Gannon University

The following list indicates minimum University requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Please note that some programs specify additional requirements beyond these minimums. See descriptions of individual programs for any additional requirements.

1. At least 128 hours of academic work must be completed by the student, with an overall quality point average of not less than 2.0. Courses numbered below 100 are not used to meet the requirement.

2. The specific course requirements must be fulfilled as stipulated in each academic program. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in the field of concentration is required. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is also required for a successful completion of the minor.

3. At least two thirds of the upper level courses in the field of concentration, including required seminars, and the final thirty credit hours of degree requirements, must be taken at Gannon University. Exceptions to these specific requirements have been granted to students who are enrolled in approved accelerated programs. Other students with special circumstances may request a waiver of these degree requirements, with the approval of the Academic Dean and Provost of Gannon University.

4. All courses specified for the fulfillment of requirements for the field of concentration and cognate fields must be completed within a time span not to exceed ten years.

5. A course failed in the field of concentration may be repeated once. If not successfully passed, the student is not permitted to continue in that field of concentration.

6. A student is not permitted to continue in a field of concentration in which ten or more semester hours have been failed, or in which more than six semester hours have been failed in one semester.
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Dean's List

To honor excellence in academic performance, Gannon University names to the Dean's List students who have completed 12 hours credit or more with a letter grade for each and a grade point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester. A student who makes a failing grade is disqualified in that semester for the Dean's List. Dean's list is not awarded to a student with an incomplete grade.
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Academic Honors

Students who have consistently achieved academic distinction receive the following graduation honors:

Cum Laude: a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50.

Magna cum Laude: a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.70.

Summa cum Laude: a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.90.

With Academic Honors: Associate Degree students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50.

No student with a failing grade in his/her field of concentration will receive honors at the time of graduation.

Transfer students to be eligible for honors at graduation must have completed 64 semester hours at Gannon University. Their average will be computed on the basis of their four-year program. No higher honors will be given than are earned by the 64 semester hours completed at Gannon University.
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The Academic Year

Gannon University operates on semester academic calendar. This plan divides the academic year into two four-month semesters. Typically, the fall semester begins late in August and ends before Christmas, and the spring semester begins in early January and ends with Commencement in early May.

Day Sessions

Classes in the Day Sessions are held five days a week, beginning with the 8 a.m. period. Three credit classes meeting on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday (MWF) sequence meet for 55 minutes each day. Those courses meeting on a Tuesday and Thursday (TTh) sequence meet for 80 minutes each day. There is a ten-minute break between each class period.

A one-credit course meets 55 minutes once a week. A four-credit course meets on the MWF or TTh sequence as mentioned above and also meets 55 minutes on an extra class day. A six-credit course meets five days a week on MWF for 55 minutes and TTh for 80 minutes.

Laboratories in the day sessions are held five days a week, beginning with the 8 a.m. period. One-credit laboratories meet once a week; two credit laboratories meet twice a week. One laboratory credit normally requires not less than three hours of student work. Instructors will determine the best use of laboratory time.

Evening Sessions

Classes in the Evening Sessions are held Monday through Thursday with additional classes on Saturday. These classes meet in sequences of one or two evenings per week. Classes held on Saturday usually meet from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Those classes meeting Monday through Thursday begin at 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Laboratories in the evening sessions are held Monday through Thursday, beginning with the 4:30 p.m. period.

Weekend Sessions

Classes in the Weekend Sessions are held Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Classes meet for three hours every other weekend in the fall and spring semesters and on consecutive weekends during the summer. The summer term begins after the May commencement and concludes the second or third week in July.

Summer Sessions

Gannon offers undergraduate summer courses beginning in May. Students may thus enroll in more than one course, and spread out or overlap their courses during the summer months, depending upon the courses they select from the summer session schedule.

Day classes meet five days per week for ninety-five minutes each meeting when offered over five weeks. Evening classes offered for five weeks meet three days per week from 6:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m.

