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Academic Degree Requirements and Policies

Academic Degree Requirements and Policies

 

All regulations and rules or procedures contained in this official Bulletin apply to undergraduate programs. Questions in individual cases should be presented through written petition to the appropriate dean.

Students are held individually responsible for information contained in these pages. Failure to read and understand these regulations will not excuse a student from their observance.

Academic Calendar
The University offers two fifteen-week semesters plus a week of final examinations for each semester and two six week summer sessions that include final examinations.

Degree Requirements
All candidates for the baccalaureate degree at LMU must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. All candidates in the undergraduate colleges must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, including core and program requirements and 45 semester hours of upper-division course work. Certain programs require more than 120 semester hours. These are noted under the appropriate department listings.

  2. All work done at LMU must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0). All courses taken in the major, minor, or area of concentration must have a cumulative grade point average of C (2.0).

  3. At least 30 of the last 36 semester hours for the bachelor's degree must be taken in residence at LMU. At least two-thirds of the upper division semester hours of the major must be taken in residence at LMU unless, for programmatic purposes, the dean and the director of the major deem an exception appropriate.

  4. A student is held responsible for academic regulations in effect at the time of entrance or for those in effect in the senior year provided the student maintains continuous enrollment. Similarly, a student who declares or changes a major after being admitted to the University is held responsible for the academic regulations in effect at the time the major is declared or changed. A student who interrupts LMU enrollment is subject to the academic regulations in effect in the University Bulletin at the time enrollment is resumed.

  5. Degrees are awarded at the end of the Spring term, August 31, and December 31. The date of the degree posted on a student's diploma is the one by which all graduation requirements are completed or documents are submitted. These include:

A.   A submission of transcripts from other institutions prior to the degree date;
B.   The completion of all incomplete work prior to the degree date;
C.   File application for degree by the deadline date for the term in which all of the above conditions will be met. If a student has been canceled for graduation in a given term, it is the responsibility of the student to again file for graduation for a later term;
D.    All course requirements for a degree must be completed or be in progress before or during the term of degree conferral. The University will award a degree if all required coursework is completed, and needed documentation received, within 30 working days of the University conferral date. After 30 working days, awarding of the diploma will be deferred to the next degree conferral date.

Second Baccalaureate Degree

A student who possesses an earned bachelor's degree from an institution accredited by one of the six regional associations of the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities may earn a second undergraduate degree with a different major field of study by meeting all of the following requirements:

  1. Completion of at least 30 semester hours at LMU beyond those required for the first degree; these must include at least 24 semester hours of upper division work and at least 20 semester hours of upper division work in the major field of study;

  2. Fulfillment of the core requirements of the College in which the major is offered;

  3. Satisfaction of all the requirements for the major;

  4. Completion of the application for degree process (c.f., #5 above)

Academic Advising
Students are assigned academic advisors within their college. As part of the registration process, students consult their advisors in preparation of their academic programs and prior to registering for classes. Advisors are not authorized to change established policy of the University. The student is solely responsible for assuring that his/her academic program complies with the policy of the University. Any advice at variance with established policy, i.e., a degree audit exception (Petition for CAPP Adjustment form), must be confirmed in writing by the chairperson of the department or director of the program and then by the Dean's Office.

Academic Probation

Academic probation carries a serious warning to the student that the scholastic record is unsatisfactory and continued failure to improve this record may result in being declared ineligible to attend the University. Students on probation may also have restrictions imposed by the dean regarding their program of studies and their participation in extracurricular activities. The following classes of students will be placed on probation:

  1. A student who in any term fails to earn a C (2.0) average,

  2. A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below a C (2.0),

  3. An upper division student who in any one term fails to earn a C (2.0) average in the major requirements, or

  4. A student whose cumulative grade point average in the major requirements is below a C (2.0).

Academic Disqualification
Disqualification terminates a student's relationship with the University. A disqualified student may not register in any division or session of the University and is denied all privileges of the University and of all organizations or activities in any way connected with it. The following classes of students will be subject to disqualification:

  1. A student who while on probation fails to earn a C (2.0) average during the next semester, or who has not attained an accumulated grade point average of C (2.0) within two semesters after having been placed on probation;

  2. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in the coursework associated with the declared major.

  3. A student who has had special academic requirements imposed by the dean or the Committee on Academic Standing and Degrees and does not meet the requirements within the time prescribed.

Readmission after Disqualification

Disqualified students are not eligible for readmission until one calendar year has elapsed.

  1. A disqualified student who wishes to be considered for readmission to the University must file a formal application with the Admission Office.

