Audit Enrollment
(Course Visitor)
You may audit, or visit, a class without enrolling in it for a grade. There
are certain restrictions on your participation. You must process an Audit
Enrollment Request Form, whether or not you are concurrently enrolled for
regular course work. Please complete the
audit
form and follow the instructions on the form. Also, space must be available in the class you wish to
audit. The following restrictions apply:
-
Your participation in the class is restricted, including classroom
recitation. Course handouts, tests, and other materials may not be available
to you. Laboratory privileges are not included.
-
If you want credit for the course, you must enroll for and repeat it as a
regular course and pay the regular tuition.
-
Your name does not appear on class rosters or on grade sheets.
-
As an auditor, you do not go through regular admission or enrollment
procedures for that course.
-
If you're an undergraduate student taking 12 or more hours per term, you
may audit one three-hour course at no additional charge. Audit fees are
nonrefundable.
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Schedule Changes
The University Calendar lists the deadlines for adding courses, dropping
courses without grade record, and changing sections for each term. You are
encouraged to see your adviser when making changes to your schedule. It is the
responsibility of the student to be sure that all deadlines are met. You may
drop a course with a grade of W (withdrawal) through approximately mid-term.
You may not drop a course after the deadline date listed in the University
Calendar.
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Withdrawal
If you decide to withdraw from the University before the end of the term or
session, you first must notify your school's dean in writing. The dean will
advise you on the withdrawal procedures that apply to your situation. In order
to be withdrawn from the University, you must get clearance from the offices of
your academic dean and the Registrar. A grade of W will be recorded in each
course in which you were enrolled. You must follow the prescribed procedures to
make your withdrawal official. No refunds can be made unless you do. Notifying
your instructors does not make your withdrawal official, nor does non-attendance
of classes. If you withdraw on or before the fifth day of regular classes, your
enrollment will be canceled. Courses and grades are not recorded for canceled
enrollments. You may receive a refund of tuition and fees according to the
schedule listed in the Financial Information Bulletin. The amount of the refund
is determined by the effective date of the withdrawal. In the case of a medical
withdrawal, you will receive a daily pro rata refund of tuition and fees (check
withdrawal procedures for dates).
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Stop
Enrollment and Administrative Withdrawal
You may be deemed ineligible to enroll or be administratively withdrawn from
the University if you give insufficient or improper information on any admission
or enrollment form. In addition, action may be taken if a student has shown
academic deficiencies, requires disciplinary action, and/or does not meet his or
her financial obligations to the University.
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Name Change
Students who have a change in name after their last enrollment at SMU or a
change from the name submitted on their application for admission must provide
their original Social Security cards or forms issued by the Social Security
Administration. No enrollment or records services can be accomplished for a
student under a name different from his/her last enrollment without the above
documentation. All grade reports, transcripts, and diplomas are issued only
under the person's legal name as recorded by the University Registrar.
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Address and Telephone
Changes
Students
Students should verify, and update as appropriate using
Access.SMU, their
addresses and telephone information. University policy requires all
students to provide both current home addresses and current mailing
addresses. Your mailing address is your "local" mailing address -- your SMU
PO box number or Dallas area address, unless you're a distance education
student. It is possible for students to also provide billing
addresses, if they differ
from their home addresses. After you log-in to Access.SMU, click on "Personal
Information"
then "Addresses." The
University is committed to having
cellular telephone numbers on file for all students, with the understanding that
some students do not have cellular telephones and some students do not wish to
provide their cellular telephone numbers. Cellular telephones are one way
students might be contacted in the event of a campus emergency. Routine
business might also be handled using the student’s cellular telephone number.
Undergraduate students whose parents' addresses and/or telephone
information changes, should refer to the section below for PARENTS.
Students who have questions regarding their addresses and telephone information
should contact Steve Boykin at jboykin@mail.smu.edu.
Be sure to include your full name and SMU ID number.
Alumni
Alumni who have questions regarding their addresses and telephone information
should log on to http://www.peruna.net/
Parents
Please send your updated information to
records@smu.edu. Click
here for information that needs to be included in your e-mail.
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Class Attendance
Regular class attendance is required. At the beginning of each course, the
instructor announces policies regarding how class attendance affects a student's
standing in the course. These policies may include dropping a student from the
course for non-attendance after a certain number of absences (with a $25
administrative drop fee). Reasons for an absence should be submitted to the
instructor immediately.
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Student File Number
A student's SMU identification number is an eight-digit number assigned by
the University. The SMU ID number should be furnished
on all forms when requested, as it is the primary means for identifying the
student's academic records and any transactions related to the records.