Courses offered during the summer session cover the same content as those offered during the fall and spring semesters. However, the summer schedule is limited in the variety of courses offered, and students should check the summer course schedule booklet for the exact courses being taught each summer. Although concentrated into three, five, seven, or ten weeks, the courses meet for the same amount of time and have the same credit value as semester courses.
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Auditing Policy

Interested persons may audit most lecture courses offered at Gannon University if there is space available in the course on the first day of class and until the end of the second week of class. Audit forms may be obtained in the Registrar’s office after the first day of class and only with the written permission of the instructor. Laboratory courses may not be taken as an audit. Students who enroll in a course for credit may only change to an audit grade during the first two weeks of a semester. Courses that are taken for audit may be changed to credit only during the first two weeks of the semester. After these two weeks no changes are allowed (see note below). Audit applications and registration forms may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar.

Records of the course will be noted on a student transcript with a grade of AU which carries neither credits nor grade points.

NOTE: A student who enrolls in a course for credit may withdraw from that course and after withdrawal may continue to attend classes. The grade for such students will be an ‘X’ and in no case will be assigned an ‘AU’ grade.
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Class Attendance

Attendance at all classes and laboratory sessions is expected of all students and all courses are conducted with this understanding. A student's grades are based upon the general quality of work performed in each course and by such factors as prompt completion of all assignments, papers, and readings, by presence for all examinations, and by participation in class discussion. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of each faculty member to set reasonable attendance policies appropriate to individual courses and to publish those policies on course syllabi. When so indicated on the course syllabus, class attendance may directly influence final grades in a course for upper-class students as well as freshmen. The following policy statements are to assist in a uniform class attendance expectation.

Certain University events, such as athletics or particular extracurricular activities, in which the students represent the University in an official capacity, necessitate excused absences from classes. In such cases, it is inappropriate to penalize a student as a result of their absences resulting from their function as University representative. Faculty then has a responsibility to provide the opportunity to complete any tests, assignments, or other work.

Students should be aware that in the Junior and Senior years of study of some majors such as health science and education majors, it might be extremely difficult for extensive athletic or other types of extra-curricular participation. Students should discuss this with appropriate University officials before selecting a major.

The primary function of Gannon University is the education of its students. Consequently, it is judged to be inappropriate for any arm of the University to request that students excessively absent themselves from regularly scheduled classes in order to function as representatives of the University. Except in emergency situations (e.g., illness or accident), the student is expected to notify the faculty of scheduled course absences one (1) week in advance. Faculty may require verification from appropriate University staff.

Freshmen who absent themselves, whether it be excused or unexcused, from a particular course in excess of twice the number of credit hours assigned to that course may be withdrawn from the course, upon recommendation by the faculty member to the Dean of the student's college. This request would typically result from unexcused absences, but a student with excused absences should also try to adhere to this limit. Although the student may not be penalized for excused absences as defined earlier, a combination of excused and unexcused may result in the same requested withdrawal. The faculty member would need to show the Dean that the student, because of the combination of absences, has not been able to show competency in the course and has no chance of doing so. Students who are active in athletics or co-curricular activities must be responsible for their learning and minimize unexcused absence in times such as sickness or emergencies. Missing an 80-minute class period is counted as one and one-half absences. In addition, the Office of New Student Services is interested in knowing which freshmen accumulated the maximum number of absences allowable. The office is prepared to undertake an inquiry aimed at helping the student. Reports on freshmen attendance must be initiated by faculty members, by means of direct contact with the Office of New Student Services.
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Course Changes - Add/Drop

Schedules can be changed on GUXpress or in the Registrar's Office. Change of schedule forms are available in the Registrar's Office.

Changes will be accepted through the first week of the semester. Classes added during the second week of the semester require the written permission of the instructor (exact dates are published in the Academic Calendar). Courses dropped during the first two weeks of the semester will not appear on the student's transcript. All withdrawals from the beginning of the third week until the Final cut-off date published in the Academic Calendar result in a withdrawal grade (X) on the student's transcript.

When a student stops attending a class and does not properly withdraw from the course by filling out a change of schedule form in the Registrar's Office, the student will be subject to receiving a grade of 'F' for the course. The student will receive an 'F' for the final grade if non-attendance continues.
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Course Levels

Catalog #

000-099 Credit earned may not be included in the total credits required for a degree.

100-199 Lower division, undergraduate. Designed as basic introductory courses for freshmen.

200-299 Lower division undergraduate. Designed as intermediate courses to be taken primarily in the sophomore year of a major but may be taken by upper level non-majors.

300-499 Upper division, undergraduate. Designed as junior and senior courses.

