Policy, procedure changes that standardize processes among campuses

• Four varying campus calendars and start dates reduced to two.
• Nine grading systems reduced to three.

 
Policy, process changes that standardize processes among colleges on TC campus
Nineteen colleges/programs offering undergraduate degrees exist on the TC campus. Among the 19 programs:

• Admissions is handled in 19 different ways.
• Registration and course entry is handled in 15 different ways.
• Some grades and grading issues are still handled in 13 different ways, even with the new grading policy.
• Student performance is handled in 18 different ways.
• Degree requirements and graduation is handled in 16 different ways.

In May, 1998, the Faculty Senate approved standardized policies in most of these areas. While administrative in nature, standardization eliminates a great deal of confusion for students and advisers. The standardized policies are in effect now. For more information about the changes below, see The Twin Cities Campus Assembly Policies. Among the policies standardized:

 
Admissions

• Clarification of conditional admit involving 'conditional admit to matriculate' and 'conditional admit to graduate.'
• TC campus will not accept transfer course with less than a "D" grade.
• Clarification about when returning students will be held to "old" or "current" program requirements.
• Clarification about "sun setting," the number of years after a course is taken when it is not accepted for credit.
• Defined full-time as a student carrying 12 credits each semester; part-time as fewer than 12 credits each semester. Advocated more communication that emphasizes students need to carry 15 credits each semester to graduate in four years.
• All freshman-admitting colleges shall have an undeclared student status. All students shall be required to declare a major or be accepted into a program before or upon the completion of 60 semester credits. Once 60 credits have been completed, a student will not be allowed to register until they declare a major.
• Defined terms of student Leave of Absence policy.

 
Registration and Course Entry

• Created one uniform advisor "hold" for all units.
• Set maximum number of credits students may enroll for without approval (20 per semester) and with approval (21+).
• Colleges and University College will develop a policy for cancellation of low enrollment courses or sections.
• Adopted a policy on repeating coursework.
• Students will be allowed to take a previously audited class for a grade.

 
Grades and grading

• Sets maximum number of S/N grades for students who have varying lengths of residency at the U.
• Requires a grade of C- or better in each course in the major.

 
Student Performance

• The college of enrollment will monitor student progress after each term, as well as annually. Term monitoring will be based on GPA.
• All colleges will use the same probationary system.
• All colleges will publish a Dean's List, consisting of students who achieve a 3.67 GPA or higher and who have completed a minimum of 12 credits (including UC credits).
• All colleges will name the committees to which student academic progress issues are referred as the Student Scholastic Standing Committee.

 
Degree requirements and graduation

• The cumulative GPA required for graduation shall be 2.0 and shall include all, and only, U course work.
• A student who maintains a GPA of 2.0 in the major and a cumulative GPA of 2.00 will be allowed to graduate. Additional standards or conditions will not be imposed.
• Standardized the number of courses that need to be taken at the U (30) and in the major to (24) to graduate.
• Standardized the amount of notice a student is required to give the Registrar of his/her intent to graduate.
• Defined types of electives that may used toward graduation.