Academic Policies and Resources
In any organization or institution, for orderliness and efficiency and maintenance of certain standards, rules and regulations are established in the best interest of those who participate. Certain procedures have been set forth at Heidelberg College by the Board of Trustees, faculty and the students and by the three teams working together.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance at class sessions is expected of students. The instructor is responsible for informing the class in writing at the beginning of each course about the class attendance policy and the steps to be used to implement this policy. Indifference to class attendance may result in the student being withdrawn from the class.
EXAMINATIONS/ABSENCE FROM EXAMINATIONS
Each course includes an evaluation of the student’s work. This evaluation may include a final examination or it may take the form of a seminar paper, a recital or a special project. If a student is absent from an evaluation session without an excuse, he or she may receive an F in the course. If the student is absent under extremely extenuating circumstances without excuse from a previously announced examination or test during the semester, the instructor may grant a makeup examination.
COURSE LOAD
A normal course load is considered to be 15-16 academic hours a semester; a minimum fulltime schedule, 12. The maximum for music students is 17 hours.
SEMESTER HOUR
A semester hour may be defined as the equivalent of one recitation hour a week continued for one semester. Ordinarily two laboratory hours or two hours of work in the gymnasium are regarded as the equivalent of one recitation hour.
To receive credit, a student must register for all courses to be pursued during a semester.
EXTRA HOURS
If a student wishes to take more than the maximum hours (16 for Arts and Sciences, 17 for Music; excluding music ensembles), an extra hour fee is charged. The fee may be waived if the student has earned at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and has completed at least
60 hours of study of which a minimum of 30 hours has been earned at Heidelberg. Students who meet these requirements may take up to 18 credits without an extra fee for two semesters provided the 3.00 grade point average is earned for full-time work during the semester preceding the 18-hour term.
Only those students who have a minimum cumulative point average of 2.00 may register for as many as 19 hours, and only those students who have a minimum cumulative point average of 2.50 may register for as many as 21 hours. The maximum hours for which a student may register is 21.
Only those students who have received a point average of 2.00 (2=C) or better the previous semester and have a cumulative point average of 2.00 or higher may register for more than a normal schedule. Exceptions to these requirements can be made only by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College.
REMEDIAL COURSE WORK
No credit toward a degree will be given for work below the first year college level.
CLASS STANDING
A student’s class standing is determined by the number of credit hours passed. Sophomores should have completed 24 hours; juniors, 56 hours and seniors, 88 hours.
PASS-FAIL COURSES
Juniors and seniors with a 2.50 average or better are permitted to register for one elective course per semester on a Pass-Fail basis with the written approval of the department in which the course is taught. Any student with less than a 2.50 must obtain permission from his/her major adviser and the elective department.
The hours for a Pass-Fail course will not count in the major or minor, in General Requirements, or as Honors Seminars or Support Courses. A Pass-Fail arrangement is irrevocable; that is, the Pass-Fail may not be changed during the semester or at a later date to a letter-grade basis. Withdrawals will be handled according to the rules governing all courses (WF after the specified date).
“Pass” should designate that the student did work comparable to C- or better. “Fail” equates to a D or F.
A student wishing to register for a Pass-Fail course should obtain a Pass-Fail Agreement form from the Registrar’s Office and complete it during the first week of classes.
AUDIT
A student who wishes to attend a class but who does not wish to receive a grade of credit for the course may register as an auditor. A student must declare the auditor status in a course by the “Last Day to Add Classes.” This date is announced in the Schedule of Classes. The degree of class participation acceptable or required shall be determined between the student and instructor and listed on the audit form which is available in the Office of the Registrar. The completed audit form will remain on file in the Office of the Registrar.
The class audited shall be noted on the transcript, and the instructor will award the grade of “AU” if students fulfill the performance requirements outlined on the audit form and the grade of “U” if students fail to meet these requirements. Students will not be eligible for “Credit by Examination” after having taken a class for audit credit.