General Academic Policies

Matriculation Status: A matriculated student is one who is officially enrolled in a certificate or degree program. Students who wish to take only a single course or a combination of courses are welcome as non-matriculated students.

Class Attendance: Faculty members will include their course-specific rules about absences, grading, and makeup work in each course syllabus. Each instructor may excuse absences for good cause and determine to what extent absences will affect grading. Certain absences will be excused automatically if reported in a timely fashion (such as military students called to active duty).

If illness, accident, or similar circumstances require absence for two or more consecutive class sessions, the student must notify the Chair/Director of the applicable Graduate program and the faculty member to make up missed work. Documentation of the circumstances may be required.

Consistent engagement in the online course is the key to effective learning. Graduate program students who take online courses are required to engage regularly with their professors and peers, typically by logging into their courses at least three times each week. Specific guidelines for each course are available through the course syllabus, but generally it is expected that these log-ins will occur on separate days throughout the week rather than on a single day, and that students will spend significant time in the online course on substantive academic activities, including posting to discussion forums, reviewing digital content, uploading assignments, and taking assessments.

Students who are withdrawn for a failure to attend and participate will receive a grade of WP or WF for the course(s), depending on whether the student was passing or failing at the time of withdrawal. This may affect the student's financial aid eligibility.

Academic Time Commitment: Coursework performed outside of the classroom (such as reading, studying, writing papers, and doing projects) is critical to academic success. While the time requirements for individual students may vary somewhat, a general rule of thumb is that students should spend about two hours outside the classroom for every hour required in it. For more information, please see the Berkeley College Semester Credit Hour Assignment Policy.

College Closing: The College seldom closes due to inclement weather. In cases of extreme weather or emergencies, however, the closing of each College campus will be made available on the Berkeley College website by means of an emergency alert banner spanning across the top of the site and by phone as an option on the automated phone menu at each campus.

Closings only apply to on-site students. Work will continue in the online platform for both online and on-site students. On-site students will be contacted by their instructors regarding the week’s online requirements.

In the event of a catastrophic incident, Berkeley College will make all reasonable efforts to ensure the continuation of critical academic and administrative functions. This involves the implementation of emergency response and recovery plans to safeguard the welfare of our students, faculty, and associates. Our commitment extends to maintaining the continuity of education for students and preserving essential support services.

Schedules for delayed openings due to inclement weather are posted on the website and sent out via the BerkAlert System.

Add/Drop Policy: Students may add a course or courses to their schedules prior to the start of the second week of the semester. Students may drop a 15-week course prior to the start of the third week of the semester. A seven-week course may be dropped prior to the start of the second week of the semester. Clinical courses cannot be added to an MSN student schedule after the start of the term.

15-WEEK SESSIONS

Fifteen-week courses dropped during the first two weeks of classes and seven-week courses dropped during the first week of classes do not appear on the student’s transcript. Students who drop a course or courses prior to the enrollment status determination should notify the Financial Aid Department.

SEVEN-WEEK SESSIONS

Students taking courses both session I and session II must register for both by the end of the Add/Drop Period applicable to the corresponding semester. Any credits added, on rare exception as a result of special academic approval, after that date will not count toward financial aid eligibility. Students taking session II without first having taken session I may register for session II and add credits up to week 10 of the corresponding semester.

Canceled Classes: The College reserves the right to cancel courses or scheduled sections of courses at its discretion.

Leaves of Absence: Students must file an application for a leave of absence with the Chair/Director of the graduate program if they expect to miss two consecutive semesters. Leaves of absence will not be granted for more than one academic year. The decision of the Chair/Director of the program concerning leaves of absence is final.

Program Withdrawal: Students must file an application for withdrawal from the Chair/Director of the graduate program. A student who does not take courses for two consecutive semesters and who has not filed for a leave of absence will be withdrawn from the program.

Medical/Unfortunate Circumstance Withdrawal Policy: A student may request an Academic Advisor to apply for the Voluntary Medical or Unforeseen Circumstance Withdrawal (MUCW) in extraordinary cases in which serious illness or injury (“medical”), or another significant personal situation (“unforeseen circumstance”), prevents a student from continuing his or her classes, and an incomplete or other arrangements with instructors are not possible. Students have one week from when the request is made to an Academic Advisor to submit the MUCW application and supporting documentation. They must also submit the application for a MUCW during the term the request is made. Requests made after the end of the term may be considered for extreme circumstances only. Students who complete and sign the MUCW application authorize Berkeley College to return all of their financial aid for the semester for which the leave is applied. Likewise, the College will remove all related charges for that semester, which will generally leave the student with a zero balance for that semester. Prior balances and bad debt will not be waived. When a student is ready to return to Berkeley College, they shall first contact Academic Advisement. Students then complete a Return from Leave form and submit their application at least two weeks before the next semester to the MUCW Committee to be approved to return. Please read the Medical/Unfortunate Circumstance Withdrawal Policy to see it in its entirety.

