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Office of the Registrar

Academic Policies

Academic Forgiveness Policy

The purpose of this policy is to establish an effective means to encourage capable, mature students to return to Indiana University Kokomo after they have achieved poorly (i.e., below 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale) during an earlier attempt at higher education within Indiana University. The spirit of the policy is to provide a fresh start for Indiana University students just as is accorded to students who transfer to Indiana University Kokomo from other universities.

  1. The Indiana University Kokomo Forgiveness Policy applies only to Indiana University students pursuing their first undergraduate degree. These students must have been away from the IU system for the past three calendar years (36 months). Implementation of this policy began in Fall 1997.
  2. Students must apply for invocation of this policy before the end of their first semester of their return to IU Kokomo. Students will not be able to use the forgiveness policy on any grades given because of academic dishonesty. Before the student can receive forgiveness, the Office of the Registrar will need to evaluate the student's record for any grades given because of academic dishonesty.
  3. The academic unit will evaluate the student's transcript. If the applicant meets the criteria stated in (1) and (2), all courses previously taken will remain on the transcript. In general, only courses with grades of A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, P, and S can be counted toward degree completion. Students must also be advised that individual academic units at IU Kokomo and other IU campuses may vary in their implementation of this and similar policies.
  4. If the applicant meets the criteria stated in (1) and (2), the student will start with a fresh cumulative grade point index. From that point on, all the rules of academic probation and dismissal (for that school) will apply. After petition approval, the student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at IU Kokomo after his/her return in order to meet the graduation residency requirement.
  5. The policy does not apply to courses earned toward a first baccalaureate degree if the student is pursuing a second degree.
  6. Invocation of the forgiveness option does not preclude a student from using other available course-specific grade replacement options for work taken subsequent to re-enrollment.
  7. Forgiveness is only available for courses taken at Indiana University. Academic units retain the right to consider records of performance from other universities in determining admission to the unit, granting of honors, and/or other matters.

Proposed by Admission Committee (1996-97), April 28, 1997. Ratified by Faculty Senate, IU Kokomo, April 28, 1997.

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Dean's List Policy

The academic affairs honor list includes students from each undergraduate division who have met the following academic criteria. Full-time students must have carried at least 12 credit hours of work throughout a semester with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Part-time students must have accumulated a minimum of 12 credit hours during the spring semester, summer session, and fall semester with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. There are two dean's lists: one for students with a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.99 and another for students with a 4.0 grade point average.

Academic affairs honor list students are recognized on Honors Day prior to Commencement activities.

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Grading Policy

Instructors in undergraduate and graduate courses use a grading system that includes plus and minus grades as well as straight grades for all undergraduate and graduate course records; the registrar computes numerical grades for plus and minus grades when calculating grade point averages (GPAs) (A+ or A=4.0, A–=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B–=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C–=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, D–=0.7, F=0.0). A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation.

Credit points are determined by multiplying the grade points earned in a course by the number of credit hours for that course. The grade point average for a semester is computed by dividing the total number of credit points by the number of credit hours carried.

Incompletes

The grade of Incomplete (I) is an agreement between the student and the instructor, and is assigned only when the required work of the course is substantially completed and the student's work is of a passing quality. A grade of Incomplete must be removed within the time frame stipulated by the instructor; under no circumstances may this exceed one calendar year. If a grade of Incomplete has not been removed within the calendar year of its recording, it will be changed to an F. Students should not register for credit in a course in which they have received a grade of Incomplete.

Pass/Fail Option

The P/F option, which permits students to designate courses to be recorded for either Pass (P) or Fail (F), is available to all undergraduate students for a maximum of two elective courses per calendar year, September 1 to September 1, with a maximum of eight courses to be applied toward graduation. These courses may not include those offered only on a Satisfactory/Fail basis. Graduate students may elect the option for a maximum of four elective courses (which may be restricted to one such course per semester) to be applied toward graduation. Other specific course limitations vary from division to division. The student should consult a divisional advisor for details. Exercise and approval of the option must be completed by the end of the fourth week of classes during the fall or spring semester, or the second week of classes during the summer session. The student should obtain a Pass/Fail form from the Office of the Registrar, secure the signature of the chairperson or acting representative of the division, and return the completed form to the Office of the Registrar by the deadline noted above. The grades of A, B, C, and D (pluses and minuses) shall be considered as Pass (P) under the option. In no case will these grades be substituted at a later time in place of a P. The grade of P is not counted in computing grade point averages; the grade of F is included. Instructors will not be notified of those students registering for this option. A final grade of A, B, C, D, or F (pluses and minuses) will be submitted by the instructor and will be converted to the appropriate Pass/Fail grade (P or F) by the registrar.

