Policies

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The following statement of principles is excerpted from the University’s FPS #11, “Procedure for Handling Violations of Academic Honesty by Undergraduate Students at Hofstra University.” The complete policy, including a partial list of violations, procedures for handling violations, and the right of appeal, can be found in the Guide to Pride.

Hofstra University places high value upon educating students about academic honesty. At the same time, the University will not tolerate dishonesty, and it will not offer the privileges of the community to the repeat offender.

It is the responsibility of the faculty not only to share knowledge, but also to communicate understanding of, and respect for, the process and ethics by which knowledge is produced. Faculty are obligated to promote awareness of, and to educate all students about what constitutes academic honesty. Faculty should provide students with helpful sources of information on the subject such as the Hofstra Writer’s Guide, the New College’s Writing Program Manual, and websites covering issues related to academic honesty. Faculty can disseminate this information through a variety of media, including course outlines and handouts, discussions regarding acceptable classroom behavior, and explanations of grading policies and the consequences of dishonesty. Faculty are also asked to encourage students to take advantage of structured opportunities to learn about academic honesty such as workshops offered by the Center for Teaching and Scholarly Excellence or by the Writing Center. And, faculty should teach by example, with instructors’ teaching materials including appropriate citations. Such educational efforts will foster a cooperative climate that deters instances of academic dishonesty.

To assure impartiality in the classroom, instructors should provide students with an explicitly stated grading policy. Such a grading policy may also include an academic honesty policy, which provides for specific penalties for certain academic honesty violations.

When deciding how and when to disseminate the ethics and processes by which knowledge is produced, faculty are encouraged to use their judgment and to confer with their colleagues in arriving at a conclusion as to what constitutes a reasonable penalty that is neither too harsh nor too lenient.

To ensure that the University appropriately responds to students who repeatedly violate the principles of academic honesty, it is incumbent upon faculty to report all violations by completing the “Report Form on Violations of Academic Conduct.”

The academic community assumes that work of any kind - whether a research paper, a critical essay, a homework assignment, a test or quiz, a computer program, or a creative assignment in any medium - is done, entirely and without assistance, by and only for the individual(s) whose name(s) it bears. If joint projects are assigned, then the work is expected to be wholly the work of those whose names it bears. If the work contains facts, ideas, opinions, discoveries, words, statistics, illustrations, or other elements in any media form (including electronic) that are beyond the assumption of being common knowledge, these must be fully and appropriately acknowledged, following a prescribed format for doing so. They may be acknowledged through footnotes, endnotes, citations, or whatever other means of accreditation is acceptable according to the format prescribed in that particular field of study.

Students bear the ultimate responsibility for implementing the principles of academic honesty. Students must understand that it is not enough to identify the source of quoted material; it is also necessary to indicate when one is paraphrasing (restating in other words) material found in a source. Thus, the use of other’s ideas as well as their words needs to be acknowledged.

The following policy pertains to full-time undergraduate students ONLY:

Hofstra University requires full-time undergraduate students in the fall and spring semesters to register for courses, maintain matriculation or take a leave of absence. Students who fail to take one of these steps will be automatically withdrawn from the University.

Academic Leave of Absence-Full Time Undergraduate Students

An academic leave is an official notification to the University, by a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student who has completed at least one semester, that the student is temporarily stopping attendance at Hofstra for a minimum of one full fall or spring semester. Matriculated students who will not be attending Hofstra for a fall or spring semester, but who intend to return to Hofstra, must either file an academic leave or maintain matriculation request. Failure to notify the University of this intent will result in withdrawal from Hofstra and the loss of academic leave benefits.

The request for an academic leave may be made in writing or by the completion of the online form in the Hofstra Online Information System. To access the form log into the portal at my.hofstra.edu, click on the Hofstra Online tab, then select “Academic Leave/Withdrawal from the University” from the Registration menu. If requested in writing, the request must be signed and dated. In all cases the stated reason for the leave must be given.

