Students are responsible for making themselves aware of the following information:
Normally students carry 16 hours per semester. However, a student must carry at least 12 semester hours to be considered full-time. Full-time tuition covers 12 through 19 semester hours per semester. A student who wishes to carry more than 19 semester hours must request permission to overload by petitioning the Associate Provost for Success and Retention in Academic Services.
A student is expected to register for the next semester during the designated registration period. The registration dates are published in the University calendar and the Master Schedule each semester. Under certain circumstances, approved by the Registrar, a student may register during the first week of classes. The University reserves the right to cancel classes having low enrollments at the end of the registration period.
Cross-Registration
A student registered for 12 or more credits may cross-register for a course offered by a member of the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE). The student may register only for courses that are not offered at Wittenberg. There is no additional billing as long as the student’s total credits for the semester remain below 20. Registration forms are available in the Registrar’s Office.
Auditing courses is permitted if a petition to audit is first approved by the professor whose course it is to be audited and then by the Registrar’s Office. The student must also agree in writing not to expect credit for the audited course at any future time. The student is not required to take examinations and is not given a grade (instead of a grade, the mark of "L" will appear on the student's transcript). Verification of auditor’s status must be confirmed by the instructor of the course prior to entry on the student’s permanent record. Permission to Audit forms are available in the Registrar’s Office. A traditional student who audits a course is billed for one credit of overload fee for the course.
Courses scheduled for the evening through the School of Community Education are offered primarily for the benefit of part-time, non-traditional students. Accordingly, these classes are open to full-time students only on a space-available basis.
If a student repeats a course, the credit value and grade received from the last registration is used to compute the grade point average. Only the credits earned from the last registration count toward the graduation requirement of 130 semester hours, major requirements, or other requirements. A student’s transcript shows both the original grade for the course and the grade earned when the course was repeated. Only academic work that has been taken at Wittenberg is repeatable and it can be repeated only with a Wittenberg course
.
Change of Registration
A student may add/drop normal 15-week courses according to the following schedule:
Note: Courses that meet for fewer than 15 weeks have different deadlines. Please consult the Master Schedule for appropriate dates.
All changes must be filed with the Registrar’s Office on an Add/Drop form before the specified dates. Credit or grades may not be adjusted on the academic record unless the appropriate forms have been correctly filed before the deadline. Changes of registration that occur after the first day of the semester do not qualify a student for a refund of tuition or overload fees.
To request exemption from a University policy or regulation, a student must obtain a petition, complete it in consultation with his/her adviser, and obtain his/her signature denoting approval or disapproval. The student should then take the petition to the Associate Provost Student Success in Academic Services for decision.
The following petitions require the signature of the student, adviser, and other faculty members if necessary:
When considering withdrawal from the University, students are encouraged to use fully the following resources available for counseling and consultation:
Student Development Office
Dean of Students, Associate Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Students, and the Director of Multicultural Student Programs
Faculty
Faculty adviser, a preferred professor, department chair
Administrative Staff
Assistant Provost for First-Year Experience, Director of Career Services, Dean of Students, Associated Dean of Students, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Financial Aid, Director of Multicultural Student Programs, Pastor to the University, Registrar, University Counselor, University Physician
If the student believes it is in his/her best interest to withdraw, he/she needs to complete the appropriate form in the Registrar’s Office or Student Development Office and complete an exit interview with a staff member in the Dean of Students Office. An exit interview appointment may be arranged by calling 937-327-7806.
Mid-Semester Withdrawal
A student who wishes to withdraw from the University during a semester must apply for permission to withdraw in good standing. A mid-semester withdrawal form is available at the Registrar’s Office or Student Development Office. When the withdrawal form is completed, the student should have an exit interview with a member of the Dean of Students staff before leaving campus.
The date of withdrawal determines the grades to be received for the courses in which the student has been enrolled:
one-five weeks ....................................Without Grade or Credit
six-ten weeks: ..................................... W (Withdrawn)
eleven-fifteen weeks: ......................... F
It is the student’s responsibility to petition the Academic Services Office if circumstances warrant a waiver of the above policy.
The student who withdraws mid-semester receives no refund of the application fee, student insurance premium, or comprehensive fees except as mandated by federal law. Prorated board refund is available through the fifth week of the semester.
