Academic Advising Handbook_texas Uni

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Academic

AdvisingHandbook

August 2007

www.t.edu/asc/handbook/index.html

Academic Support Center


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PrefaceAccording to the Faculty Handbook, each student at the university is assigned a ull-time aculty member

as his or her aculty adviser. Faculty advisers should instill in their advisees a condence that the academic,

proessional and social development o the student is their serious concern. They should advise students

concerning their courses o study ater making a thorough examination o each students past academic

perormance, not only at Florida Tech, but also at any school the student has attended. They assist students

in career development, in making a selection o courses at the time o registration and approve the students

registration orm. Outside o the classroom, aculty advising is one o the most important responsibilities o a

aculty member.

AcknowledgmentsWe want to thank the Florida Tech contributors who enhance, update and improve this handbook. We hope

to receive additional suggestionsespecially rom new aculty membersor improvements to make this

handbook more helpul.

T. Dwayne McCay, 2007

Provost and Executive Vice President

Editorial NoteThisAcademic Advising Handbook has been compiled by the Academic Support Center as an aid or

aculty advisers, but is not a policy-dening document. It contains material rom other documents compiled

to provide a convenient reerence to aid the advising process. Advising provides the basis or good aculty

student communication and plays a vital role in retaining and successully graduating students.


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Academic Advising HandbookAugust 2007

Section 1: The Advisers RoleThe Academic Advising Role ..................................................2

Some Strategies or Advising .................................................2

Some Interview Techniques Used in Advising ........................2

Key Reminders or Eective Advising ...................................3

Advising Undecided Students .................................................3

Section 2: Faculty GuidelinesUndergraduate Course Syllabi and Textbooks ........................4

Examinations ..........................................................................4

Grade Policies and Procedures ...............................................4

The Early Warning System .....................................................4

Cheating/Plagiarism ...............................................................5

Student Retention Committee ................................................6

Release o Student Inormation and FERPA Regulations .......6

Section 3: The Registration ProcessRegistration Procedures ..........................................................6

Prerequisite and Corequisite Courses.....................................7

Nondegree Programs ..............................................................7

Transer Students ............................................................... .....7

Freshman Course Recommendations .....................................7

Advanced Standing Examinations ..........................................8

Advanced Placement Credit ...................................................8

The College Level Examination Program ...............................8

International Examinations ....................................................8

Directed Study ................................................................... .....8

Undergraduates Taking Graduate Courses .............................9

Course Substitution ................................................................9Interdisciplinary Science ........................................................9

Advising Military Science (Army ROTC) Students ................9

Undergraduate Request to Study at Another Institution .........10

Tuition and Fees Payment Policy ............................................10

Dropping a Course..................................................................11

Adding a Course .............................................................. .......11

Repeating a Course (Forgiveness Policy) ................................11

Change o Major .............................................................. .......11

Graduation ........................................................... ...................12

Withdrawal rom the University .............................................12

Withdrawal o Students or Health /Medical Reasons .............12Academic Probation and Dismissal ........................................12

Notication/Right o Appeal ..................................................12

Section 4: FormsRegistration Form ...................................................................13

Request or Additional Transer Credit ...................................13

Petition or Equivalency Examination .....................................13

Request or Directed Study Course ........................................13

Request or Undergraduate Elective Approval and Course

Substitution ........................................................................13

Change in Registration Status ................................................14

Request to Retake a Course ....................................................14

Change o Grade Request .......................................................14

Undergraduate Request to Study at Another Institution .........14

Request or Change o Major/Minor, Change o Site

or Dual Degree ...................................................................14

Petition to Graduate ................................................................15

Request or Transcript ............................................................15

Section 5: Advising International Students

English Prociency Testing .....................................................15Full Time vs. Part Time ..........................................................15

Registration Procedure ...........................................................16

Failed Courses in Division o Languages and Linguistics ......16

Change o Major .............................................................. .......16

Dual Major .............................................................................16

Time Limitation on Academic Program ..................................17

Recommendation or Less than Full-Time Load .....................17

Section 6: Student ServicesInormation Technology Computing Services .........................17

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS ) ....................17

Disability Services ..................................................................18

The FRESH Program .............................................................18

Academic Support Center (ASC) ...........................................18

Career Services ................................................................. ......18

Ethical and Legal Statements in Student Hiring ....................18

Cooperative Education ...........................................................19

Student Employment ..............................................................19

Financial Aid ..........................................................................20

Warning, Probation and Suspension .......................................20

Health Center .................................................................. .......20

Residence Lie ........................................................................21Security and Saety .................................................................21

Cashier ...................................................................................21

Section 7: Banner AccessHow to Get Access to Banner .................................................21

Your Computer Login ID and Password..................................21

Table of Contents


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2 Florida Tech

Section 1The Advisers Role

The Academic Advising RoleUndergraduates have been described by Dr. Thomas H.

Peake, School o Psychology, as being in the latter stages o

becoming adults. They display, in varying degrees o compe-

tence, emotions and independence, a sense o personal identity,

relationship skills, purpose and integrity.

The primary purpose o academic advising is to assist studentsin their pursuit o a college experience to help them ulll their

lie goals. Advisers, thus, need to assist students in:

clariying lie goals,

developing their educational plans,

selecting appropriate courses and other educational

experiences,

using university support services,

developing decision-making skills, and

developing the capacity to evaluate alternatives and direct

their eorts productively.

Some Strategies or AdvisingBasic strategies o advisement used to assist in individual

student development are emphasized below.

Become acquainted with the advisee in as many aspects as

possible

Getting to know the advisee outside the ormality o the oce

can be extremely valuable. Knowing the academic abilities

and background o the advisee is also important. Having good

documentation (the advising older) such as high school courses

with grades, rank in graduating class, ACT or SAT scores,transer courses and grades rom other universities, and present

academic status is essential when assessing a students ability

and uture direction.

Explore the objectives, interests and motivations o the

advisee

The advisees actual certainty o uture objectives and goals is

dicult to ascertain. When the adviser has some knowledge o

the advisees nonacademic backgroundsuch as home infu-

ence, hobbies and riendsa more thorough type o advisement

is possible.

Develop rapport with adviseeI the student knows the adviser as a proessional person who

has a genuine interest in students, the advisement process

becomes much more benecial or both adviser and advisee.

The student should be encouraged to become acquainted with

other aculty members in the academic unit, because multiple

contacts can be useul to the student who is attempting to

assess his/her personal goals.

Become knowledgeable concerning university rules, policies,

regulations and procedures that aect academic programs

and activity

Every adviser must be well-inormed regarding current

academic policies and procedures. Prior review o policies and

study o policy changes should be a regular activity o each

adviser beore beginning each registration period. Familiarity

with courses generally taken by advisees, the characteristics o

teachers o the courses and how prior students have appraisedthe courses can make the advisement process smoother and

more successul. Suggesting student involvement in campus

activities is oten the key to retention in school.

Evaluate student motivation

Enhancing a students motivation by capitalizing on good

academic planning can be a very helpul strategy. Suggested

strategies might include:

Matching courses early in the program to the students1.

academic strengths, interests and backgrounds.

Helping the student to build on success rather than ailure.2.

Challenging capable students to continue their eorts3.

toward academic excellence.

Explaining the rewards o a strong academic program and4.

associated good grades.

Be aware o the limitations o responsibility as to where the

burden o the advisement process alls on the shoulders o the

student

Advisers cannot make decisions or an advisee, but they can

be a sympathetic listener and oer various alternatives or the

advisees consideration. Advisers cannot increase the ability o

a student, but can encourage the maximum use o that ability.

While advisers cannot change some aspects o course schedule

or employment loads, the students can be reerred to the proper

oces or such adjustments.

