Students must meet the degree requirements of the catalog in effect the semester/term they began course work and were admitted to that degree program. Students may opt to select a later catalog for a year in which they were enrolled. Changing to a later catalog must be officially requested through the Office of the University Registrar. Students have a one semester grace period to assess the changes in their new requirements during which they may return to their original catalog. After the grace period, the change in catalog year is irreversible. Other than the degree requirements, students must adhere to the academic requirements and to policies and procedures in place in the current catalog. Such requirements include, but are not limited to, course pre-requisites, minimum grades for transfer work, probation and suspension requirements, etc. Statements in the catalog are for informational purposes and should not be considered as the basis for a contract between students and the university. Information regarding any changes in degree programs, graduation requirements, or academic policies is made available by the appropriate academic units. An interrupted enrollment of two semesters requires students to reapply for admission and to re-enroll under subsequent catalogs.
The university honors its published academic policies and programs, including required courses for graduation. The student is responsible for his or her program, including meeting the published requirements and deadlines. The university assists the student in making appropriate decisions by providing academic advising. However, the decisions made in the academic advising process are those of the student.
Class attendance policies are determined by each instructor and shall be included on the course syllabus distributed at the beginning of each term. The university recommends as a minimal policy that students who are absent 20 percent of the course should be failed. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a course in which they are registered may be administratively dropped, unless they make arrangements with the instructor prior to the first day of class.
Students must notify the university of any change in their addresses and phone numbers. Such changes may be made via WebAdvisor, students' Chapman e-mail, or at the Office of the University Registrar.
Admission is based upon possession of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution and the fulfillment of requirements as specified for each program.
Broad program prerequisites and specific course prerequisites are intended to improve the educational experience of the learner. The university recognizes that educational differences exist among individuals and encourages graduate students to work closely with their academic advisors to plan for personal needs and academic excellence.
Degrees and credentials are granted on evidence of intellectual growth and development rather than solely on the basis of formal course credits. Fulfillment of the minimum course requirements set forth cannot, therefore, be regarded as the sole requisite of a degree or credential.
A minimum of 24 credits in the degree program must be completed at Chapman University for all graduate degrees. For specific program requirements, please refer to the appropriate program section. These credits do not include courses taken to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Students in credential programs are required to complete a minimum of two-thirds of the program at Chapman.
No grade below 2.000 "C" is acceptable toward a degree or credential, but is included in calculating the overall grade point average. All courses must be taken for a letter grade unless specifically noted otherwise in the course description.
The following are university guidelines; some programs specify more stringent policies. Please refer to appropriate program section.
Students requesting a change of program are required to follow all readmission policies and procedures, as indicated in the Graduate Catalog, prior to completing course work.
The following regulations govern the earning of a second master’s degree from Chapman University:
Students completing a second emphasis area within one master’s degree program may not use previously completed course work for one emphasis to fulfill the requirements of a second emphasis.
If a comprehensive examination is required for the second emphasis area, the student will be required to complete the examination for each emphasis.
Advancement to candidacy is required for some degree programs. Please consult the appropriate program section of the catalog for specific requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to submit an application for Advancement to Candidacy to the program’s department office.
The thesis or project is a requirement of some of the master’s degree programs.
Students writing a thesis or project as part of their master’s degree will work closely with their faculty advisor who will arrange for a review committee. Programs that offer a thesis option require an oral defense of the thesis with the review committee. Please observe the printed deadlines for submitting an Intent to Graduate form when your thesis or project is near completion. Two copies of the completed thesis (three copies if a bound personal copy is being requested; see number 5 below) should be brought to the library for binding and distribution. A final grade for the thesis course will not be issued until after submission of the thesis for binding.
Contact individual department for specific thesis/project and comprehensive examination requirements.
All requirements for graduate degrees and credential programs, including courses accepted for transfer credit from other institutions, must be completed within a seven-year period. To request an extension, a student must submit in writing a petition for an extension of the seven-year limit to the Office of the Chancellor. The student’s program advisor must submit a written statement of support for the petition.