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Mandatory Declaration of Major
Students officially declare their majors when they have made a firm choice
and have met the specific program entrance requirements for their intended
school and department. Most students declare majors during their sophomore year.
To continue studies at SMU, students must qualify for and declare a major by the
time they complete 75 term hours, including credits by examination and transfer
credits.
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Change of Academic Program
Undergraduate students who want to change their academic program - that is,
transfer from one school to another within the University, change their degree
objective, or change their major or minor - first should apply to the dean of
the school in which they are currently enrolled. Part-time students who want to
transfer from the Division of Evening and Summer Studies to a degree-granting
school must meet all standard University admission requirements. Students may
change their academic program at any time during a term; the program change will
be effective on the date it is received and processed. However, changes must be
made at least three weeks before enrollment for the next term in order for the
changes to be effective for that enrollment.
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Concurrent Degree Programs
Students may earn two degrees simultaneously from two schools within the
University with the approval of the academic dean of each school. Since the
requirements of each degree must be fulfilled, students should meet early with
advisers in both schools to prepare a proposed plan of study and complete all
necessary forms.
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Enrollment for
No-Credit
You may enroll in a course for "no-credit" after following regular
admission and enrollment procedures. You pay the regular tuition and fees,
participate in class activities, are listed on class rolls, and receive a grade
of NC after course work is completed. You must state in writing no later than
the 12th day of classes (fourth day during summer term) that you want to take a
course for no-credit. Permission of the instructor or department is required.
This enrollment is different from audit enrollments, for which no enrollment or
grade is recorded.
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Transfer Courses From Other Institutions
Once students have matriculated at SMU, they may transfer no more than
30
hours to SMU (effective Fall 2009) from accredited colleges and universities. To ensure that a course
taken at another college or university will transfer and that proper credit will
be awarded, the student taking the course should obtain prior approval of the
following people: the chair of the department and dean of the school at SMU that
normally offers the course, the adviser, and the student's dean. Students who
fail to get prior approval for transfer work may petition later for transfer
credit, but they have no assurance that it will be awarded. In either case,
permission may be denied for educational reasons.
Students are responsible for making sure a transcript of all transfer work
attempted is sent to the University Registrar immediately following completion
of the work. Forms for requesting transfer credit are available in the
Undergraduate Offices.
Credit may be awarded for college courses a student
takes prior to matriculation at SMU, including courses a student takes before
graduating from high school, if they meet the criteria for transfer work
outlined in the Transfer Admission Criteria section of the catalog. Credit may
be denied for educational reasons.
Official college transcripts are required for all college-level work attempted,
regardless of transferability.
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Academic Progress
All undergraduate students are required to make regular and satisfactory
progress toward their degrees. Graduation in four years, which is the University
norm, depends upon the accrual of at least 30 academic term hours per year and
the maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. SMU's
academic probation and suspension policies define the minimum standards by which
a student's academic progress is measured. Failure to meet the University's
minimum acceptable standards of academic or disciplinary performance may result
in probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information regarding
disciplinary action, see the Undergraduate Catalog.
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Academic Warning Notice/Mid-Term Grading
During a student’s first two
semesters of enrollment (or one semester if enrolling in the spring
semester), faculty are asked to report mid-term grades for the following
groups of students:
-
New First Year students
-
Continuing First Year
students
-
Sophomore students
-
New Transfer students,
regardless of the 60 earned credit hours limit.
-
Readmitted students,
regardless of the 60 earned credit hours limit.
Please note that:
-
Faculty are not required
to submit mid-term grade information.
-
Only courses with
reported grades of C-, D+, D, D-, F, FA (Failure due to attendance), or
FT (Failure due to tests) are included on the mid-term report.
-
Mid-term notices are
mailed to the student’s local address, and electronic versions are
shared with their advisor and the A-LEC.
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Academic Probation
Academic probation is a stern warning that satisfactory progress
toward graduation is not being made. A student on probation is still considered
in "good standing" for certification purposes and is eligible to
enroll. Probationary warnings are not listed on a student's permanent academic
record.
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Academic
Suspension and Dismissal
Academic suspension and
dismissal are
involuntary separations from your SMU school of record. A suspension is
effective for a specified period of time; a dismissal is permanent. A suspended
or dismissed student is not in good standing in his or her school of record and
is not eligible to enroll as a student in that school during the suspension or
dismissal period. Academic suspensions and dismissals are listed on the
student's permanent academic record.