Seek to determine the level o advisement appropriate or

your own comort and the students training

Advisers should not attempt to personally handle complex

problems concerning nancial aid, mental or physical health, or

personal or social counseling. When these situations arise, the

aculty adviser should reer students to proessional personnel

who are specially trained and knowledgeable about dealing with

such problems.

Some Interview Techniques Used in AdvisingOpening: Greet students by name; be relaxed and warm. Open

with a question.

Phrasing Questions: Avoid yes/no questions to increase conver-

sational fow.


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Listening: Dont out-talk a student. Listening allows one to

identiy eelings behind words. Be silent and let the student

search or his/her own words or ideas.

Accepting the Students Attitudes and Feelings: Convey

acceptance in a nonjudgmental way. I the student thinks its

a problem, so does the adviser. Try to understand where the

student is coming rom.

Cross-examining: Dont rapidly re questions at the student.

Admitting Your Ignorance: Admit when you do not know the

answer. Go to your resources or the inormation or call the

student back later when you have the inormation.

Setting Limits on the Interview: Its better i the adviser and

the student realize rom the beginning that the interview will

last or a xed length o time.

Ending the Interview: Its best to end the interview at the

agreed time. Oer to schedule another appointment.

Key Reminders or Eective AdvisingCare about advisees as people and keep in requent1.contact.

Establish a warm, genuine and open relationship.2.

Evidence interest, helpul intent and involvement.3.

Be a good listener.4.

Establish a rapport with advisees by remembering personal5.

inormation. Keep a record o past conversations.

Be available, keep oce hours and appointments, and seek6.

out advisees in ormal settings.

Provide accurate inormation.7.

Reer to the current8. University Catalog, AcademicAdvising Handbook, etc.

Know how and when to make reerrals, allow the students9.

to do it in your presence and be amiliar with reerral

sources.

Dont attempt to handle situations or which you are not10.

qualied.

Help students make their own decisions.11.

Focus on the advisees strengths rather than limitations.12.

Determine reasons or poor academic perormance and13.

direct advisees to appropriate support services.

Clearly outline the advisees responsibilities and monitor14.

their progress toward educational goals.

Follow up on commitments made to advisees.15.

Encourage advisees to consider and develop career16.

alternatives when appropriate.

Evaluate the eectiveness o your advising.17.

Dont be critical o other aculty or sta to anyone.18.

Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and the job19.

outlook or various majors.

Dont betray condential inormation.20.

Advising Undecided StudentsUse this plan in a 20-minute advising session or over an

extended period o time. A trusting advising relationship needs

to be established; the rst contact is critical. Remind the

students your role is one o support to provide continuity and

stability.

Step 1: How undecided is the student?

Why are they undecided?

What majors are they considering? What majors have they

eliminated?

(I they cant answer either question, go through a complete list o

the majors oered, giving an explanation o each.)

Be sensitive to sex-role stereotyping.

Listen or students values when identiying alternatives.

Step 2: How should the adviser help students to organize a plan

or gathering inormation?

What type o inormation do they need?

Devise a plan or gathering inormation.

Reer to campus resources.

Establish a timeline.

Step 3: How should the adviser help the student organize the

inormation gathered?

Integrate personal assessment into career choices.

Help them understand academic and occupational

relationships, including majors that lead to occupational

possibilities.

Help them understand how majors t values and goals.

Help them narrow their options to two or three.

Step 4: How should advisers support students while they make

decisions?

Oer eedback on the process.

Help identiy external actors.

Help them understand their decision-making process.

Support their decision.

Step 5: How should the adviser help students initiate an action

plan?

Help identiy actions, steps and resources needed to take

action.

Help set up a realistic timetable or taking action.

Remind students that no plan is static; as changes take

place, new decisions may need to be made.


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4 Florida Tech

Step 6: How does an adviser encourage uture contact?

Be available to help them to assess urther or update their

decision.

Section 2Faculty Guidelines

Undergraduate Course Syllabi and TextbooksFor each undergraduate course, the instructor should select a

textbook and prepare a syllabus. The syllabus will be given to

the student at the rst meeting o the course. The instructorshould, at a minimum, cover all the material listed in the

syllabus and use the selected textbook or out-o-class reading.

I the instructor cannot adhere to this policy, he/she should

immediately report the expected deviations to the academic

unit head/program chair. Uniormity, particularly in under-

graduate prerequisite courses, helps preserve continuity.

The syllabus should contain:

Course number (including section number i multi-section

course), name and semester

Instructors name and ocial location, e-mail address

(phone ext.)

Textbook(s) and author(s) name, and edition, i applicable

A week-by-week list o subject matter to be covered in the

course

Explanation o any term papers, projects or other

requirements

Grading procedures

All syllabi must include the attendance policy. Although

there is no universitywide policy regarding penalties or

non-attendance, students are expected to attend all classes.

All syllabi should contain a statement on academic honesty.

Copies o all syllabi and handouts must be on le in each

academic unit oce.

ExaminationsA nal examination must be given at the time and day shown

in the Final Examination Schedule (see online at

www.t.edu/registrar/nals.php). Requests or a waiver o time

or day must be approved by the senior vice provost; however, a

nal examination may be given only during Finals Week. The

documentation required by the senior vice provost or consider-

ation o change is a statement requesting the change (includingspecics as to time, day and location) with the signature o the

instructor and every member o the class. The academic unit

head should underwrite the endorsement by his signature.

It is hoped that individual aculty members would try to explain

to individuals or to classes the chaos that is created by resched-

uling a nal examination beore he/she or the class spokes-

person appeals to the Oce o the Provost.

Exceptions to this policy or individual students may be handled

by the aculty member in the ollowing cases: 1) student illness

or other emergency; 2) student has more than three examina-

tions scheduled the same day; and/or 3) one examination time

conficts with another. Priority in the two last cases will be

given to adjusting the lower numbered course(s) (i.e., the higher

numbered courses should ollow the published exam schedule).

The instructor will retain nal examinations or at least one

term. I the instructor leaves the local area and will no longerbe accessible, then the nal exams with the scheme used or

scoring must be let with the instructors academic unit head.

Grade Policies and ProceduresOnline grading is the ocial mode o submitting grades. All

grading is completed through Web or Faculty. Instructors/

aculty will be inormed via e-mail rom the Registration Center

that grading is enabled in Web or Faculty. Web or Faculty will

list only the courses taught by the aculty member logged in or

the selected term. Only the instructor o the course listed in

Banner will be able to enter grades.

The drop-down grade box will show only those grades to be

used or the course (i.e., A-F, I, P/F, S/U). Faculty may enter

grades and/or change grades online up until the 4 p.m. dead-

line. Any grades not entered by 4 p.m. on the day grades are

due will be deaulted to a grade o NR (no record). Contact the

Registration Center or instructions on submitting grades to

replace NRs.

Faculty o 1000- and 2000-level courses must enter midterm

grades.

There is no public posting o grades. The public posting o

grades either by student name, institutional student number or

social security number without the students written permission

is a violation o FERPA. (see Release o Student Inormation on

page o this handbook or more inormation about FERPA.)

The Early Warning SystemThe Early Warning System is a service o the Academic Suppor

Center (ASC) and the Oce o the Registrar. This system is to

ensure that rst-year students are contacted by their advisers

and notied o their current academic situations. Any student

decient in one or more courses should be inormed so changes

can be made.

During the eighth week o each term, instructors o 1000- and

2000-level courses enter all midterm grades (A.B.C.D.F or I)

online through Web or Faculty (PAWS). During the ninth

week, students are alerted and are encouraged to visit their

aculty adviser, who also has been alerted.

