hours required for the degree. All candidates for the degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in residence at SIUE. Written requests for exceptions should be directed to the Graduation Appeals Committee through the Registrar. Students are responsible for meeting all degree requirements and financial obligations.

Application for Graduation

Candidates for a baccalaureate degree should file an application for graduation at the beginning of their senior year. Applications are completed through CougarNet.

Once a completed application is received, graduation evaluations are performed. The Registrar determines completion of general education, University, major and minor requirements. Students also must satisfy all outstanding financial obligations to the University. Diplomas will not be issued for students with outstanding financial obligations.

Applications must be submitted by the published deadlines posted on the Office of the Registrar website. All graduation requirements must be completed by the last day of the graduation term. Commencement ceremonies are held at the end of each fall and spring term. Attendance at the exercises is voluntary; however, you will not be eligible to participate unless you have applied for graduation and it has been determined that you will complete degree requirements by the end of the term in which you have applied for graduation. Summer degree candidates may be eligible to participate in the preceding spring commencement ceremony if no more than 9 hours remain for degree completion at the conclusion of spring term. Summer degree candidates wishing to participate in the preceding spring commencement ceremony must have their application for graduation on file by March 1. Participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee that degree requirements have been completed. Once you have participated in a commencement ceremony, you may not participate in another commencement ceremony for the same degree. A graduation fee of $60 is payable at the time of application. The fee does not cover the cost of the cap and gown. These items are purchased through the University Bookstore in the Morris University Center. Questions regarding the cap and gown and invitations are referred to the bookstore.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

Students seeking a second baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond completion of the first degree and must satisfy the requirements of the major of the second degree. At least 15 of these hours must be in residence at SIUE.

Graduation Appeals Committee

The SIUE Graduation Appeals Committee hears students’ petitions to graduate even though they have not satisfied all University graduation requirements. The committee hears only those cases involving University requirements for a baccalaureate degree. Appeals relative to a major or academic unit requirement are made through the appropriate department.

Requests for waiver of general education requirements are made to the General Education Committee of the Faculty Senate. Ordinarily, the Graduation Appeals Committee will give consideration to an appeal only if there is tangible evidence that the matters at issue are of an unusual nature and that they have resulted from conditions beyond the control of the student. Appeals are initiated through the Office of the Registrar.