Seven-Week Sessions - Intent to Return: A student registered for both sessions I and II who chooses to withdraw from session I but intends to return for session II should complete the Intent to Return statement on the Course Withdrawal eForm and submit.

Program Reinstatement: Students who withdraw or have been withdrawn from the program must file a petition for reinstatement with the Chair/Director of the graduate program. The decision of the Chair/Director of the graduate program concerning reinstatement is final.

Graduation: Graduation with Distinction is awarded to MBA students who have completed all the requirements for graduation and have achieved an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.67.

Graduation with Distinction is awarded to MSN students who have completed all the requirements for graduation and have achieved an overall minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.8.

Academic Standing: Graduate students are required to maintain a high level of academic scholarship and discipline while pursuing an advanced degree. For this reason, it is expected that all graduate students maintain the appropriate minimum GPA, complete program requirements within the approved timeframe, and submit work which is original and of sufficient academic rigor to qualify for graduate study.

At a minimum, all graduate students are expected to earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 to graduate and may not receive more than two grades below a “B.” All students are solely responsible for monitoring their academic progress and standing, the submission of work, and all other program requirements.

The following standings will apply to students based on their performance:

Good standing:

• Maintain a term and cumulative GPA of 3.00.
• Complete all coursework within the approved timeframe.

Academic warning:

• A student whose term GPA falls below a 3.00 is placed on Academic Warning.
• Students on Academic warning must meet with their faculty advisor or program director/chair to determine what steps are necessary to maintain progress to the degree and successful completion of all requirements.

Academic dismissal:

• Students who have a term GPA of less than 3.00 in the semester immediately following a term of Academic Warning.
• Students who receive all failing grades within a term.
• Students who have received more than two grades below a “B” within the graduate program of study.

Students may not normally appeal their academic standing; however, they may appeal a course grade consistent with the procedures and rationale within the policy on Course Grade Appeals. If a course grade appeal is approved, the academic standing will be revised, if appropriate, to reflect the change in GPA.

Any student dismissed from graduate study at the College may ask for a review of the circumstances leading to the dismissal. This appeal should be sent to the Chair/Director of the relevant program within 5 business days of receipt of the dismissal notification using the following mechanism:

• Student outlines a written appeal to the Chair/Director of the program of study detailing reasons why the dismissal is in error. Such appeal should include relevant documentation, a detailed summary of where the error occurred, and any other appropriate supporting facts.
• The Chair/Director will review the appeal and conduct an appropriate investigation with faculty, advisors, or other College officials, as he/she deems appropriate.
• The Chair/Director will issue a final decision within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

If the student does not agree with the determination of the Chair/Director, they may submit a final appeal to the Dean of the School in which the program resides, using the following mechanism:

• Student outlines a written appeal to the Dean of the School of study detailing reasons why the dismissal is in error. Such appeal should include the original appeal, the Chair/Director's response and other relevant documentation; a detailed summary of where the error occurred; and any other appropriate supporting facts, including why the student disagrees with the Chair/Director.
• The Dean will review the appeal and conduct an appropriate investigation with faculty, advisors, or other College officials, as he/she deems appropriate.
• The Dean will issue a final decision within 15 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

The Dean’s decision is final and may not be appealed.

Students who have been dismissed from graduate study and have not been successful on appeal are ineligible for re-admission to the College’s graduate program.

Course Grade Appeal: 

Policy, Scope and Intent

The assessment of the quality of a student’s academic performance is one of the major responsibilities of college faculty members. This assessment is solely and properly their responsibility. It is essential for the standards of the academic programs at Berkeley College and the integrity of the degrees conferred by this institution that the professional judgments of faculty members not be subjected to pressures or other interference from any source.

It is presumed that the grade assigned by a faculty member is correct. Thus, the burden of proof that it is not correct or was improperly awarded rests on the student who files the appeal.