The adviser should review the students older beore an

advising meeting. Each older should contain placement test

scores, course placements and test descriptions, high school and


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previous college transcripts (or an abstract o relevant inorma-

tion), correspondence, previous grade reports and the students

current schedule.

During the advising session, the adviser should:

Review the students academic progress. I she/he has a D

or F, the options include prompt consultation with pertinent

instructor(s), dropping a course beore the ninth week, and/

or seeking tutoring through the ASC.

Review curriculum requirements and weigh the workload vs.

demonstrated capacities.

Review the academic regulations with the student, including

necessary prerequisites.

Review the Student/Faculty Complaint Procedure, i

appropriate.

Inorm the student about personal counseling and academic

counseling available at CAPS and the ASC.

Be alert to other contributing actors such as study

habits, time management, memory development, personal

relationships with peers and/or instructors, knowledge oresources, health, test preparations, money management or

other sources o stress. The ASC can assist in these areas.

Cheating/PlagiarismCheating and/or plagiarism are extremely serious matters.

Even the suspicion o cheating or plagiarizing has jeopardized

promising careers. The university has an obligation to itsel, its

alumni and its students to deal with such cases with unmistak-

ably clear, orthright and air action.

When a suspected breach o academic regulations involves

cheating or plagiarism, the ollowing sequence o events will be

initiated:

The instructor and the academic unit head responsible1.

or the course will meet to decide whether or not charges

should be made.

I both agree that no charges should be made on the basisa.

o the evidence available, the matter will be dropped

pending urther incidents involving the same student in

the same course. I no other such incident occurs, the

matter will be dropped permanently and no reerence will

be made to it.

I both agree that charges should be made, the case willb. proceed to step (2) below.

In the absence o agreement between the instructor andc.

the academic unit head, the dean o the college responsi-

ble or the course will decide whether to proceed accord-

ing to (a) or (b) above.

The student will be promptly notied in writing o the2.

charges and given an opportunity to meet with the

instructor and academic unit head (accompanied by the

aculty adviser i the student wishes) and/or to submit a

written statement explaining or reuting the charges.

I the meeting takes place or a statement is submitted, thea.

case will proceed to step (3) below.

I the student chooses not to meet with the instructorb.

and academic unit head, the case will proceed to step (4)

below.

Based on the meeting with the student and/or review o the3.

students written statement, the instructor and academic

unit head will make a preliminary decision regarding the

students guilt or innocence.

I both agree the student is innocent, the matter will bea.

handled according to step (1) (a) above.

I both agree the student is guilty, the case will proceedb.

to step (4) below.

In the absence o agreement between the instructor andc.

the academic unit head, the dean o the college responsi-

ble or the course will decide whether to proceed accord-

ing to (a) or (b) above.

In the case o a nding or as a result o (2) (b) above, it4.

will be necessary to determine whether this case is a rst

instance o cheating/plagiarism. This determination is

to be made by the dean o students, based on the le o

documented previous incidents.

I a previous case is on le, the matter must be reerreda.

or disciplinary action through the Oce o the Dean o

Students.

I no previous case is on le, the case will proceed to stepb.

(5) below.

I it is established that no previous case is on le or the5.

student, he/she will be given the option o either accepting

the charges or having the case reerred to the dean o

students or a ormal disciplinary hearing. The maximum

penalty that may be imposed on the student in the absence

o a hearing is a ailing grade or the course in question and

denial o the right to withdraw rom the course or have the

grade replaced or any reason, (e.g., the orgiveness policy

or a change o majors). I the instructor and academic unit

head both eel that a stronger penalty is called or, they also

have the right to reer the case to the Oce o the Dean o

Students.I the charges are accepted by all parties concerned without

benet o a disciplinary hearing, the charges will not be made

a part o the registrars ocial student le, but a record o the

incident will be orwarded to the dean o students and kept on

le in accordance with the University Code o Conduct. This

record will include a description o the incident and a statemen

signed by the student waiving his right to a ormal disciplinary

hearing and accepting the penalty imposed. It is not necessary


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6 Florida Tech

or the student to ormally acknowledge his agreement with all

aspects o the description o the incident. In the absence o this

statement, the case must be reerred to the dean o students

or a hearing. The acts pertaining to the incident, including

the name o the student, will not be made public, but will be

made known to aculty in the students academic unit, with

the academic unit oering the course and other aculty and

university ocials as required to guard against uture incidents

o cheating or plagiarism.

Student Retention CommitteeThe Student Retention Committee is a continuation o the

Freshman Faculty Advisory Committee that was established in

1983 with the purpose o increasing communication between

students, advisers and administration. The purpose remains

the same with the emphasis on the study o immediate issues

and needs o all students. Committee members are selected

or their expertise and their amount o personal contact with

students. Consistent with the redened mission o the FRESH

Program, all members o the committee share the common goal

o identiying and recommending solutions o problems acedby all students. The vice provost or enrollment management

serves as chair.

Release o Student Inormation and FERPAThe Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act o 1974

(FERPA) as amended established a set o regulations governing

access to and the release o inormation contained in student

records. FERPA gives students who have reached the age o 18

or who attend a postsecondary institution, the right to inspect

and review their education records, the right to amend their

records and the right to exercise some control over the disclo-

sure o certain inormation contained in these records.

FERPA applies to the education records o persons who are

or have been in attendance in postsecondary institutions,

including students in cooperative or correspondence study

programs. FERPA does not apply to records o applicants or

admission who have been denied acceptance or, i accepted, do

not attend an institution. See the University Catalog or more

inormation.

The public posting o grades either by student name, institu-

tional student number or social security number without the

students written permission is a violation o FERPA.

Letters o recommendation made rom personal observations

or knowledge do not require a written release. I personally

identiable inormation obtained rom a students education

record (grades, GPA, etc.) is included in a letter, the writer is

required to obtain a signed release rom the student that speci-

es the records that may be disclosed, states the purpose o the

disclosure and identies the party or class o parties to whom

the disclosure can be made.

Inormation about the provisions o FERPA and ull text o the

law rom the Federal Register may be obtained rom the Oce

o the Registrar.

Security and condentiality o student records are a responsi-

bility o all campus employees, including aculty, sta, adminis-

tration, graduate assistants and student workers. Adherence to

the ollowing guidelines will enable the campus community to

avoid student complaints under FERPA and are required or all

employees.

It is unlawul to:

make or permit the unauthorized use o inormation in the1.

student les maintained, stored or processed by campus

oces;

seek personal benet or allow others to benet personally2.

by knowledge o condential inormation rom student

records;

exhibit or divulge the contents o any record or report to3.

any person except in the conduct o their work assignment

and in accordance with FERPA and university policies and

procedures;

knowingly include or cause to be included in any record or4.

report, a alse, inaccurate or misleading entry;

knowingly expunge a data entry or cause it to be expunged5.

in any record or report;

remove an ocial record, or report or copy thereo, rom6.

the oce where it is maintained, except when authorized

by a supervisor in the perormance o a persons duties;

aid, abet or act in conspiracy with another to violate this7.

policy; and

withhold knowledge o a violation o this policy.8.Violation o this policy may lead to reprimand, probation or

dismissal.

Section 3The Registration Process

Registration ProceduresDegree requirements or each Florida Tech baccalaureate

degree are outlined in the University Catalog. Beore the all

term o the reshman year, most new reshmen are block-

registered in their proper rst-term courses by the registrar

based on input rom the academic units. For subsequent terms,

it is important that each student reviews his/her course choiceswith the assigned academic adviser so they can correctly

complete online registration. This provides the student fex-

ibility in arranging his/her individual schedule concerning

extracurricular activities, study-period patterns and other

variables he/she believes are important. No student shall be

permitted to attend a course unless ocially enrolled, regard-

less o whether that course is being taken or credit, audit or

Continuing Education Units (CEU).