  2. A formal interview must take place with the Dean?s Office prior to formal readmission.

  3. A disqualified student who is readmitted will be on strict probation which requires that the student must satisfactorily complete all requirements set by the dean in the initial semester after readmission.

  4. A student who has been disqualified a second time may not apply for readmission.

Articulation

The articulation services at LMU help students to identify courses completed at other academic institutions that are
transferable to LMU baccalaureate degree programs. Courses taken at other academic institutions may fulfill University core requirements, Program (major/minor) requirements or transfer in as electives. LMU has established articulation agreements with its major feeder community colleges. To view these articulation agreements, see http://www.lmu.edu/pages/1252.asp. Current students should consult the articulation agreements of the institutions listed on this page as well as the "existing histories" of courses previously transferred in from other institutions. A signed Transfer Course Approval form and an official transcript from the transfer institution must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar before any transfer courses may become a part of the continuing student?s LMU degree program.


LMU Honor Code and Process

Loyola Marymount University is a community dedicated to academic excellence, student-centered education, and the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. As such, the University expects all members of its community to act with honesty and integrity at all times, especially in their academic work. Academic honesty respects the intellectual and creative work of others, flows from dedication to and pride in performing one's own best work, and is essential if true learning is to take place.

Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following: all acts of cheating on assignments or examinations, or facilitating other students' cheating; plagiarism; fabrication of data, including the use of false citations; improper use of nonprint media; unauthorized access to computer accounts or files or other privileged information; and improper use of internet sites and resources.

Definitions of Academic Dishonesty:
The following are examples of academic dishonesty which may be interpreted as intentional or unintentional. This list is not meant to be exhaustive. It is the student?s responsibility to make sure that his/her work meets the standards of academic honesty set forth in the Honor Code. If the student is unclear about how these definitions and standards apply to his/her work, it is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor to clarify the ambiguity.

 A. Cheating and Facilitating Cheating

  1. Possession, distribution, and/or use of unauthorized materials or technology before or during an examination or during the process of preparing a class assignment.

  2. Collaboration on class assignments, including inclass and take home examinations, without the
    permission of the instructor.

  3. Provision of assistance to another student attempting to use unauthorized resources or collaboration on class assignments or examinations

B. Plagiarism

  1. Presentation of someone else's ideas or work, either in written form or non-print media, as one's own.

  2. Omission or improper use of citations in written work.

  3. Omission or improper use of credits and attributions in non-print media.

C. Falsification of Data

  1. Presentation of altered or fabricated data, such as lab reports, with the intention of misleading the reader
  2. Presentation of forged signatures as authentic.
  3. Use of false citations, either incorrect or fabricated, including sources found on the Internet.

D. Unauthorized Access to Computers or Privileged Information

  1. Use of University network and/or computer hardware to gain unauthorized access to files, and alteration or other use of those files.

E. Improper Use of Internet Sites and Resources

  1. Inappropriate use of an Internet source, including, but not limited to, submission of a paper, in part or in its entirety, purchased or otherwise obtained via the Internet, and failure to provide proper citation for sources found on the Internet.

F. Improper Use of Non-Print Media

  1. All above standards apply to non-print media.

G. Other Academic Dishonesty

  1. Any other means of violating the standards of academic honesty set out above.

Honor Code Process

This section sets out the process to be followed when an Instructor suspects a violation of the Honor Code. The recommended sanctions are not mandatory, but are intended to guide the Instructor's discretion. Instructors are encouraged to consult with their colleagues and chairs in making these decisions. This section also outlines the student appeal process for Honor Code violations.

I. Intentional and Unintentional Academic Dishonesty

A. Notification: Instructors will notify the Student of the suspected act of academic dishonesty. The Student will be given the opportunity to admit, deny, or explain the situation. If the suspected violation of the Honor Code occurs with respect to an assignment that the Instructor has not reviewed until after the class has stopped meeting, the Instructor will send a letter to the permanent address of the Student and keep a copy of the letter. Failure to notify will result in a reasonable extension of the Student?s time to appeal, but is not in and of itself a defense to the violation of the Honor Code.

B. Determination: If the Instructor determines that a violation has occurred, he/she will next determine whether or not the violation was intentional or unintentional. The distinction between intentional and unintentional violations of academic honesty is not based upon the purely subjective intentions of the Student. The question is whether a Student who has carefully read the Honor Code should have understood that his/her action violated the Honor Code and standards of academic honesty.