A full academic load for graduate and credential students, other than MBA students, is defined as 9 credits per regular semester as well as summer session. First year EMBA students have a full academic load at eight credits per semester. For second year EMBA students, the fall semester full academic load is eight credits while the spring semester full academic load is nine credits. A full academic load for interterm is three credits; students may take up to a maximum of four credits in interterm.
Reading and Conference Courses
Reading and conference courses are offered only when absolutely necessary to matriculated senior or graduate students. The courses may be taken only for the purpose of meeting graduation or credential requirements by students who could not meet the requirements because of circumstances beyond their control. They are not offered to resolve scheduling conflicts with other classes, or work, or to complete a schedule.
To enroll in reading and conference courses, students must submit a completed reading and conference form (available online or in the Office of the University Registrar) with the signatures of their academic advisor, department chair of the course, and course instructor. After receiving approval, the student must submit the completed form to the Office of the University Registrar. A minimum of five hours of instruction for each credit is required for reading and conference courses.
Individual Study and Research ("Independent Study")
Individual study and research is offered to students to research particular topics that are not provided for by regular curriculum offerings.
To enroll in individual study and research courses, students must submit a completed Individual Study form (available in the Office of the University Registrar) with the signatures of their academic advisor, department chair, and the course instructor. After receiving approval, the student must submit the competed form to the Office of the University Registrar. Students should spend 40 to 50 hours in instruction and research for each credit of individual study.
Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a course in which they are registered may be administratively dropped, unless they make arrangements with the instructor prior to the first day of class. Students who do not attend the first two weeks of class will be administratively dropped from the course if identified by the instructor as not having attended. Students should contact the instructor if a possible error has been made regarding an administrative drop.
During official registration dates, students may initially register for courses, add courses, or drop courses via WebAdvisor in accordance with their priority registration access. Being placed by an instructor on the course roll does not constitute being officially registered for the course. Students can officially register only through WebAdvisor or at the Office of the University Registrar. After the semester/term add deadline, students may not attend courses without being officially enrolled in the course.
If a course is dropped during the first two weeks of the semester (see academic calendar for corresponding dates for summer and interterm), no record of the course is posted to the student’s transcript. Students who officially drop or withdraw from a course between the third and the tenth week of standard semesters will receive a "W" on their transcripts indicating the withdrawal. Students cannot drop a course beyond the tenth week of the semester. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw officially from a course or all courses. Failure to attend a course does not constitute a withdrawal. Students who stop attending courses without officially withdrawing will receive a grade of "FW," failure to withdraw, which is calculated the same as an "F" grade.
After initial registration in a course, in order to change the grading basis (e.g., to "P/NP") students must submit a change of grading system form to the Office of the University Registrar by the end of the tenth week for fall and spring semesters. (See academic calendar for corresponding dates for interterm and summer semesters.) Changes in grading basis cannot be done via WebAdvisor. Once a course is graded, students cannot request a change in grading option. Certain courses require letter grades only, while certain courses allow only Pass/No Pass as the grading option. Such restrictions are noted in the course descriptions.
A student who satisfactorily completes a "P/NP" course will receive a "P" grade. Credit will be granted. However, no grade points are assigned, and the grade is not computed in the grade-point average. "P" grades are equivalent to a "C" grade or higher.
A grade of "NP" (no pass) will be given when the requirements for credit in the course have not been satisfied at the level of "C" or higher. "NP" grades are given for "C-" and below. No credit is granted, no grade points are assigned, and the "NP" is not computed in the grade-point average.
Students who take a course Pass/No Pass, cease attending part way through the semester, and fail to officially withdraw from the course will receive an "FW" grade. "FW" is computed in the grade point average as an "F."
