A college is a community of students and faculty interested in the search for knowledge and understanding. Essential to that search is a commitment to honesty and integrity. Honesty on the part of every college student has and always shall be an integral part of the plan of higher education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Acts of dishonesty conflict with the work and purpose of the entire College and are not merely a private matter between student and instructor.
Violations of academic honesty include but are not limited to:
Plagiarism - The academic departments of the College have varying requirements for reporting the use of sources, but certain fundamental principles for the acknowledgment of sources apply to all fields and levels of work. The use of source materials of any kind and the preparation of essays or laboratory reports must be fully and properly acknowledged. In papers or laboratory reports, students are expected to acknowledge any expression or idea that is not their own. Students submitting papers are implying that the form and content of the essays or reports, in whole and in part, represent their own work, except where clear and specific reference is made to other sources. Even if there is no conscious intention to deceive, the failure to make appropriate acknowledgment may constitute plagiarism. Any quotation - even of a phrase - must be placed in quotation marks and the precise source stated in a note or in the text; any material that is paraphrased or summarized and any ideas that are borrowed must be specifically acknowledged. A thorough reordering or rearrangement of an author's text does not release the student from these responsibilities. All sources that have been consulted in the preparation of the essay or report should be listed in the bibliography.
Upon an occurrence of alleged academic dishonesty instructors may exercise their discretion in imposing a sanction. Instructors may further file charges with the Academic Appeals Committee against students if they believe that additional sanctions would be appropriate. Instructors shall notify the Registrar in writing of any occurrence of academic dishonesty whenever they have imposed sanctions. Such notification shall include the student's name, course title, date of occurrence, type of dishonesty, sanction(s) being imposed, and any further action requested. This notification shall be effected within fourteen days after discovery of the incident. A copy of said notice shall be sent to the student involved, including the charges made against the student and the grounds, if proven, that would justify failure or other academic sanction. If the student involved wishes to appeal the sanction imposed by the instructor, the student must initiate an appeal within two weeks after receipt of this notification. The Academic Appeals Committee shall consider as a basis for a hearing that: a) the student claims not to have been academically dishonest; b) the student claims the instructor imposed an inappropriate sanction; c) the nature of the offense merits further action. In academic dishonesty cases the Committee may receive requests for hearings from students, from individual faculty and staff members, and from the Registrar. The Academic Appeals Committee reserves the right not to hear any appeal in any case where data is not sufficient, the necessary steps have not been followed, and when the committee jurisdiction is not clear.
Further information regarding instructor and student rights and responsibilities and appropriate procedures to be followed in applying this policy may be obtained from the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs or the Registrar.
Addition of Courses
Students may add courses during the first seven academic days of each semester.
Dropping of a Course
Students have seven academic days to drop from a full semester course with no academic penalty and no notation that they were enrolled in the course on their records. Courses running less than an entire semester will have varying drop dates based on the length of the course.
Withdrawing From Courses
Students who withdraw after the drop period ends and prior to the 50% completion point of the course will incur no penalty as far as the quality point average is concerned but will have a notation of "W" on their permanent record. No student may withdraw from a course after the 50% completion point of the course. Any student not attending a course and not officially withdrawing will be issued a grade of "F" on his/her record. The "F" grade will be used in computing the student's grade point average.
Students are expected to attend all of their classes. They must also be aware of course requirements. Whenever possible, students should notify their instructors prior to an absence from class and make up missed work within a reasonable length of time after their absence. Students who expect to be absent from classes for three days or longer should contact the Center for Student Success and Engagement for help notifying their instructors.
Eligible Absences
Absences of students from scheduled classes will be considered excused for the following
listed reasons.
Accommodations for Eligible Absences
Policy on Attendance at Out-of-Class Events
In providing a rich cultural education, MCLA recognizes that a total college experience
extends beyond regularly scheduled instruction in a formal classroom or laboratory
setting. There are a number of educational events or activities that occur outside
these settings (e.g., concerts, plays, field trips, etc.) which are an important part
of the student's liberal arts education. Attendance at out-of-class events may present
hardship for some college students, especially those with jobs and families. Therefore,
reasonable accommodations shall be made for all students with respect to such events,
with the following provisions:
A student may audit a course with the approval of the chairperson of the department and the consent of the instructor. Auditors are subject to any conditions established by the department or the instructor. No credit is awarded for audited courses. Such courses are officially reported on the student's transcript with the notation "AU" (Audit-No Credit) when all course conditions are met. Auditor status cannot be changed.
