Undergraduate Catalog

Academic Regulations

The following academic regulations include answers to these questions, but are not limited to these.

• What are the Requirements for Graduation?
• What if I would like a double major?
• When do I need to file for graduation?
• How are honor students recognized at graduation?
• How many hours determine the classification of students?
• How do I add and drop courses?
• How do I withdraw from the University?
• What is Cameron's grading system?
• How do I change an "Incomplete" grade on my transcript?
• How do I change a grade reported in error?
• What is the required GPA to continue in good academic standing?
• How do I receive Advanced Standing Credit?
• Are honor courses offered at Cameron?
• Where do I find information about the University's Academic Forgiveness Policy?

 
1. Requirements for Graduation.
   • Completion of the specified degree requirements with a minimum retention/ graduation grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum retention/graduation grade point average of 2.0 in all work taken at Cameron University.
   • Baccalaureate degree candidates must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 30 semester hours in residence at Cameron University. At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
   • Associate degree candidates must complete a minimum of 15 semester hours in residence at Cameron University.
   • Baccalaureate degree candidates must complete a minimum of 60 semester hours, excluding physical education activity courses, at a baccalaureate degree-granting institution, 40 semester hours of which must be upper-division excluding physical education activity courses.
   • Baccalaureate degrees must include a liberal arts and science component as follows: bachelor of arts, 80 semester hours minimum; bachelor of science, 55 semester hours minimum; and bachelor of specialty, 40 semester hours minimum.
   • Note: Some degrees have requirements in addition to these University requirements. Consult the specific degree for a listing of any such requirements.
   See the Graduate School Catalog for information about the requirements for masters degrees.  Graduate Studies Catalog is available online at www.cameron.edu/graduate. 
2. Grade Point Averages.
   Cumulative Grade Point Average. The ratio of total grade points to the total grade point earning hours attempted throughout a student's undergraduate career excluding remedial/developmental courses. It is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total grade point earning hours attempted. Credit hours to which an "I", "W", "S", "U", ?AU?, ?P?, or "AW" has been assigned are not grade point earning hours.
   Retention/Graduation Grade Point Average. The ratio of grade points earned to the total grade point earning hours attempted excluding remedial/developmental courses, "forgiven" courses, "reprieved" courses, and physical education activity courses.
3. Graduation Under a Particular Catalog. Curricular requirements for baccalaureate and associate degrees can be changed for students who complete those degrees within six years of the first date of enrollment at Cameron only to the extent that such changes do not delay graduation or add additional hours to the program.
4. Major Requirements. A minimum of one-half of the upper-division credits required for a major must be earned in residence at Cameron University. The dean of the school responsible for the major, acting upon a written request from the student accompanied by a statement from the student's advisor and the chair of the department responsible for the major, may approve an exception to this regulation. The applicability of major courses, taken before the major was declared, is determined by the dean of the school responsible for the major.
5. Transfer Credit from Regionally Accredited Colleges and Universities. Semester hours transferred from accredited colleges and universities are equated on a one-to-one basis. Quarter hours are equated on the basis of three quarter hours to two semester hours. The maximum number of lower division hours transferred from non-baccalaureate degree granting institutions which may be applied toward baccalaureate degree requirements is equal to the total hours required for the degree less 60. Responsibility for determining the applicability of transfer credits to meet major or minor requirements rests with the dean of the school offering the major or minor. This responsibility may be delegated to department chairs or faculty members under the supervision of the dean. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is ultimately responsible for determining the applicability of transfer credits to meet general education requirements. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may designate faculty members or admissions personnel to assist with this function.

6. Concurrent Enrollment. A student seeking a degree at Cameron who desires to earn credits concurrently at another institution or through correspondence, must secure approval from the dean of the school (at Cameron) responsible for the major prior to taking the course if the credits are to be used to meet degree requirements.

7. Correspondence Credit. Credit earned through correspondence offered by regionally accredited institutions may be applied toward degree requirements upon recommendation by the student's advisor with approval of the department chair of the student's major and the dean responsible for the major.

8. Second Baccalaureate Degree. A student may receive a second baccalaureate degree upon completion of (1) a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the first degree with at least 15 of the hours in residence at Cameron, (2) a total of at least 30 semester hours in residence at Cameron, (3) the requirements for an additional major, and (4) the U.S. History and American Government requirements.

9. Second Associate Degree. A student may receive a second associate degree upon completion of a minimum of 15 semester hours in residence at Cameron University in addition to the hours required for the first degree, provided the requirements for the degree are met.

10. Double Majors. Students may have more than one major listed on their transcripts, provided they complete all of the requirements for each of the majors. A student seeking two majors must designate one of the majors as the "first major." The degree awarded will be determined by the designated "first major." Students fulfilling all of the requirements of a "second major" are not required to complete a minor.

11. Duplicate Use of Courses. Credits earned in a particular course may not be used to fulfill the requirements of two different majors or of both a major and a minor. Should the same course be required in each of a student's majors or in both his major and minor (See "Double Majors"), a student will be expected to complete an additional elective course in the discipline in which the duplication occurs.

12. Graduation Application. Each candidate for a degree shall file a graduation application with the Office of the Registrar the semester or summer session prior to the session in which the student expects to graduate.

13. Presence at Commencement Exercises. An annual commencement exercise is conducted at the end of the spring semester. Students who complete graduation requirements that semester or at the end of the preceding fall semester and those who apply to graduate at the end of the following summer session or following fall semester, are invited and encouraged to attend.