Academic Leaves can be used for:

• Permanent disability
• Military service
• Religious mission
• Foreign aid service of the federal government
• Health other than a permanent disability
• Family or personal reasons
• Financial reasons
• Academic reasons
• Other reasons as appropriate

A leave may be extended at the written request of the student if approved by the Office of Academic Advisement. If the student remains unregistered beyond the approved leave period without prior notification, the student is considered to have withdrawn from the University and must apply for readmission. An academic leave typically may not exceed three consecutive fall and spring semesters.

An academic leave cannot be used if the student will be attending another institution. An academic leave does not constitute a leave of absence per Federal Aid definitions. Please see below for information on the financial aid implications of not registering for a fall or a spring semester.

Academic Leave Benefits

Academic leave typically:

• allows students to return to Hofstra without reapplying through Admissions (although specific programs may have different requirements - students should speak with their adviser),
• may allow the student to proceed under the requirements of the Undergraduate Bulletin with which they were admitted,
• may allow students to maintain eligibility for institutional aid, and
• may allow a student to receive a housing assignment upon return from an Academic leave, if the student was a resident before the leave and if the student is returning to full time status.

If a student is on probation when the leave is approved, the student remains on probation upon their return to the University.

Returning From an Academic Leave

Students must register for courses at Hofstra before the end of their academic leave. Students whose leaves expire without course registration will be withdrawn from the University.

Withdrawal From the University

A withdrawal indicates that a student has permanently stopped attending the University. Registration for future semesters will be contingent upon reapplication to the University under admission standards at that time. Students readmitted to the University must follow the Bulletin under which they were readmitted. Please refer to the section “Withdrawal From the University.”

Implications of an Academic Leave or Withdrawal

Financial Aid and Tuition Refund

For the purpose of financial aid, the University processes students with an academic leave as withdrawn students. The effective date of separation from the University is:

• the date the student files a written request for the withdrawal from the University,
• the date the student files an academic leave if the leave is to commence immediately, or
• the first day of the semester of the requested academic leave if the leave request is for a future semester.

Students requesting an academic leave for a semester in progress will be completely withdrawn for the semester and receive a grade of W for each course in which the student is registered for that semester. Students receiving any form of financial aid must discuss the leave with the Financial Aid Office to understand the implications of stopping attendance at Hofstra. Refunds will be processed in accordance with the University’s policy and published refund schedule.

International Students

International students must discuss their intent to file for an academic leave or withdrawal from the University with the International Students Office prior to filing the online form to fully understand the implications of a leave or withdrawal on their visa status and eligibility to remain in the United States.

University Services and Access

Students who are on academic leave or who withdraw from the University will no longer have access to certain physical and electronic resources and University discounts.

Maintaining Matriculation

Maintaining matriculation is to be used by students in academic pursuits that do not include registration for classes. Students maintaining matriculation are considered “registered” at the University. Examples of academic pursuits include, but are not limited to, work on a thesis, completion of coursework where a grade of incomplete was received, approved study abroad and approved visitation at another institution. Students on Hofstra approved study abroad or approved visitation at another institution are required to maintain matriculation.

Every candidate for graduation must file an application for graduation in the Office of Academic Records by May 1 for December graduates and October 1 for May graduates. August candidates must file by March 1. There is a fee for late filing. See Tuition and Fees section of this bulletin.

All requirements applicable toward the degree must be completed and on record in the Office of Academic Records by the end of the first week of June for May degrees, the end of the first week of January for December degrees, the end of the first week of September for August degrees.

A degree can only be awarded to a student who has maintained a satisfactory record of conduct and has paid all University fees.

Although it is the student’s responsibility to attend classes, each department establishes its own policy concerning student absences from class. If for some reason a student will be absent for one continuous week or longer, it is advisable to inform each instructor. For New College attendance standards, see New College Addendum.

The privilege of auditing courses is not available to students currently enrolled at Hofstra or at other institutions of higher education. Additionally, students admitted to professional schools may not audit Hofstra courses in preparation for their enrollment at those institutions.

Auditing of undergraduate courses is made available to individuals not enrolled in any institution of higher education as a service to enrich their knowledge in a particular area, upon payment of 50 percent of the regular part-time undergraduate tuition.