C. Unintentional Violation: If the Instructor believes the violation was unintentional, he/she may take any of the following actions:

  1. Warn Student

  2. Require assignment or exam to be resubmitted

  3. Reduce the grade on the assignment, project, or exa

The Instructor shall inform the Student of his/her decision and also inform the Student of the right to appeal the Instructor's decision.

D. Intentional Violation: If the Instructor believes the violation is intentional, he/she may take any of
the following actions:

  1. Fail the Student on the assignment or exam

  2. Fail the Student in the course

The Instructor shall inform the Student of his/her decision in writing and also inform the Student of the right to appeal the Instructor's decision.

The Instructor may consult with the Chair, Program Director, or equivalent and refer the matter directly to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school with a recommendation that the Student be suspended or expelled. Upon such a referral, the Dean shall appoint an Academic Honesty Panel consisting of two Faculty members and one Student from the ASLMU Judiciary.

II. Departmental Appeal

A. The Student may appeal the Instructor?s decision under section I(C) or (D) to the Department Chair, Program Director, or equivalent. In accordance with the grade appeal policy in the Undergraduate Bulletin and Graduate Division Bulletin, the Student will be required to make his/her appeal in writing no later than three weeks into the semester following the decision.

B. If either the Student or Instructor wishes, he/she may appeal the decision of the Department Chair, Program Director, or equivalent to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school, who will refer the matter to the Academic Honesty Panel. Appeals must be made within 30 days of receipt of the chair's decision.

III. Academic Honesty Panel Appeal

A. The Academic Honesty Panel is an ad hoc recommending body of the Instructor's college/school. The Panel consists of two Faculty members and one Student appointed by the Dean. The Dean will appoint one of the Faculty members as Chair of the Academic Honesty Panel.

B. Responsibilities of the Panel

  1. The Panel will hear appeals by the Student or Instructor of the Chair?s decision for any penalty short of expulsion or suspension

  2. The Panel will make the initial recommendation as to whether the Student should be suspended or expelled.

C. In fulfilling these responsibilities, the Panel will make two determinations:

  1. It will determine whether there is clear and convincing evidence that the Student has violated the Honor Code. The Student is entitled to the presumption of innocence and the right to review and respond to all evidence and information relevant to the Panel?s decision

  2. Upon the finding of clear and convincing evidence of a violation, the Panel is to determine the appropriate penalty. With regard to the appropriateness of serious recommendations such as suspension and expulsion, the Panel shall take into account the following factors


    a. the severity of the violation;
    b. whether the violation is an isolated instance, or part of a pattern of two or more violations; and
    c. other mitigating or extenuating circumstances.

D. The recommendation of the Academic Honesty Panel, along with an explanation of the reason for the recommendation, will be reported in writing to the Dean of the Instructor's college or school. The Dean will normally follow the recommendation of the Panel. However, the Dean?s decision is final.

E. The Dean will inform the Student and Instructor, in writing, of his/her decision. The Dean will also report his/her decision to the AVP. The Office of the AVP will keep a permanent, confidential record of all proceedings of the Academic Honesty Panel.

Attendance

The policy on class attendance is within the discretion of the individual faculty member and shall be announced by the faculty member at the first class meeting of the semester or listed on the class syllabus.

Concurrent Enrollment

Enrollment by degree-seeking students at another institution at the same time they are enrolled at LMU is not permitted.

Auditing a Course

Enrolled LMU students may not enroll as auditors in a regularly scheduled LMU course through LMU Extension.

Students will be permitted to register as auditors only for exceptional reasons and with the authorization of the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered. Not all courses are open to auditors. Auditors are not held responsible for the work expected of regular students and receive no grade or credit for the course. Regular attendance at class is expected.

A student who has previously enrolled as an auditor may not take the course for credit in the subsequent term except by special permission of the Dean of the college or school in which the course is offered.

Part-time students and students enrolled in an overload seeking to change from credit to audit status will be eligible for tuition adjustment only if the change is made within the period for late registration. Individuals may not be formally admitted to the University only to audit courses.

Change of Address

All students must notify the Office of the Registrar immediately of any change in their addresses or those of their parents or guardians. Students may change their permanent, mailing, and billing addresses through PROWL. The University assumes no responsibility for materials sent through the mail or e-mail not received. In addition, students must submit through PROWL emergency contact information to the Office of the Registrar.

Classification of Matriculated Students

Students are classified according to the following norms:

Freshman: Satisfaction of entrance requirements.
Sophomore: Completion of 30 semester hours.
Junior: Completion of 60 semester hours.
Senior: Completion of 90 semester hours.


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