Students may audit a class if they choose to do so. No credit is earned from audited classes. A notation of “AU” is assigned to audited classes, which is not used in computing the grade point average. Course requisites are enforced in determination of registration eligibility for the course. Audit fees may be assessed. It is strongly recommended that students confer with their advisors prior to officially auditing a course.
No preregistration is allowed for courses taken as audit. Students must use the official registration form and obtain the faculty member's signature to register for a course; deadline for such a transaction is the same as the add/drop deadline for regular courses for all terms. Course requirements such as homework, exams, and papers are not graded by the instructor for students who are auditing a course.
The grade of Incomplete may be assigned by an instructor if a student, through circumstances beyond his or her control, has not completed a small portion of a course by the conclusion of the term. The student must request in writing the grade of Incomplete and must propose a date acceptable to the faculty member by which the missing work will be completed. A grade of Incomplete may not be assigned in order to give a student a chance to do more work to improve a grade. A grade of Incomplete may also be assigned by an instructor if academic integrity is in question at the time grades are due and the instructor requires more time to resolve the issue.
Withdrawal Procedures
Students must withdraw officially from course work either through WebAdvisor or the Office of the University Registrar before the end of the tenth week of a standard semester. (See academic calendar for deadline dates.) Students who stop attending courses without officially withdrawing will receive a grade of "FW," failure to withdraw, which is calculated as an "F" grade. Students who drop all courses and discontinue studies during the semester must also notify the dean and either request a leave of absence or officially withdraw from the program.
Only well-documented requests for tuition refund based upon extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the student (e.g., medical/ psychological issues, death in the family, or other family crisis) and with the support of the relevant faculty members', will be approved. Tuition refunds require the approval of the Chancellor.
Leave of Absence
If, for acceptable reasons, students find it necessary to interrupt progress toward their degrees for more than one semester (interterm and summer sessions do not constitute a semester), a leave of absence may be granted. A leave permits students to retain the right to elect requirements in effect at time of the leave or to adopt those in effect at time of re-entrance. Requests for Leave of Absence Forms are available at the appropriate dean’s office. All complete forms should be submitted to the appropriate dean’s office for review. (Students wishing to leave during a semester prior to the end of the withdrawal period must also officially drop all course work, either via WebAdvisor or at the Office of the University Registrar). The dean’s office will notify the Office of the University Registrar whether the leave application is approved. Minimum requirements for a leave of absence are as follows:
Readmission
Graduate students who have broken enrollment for a period of more than one semester without receiving an approved Leave of Absence are required to apply for readmission (interterm and summer sessions do not constitute a semester). Students returning from an absence of four years or more are required to submit a new set of official transcripts and current admission examination scores. All students are held to the degree requirements in effect at the time of their return.
Except as specified by department or school, any graduate-level course at Chapman may be repeated to improve the grade. The lower grade remains on the record with a notation that the course has been repeated. Only the higher grade and credit are computed in the grade-point average. Other than possible exceptions related to academic integrity violations, only the higher grade and credit are computed in the grade-point average. It is recommended that a course be repeated as soon as practical if it is to be taken for a higher grade. In exercising this option, a graduate student must repeat the course at Chapman University.
Grades and corresponding grade points follow:
|
grade |
point |
exceptional |
A |
4.0 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
good |
B+ |
3.3 |
|
B |
3.0 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
substandard |
C+ |
2.3 |
|
C |
2.0 |
unacceptable |
C- |
1.7 |
failing |
F |
0.0 |
failure to withdraw |
FW |
0.0 |
pass |
P |
|
no pass |
NP |
|
incomplete |
I |
|
withdraw |
W |
|
not reported |
NR |
|
audit |
AU |
|
satisfactory progress |
SP |
|
Students dropping a course in the prescribed manner after the add-drop period and on or before the final day to withdraw from a course (as stated in the academic calendar section) will receive a "W" notation.