14. Recognition of Honor Graduates. Graduating baccalaureate and associate degree candidates with superior academic records are accorded special recognition by the University. A student who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of 4.00 graduates "summa cum laude," one whose cumulative grade point average is less than 4.00 but is 3.80 or above and is in the top five percent of the graduating class graduates "magna cum laude," and one whose cumulative grade point average is between 3.60 and 3.80 and is in the next ten percent of the graduating class graduates "cum laude." These honors are listed on official Cameron University transcripts, and honor graduates are formally recognized at the commencement.

15. Academic Load. Academic load includes all courses (concurrent enrollment, day, evening, workshops, off-campus) in which a student is enrolled.
    • The normal academic load for a regular semester is 16 semester hours and for a summer or eight-week session is eight semester hours.
    • The maximum load that a student will normally be permitted to carry is 18 semester hours during a regular semester or 9 semester hours during a summer or eight-week session.
    • A student who has attained an overall grade point average of 3.00 and has completed a minimum of 15 semester hours will be permitted to enroll in 21 semester hours during a regular semester or 10 semester hours during a summer or eight-week session.
    • All other overloads must be recommended by a student's faculty advisor and approved by the dean of the school responsible for the student's major.
    • The credit hour load that may be approved for a regular semester, summer session, eight-week session, or short course can never exceed one and one-half times the number of weeks in the semester, summer session, eight-week session, or short course.

16. Full-Time Student. A student who enrolls in 12 or more hours during a regular semester or 6 or more hours during a summer or eight-week session is classified as a full-time student.

17. Classification of Students. Freshman are those students who have less than 30 semester hours of credit; sophomores, those with 30 or more semester hours, but less than 60; juniors, those with 60 or more semester hours, but less than 90; and seniors, those with 90 or more semester hours who have not received a degree. Students who are non-degree seeking at Cameron University are classified as "special students."

18. Enrollment. Students may enroll for courses during designated times which are listed in the Enrollment Schedule, published each semester and summer session. To receive credit for a course, a student must enroll prior to taking the course.

19. Late Enrollment. Enrollment after the first full week of classes in any semester, summer or eight-week session or proportionate period of a special schedule is a late enrollment. Late enrollments require permission from the dean(s) responsible for the course(s) in which a student wishes to enroll. Any student enrolling late will be responsible for making up all work of the classes in which s/he enrolls.

20. Changing Course Schedules. Student schedule changes are processed in the Registrar's Office or departmental offices.
    • Adding Courses. The first day of the second week of classes of a regular semester, summer or eight-week session or proportionate period of a special schedule is the last day a course may be added.
    • Dropping Courses. Courses dropped during the first week of a regular semester, summer or eight-week session or proportionate period of a special schedule, will not be recorded on a student's academic record.
      Courses dropped after the first week and prior to the end of the twelfth week of a regular semester or proportionate period of other sessions will be recorded on a student's academic record with a course status symbol of "W."
      Courses dropped after the twelfth week of a regular semester or proportionate period of other sessions and prior to the end of the fourteenth week of a regular semester or proportionate period of other sessions will be recorded on a student's academic record with a symbol of "W", or grade of "F", as assigned by the instructor.
      Courses may not be dropped after the fourteenth week of a regular semester or proportionate period of other sessions.

21. Auditing. A student may enroll in a credit course as an auditor on a non-credit basis with the permission of the instructor teaching the course. Enrollment is done in the normal manner with the indication that it will be an audit. Auditors are not held responsible for the work expected of regular students and receive no grade or credit for the course. Test participation is the prerogative of the instructor. A student who audits a course agrees that s/he will not petition or ask in any way for the privilege of taking an examination to obtain credit after auditing the course. A student enrolled as an auditor may change the enrollment from audit to a credit enrollment within the first week of a regular semester, summer or eight-week session or proportionate period of a special schedule, with the permission of the instructor. A student enrolled for credit may change the enrollment to audit within the first eight weeks of a regular semester or proportionate period of other sessions only, with the permission of the instructor.

22. Attendance. A student is responsible for the content of each course in which s/he is officially enrolled. At the beginning of each course the instructor will define and quantify attendance standards, procedures for verifying unavoidable absences, and methods of dealing with missed assignments and examinations. Instructions for dropping courses without an entry on a student’s academic record (see regulation 20) will be stated in writing and distributed to students prior to the end of the period. It is a student's responsibility to note these instructions and follow them consistently and carefully.

23. Withdrawing from the University. Non-attendance or ceasing to attend a class does not constitute official withdrawal. To officially withdraw from the University, follow the procedures listed in the Enrollment Schedule published for each semester and summer session. It is a student's responsibility to complete the withdrawal process. Grades will be assigned in accordance with regulation 20. A student may not withdraw during the last two weeks of a semester or proportionate period of other sessions. If because of unavoidable circumstances a student is unable to personally complete the withdrawal process, he/she should contact the Registrar's Office by mail or by phone for assistance.

24. Credits. Credits are given in semester hours. A semester hour consists of one hour (50 minutes) of class work or a minimum of two hours of laboratory work per week for a regular semester.

25. Course Number System. Course numbers are four digits. The first digit indicates the class year in which the subject is ordinarily taken. A zero in the first digit indicates a non-college level course. The last digit indicates the credit hours awarded for the course. The two middle digits identify the course within the department. For example a course numbered 2013 is a sophomore course carrying three semester hours of credit.

Academic Regulations continued