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Prerequisite and Corequisite CoursesThe ollowing problems may arise rom the ailure to take or to

qualiy to take prerequisite or corequisite courses at the right

time or in the correct sequence.

Decreased likelihood o successully completing the course.1.

Decreased mastery, even or a student who is able to pass2.

the course, o the ull body o knowledge covered in the

course.

Increased time devoted to this course causes problems with3.other courses.

Diminished educational experience or other students who4.

take the course.

Added work or the instructor.5.

Advisers should check their advisees nal grades against their

registrations or the next semester, and contact the students

regarding dropping any course or which a prerequisite has been

ailed.

Nondegree Programs

Nondegree programs (General Studies, General Scienceand General Engineering)provide a common reshman-year

curriculum or students who are uncertain about which major

they will choose.

Students are encouraged to choose a major beore registering

or their third semester o ull-time course work, and must do

so within their rst 45 credit hours. These criteria are adjusted

or transer students. Nondegree program students are advised

by aculty in all programs and are assigned a new adviser in

the appropriate academic unit when they declare a major. No

degree is awarded in general studies, general science or general

engineering.

Transer StudentsTranser students may enter Florida Tech at the beginning o

any semester o the academic year. I they lack college credit in

mathematics and communication, they will be required to take

a placement examination.

Beore Orientation and or transer students entrance term

only, the registrars oce encourages academic departments

to contact and assist the Registration Center with registering

transer students.

Advisers should check Banner or transer credit and check

olders or a ormal statement regarding an evaluation o

transer credit. Students should be ully inormed as to credit

received and be made aware o the right to appeal decisions

regarding transer credit. The orm to request additional

transer credit is available through the transer credit coor-

dinator in the registrars oce. Requests must be in writing

beore the completion o their second term at Florida Tech.

All ocial transcripts and documents must be submitted beore

the completion o a students rst semester o enrollment.

Academic units need to apply transer credit to the program

degree plan so the student knows what courses he/she needs to

complete.

Freshman Course RecommendationsThe ollowing recommendations regarding course selections

were submitted by heads o the academic units that are respon-sible or the courses. An adviser should reer to the recom-

mendations when scheduling reshmen and/or undergraduate

international students or courses in those subject areas.

Biological Sciences: The only biology sequence open to

reshmen who dont have transer credit is Biological Discovery

(BIO 1010, BIO 1020). Students who enroll in this sequence

should have taken biology and chemistry in high school.

Chemistry: Some students may need additional strengthening

o their chemistry background to successully complete General

Chemistry 1 (CHM 1101). At the end o the seventh week

o the all semester, students with grades o low D or F on

the basis o their midterm grades will be re-registered into a

preparatory course, Introduction to Chemistry (CHM 1100),

with no penalty. There will be no grade or CHM 1101, and the

grade or CHM 1100 will be based solely on the perormance in

that course. These students may take CHM 1101 the ollowing

term. Students who take CHM 1100 do not continue in the

laboratory, but they may apply their seven-week laboratory grade

to CHM 1101 the ollowing term.

Communication: New reshmen and transer students who

lack prior college credit in English are required to take an

online communication placement exam. Student schedules are

updated according to the results o the test and distributed at

the end o Orientation.

General Science: The two-semester sequence Survey o

Science (EDS 1031, EDS 1032) is oered by the science and

mathematics education department. The sequence covers both

the physical and biological sciences and addresses relationships

to the environment, health and other topics o current interest.

Mathematics: New reshmen and transer students who lack

prior credit or the rst required mathematics course in their

major are required to take an online mathematics placementexamination. In the all semester, student schedules are

automatically updated according to the results o the tests and

distributed at the end o Orientation.

Physics: Because a strong mathematics background is essential

to physics, students should complete Calculus 1 (MTH 1001)

beore taking Physics 1 (PHY 1001).


12/28

8 Florida Tech

Advanced Standing ExaminationsMany students entering Florida Tech are suciently procient

or advanced placement above the entrance level. Currently

those advanced placements are in chemistry, physics and

computer science. Advanced standing examinations are oered

twice each year, the week beore each semester. Entering

students, including transer students, who wish to take these

examinations should contact the ASC during the early part o

Orientation.Note: Students who take an Advanced Standing Examination

may not take an Equivalency Examination or the same course.

By the third week o the semester, each academic unit receives

results o test scores and course placements or ling with the

records o each student. Advisers should:

Compare course placement with the students current

schedule.

Compare course placements and current registration with

curriculum requirements to determine need or credit or

remediation.

Coordination o placement exams and examinations or credit is

the responsibility o the ASC.

Chemistry: The Advanced Standing Chemistry Examination

identies entering students who have mastery equivalent to at

least one semester o Florida Techs sequence in general chem-

istry. Eligibility requires a grade o B or better in chemistry

beyond the standard one-year American high school chemistry

course or passing a college-level chemistry course that was not

directly eligible or transer credit.

Computer Sciences: (Computer Applications) Entering

students who have mastered word processing, spreadsheets,presentation systems, electronic mail, le transers, remote

logins and Internet browsing may request to take the Computer

Applications Advanced Standing Examination. This test has

both written and hands-on portions. Students with passing

scores will be awarded three credits or Introduction to

Computer Applications (CSE 1301).

Computer Sciences: (Computer Science) Entering students

who have mastered the undamentals o computer science, such

as building executable programs, data types, control structures

and undamental algorithms, may request to take the Computer

Science Advanced Standing Examination. This test has bothwritten and programming portions. Students with passing

scores and who place into Calculus 1 or above will be awarded

our credits or Fundamentals o Sotware Development

(CSE 1001).

Mathematics: Advanced standing credit is earned by rst

taking the online mathematics placement examination. I

placement test scores are suciently high, students are invited

to take the Mathematics Advanced Standing Examination.

Success in this test places the student in the next (higher)

course in the sequence and usually grants him/her college

credit or the particular course. Advanced standing is typically

given or basic courses required or the degree. The credit is

listed on the transcript as Advanced Standing Credit, with the

grade shown as T. Transer students who do not have credit or

the rst mathematics course or their major are required to take

the online mathematics placement examination.

Physics: A student who has studied physics beyond the stan-dard one-year American high school course and believes he

or she has a mastery equivalent to that o one or more Florida

Tech physics sequence courses (using some calculus) may

request to take the Physics Advanced Standing Examination.

Advanced Placement (AP) CreditStudents who have had ocial AP test scores submitted to

the registrars oce may be granted transer credit. The oce

will notiy the student by letter o the credit received. The

AP equivalent courses and scores are listed in the University

Catalog.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP)Florida Tech grants academic credit or Subject Examinations

only. To receive credit, the score must be above the recom-

mended percentile specied by the American Council on

Education (ACE). CLEP examinations are not administered on

the Florida Tech campus. Please contact the registrars oce

or specic inormation.

International ExaminationsCredit is awarded or grades o our or higher in the Interna-

tional Baccalaureate (IB) program or higher-level examinations

and certain standard-level examinations or IB diploma holders.

Based on a review o the subject areas and scores, credit is also

awarded or receiving C or better or the British GCE exami-

nations at the advanced level (A-level) or or the Caribbean

Advanced Prociency Examinations (CAPE) when two units

are completed.

Directed StudyWhen a student, or reasons beyond his/her control, must earn

credit or a particular course beore the next time the course

will be oered, it is occasionally possible to arrange or personal

study o the subject as directed by a qualied ull-time acultymember. (see current University Catalog and Schedule o

Classes)

To enroll or a directed study course, the student should initiate

a Request or Directed Study orm and obtain the needed

approvals as directed on the orm. Approval is given at the

discretion o the academic unit oering the course.