500-599 Upper division, and graduate. For graduate students primarily but including courses with some seniors.

600-799 Designed for graduate student only.

800-899 Ph.D. students only.

900-999 Ph.D. students only (beginning 2001)
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Course Numbering

Each course number consists of 7 to 10 characters. The letters refer to the Department. The first three numbers refer to the catalog number and course level. The last two numbers or letters refer to the section.
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Grades

Description of Grades and Grade Point Average

A Excellent 4.0 grade points

B+ Good 3.5 grade points

B Good 3.0 grade points

C+ Average 2.5 grade points

C Average 2.0 grade points

D Below Average 1.0 grade points

F Failure 0.0 grade points

The computation of the grade point average will be made by dividing the algebraic sum of the grade points earned by the sum of the credits to calculate.

I Incomplete. This grade indicates failure on the part of the student to measure up to minimum requirements on account of absence for sickness or for some other weighty reason. A student who fails to remove the grade of 'incomplete' within 30 days after the grade reports were postmarked will automatically receive a failure for the course.

X This grade indicates withdrawal from a course prior to the cut-off date listed in the academic calendar.

AU Audit. This grade indicates that the course was not taken for credit.
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Full-Time Status

To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student is required to be enrolled for 12 credit hours in the current fall or spring semester. These credit hours may be undergraduate or for seniors in their final semester the 12 credits may be a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses. This policy accords with current practice of admitting graduating seniors to certain graduate courses during the final semester of undergraduate study. A graduate student must be enrolled in at least 9 credits to be considered full-time.
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Leave Policy

Gannon University recognizes that a student may need to temporarily interrupt their education and has a procedure to facilitate this situation. The following are examples of categories that might qualify a student for temporary leave:

study abroad

co-op/internship

military (involuntary)

medical/psychological

family/personal

The above categories are not meant to be an inclusive list nor do they guarantee that a student will be granted a temporary leave. The student who feels that they have a legitimate reason to request a leave should request a form from the Registrar. Appropriate officials of the University will review the request.

Temporary leave may be granted for a period of one or two semesters following the student's current enrollment. If a student applies for leave in the first two weeks of the semester then the current semester is counted as one of the two eligible semesters of leave.
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Major - Change/Declaration

Students wishing to declare or change their major field begin the process with their advisor or the Career Services and Cooperative Education Office. After consultation about a major change, the student obtains the signature of their advisor on the Change/Declaration of Major form. Alternatively, the Chair/Director or Dean of the student's present major can sign the form in place of the advisor.

The student takes the form to the Chair/Director of the requested major for approval. The form is then sent to the appropriate dean's office for final approval. Completed, approved form will be sent to the Registrar's Office for change on official records.

If necessary, the student can be referred to the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education at any step in the process.
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Minor Declaration Policy

Curriculum for available minors are listed in the catalog after the curriculum for each major. In order to declare a minor, a student must fill out a 'Declaration of a Minor' form in their Dean's office.

A minor will not be printed on the transcript until their Dean certifies the student for graduation. Student must be pursuing a baccalaureate degree.
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Pass-Fail Option

Students have the option of taking one free elective course per semester on a pass-fail basis. The option excludes required courses in the major field of study, cognate courses and Core of Discovery courses. The student is limited to twelve credits of pass-fail courses that count toward his/her degree. If a student elects to take a course on the pass-fail basis, he/she must so state to his/her advisor and dean by the date designated in the Academic Calendar. Forms are available in their dean's office. The student shall have the option of converting to a letter grade until the date designated in the academic calendar. In any event, the instructor submits a letter grade to be filed in the Registrar's Office for possible future referral. In ascertaining eligibility for inclusion on the Dean's List, a student must present a minimum of 12 credit hours of letter grade courses. A 'P' (passing) grade will not be reflected in the grade point average; an 'F' (failing) grade, however, will be reflected. Any exception to the rule of one course per semester can be allowed only with the approval of the student's dean.

Courses taken beyond those needed for degree requirements may be taken pass-fail in addition to the four allowed.
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Academic Probation and Separation Policy

Academic Probation is a serious warning that the student has failed to meet the University’s minimum academic standards. Students are expected to work well above the minimum both for their individual benefit and for the good of the entire academic community. In fact, students are expected to achieve the highest quality of academic work of which they are capable.

