Students have the right to appeal decisions made by University officials in the implementation of University policy. If a student feels that individual circumstances warrant an appeal, the request for appeal must be filed in the University office responsible for the implementation of that policy or the office specified in the policy statement.
Class attendance may be used in computing grades at the discretion of the instructor. If attendance is to be used, a complete written statement of the instructor's policy detailing the weight of attendance in determining the final grade must be presented to all students present at the first and second meetings of the class.
Instructors will report to the Office of the Registrar all students who have not attended any class meetings during the first two weeks of classes (fall/spring) or the first week of classes (summer). These students will be sent a “Notice of Non-Attendance.” Students accept both fee and grade liability at the time of registration. Students who do not attend classes are responsible for processing an official drop/withdrawal on TIGERWEB at www.tigerweb.memphis.edu or STRIPES. In order to avoid fee or grade liability, students must drop/withdraw prior to the first day of classes for the session in which the course is taught.
A student who is absent from the final examination without the permission of the teacher incurs a grade of "F" on the examination and may, depending on the weight of the examination in determining the final grade, incur a grade of "F" for the course.
Students who receive VA benefits or Title IV funds for enrollment fees
are subject to cancellation of future awards and immediate repayment of
these benefits if they stop attending whether or not they officially withdraw
or drop a course. The last known date of attendance will be reported by
the instructor. Students who stop attending will be assigned a grade of
“F” in courses, which do not reflect an official withdrawal.
Adding and Dropping Courses
After the official registration period is over, students may make adjustments in their schedules through the process of adding and/or dropping courses. (For dates and times, see the Schedule of Classes. See also The University of Memphis homepage on the web at http://www.memphis.edu). Courses dropped through the last day to add will not be shown on the student’s permanent record. Courses dropped after the last day to add will be indicated on the record as withdrawal grades for those courses. A student may drop any course or courses up through the last day to drop specified in the University Calendar for that term. (The University Calendar is located in the front of this Bulletin and in the Schedule of Classes.) Requests for exceptions must be made by the end of the next regular term following the term in which the grade was assigned, and normally only as part of a request for withdrawal from the University. Exceptions are made only by the dean in the college in which the student is earning a degree, or by the dean’s designee, and only on the basis of such extenuating circumstances as serious personal illness and relocation because of employment. To stop attending a class without officially dropping the course incurs the grade of “F”.
Withdrawal From University
Any student who wishes to officially withdraw from the University may do so on the web, by telephone, or in person through the Office of the Registrar in Student Information Services, room 119, Administration Building. Failure to officially withdraw will result in grades of “F” for the courses in which the student is enrolled.
NOTE: Withdrawal is not permitted beyond the last day to withdraw specified
in the University Calendar for that term or session. Requests for exceptions
must be made by the end of the next regular term following the term in
which the grade was assigned. Exceptions are made to this policy only in
cases of such extreme circumstances as serious personal illness and relocation
because of employment. Withdrawal requests after the deadline should be
filed in the dean’s office of the student’s major college or the Academic
Counseling Unit for students with no declared major.
Enrollment Transactions
Enrollment transactions include registration, adding and dropping courses, and withdrawing from the university. The official date shall be the date that the request is submitted to the Office of the Registrar, subject to the final review and approval of the Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Services. If the final review reveals any apparent violation of the University's academic regulations and/or contractual relationships between the University and the student, the Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Services has the authority to suspend the transaction pending joint review with the college dean, the department chair, and the student's academic advisor. If the joint review verifies the legitimacy of the transaction, the official date will be that originally established. If the joint review culminates in a finding that academic regulations and/or contractual relationships have been violated, the entire transaction may be permanently invalidated.
Classification of students is based on the number of college level credit hours earned as shown in the following table.
Classification Semester Hours Freshman 0-24 Sophomore 25-54 Junior 55-84 Senior 85 or more Special Students not working on a degreeIn order to avoid a possible delay in graduation, students who have completed the required number of hours to be classified as juniors but who have not completed their basic requirements in the Lower Division should schedule these uncompleted requirements during the first semester in which such courses are available.