The "FW" grade is assigned to students who cease attending part way through the semester but who do not officially withdraw via WebAdvisor or the Office of the University Registrar. "FW" is computed in the grade-point average as an "F." Students who take a course Pass/No Pass, cease attending part way through the semester, and fail to officially withdraw will receive the "FW" grade.
Note: By action of the Academic Council, all graduate work must be taken for a letter grade. Any exceptions to this policy will be noted in the course description of the specific course.
From September 1958 to September 1981, grade points were awarded as follows: A= 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Pluses and minuses were disregarded. Beginning September 1981, grade points are awarded as follows: A=4, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7*
*Grades of this level and below are considered unacceptable work for graduate students.
Until the fall semester 1971, lower–division courses were numbered 1 through 99; upper–division courses, 100 through 199; and graduate courses, 200 and above. Unless otherwise indicated on the transcript, courses numbered 100–199 gave graduate credit to students who had been admitted to graduate standing. Courses with numbers prefixed by X were taken in the Extended Day Division of the College (until 1959) and are to be regarded the same as those without the prefix.
Beginning in the fall semester 1971, courses are numbered as follows.
001–099 Remedial courses and courses not appropriate for college degree credit but designed to meet specific needs of individuals or groups where degree credit is not required. Remedial courses are noncredit courses.
100–299 Lower–division courses of freshman and sophomore level; freshman level 100–199 and sophomore level 200–299.
129, 229, 329, 429 These numbers indicate experimental course work offered by a department. Experimental courses are designed to offer additional opportunities to explore areas and subjects of special interest and may be repeated for credit if course content is different. Course titles, prerequisites, and credits may vary. Some courses require student lab fees. Specific course details will be listed in the course schedule.
194, 394 These numbers indicate course work offered through the Chapman Study Abroad program. Courses have been approved for credit but do not equate to any regular Chapman courses.
300–399 Upper–division courses of junior and senior level that do not yield graduate credit. Sophomores may enroll, provided they meet prerequisites and restrictions. Freshmen are admitted with written consent of advisor, instructor, and chair of department offering the course.
400–499 Upper–division courses of junior and senior level that yield graduate credit for graduate students. Freshman students may not enroll.
500-699 Graduate courses for graduate students and seniors meeting specific guidelines.
700-799 Post-master’s and doctoral courses.
199, 299, 399, 499 and 599 Individual study courses.
Chapman University is sensitive to the educational advantages of a flexible curriculum but is also conscious of a responsibility to ensure equity for all students. Permission to deviate from published regulations is neither automatic nor done as a formality; each request is considered on its own merits and in light of the petitioner's complete academic record. Internal guidelines have been established to help committee members with their deliberation on individual cases; these guidelines are listed in the Office of the University Registrar's website. The publication of these guidelines is intended to assist students, faculty advisors, academic advisors, and other university resources in deciding how and when to file a petition. These guidelines are not intended in any way to discourage or encourage someone to seek exception to university regulations, nor should it be inferred that these guidelines mean automatic approval of a petition request.
The Graduate Studies Committee and the Faculty Academic Council are responsible for creating academic policies and procedures within the university. A student's petition to deviate from general university policies is submitted to the department via a Graduate General Petition Form available in the department. After consideration at the department level the petition is forwarded to the Office of the University Registrar. Petitions are reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee as follows:
The decisions on petitions made by the Graduate Studies Committee are recorded within the student's record; students are notified by the Office of the University Registrar via the student's Chapman e-mail account. Please note that a fee may be assessed for certain petition types.
(See "Grade Review Policy" and "Probation and Dismissal Policy" for specific requirements.)
Each student has the right of academic appeal. For academic matters, the process normally begins with the faculty member involved, if appropriate. Appeals go to the department or program and then to the Graduate Studies Committee. For nonacademic matters, students should first discuss the matter with the head of the appropriate department (facilities management, business office, etc.) with appeals to the appropriate supervisor. For matters concerning disabled student services, students should contact the director of the Office of Disability Services at 714/744-7971.
