Academic Regulations, Probation & Honesty
Policies and Procedures
Monmouth College believes that the responsibility to develop and respect general conditions conducive to the freedom to teach and learn is shared by all members of the College. Policies, procedures, and expectations are designed to ensure this freedom and to promote the meaningful, effective functioning of the Monmouth College community.
The act of matriculation is a commitment to share responsibility for the development of our collegial life as well as to achieve personal academic objectives. Thus, students are encouraged to participate with faculty and staff in the review, evaluation, and formulation of regulations, standards, and procedures. The development of effective social communities is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The College community presents us with an opportunity to work toward such a goal.
It is, therefore, the intent of the regulations and procedures described to promote individual opportunity and freedom within a context of responsibility to the Monmouth College community.
Academic Regulations
Academic Regulations are described most fully in the Monmouth College Catalog, a current copy of which should be consulted. Academic regulations as they involve particular classes are spelled out in syllabi for those courses. Students should know that all faculty reserve the right to amend syllabi, making the announcements while class is in session. Students are expected to attend class regularly and be aware of such changes in the course syllabus.
Academic Warning
A student who receives a semester GPA below 2.0 but remains in good academic standing may receive a warning letter from the Registrar’s Office and may be required to meet with their academic advisor.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and to inform instructors promptly of any condition that prevents them from doing so. Instructors formulate their own policies with regard to attendance, make-up examination, and related assignments.
W and WF Grades
The W grade is given when the student withdraws from a course during the first week or after the ninth week if the student is passing at the time. The WF grade is given when a student withdraws from a course after the ninth week and is failing at the time of withdrawal. If, after the ninth week of a semester, a student is dismissed or suspended or if he/she withdraws, the student may be assigned grades of W and WF with the approval of the instructor, the adviser, and the dean of the College. Otherwise, an F will be recorded.
Academic Probation
A student who fails to make normal progress as defined in the current College catalog may be dismissed or placed on academic probation. The Committee on Admission and Academic Status reviews such cases individually, and makes recommendations to the dean of the College.
Classifications
Class promotion is in accordance with the following schedule of course credits earned: sophomore,7 course credits; junior, 15 course credits; and senior, 24 course credits. A student is placed on academic probation as a result of unsatisfactory progress, either a low grade average or lack of earned credits. As a condition of probation, the Admissions and Academic Status Committee may require a student to register for an Academic Skills course and/or restrict participation in extracurricular activities (including inter-collegiate athletics).
Academic Honesty, Philosophical Statement
We believe that academic honesty is of the utmost importance for the maintenance and growth of our intellectual community. At Monmouth College, the faculty and staff strive to create positive and transformational learning experiences. One step in our mission to provide excellent teaching involves our emphasis on the promotion of free inquiry, original thinking and the holistic development of our students. Monmouth College strives to offer a learning environment which stresses a vigorous work ethic and stringent moral codes of behavior.
We believe that one of our core commitments is the fostering of personal and academic integrity. Our students are encouraged to think of the campus as an educational community with ties to the local, national and global society. Honesty in one’s academic work is of the utmost importance for the maintenance and growth of the individual and of our intellectual community.
We therefore require all our students to contribute to this community of learners and to make a vigorous commitment to academic honesty. We view academic dishonesty as a threat to the integrity and intellectual mission of our institution. Any breach of the academic honesty policy – either intentionally or unintentionally - will be taken seriously and may result not only in failure in the course, but in suspension or expulsion from the College.
It is each student’s responsibility to read, understand and comply with the general academic honesty policy at Monmouth College, as defined here in the Scots Guide, and to the specific guidelines for each course, as elaborated on the professor’s syllabus.
The following areas are examples of violations of the academic honesty policy:
- Cheating on tests, labs, etc;
- Plagiarism, i.e., using the words, ideas, writing, or work of another without giving appropriate credit;
- Improper collaboration between students, i.e., not doing one’s own work on outside assignments specified as group projects by the instructor;
- Submitting work previously submitted in another course, without previous authorization by the instructor.
Please note that this list is not intended to be exhaustive.
Informal Resolution of a Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy
Instances involving a violation of the academic honesty policy by a student are handled immediately by the faculty member instructing the class, usually after conferring with the department chair and/or other faulty members within the department. The proper steps to be taken include the following:
- The instructor properly investigates the matter which includes an opportunity for the student to respond to the allegation(s) before a decision by the instructor is reached.
- If it is determined that a violation of the academic honesty policy has occurred a report that includes the student’s name, a brief description of the infraction, and the penalty imposed must be reported to the Academic Dean.
- The Academic Dean maintains a record of such reports to monitor repeat behavior. The student has the right to include a statement in the file.
- The Academic Dean will inform the student(s) involved of any infractions that have been reported and educate the student about the importance of maintaining an ethos of academic honesty. The Academic Dean will also inform the Office of Student Affairs, so that the student’s need for counseling may be considered.
- The student may appeal. (See APPEAL below)
Formal Resolution of a Violation of the Academic Honesty Policy
In the case of an unusually flagrant and premeditated violation or repeated violations, the Academic Dean of the faculty will ask the Admissions and Academic Status Committee to convene a hearing to consider further action which may include the suspension or expulsion of the student. In such cases, the following will occur:
- The student receives a written statement summarizing the charges.
- The student will have a chance to respond to those charges.
Only committee members, the involved faculty member, and the student may participate at the hearing. The student may bring a support person from the college community (faculty member, student or employee), but that individual may not participate unless invited to do so by the group.
AASC (Admissions and Academic Status Committee) will make its recommendation to the Academic Dean, who will then notify the student in writing of the action to be taken and the student’s right to appeal.
Appeal
The student has the right to appeal to the dean of the faculty* any actions taken by the instructor, the committee or the Academic Dean for either a first or subsequent offenses. The student must appeal in writing and include the following information:
- a brief summary of the case in question and its outcome, as viewed through the student’s perspective.
- compelling reasons, substantiated by tangible evidence, as to why the case should be reviewed by the dean of the faculty.
*Where appropriate throughout the policy the dean of the faculty may appoint a designee or committee.
The dean of the faculty reserves the right to decide whether or not the petition for an appeal has any merit. If the dean of the faculty overturns any decision on an appeal brought to the dean of the faculty, the dean of the faculty shall explain that decision to the Admissions and Academic Status Committee, the department chair, and the faculty member involved.