ACADEMIC INFORMATION

The catalog serves as a guide for students and advisors in planning academic programs and degrees offered at the University. Students are responsible for knowledge of and compliance with procedures and standards, but should seek guidance from their advisors or the Registrar when questions arise. The following procedures and policies have been adopted to help students, faculty, and administrators successfully carry out the academic program of the University. These policies reflect University policy when the Catalog was published. Changes enacted after this date will be published by appropriate means. Exceptions and deviations from normal academic policy may be requested through petition procedures available from the Student Records Office.

The University policy governing approval of class selection is based upon the principal that new-to-college and high-risk students require a more structured class selection process than others. The policy governing faculty advisor endorsement for class selection requirements is:

Some departments may have more restrictive advising policies than these. No departments may have less restrictive policies. Students are, under existing university policy, individually and personally responsible for meeting the graduation requirements of degrees they are seeking.

In order to be enrolled in a class, the student must register for the class by means of the procedures set out for registration. The student's name must appear on the official class roster. Students who fail to register for classes prior to the deadline for doing so will not receive credit for the classes, even if they attend the classes and meet course requirements.

Applicants for Advance Placement credit should ask the College Entrance Examination Board to submit official examination scores to the Office of Admissions. Credit will be granted for scores of 3, 4, or 5. This credit will be awarded to degree students for corresponding courses at the University. Grades will not be awarded. A notation of the award will be placed on the student's transcript.

An auditor is a student who wishes to enroll in a course but does not wish to pursue the course for credit. Auditors will not be required to take examinations or meet course requirements. Audited courses are noted on the transcript as such. Enrollment as an auditor requires permission of the instructor after students pursuing course credit have had an opportunity to enroll. Auditors pay the same fees as credit students. Auditors may not change to credit enrollment after the last day to add classes.

A number of students who pre-register for classes do not return for the following term as anticipated. In order to establish orderly administration of the financial affairs of the University and to open the positions of these non-returning students in classes for which they pre-registered, a deadline for making fee arrangements is set for each term and announced by the Office of Fiscal Affairs. Registrants who do not complete fee arrangements prior to the deadline are unregistered, and their positions in classes are made available to other students. Students whose registrations are canceled but who wish to attend the University for the canceled term must repeat the entire registration process. In addition, a late registration fee may be charged to offset the additional administrative expense of late registration.

The purpose of the Career Center is to support the goals of Montana State University-Northern by providing a comprehensive network of employment services for students and employers.

Services:

Appointments provide assistance with resumes, choices of career, exploration of career options, and job search questions.

• Cooperative Education is a process of education which formally integrates a student's academic and/or career interests with productive work experience in cooperating employer organizations.
• The student's work is closely related to his/her academic discipline and individual interest within the field.
• The student receives academic credit for the structured work experience.

The work experience increases in difficulty and responsibility as the student progresses through the academic curriculum and parallel as closely as possible his/her progress through the academic major.

Work/Study is a federal student financial aid program which provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students. College work/study gives students a chance to earn money to help pay for University expenses. College work/study jobs are both on-campus and off-campus. If a student works off-campus the job will usually involve work that is in the public interest and the employer is often a private or public non-profit organization, or a local state or federal agency. Career Library materials are available in the Career Center. Information includes: job listing, career information, employer directories, and company annual reports.

Credential Assistance is available for teaching and non-teaching majors. The Career Center maintains life time credentials for each person completing a credential packet. Upon request of the student, copies of his/her credentials are sent to employers. On a yearly average, just under 11,000 credential packets are sent to prospective employers.

Career Search Workshops are offered to students each semester on assessing career opportunities, resume writing, and interviewing techniques. In addition, videos related to the career search process are

available for use on an individual basis.

Employment Recruiters interview students for permanent and cooperative education positions. The Career Center coordinates the interview schedule and assists students in preparation for the interview. The top priority of the Career Center is to help students learn about the world of work and find a successful place in it. Our professional staff is involved daily with contacts in business, industry, and education in order to maintain Montana State University-Northern's visibility and market Northern students and graduates. The Career Center is located in Donaldson Hall.

Montana State University-Northern seeks to serve students who have achieved academic competency through nontraditional forms of study or work experience. The University awards credit based on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests, DANTES transcripts, military training, Trade Competency Examinations, and other faculty approved competency measures. The Registrar maintains a list of courses and the procedures a student must follow in order to be awarded credit.

See "Dropping and Adding Classes" later in this section.