Students register for audit during the first week after the Add Period. A student
who wishes to attend class before audit registration may do so with the consent of
the instructor. Students are responsible for all course fees when auditing a course.
Students who have registered for a grade have enrollment preference over auditing
students.
Matriculated students are assigned class status according to the total number of earned credits at the conclusion of each semester.
|
Credits |
Class |
|
0-29 |
Freshman |
|
30-59 |
Sophomore |
|
60-89 |
Junior |
|
90 or more |
Senior |
Fifteen (15) credit hours is the normal academic course load at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Students may enroll for up to eighteen (18) credit hours without special permission. Students wishing to enroll for more than eighteen (18) credit hours must secure the permission of their advisors. The Dean of Academic Affairs must approve any request above 21 credits.
A course may be repeated. If the course is required and the student received an F,
the course must be repeated. The grade earned in a repeated course replaces the original
grade in the student's quality point average even if the repeated grade is lower.
(The grade earned each time the student took the course remains on the student's transcript,
but the course is marked "RX", and the originally attempted credit is not calculated
into the quality point average.)
Students must complete a Repeat Course Form for each course they repeat. Repeat course
work taken off campus must be approved prior to the course being taken.
Students wishing to change their major must secure a Change of Major form from CSSE/Advising. This form requires the approval of the chairperson of the new department and must be filed with the Registrar's Office before the change of major takes effect.
Students who are completing the requirements of a minor program must complete a Change
of Major/Minor form.
An amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
MCLA in accordance with the federal regulations and commonly accepted practices in higher education operates on a 50-minute hour as it relates to direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two additional hours per week as it relates to other non-direct instructional activities (laboratory, internships, etc..)
Matriculated MCLA students may earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and/or a Bachelor of Science degree. Students completing more than one major within either the BA or BS programs at MCLA will have the additional major(s) noted on their transcript but will not receive another degree and/or another diploma and cannot participate in another graduation ceremony.
This Policy is effective immediately upon the approval of the President and supersedes all previous college policies regarding second degrees and dual degrees.
The All College Committee requests that the implications of this policy be made clear to students by the appropriate institutional offices.
In cases involving appeals of a course grade, a student has one month into the following semester to initiate an appeal relating to grades earned in the regular Fall or Spring semester. In all other cases (e.g. summer) the student has one month after receipt of the grade to initiate an appeal. No grade appeals can be made after these deadlines.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIPS: An internship is a new learning experience provided for selected and specially prepared individuals who aspire to become professional practitioners, apply their academic skills and knowledge to work environments, and explore vocations. It is an experience of "reality" in which the knowledge, the skills, and the judgment of the intern are put into play in solving problems which characterize professional practice.
Each academic department may establish an internship program within the confines of the characteristics given in this document. If they choose to do so, they must develop stated objectives, strategies for meeting these objectives, and criteria for evaluation. The department would then submit the internship program proposal simultaneously to the Curriculum Committee for approval of the objectives, the strategies for meeting these objectives, and its relationship to the curriculum and to the Academic Policies Committee for approval of the evaluation criteria. The recommendations of these Committees on each internship program would be forwarded to the All-College Committee and finally the President for his/her approval.
A student whose personal, family, or medical circumstances require a temporary interruption of college study may apply for a leave of absence for up to two semesters. To apply for a leave of absence a student must complete an application through CSSE/Advising. Recommendations regarding requests will be made by Advising Services to the Dean of Academic Affairs. The Dean will make the final decision on the request.
A leave of absence may only be granted to students who are matriculated and in good academic and financial standing. All students returning from a leave of absence must contact the Registrar's Office no later than December 1 for reactivation in the spring semester and August 1 for reactivation for the fall semester. Students who are granted a leave of absence before the end of the drop/add period will have no notation on their record for that semester. Students granted a leave after the add/drop period and through the last day of classes will have a grade of "WX" on their record for that semester.
