Academic Policies

Academic Policies (UGP)

GRADING METHODS POLICY

Incomplete: The Mark of I

The mark of I (incomplete) is an exceptional mark given only to students whose work in a course has been satisfactory but who for reasons beyond their control have been unable to complete all the requirements of a course. The following criteria must be met:

The student must have completed the major portion of the work in the course.
The work already completed must be of satisfactory quality.
The mark of I must be requested before the end of the course.

The procedure for awarding the mark of I is as follows:

The student must ask the teacher for a mark of I. ( Teachers cannot award a mark of I on their own initiative.)
The teacher decides whether to grant the request.
The teacher sets a date (no more than six months after submitting the original grade) for completion of remaining requirements of the course.
The teacher and the student together agree on the remaining requirements of the course and the deadline for submitting the work.
The student is responsible for completing the work.
After the work is completed, the teacher submits a gradechange form to replace the mark of I on the student's record with a grade.
The mark of I cannot be removed by means of credit by examination.
The mark of I cannot be replaced by a mark of W (defined below).
A mark of I not made up within six months becomes permanent unless a written request for an extension has been approved by the dean of Undergraduate Programs of his designee.

Students who elect to repeat an incomplete course must register again for the course, pay all applicable fees, and repeat the course. For purposes of academic retention, it is counted as an F. The mark of I is not used in determining grade-point averages.

Withdrawal: The Mark of W

Students may receive the mark of W either by completing a Withdrawal form or by submitting a written request approximately two weeks before the end of the semester or term. Either procedure constitutes official withdrawal. The form is available from your resource team or in the Bachelor's Degree-at-a-Distance Annual Planner. The mark of W appears on the permanent record unless withdrawal is completed before a course begins. For purposes of academic retention, the mark of W is counted as attempted hours. It is not used in determining grade-point averages.

CHANGES IN GRADE

Teachers may change a grade previously assigned only by submitting a Grade Adjustment Report, along with a letter giving the reasons for change. Any change must be made no later than six months after the original grade was awarded.

EXAMINATIONS POLICY

The student is responsible for obtaining information about quizzes and examination schedules and policies at http://www.umuc.edu/dess.

Make-up examinations and tests may be given to students who for valid reasons are unable to take exams at the scheduled time. Teachers are not required to offer make-up examinations because of a student's absence unless the student can present evidence that it was caused by unavoidable circumstances or occurred on a religious holiday. In such cases, an examination may be rescheduled for the mutual convenience of student and teacher. The UMUC Testing Center schedules make-up exam sessions. You can reach the Testing Center at dess@www.umuc.edu. To make arrangements contact the Testing Center at 301-985-7645 or 1800-283-6832 extension 7645.

PHOTO ID POLICY FOR EXAMS

When you take examinations and tests, the proctor will require you to show a picture ID such as a valid driver's license or similar ID. Please remember to bring your ID.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Integrity in teaching and learning is a fundamental principle of a university. UMUC believes that all members of the university community share the responsibility for academic integrity, as expressed in the University System of Maryland policy "Faculty, Student, and Institutional Rights and Responsibilities for Academic Integrity." Details are available from the Office of the Dean, Undergraduate Programs. At UMUC, faculty members are expected to establish classroom environments conducive to the maintenance of academic integrity by promptly giving students a complete syllabus describing the course and its requirements, by grading submitted work promptly and adequately, and by arranging appropriate testing conditions, including having faculty members monitor examinations given in class.

Students at UMUC are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will contribute to the maintenance of academic integrity.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Academic dishonesty is failure to maintain academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to obtaining or giving aid on an examination, having unauthorized prior knowledge of an examination, doing work for another student, and plagiarism.

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's idea or product as one's own. Plagiarism includes (but is not limited to) copying verbatim all or part of another person's work; using phrases, charts, figures, illustrations, computer programs, or mathematical or scientific solutions without citing the source; paraphrasing ideas, conclusions, or research without citing the source and using all or part of a literary plot, poem, film, musical score, or other artistic product without attributing the work to its creator.

Students can avoid unintentional plagiarism by carefully following accepted scholarly practices. Notes taken for papers and research projects should accurately record sources of material to be cited, quoted, paraphrased, or summarized, and papers should acknowledge those sources in footnotes.

Course Evaluation Form

UMUC values your input regarding your course and believes it is every student's responsibility to provide feedback. Therefore, all UMUC students are required to complete and submit the online Course Evaluation Form. We ask that you reflect carefully on your learning experience and provide feedback that will help us meet your academic needs and maintain our excellence in teaching and curriculum design.

Information you provide in the online Course Evaluation Form is anonymous and confidential. Data are not reported on an individual basis, so students may not be identified, and results are not given to an instructor until after grades have been submitted.

You may submit the online Course Evaluation Form only once per course. If you are enrolled in multiple online courses, you will be asked to submit a separate Course Evaluation Form for each course in which you are enrolled.

The form is available as follows:
· 21 days prior to the last day of the semester the form is presented as an option each time you enter class.
· 14 days prior to the last day of the semester, if you have not yet submitted the form, it will be presented each time you enter class and access to the Class Menu will be blocked until the form is submitted.

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