Grades submitted to the Student Records Office by faculty members are final and may not be changed except in the case of clerical error, upon successful appeal, or if they were fraudulently obtained. Students who believe an error in grading has occurred should first consult with the instructor. Final grade changes may not be used to extend the time for completion of a course, to allow a student to submit late work, or to retake examinations after the term is completed. A grade change is not meant to substitute for an "Incomplete" when an Incomplete cannot be justified. Grade changes made under this policy must be submitted to the Registrar by faculty by means of forms and procedures available in the Student Records Office. These forms must be approved by the Department Chair and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Each student is responsible for attending all classes regularly. Individual professors establish attendance policies for their courses. While a professor may not withdraw a student from a course, excessive numbers of absences may result in a grade of "F."

Students are classified as follows:

By year in school:

The program consists of a general examination (five different tests) and subject examinations in many different areas. Credit for the equivalent courses may be obtained by testing to the percentile levels required by each academic department. Credit earned through CLEP is assigned a grade of "Pass" and does not affect the grade point average. All CLEP credits awarded appear on the transcript and may apply toward graduation. For more information regarding CLEP please contact the Testing Coordinator, Cowan Hall 213.

Continuing education courses may be offered for credit. However, no more than 30 such credits may be applied toward a Bachelor's degree. At the graduate level, no more than 12 credits may be applied toward a Master's degree.

Cooperative Education is a program which allows students to earn academic credit and gain on-the-job experience in positions related to their field of study. Most disciplines include cooperative education courses, numbered 279 or 479. Cooperative Education is initiated with learning objectives being defined through an agreement between the student, faculty, Cooperative Education Coordinator and the work supervisor. To be eligible for Cooperative Education, students must have completed one semester at the University and maintain a cumulative 2.00 grade point average. Students pursuing an associate degree may apply a total of 8 credits of Cooperative Education toward their degree requirements with the exception of Engineering Technology programs. Students pursuing a bachelor's degree may apply a total of 16 credits of Cooperative Education toward their degree requirements with the exception of Engineering Technology programs.

A student repeating a course will forfeit the original grade and will receive the new grade. A student must file a petition with the Student Records Office to repeat a course more than once.

Students need to carry an average of 16 credits each semester in order to complete a two-year or four-year degree in that time period. The following table explains the rules governing credit loads:

First-time University students may not take more than 18 credits during their first semester. Students with a cumulative grade point average below 2.00 may not take more than 12 credits per semester.

The rules for credit load are different during summer school, and students should consult the summer school bulletin for an explanation.

The posting of credit earned outside of a traditional academic calendar term to Northern transcripts will be governed by the following rule: The credit will be posted to the Northern term during which the official transcript or report of the credit is received. If the official transcript or report is received when no Northern term is in progress, the credit will be posted to the Northern term following the receipt of the official transcript or report. In order to be considered "official" transcript or reports of credit must:

1. Be original documents produced by the issuing agency or institution. They must contain sufficient information to be identified as such. Telephone reports are not acceptable. Faxes are not acceptable. Documents transmitted by other electronic means, such as electronic mail, are not currently acceptable.

2. Be received directly from the issuing agency or institution without passing through the hands of the student or other intervening agent.

Semester: Northern has three semesters in an academic year: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Students normally attend two semesters in an academic year: Fall and Spring. When a policy refers to a number of semesters, or to "regular" semesters, it is referring to the Fall and Spring semesters only, to the exclusion of Summer semester, unless the policy expressly indicates to the contrary.

Students maintaining a 3.50 GPA and selected by the appropriate faculty may be eligible to graduate with departmental distinction. This distinction will be noted on the commencement program.

Students may earn a second major and have it noted on their transcript by completing all course work for the second major. Students whose second majors fall within another degree type must follow procedures for a second undergraduate degree.

Since Montana State University-Northern offers its semester coursework in a variety of formats and time frames, the drop and add deadlines for students are determined by the percentage of instructional time that has passed in each course. The specific deadlines are set out below:

1. Students may add a class if less than 10 percent of the instructional time has passed in the course.

2. Students may drop a class, and eliminate all notice of the class from their transcript, if less than 20% of the instructional time for the class has elapsed.

3. Students may drop a class, and receive a "W" on their transcript, if less than 60% and more than 20% of the instructional time has passed.

4. Students may not withdraw from a class if 60% or more of the instructional time has passed.The Registrar will determine and publish the drop and add deadlines for each class, using these percentages. Students may add or drop a class until the close of business on the deadline day.