Tuition charges and charges for applied music lessons are refunded according to the following schedule:
one week or less ......................................... 90% refund
two weeks or less ...................................... 80% refund
three weeks or less ................................... 60% refund
four weeks or less ..................................... 40% refund
five weeks or less ...................................... 20% refund
more than five weeks .................................... no refund
End of Semester Withdrawal
Students are not officially withdrawn from the University until completion of an exit interview with the Office of Student Development. The date of the exit interview is the official date of withdrawal. If housed in University halls or houses, the student has 48 hours to vacate after withdrawal. The Admission Deposit Refund Policy requires a student to submit appropriate withdrawal paperwork to the University by the following dates: December 31st if withdrawing for the spring term; June 15th if withdrawing for the fall term. If the formal withdrawal process is completed before these dates, the student will receive a refund of their deposit. If the University doesn’t receive notification until after these dates, the deposit will be forfeited. The form is available at the Registrar’s Office and Student Development. The student who is interrupting attendance to study abroad or to participate in a special program may request a leave of absence.
Note: A student suspended or dismissed from the University for failure to maintain academic standards or for infringement of University regulations is allowed no financial refund of any kind except that mandated by federal financial aid policies.
Students who withdraw from the college or who have been asked to withdraw are eligible to apply for readmission upon completion of a formal application for readmission. Application forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office. The completed application must be received by the Admissions Office at least four weeks before the beginning of the semester in which reapplication is sought.
Credit for course work taken at any institution accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education, including distance-learning courses, may be applied toward the completion of a Wittenberg program, subject to review by the Registrar, the Director of General Education, and/or the Chair of the Department in which the credit is requested. In order to transfer credit back to Wittenberg, the student must complete a Request to Transfer Credit Form, obtained from the Registrar’s Office, and secure the required signatures.
Although the grades granted for the transfer work appear on the transcript, they are not calculated into the GPA.
An enrolled student who completes a course at another institution in mathematics, computer science, or statistics (including Management 210 and Psychology 107) will receive transfer credit at Wittenberg only if the student has met the prerequisites for the course at Wittenberg.
Course work to be taken through international education programs sponsored either by Wittenberg University or by other accredited institutions must be approved by the Office of International Education at Wittenberg prior to enrollment in the program.
Grades are reported for all study abroad programs (including affiliated domestic programs) as they are transmitted to the Registrar. The grades are shown on the transcript but not calculated in the GPA.
Transfer credit is not accepted for courses in which the content has already been included in previous credit on the record. Transfer credit is also not accepted for a course taken at an institution affiliated with the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education if the course is available at Wittenberg.
Also, work taken at another institution does not count under the repeat rule; i.e., the grade earned at the other institution does not replace the grade earned at Wittenberg.
Superior students have the option of receiving advanced placement. Advanced placement is generally based on scores received on standardized examinations in such subjects as english, foreign languages and mathematics. Advanced placement and credit are granted for a grade of 4 or 5 on any Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). Based on departmental recommendations, advanced placement and/or credit is granted for a grade of 3. Neither placement nor credit is granted for a grade of 2 or 1. Notification of placement and/or credit is made soon after a student’s arrival on campus.
Internship and Independent Studies
A student may earn credits by participating in internship opportunities or independent studies supervised by a faculty member. In order to participate in either of these opportunities, the student must have completed the sophomore year and be in good academic standing with a cumulative grade point average of 2.000 or better. The student must fill out the appropriate form with the supervising faculty member, secure all necessary signatures and submit the form by the semester deadline for adding courses. Independent Study forms are taken to the Academic Services Office for final approval. Internship agreement proposals are approved in the Witt Pat Career Services Office. A student must register for an internship experience during the period the internship is completed. Credit will not be granted for an internship completed in a prior semester. A total of 16 semester hours of credit through a combination of internships, independent study, and/or senior thesis is permitted. A maximum of eight hours of internship credit is possible.
Placing Out
A student may request to place out of any required course or any prerequisite course in the curriculum by taking and passing an examination. To gain permission to take the examination, the student should present reasonable evidence of preparation to the department responsible for the course.