Probationary status is a conditional permission for a student to continue studying at the University until he or she regains good academic standing or is separated from the University for having failed to regain good standing. The Probation Policy is as follows:

1. Full-time freshmen who achieve a semester grade point average of 1.50 but less than a 2.0 grade point average during either semester will be issued a cautionary letter and be assigned to a special advisement program.

2. Full-time freshmen who have failed to achieve a grade point average of 1.50 for either of their first two semesters or a cumulative grade point average of 1.75 at the end of their freshman year will be placed on academic probation for the subsequent semester.Freshmen who are placed on probation after the first semester must achieve a 1.75 cumulative grade point average after the second semester or they will be separated. Second semester freshmen placed on probation must achieve a 2.0 semester grade point average in their third semester or they will be separated.

3. Full-time freshmen who do not have a cumulative grade point average of at least 1.25 at the end of their freshman year (a minimum of 24 credits attempted) will be separated from the University.

4. Full-time students who fail to earn a 2.0 semester grade point average in any semester subsequent to having attempted 24 credits at Gannon or any institution of higher learning will be placed on probation. If they fail to achieve a 2.0 semester grade point average in either of the two following semesters they will be separated.

5. Full-time students who have attempted at least 45 credits at Gannon and who have not achieved a 2.0 cumulative grade point average will be placed on probation. They will have one semester to achieve a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. If they do not, they will be separated.

6. Full-time students who fail to achieve a minimum 1.00 grade point average during any semester will be separated.

7. Part-time students will be evaluated after attempting their first six credits. If the students do not receive a 2.0 grade point average, they will receive a cautionary letter. The Dean of their College will put students who receive a 1.50 grade point average or less on an academic contract for the period in which they attempt their next six credits.

8. Part-time students will be evaluated for probationary status after attempting their first 12 credits. Thereafter their status will be reviewed after each 12 credits attempted according to rules 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The Admissions Committee may require specific course(s) and/or an earned grade point average as a condition of admission/readmission in addition to the minimum requirements of the University. Special terms of admission/readmission will be outlined in the acceptance letter. Students who do not fulfill the special admissions conditions will be subject to separation from the University.

For the implementation of this policy, a full-time student is defined as any student who is taking 12 credits or more at the conclusion of the first two weeks of classes. Classes dropped before this are not reflected on the student’s transcript. Dropping a course(s) after the second week of classes does not exempt a student from being evaluated under the Academic Probation and Separation policy.

Appropriate Deans will notify students who have been placed on academic probation. These students will be expected to concentrate their energies on their studies so that they can bring their work up to the required standard.

Except with the written permission of both the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and the Dean of Student Development, students on probation may not hold office in any University organization, participate in any intercollegiate events or programs, or otherwise represent the University lest they further jeopardize their academic standing.

With the permission of the appropriate Dean, students may use the summer session at Gannon to restore their good academic standing provided that they complete the equivalent of a full semester’s work, e.g. 6 credits in a five-week term.

Students who are separated from the University may not enroll in any University credit course for one full year. Applications for readmission will not be reconsidered until the expiration of one year. Readmission is not a right. The Admissions Committee will take favorable action only when it is satisfied that the factors which led to the failure have been rectified. It is the student’s responsibility to demonstrate to the committee that he or she has a reasonable prospect for academic success at Gannon. Any student readmitted will be on probation for the first semester following his or her return. If the student is separated a second time, he or she will not be readmitted.

Students who are separated may appeal that separation to their Dean. Such an appeal would need to cite extraordinary circumstances that adversely affected academic performance. The academic Dean will review all such appeals.
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Repeat Courses

A student may elect to repeat a course. The letter "R" will be placed in front of the original grade and the original grade will not be calculated in the GPA. This policy is limited to 15 hours of course work. Each repeat registration is counted as a course. Students are required to submit written notice of a repeated course to the Registrar's Office if they wish to have the repeat noted on their transcript. Forms are available in the Registrar's Office. This policy does not cover the situation in which the 'repeat' (or subsequent) course was completed prior to Fall 1972 semester.

A student may be granted permission to repeat a failed Gannon course elsewhere. However, since credits transfer but not grades, it is not advantageous to take the course elsewhere.
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Transcript Policy

The student’s authorization and written signature are needed to release a transcript. The student can request the transcript in person in the Registrar’s office, can write a letter addressed to the Registrar’s office, or can FAX the request.

