CHAPTER 8 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

PART I - Regulations for Students

Part I contains academic rules and regulations governing studies at the University of Rhode Island. Rules and regulations governing discipline are found in Chapter 9. Academic rules apply to all programs including graduate programs and off-campus programs, except if their content clearly indicates they are only of limited applicability. A Graduate Student Manual summarizing UNIVERSITY MANUAL regulations pertaining to graduate studies and containing additional rules enacted by the Graduate Council shall be issued by the Graduate School.

ADMISSIONS, ACCEPTANCE OF CREDIT AND INTERNAL TRANSFER

8.10.10 Matriculating Students. A matriculating student is a student who has been formally admitted to University College or to a degree-granting program by the Dean of Admissions or the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach. A matriculating student may be either full or part-time and is entitled to full privileges as a student at the University of Rhode Island.

8.10.20 Admission Policy Statement. The University desires that its matriculating students shall be not only competent to perform well in the classroom, but also possess wide interests and positive qualities of character and personality. Students are selected for enrollment primarily on the basis of their academic competence and potential without regard to age, race, sex, creed, national origin, or handicap. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the University shall not discriminate against any student applicant who is otherwise qualified, solely on the basis of a disability. The University recognizes its very real obligation to the citizens of Rhode Island, and accordingly assigns priority in undergraduate admission to well-qualified residents of the state of Rhode Island. At the same time, the University recognizes that the intellectual horizons of its students are greatly broadened by an exchange of ideas with students from other parts of the United States and from other countries. Accordingly, places are reserved for out-of-state and international students.

8.10.21 The University recognizes that many potentially worthy candidates may have suffered educational deprivation for causes quite beyond their control in following the normal pattern of preparatory studies. This circumstance may be taken into account at the time of admission.

8.10.22 Admission to the University is determined by evaluating the applicant's record and potential. The registration of any student may be revoked if admission to the University is achieved by willful misrepresentation of material facts or any willful withholding of material information.

8.10.30 Residency. Regulations defining resident and nonresident student status and the appeal process at all public institutions of higher education in Rhode Island are under the governance of the Board of Governors. The President of the University shall designate an officer or officers to determine the residency status of students.

8.10.40 New England Board of Higher Education Compact Students are residents of other New England states qualifying for participation in certain curriculums not available at their home-state university. By cooperative arrangement with other New England state universities under a plan sponsored by the New England Board of Higher Education to avoid costly and unnecessary duplication of facilities, area residents who meet the usual entrance requirements are charged a regional tuition rate. Undergraduate applicants to this program are granted priority in admission over other out-of-state candidates.

8.10.50 Interinstitutional Student Exchange Program. Full time students matriculated at one of the other public institutions of higher education in Rhode Island may enroll for a maximum of seven credit hours of their full time schedule of study at the University at no additional expense.  Summer Session registrants, Feinstein College of Continuing Education Special Courses, and off campus study are not included in this program. #07-08--27

8.11.10 Undergraduate Admissions Procedure. The applications and supporting credentials of candidates seeking admission normally must be received prior to the deadlines specified in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Applications are reviewed as rapidly as full credentials are available for study, and responses made to the candidate as promptly as possible thereafter.

8.11.11 Accepted candidates are requested to acknowledge within a reasonable period their invitation to register. The University subscribes to the spirit and purpose of the Uniform Candidates Reply Date which allows accepted students until May 1 to submit a financial binder in evidence of their intent to register.

8.11.12 As part of the application  process, applicants shall specify a primary campus. Students may take up to six credits per semester without a fee adjustment at University of Rhode Island locations other than their primary campus. Applicants may choose a campus other than Kingston as their primary campus only if that campus offers their preferred major.  #04-05--9

8.11.20 Students who seek matriculated undergraduate status on the basis of future successful completion of 15 approved credits may be admitted through the Feinstein College of Continuing Education upon the recommendation of the appropriate admissions officer. Such admissions shall be termed Performance Based Admissions and shall be limited to students whose last formal education occurred three or more years ago, and for whom academic evidence demonstrating admissibility is incomplete. Students admitted under this regulation are subject to the same regulations as students admitted in the usual way.