During the spring and fall semester, the auditor shall have the option of converting the courses from a noncredit to credit basis at any time prior to the end of the third week of classes or the first week of a summer session. Permission of the instructor, payment of adjusted tuition and fees, and meeting of all University admissions conditions are required prior to such conversions. For admission to undergraduate courses, apply to the Center for University Advisement.

It is not normally the policy to permit either Hofstra or non-Hofstra students to audit graduate courses. In extraordinary circumstances, however, permission may be granted. Admission will be through the Center for University Advisement.

Undergraduate students are expected to satisfy those requirements specified in the Bulletin of their year of first registration at the University. Students who have no record of attendance at Hofstra University for a period of 15 months or more must follow the requirements set forth in the Bulletin in effect when they are readmitted. Any student, however, may elect once during his or her undergraduate studies, to follow all the requirements specified in a subsequent Bulletin, provided the Office of Academic Records is notified prior to the semester of graduation. No exceptions regarding the requirements set forth in any Bulletin may be made by the students or by the faculty without the written approval of the dean of the academic unit or of the Provost. This policy refers to academic requirements such as degree and major requirements. Other procedures and policies, such as the grading system, may be changed through the University’s governance process. However, students will be notified (by placing notices in our student newspapers and by any other methods and media applicable) of any significant change at least a year in advance of its implementation.

Students will be permitted to make program changes in accordance with the procedures set forth in the published Class Schedule.

An undergraduate student credited with 24 semester hours will be ranked as a sophomore; with 58 semester hours, a junior; and 88 semester hours, a senior. Students will be ranked at the beginning of each regular fall and spring semester.

Commencement programs are conducted twice each year, in December and in May. Summer candidates are invited to the December exercises and are listed in that program. Information regarding programs is automatically mailed to candidates about six weeks before commencement.

The grade point average is the index of academic performance used to determine whether the student will be permitted to continue at the University and/or graduate.

The alphabetical grades, including plus (+) and minus (-), have the following grade point values:

(Only one F grade in any one course will be included in the cumulative grade point average.)

To determine cumulative grade point average, multiply the number of semester hours of each grade earned by the grade point value for that grade. Then total the products and divide by the total number of semester hours attempted.

To graduate, a student must complete the number of hours required for the particular degree with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (including F’s).

D+ and D and F grades assigned to students who have elected the Pass/D+/D/Fail option are included in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Students will be dropped from the rolls of the University after two semesters attendance if they have:

• attempted less than 25 hours and have a cumulative grade point average below 1.3;
• attempted 25-30 hours and have a cumulative grade point average below 1.5;
• attempted 31-57 hours and have a cumulative grade point average below 1.7;
• attempted 58-93 hours and have a cumulative grade point average below 1.9;
• attempted 94 or more hours and have a cumulative grade point average below 1.95.

Note that “attempted hours” include course work taken at all institutions of higher education, but that the cumulative grade point average is based on course work taken only at Hofstra University.

Students will be dropped because of poor scholarship only in May except in special cases (such as the recommendation of the Office of Academic Advisement, Office of Academic Records or other responsible adviser). However, students may be dropped at any time, whether currently on probation or not, when they show insufficient probability of meeting graduation requirements. All special cases will be acted upon by the Academic Records Committee. For New College dismissal standards, see New College Addendum.

Students who have been dropped may appeal to the Academic Records Committee only through the Office of University Advisement. After the student speaks with a representative of the Advisement Office, the Committee will review the appeal. The Committee will consider a report of the interview, the student’s total academic record, and a letter stating reasons the student believes the appeal merits consideration.

When students make application for entrance to Hofstra University, they understand and agree that the University reserves the right to exclude any student at any time for conduct or academic standing regarded by the University as undesirable, without assigning any further reason. It is understood and agreed that the University, or any of its officers or faculty, shall not be liable in any way for such exclusion.

To ensure the protection of each individual’s rights, procedures for appeal are provided by the University to assure the student fair treatment in cases of disciplinary action.

