1. Grading System
2. Mount St Mary's University Standards of Academic Integrity
3. Graduate Appeals Procedure
4. Repeating A Course
5. Auditing A Course
6. Academic Probation
7. Incomplete Grades
8. Failing Grades
9. Drop/Add policy
10. Course Withdrawal Policy
11. Withdrawal From The Program/Inactivity
12. Graduation
13. Graduation With Distinction
14. Visiting Students (Those enrolled in graduate programs from other colleges)
15. International Students

Grading System
Grades and their point values are as follows:

The highest passing grade of A is awarded for distinguished course work. The low passing grade of C- is
awarded for work that is minimally acceptable at the graduate level in business. For education, the low
passing grade of C is awarded for work that is minimally acceptable at the graduate level. D grades are not
awarded nor are they accepted in required undergraduate courses. The failing grade of F is given for work
that is unsatisfactory.

Graduate Appeals Procedure

Students may appeal charges of academic misconduct, and they may appeal a final course grade. An appeal of a charge regarding academic integrity may be made if the student disputes the charge. A course grade appeal may be submitted only on the grounds that a grading policy is either unclear or
has been unfairly applied.

In either case, recourse should be made first to the professor concerned, and then to the program director (i.e., MBA, Education). A student wishing to pursue the matter further must register a written appeal with the Dean no later than the fourth week of the session following the posting of the grade or the academic misconduct charge. After receiving an appeal, the Dean will ask the chair of the Graduate Academic Committee (GAC) to convene the Graduate Appeals Board, a standing
subcommittee of the GAC. This board consists of two graduate students, two faculty members and the chair of the GAC. Both student and faculty membership are appointed by the chair of the GAC or the period running June 1-May 31. Only three members of the Graduate Appeals Board are
required to hear an appeal (one graduate student, one faculty member and the chair of the GAC). Once the chair of the GAC is asked to convene the Graduate Appeals Board, the board has 60 days to determine whether an appeal is warranted.

Once the Graduate Appeals Board is convened, a simple majority vote of the board will determine whether an appeal is warranted. If the board decides to hear an appeal, it may invite testimony from the student and/or the faculty member involved in the case and may, at its discretion, solicit other
pertinent information. Decisions in appeals hearings will be made by majority vote. Once the board determines that an appeal is warranted, it has 90 days to render a final decision. If this deadline is not met, the appeal will go automatically to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs for a
final decision.

The board’s decision may be appealed to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. The decision of the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs is final. Both the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Graduate Appeals Board are responsible for ensuring that he process is followed correctly and that all evidence is examined thoroughly, confidentially and in as timely a fashion as reasonably possible (this ordinarily means no later than the end of the
semester following the semester in which the appeal was initiated).

APPEAL SEQUENCE

Auditing a Course

Students may audit a graduate-level course under the following conditions:

• there must be space available
• the student must hold at least a bachelor’s degree
• permission must be granted by the program director
• a course registration form must be submitted to the program director, with the letters AU noted in lieu of credit hours

The charge for auditing a graduate course is $75 per credit. An audit symbol will be recorded on the student’s transcript and cannot subsequently be changed to a letter grade.

Academic Probation

Should a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) fall below 3.0, he or she may be placed on academic probation until such time as his or her cumulative GPA rises to 3.0 or above. Students who do not maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for two or more sessions may be academically dismissed from the program at the sole discretion of the program director. All academic dismissals are final and may not be appealed.

Incomplete Grades

A designation of I (incomplete) may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor and the program director if circumstances prevent the graduate student from completing a course on time. An I becomes an F and is entered as such on the official transcript if the Incomplete is not removed by the end of the semester following the one in which the incomplete was assigned. In extreme circumstances, a student may request an extension of the incomplete. Students who do not satisfy the Incomplete must re-register for the course.

Failing Grades

A student is permitted one failing grade (F, FA, or I converted to F). Two failing grades on a transcript will typically result in academic dismissal from the program

Drop/Add Policy

Any course dropped during the week before classes begin or during the add/drop period will be assessed a $25 fee. For 15-week courses, students may drop and add courses without academic penalty through the first two weeks of classes. If a student drops/adds prior to the first class there is a 100% refund; after the first class meeting–80%; beyond the second class meeting–no refund.

For 5 and 8-week courses, students may add/drop a class through the first week of classes. If a student drops prior to the first class there is a 100% refund; after the first class meeting–80%; beyond the first week there is no refund.

Drop/Add forms are available online at www.msmary.edu/mountgrad and must be signed by the course instructor and the program director.

Course Withdrawal Policy

For 15-week courses, students who seek to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period closes must submit to the program director a withdrawal form signed by the instructor of the course in question. Withdrawal from class after the end of the 10th week is allowed only in cases of serious illness or other emergencies and must be approved by the director of graduate studies. No adjustment in tuition (full- or part-time) is made as a result of withdrawal from a class. A grade of W will appear on the student’s transcript.

For 5 and 8-week courses, students may withdraw from a course during the first three weeks of any session. In such cases, a grade of W is entered on the student’s record. “Withdraw” after the first three weeks of a 5 or 8-week course is normally reserved for cases of serious illness or other emergencies.

Withdraw requests must be received in writing to be considered official. Failure to attend a class session does not constitute a withdrawal. A withdrawal is effective the date it is received by the Registrar’s office.

Graduation with Distinction

Graduate degrees conferred by the University are awarded with distinction for exceptional quality. Graduation with distinction is awarded to those students who earn a cumulative graduate grade point average of 4.0.

Visiting Students (those enrolled in graduate programs from other colleges)

• Complete an application for admission.
• Request a “letter of good standing” from the college or university you are currently enrolled in or submit official undergraduate transcripts to the graduate program office.

International Students

Mount St. Mary’s seeks and encourages the cultural diversity that international students bring to the program.

• Prior to being eligible for admission, all non-U.S. citizen students must have achieved a score of 83 (web-based test) or 213 (computer-based) on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Please submit copies of scores and have official results sent directly from the testing agency.
• Please submit certified copies in English translation from World Education Services (www.) wes.orgof secondary-level courses and grades, state or national examination results, and the appropriate diploma or certificate received in secondary school.
• Students requiring an I-20 form should request an application through the registrar’s office: Registrar, Mount St. Mary’s University, 16300 Old Emmitsburg Road, Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Tel: (301) 447-5215, Email: registrar@msmary.edu