*Students are advised to contact Student Accounts and Financial Aid regarding refunds, loan deferment/repayment and eligibility for further aid.
A growing number of MCLA students engage in significant independent scholarly work during their undergraduate years with little formal recognition of their achievements. The purpose of this program is to recognize the outstanding work of these students by conferring the MCLA Scholar designation at graduation and on their official college transcripts. This designation will assist students in their future career and educational endeavors. This program will also provide clear standards for independent work and scholarship to which prospective and current students can aspire and work towards.
Program requirements:
Matriculated students who wish to enroll in coursework at another accredited institution
while still enrolled at MCLA must receive approval from MCLA prior to enrolling in
such courses. Approval is granted through the Registrar's Office in consultation
with the department chair. Coursework in which the student received a grade of C-
or above is transferable, provided that the student's overall grade point average
is a 2.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale) at the other institution.
Academic Standing at MCLA - A student's cumulative MCLA GPA, combined with credits earned, will determine the academic standing category at the end of each semester according to the following standards:
Earned credits GOOD STANDING PROBATION SUSPENSION
0 - 30 2.000 or above 1.500 -1.999 under 1.500
31-75 2.000 or above 1.750 - 1.999 under 1.750
76 and above 2.000 or above no probation under 2.000
Earned credits include transfer credits and MCLA credits (at the 100 level and higher) in which a passing grade was earned.
Students who are suspended and successfully appeal their suspension will be so designated by a separate category of academic standing that reflects academic probation following a successful appeal of an academic suspension. The following designations reflect MCLA's Policy on Academic Standing in accordance with a student's cumulative MCLA GPA:
Academic Good Standing - cumulative GPA of 2.00
Academic Probation - student on academic probation
Academic Probation following Appeal - appeal of suspension approved
Academic Suspension - student academically suspended
Academic Dismissal - student dismissed (permanently) from MCLA
A student with a semester GPA less than 2.0 but a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or greater will be issued an Academic Warning. A letter of Academic Warning will be sent to the student and copied to the student's advisor explaining the potential consequences of poor academic performance (including successive semesters of Academic Warning or future Academic Probation or Academic Suspension). For each semester in which an Academic Warning is received, the student must meet with his or her academic advisor and complete an Academic Success Plan, which will be submitted to CSSE/Advising for review and appropriate referrals.
A student who fails to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA, while achieving a GPA higher than the Academic Suspension cutoff will be placed on Academic Probation. A student on Academic Probation or Academic Probation Following Appeal must adhere to certain conditions designed to promote academic success. These conditions may include: (1) course load of not more than 15 credits; (2) academic schedule changes to allow repeat courses; (3) meetings with an academic advisor, learning services, and/or advising services to complete an Academic Success Plan that will monitor student progress;(4) attendance at academic success workshops (e.g. study skills, time management, etc.); and (5) restrictions on certain extracurricular activities as determined by the Office of Academic Affairs or its designate (for the first semester on Academic Probation, a student will remain eligible for participation in extracurricular activities unless individual departments or activities have higher standards).
Students suspended under this policy may appeal their suspension. The Registrar notifies students of their suspension and of their right of recourse to the appeal process. Suspended students may not enroll at the College for one semester. They may then apply to the Admissions Office for readmission. The College requires that they complete a minimum of 6 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 at another institution before reapplication. Students must complete an off-campus readmission form available from the Registrar. Approval is required prior to enrollment in courses. Students re-applying after sitting out one semester on suspension will be evaluated on an individual basis based on the entire Massachusetts College academic experience and coursework completed at another college. Students suspended at the end of the spring term may not take courses at MCLA in the summer or fall, and must re-apply through admissions.
Students who study abroad/study away must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum 30 credits earned (sophomore status)
- Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
- No holds on student accounts
- Must complete the International/Domestic Travel Statement of Consent Form (the statement is included below for informational purposes but is not part of the policy)
ON NOVEMBER 19 2015 ACC APPROVED THIS POLICY WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF SPRING 2016. STUDENTS WHO ARE SEEKING TO DO STUDY AWAY OR STUDY ABROAD FOR SUMMER OR FALL 2016 WILL BE SUBJECT TO THESE CRITERIA.