The last week of each regular semester will be set aside for final examinations. The Registrar will publish an examination schedule every semester.The final examination week is the only time when final exams may be given for full semester classes. The University expects every class to meet at its scheduled time for final exams. There will be no scheduled extra-curricular activities or meetings during finals week. Each scheduled exam period will be two hours.

If students are scheduled for more than two (2) final examinations on the same day, they may ask for an adjustment. They should contact the instructors in their classes, and try to arrange alternative test times during the final exam week. If those negotiations are unsuccessful, students should ask their department chairperson to mediate the conflict.

Montana State University-Northern students may eliminate part of their previous coursework at the institution under this "fresh start" option. The policy is subject to several restrictions, and may not be available to all students. Under the policy, students may erase a maximum of two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters of previous Montana State University-Northern coursework. The coursework will remain on the student's academic record, but the credits and the grades will not be carried forward into the student's cumulative GPA.

Students must meet the following conditions to apply for the fresh start option:

1. they must be undergraduates;

2. they may only exercise the fresh start option once at Montana State University-Northern;

3. they must not have been enrolled at Montana State University-Northern for at least one calendar year;

4. they must apply for the fresh start option during the first year of their return to Montana State University-Northern.

The quality of a student's work in each course is denoted by a letter grade. No minus or plus grades are used. In computing scholastic averages, each letter grade is assigned a specific number of grade points for each credit.

P - Indicates that the student registered for the course on a "Pass-Fail" basis and passed the course. The pass grade is not computed in the grade point average; however, failures are computed in the grade point average like any other F.

I - Indicates that the work of the course is more than three-fourths complete, not finished, but may be completed. An incomplete is given only to a student who has a proper excuse for not having completed all the requirements of a course. The faculty member and student must arrange to complete the work prior to the ending of the following term. Arrangements must be completed in the next resident semester, or the incomplete becomes a "F." If the student is not in residence, two semesters are given to complete the work, or the incomplete becomes an "F."

Audit - Indicates that the student registered as an auditor for the course. No credit is given.

W - Indicates that the student withdrew from the course or University after 20% of the course had been completed but before 60% of the class time was completed.

X - Indicates that the final grade for the course will be assigned when the sequence is completed and may extend beyond one semester. Only graduate students receive this notation.

NR - Indicates that the grade was not reported by the instructor. This is a temporary notation and a grade report will be issued as soon as possible.

Following each semester a report of grades is provided to students and their advisors. Students performing unsatisfactory work during the-semester may also be notified. Grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the cumulative number of grade points by the total number of credits attempted.

Permission for students to enroll in independent studies requires approval of a regular faculty member prior to the beginning of the semester, using a form available in the Student Records Office. Such approval is based on a preliminary plan of the intended nature, duration, and scope of the project. The work may be a regular catalog course or a course designed to meet the special needs of an individual student. Independent study courses will be numbered 299, 399, 499, 599, or 699 and will not appear on the regular schedule of classes. Students may not add independent study courses after the deadline date for adding full-semester classes. No more than 9 independent study credits may be applied toward a Bachelor's degree and no more than 6 independent study credits may be applied toward an Associate degree.

A listener is a non-matriculated auditor for whom no transcript is kept. Listeners may enroll only for lecture courses. All other rules and regulations for auditing apply. Listeners will be charged a $15.00 per credit fee but no admission or registration fee is required.

Degree-seeking students may change their academic majors and minors by means of procedures available from the Student Records Office. Non-degree-seeking students may apply for degree-seeking status at the Office of Admissions.

Degree-seeking students who have not selected a major are assigned a faculty advisor by the Office of Student Records and may request a change of advisor at that office. Those who have selected a major are assigned a faculty advisor by the academic department which administers their chosen major and may request a change of advisor from the Chairperson of that department. Non-degree-seeking students are not assigned a faculty advisor, but may seek assistance from the Registrar.

Students may take classes on a pass-fail basis. When considering that option, students should keep the following limitations in mind, however:

1. Courses that satisfy the requirements of a major, a minor, an area of concentration, or the professional education core cannot be taken on a pass-fail basis. Graduate courses can not be taken on a pass-fail basis.

2. Students can only use eighteen (18) semester credits of pass-fail work in a Bachelor's degree program; they can only use nine (9) semester credits of pass-fail work in an associate degree program.

3. The two previous restrictions do not apply to specific coursework that is only offered on a pass-fail basis. That coursework would include cooperative education classes, student teaching, Advance Placement, CLEP and challenge exams and trade competency tests.

