Navigating Degree Requirements at Alfred University: A Comprehensive Guide

Alfred University provides a structured framework to guide students toward successful degree completion. This article elucidates the key academic regulations, satisfactory academic progress standards, and degree evaluation processes pertinent to both undergraduate and graduate students. Understanding these guidelines is crucial for students to effectively plan their academic journey and ensure they meet all requirements for graduation.

Academic Regulations: The Foundation of Your Studies

Alfred University's academic regulations are the cornerstone of a student's academic experience. These regulations, which apply to both undergraduate and graduate students, encompass a wide range of policies and procedures, including grading, course registration, transfer credits, and academic standing. All students are responsible for complying with these regulations.

Proposed changes to these regulations can be initiated by college committees, faculties, the Deans' Council, or the University Council. However, the faculty of the appropriate college must accept these changes. The University Registrar maintains the official version of the "Academic Regulations" and ensures the web version is up-to-date.

In cases of interpretation questions, the Chief Academic Officer holds the final authority over University-wide regulations.

Course Enrollment and Attendance

Alfred University expects regular class attendance of all students. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a closed course, or fail to contact the instructor or Registrar's Office by the end of the first day, may be dropped from the course.

Leave of Absence

Alfred University recognizes that students may need to temporarily interrupt their education. The University has a leave of absence policy that allows students to continue their education after a specified leave period. To request a leave of absence, a student must submit a written request to the Program Director or Dean, including the reasons for the leave and the intended duration. Leaves are typically granted for one or two semesters but can be extended with approval from the Dean. Students who formally leave during a semester will receive "W" grades in their courses, provided the withdrawal deadline has not passed.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is strictly prohibited at Alfred University. It is defined as any action that enables a student to receive credit for work that is not their own. This includes plagiarism, fabrication of data, and inappropriate alteration or exclusion of data. Graduate students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty and professional integrity. All ideas and analyses derived from other authors must be properly cited.

Repeating Courses

When a course is repeated, the course credits are applied only once. The grade points and credits corresponding to the most recent grade earned are used in calculating the cumulative GPA. The original grade remains on the student's transcript but is not used in GPA calculation. If the original course is no longer offered, a similar course may be taken with the Dean's permission.

Understanding Credit Hours and Grading

Alfred University employs a comprehensive system for assigning credit hours and grades, which is essential for students to understand for academic success.

Credit Hour Definition

The typical academic load for full-time students is 16-18 credit hours per semester. Most courses meet for one 50-minute hour per week for each semester credit hour. Courses with labs usually involve 2-3 hours of class time and 2-3 hours of lab time per week. Art studios typically meet for 1.5 to 2 hours per week for each credit hour. Students should allocate a minimum of two hours of study time outside of class for every hour spent in class (three hours for art studios), totaling at least 45 hours of learning time per credit hour per term. Online courses require a similar commitment of approximately 45 hours of learning time per credit hour.

Grading System

Alfred University uses a specific grading system to evaluate student performance. The following grade designations are used at the undergraduate level:

A: Exceptional (4.00 grade points per credit hour)
A-: (3.67 grade points per credit hour)
B+: (3.33 grade points per credit hour)
B: Good (3.00 grade points per credit hour)
B-: (2.67 grade points per credit hour)
C+: (2.33 grade points per credit hour)
C: Acceptable (2.00 grade points per credit hour)
C-: (1.67 grade points per credit hour)
D+: (1.33 grade points per credit hour)
D: Poor (1.00 grade points per credit hour)
F: Failure (0.00 grade points per credit hour)
I: Incomplete (0.00 grade points per credit hour)
P: Pass (0.00 grade points per credit hour)
W: Withdrawn (0.00 grade points per credit hour)
AU: Audit (non-credit) (0.00 grade points per credit hour)

Pass/Fail Grading Option

Undergraduate students can designate up to four semester hours each semester to be graded as Pass (P) or Fail (F), provided they have not previously enrolled in the course and it is not a required course in their major program. A grade of D or better will be recorded as P. Advisor approval is required. However, students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, and the Inamori School of Engineering have specific limitations on using the Pass/Fail option for major, minor, or general education requirements.

Auditing Courses

Students may elect to audit a course on a non-credit basis. They can change from credit to audit or vice versa until the last day to withdraw from the course. Auditors receive a grade of "AU" on their transcript. The course is charged at 50% of the normal tuition rate. Auditors must consult with the instructor to determine the expected level of participation.

Grade of "In Progress" (IP)

The grade of IP may be given for thesis, seminar, or project courses that extend over multiple terms. It indicates that the course is in progress and a final grade will be given later. IP grades remain for no longer than 2 years, after which the grade will change to an “F” or “NC”, unless an extension is approved.

Grade Changes

All grade changes must be completed before the Registrar’s certification of graduation. Grade changes can be initiated by the instructor to correct an error or to convert an Incomplete or IP grade to a final grade. Students have one year from the date a final grade is issued to petition for a change of grade. The process involves meeting with the instructor, Division/Program Chairperson, and potentially the Dean. If no resolution is reached, the student can appeal to the Ombuds Officer, who will assemble an appeals committee.

Read also: Alfred University Rankings

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid

To maintain eligibility for federal, state, and university financial aid, Alfred University students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. These standards encompass both qualitative and quantitative measures, evaluated cumulatively across all enrollment periods.

Qualitative Measurement: GPA Requirements

The qualitative standard is a minimum cumulative grade point average (CUM/GPA) that students must maintain. The minimum CUM/GPA requirement increases with each semester of attendance:

Semester 1: 0
Semester 2: 1.0
Semester 3: 1.5
Semester 4: 1.75
Semester 5+: 2.00

Quantitative Measurement: Time Frame and Completion Ratio

The quantitative standard includes a maximum time frame for degree completion and a minimum completion ratio.

