All prospective candidates for graduation must either pass
a departmental examination or complete a written project in
their major field. The exact nature of this requirement is to
be determined by departmental personnel. It is the
responsibility of the department chairperson to see that this
requirement is met and to certify to the Registrar's Office
this fact at least 12 working days prior to scheduled
commencement exercises.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
A minimum grade point average of at least 2 0
("C") is required in one's major field and by the
University for graduation.
RESIDENCE
- At least 30 semester hours must be taken in full-time
residence at this institution in senior level courses
and within two semesters prior to the student's
graduation. Exceptions are made for students taking
pre professional courses of study for three years;
degrees are then granted upon successful completion
of one year of professional study.
- Thirty semester hours taken in 30 weeks of summer
school within a seven-year period satisfies the
residence requirement stated in one above.
- At least 20 semester hours of the residence
requirement must be taken in the student's major
field.
COURSE LEVELS
- Credits must be earned in at least 60 semester hours
of junior and senior level courses to complete
graduation requirements.
- At least 40 semester hours of credit in major and
related fields must be taken in junior and senior
level courses.
FACULTY APPROVAL
All prospective candidates for graduation must be voted
upon by the faculty. The passing of required courses as
prescribed by the various curricula does not, in itself,
guarantee the conferring of one's degree. The faculty must
recommend all candidates for graduation to the President of
the University.
CONTINUITY OF PROGRAM
If a student drops out of the University for a year or
more and later returns to graduate, he must meet the
requirements in effect for the class in which he expects to
graduate. The University reserves the right to change course
requirements for the degree as long as sufficient notice has
been given.
COURSES AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Students in attendance at Alcorn State University who wish
to take courses in another approved institution may do so
providing they have obtained permission from the chairperson
of the appropriate department, the school dean, and the
Registrar. Any course taken elsewhere will be considered as
part of the total credit load for that semester at Alcorn
State.
SCHOLASTIC HONORS
President's Scholars. President's Scholars are those
students who earn a grade-point average of 4.00 for any given
semester in which they carry at least 12 semester hours of
academic work. These students are given special recognition,
annually, by the President of the University. Vice
President's List. The Dean of the faculty's list is composed
of those students who have earned a grade point average of
3.00 or better for a semester's work consisting of not less
than 12 semester hours.
DEGREES WITH HONORS
The bachelor's degree will be conferred with
"distinction" based upon completion of a minimum of
60 semester hours earned in residence at Alcorn State
University provided, first, that a candidate's scholastic
average over the entire period of his attendance at Alcorn
State University is no less than "B" and, second,
that this composite scholastic average (including both the
work done at Alcorn State University and at any other
institution attended) be no less than "B." All
candidates for honors must qualify one semester prior to
graduation.
Honors are conferred as follows:
- Cum Laude - Upon those candidates who attain a
cumulative average of at least 3.2
- Magna Cum Laude - Upon those candidates who attain a
cumulative average of at least 3.5.
- Summa Cum Laude - Upon those candidates who attain a
cumulative average of at least 3.8 with no grade
below "C."
The Associate degree will be conferred with
"Distinction" based upon completion of a minimum of
35 semester hours in residence, provided that a candidate's
scholastic average over his entire period of attendance at
Alcorn State University be no less than "B" and
that his composite scholastic average (including both the
work done at Alcorn State University and at any other
institution attended) be no less than "B." All
candidates for honors must qualify one semester prior to
graduation.
- With Honors - Upon those candidates who attain a
cumulative average of at least 3.2.
- With High Honors - Upon those candidates who attain a
cumulative average of at least 3.5.
- With Highest Honors - Upon those candidates who
attain a cumulative average of at least 3.8 with no
grade below "C."
CLASS ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS
Regular and prompt class attendance is required of all
students enrolled at Alcorn State University. Consistent
class attendance by students applies to all classes whether
these are lecture or laboratory sessions or periods. Absences
are recorded in the class roll book by the instructor when
they occur; they are indicated on the instructor's grade
report to the Registrar's Office at the end of each semester
or summer session.
No matter how justifiable the circumstances for class
absences, students must attend as a minimum three-fourths of
the meetings for a given course in order to be eligible to
receive credit in that course. If a student, for any reason,
accumulates absences in a course in excess of one-fourth of
the scheduled class meetings for a semester or summer session
and does not officially withdraw from the course, he receives
the grade of "F" in that course unless the
circumstances are deemed extenuating by the Vice President
for Academic Affairs. Students are allowed one hour of
unexcused absence for each semester hour of a course.