13/28


Normally, evidence o a compelling need (e.g., course required

or graduating beore courses next scheduled oering) and

due diligence by the student regarding taking the course when

oered are required or approval. Not taking the course at its

last scheduled oering because o an unpopular class time or

instructor is never an acceptable justication.

Undergraduates Taking Graduate CoursesGraduate credit: An undergraduate student who is within 24

semester credit hours o completing the requirements or a

bachelors degree at Florida Tech, and who has a grade point

average o 3.0 or better, may also enroll in graduate courses or

graduate credit provided that such registration will not result in

any postponement o the completion o his/her undergraduate

degree requirements. The students academic unit head and the

dean o the appropriate college must approve any exceptions.

Undergraduate credit: In addition to taking graduate courses

or graduate credit, undergraduate students may also be

permitted to take graduate courses as electives to apply toward

their bachelors degree, and in such cases, the requirements

delineated above will not apply. However, undergraduates with

grade point averages below 2.75 will be allowed to take graduate

courses only under exceptional circumstances, and only with

the approval o the head o the academic unit oering the

course and the dean o the appropriate college.

Course SubstitutionAny deviation rom the stated degree requirements at Florida

Tech, including course substitutions, must have written

approval o the students academic adviser and academic unit

head/program chair. The Request or Undergraduate Course

Substitution orm should be submitted by the student to theaculty adviser and academic unit head/program chair. A copy

o the approved course substitution orm will be placed in the

students older. The orm must be submitted to the registrar s

oce or nal processing. Any substitution o a course that

does not cover subject matter that is directly comparable to the

required course it replaces requires the approval o the univer-

sity registrar. Substitutions should never be delayed until the

nal year.

Interdisciplinary Science and Military Science OptionThe intent o the military science option o the interdisciplinary

science degree program is to prepare Florida Tech ROTC

cadets to serve as commissioned ocers in the United States

Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard. The military

science option provides a comprehensive academic curriculum

with emphasis on applied leadership and problem-solving skil ls.

Check the current University Catalog or more inormation

about military science at Florida Tech.

Members o both military science, and physics and space

sciences serve as academic advisers. This comprehensive eort

ensures each student in the interdisciplinary science/military

science option engages a ullling and rewarding academic

experience.

Advising Military Science (Army ROTC) StudentsEach student at Florida Tech has a aculty adviser to assist

him/her with the chosen academic program planning/progress.

United States Army Cadet Command Regulations require that

cadets at each military science leadership (MSL) level in Army

ROTC also have a cadre adviser (Army ROTC instructor/

proessor) who monitors cadet progress and compliance with

the provisions o his/her academic program and Army ROTC

contract (i applicable). This is to ensure that the student is

making sucient academic progress toward a degree.

The vast majority o cadets at Florida Tech are either on schol-

arship (which means they have a contract with the U.S. Army),

or are pending award o a scholarship (which means they must

meet a specic GPA and physical tness standard to activate

the scholarship and subsequent contract). One o the provisions

or a contracted scholarship cadet is that he/she must maintain

a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA. Once the scholarship

contract is initiated, the 2.0 GPA rule applies. Those cadets

who are awarded a three-year Advanced Designee scholarship

(one awarded the senior year o high school, but not eective

until the sophomore year o college) must attain a minimum

GPA o 2.5 by the end o their reshman year to validate the

scholarship. This is also true or a reshman, sophomore or

junior applying or a two-, three- or our-year on campus Army

ROTC scholarship.

Each scholarship cadet signs a contract acknowledging his/her

academic responsibilities, and lls out an academic plan (Cadet

Command Form 104-R), which the students aculty adviser

agrees to and signs. The proessor o military science veries

completion o this orm. The Army ROTC adviser or each clas

monitors compliance with the plan.

He/she also advises the proessor o military science when

changes to the plan occur, or academic perormance is not

in keeping with the Army contract. The Army ROTC adviser

writes each cadet a minimum o twice per semester, addressing

academic perormance among other items. When cadets arestruggling academically, the Army ROTC adviser will seek

assistance through the aculty adviser and may also seek other

measures, including tutoring assistance.

Any student who has an active ROTC scholarship and subse-

quently requests to change their major academic eld o study

should address the issue and receive approval rom Cadet

Command. Cadets are not authorized to drop their MSL course

without written approval rom the proessor o military science.


14/28

10 Florida Tech

Cadets who demonstrate an inability to meet minimum

semester and cumulative GPA requirements are placed on

administrative suspension (students on administrative suspen-

sion will not receive payments or tuition or ees). The suspen-

sion will last or the duration o the semester immediately

ollowing. Cadets on administrative suspension are prohibited

rom participating in any Army ROTC extracurricular activity.

When a student does not improve, he/she is normally consid-

ered or leave o absence, pending disenrollment rom ArmyROTC and termination o the scholarship contract.

Undergraduate Request to Study at Another InstitutionUndergraduate students must obtain approval rom their

academic unit and the registrars oce beore taking courses

at another institution to ensure that transer credit will be

awarded. Following are the policies and procedures or under-

graduates requesting study at another institution and transer o

credit:

Students requesting to study at another institution must1.

meet all catalog policies covering transer credits and

residency requirements.Once becoming a Florida Tech student, a maximum o2.

three courses can be taken at another institution and

applied toward any one degree.

Unless the student was a resident o either Brevard or3.

Indian River County at the time o initial acceptance

to Florida Tech, a course may not be taken at another

institution in Brevard or Indian River County i the

equivalent Florida Tech course is oered at Florida Tech in

the same or overlapping term.

Florida Techs orgiveness policy is not applicable to4.

transer credits. Courses ailed at Florida Tech may beretaken at another institution or transer credit to meet a

program requirement but not to remove the grade rom the

Florida Tech GPA.

Requests to take courses or which prerequisites or5.

corequisites have not been met must be submitted with an

approved Co/Prerequisite Waiver Request orm.

Financial aid recipients may wish to consult the Oce6.

o Financial Aid beore requesting to study at another

institution.

International students require a signature rom the Oce7.

o International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) beoresubmitting a Request to Study at Another Institution orm.

Sponsored international students require written8.

sponsorship approval sent directly to the registrars oce.

Using the Undergraduate Request to Study at Another Insti-

tution orm, the student must meet with his or her aculty

adviser to determine i the requested course is applicable to

the degree program and i there is an established Florida Tech

equivalency. This determination is made either by checking

the Banner database or contacting the registrars transer credit

coordinator at ext. 7263.

I the requested course does not have an established Florida

Tech equivalency, the student is to submit the request orm and

applicable course description to the academic unit responsible

or evaluation o the equivalent course to determine one o the

ollowing:

There is an equivalent Florida Tech course oered by this1.

academic unit.There is not an equivalent course, but the requested course2.

is eligible or transer credit as an elective in which case

the subject and level o the elective should be entered (e.g.,

Humanities Elective, HUM 2XXX).

The course requested is not suitable or Florida Tech3.

transer credit.

Additional inormation is needed beore a determination4.

can be made.

The orm is returned to the student who then obtains any

additional needed inormation and orwards to his or her aculty

adviser and department head or signatures. The student will

submit the completed request orm to the registrars oce or

nal approval. Upon completion o the approved course, it is the

students responsibility to request that an ocial transcript is

mailed rom the approved institution directly to the registrars

oce.

A request or exception to this policy must be submitted with

written justication rom the student and written endorsement

by the aculty adviser, department head and associate dean.

Tuition and Fees Payment Policy

Students are assessed tuition and ees based on the locationsand programs in which they are enrolled and the degrees

being pursued. Students enrolled and pursuing degrees on

the Melbourne campus are assessed the Melbourne tuition

and ees.