8.12.10 Freshman Candidates. The University recognizes several categories of freshman candidates (8.12.20-8.12.42).

8.12.20 Early Admission Candidates are students who seek to begin college prior to graduation from high school. Students considered for early admission are expected to present a strong scholastic record, to give evidence of social and intellectual maturity, and be able to benefit more from beginning collegiate studies than completing a standard high school curriculum. Early admission is granted only with the recommendation of the school and, where the student is a minor, with parental permission.

8.12.30 Advanced Placement Program. The University shall award advanced placement credit to an entering freshman student when 1) the student has completed the college level courses at a secondary school participating in the Advanced Placement Program (APP) and has passed with a grade of "3" or better on the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) advanced placement examination, or 2) the student has passed with a "C" or better an advanced placement examination compiled by a department. For Policy on credit by examination, see sections 8.36.10-13.

8.12.31 A student who has qualified for credit award through an APP examination shall not be required to complete a departmental test to qualify for credit or placement.

8.12.32 There shall be no limit on the number of CEEB advanced placement examinations offered by an applicant for admission to the University at the time of entrance.

8.12.33 A student who has received college credit by passing a CEEB advanced placement examination shall have the number of credits granted by the University for the accepted course applied toward the total credits required for the student's baccalaureate. No curricular requirements shall be added as a substitute for the course or courses credited by advanced placement.

8.12.34 Special Admissions Students who do not qualify for admission following a competitive review of required academic credentials may be considered for "special admissions". These applicants will include, but not be limited to, student-athletes, Talent Development students, and students with special talents who will enrich the University community. The Dean of Admissions will maintain formal (written) policies and procedures detailing the protocol for special admissions. #02-03--32

8.12.35 International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The University of Rhode Island awards credit for most higher level examinations passed with a score of 5, 6, or 7. Course credit is awarded at the discretion of individual departments. No credit is awarded for standard level examinations.

8.12.40 High School Seniors who are enrolled in the last year of their preparatory studies shall be required to submit transcripts of all preparatory work completed and a listing of the courses in progress. Applications of high school seniors are assessed on the basis of their performance in six or seven semesters of preparatory study, a review of their scores on the required entrance tests, and their personal references.

8.12.41 Acceptances offered students on the basis of incomplete preparatory records are subject to review again at the end of the school year and may be revoked if the applicant fails to complete his/her studies satisfactorily.

8.12.42 High school seniors must file their applications prior to March 1, and processing otherwise follows the patterns described in sections 8.11.10-11.

8.13.10 Undergraduate Transfer Candidates. A student who has earned at least 24 transferable credits, and has met all of the requirements for admission to a specific degree-granting college at the University of Rhode Island, may be admitted directly to that college. The student, however, may elect to enter the University College provided not more than 60 transferable credits are presented.

8.13.11 Candidates previously enrolled at any other college or university are required to submit to the Office of Admissions official transcripts of all work completed, the high school record, and other evidence as may be required by the Office of Admissions.

8.13.12 The credentials of transfer students shall be reviewed by the Office of Admissions, which shall determine the admissibility of the candidates, and which shall thereafter refer the transcripts of earlier college work to the academic dean of the college in which the applicant seeks registration for a formal evaluation and determination of the transfer allowance.

8.13.13 Transfer credit may be given in those courses in which the student received a grade of "C" or better but no credit shall be given for courses in which a "C-" or lower was earned. (Board of Governors' policy on articulation and transfer between state institutions of higher education defines exceptions to this regulation) However, the transfer credits shall not be used to calculate the student's quality point average and academic standing shall be based solely upon achievement at the University of Rhode Island. See Appendix F, Transfer Policies.

8.14.10 Visiting Students are persons who qualify for undergraduate admission as regular candidates, but who are matriculated at other institutions. Such students may preregister and be enrolled for a maximum of two semesters. The appropriate academic dean shall have the authority to extend the visiting student's enrollment on a semester by semester basis.

8.15.10 College Level Examination Program (CLEP) General Examinations. Students who have not been pursuing formal studies for at least three years may take CLEP General Examinations to demonstrate academically measurable learning acquired in nontraditional ways. Transfer students may receive credit from CLEP General Examinations taken prior to enrollment at the University provided that their scores meet University standards and provided that their academic dean judges that the CLEP credit does not duplicate other transfer credit.