Students may appeal a decision of the Graduate Studies Committee to the Office of the Chancellor by providing documented evidence demonstrating one or both of the following grounds for appeal:
Students who wish to appeal a decision of the Graduate Studies Committee must submit a written appeal to the Assistant Chancellor in the Office of the Chancellor within ten working days of the date they are notified of the decision of the committee. The written appeal must include the following:
The appeal and accompanying documents submitted to the Office of the Chancellor will be kept in the Office of the Chancellor and will not be returned to the student.
Students submitting an appeal to the Office of the Chancellor may request to meet with the Assistant Chancellor to discuss their appeal. This meeting should normally occur within five working days of submission of the materials described above. The Assistant Chancellor will consult with the Graduate Studies Committee in reviewing the appeal.
Students will be notified of the decision of the Office of the Chancellor in writing. The decision of the Office of the Chancellor on the student academic appeals is final, and there is no additional process of appeal.
(See "Grade Review Policy" and "Probation and Dismissal Policy" for specific deadlines and requirements.)
A student wishing to submit an appeal must present a petition and all relevant documentation within 45 days of notification of the action the student is appealing.
Requests for additional information must be provided by the student to the university within 30 days of receipt of request; failure to provide such documentation will result in a denial of the appeal.
Students who are dissatisfied with the action taken on their appeal have a maximum of 30 days after receipt of notification to request a reconsideration. Additional documentation or new information will be required.
Appeal petitions will receive a response as quickly as possible, and no later than 30 days of receipt by the Office of the Chancellor.
Application for Degree Conferral
Although a student may have completed all requirements, graduation is not automatic. Every degree candidate is required to file an application for degree conferral with the Office of the University Registrar and pay the appropriate fee. If the student should fail to complete graduation requirements by the intended graduation date, the student must immediately request a future graduation date. If a student fails to complete requirements and has not requested the application be moved to a future date, the application shall become void, and the student must file again when anticipating degree completion.
Submission of the application is done online via WebAdvisor. For information and application deadlines, go to www.chapman.edu/RegOffice/. Chapman confers degrees three times during the academic year: January 31, May 31, and August 31. All degree requirements must be completed by the last day of the month in which the degree is to be conferred.
Commencement
Formal university commencement ceremonies are held annually in May. To participate in the ceremonies, students must file a participation form with the Office of the Chancellor. To be eligible, at the time of the participation form deadline students, must have filed an application for degree conferral, and the student’s official program evaluation must indicate that the student is on course to complete all degree requirements satisfactorily (including comprehensive examination, thesis/project) by the commencement date. Students receiving degrees in January or at the end of the summer are entitled to participate in the following May commencement ceremonies.
No transcripts or diplomas are released to any student who has an unpaid balance to Chapman University or to any Chapman-sponsored agency, or who has not completed the required financial aid exit interview.
Diplomas are mailed out approximately two weeks after the date of conferral of the degree. This allows time for confirmation from the Office of the University Registrar that all degree requirements have been met. Under no circumstances will a diploma be released prior to the conferral date.
Unless otherwise allowed by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, all official transcripts are issued only with written permission of the student. Official transcript requests and information are available at www.chapman.edu/transcript.
Faculty members are responsible for ensuring an effective learning environment for all students in their classes, which encourages active student participation, including the right to raise questions and challenge information. Hence, faculty members also have the responsibility and authority to maintain appropriate student behavior. Classes are defined as including laboratories, internships, field placements, or any settings that can be designated as a learning environment, such as travel studies and field trips.
Consequently, if a student is considered to be threatening or disruptive in the classroom, behaves in a way that interferes with the learning of other students, or refuses to fulfill the academic requirements of the course, the faculty member has the right to have the student who demonstrates such behavior removed from the class, either by administrative withdrawal or by making arrangements for the student to complete the requirements in absentia.