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Notice of Special Topics
Students enrolling in special-topic courses such as Directed Research,
Private Study, Directed Readings, etc., may request to have the subject of their
course noted on their transcripts. You may make the request by filling out a
"Notice of Special Topic" form, which may be obtained from the instructor and must
be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar before the last day of
classes for the term.
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Classification of Students
| First-Year |
0-29 term hours earned |
| Sophomore |
30-59 term hours earned |
| Junior |
60-89 term hours earned |
| Senior |
90 or more term hours earned |
| Non-Degree |
Not pursuing a degree |
| Graduate |
Enrolled in a graduate program |
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Term-Hour Loads
The value of courses is measured by the term hour (i.e., one lecture hour or
three laboratory hours per week for a term of approximately 16 weeks, including
final examinations). Usually, each lecture hour requires a minimum of two hours
of preparation on the part of students. Undergraduates must get their dean's
approval to enroll for fewer than 12 or more than 18 hours per term. Consult the
"University Registration and Academic Records Standards" section of
your Undergraduate Bulletin for information about the minimum and maximum loads
for your school. For undergraduates, a full-time load in the fall or spring
terms and in the Summer Session is 12 hours. Those enrolling for fewer than 12
hours are designated as part-time students. The normal undergraduate enrollment
for each of the regular terms is 15 term hours. An undergraduate student
enrolled in an engineering co-op course is considered full-time. For graduates,
a full-time load in the fall or spring terms and in the Summer Session is 9
hours. Persons enrolling for fewer than 9 hours are designated as part-time
students. A student enrolled in an engineering co-op course is considered
full-time. A graduate student who is not enrolled for the required number of
hours may still be certified as a full-time student if he or she is enrolled for
6049 or 8049 or in other special situations recognized by the Academic Dean and
Provost. This may apply to you if you are working full-time on completion of a
thesis, dissertation, or performance recital requirement; enrolled in an
internship program; enrolled as a third-year theater major working on the
completion of required production projects; or have an instructor appointment as
part of a teaching fellowship.
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Grades
The grade is determined by the instructor of the course.
| Grade |
|
Points/Term hr |
| A |
Excellent Scholarship |
4.00 |
| A- |
Excellent Scholarship |
3.70 |
| B+ |
Good Scholarship |
3.30 |
| B |
Good Scholarship |
3.00 |
| B- |
Good Scholarship |
2.70 |
| C+ |
Fair Scholarship |
2.30 |
| C |
Fair Scholarship |
2.00 |
| C- |
Fair Scholarship |
1.70 |
| D+ |
Poor Scholarship |
1.30 |
| D |
Poor Scholarship |
1.00 |
| D- |
Poor Scholarship |
0.70 |
| F |
Failure |
0.00 |
| P, CR |
Pass, Credit |
* |
| I |
Incomplete |
* |
| NC |
No Credit Received |
* |
| W |
Withdrew |
* |
| X |
No Grade
Received in Registrar's Office |
| |
|
|
| * Grades not included
in grade point average |
| |
|
|
You may receive a grade of incomplete (I) in a course if you have completed
the majority of the course requirements with passing grades but for some
justifiable reason, acceptable to the instructor, you have been unable to
complete all of the course requirements. Before an I is given, the instructor
should stipulate in writing to you and to the University Registrar the
requirements and completion dates to be met and the grade that will be given if
the requirements are not met by the completion date. The maximum period of time
allowed to clear an incomplete grade for an undergraduate course is 12 months.
If the Incomplete grade is not cleared by the date set by the instructor or by
the end of the 12-month deadline, the I will be changed by the University
Registrar to the grade specified by the instructor or to an F if no alternate
grade is specified. The grade of I is not given in lieu of an F, W, or other
grade, each of which is prescribed for other specific circumstances. If a
student's work is incomplete and has not been of passing quality, an F will be
given. The grade of I does not authorize a student to attend the course during a
later term. Graduation candidates must clear all incompletes prior to the deadline listed in the Official University Calendar.
Failure to do so can result in removal from the degree candidacy list and/or
conversion of the I to the grade indicated by the instructor at
the time the I was given. A failure is graded F. After such a grade, credit may
be obtained only by repeating the course. The grade of D represents performance
below average expectations. Students receiving a D in a course that is a
prerequisite to another course should consult their adviser about repeating the
course so they will be adequately prepared for work in the course that follows.
The grade of W can be recorded only if an official drop or withdrawal process
has been completed during the term of enrollment. (A W is the only grade that
can be recorded if the student has officially dropped courses from the schedule
or withdrawn from the University.) An official drop/withdrawal is final, and the
grade of W may not be revoked or changed.