Credit by Examination
A student may also acquire credit by examination. However, a student may not receive credit for any course that includes content for which a grade has already been received (including NC or F) or that was audited officially or unofficially. The chair of the department and the instructor of the course in which credit is to be earned must approve the student’s petition to attempt credit by examination. The petition must also be approved by the Academic Services Office. After all approvals are granted, the student must then pay the appropriate fee (cost of one overload credit) before taking the exam. The grade for the examination appears on the student’s transcript.
The Class Day
A typical four-semester-hour class meets three hours per week, normally in one of three patterns: three 1-hour (MWF), two 1.5-hour (TTh), or one three-hour period. A few classes may be held on a daily basis and some schedule additional laboratory periods.
Each Wittenberg student is expected to attend class except for reasons of ill health, of travel mishaps, or of illness or death in the family. From time to time legitimate educational activities or participation in university-sponsored co-curricular activities may result in student absences. In such cases, the faculty or staff members planning these activities should weigh carefully their educational benefits.
A student’s absence from class due to any of these circumstances is considered excused. Nonetheless, each student is expected to meet the academic responsibilities for each course, even though excused from class. Faculty members are expected to cooperate in helping the student to meet these responsibilities.
The Health and Counseling Center provides written verification of illness only when the university physician orders hospitalization or strict bed rest for a specific affliction.
The following procedures are to be followed for excused absences:
Grading System
The letter grades A, B, C, D, NC (No Credit), S (Satisfactory), and F are awarded by instructors and describe the student’s performance relative to the expectations of completed course work. The first four grades may be further described by the use of a plus (+) or a minus (-) sign to indicate a greater or lower level of achievement for that letter grade. Marks of I (incomplete), L (audited course work), X (satisfactory, course in progress), NR (no report), W (withdrawal), and XF (failure due to academic dishonesty) may also be given under appropriate circumstances.
For the letter grades A, B, C, D, including any related pluses or minuses, and for the grade F, the Registrar determines a grade-point average by dividing the total number of quality points earned (semester hours for each graded course times the quality-point factor for the grade awarded) by the number of graded semester hours attempted. The semester and cumulative grade-point averages reflect only course work so graded and are the averages used to determine scholastic standing, certification for selected honors, qualifications for graduation and other actions based upon a grade-point average.
Significance of Grades and Marks
Notification of Grades
At the end of each semester, a grade report is available online or can be requested from the Registrar.
Eligibility for the Dean’s List
At the end of each Fall and Spring semester, a Dean’s List announces the names of students who have earned a grade point average of at least 3.500 for a minimum of 12 graded semester hours. A traditional student who completes 12 or more graded semester hours over the summer session, with a GPA of at least 3.500 is also eligible for the Dean’s List. Further, students so honored may not have received a grade of F or NC (No Credit) for the semester and may not have been under disciplinary probation or suspension any time during the semester. Parents receive copies of the letters of notification.
Eligibility for Academic Honors
As a result of distinguished academic performance throughout their undergraduate education, graduating students may receive their degrees with academic honors. Students are awarded academic honors as follows: when the final grade-point average is between 3.500 and 3.699, the degree is conferred cum laude; between 3.700 and 3.799, magna cum laude, and between 3.800 and 4.00 summa cum laude.
Degree Audit
A degree audit is a computerized review of each student’s course transcript matched against the university’s requirements for a degree. Except for progress in some majors and residency requirements, it tells the student’s standing relative to graduation at a given moment. A degree audit is available online. Other than faculty advisers and university officials, third parties cannot receive copies. An audit is a planning aid only. Its accuracy is not guaranteed, and it cannot be considered a promise or a contract between the university and the student. The student is responsible for reporting printed audit errors to the Registrar. The responsibility for understanding and meeting degree requirements rests entirely with the student.
Transcripts
A permanent academic record is maintained by the Registrar’s Office for each student who registers at Wittenberg. Wittenberg student records are administered in accordance with the Family Privacy Act of 1974.An official transcript of the academic record is available only upon the signed, written request of the student. A telephone request cannot be accepted. The request must be accompanied by a payment of $6 per copy. Only official copies can be furnished. Normally, a transcript request is filled within three to five working days after receipt, though a longer time may be required at the end of each semester. An official transcript can be released only if the student’s account is clear of outstanding balances and university holds.