The faculty member should immediately report the matter to the dean and department chair. The faculty member may also request the assistance of the Dean of Students to provide advice or to mediate the dispute.
A student who wishes to appeal the decision of the faculty member must submit the appeal in writing to the relevant academic dean within five working days of the decision. The dean will then conduct an investigation and respond to the student with a written decision within five working days. If during the appeal, the dean determines that the faculty member is possibly at fault, the dean may address the situation directly with the faculty member or may refer the matter to the Chancellor for disposition. If the student is dissatisfied with this outcome, he or she may submit a written appeal to the Chancellor, whose decision in these matters is final and binding. During this period of appeal, the student may not return to class. Even if the student's appeal is successful, the student may not return to the class unless the faculty member has specifically agreed to this. If the Chancellor upholds the earlier decision, the student may still be subject to the student conduct system for further conduct review at the discretion of the Dean of Students.
Chapman University is a community of scholars that emphasizes the mutual responsibility of all members to seek knowledge honestly and in good faith. Students are responsible for doing their own work, and academic dishonesty of any kind will be subject to sanction by the instructor and referral to the university's Academic Integrity Committee, which may impose additional sanctions including expulsion. Please see Appendix 3 of the Student Conduct Code for a full description of Chapman University's Academic Integrity Policy.
Academic Integrity Violations
Academic dishonesty can take a number of forms including, but not limited to the following:
Procedures for Hearing and Investigation
The Academic Integrity Committee (AIC) is charged by the Faculty Senate under the Faculty Constitution and bylaws to be responsible for defining academic integrity and establishing policies and procedures for reporting, hearing, and sanctioning alleged violations of academic integrity. The AIC also will make investigations and determinations of alleged violations of academic integrity policies and invoke the appropriate sanction as recommended by Chapman University’s Policy on Academic Integrity. The Committee includes at least three full-time faculty members, three students, ideally one of whom is a member of the student governance organization, and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Dean of Students or his/her designee (ex-officio, non-voting). The Chair will be elected from among the returning faculty members and serve on the Academic Council. Voting members are the student and faculty members. The academic integrity policy may be superseded by the policies developed by individual graduate programs.
A faculty member who suspects or has evidence of a violation of the academic integrity policy arranges a meeting on the academic integrity violation with the student. In the meeting, the faculty member, the student, and an optional faculty designee of the Academic Integrity Committee are present. At the meeting, the faculty member shall present evidence in support of the charge against the student. The student shall be given the opportunity to respond and to present evidence to refute the charge. At the conclusion of the meeting, the faculty member may either dismiss the charge or determine whether it is more likely than not that the student has violated the Academic Integrity Policy, and if so, charge the student with a violation of academic integrity. If the student is found responsible, the faculty member may impose a suitable grade punishment, including failure in the course. Thereafter, the student receives a formal letter of sanction from the Academic Integrity Committee along with information for contesting the instructor's finding and sanction. The student will be encouraged to contact the Dean of Students to discuss the situation prior to contesting the case.
Academic Integrity Sanctions
The usual order of recommended sanctions for academic integrity violations is as follows:
The AIC sanction letter will be placed in the student's file in the Office of the Chancellor, along with the instructor's report. A copy of the letter will also be sent to the Dean of Students. False statements made during the course of the process may result in additional sanctions and a referral to the Dean of Students for a Student Conduct Code violation.
Examples of academic integrity violations and recommended sanctions can be found in Appendix 6A of the Student Conduct Code.
Contesting an Instructor's Finding and Sanction to the AIC
If the student accepts responsibility for the instructor's charge and the instructor-imposed sanction, the matter is immediately resolved. If the allegation or determined violation represents a second violation of the Academic Integrity Policy, the AIC will review the case regardless of whether the student decides to contest the instructor's finding.
