Students must meet the degree requirements (General Education and major) of the catalog under which they matriculated or may select a later catalog for a year in which they are 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. Statements in the catalog are for informational purposes and should not be considered as the basis of a contract between students and the university. Other than the degree requirements and limitation of credit, students must adhere to the academic requirements, policies, and procedures in place in the current catalog. Such requirements include but are not limited to course prerequisites, minimum grades for transfer work, probation and suspension requirements. Information regarding any changes in degree programs, graduation requirements, or academic policies will be made available by the Office of the University Registrar and the appropriate academic departments.
A full‑time undergraduate degree–seeking student is one who carries a minimum of 12 credits per semester. A part‑time undergraduate degree–seeking student is one who carries fewer than 12 credits per semester. During interterm, a student carrying a minimum of 3 credits is considered a full-time student.
Permit‑to‑register students are not seeking a degree or credential but are allowed to take courses during the semester. Undergraduate permit students may take no more than 9 credits per semester and may take no more than 27 credits without being officially admitted. Permit–to–register students may register for courses two weeks prior to the start of the semester in which they intend to take course work. Permit-to-register students wishing to audit courses should refer to the "Course Audit" section for policies and deadlines.
Students who have completed fewer than 30 credits are considered freshmen; 30–59.9 credits are sophomores; 60–89.9 credits are juniors; 90+ credits are seniors.
Students must notify the university of any change in their addresses or phone numbers. Such changes may be made using WebAdvisor, the student's Chapman e‑mail, or at the Office of the University Registrar.
Class attendance policies are determined by each instructor and shall be included in 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.
(See "Undergraduate Admission.")
Undergraduate students are allowed to enroll in 500‑and 600‑level courses according to the following guidelines:
During regular semesters students may enroll in a maximum of 18 credits. Enrollment in 18.5 credits or more, including course work concurrently enrolled at other institutions, requires at least a 3.000 Chapman grade‑point average, completion of a minimum of 15 credits of graded course work at Chapman, and approval of an academic advisor. A maximum of 21 credits during a regular semester may be taken, including course work concurrently enrolled at other institutions. Additional tuition is charged for registration in more than 18 credits taken at Chapman. During interterm session, students may take up to a maximum of 4 credits. Note: Any course work taken at another institution placing a student in an overload status that is not reported may nullify standard transfer of credit policy. Contact the Office of the University Registrar regarding concurrent course approval processes.
Students admitted provisionally or currently on Chapman academic probation may enroll in no more than a total of 14 credits per semester at Chapman and concurrently at other institutions.
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 and 499 Individual study courses.
Currently enrolled students and students returning from an interrupted enrollment are assigned registration times based upon their completed credits by the last term of attendance at Chapman. Students may register on or after their assigned time via the web or at a later time in person at the Office of the University Registrar. Registration is not complete until all charges are paid or arrangements have been made in the Business Office.
New students and students returning to Chapman outside the interrupted enrollment limitations will be assigned registration times following times assigned to currently enrolled students.
Students in integrated bridge master's programs are allowed to enroll in 500‑or‑600‑level courses on approval from the school or department.
Students may add or drop courses during the add/drop period stated in the academic calendar (see "Academic Calendar" section in the catalog) either via WebAdvisor or in person at the Office of the University Registrar, depending upon course requirements or restrictions. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on the student’s academic transcript. 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 add deadline, students may not attend courses without being officially enrolled in the course.
Students who officially withdraw from a course between the third and the tenth week of a regular term (see "Academic Calendar" for interterm and summer deadlines) will receive a "W" on their transcripts, indicating the withdrawal. Students cannot drop a course after the tenth week of a regular semester. (See "Academic Calendar" for interterm and summer deadlines.) 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 as an "F" grade.
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 or the class is required per university-wide policy (e.g. Math 98 or Math 99). Students should contact the instructor if a possible error has been made regarding an administrative drop.
Grades and corresponding grade points follow:
|
grade |
point |
excellent |
A |
4.0 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
3.3 |
very good |
B |
3.0 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
2.3 |
satisfactory |
C |
2.0 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
unsatisfactory |
D+ |
1.3 |
|
D |
1.0 |
minimum passing |
D- |
0.7 |
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 an "FW" grade.