This appeals process provides an opportunity for the student to initiate a review of a perceived injustice in the final determination of a course grade. Appeal is available only for review of alleged arbitrary or capricious grading. “Arbitrary or capricious grading,” as used herein, is limited to one or more of the following:

• The instructor failed to notify students in a clear and timely manner as to the basis for grade determination;
• The assignment of a final grade deviates substantially from the instructor’s previously announced standards;
• The grade is assigned on some basis other than the student’s performance in the course;
• There is demonstrable evidence of discrimination or prejudice in the final grade assignment;
• There was a demonstrable error in calculating the grade.

A grade appeal is not appropriate when a student simply disagrees with the faculty member’s judgment about the quality of the student’s work. Appeals are for grades received in a course, not for those received for individual assignments (though individual assignments may nonetheless be the basis of disputing the course grade). Appeals are for course grades after the end of the term. Appeals are not accepted in anticipation of course grades or because of final scheduling. A student who is uncertain about whether or not a grade should be appealed or needs additional information about the grade appeal process should contact the Academic Advisor.

A course grade must be based on evidence of the student’s academic performance. The student must have access to the evidence; the instructor must explain and interpret the evidence to the student. A single evaluative standard must be applied to all students in a course section. It is also expected that grades be determined in accordance with written guidelines provided by the instructor.

The Appeals Process

Faculty Member

• The first appeal is made to the instructor of the course. This should be submitted by the end of the Add/Drop period of the following term. The student should gather all evidence of academic work, the course syllabus, and well-thought-out reasoning why this grade was incorrect. The student will then submit all information through the Grade Appeal eform. If the instructor agrees that the grade assigned for the course is incorrect, he or she will approve the grade appeal request and submit a Change of Grade form to the Registrar within five business days.
• In the event that the faculty member is not available, either because he or she is on leave, sabbatical, or no longer employed by the College, the student may appeal to the Department Chair/Division Director by the end of the Add/Drop period of the following term. If the faculty member is no longer employed by the College, then the Chair/Director will serve as the instructor of record.
• If concerns remain after appeal with the faculty member, the student may elect for the Department Chair/Division Director to review.

Second Appeal: Department Chair/Division Director

• The formal appeal is initiated within two weeks of the faculty member’s decision. This appeal is initiated with the Chair/Director of the department/division which offers the course. The student will complete and submit the Grade Appeal Form, available online.
• The Chair/Director will consult, separately, with the student and with the faculty member. The Chair/Director will make a written decision to support the faculty member or a recommendation to the faculty member in support of the student’s position within one week of meeting with both parties. If Chair/Director agrees that the grade assigned for the course is incorrect, he or she will approve the grade appeal request and submit a Change of Grade form to the Registrar within five business days.
• If concerns remain after meeting with the Chair/Director and the faculty member, the student may initiate a final appeal with the Dean of the School/Division.

Final Appeal: Dean of the School/Division

• The student must initiate the final appeal within one week of receiving the Chair’s/Director’s decision. The appropriate Dean is the school/division in which the course was taught, not necessarily the student’s major Dean.
• The Dean, in consultation with the Chair/Director, the faculty member, and the student, will make a final written decision to support the faculty member or a recommendation to the faculty member in support of the student’s position on the grade appeal within five business days. If the Dean agrees that the grade assigned for the course is incorrect, he or she will approve the grade appeal request and submit a Change of Grade form to the Registrar.

Timing

• All parties involved in the appeals process must adhere to the timeline delineated in this policy.
• While this policy is designed to resolve any disputes in as short a time as possible, there may be a time when a student wishes to have the process completed prior to the start of the following term. The process can be accelerated in this case, provided that the student initiates the appeal as soon as possible.
• In extreme circumstances, the Dean may extend the timeline, at his/her discretion.

Time for Completion of Degree Requirements: Students are required to complete all requirements for the MBA within seven years of admission to the program. The Director of the MBA program may approve an extension of one year. Students who do not complete the MBA within this time period will be dismissed from the program.

Students are required to complete all requirements for the MSN within five years of admission to the program. The Chair of the Nursing Department may approve an extension of one year. Students who do not complete the MSN within this time period will be dismissed from the program.

Course Load: The Berkeley College graduate course load designations for determining federal financial aid eligibility are:

• A full-time course load is nine (9) or more credits per semester
• A part-time load is five (5) to eight (8) credits per semester
• Any semester course load less than five (5) credits is less than part-time and not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

Graduate students who enroll in nine (9) or more credits during a semester are considered full-time.

Transferring Berkeley Graduate Degree Credits to Another Institution: Issues concerning the acceptance of transfer credits are determined solely by the institution to which a student transfers and are outside of Berkeley’s control.

Please note: Berkeley College reserves the right to make changes to academic course offerings and students’ schedules.