If the student disagrees with the finding or the sanction of the instructor, the student can contest the finding or sanction to the AIC within ten business days from the date of the sanction letter. In exceptional circumstances, a student may request additional time to contest the instructor's finding or sanction by contacting aic@chapman.edu or by sending a letter to the Office of the Chancellor, addressed to the AIC chair. Requests for extensions must be made within ten business days of the date of the sanction letter.
A student who decides to contest the instructor's finding or sanction must prepare a written document that includes evidence in support of the argument and that is thoughtful, well reasoned, and substantive. The document must demonstrate effectively the grounds for contesting the instructor's finding or sanction. The option to contest an instructor's finding and be heard by the AIC is not granted automatically. Each request is considered by the AIC chair, who will evaluate whether any of the following circumstances exists:
The AIC chair will notify the student in writing at least five business days in advance of the scheduled hearing date if a hearing is to be held. If the AIC hears the student's case, the following individuals will participate: (1) the AIC Chair and the AIC members; (2) the student; (3) any other persons called by the AIC Chair including material witnesses (such as the faculty member) whom the student or AIC members deem pertinent to the case. The student may also invite one person to provide support (e.g., friend or family member). This support person may not speak for the student, and this individual may not be an attorney.
Should the student fail to appear before the AIC, the AIC shall have full authority to proceed in the student's absence. Any student who misses the scheduled hearing with the AIC forfeits the right to appeal the AIC's decision to the Office of the Chancellor.
After the student has presented his or her case and all questions have been addressed, the student will be excused, and the AIC will deliberate. Deliberation may result in the following:
After the AIC makes its decision, the chair will notify the student. Decisions of the AIC are based on the standard of proof whether it is more likely than not that the student violated the Academic Integrity Policy of Chapman University.
Appeal of AIC Decision
If unsatisfied with the outcome of the AIC hearing to contest the instructor's finding or sanction, the student may appeal the decision of the Academic Integrity Committee to the Office of the Chancellor within five business days of the date the AIC decision letter was sent. In exceptional circumstances, a student may file a request for an extension to the appeal period by contacting aic@chapman.edu or by sending a letter to the Office of the Chancellor. Requests for extensions must be made within the appeal period.
Appeals are not granted automatically, they must be thoughtful, well reasoned, and substantive, and they must demonstrate that at least one of the following criteria exists:
The Office of the Chancellor has the final authority on all Academic Integrity Policy violation cases.
Professors, as experts in their fields, have the final authority in assigning student grades except for cases involving clear evidence of capricious grading or failure to follow the professional standards of the discipline.
Faculty members may change final grades after submission to the Office of the University Registrar only for clerical error. Furthermore, additional work may not be assigned to enable the student to receive a higher grade.
However, a student who believes he or she has received a grade based on capricious or unprofessional grading may appeal personally to the instructor for an explanation of the grade and for possible reconsideration. As a professional scholar and educator, the instructor should be able to explain the grading criteria, how the criteria meet the standards of the discipline, and how the individual student’s grade derives from these criteria.
If after consulting with the instructor the grade dispute is not resolved or if the student has made a good faith effort to contact the instructor and has received no response, the student may appeal directly to the department chair of the academic unit in which the course was offered (or the associate dean if there is no department chair). All grade appeals must be filed in writing within 30 days from the date that the grade was assigned. The department chair may deny the student petition, confer directly with the instructor of record in the course to resolve the dispute, form a faculty committee to review the grade, or refer the petition to the dean's office of the school or college of the department. If the grade dispute is decided at the departmental level, the student may further appeal the decision directly to the dean's office. The dean's office will make the final college-level decision on the petition.
After the dean's office notifies the student of its decision, the student has two weeks to request a review by the Graduate Studies Committee. Such a request may be made only if compelling new evidence appears or there is substantive evidence that the petition process was not followed in accordance with the grade challenge policy. The Graduate Studies Committee Council will render a final decision.
Changes in grades may only occur through the petition process initiated by individual students. Any newly assigned grades will be recorded in the student's official record.