Undergraduates may take up to 6 semester credits per year on a Pass/No Pass basis, excluding interterm courses and courses offered only on a Pass/No Pass basis. Students should consult with the department chair regarding the choice of "P/NP" grading for courses in the major. Some courses require letter grades only, and other courses allow only Pass/No Pass as the grading option. Such restrictions are noted in the course descriptions.
After initial registration in a course, in order to change the grading basis (e.g., to "P/NP") students must submit a registration 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.
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 it 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 assigned 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 "N/P" 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 withdraw officially from the course will receive an "FW" grade. "FW" is computed in the grade point average as an "F."
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 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.
The deadline for removal of an Incomplete is one year from the first day of the term in which the Incomplete was recorded, unless a shorter period of time is specified by the instructor. In certain circumstances where the student must attend the class to fulfill the remaining requirements, and when the course is not offered every semester, at the instructor’s discretion, the deadline for removal of the Incomplete will be one year from the end of the term in which the Incomplete was recorded. The deadline determined by the faculty member must be specified at the time of original submission of the incomplete grade. A copy must also be provided to the student. When issuing an Incomplete grade, instructors will issue the grade the student would have earned by assessing scores on all graded requirements, preceded by an "I" (e.g. "IC-", "ID+"). This grade is determined by including all zero points for all missing assignments in the calculation of the final grade. For final grades other than "I" (see below) students will receive credit for the course at the time the initial grade is entered. The initial grade is calculated in both the term and cumulative GPA, to be updated if and when the subsequent grade is submitted. If the agreed upon remaining course work is not completed in the period allotted, the initial grade issued, without the "I", will become the grade of record.
If the instructor determines that the student would receive an "F" grade based upon the zero point calculation, then an "I" grade is entered as the final grade, with zero credit given and zero points calculated. "I" grades will become "F" or "NP" if the agreed upon course work is not completed in the period allotted.
Any undergraduate–level course numbered 100–499 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, "P" grades will be calculated as described in the "Pass/No Pass" section and will only be considered the higher grade in cases where the original grade was "C–" or below. "NP" grades will never be considered as the higher grade, and the original grade will remain in effect. Credit is given only once for a repeated course, except as noted in the course description. 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, an undergraduate student must repeat the course at Chapman University. Grades earned at Chapman remain counted in the student’s grade‑point average if the course work is repeated at another institution.
Students may audit courses if they choose to do so. No credit is earned from audited classes. A notation of “AU” is assigned to audited classes, and is not used in computing the grade‑point average. Course requisites are enforced in the determination of registration eligibility for the course. Audit fees will be assessed. It is strongly recommended that students confer with their advisor 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 as audit; the 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.
All final exams must be taken during the final exams week and according to the final exams schedule posted on the web at www.chapman.edu/academics/schedules.asp.
Students scheduled for three or more finals on one day may ask the instructors of the courses with finals scheduled in the middle of the day to provide an alternative date and time that also occurs during finals week. These requests should be made two or more weeks before the last day of class. Faculty are strongly encouraged to accommodate these students.
Reading and Conference Courses
Reading and conference courses are offered only when absolutely necessary to matriculated seniors 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 and from the Office of the University Registrar) with the signatures of their academic adviser, department chair of the course, and course instructor. After receiving approval, the student must submit a copy of the 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
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, students must submit a completed individual study and research form (available from the Office of the University Registrar) with the signatures of their academic adviser, department chair of the course, and course instructor. After receiving approval, the student must submit the 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.
(For additional information, refer to "Graduation Requirements.")
Completion of the full CSU or University of California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (UC IGETC) certification, or an associate of arts degree from transfer (with embedded CSU/IGETC requirements) from a California community college, or equivalent GE transfer degree or certification from an out-of-state community college prior to matriculation satisfies the following GE areas:
Remaining areas include: two upper-division Inter/Multidisciplinary Cluster courses and Language Study.
Transfer credit is evaluated on a course‑by‑course basis. Based on total transferable credits, students transferring to Chapman with 60+ credits prior to matriculation will satisfy the following GE areas:
Students transferring to Chapman with 30 to 59 credits prior to matriculation will satisfy the following GE areas:
Students transferring to Chapman with 15 to29 credits prior to matriculation will satisfy Freshman Foundations.