8.15.11 Eligible students are encouraged to take the CLEP General Examinations, after conferring with an advisor, before or during their first semester at the University. Students enrolled in BGS 100 customarily take the CLEP General Examinations. Credits placed on the student's record as a result of passing scores for CLEP General Examinations, in combination with all other earned credit, may not exceed 45 credits.

8.15.13 It is the responsibility of the academic deans to prevent students from using CLEP General Examinations to duplicate credit earned by other means.

8.15.14 The University's policies on CLEP General Examinations can be changed only by Faculty Senate legislation.

8.15.20 CLEP Subject Examinations. Academic departments may use CLEP Subject Examinations as proficiency exams to test students' mastery of the subjects taught by the department. A department which judges a CLEP Subject Examination to be a satisfactory proficiency exam will decide what credits shall be awarded within the department to students who pass the exam, will establish the minimum score for credit, will decide whether students must answer the optional essay questions supplied by CLEP, and will decide whether students must pass a supplemental departmental test, such as a lab exam. All the decisions of the department must gain the endorsement of the dean of the college to which the department belongs. A list of courses which afford credit by CLEP Subject Examination shall be included in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

8.15.21 Departments may alter their standards for CLEP Subject Examinations or may withdraw their approval of an exam with the consent of the college dean. College deans will inform the Dean of the University College, the Dean of Feinstein College of Continuing Education, the Dean of Admissions, and the Publications Office of all changes in CLEP policies of the departments of their colleges.

8.15.22 Matriculated University of Rhode Island students must secure the approval of their academic dean prior to taking a CLEP Subject Examination for credit. It is the responsibility of the dean to prevent students from using CLEP Subject Examinations to duplicate academic credit.

8.15.23 Transfer students may receive credit from CLEP Subject Examinations taken prior to enrollment at the University, provided that their scores meet University of Rhode Island standards and provided that their academic dean judges that the CLEP credit does not duplicate other transfer credit.

8.15.24 Students who earn credit by CLEP Subject Examination for courses which satisfy the University General Education Requirement may apply their CLEP credit toward the General Education Requirement.

8.16.10 The University College. Except for students matriculating in Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education programs, all qualified freshman students who plan to pursue a curriculum leading ultimately to a baccalaureate degree shall be admitted to the University College (3.21.20). (See 8.13.10 for admission of transfer students.) Students admitted to programs in the Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education are not subject to the provisions of 8.16.11 through 8.16.16.

8.16.11 The University College shall make it possible for students to acquire education and skills basic to any one of the several baccalaureate programs at the University.

8.16.12 Students who have a clear educational or professional objective when they enter the University shall be encouraged to pursue this objective as directly and rapidly as possible, subject to the educational requirements established by the various college faculties and approved by the Senate. They shall be assigned to the appropriate adviser and shall have access to advisers drawn from all University curriculums. Entering freshmen who do not know which curriculum they want to select shall be encouraged to experiment and "sample" courses in several fields of study. Such students shall also have access to an effective advising system (3.21.21) and shall select at an appropriate time the courses of study which will satisfy entrance requirements to one or more University colleges and curriculums. They shall be assigned to advisers by the Dean of University College.

8.16.13 A student may transfer from University College to a degree- granting college of the University after completion of at least 24 credit hours (including transfer credits) provided that the requirements for admission to that college have been met. A student who has earned more than 75 credits may not be registered as a University College student. If the student has a 2.00 average or better, he or she will transfer to a degree-granting college. If the student has less than a 2.00 average and does not meet the criteria for academic dismissal (see 8.23.12), he or she may petition the Scholastic Standing Committee of the degree-granting college for an exception to the 2.00 requirement for transfer. If the petition is denied, the student will be blocked from matriculating status by the Director of Enrollment Services on recommendation of the dean and will be allowed to take courses only as a non-matriculating student (see 8.19.10 ff.).

8.16.14 A student who has transferred from University College but has earned no more than 75 credits may change colleges through the mechanisms provided by University College. After earning 75 credits, the student will transfer directly from degree-granting college to degree-granting college.

8.16.15 Each undergraduate degree-granting college shall specify its entrance requirements for its various degree curriculums which may each include up to, but not more than, 10 courses (approximately 30 semester credits). None of the various undergraduate colleges shall set entrance standards requiring either a quality point average higher than 2.00 for all courses or for the courses it specifies as entrance requirements, but a college may accept a student with a lower quality point average. (For exception see 8.16.16).

