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.
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.
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 of the Late Registration period will not be shown on the student's permanent record. Courses dropped after the Late Registration period will be indicated on the record as withdrawal grades for those courses. A student may drop any course or courses up through the date specified in the University Calendar for that term. (The University Calendar is located in the front of this Catalog.) Requests for exceptions must be made within the next regular term following the term in which the grade was assigned. 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 unusual 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 must do so in person through the Office of the Registrar in Student Information Services (Administration Building, Room 119). Students must complete an application for withdrawal. Failure to officially withdraw will result in grades of F for the courses in which the student is enrolled.
NOTE: From the beginning of registration for any term through the last date for late registration for that term, students withdraw in the Registration Center. See the Schedule of Classes for specific dates.
Withdrawal is not permitted beyond the dates specified in the University Calendar for that term. Requests for exceptions must be made within 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 degree
In 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 following 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 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 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 2 **18 First or Second Summer * 8 Extended Summer only * 16 Extended and First or Second * 11 Extended and First and Second * 16
*Any enrollment of less than 12 hours for all summer terms combined is defined as being less than full-time. The minimum hours of enrollment required for full-time classifications is 12 hours for any combination of Extended, First and Second Summer Terms.
**This maximum hour total includes neither the Applied Music Workshop (MUAP 1000) nor the courses approved by the university to meet the physical activity course degree requirement. (See Graduation from the University for listing of approved courses.) A student who has a B (3.0) average or better for a semester may schedule, with the permission of the dean of the college from which the student is seeking a degree, a maximum of twenty-one hours for the following semester. Any or all of the above requirements may be waived at the discretion of the college dean or the dean's designee.
NOTE: ID card validation of full-time for student activity purposes is based on a minimum of six credit hours per semester and does not necessarily constitute a full-time academic load.
The maximum course load for any combination of concurrent summer terms is eleven semester hours. The student's course load for the entire summer session may not exceed 16 semester hours. (This may differ from requirements for the Veterans Administration. Questions should be directed to the Office of the Registrar.)
Grades and Quality Points
GRADES
At the end of each semester or summer term, 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. Class standing in any course is determined by the quality of the student's work and the thoroughness of preparation. 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.
Quality Quality Grade Points Grade Points A, Excellent 4 T (See below) 0 B, Good 3 CR, Credit 0 C, Satisfactory 2 W, Withdrew 0 D, Poor 1 AD, Audit 0 F, Failure 0 *S, Satisfactory 0 I, Incomplete 0 *U, Unsatisfactory 0
*The S/U grade is limited to certain types of courses such as practicums, practice teaching, etc. The IP (In Progress) notation may also be used in certain research courses to allow students time to complete research projects. These grades are only awarded for those undergraduate courses for which it is indicated in the course descriptions.
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 duly registered and which is not properly entered on the official registration materials.
Grade of Incomplete
The grade of I (incomplete) indicates that the student has not completed the course for some unavoidable reason that is acceptable to the instructor. Unless the student completes the requirements for removal of "I" within forty-five days from the end of the semester or summer session in which it was received, the grade of "I" will be changed to an F, regardless of whether the student is enrolled or not. Extensions may be granted if the instructor's temporary absence from the campus makes it impossible for the student to remove the incomplete or in other circumstances acceptable to the instructor. Grades of incomplete earned during the student's semester of proposed graduation will delay the student's graduation until the end of the semester during which the incomplete is removed. A grade other than "I" or "IP" may not be changed as a result of additional work performed by the student after a grade has been submitted to the Office of the Registrar. There is a Grade Appeals procedure 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:
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.
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 and Grades earned in 2nd subsequent 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 registered for one or more classes at The University of Memphis may also register to audit a course with the approval of the chair of the department in which the course will be offered.
Auditors are not required to prepare lessons or papers, or take examinations. They are not to take part in class discussions or laboratory or field work. Students auditing a course will receive "audit" on the transcript only if in the judgment of the instructor they have attended a sufficient number of classes to deserve the notation on the transcript. Faculty will base their decisions for awarding "audit" only on attendance, since the student is not allowed by policy to participate in any other way. Persons who are not enrolled for credit courses may register for audit courses with the approval of the Director of Admissions and the department chair. These persons must have graduated from high school or be 18 years of age or older. A student may not change from a grade point basis to audit or from audit to a grade point basis after the last day to add classes for that term. 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.
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. 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. 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 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 where the instructor is unavailable so that 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 chair of the department 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 faculty of the department.
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 cannot be resolved at the level of 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 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 chair. If the dean and 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 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 appeal 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 chair and the 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
In computing a student's grade point average, all courses attempted are included except credit/no-credit, audit, incomplete, remedial and 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. In computing the grade point average, the number of hours attempted (except "T" grade) (12) is divided 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, allowing calculation of grade point average and credit hours toward graduation to be based only on work done after returning to college, 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. Preliminary information and application forms may be obtained from the Academic Status and Retention Director. Requirements to be satisfied by a student requesting an Academic Fresh Start toward a baccalaureate degree are as follow:
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 seven-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 catalogs 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 processed to each student at the end of the regular semester or summer session. 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 combined college level and developmental studies 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 2.0.