Students enrolled and pursuing degrees through University

College are assessed the University College tuition and ees.

Students enrolled in programs and pursuing degrees as part o

a partnership arrangement with another entity are assessed the

tuition and ees approved by the partnership.

All expenses, including tuition, ees, room and board, must bepaid or an alternative payment plan arrangement must be made

on or beore the Monday one week beore the rst day o classes

each semester or be subject to a 1.5 percent per month nance

charge. Students who register ater the rst day o classes

and either do not pay by close o business or make alternative

payment plan arrangements to pay the balance on their account

will be charged a 1.5 percent per month nance charge on the

unpaid balance in addition to the $150 late registration ee.


15/28


To avoid nance charges, all ees must be paid by the due

date o Monday one week beore the rst day o classes each

semester or on the same day as registration. All students who

carry an unpaid balance must pay the balance beore being

allowed to register or a subsequent term.

Payments may be made online via PAWS (TRACKS account

needed), in person (checks/cash only) or by mail. Credit cards

accepted online include MasterCard, Discover and American

Express. Payments sent by mail should be mailed at least 10days in advance o the payment due date to assure receipt by

the payment deadline.

Dropping a CourseThere are several things to take into consideration when a

student wants to drop a course.

Will dropping the course postpone the students graduation?

Was the cause o dropping the course controllable?

Could the encountered problem have been predicted?

Is it beore the 11th week o the term?

Failure to attend courses or verbal notication to instructors

does not constitute an ocial withdrawal rom the course.

Students who do not ocially withdraw rom a course through

the registrars oce will receive a ailing grade o F. Advisers

should reer to the University Catalog or urther inormation.

Adding a CourseA course can be added through the rst week o classes and

should not be added without consideration o a variety o ques-

tions, some specic to the student, some procedural. Procedural

considerations include:

Has the student acceptably passed the prerequisites or the

course(s) to be added?

Is the course required or accepted or the degree the student

seeks and is the student aware o that?

Does the section requested t the students current course

schedule?

Repeating a Course (Forgiveness Policy)Students may repeat any course they choose and receive a grade

or the course. All grades received are recorded on the students

transcript. However, i an undergraduate student so desires,

he or she may request that the orgiveness policy be applied,

meaning that only the last grade received or this course will be

used in the cumulative grade point average.

An undergraduate student is allowed to apply orgiveness or

undergraduate courses a maximum o ve times during his/her

Florida Tech career. No orgiveness is allowed or retakes above

the maximum o ve. Repeats above the maximum o ve are

allowed, but both the old and new grades are averaged into the

cumulative grade point average.

A student attaining 85 credits (senior level) may not apply the

orgiveness to 1000- and 2000-level courses, although excep-

tions are normally granted i the student proves that the course

was repeated at the rst opportunity. Forgiveness may not be

applied to graduate-level courses.

A Request to Retake a Course orm must be completed or

every course retaken under the orgiveness policy. This orm is

due in the registrars oce by the Friday o the 12th week o

classes to aect the GPA reported at the end o that semester.This orm is a BINDING AGREEMENT between the student

and Florida Tech. It cannot be withdrawn once it is submitted.

The students cumulative GPA is readjusted. When the

students cumulative GPA is recalculated, it does not make the

student eligible or academic standing changes retroactively.

Change o MajorA student may change majors i his/her new academic unit

head/program chair or dean approves the students submitted

Request or Change o Major/Minor, Change o Site, or Dual

Degree orm. Advisers rom both academic units should discuss

the decision with the student, clariy his/her academic goals

and be prepared to recommend options. The new academic uni

examines the students record and determines what courses are

acceptable in the new major. Courses that are not applicable

to the new program are not used in computing the students

cumulative GPA and will be so designated.

Primarily, not applicable courses are courses that were

required in the old major but not in the new major, provided

the new major does not require a closely similar course. For an

elective to be not applicable, it must be closely related to the

eld o the old major and the new major must be in a eld thatis signicantly dierent, such that a similar relationship does

not exist.

A course should not be designated not applicable i it is not in

the students best interest to do so.

A not applicable designation is irreversible unless the student

again changes majors. Once a course has been designated

not applicable in any degree program, it can never be used or

included in the GPA (even retaken) in that degree program in

the uture.

At times a change o major may result in loss o scholarship aid(e.g., Florida Tuition Reduction Grant or some engineering and

science education majors). It is important that advisers eec-

tively monitor and discuss this complication when considering a

change.


16/28

12 Florida Tech

GraduationGraduating students must le a Petition to Graduate orm and

submit it by the date shown in the University Catalog. The

registrars oce reviews, records and responds to each petition

noting compliance with requirements or any course/credit de-

ciencies that must be remedied. Copies are sent to the student

and to his/her academic unit. A student will not receive a

diploma or be permitted to participate in a graduation ceremony

unless he/she has completed the necessary requirements or thedegree.

All program requirements must be completed successully

beore commencement exercises.

University policy requires that the nal 12 semester hours

beore graduation be earned in residence, but permits this

requirement to be waived in exceptional cases by action o the

university registrar. In such a case, the waiver includes approval

o an exception to the limit on courses taken elsewhere, i

necessary. In addition, a student in good standing who is clas-

sied as a senior may appeal to the university registrar or an

exception to the limit on courses taken elsewhere i the alterna-

tive would be a need to request a waiver o the nal 12-hour

residency rule or a delayed graduation.

Withdrawal From the UniversityWhen a student decides to withdraw rom the university all

matters must be closed, including course registration, nancial

accounts, room assignment, etc.

When a student in good standing or on academic probation

has been absent rom the university or two years or less and

has not attended any other college or university in the interim,

he/she can re-enter the university by simply registering or acourse or courses. A student who has not registered or our or

more consecutive semesters (excluding summer terms), or who

has attended another institution during an absence rom the

university, must apply or readmission. See the current Univer-

sity Catalog or more inormation.

Withdrawal o Students or Health/Medical ReasonsIt is normally the responsibility o the university health center

to determine and advise the dean o students concerning

students who either must be sent home or have become hospi-

talized and will be unable to attend or complete course(s).In the event the students choice is to withdraw, only the

registrar needs to be notied (in writing) or appropriate action.

I the student wants to request grades o incomplete (I), with

the understanding that missed work will be made up, the dean

o students will advise the students dean in writing and the

decision on whether to award an I or the grade earned will be

the prerogative o each o the students instructors.

Academic Probation and DismissalAn undergraduate student is placed on academic probation at

the end o any semester completed with a cumulative grade

point average (GPA) less than 2.0, and while on probation is no

permitted to register or more than 15 credit hours without the

approval o the cognizant dean. At the end o the probationary

semester, the students academic perormance is reviewed,

and i the cumulative GPA has increased to 2.0 or greater, the

probationary status is removed.

I not, the probationary status is continued i the cumulative

GPA exceeds the applicable minimum level dened as ollows,

where the number o credit hours includes transer credits,

credits by examination and all Florida Tech credits taken,

whether passed or not, but does not include grades o W:

0 to 59 credit hours ........... ...............................at least 1.50

60 to 89 credit hours ........................................at least 1.70

90 or more credit hours ....................................at least 1.90

A student is academically dismissed at the end o any proba-

tionary semester in which the cumulative GPA does not reachthe level dened in the preceding paragraph, with the exception

o a student who has been reinstated and is meeting all rein-

statement conditions.

A student who is registered or summer classes beore the start

o the term will not be dismissed or ailure to meet these

standards but will be reviewed again beore the beginning o

the all semester. The summer grace period is not available to

students who are not registered by the Friday o spring semes-

ters nal exam week, or to students who ail to meet previous

reinstatement conditions.