Maximum Time Frame: The maximum time frame to complete a baccalaureate degree program is 150% of the published program length, measured in attempted credit hours. For example, if a program requires 124 credit hours, the maximum time frame for financial aid eligibility is 186 attempted credit hours (124 x 1.5 = 186).
Minimum Completion Ratio: Students must successfully complete at least 67% of all attempted credit hours to demonstrate SAP. For instance, if a student attempts 60 credit hours, they must successfully complete at least 40 credit hours (60 x 0.67 = 40.2).

Evaluation Periods and Consequences of Failing SAP

SAP is reviewed at the end of each semester. Students who fail to meet SAP standards lose eligibility for federal and university aid. The first time this occurs, the student is placed on Financial Aid WARNING for one semester. If SAP compliance is not achieved during the warning semester, the student loses aid eligibility and has the right to appeal.

Appealing SAP Ineligibility

Students can appeal their aid ineligibility due to extenuating circumstances. Appeals must include an academic plan, approved by the student’s college/school dean, that ensures SAP standards will be met within one or two semesters. If an appeal is approved, the student is placed on financial aid probation and may receive aid during the probation semester.

Reinstatement of Aid Eligibility

Students can reinstate their aid eligibility by correcting SAP deficiencies without aid or by submitting a successful appeal and meeting SAP standards after a probation period.

New York State Progress Standards

New York State has its own academic progress standards for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other state aid programs. These standards include program pursuit, satisfactory academic progress, and a C average requirement.

Program Pursuit

Program pursuit requires students to receive a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of a full-time course load (12 credit hours) each semester to maintain state aid eligibility. The required percentage increases over time:

1st State Aid Payment: Complete 6 credit hours (50% of 12)
2nd State Aid Payment: Complete 6 credit hours
3rd State Aid Payment: Complete 9 credit hours (75% of 12)
4th State Aid Payment: Complete 9 credit hours
5th+ State Aid Payment: Complete 12 credit hours (100% of 12)

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for New York State Aid

New York State also defines minimum earned credits and CUM/GPA requirements for each term in which state aid is received.

Before being certified for this payment number:	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
A student must have earned at least this many credits:	0	6	15	27	39	51	66	81	96	111
With this Minimum GPA:	0	1.5	1.8	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

C Average Requirement

Students receiving the equivalent of four semesters of New York State aid must maintain a minimum CUM/GPA of 2.0 to remain eligible for subsequent state aid payments.

Reinstatement of New York State Aid

Students who lose good academic standing for New York State aid can regain eligibility by:

Making up academic deficiencies without state aid.
Being readmitted after an absence of at least one calendar year (except for C average deficiency).
Transferring to another institution and meeting its admission requirements.
Appealing for a waiver based on extenuating circumstances.

Transfer Credits: Bringing Your Past Academic Work Forward

Alfred University recognizes and values prior academic work, allowing students to transfer credits from other institutions under specific conditions.

General Transfer Credit Policies

Alfred University considers credits from colleges and universities accredited by regional accrediting bodies. Credits from nationally accredited institutions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. International transcripts are evaluated by recognized agencies specializing in international transcript evaluations, such as World Education Services. Only courses comparable to those offered at Alfred University are considered for transfer.

Restrictions on Transfer Credits

Certain types of coursework are not typically accepted for transfer, including vocational fields, non-accredited institutions, or technical training. Mathematics courses below college algebra are also not accepted. In courses graded A-F, only those with a grade of "C" or above will be accepted. Grades from other institutions are not included in the Alfred University GPA.

Transfer Credit Limits

The maximum number of semester credit hours transferable toward any Alfred University degree program from all sources combined is 90. This includes credit from other institutions, credit recommended by the American Council on Education, and credit from standardized exams.

Cross-Registration with Rochester Area Colleges (RAC)

Alfred University participates in a cross-registration program with over 15 area colleges and universities through the Rochester Area Colleges (RAC) consortium, including Alfred State College. This allows students to take courses not available at AU, provided they are applicable to their degree program and approved by their faculty advisor. Credits earned under this program are considered transfer credits and are subject to the 75-credit hour limit on transfer credit.

Credit from Standardized Exams

Alfred University grants credit for college-level learning demonstrated through standardized exams such as:

Advanced Placement Program (AP)
International Baccalaureate Program (IB)
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Credits awarded from these exams are considered transfer credits. Students must ensure official score reports are received by the Office of the Registrar within one year of admission.

Challenge Examinations

Currently enrolled degree-seeking students may request a challenge examination for any undergraduate course which has not already been taken at Alfred University. If passed, the credit from a challenge exam is posted to the transcript with a grade of “CH”. Credits earned by challenge exam do not affect the AU GPA.

Degree Evaluation: Charting Your Course to Graduation

Alfred University provides tools to help students track their progress toward degree completion. A degree evaluation assists students in verifying that they are taking the necessary courses to earn their chosen degree.

Running a Degree Evaluation

Students can run a degree evaluation to review their curriculum information, including their declared degree and major. The requirements for the degree/major are based on the catalog term/year the student matriculated to AU. The degree evaluation will highlight any unfulfilled requirements in red. Students should also check the "Courses not used" section to identify courses that are not being used to fulfill degree requirements, which could potentially delay graduation.

What-If Analysis

Students considering a change of major can use a "What If Analysis" to see how their completed coursework would apply to a different major.

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