1. In appropriate cases, undergraduate students within 24 semester hours of graduation may be permitted to enroll in graduate courses for undergraduate credit. Written permission of the adviser and the appropriate deans is required and should be obtained on the substitution/waiver form. Credit earned in this way will count only toward undergraduate degrees.
2. To meet unusual cases, an undergraduate student within 24 semester hours of completing requirements for the baccalaureate degree may earn a maximum of 9 hours of graduate credit. Written permission from the appropriate dean’s office must be obtained on the substitution/waiver form.
3. Visiting undergraduate students shall not be permitted to enroll in graduate courses at Hofstra.

Students who have been granted permission to complete final semester graduation requirements while not attending classes will pay the normal $105 Maintaining Matriculation Fee and file a registration form during the regular registration period for their final semester.

This fee applies to each Fall or Spring semester of study by a student at another institution, either within the United States or elsewhere.

Current students may not take courses at other educational institutions within reasonable commuting distance of the campus if the same or comparable course is being offered at Hofstra.

Hofstra students wishing to attend another accredited institution as visiting students must have courses approved in advance by the appropriate adviser, the dean who administers the major, and the Office of Academic Records. Students pursuing Hofstra degree programs that have distribution requirements should be aware that such requirements cannot be fulfilled by transfer credit for work undertaken elsewhere after their matriculation at Hofstra. The necessary forms can be obtained at The Student Administrative Complex, Memorial Hall. Transfer credit will be granted in accordance with the Advanced Standing Policy set forth in this Bulletin.

Students with junior or senior standing (58 or more hours) are not permitted to enroll for courses at junior or community colleges offering two-year terminal programs. (See Advanced Standing Policy for complete requirements.)

See Tuition and Fees, section of this Bulletin.

A student may repeat a completed course, regardless of grade, for a better understanding of the subject only with the approval of the major adviser. Such a course will be listed as a Repeated Course, for which a final grade will be given. Both grades will appear on the student’s record, and both grades will count in determining the cumulative grade point average; but semester hour credit toward graduation will be given only once. The number of semester hours repeated is counted in determining the number of semester hours attempted. Degree credit is granted for the same course in physical education skills courses only twice.

However, an undergraduate may repeat a course and request that, as an exception to the rule above, only the later of the two grades be counted towards the grade point average calculation. The student is limited to a maximum of two such requests, which may be used for repeating two different courses or repeating the same course twice. In all cases the original grade(s) will remain on the transcript with a notation that it was not included in the GPA calculation. This GPA exception may only be requested during the student’s tenure as a matriculated, undergraduate student. A form available from the Office of Academic Records, requesting this exception, and signed by the academic adviser, must be handed in to the Office of Academic Records no later than the end of the tenth week, or the equivalent (2/3) for courses that do not follow a regular semester schedule, of the semester or session in which the course is being repeated. The submitted form may be withdrawn up until this deadline. Furthermore, a student may also withdraw from the course up to this deadline. Once this deadline passes, the the student has used up one of the two requests. If the course is no longer available when the request is made, no other course may be substituted. GPA exceptions will not be allowed when a grade in that course was given for academic dishonesty.

Hofstra uses an alphabetical system of grades to describe the quality of the student’s work. The University reserves the right to change this system at any time. The implementation of a new system, however, will not occur for approximately one year after the change has been made and the students have been officially notified. The revised system, when printed in the Undergraduate Bulletin, applies uniformly to all students regardless of their initial date of entry. Alphabetical grades are further divided into plus and minus levels. These letter grades, which include plus and minus where applicable, are explained below. Final grades are reported only from the Office of Academic Records.

A: Indicates that the student’s academic performance in achieving the objectives of the course was of honors level.

B: Indicates that the student’s academic performance in achieving the objectives of the course was distinctly above that required by the course.

C: Indicates that the student’s academic performance achieved the objectives of the course.

D: Indicates that the student’s academic performance on the objectives of the course was less than required by the course but was still sufficient to permit the student to receive full credit. This grade is not acceptable for major or minor credit unless approved by the chairperson of the respective department. The course may be repeated for a higher grade but semester hour credit is given only once.