4. Some academic departments have their own rules governing the use of pass-fail credits, and students should consult their faculty advisors for those limitations.

5. Students may change from a grade to pass or pass to a grade prior to the close of the "add" period for the class. They must fill out a form from the Student Records Office, and once the change has been made, the change cannot be reversed.

Faculty members are not notified when courses are taken on a pass-fail basis. Letter grades are turned in by the instructor and Student Records Office converts those grades into pass or fail. A passing grade is defined as a "D" or better. A failing grade is an "F."

Passing work will receive a "P" grade on the student's transcript, but will not count in the grade point average. The course credits will count toward the number of credits needed for graduation, however. Failing work will receive an "F" grade and will count in the grade point average.

The University cautions students that many graduate and professional schools and some employers do not recognize non-traditional grades (i.e., those other than A, B, C, D, F) and students who use the pass/fail option may be at a disadvantage in such situations.

Exceptions and deviations from normal academic policy may be requested through petition forms and procedures available from the Student Records Office. Petitions and requested waivers are reviewed in a timely manner and students are notified of their approval or disapproval.

In recognition of scholastic achievement, the University publishes at the conclusion of each semester an honor roll of undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.25 in twelve or more credits of work graded on the regular grade scale. Students with a grade of Pass, Incomplete or "F" are not included on the honor roll listing.

Students whose semester and/or cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 will be placed on academic suspension or probation according to the following guidelines. Suspended students may appeal for readmission prior to their elapsed suspension period by means of forms and procedures available from the Student Records Office.

1. Scholastic Warning: Applies only to first-time freshmen or new students who have earned less than twelve credits from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution. Such students are placed on scholastic warning at the end of their first semester of enrollment if they earn less than a 2.00 cumulative grade point average. A student may be on academic warning a maximum of one semester. Probation or suspension status applies to all subsequent enrollments in which the cumulative grade point average remains below a 2.00.

2. Scholastic Probation: Students are placed on probation at the end of a semester of enrollment when their cumulative grade point average falls below a 2.00. Transfer students (admitted under special conditions) who have earned 12 or more semester credits and whose transcript(s) indicates less than a 2.00 cumula-tive grade point average are admitted on scholastic probation.

3. Continued Scholastic Probation: Students may continue to enroll while on probation provided they earn at least a 2.00 semester grade point average.

4. Restrictions in enrollment while on Scholastic Warning or Scholastic Probationary status: No student on scholastic warning or probation may enroll for more than 12 credits during the semester without approval of the body which regulates academic standing issues.

5. Removal of Scholastic Probation: Such academic standing is removed when the cumulative grade point average is raised to a 2.00 or higher.

6. Scholastic Suspension: Students currently enrolled on scholastic probation or continued on scholastic probation are suspended when both the semester and cumulative grade point average are below 2.00. The first suspension from Montana State University-Northern will be for one semester. The second suspension will be for one calendar year. Students suspended for a third time, or those seeking early re-admission from a first or second suspension, must appeal by petition. A student re-admitted after a period of suspension will be placed on scholastic probation.

Suspended students may attend classes until their appeal is decided.

To earn an additional degree, students must complete all coursework required in the degree program. A second degree will be awarded only when it differs from the student's first degree, e.g., if the second major is a bachelor of science degree and the first was a bachelor of arts degree.

A second associate degree requires a minimum of twelve additional credits; and a second baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of thirty additional credits. Normal residence requirements and all other academic regulations also apply. Students wishing to earn a second associate degree or a second bachelor degree must complete the regular admission procedures.For double major, i.e., a second major within the same degree type, see the section entitled "Double Major."

Experimental courses and courses for special topics may be offered from time to time. Such courses are numbered 290, 390, 490, 590, and 690 and will not be offered more than twice, excluding summer sessions or continuing education offerings which may be offered more often.

Course substitutions are exceptions and deviations from normal academic policy and may be requested on forms available from the Student Records Office. A substitution requires the approval of the student's advisor, he department chair of the student's major, and the chair of the department which offers the course.

Students who have had five or more years of work experience in an apprenticeable trade or licensed occupation may have their experience evaluated through a written and performance test administered by the National Occupational Competency Test Institute (NOCTI). This, coupled with a committee evaluation of job success, may generate up to 39 credits toward earning a degree. Contact the Registrar or Director of the Department of Education for more information.

A transcript is the complete academic record of a student's work and status. The official transcript bears the signature of the Registrar and the seal of Montana State University-Northern. Other copies are unofficial. A permanent transcript is retained by the University. Official transcripts are issued only upon the written request of the student. Transcripts will not be released until all University admissions or financial obligations have been met.