Credit Hours and Maximum Load
The unit of credit at The University of Memphis is the semester hour. A semester hour is defined as the credit earned for the successful completion of one hour per week in class for one semester; or two to three hours per week of laboratory for one semester. (A course which gives three semester hours credit will normally meet for three lecture or recitation hours per week, or for two lecture or recitation hours and two-three laboratory hours per week; or for some other combination of these.) Each lecture hour presupposes a minimum of two hours preparation on the part of the student.
The minimum credit hour load for classification as a full-time student and the maximum loads are found in the table below. The maximum credit hour load includes all course enrollments for any term, both at The University of Memphis and any concurrent enrollment at other institutions. It does not include credit by examination. No student is permitted to enroll for correspondence or extension courses while carrying a maximum credit hour load.
Minimum Maximum Term Hours Hours Fall or Spring 12 **20.5 Pre Summer 7
First or Second Summer * 9 Extended Summer only * 16 Session combinations (including Pre
Summer) * 23* Any enrollment of less than 12 hours for all summer terms combined is defined as being less than full-time. The minimum number of hours required for full-time classification is 12 for any combination of Pre, First, Second, and/or Extended Sessions.
Grades and Quality Points
GRADES
At the end of each session, instructors report to the Office of
the Registrar the standing of all students in their classes. The grade
of a student in any course is determined by class standing and examination,
combined in such proportion as the instructor in charge of the course may
decide. The instructor’s grading scale will be provided to students on
the course syllabus.
The instructor’s evaluation of the student’s work is expressed
by the following grades which are converted to quality points for the purpose
of averaging grades.
Grade Quality Points A+ 4.00
A 4.00
A- 3.84
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
F 0.00
W (Withdrew) 0.00
I (Incomplete) 0.00
NR, None Reported 0.00
NC, Non Credit 0.00
*IP, In Progress 0.00
*S, Satisfactory 0.00
*U, Unsatisfactory 0.00
T(see below) 0.00
AD, Audit 0.00
CR, Credit 0.00
*Grades used to postpone or suspend course completion
include “I” (Incomplete), “IP” (In Progress), and “W” (Withdrawn).
Independent studies courses, student teaching, workshops,
practica, and internships should be graded “A-F, IP” or “S/U, IP.” A grade
of “S,” “U,” or “IP” does not carry any quality points and is not included
in computing GPA. All courses for which the student is registered are recorded
as passed (with a letter grade), “T”, failed, dropped, withdrew, audit,
credit, satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or incomplete. In no case is credit
allowed in any course for which the student is not properly registered.
Grade of Incomplete: The grade of "I" (Incomplete)
may be assigned by the faculty member in any course in which the student
is unable to complete the work due to extraordinary events beyond the student’s
control that are acceptable to the faculty member. The “I” may not be used
to extend the term for students who complete the course with an unsatisfactory
grade. Unless the student completes the requirements for removal of "I"
within 45 days from the end of the semester or summer session in which
it was received (see University Calendar), the "I" will be changed to "F,"
whether or not the student is enrolled. The faculty member may grant up
to a 45-day extension if sufficient extenuating circumstances exist. At
the end of the extension period, the “I” will automatically revert to “F”
if the student has not completed the requirements. The student will be
certified for graduation only when all requirements are met, including
the removal of “I” grades. For students who have an “I” in a course required
to fulfill degree requirements in the semester in which they expect to
graduate, the certification process and graduation will automatically be
deferred to the next term.
In Progress: In courses with “In Progress”
(IP) grading, faculty members may assign “IP” to extend the time permitted
for completion of research or course requirements. A student awarded an
“IP” grade must re-enroll in the course for the same number of hours to
complete the work. The final grade will be submitted by the faculty
member at the end of the term in which the work is completed. This
should be the semester following the “IP” grade.