Academic Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation at the completion of any regular semester or summer session when the student's cumulative combined college level and developmental studies GPA falls below the following:
HOURS ATTEMPTED 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 Academic Status and Retention Office 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. For the purpose of participation in extracurricular and organizational activities sponsored by the university, students are considered in good standing and eligible to participate 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 semester or summer session during which a term average of 2.00 has been earned.
The university office responsible for the administration of this policy is the Academic Status and Retention Office (Room 117, Administration Building).
Recognition for Academic Performance
There are several means available by which students may obtain recognition for outstanding academic performance. 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 who meet one of the following criteria:
When a course is being repeated for the purpose of improving a grade previously earned, the student must meet one of the criteria for the Dean's List eligibility as described above for each of two separate sets of courses and grade point averages:
Remedial/developmental courses are not considered in calculating eligibility for the Dean's List. College level courses used to satisfy high school deficiencies will be considered in the computations to determine eligibility for the Dean's List.
GRADUATION WITH DISTINCTION
Students who meet the requirements described below are eligible to graduate cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude:
Cum Laude 3.2500-3.4999 Magna Cum Laude 3.5000-3.7999 Summa Cum Laude 3.8000-4.0000*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 prior to the final semester. (During the final semester, the student must also be enrolled for a sufficient number of hours to complete the required minimum of fifty.) This recognition is not an actual conferral of distinction.
In order to be eligible, a student who transfers course work from another institution must have made the required average on all work taken at The University of Memphis and must, in addition, have an overall average that meets the honors requirements above. In no instance may the GPA used for determining graduation with distinction be higher than that earned on courses taken at The University of Memphis.
A student who already holds a baccalaureate degree is eligible for these distinctions if the requirements above (1-3 and following paragraph) are met and if, within the hours presented to fulfill the requirements for the second degree, at least forty-five additional graded hours have been taken at The University of Memphis subsequent to the award of the first degree. (These hours would be for new courses, not courses repeated for a higher grade. University of Memphis hours earned prior to the awarding of the first degree may count toward the fifty-hour minimum in requirement 2 above.) The GPA used for determination of distinction for the second degree will be calculated from all undergraduate courses taken. College level courses used to satisfy high school deficiencies will be considered in the computations to determine eligibility for graduation with distinction.
Either the complete set of requirements governing graduation with distinction in the current catalog or the complete set in the catalog governing the degree requirements for the student's graduation may be used to determine honors.
PRIVACY RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, with which the university intends to comply 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 or the University Counsel. A summary is published each semester in the Schedule of Classes.
Advanced Standing Credit
Credit toward a degree will be accepted only from college-level institutions for courses that are substantially equivalent to those offered at The University of Memphis. After the student has been approved for admission as a regular undergraduate, the Office of Admissions will evaluate credits for university-wide use. The Office of the Dean in each college has the authority for determining the use of acceptable credit toward specific degree programs in that college. (Also see Transfer Credit section below.)
In computing the scholarship ratio or grade point average of a student who has earned an associate degree from an institution with a grading practice that does not reflect failing grades, only those courses for which credit was granted will be used. A student who does not earn the associate degree prior to transfer or one who attends merely to take courses will have the grade point average computed using all courses attempted at that institution.
Transfer credit from colleges not accredited by the Tennessee State Board of Education and/or the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (or corresponding agencies for other states and regions of the United States) will not be accepted toward a degree or toward teacher licensure.
Credit for Service in the Armed Forces
Veterans who have completed one year or more of continuous full-time active military service will be excused from taking the required physical activity course(s) but must take HMSE 1100, Concepts of Fitness and Wellness. In addition, six semester hours of health and physical education credit will be allowed upon presentation of a copy of the veteran's report of separation (DD Form 214) to the Admissions Office. Veterans with less than one year of continuous full-time service who have completed recruit (basic) training while on active duty will be awarded credit as recommended in the appropriate military branch Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces Total physical activity course credit applicable to the baccalaureate degree cannot exceed 8 semester hours, regardless of the source.
The Admissions Office should be consulted to determine whether additional credit may be allowed for training completed through formal service schools (DD Form 295). Certain subject standardized tests offered by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (D.A.N.T.E.S.) may be submitted for consideration. Official D.A.N.T.E.S. transcripts are required. The maximum amount of credit accepted for applicable D.A.N.T.E.S. courses and/or correspondence and extension courses is 33 semester hours, and 20 semester hours of lower division credit for selected service schools. (This restriction does not apply to credit accepted by the University College.) An official evaluation of service credit is not made until a student enrolls as a regular undergraduate student. Credit awarded for completion of selected service schools will be governed by the recommendations at the baccalaureate level as outlined in the current Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services.
Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction
Credit may be obtained for applicable courses completed through certain non-collegiate sponsored instruction as recommended in the current A Guide to Educational Programs in Noncollegiate Organizations. No more than 20 semester hours credit for service schools and/or noncollegiate sponsored programs will be allowed. The Admissions Office should be contacted for further information.
