Academic Regulations

Attendance

Each professor will determine a class attendance policy. Excused absences, including absences due to participation in an approved university activity, will not result in a penalty provided that the student makes up the work missed to the satisfaction of the professor. Each professor will place on file in the departmental office that policy to which the class will adhere and make this attendance policy known to each class. Where non-compliance with policy occurs, the professor has the right to assign a grade consistent with the professor's stated policy. The Student Enrollment Center  will notify instructors of unusual circumstances of health or family problems if known and if the absences are in excess of one day.

Changes of Registration

A student's course schedule should be regarded as a contract. Courses may be added during the first ten (10) class days (first four days of summer sessions) of the semester by completing an appropriately signed Approval to Add card and filing the card in the Student Enrollment Center.

Course withdrawals, subject to the conditions described below, may be accomplished by completing a drop card, obtaining the instructor's signature and filing the card at the Student Enrollment Center. Any student who discontinues attendance in a course without formally withdrawing will be assigned an E as a final grade. A student who has not attended a course during the first week (first five class days of the semester or first two days of summer sessions) may be dropped from the course by the instructor.

During the first week of the semester a student may withdraw from a course and have no record of that course appear on the student's permanent record. Students who withdraw from week two through week ten will receive a grade of W for that course on the student's permanent record. After the tenth week the student may withdraw only if there are extraordinary circumstances (e.g. illness, death in the family, etc.). In this situation the student must also secure the appropriate Academic Dean's signature on the drop card. A grade of W will be assigned if the student is passing; Z will be assigned if the student is failing.

A student may withdraw (W or Z) from a maximum of 16 credits during the student's stay at the university. Any course dropped during the first week of the semester, for which no grade is assigned, will not be counted toward this limit nor will W's received for a total semester withdrawal from the University.

* Except for extraordinary reasons approved by the Dean

Applicable Undergraduate Catalog Policy

An undergraduate student is subject to the academic requirements and regulations contained in the catalog in effect during the semester in which the student is first registered as a matriculated student. (This semester is listed on the student file as the initial matriculation date - IMD.) The only exceptions to this policy are stated below.

1. A student who first attends the university during the summer will be subject to the requirements and regulations in effect for the following academic year.
2. A student who declares or changes a major or other academic program (minor, concentration) after matriculation is subject to the program requirements as outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of declaration.
3. A student may choose to follow all regulations and academic program requirements in effect in the current catalog. It is the student's responsibility to complete a change of catalog card, obtain the required signature and submit the card to the Student Enrollment Center.
4. A student who discontinues attendance for two or more consecutive semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall) will be subject to the regulations and program requirements in effect when the student re-enters the university. This includes students who are dismissed from the university for academic or disciplinary reasons. The only exception to this rule is for students who are granted a Guaranteed Readmission according to the conditions of that policy.
5. Some programs are subject to requirements that originate with legal and governing authorities outside the university (for example, requirements for teacher and other professional certifications). Such requirements are sometimes subject to change for all participants on a specific date and do not lend themselves to implementation by catalog year.
6. Occasionally the university will adopt or revise a regulation (other than an academic program requirement) that cannot equitably or administratively be implemented by catalog year. In those cases all students shall be advised of the change at least one full semester in advance and through several venues before the change goes into effect.
7. Some academic departments place time restrictions on the completion of major courses and/or major requirements. Such restrictions are clearly articulated in the university catalog and take priority over this policy.

Program Changes

A student may change curriculum or field of specialization only with the approval of the student's adviser and the director of the curriculum or the chair of the department the student wishes to enter. The student's quality point average and the reasons for change will be assessed by the chair of the department into which the student is transferring.

Changes in program should be requested only after careful counseling and planning. All such changes require the completion of a Change of Major Card that is available at the Student Enrollment Center.

Specific professional programs, such as nursing, medical technology, are limited in the number of students who can be accommodated. Students planning to enter these fields should contact the appropriate department.

Class Standing

Class designation is determined by the number of semester hours of work, which the student has satisfactorily completed in accordance with the following:

Double Degrees

Students who complete the requirements of two or more majors in combinations of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science areas will have the choice of designating either B.A. or B.S. as their primary degree. Students with dual degrees will receive a diploma for each degree conferred. The permanent record (transcript) will indicate both degrees.

Second Degrees

A student who is already the recipient of a baccalaureate degree (from East Stroudsburg University or elsewhere) who wishes to pursue an additional undergraduate field will be required to complete a minimum of thirty-two semester hours at East Stroudsburg University including the requirements for the major. The program of study for the additional degree is to be approved by the appropriate department chair and appropriate academic dean.

National Honor Societies

Additional information on Academic Regulations is available in the Student Handbook.