Students with excessive absences will be reported to
Counseling and Testing. The university reserves the right to
withdraw a student who has been excessively absent from
classes. Whenever students miss classes, they are not
relieved of responsibilities to meet all course requirements
and complete all class assignments.
SPECIAL ASSEMBLIES
Students will be expected to attend all special
assemblies.
STUDENT LOAD
The average normal load carried by a student is determined
by the department in which he is registered and by his
scholarship. The minimum amount of work for which a full-time
student may register is 12 semester hours, unless he is a
senior and needs less than 12 hours to complete requirements
for his degree. Students in any department may be required to
take fewer semester hours than the average if such is
warranted by their scholastic standing. THE MAXIMUM LOAD AT
ANY TIME IS 19 SEMESTER HOURS. Only students with a
cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or more can take 19
semester hours, unless 19 is the normal load for the student.
Students may be permitted to take 20 hours per semester if
the 20th hour is an ensemble, i.e., marching band, concert
choir, wind ensemble, etc. A student on probation is expected
to carry a reduced load. If he is working, and is on
probation, he may not take more than 13 semester hours. The
load of a student who is working will be determined by his
cumulative grade point average and number of hours worked.
Students may earn a maximum of 15 credit hours during the
summer school term, provided these 15 credit hours are the
ONLY HOURS that are needed for completion of degree
requirements with the exception of student teaching. The
total hours must be divided between both summer sessions of
school. Not more than nine hours per session will be allowed.
An authorization signed by the student's advisor, and
approved by the Registrar and/or Vice President for Academic
Affairs, must be presented by the student upon registration
for the "extra" hours.
No academic credit will be accepted from concurrent
enrollment at other institutions while enrolled at Alcorn
State University without prior approval of an advisor, the
department head, and the dean. The maximum number of hours,
including concurrent enrollment, is 19. SPECIAL NOTE: It is
necessary for the average student to spend approximately
three hours of his time in "effort" each week for
each semester hour of credit carried. This amount of time
includes lectures, laboratories, preparations, etc. The most
effective distribution of this time will depend upon the
nature of the various courses in which the student is
enrolled. Advisors may be consulted regarding this matter.
GRADING SYSTEM
Credits are expressed in terms of semester hours with
alphabetical grades and numerical grade-points to indicate
the quality of the work. These grades cover the work of the
entire semester and are based upon the average of daily work,
the final examination and other written work.
Characterization of letter grades by plus and minus signs is
not authorized.
- A _ Excellent 4 grade-points a semester hour
- B _ Good 3 grade-points a semester hour
- C _ Average 2 grade-points a semester hour
- D _ Poor but passing 1 grade-point a semester hour
- F _ Failure 0 grade-point a semester hour
- I _ Incomplete-Unfinished work.
- *WP _ Withdrawal while passing.
- WF _ Withdrawal while failing.
- L _ Incomplete-Unfinished work in a developmental
course (RE 100, MA 100, EN 100)
- P _ Pass-Semester hours are awarded but no quality
points are given.
* If student is passing when the withdrawal occurs,
such action will not affect his grade point average;
if he is failing, the same semester hours involved
will be considered in his grade point average, i.e.,
will cause his grade point average to be lowered.A
student who makes grades as follows will receive the
grade-points indicated:
Grade Hours Points
English C 3 6
History B 3 9
Health A 3 12
Education D 2 2
Biology B 4 12
Mathematics A 3 12
PE C 1 2
__ __
19 55
The grade point average is 2.89-the quotient of 55
divided by 19, which represents an over-all average
above "C."
The term "Incomplete" is used when a
student is absent from examination because of
sickness, emergency absence due to death in the
family, or away from campus a great deal for
justifiable reasons. Otherwise, the instructor is
required to assign for each student a definite grade
based upon the work actually accomplished,
irrespective of the circumstances which may have
contributed to the results achieved. A student whose
work has been marked "Incomplete" must
remove the mark within 60 days after the beginning
date of the student's next enrollment in residence.
An incomplete grade must be removed within 13 months
after the grade is recorded even if the student fails
to enroll. If the "Incomplete" is not
removed within this period, the student will receive
a grade of "F."
A grade other than an incomplete may be changed
only if there is an error of calculation or recording
as verified by the official roll book. Change of
grades must be approved by the department
chairperson, school dean and the Vice President for
Academic Affairs.