Grade Changes: Grades properly issued in a course by the faculty member of record will not be altered except when an error was made in computation or reporting or as a result of a formal grade appeal. A grade other than "I" or "IP" may not be changed as a result of additional work after a grade has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar. The Grade Appeals procedure is described below.
“T" Grade: The "T" grade allows students to complete
independent studies courses in variable time periods that might exceed
a regular enrollment period. The following procedure governs the use of
the "T" grade:
1. Prior to the registration period, the
faculty member obtains approval of the department chair and dean to use
the "T" grade in a course(s).
2. The dean notifies the Office of the Registrar
of courses for which the "T" grade may be awarded.
3. At the end of the regular term, the faculty
member has the following options:
a. Award grades
A-F.
b. Award an
"I" grade if the faculty member feels that the work can be completed in
45 days. (If an "I" grade is awarded, a roster with the student's
name on it will be sent to the faculty member during the 45-day period.
The faculty member must record either “A” to “F” for the "T" grade to prevent
an automatic assignment of "F.")
c. Award a
"T" grade. If the "T" grade is awarded, the student must re-register for
the course in order to earn credit. The "T" grade is not used in the computation
of GPA.
Grade Reports
Current semester grades may be obtained on TIGERWEB at www.tigerweb.memphis.edu, or on STRIPES. Grades are normally available by the Thursday after the last day of the exam period for the session.
Withholding of Grade Reports
The University is required by State law to withhold
grade reports, transcripts and diplomas from students who have outstanding
financial obligations to the University. When financial obligations have
been resolved, students may obtain their grades on TIGERWEB at www.tigerweb.memphis.edu,
or on STRIPES.
Repetition of Courses
A student may repeat most courses in an attempt to improve the grade previously earned. There are some courses that may not be repeated for this purpose. Information concerning these courses may be obtained from the office of the chair of the department in which the course is offered. In some degree and major programs, there are restrictions on course repetitions even after drops or withdrawals. The student should always check with the major advisor before enrolling in a course a second or subsequent time(s).
The University is not obligated to allow substitutes for repetition of courses, which have been deleted from the curriculum. Credit by examination may not be used for the purpose of improving a grade previously earned in a course taken for credit.
A student may not attempt the same course more than three times for the purpose of obtaining a passing grade or higher grade. Exceptions to this limitation may be made by the dean of the college from which the student intends to graduate, or by the dean’s designee. These exceptions must be approved prior to the student’s registration for the fourth and any subsequent attempts of the same course.
The student’s grade point average will be computed as follows:
Grade(s) Included Attempt In Computation 1st Original grade earned 2nd Only grade in 2nd attempt 3rd/+ Grades earned in 2nd and all subsequent attempts calculated in grade point average.The record will continue to reflect all grades earned in the same course.
Audit Courses
Students who are admitted to The University of Memphis may register
to audit a course with the prior approval of the instructor and the department
chair. Students enrolling on an audit basis do not receive academic credit
for that course. Particularly in high-demand courses, departments should
make sure that students who need these courses for degree credit can be
accommodated before they issue permits for audits. Audits should not be
used simply as a vehicle for obtaining access to laboratory or studio facilities.
Auditors are not required take examinations and do not receive
a regular letter grade. There should be a precise agreement between the
student and the instructor as to the extent and nature of the student participation
in the course, including class discussions, projects, and readings. Students
auditing a course will receive “AD” (Audit) on the transcript only if they
have attended regularly and participated according to the prior agreement
with the instructor.
A student may not change from a grade point to an audit or from an
audit to a grade point basis after the last day to add classes for that
session. Any questions concerning this policy should be referred to the
colleges.
Fees for audits will be assessed on the same basis as fees for
credit courses.