Chapman University accepts academic credit earned at international institutions that are fully accredited by their countries Ministries of Education –but only if the courses meet general transfer credit policies. Evaluation of credit is done at the time of admission based on official transcripts.
Course equivalencies:
Students requesting credit for specific Chapman course equivalencies must include detailed course descriptions in English with their transcripts.
English Language Courses:
Credit is not awarded for course work in English language instruction abroad.
General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-level credit:
Chapman recognizes the British A-Level curriculum as lower-division degree-applicable credit. Two semesters’ worth of credit is awarded per subject for grades C and higher and one semester of credit for AS-Advanced Subsidiary. No credit is granted for any grades below a "C."
Students must provide their original A-level certificates to have their scores evaluated for credit. Provisional certificates or "statement of provisional results" are not accepted to award credit but may be submitted for unofficial evaluation to determine placement or prerequisites if official certificates are not available prior to the start of the first semester at Chapman. Exam descriptions are required for course equivalency designation.
Chapman recognizes the need for educational flexibility and opportunity. The university accepts the use of national standardized and recognized testing instruments to measure knowledge acquired outside the classroom. Credit will be given only for exams that meet Chapman standards. Regarding AP, IB, CLEP, and DSST examinations and acceptable minimum scores for approved exams, score requirements, and credit granted, see the Office of the University Registrar website under "Transfer Credit and Articulation."
Credit is awarded for approved AP exams that meet the minimum score requirements. Students must submit an official AP score report to Chapman University for credit consideration.
Credit is awarded for approved IB exams that meet the minimum score and diploma requirements. Students must submit an official IB score report or diploma transcript to Chapman University for credit consideration.
Credit is awarded for approved CLEP or DSST examinations and may apply toward general education requirements. Students seeking to fulfill major requirements must have preapproval from the department chair. Elective credit only will be awarded for CLEP general exams. Please refer to the "Regulations Governing Credit by Examination" section for additional policies related to earning credit by exam. For information regarding the availability and scheduling of DSST exams contact the Tutoring, Learning, and Testing (TLT) Center.
Subject Examinations
Chapman awards credit to students who score at or above the fiftieth percentile on approved CLEP and DANTES Subject Examinations. For more information, contact the Academic Advising Center. Only elective credit will be awarded for CLEP general exams.
Brigham Young University's Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS) is accepted by Chapman to demonstrate foreign language proficiency. Students wishing to waive out of the Language Study requirement may do so with a passing score at the 201 level of the BYU FLATS. No credit is awarded. Tests are available by correspondence through the Testing Office in the Tutoring, Learning, and Testing (TLT) Center.
Subject matter examinations developed by academic departments at Chapman to measure achievement in specific areas are available for some courses through the Testing Office in the Tutoring, Learning, and Testing (TLT) Center. Proficiency in subject matter can be used to meet prerequisites or waive specific course requirements. No credit is awarded.
Students who decide to study abroad without enrolling in one of Chapman University’s study-abroad programs should be sure to read the information posted on the Office of the University Registrar’s website regarding transfer of credit. Interested students are required to submit forms and information to the Center for Global Education, to the Office of the University Registrar, to the Dean of Students Office, and to other campus offices according to the terms outlined by the program. Student applicants must provide the name of the intended university program and the location of the study abroad site and must have courses reviewed for transfer before departure. All independent study abroad credits will be considered transfer credit and are subject to transfer policy described in the current catalog. Depending on previously transferred credits, academic program, completed credits, class level, and catalog year, students may not be eligible to earn additional credit in transfer.
International internship credit and independent study credit as part of an independent study abroad program will not be accepted in transfer. Transcripts from overseas institutions and programs must be in English with accompanying credit and grade conversions. If the transcript is in a foreign language, the independent study abroad participant will be responsible for paying a translation-service fee. Advising and transfer resources are limited for students selecting programs that are not affiliated with Chapman.
Students requesting preapproval or reevaluation of transfer credit should refer to the Office of the University Registrar webpage. Detailed information regarding transfer credit policies and procedures is available under "Transfer Credit and Articulation."