Advanced Placement Credit
The University of Memphis participates in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. To be eligible for credit, students must score a three, four, or five on the CEEB Advanced Placement Tests. Information pertaining to approved scores and credit to be awarded may be obtained from the Admissions Office.
International Baccalaureate
The University of Memphis recognizes high school student's participation in the International Baccalaureate Program and awards limited college credit for completion of selected courses. To be eligible for credit, students must earn a score of "4" or higher. Specific information on score and credit requirements are avaliable in the office of applicant services.
Transfer Credit
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 mailed to the Admissions Office and must contact the college dean's office to make arrangements for the posting of transfer credit by having the original copy of the form returned to the Admissions Office.
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.")
Correspondence or Extension Credit
The University of Memphis accepts a limited number of credits earned by correspondence and/or extension, provided that such credits are taken from an institution that is a member of the University Extension Association, or the appropriate regional accrediting association. The University of Memphis offers some work by extension but none by correspondence.
Prior to a student's initial registration at The University of Memphis as a regular undergraduate, the Admissions Office will, at the time the student applies for admission, determine the acceptability of extension and/or correspondence credits earned at other institutions. After the student has been admitted as a regular undergraduate, whether a beginning freshman or a transfer student, credit applicable to any University of Memphis degree will not be given for subsequent correspondence or extension courses unless written permission from the dean of the degree granting college is obtained prior to enrollment in such courses.
No student is permitted to enroll for correspondence or extension courses while carrying a maximum load at The University of Memphis. Not more than one-fourth of the semester hours applied on the bachelor's degrees may be earned by correspondence or extension or a combination of the two. (This restriction does not apply to degree programs of the University College.)
A student who has completed thirty-three of the last sixty-six hours required for residence and who lacks no more than four semester hours toward completion of degree requirements may earn these final credits by acceptable correspondence or extension work, or by residence at another approved institution. In those instances in which the dean's office has granted such approval, thirty-three of the last seventy hours will have been completed at The University of Memphis. (For details of residence requirements, see Graduation from the University.)
Credit by Course Placement
In some departments, students who have obtained prior approval from the department chair may enroll in a University of Memphis course at the level for which they feel previous training or experience qualifies them and receive credit for certain sequential courses numbered lower than the one in which they enroll. Recording of credit for the lower numbered course(s) is contingent upon completion of the course with a grade of C or higher. Upon completion of the course written application to the chair of the department and payment of appropriate fees are required for such credits to be recorded. There is a fee for all placement credits that are recorded. It is the same as that for credit earned through credit by examination. For information on the fees, see Expenses and Aid.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: In the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, all of the requirements and fees listed above are applicable and credit by course placement is limited to the following courses: Students whose first college-level course in a language is 2201 may apply to the department chair for credit for 1102 in that language, those whose first college-level course is 2202 or 2203 may apply for credit for 1102 and 2201 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 1102, 2201 and 2202 in that language.
University Credit by Examination
Credit by examination refers to all of the types of credit described following this paragraph. Students may not take any examination for credit in a course previously taken for credit except to validate transfer courses for upper division credit. Students may, however, take an examination for credit in courses that were audited or in courses at a lower level than one that was taken for credit. Credit by examination may not be used to satisfy the Computation Intensive, Writing Intensive and Integration General Education requirements.
CLEP EXAMINATIONS
CLEP is a national program of credit-by-examination, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board. It offers students the opportunity to obtain recognition for college-level achievement. Some departments accept CLEP subject area examination credits as equivalent to departmental courses. No credit will be awarded for CLEP general examinations. Information on courses for which CLEP credit is available, along with information of fees charged, is available in the Testing Center.
DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATIONS
Almost all courses in the undergraduate curricula, except for those of laboratory, research, and performance variety, are available for credit by examination. Students who believe 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. Students should consult the department chair to make application and to obtain information concerning the courses offered.
The following regulations govern the granting of credit by examination:
CREDIT BY PLACEMENT EXAMINATION
In some departments in which placement examinations are given, a student may elect to receive credit for certain sequential courses numbered lower than the course in which the student was placed if prior approval was obtained from the chair. (The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures does not grant credit on the basis of placement examinations. See Credit by Course Placement above.)
A student may take the placement test, which is given at the beginning of each semester, to best determine the initial course in which to be placed. A student completing the placement test may apply immediately for the hours of credit warranted by the test score. The student must make written application to the chair of the department and make payment of appropriate fees for such credit to be recorded. There is no fee charged for taking placement examinations; however, there is a fee for all placement credits that are recorded. For information on the fees, see Expenses and Aid.
University Credit for Experiential Learning
Students seeking degrees in the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the College of Education, and the University College may be granted credit for college-level knowledge and understanding gained from work experience, life experience, or for certain non-traditional instruction. The student who wishes an assessment of such learning prepares a detailed and documented portfolio of those learning experiences that are to be evaluated.
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 Expenses and Aid.