Credit/No-Credit Courses
The University, wishing to encourage mature students to broaden their range of interest without jeopardizing their grades, allows students who have earned at least 60 semester hours with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to enroll in credit/no-credit courses as determined by their college. Students are limited to one course per term and may not accumulate more than 12 semester hours on a credit/no-credit basis. (In most cases, Physical Activity courses are exempted from these requirements. See Graduation from the University.) Students who transfer from one college to another should be aware that credit/no-credit hours may be acceptable in one and not in another. Students may apply to take, on a credit/no-credit basis, a course that has been taken previously for a grade. In every instance, approval to register for a course on a credit/no-credit basis must be obtained from the advisor and the dean of the student's degree-granting college. Credit hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis will be accepted toward degrees within the following limitations:
The College of Arts and Sciences accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis in any course that is not required for the student's degree.
The Fogelman College of Business and Economics accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis only in courses designated as electives in the student's degree program.
The College of Communication and Fine Arts accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis in any course that is not required for the student's major.
The College of Education accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis in any course that is not required for the student's major, professional educational requirements and endorsement requirements.
The College of Engineering accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis in any course that is not specifically required for the student's degree.
The University College accepts hours earned on a credit/no-credit basis in any course that is not required for a student's Coordinated Study Program or for the Thematic Studies requirement.
A student who registers for a course on a credit/no-credit basis may change the registration to a letter grade point basis only during the add period, and a student who registers for a course on a letter grade point basis may change the registration to a credit/no-credit basis only during the add period for the term or session of the course. The student who successfully completes a credit/no-credit course will receive the appropriate number of hours as credit toward graduation. These hours will not be used in the computation of the grade point average.
Undergraduate Grade Appeal Procedure
This appeal procedure is designed to provide any undergraduate at The University of Memphis with a clearly defined avenue for appealing the assignment of a course grade which the student believes was based on prejudice, discrimination, arbitrary or capricious action, or other reasons not related to academic performance. In all cases the complaining student shall have the burden of proof with respect to the allegations in the complaint and in the request for a hearing. Students pursuing the appeal procedure must proceed through steps 1-3 listed below and file for a hearing in accordance with the following time limits. Grade appeals for the fall semester must be filed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs by March 15 following the semester in which the grade was earned. Grade appeals for the spring or summer semesters must be filed in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs by October 15 of the same year. In light of the steps outlined below, the student must begin the process of appeal by February 1 or September 1 in order to be assured that steps 1-3 will be completed within the specified timeframe. If a student fails to pursue the procedure within the time limits, the disposition of the student’s complaint made in the last previous step shall be final. If the dean or department chair fails to respond to the student’s complaint within the time limits, the Undergraduate Appeals Committee will act on the student’s complaint. The procedure is terminated if the student and the instructor agree on the grade or if the student fails to appeal a decision within the appropriate time limit. All correspondence and records will be retained in the office in which the complaint is terminated.
Step 1. The student shall first consult with the instructor in an effort to provide a satisfactory resolution of the complaint. In the event the student cannot schedule a meeting with the instructor, the student may contact the department chair who will schedule the meeting between the student and the instructor. The only exception to this procedure is the case in which the instructor is unavailable, making it is impossible to complete Step 1.
Step 2. If the complaint is not resolved in Step 1, the student
may present the complaint in writing to the department chair in which the
course was offered. The department chair will attempt to resolve the complaint
in consultation with the instructor and the student within a fifteen-day
period dating from the formal presentation of the written complaint. The
department chair may, at his or her discretion, counsel with the instructor
of the course.
If the department chair was the instructor of the course involved
in the complaint or if for any reason the chair disqualifies him/herself,
the student may proceed to Step 3.
The student’s grade may be changed in Step 2 of the appeal procedure
by the written consent of the instructor and the student.
Step 3. If the complaint is not resolved in Step 2 within the
prescribed fifteen-day time period, the student may appeal further by presenting
to the dean of the college a written statement which clearly explains the
basis of the appeal (prejudice, discrimination, arbitrary or capricious
action, or other reasons not related to academic performance), the evidence
for this appeal, and any supporting data. The department chair must also
forward a copy of all correspondence and records to the dean.