Travel Liability Waiver
Statement of Risk - Study Away and/or participation in a Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)-sponsored travel course is voluntary and not required by the institution for completion of any major or minor academic program. Students should be aware of the potential risk associated with international and domestic travel. MCLA does not encourage, nor promote, the participation in unsafe activities such as sky diving, off-roading, handling of exotic animals, eating unsafe foods, etc. Students are encouraged to make sure their country of interest is not on the U.S. Department of State Alerts and Warnings list. (see:http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings.html). In addition, students should remain abreast of social, economic, and political issues in their country of interest and should be familiar with the laws governing said country. MCLA assumes no liability for incidents and accidents involving the students studying away from the MCLA campus or participating in a MCLA sponsored Travel Course. Students are encouraged to take precautions when traveling away in terms of preparation for emergencies and unforeseen incidents. The College affiliated student health insurance program does not cover international travel, but covers the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who are traveling outside of the coverage area are encouraged to purchase health insurance independently or through one of the college's affiliated third party providers: CISAbroad, International Studies Abroad, Semester at Sea.
Code of Conduct
Since academic credit is awarded upon the successful completion of MCLA sponsored Travel Courses or Study Away programs, students are held to MCLA's code of conduct standards regardless of their location. Students represent MCLA and should act in accordance with the MCLA code of conduct. The following is taken from the MCLA Student Handbook found on the MCLA website under Student Life/Resources. Violations of College policy whenever the conduct in question occurs in any of the following circumstances may be subject to College disciplinary action; - if it occurs while the student who is charged was attending or participating in any college-related activity (such as athletic contests, field trips, study abroad programs or social events).
Assumption of Liability
I am participating in the above captioned study away or MCLA sponsored travel course, and hereby release, waive, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless all MCLA Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, agents, and assignees from and against any and all claims, for bodily injury demands or causes of action of any type whatsoever, including property damage or personal injury, damages, losses and expenses, including but not limited, to attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way related to participation in this trip with which I choose to participate in. I am aware that there are possible risks and dangers associated with my participation. I assume full responsibility for any injuries or damages I may sustain as a result of my participation, including travel to or from the trip destination. In addition, I assume liability for and agree to indemnify and to hold MCLA Board of Trustees, faculty and staff harmless for all claims or damages caused, in whole or in part, by me and any negligent, intentional, or other act of omission on my part. By signing this waiver of liability and release, I acknowledge that I have read and understood this document and the assumption of liability for students attending MCLA programs. I fully agree and understand all terms and conditions in this document.
The College recognizes the value of Teaching Assistantships as an educational experience. To this end, each academic department may establish Teaching Assistantships in accordance with College policy. A student interested in becoming a Teaching Assistant (TA) must be in good academic standing. The student must also have demonstrated competency in the subject area in which he/she will be assisting. Academic Departments offering Teaching Assistantships may specify additional requirements.
Faculty must then approve the student's involvement in the Teaching Assistantship and the student will then enroll in a department-sponsored course (1 - 3 credits, with one credit defined as 45 hr per semester) specifically designed for the Teaching Assistant experience and approved on a form signed by the student, faculty member, department chair, and Academic Dean. In this course context, a learning agreement will be developed which describes the duties, academic work and authority of the Teaching Assistant; the Office of Academic Affairs will develop a common form for all Teaching Assistantships that will include guidelines for credit and space for detailed description as well as spaces for the appropriate approval signatures. Teaching Assistantships have the option of being either letter graded or taken as pass/fail courses. Students may apply no more than six credits as Teaching Assistants toward graduation. INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR DISCRETION REGARDING APPROPRIATE CREDIT EARNED AS WELL AS GRADING MODE.
Students enrolled in a credit-bearing Teaching Assistantship will not be eligible for College workstudy funds or any form of remuneration for the conduct of work done as a Teaching Assistant. While Teaching Assistants may be allowed to review student coursework to learn about the grading process, only Faculty shall evaluate student coursework and assign grades.
Students leaving the College must complete a Withdrawal from College form obtained from CSSE/Advising. Students officially withdrawing before the first day of final examinations will receive a notation of WX in all courses. After this time students will receive a final grade in all courses.
Note: A student is not officially withdrawn from the College until the appropriate form has been completed and has been validated by the Registrar's Office.