A student who accumulates our ailing grades o F in English

as a Second Language (ESL) courses will be academically

dismissed. Dismissal may result rom cheating or plagiarism

when acted on by the University Disciplinary Committee and

approved by a committee consisting o the students college

dean, the associate provost or student aairs and dean o

students, and members o the aculty and student body.

Notifcation/Right o AppealNotication o academic dismissal rom the university will be

sent to the student by the university registrar. An academi-

cally dismissed student may be reinstated or educationallysound reasons by special action o the Academic Standing

Committee o the college in which the student is enrolled.

A letter requesting reinstatement should be submitted to the

committee through the registrar. A student who has been away

rom the university or our or more consecutive semesters and

was dismissed ater the last term o enrollment, must submit

a letter o appeal or reinstatement. The letter is sent to the

undergraduate admission oce, along with the application or

readmission.


17/28


Students reinstated by the Academic Standing Committee

may be subject to special requirements as determined by the

committee. Failure to meet the conditions specied at the time

o reinstatement will result in a second dismissal, with the

student retaining the right to request another reinstatement,

although such requests are normally granted only in extraordi-

nary cases.

Section 4FormsCommonly used orms may be ound on the Florida Tech Web

site at www.t.edu/registrar/orms.html. The orms are divided

into groups that include general use, all students, under-

graduate students, graduate students, alumni/graduates and

aculty/advisers. Although the orms may be lled out online,

the entered inormation may not be saved. Following are brie

instructions or using some common online orms and the Web

address where they may be directly accessed.

Registration Formwww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/Regorm_07.pd

Student sees his/her adviser to discuss curriculum1.

requirements, electives, etc.

Student lls out orm.2.

Adviser signs orm and keeps the academic unit copy.3.

Adviser indicates electronically that advising has occurred

so the student can register via PAWS.

Student registers online using PAWS or takes the4.

registration orm to the Registration Center.

Student is given a course schedule. A detailed invoice is5.

mailed the next day.

Student pays all ees at the Student Accounting window.6.

Request or Additional Transer CreditThis orm is not available online. Contact the transer credit

coordinator in the registrar s oce at ext. 7263 or copies and

instructions.

Petition or Equivalency Examinationwww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/EquivExam.pd

These examinations are not given or placement o entering

students or graduating seniors.

Student lls out orm and presents it to adviser, who1.veries that all requirements listed in the University

Catalog are met and i so, signs Line 1.

Student takes orm to head o the academic unit2.

responsible or the course to obtain course syllabus and

schedule examination.

Student contacts cashier to pay ee and complete Line 2.3.

Student gives orm to examiner and takes examination.4.

Examiner grades test, completes and signs Line 3, and5.

orwards orm to students academic unit head.

Academic unit head completes and signs Line 4, and6.

orwards orm to dean.

Dean signs Line 5 i examination was passed, and orwards7.

orm to registrars oce.

Registrars oce enters credits on student transcript and8.

orwards copies o orm to students academic unit and

student.

Request or Directed Study Coursewww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/ReqDirectStudy.pd

Present evidence o a compelling need to the academic uni1.

oering the course.

Initiate a Request or Directed Study orm.2.

Obtain the approvals o the instructor, the students adviser3.

and the head o the academic unit oering the course.

Take the completed orm to the Registration Center.4.

Pay the ees as stated in the current5. Schedule o Classes.

Request or Undergraduate Elective Approval andCourse Substitutionwww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/UG_ElecApprov_07.pd

Degree certication requires that this orm be completed and

signed to justiy every variation o courses in the curriculum o

the degree sought as it was presented in the current Univer-

sity Catalog at the students time o enrollment. In addition,

all electives must be identied and authorized by both the

academic unit head/program chair o the major and the

academic unit head/program chair responsible or the specic

discipline involved.

Course substitutions are normally allowed only i the two

courses are basically similar in context or i a more advanced

course is substituted or a more basic one in the same topical

area. Need to graduate is assumed to apply in all cases, and

can never be the justication.

The military science curriculum merges with all standard

our-year degree programs by substituting military science

courses or ree electives, restricted electives, technical elec-

tives, humanities electives and social science electives. Reer

to the current University Catalog or authorized substitutions

by major. Please note that incoming reshmen with credit and

transer students may have used up their electives based on a

transer credit evaluation. It is important or an adviser to make

it clear to his/her advisees that, i the student withdraws rom

the military science curriculum, the substitutions made are not

accepted as credit toward most degrees.


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14 Florida Tech

Change in Registration Statuswww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/ChgRegStat_07.pd

This orm is used or class adds and drops, and or univer-

sity withdrawal. A schedule change becomes ocial when

a Change in Registration Status orm bearing the required

signatures is processed by the Registration Center.

During the rst week o classes, no signatures are required1.

or switching sections o the same course. Advisersignature is required when adding a course not previously

approved in writing. No adviser signature required or

drops. During the second week o classes, the orm must be

signed by the adviser and academic unit head or program

chair oering the course. Drops must be signed by adviser.

Switching sections o the same course must be signed by

the academic unit head oering the course.

Adviser checks to be sure section to be entered has2.

opening.

Adviser orwards a copy to the academic unit or the3.

students older.

Student submits completed orm to the Registration4.

Center.

International students need the signature o the director,5.

International Student and Scholar Services, i dropping

below 12 undergraduate and nine graduate credits.

However, i the student is adding, or dropping and adding

even amounts o credits, no signature o the director is

required.

Notes: 1. The last day to drop a course is the Friday o the eighth

week o the semester. 2. Variations rom standard policy are

granted only in extraordinary circumstances and must be well

documented.

Request to Retake a Coursewww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/Forgiveness_07.pd

When a student earns a D or ails (F grade) a course, it is

important the he/she be advised that: a) in core courses or

a major (e.g., calculus, physics), it is critically important to

earn a C grade or higher. Success in uture courses is heavily

dependent on student mastery o the subject matter in these

key courses; b) all grades will be recorded on the students

transcript; and c) it is consequently wise to urge a student to

consider repeating such a course ater reviewing the orgive-

ness policy in the current University Catalog. Student obtains

advisers approval o the orm.

The student is encouraged to submit the orm to the registrar s

oce no later than Friday o the 12th week o classes during

the semester that the course is being retaken i the new grade

is to replace the previous one in the GPA calculation on the

current grade report.

Courses designated as Forgiveness Policy Applied are

excluded rom the cumulative GPA totals. The recalculated

GPA does not make the student eligible or any academic

honors, which are based on all grades received, including

orgiven grades.

A student is allowed to apply orgiveness to courses a maximum

o ve times during his/her Florida Tech career.

Change o Grade RequestThis orm is not online and is not to be handled by any student

at any stage o the process. I Substitute Grade or Converted

Grade is checked, the orm must be accompanied by a written

explanation/justication.

The student through inquiry, or the course instructor1.

through discovery o the need or the grade change,

initiates action. The instructor must request change o

grade.

The orm is presented by the instructor or a ull-time sta2.

member or signature to the academic unit head/program

chair responsible or the course.Upon the above approval, the orm is hand-carried by3.

the aculty member or a ull-time sta member to the

oce o the dean responsible or the course or the deans

consideration. The academic unit copy o the course grade

sheet is corrected with proper notations.

Upon the deans approval, the orms (all copies) are hand-4.

carried by the aculty member or a ull-time sta member

to the registrar s oce. The students GPA is recalculated;

proper alterations are made to the computer record; the

original is led in the students older; and the academic

unit copy is orwarded to the major academic unit or thestudents older.

For incompletes and blanks (no record), the process occurs5.

at the beginning o all and spring term.

Forms are sent out with return requested by the end o the

sixth week.