The dean may utilize any resources available to the dean’s office
to resolve the grade conflict within a fifteen-day period. If the dean
finds that the request does not have merit, the dean shall so notify the
student, the instructor, and department chair. If the dean and department
chair are in agreement that the grade should be changed, either raised
or lowered, the dean shall be empowered to change the grade without the
instructor’s consent. Otherwise the grade shall remain as recorded.
Either the student or the instructor may appeal the dean’s decision
made under Step 3 by filing, in the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic
Affairs, a written request for a hearing before the University Grade Appeals
Committee within the time limit set forth above. In the event of such an
appeal, the decision shall be stayed pending the completion of the procedure
in Step 4. The dean must be provided a copy of the hearing request.
Step 4. The person requesting a hearing before the University
Grade Appeals Committee must complete a grade appeal form provided by the
Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs by March 15 for grades
earned the preceding fall semester and by October 15 for grades earned
the preceding spring and summer semesters. All supporting documents should
be included with this form at the time of submission. The Vice Provost
for Academic Affairs will forward the request to the chair of the Undergraduate
Grade Appeals Committee. The chair will subsequently distribute copies
of the request to the members of the Committee for consideration. If the
Committee finds the student’s or the instructor’s request merits a hearing,
the Committee shall notify the student, the instructor, the department
chair and the college dean of the time and location of the hearing. If
the Committee finds that the request does not merit a hearing, the student
and the instructor shall be notified in writing.
The University Grade Appeals Committee shall function as a review
board. The Committee shall have the power to allow the assigned grade to
stand or to raise or lower the assigned grade. All parties shall be notified,
in writing, of the Committee’s decision.
The decision of the University Grade Appeals Committee will be
final.
The University Grade Appeals Committee shall be composed of seven
members and seven alternates constituted as follows:
A chair designated by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs,
a faculty member and alternate designated by the dean of the college involved,
two faculty members and two alternates elected by the Academic Senate,
one student and one alternate from the college involved, two students and
two alternates selected through the Student Government Association.
Although the primary responsibility of the Committee is to review
appeals, the Committee will report any obvious discriminatory or capricious
conduct on the part of either the student or the instructor to the appropriate
Vice Provost for consideration and action.
COMPUTING GPA
Computation of a student's college-level undergraduate grade point average includes all courses attempted except credit/no-credit, audit, incomplete, developmental, and satisfactory/unsatisfactory courses and "T" grades. As an example: a student carrying five three-semester-hour courses for a total of 15 semester hours makes the following grades: A, B, C, T, F, thus accumulating grade points in the amount of 12, 9,6,0, 0, for a total of 27.To compute the grade point average, divide the number of quality hours (except "T" grade) (12) into the grade points earned (27) for an average of 2.25.
Graduation: A minimum 2.0 grade point average on all work attempted is required for graduation.
Academic Fresh Start
An ACADEMIC FRESH START is provided for undergraduate students who have gained maturity through extended experience outside higher education institutions and have demonstrated better than average academic performance following their return to The University of Memphis. It allows for the calculation of the applicant's grade point average and credit hours toward graduation to be based only on work done after returning to college. Preliminary information and application forms may be obtained from the Office Academic Status and Retention . Requirements to be satisfied by a student requesting an Academic Fresh Start toward a baccalaureate degree are as follow:
· Separation from all academic institutions for at least four years.
· Formal application must be made prior to completion of 24 semester hours of earned graded course work following the readmission or admission to The University of Memphis.
· Developmental studies courses (DSP) will not count toward the 24 semester hours of earned course work.
· The applicant must complete at least 6 semester hours of earned graded course work within one semester.
· Only courses for degree credit may be counted.
· At the time of application for ACADEMIC FRESH START, the student must have a GPA of at least 2.50 for all work attempted after returning to college.