Any student whose term or cumulative GPA at Chapman drops below 2.000 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation may enroll in no more than 14 semester credits each term they are on probation. In addition, students on academic probation will be expected to consult with the Academic Advising Center for guidance and assistance regarding methods of improving their academic status. Optimally, such consultation should occur no later than two weeks into the semester in which the student has been placed on probation.
(Veterans: See Veteran’s section of the catalog regarding academic probation and suspension.)
Any student whose term or cumulative GPA at Chapman has not reached at least 2.000 for two consecutive semesters is subject to academic dismissal from the university. Students who wish to appeal an academic dismissal must demonstrate both extraordinary circumstances explaining the unsatisfactory academic performance and a likelihood of success if allowed to continue at Chapman.
Dismissed students who leave Chapman to pursue educational opportunities elsewhere and seek to return must demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success if allowed to return. Such likelihood of success may be demonstrated in part by successfully completing at another regionally accredited institution a minimum of 12 letter graded transferable credits in one term with a term GPA of at least 2.400, with no grade lower than a "C." Verification of this information through an official transcript must accompany the petition for reinstatement. Prior to beginning course work elsewhere, it is recommended that students contact the Academic Advising Center to review the course work they plan on taking outside Chapman University to ensure the courses fulfill the requirements set forth by Chapman.
Students who have been awarded financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits for the coming semester are advised that academic dismissal carries with it the cancellation of any financial aid or benefits. Students who are reinstated may be reconsidered for financial aid at that time. However, reinstatement does not necessarily mean that financial aid will be available for that semester or any future semester.
Students seeking to return within two years of dismissal must submit their requests to be reinstated to the Student Standards Committee via the Office of the University Registrar; students seeking to return after being gone more than two years from the time of dismissal must reapply for admission via the Office of Admission. All students who return after academic dismissal will be placed in a probation status.
It is the responsibility of each graduating student to refer to the degree audit in Web Advisor to check which requirements have been completed and which requirements still need to be completed. A student may not shift this responsibility to an advisor or to the staff of the Office of the University Registrar.
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. If the student should fail to complete 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 refile when anticipating degree completion.
Submission of the application is done online via WebAdvisor. For information and application deadlines, go to www.chapman.edu/RegOffice/. All degree requirements, must be completed by the last day of the month in which the degree is to be conferred. Work completed at external institutions must be received on or before the conferral date in order to be considered in meeting degree requirements.
Formal university commencement ceremonies are held annually in May. To participate in 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 at mid–year or at the end of the summer are entitled to participate in the following May's commencement ceremonies.
Students who achieve outstanding performance in their major are eligible for consideration for departmental honors. Inquire at your department about the particular requirements.
See the "General Information" sectionof the catalog.
A gift of the class of 1929, the Cheverton Trophy displays the name of the graduating senior who has earned at Chapman at least 48 credits, has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.700, has made outstanding contributions to student activities, exhibits leadership skills, and best represents the spirit of Chapman. The trophy remains on permanent display at the university.
Published at the end of each semester, the Chancellor's List includes the names of all full–time students who maintain a 3.600 GPA or higher in at least 12 credits of residence course work taken for a letter grade. This excludes continuing education and courses by examination. Assigned Incompletes must have grades recorded within 30 days after the end of the semester to be considered for the Chancellor’s List.
A student with superior academic achievement throughout his or her university career may be graduated with university honors. To be eligible for honors, the student must have a Chapman grade‑point average and cumulative grade‑point average, including all transfer work, at or above the specific honors criterion. A minimum of 54 credits must be Chapman course work, taken for letter grades. Categories of honors are cum laude (3.500 GPA), magna cum laude (3.700 GPA), and summa cum laude (3.900 GPA). Continuing education courses will not be counted for residence credit. For notation of honors at the May commencement ceremony, a student must have all degree requirements completed or pending for May conferral date, including a minimum of 54 letter‑graded Chapman credits.
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. Unofficial transcripts are available only via WebAdvisor.
Chapman’s policy regarding confidentiality is in keeping with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which affords student's certain rights with respect to their education records, a summary of which follows:
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. School officials are individuals or entities working for or on the behalf of Chapman University. 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.