Undergraduate Request to Study at Another Institutionwww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/UgradStudyInst.pd

Please reer to Undergraduate Request to Study at Another

Institution on page 10 o this handbook.

Request or Change o Major/Minor, Change o Siteor Dual Degreewww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/ReqChange_07.pd

It is important or the adviser to assure that the proposal to

change a major is not an attempt on the part o the student

to avoid a problem that will reappear while studying the next

major. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), ext.

8050, perorms a series o preerence tests (without charge)


19/28


that have helped many students nd the right major more

surely than one could expect rom casual conversations or may

be chosen by the student. The Oce o Career Services and

Cooperative Education, ext. 8102, can also assist by helping

students choose the path to careers that would suggest a major.

Student gets the orm signed rst by current adviser.1.

Student gets the orm signed by the new academic unit2.

head/program chair.

Student brings signed orm to the registrars oce.3.

Registrars oce provides transcript to new academic unit.4.

The new academic unit head/program chair examines5.

students past records to identiy not applicable courses

and returns the orm to the registrar.

The courses annotated not applicable are excluded rom6.

the students cumulative GPA and cannot be re-evaluated

to infate GPA at a later date.

The new academic unit requests the students le rom the7.

previous academic unit.

Petition to Graduatewww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/PetToGrad_07.pd

All graduating students must le a Petition to Graduate by the

date shown in the Academic Calendar o the current Univer-

sity Catalog; otherwise, the student will be subject to a late ee

and may not be aware o unmet graduation requirements until

too late to register or the necessary course(s) without returning

or an extra semester. Petitions may be obtained online at the

address above, in the registrars oce or rom the students

academic unit.

To qualiy or a our-year degree rom the university, no lessthan 34 semester hours o work or a our-year degree must be

completed at Florida Tech. The nal 12 hours beore graduation

in any degree must be earned in residence. Any deviation rom

the oregoing policies requires prior written approval by the

senior vice provost.

Student lls out the orm and carries it to cashiers oce to1.

pay ees, i any.

The registrars oce will distribute all copies.2.

Request or Transcriptwww.ft.edu/registrar/documents/ReqTranscript_07.pd

Transcripts are condential inormation and are issued only1.

upon authorization in writing by the individual student.

Submit completed request to the records division o the2.

registrars oce, with appropriate ee enclosed ($5 per

copy).

Financial obligations must be met beore transcripts are3.

released.

Transcripts can be ordered online using a students PAWS4.

account. I a student does not know their PAWS account

inormation, please contact the registrars oce at ext. 8115

Note: To assure credibility, in most cases, transcripts required by

other institutions or companies must be mailed directly by the

registrars ofce. Be sure that the address given is precisely correct

(including names and/or titles, i possible).

Section 5Advising International StudentsEnglish Profciency TestingInternational students are required to take the TOEFL

examination administered by the Division o Languages and

Linguistics beore the rst week o classes unless they have

previously taken a recent (within two years) computer-based

TOEFL (CBT) and received a score o 213 or better, or an

Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) and received a score o 79 or

better. Students should register with the division o languages

and linguistics or the TOEFL exam at check-in. Reer to the

current University Catalog or the list o exemptions.

Students should report to the division o languages and linguis-

tics or the examination results beore meeting with academic

advisers. Students who score between 450 and 549 on the

institutional TOEFL will need to register or English language

courses within the division o languages and linguistics at

Florida Tech. International students may begin some course

work in conjunction with English language courses. Students

who score below 450 will need to attend the ELS Language

Center where lower-level English as a Second Language courses

are taught. Florida Tech international students may begin some

course work in conjunction with English language courses.

Note: The division o languages and linguistics distributes

TOEFL scores to students and their academic units.

Students whose English prociency is such that they may take

a ull or partial academic program and who have been admitted

into an academic program will be instructed (when they receive

their TOEFL scores) to report to the Academic Support Center

to register or the placement exams, i applicable. Any student

who is taking any English language course cannot take humani-

ties, chemistry, fight or introduction to engineering courses.

Note: Although ESL courses are credit-bearing, they do not count

toward any Florida Tech degree and cannot be used or electives.

Full Time vs. Part TimeImmigration regulations set orth by the U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS) governing the enrollment o

international students state they must be registered ull time.

A ull-time course o study is dened or the all and spring

semesters as ollows:

Undergraduate study a minimum o 12 semester hours

Graduate study a minimum o nine semester hours


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16 Florida Tech

I the summer semester is an international students rst

semester, they are required to be registered ull time. Returning

international students are not required to be registered in the

summer.

No more than one online/distance learning course or three

credits per semester may count toward the ull-time course load

requirement.

International students should maintain ull-time student status

to avoid problems with the USCIS and/or their own sponsors

requirements. International students considering a reduc-

tion o their course load below that o ull-time status should

rst consult the Oce o International Student and Scholar

Services (ISSS). I international students are dropping courses

that aect their credit-hour total, the signature o the director

o ISSS is required. However, i a student is dropping and

adding courses or the same amount o credits, no signature is

required.

There are certain conditions where an international student

may be enrolled less than ull time, providing they ollow theappropriate authorization procedures. An up-to-date Less Than

Full Time Course Load orm is available rom ISSS. The orm

must be lled out in its entirety and signed. The exceptions to

less than a ull load are as ollows:

English language diculties (acceptable only in the rst

semester o enrollment)

Unamiliarity with American teaching methods and

requirements (acceptable only in the rst semester o

enrollment)

Improper course-level placement

Completion o course requirements (available only in last

semester and Petition to Graduate has been led)

Medical (ocial documentation must be submitted)

Graduate students may register or less than ull load i they

are registered in a course that the university considers to be ull

time, or at least three semester credit hours i they have been

awarded a ull-time GSA, or six semester credit hours i they

have been awarded a hal GSA.

Note: Financial reasons are never an acceptable reason or a less

than ull-time course o study.

Registration ProceduresStudents whose TOEFL scores allow them to take ull- or

part-time academic work should report to academic units or

advising and course scheduling as soon as they have received

TOEFL, placement and/or advanced standing exam results.

Fill in and sign a registration orm that indicates1.

appropriate academic courses or the student ater

consulting inormation sent by the division o languages

and linguistics (English Prociency Examination Report

orm) and results o the placement tests on the student

program orms. Any student who is taking any English

language course cannot take humanities courses, chemistry

courses or introduction to engineering courses.

I the student is required to take English language courses,2.

he/she should be sent to the division o languages and

linguistics or course scheduling and an advisers signature.

He/she will not be allowed to register without a languageadvisers signature. Students who are authorized to take

a combination o ESL and academic subjects have their

registration orms signed by both the division o languages

and linguistics, and the academic aculty adviser. Note:

Sign the registration orm beore the English language

adviser signs.

Have students report to the Registration Center to register3.

or courses as soon as possible ater academic advising.

Have ISSS sign and approve the Drop-Add orms i a4.

student alls below a ull-time course load.

Failed Courses in Division o Languages and LinguisticsCourses required o the student in the division o languages

and linguistics take precedence over academic courses. All

required language courses must be taken and, i ailed, repeated

as soon as possible. The chair o the division o languages and

linguistics makes the nal determination o what and when

language courses are to be taken. Students who are authorized

to take a combination o ESL and academic subjects have their

registration orms signed by both the division o languages

and linguistics and the academic aculty adviser. A ailed ESL

course will normally result in the student having to drop one

or more o the academic courses registered or in the ollowingsemester. A student who accumulates our ailing grades o F in

ESL courses will be academically dismissed.

Change o MajorMany international students have been permitted to enter the

country to study a specic curriculum. When an international

student who is being sponsored by an agency or government

decides to change his/her ma

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