· Formal application describing the academic degree plan must be submitted to the Office of Academic Status and Retention Services.
· After the academic plan is reviewed, the Office of Academic Status and Retention Services will forward the plan to the appropriate college dean for approval.
Upon approval of the college dean, the student will be granted an Academic Fresh Start. It may be granted once. The student’s permanent record will remain a record of all work; however, the student will forfeit the use for degree purposes at The University of Memphis, any college or University credit earned prior to the four-year separation indicated above. The date of the fresh start will coincide with the date of re-entry following prolonged separation, and the permanent record will note that a fresh start was made and the date of the fresh start. The record will also carry the notation, “GPA and credit totals are based only on work beginning with that date.” That date will be treated as the date of entry in determining which Bulletin may be used for graduation.
The University of Memphis honors academic fresh start completed at other accredited institutions of higher education.
ACADEMIC STATUS AND RETENTION
At The University of Memphis, students' academic status is denoted by one of three conditions:
(l) GOOD STANDING
(2) ACADEMIC PROBATION
(3) ACADEMIC SUSPENSION
Official notification of academic status is by means of the grade report available to each student at the end of the regular semester or summer session. Students can obtain their current semester grades/academic status on TIGERWEB, www.tigerweb.memphis.edu or on STRIPES. Specific questions concerning academic probation/suspension should be directed to the Office of Academic Status and Retention Services, room 117, Administration Building. The academic status of probation or suspension will be stated at the end of the report of grades. Policies and procedures related to each of these conditions are outlined in the following comments.
Good Standing
Students are in good standing so long as their overall grade point average is equal to the minimum cumulative GPA required on the sliding retention scale as defined in this policy statement. The term good standing indicates only that students are meeting the minimum standard for retention in the University. However, in order to meet graduation requirements, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.00.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation at the completion of any fall, spring, or summer term when the student’s overall GPA falls below the following:
QUALITY HOURS MINIMUM GPA 14.99 or less No minimum 15.00--29.99 1.40 30.00--50.99 1.70 51.00--67.99 1.90 68 and above 2.00A student on academic probation who withdraws from the University during the first probationary semester will be “continued on academic probation.” Withdrawal by such a student from any subsequent probationary semester will be treated as an academic suspension requiring clearance from the Office of Academic Status and Retention Services for any future registration. Students who are enrolled on academic probation are allowed to register for the following semester. However, students whose grades result in an academic suspension will be automatically withdrawn from the University before classes for that term begin. Students are considered in good standing and eligible to participate in extracurricular and organizational activities sponsored by the University while on probation unless other requirements are specified by a particular group, organization, or activity.
Academic Suspension
Students on academic probation who, at the end of the following term of enrollment, fail to raise their GPAs to at least the required minimum on the Sliding Scale Retention Policy above will be suspended. There is one exception to this policy: students on academic probation will not be suspended at the end of any fall, spring, or summer term during which a term average of 2.00 has been earned.
The Office of Academic Status and Retention, room 117, Administration Building, is responsible for the administration of this policy.
The University of Memphis recognizes outstanding academic performance in a variety of ways. In addition to those listed below, there are other honors and awards listed in the descriptions of the various honors programs.
THE DEAN'S LIST
The Dean’s List is composed of those students enrolled in the fall or spring semesters who meet one of the following criteria:
GRADUATION WITH DISTINCTION
Students who intend to achieve Graduation with Distinction must do the following:
3.2500-3.4999 Cum Laude 3.5000-3.7999 Magna Cum Laude 3.8000-4.0000 Summa Cum Laude*Recognition of Graduation with Distinction at commencement ceremonies will be based on the completion of a minimum of forty-five (45) graded semester hours at The University of Memphis before the final semester of enrollment. In the final semester of enrollment, the student must be enrolled in a sufficient number of courses to complete the minimum of fifty (50) graded semester hours at The University of Memphis. The actual conferral of Graduation with Distinction cannot be made until the student’s final GPA at The University of Memphis has been certified by the College/School.