As allowed within FERPA guidelines, Chapman University may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
At its discretion, Chapman University may provide public directory Information in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Directory information is defined as information that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. Students may withhold directory information by notifying the University Registrar in writing.
A complete text of Chapman’s Annual Notification to Students of their Rights under FERPA is contained on the web page of the Office of the University Registrar.
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 appropriate 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 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 deliberations on individual cases. 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 Faculty Academic Council is responsible for creating academic policies and procedures within the university. A student's petition to deviate from general university policies is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar via an Undergraduate General Petition Form. These forms may be secured online at www.chapman.edu/RegOffice/OC/forms.asp or at the Office of the University Registrar. Initial petition review is by the Student Standards Petitions sub‑Committee. Petitions requiring further review are sent to the appropriate review authority, as follows:
Student Standards Committee:
Academic Council:
General Education Committee:
The decisions on petitions/requests made by the above units are recorded in the student's record. Please note that a fee may be assessed for certain petition types.
Students may appeal a decision of the Academic Council, General Education Committee, or Student Standards Committee by providing documented evidence demonstrating one or both of the following grounds for appeal:
Students who wish to appeal a decision of the Academic Council, General Education Committee, or Student Standards 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 presiding council or 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 appeals. This meeting should normally occur within five working days of submission of the materials described above. The Assistant Chancellor will consult with the presiding Council, or 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.
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 Student Standards Committee. Such a request can only be made when compelling new evidence that was not previously available or if there is substantive evidence that the petition process was not followed in accordance with the grade challenge policy. The Student Standards Committee will render a final decision.
Changes in grades can occur only through the petition process initiated by individual 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:
copying from the work of another student, with or without that student's consent
using notes or other unauthorized material during a test period
giving or receiving assistance from another when it is expected the student will perform his or her own work
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 conduct investigations and make determinations of alleged violations of academic integrity policies and invoke the appropriate sanctions as recommended by Chapman University's Policy on Academic Integrity.
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 3 of the Student Conduct Code.
Contesting an Instructor's Finding or 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 e-mailing 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 e-mailing 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.
In accordance with Veterans Administration Regulation 14253 revised DVB Circular 20–75–84 dated August 14, 1975 (VA Regulations and Circular), Chapman adheres to the Guidelines for Institutions Enrolling Veterans and Eligible Persons: Standards for Maintaining Adequate Records and Policies for Satisfactory Progress, Previous Education and Training, Conduct, and Attendance.
Transcripts of college–level education are part of the record.
The records clearly indicate that appropriate credit has been granted with training periods proportionately shortened and VA so notified.
Chapman University maintains an official record of previous education and training of the veteran or eligible person which clearly indicates that appropriate credit has been given by the institution for previous education and training, with the length of the degree program shortened proportionately. The veteran and VA will be notified of this official evaluation of prior education or training.
Records show continued pursuit at the rate for which progress being made.
Records include final grades in each subject for each term or semester.
Accumulative permanent records are maintained to reflect grades in all subjects undertaken.
Students are not permitted to enroll repeatedly in courses, not attend, or withdraw without penalty. A veteran student may repeat a course in which a passing grade has been achieved only when a higher grade is required by the major.
The school records reflect the point in time when educational benefits should be discontinued for unsatisfactory progress, unsatisfactory conduct, and withdrawals.
The policy includes the grade‑point average (2.000 on a 4.0 scale) required for graduation.
A minimum grade point average (2.000 on a 4.0 scale) must be maintained to achieve credit for a given proportion of the course load. Academic probation and academic suspension are clearly delineated. Although a student eligible for dismissal may be allowed to continue on a probationary status beyond two terms, this does not guarantee the student would meet VA satisfactory progress requirements. A veteran student will be subject to an interruption of benefits after a probationary status of two terms, including the term when the probation status began. In addition, the VA is notified when a student is academically dismissed.
No veteran student will be considered to have made satisfactory progress when the student fails, receives no credit, or withdraws from all subjects undertaken when enrolled in two or more subjects, except when there are extenuating circumstances.
Records show withdrawal from any subject to include the last date of attendance.
Records show re‑enrollment in subjects from which there was a withdrawal and courses in which no credit was given.
Chapman maintains adequate attendance records for veterans enrolled in resident courses not leading to a standard college degree.