Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal
Students who have earned two grades of C or one grade of F are placed on academic probation. Students who do not earn a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 after completion of 12 credits of coursework also are placed on probation. Students on probation are limited to a less-than-full course load, and their class schedule must be approved by the associate chair of the graduate program.
A student on probation who receives a C or lower grade is dismissed from the program. Students may appeal their dismissals to the Department of Public Policy and Administration graduate program's Scholastic Standing Committee.
Incomplete Grades
All of the rules of the Graduate School–Camden regarding incomplete grades apply to Department of Public Policy and Administration graduate students. In addition, a student may not acquire more than two grades of Incomplete (IN) during his or her course of study in the graduate program. A student receiving a third IN grade is placed on academic probation and is required to appear before the Scholastic Standing Committee to explain the reasons for the student's inability to complete coursework on schedule.
Student Appeals
At a meeting of the Scholastic Standing Committee, a student appealing dismissal must present in writing any information he or she deems relevant to the case. This may include, but is not limited to, circumstances outside the student's control that may account for the poor performance. Members of the committee may question the student.
All members of the committee have one vote on the disposition of appeals. The fact that a member of the committee has given the student a C or lower grade shall disqualify him or her from voting.
The committee has the option of requiring remedial work or setting other conditions for continuation in the graduate program.
Student Complaints about Grades
Student complaints about grades will, where possible, be handled within the structure of the graduate degree program.
First, the student is urged to confer informally with the instructor who recorded the grade in question. Such a conference shall take place within 10 school days of official notification of the grade. If the matter is not resolved during the conference, the student is urged to take the issue in written form, within 10 school days of the meeting between the student and instructor, to the director of the graduate program or a designee for review and mediation. The director or designee, within 10 school days of notification of the dispute, shall consult with all parties and propose a resolution. If this is unsuccessful, the matter shall be referred to a faculty committee, as designated in the bylaws of the program. This committee shall render a decision within 15 school days. In arriving at a decision, the committee may consult with whomever it chooses and may, in extraordinary cases, ask third parties from among the faculty to review the grade in question.
Appeal of the program faculty's decision may be made to the dean of the Graduate School–Camden. Such appeal shall be in writing, shall be made within 10 school days of receipt of the program faculty's decision, and shall state the grounds for appeal. The grounds for appeal are (1) technical error, (2) new information, or (3) extenuating circumstances.
