Interesting Email from Keller Graduate School of Management

From:
To:
Subject: Important Academic Policy Information - Keller
Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 01:38:05 -0500



3005 Highland Parkway
Downers Grove, IL 60515




Dear Graduate Student,


As you may have heard, the U.S. Department of Education has made a number of changes to regulations for colleges and universities. These changes, effective July 1, 2011, are intended to ensure that progress is appropriately monitored throughout a student's enrollment in a program and to introduce more consistent terminology and requirements among colleges and universities.


Two particularly important academic policy areas will change starting with the Summer 2011 semester (July 2011). The following is an overview of these two policy areas.


Standards of Academic Progress


Students' academic standing is reviewed at the end of each semester against specific standards of academic progress. A student who is enrolled at DeVry University is in Good Standing until such time the student is placed on academic warning, or is academically dismissed or placed on probation.



Academic standing is important for students as it affects students' eligibility both to remain in school and to receive financial aid. The requirements for Good Standing will change somewhat, beginning with the evaluation of grades earned for the 2011 Summer semester courses. To determine students' academic standing, the new standards of academic progress will first be applied toward the evaluation of grades for the summer courses and will occur in October 2011 (the end of the Summer semester).



In general, to be in Good Standing at the end of the 2011 Summer semester and beyond:

• A graduate student must earn a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.50-3.00. The minimum CGPA requirement will be based on a specific incremental CGPA based on the number of credit hours attempted. In certain circumstances, a student may also be required to meet certain semester GPA (SGPA) increments. If at the end of the semester the CGPA is below the required increment, the student is placed on academic warning. Ultimately, a student must earn a 3.00 CGPA in order to graduate.
• A student must successfully complete any required skills development and ESL coursework attempted. A student who attempts a skills development or ESL course and does not pass the course is placed on academic warning.
• To meet the satisfactory academic progress standard of maximum time frame, a student can take no more than 150 percent of the credit hours needed for a degree. For example, if a master's degree takes 48 credit hours to complete, all the requirements for the degree must be met by the time the student completes 72 hours. A student who exceeds this maximum time frame and has not graduated is not permitted to continue in the program.
• A student must earn credit toward graduation at a pace (rate of progress) that ensures successful program completion within the maximum time frame allowed. To that end, at least one course must be completed during the semester. A student must ultimately pass at least 67% of the credit hours attempted. This requirement will be checked every semester. A student who fails to maintain the minimum pace and has not graduated is placed on academic warning. In addition, if the student withdraws from all required courses during the semester, the student is placed on academic warning.

For a student who does not meet all requirements for Good Standing, adjusted conditions to remain in school and return to Good Standing will be in effect. For example, students will need to meet pace (rate of progress) at a specific percentage established for incremental ranges of credit hours attempted. The terminology used to define academic standing statuses will also change, as well as conditions requiring an academic appeal. This information will be provided as we get closer to the July 2011 session.


Attendance and University Withdrawals

• Attendance is tracked and recorded daily for the purpose of obtaining the last date of attendance. Students enrolled in an online class must login and complete an academically-related event to be counted in attendance for the week. Examples of academically-related events include, but are not limited to, submitting a class assignment, participating in threaded discussions, completing quizzes and exams, completing a tutorial or participating in computer-assisted instruction. Students' grades will be dependent upon the weighting assigned to completion of each academically-related event and the final exam.
• If a student withdraws from all classes in the first session of a semester but intends to remain enrolled in classes for the second session of the semester, the student must submit written documentation indicating intent to return to classes. If written documentation of intent to return is not received, the student will be withdrawn from all classes in the first session as requested and dropped from all classes in the second session.

Current policies remain in effect for determining academic standing resulting from the evaluation of 2011 Spring semester courses and grades in June 2011. We will provide more detailed information about the policy changes for determining satisfactory academic progress that go into effect July 1 for evaluating Summer semester courses as we get closer to the July 2011 session.


While these policy changes may seem complicated, it is our firm intention to work with each of you to ensure you have the best path possible in place to ensure your academic success.


Sincerely,


Donna M. Loraine, Ph.D.
Provost/Vice President, Academic Affairs
Dean, Keller Graduate School of Management


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