Academic Regulations and Policies

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in all their coursework and research. Individuals violating that code of conduct are subject to disciplinary action; such breaches could lead to expulsion of the student from Indiana University or to rescission of a degree already granted. The Indiana University Graduate School has prepared a document entitled Integrity in Graduate Study, which, among other topics, deals with plagiarism, fraud, and conflicts of interest.

Academic Standing

The university has established levels of competency, according to grade point average and semesters completed, which determine whether a graduate student is in good standing, on probation, or ineligible to continue studies.

Good Standing: Those students who consistently maintain a minimum GPA on their cumulative and semester records as defined by the graduate program in which the student is formally admitted.
Probation: Students are on probation for the duration of the next regular semester or summer session following one in which the minimum GPA was not obtained and/or maintained.
Dismissal: Students may be dismissed from graduate programs if they do not maintain satisfactory academic standing as defined by the student’s program of study.

Addition of Courses

A graduate student who wishes to enroll in additional coursework after the first two weeks of a regular semester, or after the first week of a summer session, may do so if the instructor of the course, the graduate advisor, and the graduate program director recommend to the dean that this be done.

Note: Special fees are assessed for most late registrations.

Credit Transfer

Graduate Course Transfer and Academic Residency

Each graduate degree offered through IU South Bend outlines specific requirements and coursework for successful completion of a graduate degree. Some coursework obtained at other accredited institutions may transfer to a particular degree program. Any transfer of coursework must be reviewed and approved by the degree program. Each of the graduate programs has guidelines regarding the number of credit hours that can be taken at other universities and counted towards a graduate degree. The graduate program directors determine the number and content of courses and credit (taken outside of the established program of study) which may be counted towards a particular graduate degree. The graduate program director makes any and all determinations of coursework transferred and accepted based on their academic discipline and program requirements. Any coursework taken outside of the graduate program in which you are formally admitted must receive advisor approval.

Grade Point Average

A minimum grade point average (GPA) must be maintained to remain in good academic standing in the master’s degree program. There are differences among the master’s programs. At no time may an earned grade of D or F be counted towards a master’s degree. The individual master’s programs have minimum standards with some using a grade of B (3.0) as a minimum standard. Review the graduate program GPA requirements for remaining in good academic standing.

Independent/Correspondence Study

Credit earned in correspondence courses may not be counted towards any graduate degree. It is possible, however, that such work may be used by the student to make up entrance deficiencies. For more information, contact an academic advisor.

Semester Load

Graduate students shall be considered full time if they are registered for 8 credit hours (4 credit hours during each summer session) and their programs of study meet with the approval of the academic programs. Courses taken as an auditor may not be counted in the definition of full-time study; however, courses taken to remove undergraduate deficiencies for admission may be counted.

Graduate students may take no more than 16 hours of credit in any semester, nor more than a total of 16 credit hours in all the summer sessions in any one year without permission of their graduate advisor. Students who are employed are advised to take into account the demands that such activities make on their time and to reduce their course loads accordingly.

Time Limits for Graduate Study

The age of coursework and/or degrees earned may impact the number of transfer credit hours, courses, and number of hours needed to complete educational objectives. The age of credit hours and changes in coursework vary in each graduate program.

There are also time limits imposed for completion of graduate degrees. These limits vary; however, most programs require completion within five years from the start of graduate coursework.

Students are required to work closely with their program advisor to plan their coursework and the completion of their degree.

Withdrawal

Withdrawals prior to the last day to drop a course (see official calendar for each semester) are automatically marked W. According to university regulations, withdrawal after this date is permitted only with the approval of the dean of the student’s school for urgent reasons related to the student’s health or equivalent distress. In all such cases, the student must submit a request for late withdrawal to the advisor or to the graduate program director. This request must be supported by the instructor of the course, the graduate advisor, and the graduate program director, and then be forwarded to the dean with an accompanying statement outlining the reasons for the request. If the dean approves the request, the student’s mark in the course shall be W, if the work completed up to the point of withdrawal is passing; otherwise, a grade of F shall be recorded. Failure to complete a course without an authorized withdrawal results in the grade of F.

Note | Termination of class attendance does not constitute official withdrawal and results in a grade of F. Students must officially withdraw from the course.

Integrity & Ethics Policy for Indiana University Graduate Students

Academic Regulations and Policies