PRIVACY RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, with which the University complies fully, is designed to protect the privacy of educational records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their educational records, and to provide guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Office (FERPA) concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act.
The provisions for the release of information about students and the rights of students and others to have access to The University of Memphis education records are published in their entirety in the University of Memphis Procedure "Privacy of Education Records” which is available in the offices of the Registrar and the University Counsel. A summary is published each semester in the Schedule of Classes.
The University of Memphis accepts tranfer credit for college-level courses taken at accredited institutions of higher eduction. Student petitions for transfer credit for courses completed at institutions that are not regionally accredited are considered on a case-by-case basis. The student must present a petition in writing to the Office of Admissions at The University of Memphis with a list of courses for which credit is desired. The student must provide transcripts from the institutions, documentation from each course that includes the course content, course level, contact minutes, the standards for assessing student work, and documentation of the academic credentials of the course instructor. Based on an examination of these materials and after consultation with the appropriate academic department or college, the Office of Admissions will review the student's petition and provide confirmation of those courses that have been approved for transfer credit.
2. Earning Transfer Credit after Enrollment at The University of
Memphis
After enrollment as regular undergraduates at The University
of Memphis, students should obtain prior approval from the dean of the
college from which they are to graduate before taking a course at another
institution for the purpose of meeting degree requirements at The University
of Memphis. The student who intends to take a course at another institution
should consult with the Admissions Office and obtain forms for use in securing
the dean’s approval. Courses taken without prior approval are subject to
possible disapproval when they are presented for evaluation at The University
of Memphis.
Before credit earned at another institution can be transferred
and recorded on a permanent academic record, the student must have an official
transcript from the institution mailed to the Admissions Office and must
contact the college dean’s office to request that the credit be posted.
The maximum credit hour load allowed for any term includes all
course enrollments both at The University of Memphis and any concurrent
enrollment at other institutions. (See “Credit Hours and Maximum Load”)
3. Transfer Credit for Distance Education
Credit from other institutions for distance education courses
taught by independent study, on-line computer instruction, or other methods,
is evaluated in the same manner as transfer credit for classroom-based
instruction. As with other transfer credit, students enrolled as regular
undergraduates must seek prior approval from the dean of the college from
which they are to graduate before taking courses to meet degree requirements
at The University of Memphis.
1. Credit for Selected Secondary School Courses
a. Advanced Placement Credit
The University of Memphis participates in the Advanced Placement
Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. Appropriate credit is
awarded for scores of 3, 4, or 5. Advanced placement credit may also apply
to certain university requirements and to major requirements. Information
about credit awarded may be obtained from the Admissions Office and the
Office of Admissions website.
b. International Baccalaureate Program
The University of Memphis recognizes secondary students’ participation
in the International Baccalaureate Program and awards college credit for
completion of selected courses. To be eligible for credit, students must
earn a score of 4 or higher. Information on credit awarded is available
in the Admissions Office.
2. Credit for Instruction in the Armed Services
An official evaluation of armed services instruction is made
after a student is accepted as a regular undergraduate student. Credit
awarded for completion of service schools will be governed by recommendations
at the baccalaureate level from the current Guide to the Evaluation of
Educational Experience in the Armed Services. DD Form 295 must be presented
to the Admissions Office for evaluation.
Veterans who have completed one year or more of continuous full-time
active military service will receive a waiver of the required physical
activity course, but will be required to take HMSE 1100 Concepts of Fitness
and Wellness. Upon presentation of a copy of the veteran’s report of separation
(DD Form 214) to the Admissions Office, six semester hours of health and
physical education credit will be awarded. Veterans with less than one
year of continuous full-time service who have completed basic training
while on active duty will be awarded credit as recommended in the Guide
to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces.