P: Passing, not counted in determining cumulative grade point average. Courses passed with a P grade are counted, however, in the total number of credits accumulated for graduation. P is equivalent to C- or better (except at New College where P is equal to C or better). If in the opinion of the instructor the student’s work has not earned a C-, then a D or an F will be awarded. The P grade will be assigned for passing work in courses which are graded only on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis and to courses taken under the Pass/D+/D/Fail option. (See Pass/D+/D/Fail Option.)

Pr: Progress. Used normally to report the first semester’s satisfactory work in two-semester individually supervised courses, normally for seniors. This grade may be assigned only in courses previously approved for this purpose by the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee. Course credit toward graduation is granted. note: UWW courses and CHEM 151 may use the Pr grade.

F: Indicates that the student’s overall academic performance failed to satisfy the objectives of the course. No semester hour credit is received for courses with an F grade. Students will not be given credit for full-year courses unless both semesters of such courses are satisfactorily completed. Passing the first semester of a year course but failing the second, the student need repeat only the second semester.

INC and NCr: a student unable to complete a course may, with the permission of the instructor, receive one of the following grades:

INC: The instructor will permit the student to complete and submit the missing work no later than the third week of the following semester. Degree candidates, see Application for Graduation, section of this bulletin, for degree requirements completion deadlines. All undergraduate students may accumulate up to nine credits of INC grades without penalty. Past this nine-credit limit, all subsequent INC grades not made up convert to F’s at the end of the semester following the one in which they were assigned. INC’s that are made up are not counted against the nine-credit limit.

NCr: New College only: if the instructor’s evaluation will not allow the student to take an INC because of past performance in the course, the grade given will be either an NCr or an F. An NCr may not be changed to a letter grade, a W or INC and is not counted to computing the student’s gradepoint average. Students should take careful note of the effects of the NCr and INC grades on their standing in the University. See the Dismissal section of this bulletin.

NC: The student’s course performance is such that no credit is granted, and the instructor’s evaluation will not allow the student to take an INC. NC can only be awarded after at least 60% of the course work has been presented to the student.

NR: Student’s grade has not been submitted by the instructor.

W: The student has withdrawn from the course and so notified the Office of Student Accounts in writing prior to the last day of the tenth week of the semester. For courses shorter than 15 weeks, the student has sole discretion to withdraw for the first 2/3 of the course; after 2/3 of the course has been completed, and any time before the last day of class, the student must have the instructor’s approval. If a student withdraws from a course during the first three weeks of the semester; the first week of a summer session; the first three days of the January X Session; the first two weeks of a 10-11 week trimester or the first week of a mini-course, there shall be no record of course(s) on the permanent record. However, the statement “Complete Withdrawal from the University” shall be entered on the permanent record of any student who completely withdraws from the University within the time frame indicated above. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially from one or more courses after the first week of the semester, or equivalent for courses shorter than 15 weeks, will be liable for all or part of the tuition and fees associated with those courses. See the “Withdrawal From the University” section of this bulletin.

UW: Unofficial Withdrawal. The student has not officially withdrawn. The faculty must indicate the last date of attendance. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially from one or more courses after the first week of the semester, or equivalent for courses shorter than 15 weeks, will be liable for all or part of the tuition and fees associated with those courses. See the “Withdrawal From the University”section of this bulletin.

Pass/D+/D/Fail Option (P or D+ or D or F): a student may elect courses on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis during the first five weeks of the semester under the following conditions: English 1 & 2, distribution courses, courses taken in fulfillment of any language requirement and those courses required in the major field and any other course specified by course title or number as required for the major may not be taken Pass/D+/D/Fail. (This does not apply to courses given only on this basis.) All other courses may be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.

Courses taken on an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail basis may not be used to satisfy distribution requirements. Note, however, that some distribution courses are given only on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis and may be used to fulfill distribution requirements. (Distribution courses are designated distribution courses section in the bulletin.)

Departments and/or degrees that are restricted by professional accreditation may, as required, exempt additional courses from the Pass/D+/D/Fail option. In no case may the total number of Pass/D+/D/Fail credits exceed 30 semester hours, nor may any credit for Pass/D+/D/Fail courses be used toward an academic minor, except for those courses given only on this basis. School of Business courses may not be taken on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis.