Official transcripts must be mailed directly from the Registrar’s office to the party requested. All transcripts given directly to the student will be stamped ‘Issued directly to the student’, and will not have a school seal.

Students who need transcripts to submit unopened with applications should request that the transcript be issued to them in a sealed envelope. The transcript is marked ‘Issued directly to the student’ plus the transcript and envelope will have the school seal and Registrar’s signature. The student must submit the transcript in the unopened envelope with the application. If the envelope is opened it is no longer valid as an official transcript.

Transcripts are not released for students with financial holds.

Partial transcripts are not issued. Each transcript includes the complete academic record at Gannon University and work accepted from other colleges.

Official transcripts of credit earned at other institutions which have been presented for admission or evaluation of credit and have become a part of the student’s permanent record in this office are not reissued or copies duplicated for distribution. Transcripts from other institutions must be official and received by Gannon University directly from the original institution(s). Copies issued to the students with the college seal will not be accepted. This also applies to high school transcripts.

Transferred credit is not added to the Gannon University transcript unless it is applicable toward a degree at Gannon University.

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Student Record Access

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Notification of Rights and Procedures:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access.

   Students should submit to the Registrar, Dean, or appropriate Academic or Administrative Department a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student's educational records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading.

   Students may ask the University to amend a record that they feel is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his/her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. The official in charge of the record will call the hearing and notify the student of the time and place. The hearing committee will consist of the Vice President who has authority over the person in charge of the record and either a faculty member or administrator of the student's choice. The student may also have a person with them to assist in presenting their case. If the decision is still not to amend the record then the student has the right to insert a statement into the record.

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except in the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

   One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to those designated by the University as school officials with legitimate educational interests. Gannon defines a school official as a person employed by the University in an administrative, supervisory, academic, or support staff position (including Campus Safety and Health Services staffs); a person or company with whom the University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a person assisting another school official in performing his/her tasks. Gannon has defined a school official as having a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility.

   A second exception is the University's intention to release information from a student's educational record to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

   The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20202-4605

   Gannon gives students/parents an annual notice of their FERPA rights and procedures in the Student Datebook/Handbook. The Student Datebook/Handbook is distributed to freshmen and is available to everyone in several locations, which include the Information Desk in the Waldron Center, Student Living Office, and the University Mailroom. The University has designated the Registrar's Office as the office which you should contact with questions relating to FERPA or to inform the University if you do not wish to have directory information released to third parties outside of the University. If you file a request not to have directory information released, it will stay in effect until you request to have it changed.

   Directory information is defined by the University as the following: student's name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, dates of attendance, full- or part-time status, class standing, class schedule, major or minor fields of study, degrees, awards and honors received, participation in officially recognized sports and activities, weight and height of members of athletic teams, photographs, date and place of birth, and most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.

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  Academic Forgiveness:

Gannon University's undergraduate academic forgiveness policy applies to former Gannon students whose prior academic performance was unsatisfactory. To qualify, a former student:

1. Must not have been enrolled in any credit course at Gannon in the prior five years;
2. Must submit an application for readmission along with an essay requesting academic forgiveness. The essay should explain how s/he has overcome the prior barriers to academic success, why s/he believes they are ready to resume their studies at this time, and what steps s/he has taken to ensure their future academic success; and
3. Must not have been previously granted Academic Forgiveness.

The application will be reviewed by the Director of Admissions, the Dean of the college to which the student is applying, and the Director of Counseling Services (or their respective representatives) who must concur in the decision to grant academic forgiveness. If granted, the student will be reenrolled and, upon successful completion of 24 credit hours of coursework with a minimum grade of C in all courses, the student's transcript will be adjusted to reflect academic forgiveness. The registrar will continue to maintain a record that reflects prior coursework and indicate on the current transcript (or at an appropriate location on the continuous transcript) that "(T)his student was granted academic forgiveness this date; the QPA reflects only grades recorded from this date forward." The 'cumulative hours completed' will include prior coursework with grades of C or better.

Notes:
The Academic Forgiveness policy does not change any of the requirements for obtaining a bachelor's degree.

Students granted Academic Forgiveness will be eligible to receive academic honors at graduation consistent with the policy applying to transfer students.