Grade of Incomplete Agreement for Undergraduate
Courses
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Pass/Fail Option
Students may take one course per term on a Pass/Fail basis. The maximum
total credits with a grade of Pass that will count toward a degree is 12 hours.
You must indicate your intention to take a course Pass/Fail no later than the
12th day of classes (the fourth day during summer terms) by filing a form
available from your dean's office. If a course is graded Pass/Fail for all
students by departmental policy, a declaration by the student is not required. A
failed course cannot be repeated on a Pass/Fail basis, except for those courses
designated as "Pass/Fail Only" courses. Students should consult their
adviser before declaring the Pass/Fail option for any course. In general,
elective courses can be taken on a Pass/Fail basis, but some courses, such as
those required to fulfill the Common Educational Experience (CEE), cannot be
taken Pass/Fail. Courses in the academic majors and minors also are excluded
from the Pass/Fail option, but in some programs courses can be taken Pass/Fail
after the minimum program requirements have been met. Other courses also may be
excluded from the Pass/Fail option, including those that are necessary to meet
professional accreditation standards or entrance requirements for programs such
as teacher accreditation and preprofessional studies. Check with your department
or adviser for more information. Business students can elect the Pass/Fail
option in business elective courses only after the satisfactory completion of 48
hours of business courses on a regular letter-grade basis and of all
requirements in their declared major. Under the Pass/Fail option, pass (P)
grades are A, B, and C (including C-); failure (F) grades are D and F. A student
who declares Pass/Fail is not entitled to know the regular letter grade earned,
and a Pass/Fail grade cannot be changed to a regular letter grade or vice versa
after the Pass/Fail grade has been assigned. The grade of P is not calculated in
the grade point average, although the credit hours are included in the total
number of hours earned. The grade F is calculated in the grade point average.
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Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)
The average is computed by multiplying the term hours of each course
attempted by the grade points earned in the particular course and then dividing
total number of grade points by the total number of hours attempted, excluding
those hours for which grades are shown with an asterisk. (See the
"Grades" section.)
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Changes of Grades
Grade changes for legitimate reasons, including change of the grade of I,
are initiated by the course instructor and authorized by the chair and by the
course dean of the department in which the course was offered. No grade will be
changed after 12 months or after a student's graduation, with one exception: a
grade successfully appealed will be changed, if written notice of the appeal is
given within six months following graduation and, in extenuating circumstances,
authorized by the academic dean and approved by the Registrar.
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Grades for Repeated Courses
You are allowed to repeat courses according to the following rules:
-
Both the original grade and the repeated grade will be on your permanent
academic record.
-
Both grades will be included in the calculation of your grade point
average and in the determination of academic probation, suspension, honors,
and graduation.
The courses a student may repeat are determined by the school of record, as
follows:
-
Dedman College and Evening School students
may repeat only courses in
which the original grade was a D or F.
-
Meadows School of the
Arts, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, and Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development students may
repeat courses in which the original grade was a C-, D, or F. Such a course
may be repeated only once.
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First Year Repeated Courses
Students who enter the University directly from
high school may repeat up to three courses for which grades of D+ or lower
were received, provided these courses were completed before or during a
student’s first two consecutive regular terms following matriculation
(regardless of the student’s enrollment or withdrawal).
-
"College Prep" courses
completed a summer prior to matriculation are NOT eligible to be
repeated under this rule.
-
The grade from the
repeated course, even if lower, will be the grade used to calculate the
student’s grade point average.
-
Both the initial and the
second grades are shown on the student’s permanent academic record.
-
A course may be repeated
only once under this policy, and it must be repeated within the next two
regular terms (regardless of the student’s terms of enrollment or
withdrawal, but not counting a term of academic suspension) following
the term in which the course was initially taken.
-
Students must declare
which courses he or she will repeat under this policy with his or her
academic dean by the 12th day of classes.
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Graduation
Students must file an Application for Candidacy to Graduate form with their
academic dean during the term in which they are scheduled to complete all degree
requirements. Applications should be filed by the deadline date in the
University Calendar. Applications cannot be accepted after the graduation date.
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Commencement and
Graduation Participation
You may participate in May Commencement or the December Graduation Ceremony
if you have met the graduation requirements or the following criteria:
-
You are in good standing.
-
You do not have more than six hours remaining for graduation.
-
You have a clear plan for completing the six hours by the next official
graduation date.
-
You plan to file an application for candidacy to graduate for the next
official graduation date.
Students satisfying these requirements must file a petition with their
academic dean to participate in Commencement. These students may participate in
departmental or school ceremonies if the department or school permits such
participation and if the department or school clearly indicates in the
ceremonies that these students are candidates for the next graduation.
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