In HCLAS, and in the School of Communication, the Pass/D+/D/Fail option is restricted to 15 credits.

Students on academic probation may not elect an optional P/D+/D/Fail grade.

Students should obtain necessary forms from the Office of Academic Records and seek faculty advisement on possible effects of Pass/D+/D/Fail grades.

A student transferring to Hofstra with more than 30 credits graded on a Pass/D+/D/Fail basis must have the approval of the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee. For these students, courses graded on this basis shall not exceed fifty percent of the total credit hours required for the degree.

(The foregoing does not apply to New College courses.)

For courses shorter than 15 weeks, the student has the sole discretion to elect the Pass/D+/D/Fail option for the first 1/3 of the course.

D+ and D and F grades assigned to students who have elected the Pass/D+/D/Fail option are included in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average.

1. A full-time or part-time student will be placed on probation at the end of any fall or spring semester in which his or her cumulative grade point average is less than 2.0 but above the University’s minimum retention standards.
2. All students placed on probation will receive a letter from the Office of Academic Records informing them of their probationary status and warning that they must raise their grade point average to 2.0 or above. The letter will explain the consequences of failing to raise the grade point average to 2.0 or above.
3. Students placed on probation will be required to meet with an adviser in the Advisement Office as soon as possible to discuss their standing. When they meet with the adviser, they will be informed of the support services available and the average they must achieve to raise their grade point average to at least 2.0. Students will also be reminded that if their grade point average drops further, they are in danger of being dismissed from the University.
4. Students placed on probation will be required to take an academic success course for one semester hour of non-liberal arts credit. The course will assist students in developing study skills, test-taking skills and time management skills. The course will also offer support services related to financial aid, relationships and mental health issues.
5. Students who either fail to meet with an adviser in the Advisement Office in the fall or the spring or fail to take and complete the one semester hour course by the term following their being placed upon probation will not be allowed to register subsequently until they do.
6. A full-time student on academic probation may carry no more than 13 semester hours in addition to the one semester hour academic success course. A part-time student on academic probation may carry no more than 7 semester hours in addition to the one semester hour academic success course.
7. Students on academic probation may not elect an optional Pass/D+/D/Fail grade.
8. Students will be on academic probation as long as their cumulative grade point average remains below 2.0 and is above the University’s minimum retention standards. They will continue to be subject to all the requirements of students on academic probation.
9. When appropriate, students admitted to the University through a special academic program will be exempt from these probation criteria until they are released from the program.

Students should secure the appropriate forms from the Student Administrative Complex and return the forms to that office after notifying the instructor of the course from which they are withdrawing. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially from one or more courses after the first week of the semester, or equivalent for courses shorter than 15 weeks, will be liable for all or part of the tuition and fees associated with those courses. Please refer to, “Withdrawal From the University.” See W Grade, and Refund Policy below. Applications for withdrawal must be submitted in writing either in person or by mail.

A student withdrawing without official notification may not have any remission of tuition and shall receive a grade of NC or UW as appropriate. (See grades, section of this Bulletin.)

Should students wish to withdraw from the University during a semester or summer session, they should first secure the appropriate forms from the Office of Academic Advisement and complete the withdrawal by the last day of classes prior to the start of the designated final examination period. During the January Session and the Summer Sessions, the designated period is the last day of classes. No student may withdraw from the University during the final examination period.

A student withdrawing in person should see an adviser in the University Advisement Office. Students unable to apply for withdrawal in person may send a letter addressed to the Office of Student Accounts, postmarked by the last day of classes. If the student does not plan to register for the following semester an official Leave of Absence form must be filed through the University Advisement Office. Students may also withdraw via the Web through the Hofstra Online Information System. Students who withdraw officially or unofficially from one or more courses after the first week of the semester, or equivalent for courses shorter than 15 weeks, will be liable for all or part of the tuition and fees associated with those courses. (See under Grade W, section of this bulletin.)

A student withdrawing without official notification may not have any remission of tuition and shall receive a grade of NC or UW as appropriate. (See grades, section of this Bulletin.)