8.16.16 In cases where there may be more students seeking access to a program or college than can be accommodated, because of limited faculty and/or facilities and/or rapidly shifting student preferences and needs, this situation shall be reported to the Provost by the dean of the college impacted by excess enrollment applications. The Provost must declare the impacted program officially "oversubscribed" in order to allow restricted admissions. When a program has been declared officially oversubscribed by the Provost only those students considered to have demonstrated the highest promise for academic success will be admitted to the oversubscribed program. The Provost, in consultation with the department chairperson and dean of the college concerned, shall determine the number of students to be admitted. Oversubscribed programs shall be reviewed at least once a year. Students not being admitted shall have the choice of either entering any other college or program for which they have satisfied entrance requirements or devoting up to one year of additional study within the University College to satisfy entrance requirements of another program.

8.17.10 Internal Transfer. A student seeking transfer from one undergraduate college to another within the University shall submit credentials for approval to the dean of the college to which transfer is sought. The official transcript of the student's work shall include the record of all work undertaken in all divisions of the University, and the quality point average reflects all work attempted at the University.

8.17.11 If a student subject to probationary or conditional status in one college is accepted for registration another college of the University, the student must be continued on probation or conditional status in the college to which transfer is made.

8.18.10 Military Service. Veterans who have completed six months or more of active duty in some branch of the United States Armed Forces may be awarded no more than one credit in basic physical education and three credits in military science for their military experience. Credit awards will be determined by the dean of the college in which the student's degree is to be awarded. An additional credit allowance may be granted by the student's dean in accord with the recommendations of the American Council on Education handbook, A Guide to the Evaluation of Experiences in the Armed Forces, when appropriate to the student's curriculum.

8.19.10 Nonmatriculating Students. A nonmatriculating student is one who is enrolled for courses at the University but has not been admitted to University College or a degree-granting program by the Dean of Admissions or the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach or one who has been academically dismissed from a college of the University (see 8.25.10 ff. for regulations pertaining to academically dismissed students). Although visiting students, including those on exchange programs, are considered as nonmatriculating for reporting purposes, they are otherwise excluded from regulations applying to nonmatriculating students (see 8.14.10).

8.19.11 With the exception of students dismissed for academic reasons, all undergraduate, nonmatriculating students (i.e., those who have not earned a baccalaureate degree) enrolling for courses on the Kingston campus shall be the administrative responsibility of the Dean of University College; all undergraduate, nonmatriculating students registering only for continuing education courses shall be the administrative responsibility of the Vice Provost for Urban Programs.

8.19.12 These colleges will provide advising services, referring students to advisers in the department of their potential major when appropriate. Students may not register for courses in impacted programs without the written permission of the department chair, and their schedules must be approved by their dean who will determine whether they meet course prerequisites or other requirements. Nonmatriculating students shall be seated last in all courses according to procedures determined by the Office of Enrollment Services.

8.19.13 The Graduate School shall have administrative responsibility for nonmatriculating students in the following categories: 1) persons holding a bachelor's degree who wish to earn initial or permanent certification to teach or to fulfill other state certification requirements; 2) persons who have applied to the Graduate School for degree status but are required to do remedial work, complete prerequisites, or enroll for a trial period; 3) postdoctoral students; 4) persons pursuing nurse practitioner or other graduate certificates.

8.19.14 Nonmatriculating students may enroll as full-time or part-time students. A post baccalaureate student shall not register for more than 15 credit hours per semester. Credit limitations may be imposed on previously dismissed students by their academic dean (see 8.25.12) and on students seeking admission by the Dean of Admissions. All other nonmatriculating students shall enroll for no more than 18 credit hours per semester.

8.19.15 At the end of each semester the dean or vice provost will review the academic records of all nonmatriculating students for whom he or she is responsible. Nonmatriculating students must earn a 2.00 QPA in each semester. Further registration for students who do not achieve this level may be denied by the Director of Enrollment Services on the recommendation of the dean or vice provost. The dean or vice provost will invite nonmatriculating students who are making satisfactory progress to become matriculating by admission or readmission as appropriate.