The education records, as defined by federal right-to-privacy laws, of deceased persons in the custody of Montana State University-Northern will be released only to individuals who document themselves as executor/administrators of the deceased's estate or remaining next-of-kin. The death of the alumnus must also be documented.

Transfer students should read these policies carefully, so they are comfortable with the process of transcript evaluation and understand its steps.

Application for Admission

a) The Student Records Office will begin the evaluation of transfer credits when the transfer student has been admitted to the University as a degree-seeking student.

b) Transfer students must submit official transcripts from every post-secondary school they have attended before they may be admitted.

Acceptability of Credits

a) The University accepts all college level courses from institutions accredited by regional association of schools and colleges.

b) If an institution was not accredited at the time the transfer student enrolled there, but accreditation has subsequently been granted by a regional association, the student may petition to have the credits accepted.

c) If the institution was a candidate for accreditation at the time the transfer student took classes, credit will be granted after successful completion of 20 semester credits at Northern.

d) Credit will be granted for college-level continuing education, correspondence and extension courses successfully completed at regionally accredited institutions.

e) International coursework must be evaluated by a professional foreign transcript evaluating agent, designated by the Office of Admissions, or by other means approved by university policy.

f) Credit may be granted for military service and for completed military service schools based on the recommendations of "A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces." See the Registrar for details.

g) The Registrar determines the acceptability of course work from other post-secondary institutions, using these rules. The Registrar also determines the acceptability of transfer credit to meet general education requirements. Faculty in the respective majors and minors determine whether transfer credit will meet specific program-area degree requirements.

Evaluation of Degree Requirements

a) The Registrar determines the acceptability of transfer credits toward general education requirements at the University. Academic departments may also be consulted.

b) Applicability of transfer courses to specific program-area degree requirements will be determined by the department that awards the student's degree.

c) Secondary education majors may work with two different departments. The Department of Education will determine how transfer credits fit into the education core. The major and minor departments will determine how transfer credits fit into major or minor curricula.

d) Articulation agreements may have been negotiated between Northern and the transfer student's institution. Those agreements will determine the use of credits in a student's degree program.

e) Transfer students are encouraged to assist department faculty in evaluating previous coursework. Catalog descriptions, course syllabi and classroom work can all be used to document the content and rigor of transfer credits.

Transfer Grades

a) Transfer credit will be given for courses in which satisfactory grades were received. A satisfactory grade for transfer purposes is defined as A, B, C, or S.

Transfer Gradepoint

a) The transfer grade point average will be used to determine eligibility for acceptance at Montana State University-Northern. Coursework from all higher education institutions will be used to calculate that grade point average.

b) The transfer student's transcript may list separate grade point averages for each higher education institution and/or a combined grade point average for all previous institutions attended.

c) A separate grade point average will be calculated and posted for all coursework completed at Northern.

d) An overall grade point average for all higher education institutions may be calculated and reported on the transcript. Eligibility for some University honors may be based on the combined grade point average for all higher education work completed.

Course waivers are exceptions and deviations from normal academic policy and may be requested on forms available from the Student Records Office. A waiver requires the approval of the student's advisor, the department chair of the student's major, and the chair of the department which offers the course. A waiver does not constitute a reduction of required credits. Students who receive a waiver for a course do not receive the credit hours for that course.

Students may withdraw from the University by completing the procedures and forms available in the Student Records Office. Course grades will be determined as set out in the Drop and Add Policy.

A Veterans Coordinator is available to assist veterans, their dependents, and National Guard personnel with procedures for enrolling at Northern and applying for educational benefits under federal guidelines. The Veterans Coordinator will act as an intermediary between veterans and the Veterans Administration Office, Fort Harrison, Montana.

All veterans and eligible persons receiving educational benefits under federal guidelines are required by law to report promptly to the Veterans Coordinator any changes which may affect the amount of money being received. These include dropping courses, withdrawing from school, not attending classes, changes in marital status, and added dependents.

To be considered as full time, undergraduate students must carry 12 credits or the equivalent and graduate students must carry 9 graduate credits or the equivalent during Fall, and Spring Semesters. The criteria for Summer Semester differs and veterans should contact the Veterans Coordinator.

The Veterans Administration expects veterans to make satisfactory progress, regularly attend classes, and pursue a final objective. The Veterans Coordinator may notify the Veterans Administration if the veteran does not comply.