Extended X Policy

Any undergraduate student may retake an IU course for which he/she received a grade below an A.  A student may exercise this option for no more than three courses, totaling no more than 10 credits during an academic career.  In addition, a student may use this option only once for a given course.  The course in which the student reenrolls should be the same course which is being replaced. However, course numbers and titles occasionally change, and this will be taken into account. For the course retaken, only the second grade shall be counted in the determination of the student's grade-point average (GPA). The grade for the course that has been replaced shall be marked with an "X" on the transcript. The student's transcript shall record both grades. 

To exercise the Extended X option, students must obtain an Extended X form from their academic unit, secure the appropriate signatures, and return the form to the Office of the Registrar.

The following regulations apply:

  1. The policy applies to undergraduate students only.
  2. The FX option applies to all undergraduate schools and divisions on all Indiana University campuses.
  3. Any prior undergraduate course will be eligible for replacement if the replacement course is taken Spring 2004 or later under the new policy.
  4. Courses repeatable with different content are not eligible for replacement under this policy unless an academic unit chooses to permit this by means of a specific authorization procedure.
  5. The following grades cannot be replaced under the Extended X Policy: S, P, W, I R, NC.  In addition, a grade may not be replaced with a second grade of W, I, R, or NC. 
  6. A student who has failed a course due to academic dishonesty may not retake that course for grade replacement under this policy.
  7. Enforcement of the Extended X policy shall be the responsibility of the school or division which certifies the student's fulfillment of degree requirements.
  8. Problems relating to the policy shall be referred to the school or division dean, or the administrator fulfilling the equivalent responsibility on the campus.
  9. This policy does not apply to students enrolled in the Purdue University School of Technology programs.

 

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Probation and Dismissal Policies

The following policy regarding academic probation and dismissal applies to all Indiana University Kokomo students. Dismissal from the university occurs when a student has ceased to make adequate progress toward a degree.

         1. Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 will be placed on academic probation.

         2. A student may be continued on probation when his/her semester GPA is above a 2.0 but his/her cumulative GPA is below 2.0.

            Note: The faculty of a school, division or degree program may enact more stringent or more specific policies governing

             probation, suspension or readmission in that school, division or degree program.
         3. A student on academic probation shall be dismissed from Indiana University Kokomo if his/her semester GPA is below 2.0

            and his/her cumulative GPA is below that required in the table. Note: Students may be dismissed from their school or program if

            they fail to meet academic or professional standards. Such students will be informed of their dismissal in writing by the school’s

            dean or the dean’s campus representative.

                                                                             

                                                            Credit Hours Completed at                   Minimum Cumulative GPA

                                                               Close of Semester                           (Total Grade Pts./Total Cr. Hrs.)

                                                                       12−24                                                        1.50

                                                                       25−36                                                        1.75

                                                                       37−45                                                        1.90

                                                                     46 or more                                                    2.00

            4. Students will not be evaluated for possible dismissal until they have completed 12 credit hours.

            5. A student will be removed from academic probation when he/she has a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

            6. Summer sessions will count as one semester when considering probation, dismissal, and readmission criteria.

(Faculty Senate, 9/18/2006)

NOTE: The old criteria was used for Summer 2006 and the new criteria will be used for Fall 2006.

Readmission

Academic divisions consider petitions for readmission from students who have been dismissed from IU. Transfer students with a GPA less than 2.0 must petition for admission through the Office of Admissions. In order for petitions for readmission/admission to be considered and accepted by the appropriate division, students must comply with the guidelines as specified by the respective academic division (or Office of Admissions if the petitioning student is a transfer student from outside the IU system).

 

A petition should explain any extenuating circumstances that may have hindered academic performance and must offer a clear explanation of future schedule and study plans. Petition forms for readmission are available from the academic division where the student desires to pursue a degree.

Note: Transfer students should contact the Office of Admissions for the appropriate petition form.

A student who is reinstated must meet prescribed standards of performance during the semester for which readmission is granted. Readmission to the university does not guarantee readmission to a specific degree-granting program.

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Release of Information Policy

Indiana University's Annual Notification of Student Rights under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the university receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The university official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the university official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Students may ask the university to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the university official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the university decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the university will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the university in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the university has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the university may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Finally, “public information” may be released freely unless the student files the appropriate form requesting that certain public information not be released. This form is available at the Office of the Registrar. Public information is limited to name; address; phone; major field of study; dates of attendance; admission or enrollment status; campus; school, college, or division; class standing; degrees and awards; activities; sports; and athletic information.
  4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Indiana University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.