3. Credit for Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction
Credit is awarded for non-collegiate sponsored instruction offered
by corporations, associations, labor unions, government agencies, and training
providers which has been evaluated by the Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored
Instruction of the American Council of Education and recommended in the
current Guide to Educational Programs in Non-collegiate Organizations.
The Admissions Office should be contacted for information.
4. Credit by Examination
Credit by examination is awarded based upon standardized examinations
and upon examinations administered by departments of the University for
specific courses and for placement. Students may not take an examination
for credit in a course previously taken for credit, with the exception
of lower division transfer courses that the student wishes to validate
for upper division credit. Students may, however, take an examination for
credit in a course that was audited or in courses at a lower level than
a course taken for credit. Credit by examination may not be used to satisfy
the Computation Intensive, Writing Intensive, and Integration requirements
of the General Education Program.
a. CLEP and DANTES Standardized Examinations
The University of Memphis awards credit for standardized examinations
of the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Board and
for standardized examinations of the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional
Education Support (DANTES). Credit awarded is based upon credit recommendations
and minimum scores recommended by the American Council on Education. CLEP
and DANTES credit may also apply to certain University requirements and
to major requirements. For information on credit awarded, test dates, and
fees, contact the Testing Center.
b. Departmental Examinations
Almost all courses in the undergraduate curriculum, except for
those with laboratory, research, or performance requirements, are available
for credit by examination. Students who believe that they have already
mastered the material of a particular course offered at The University
of Memphis may take a departmentally administered examination for credit
in that course.
To apply for credit by examination, a student must be enrolled
at The University of Memphis and have a GPA of 2.00 or above. An eligibility
form may be obtained in the Office of the Registrar - Corrections/Analysis.
Permission to take a credit examination must then be obtained from the
chair of the department in which credit is sought and from the dean of
the college in which the student is seeking a degree. Students pay $60.00
per course, plus $15.00 per credit hour in excess of three (3) credit hours
per course (see Fees and Charges) prior to taking the exam.To receive credit,
the student’s examination grade should be the equivalent of a "C" or above.
Credit is indicated on the student’s record as CR.
5. Upper Division Credit by Validation Examination
Credit for courses at the freshman or sophomore level is transferred
as lower division credit even though the content may be equated to University
of Memphis upper division (junior/senior) level courses in some cases.
In order to receive upper division credit for a lower division course that
has an upper division equivalent, the credit must be validated through
appropriate departmental examinations, portfolios, or other documentation.
Contact the department to make application and to obtain information. There
is no fee for validation examinations.
6. Credit for Course Placement and Completion
Some departments offer the opportunity to receive credit by course
placement and completion for selected courses. Students who receive prior
approval from the department chair may enroll in a University of Memphis
course at the level for which they feel previous instruction or experience
qualifies them. Upon completion of the course, they receive credit for
certain sequential courses numbered lower than the one in which they enrolled.
Recording of credit for the lower numbered course(s) is contingent upon
completion of the higher level course with a grade of "C" or better. Upon
completion of the course, approval of the chair of the department and payment
of fees are required for credits to be recorded. (See Fees and Charges)
In the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, students
whose first college-level course in a language is 2010 may apply for credit
for 1020 in that language. Students whose first college-level course is
2020 may apply for credit for 1020 and 2010 in that language, and those
whose first college-level course in a language is a 3xxx course in composition
and/or conversation may apply for credit for 1020, 2010, and 2020 in that
language.
Credit for Experiential Learning by Assessment
Students seeking degrees in the College of Communication and Fine Arts,
the College of Education, and University College may be granted credit
for college level knowledge and understanding related to the student’s
major area of study and gained from work experience, life experience, or
non-college instruction. The student who wants an assessment of such learning
prepares a portfolio that describes and documents the learning. Portfolios
are assessed by faculty who teach in that area.
Assessment by portfolio is reserved for knowledge and competencies
which do not readily fit into the credit by examination procedures described
above. More detailed information about procedures may be obtained from
the individual colleges. For fee information, see Fees and Charges.