ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Policy Administration
College of Arts and SciencesThe Associate Dean, in cooperation with the Registrar, handles matters of academic rules and regulations. The office of the Associate Dean is located in Bates House. The Registrar's office is located in Marsh Hall, 1st floor.
Graduate and Professional Schools
Deans and Directors, in cooperation with the Registrar, handle matters of academic rules and regulations.
Registration Policies
Registration Requirements
A student is considered registered only after needed approvals from faculty advisors and instructors have been filed with the Registrar’s Office and classes have been entered into the computer registration system. The University reserves the right to cancel the registration of students who are delinquent in meeting their financial obligations to the University.
College of Arts & SciencesCourse Registration
In keeping with Pacific's philosophy regarding the student-advisor relationship, students are required to communicate with their advisors and review class selections prior to registration.
New students communicate with faculty advisors during the summer; continuing students are advised in April for the fall semester and in November for the winter term and spring semester. An early registration occurs at the end of those advising periods in November and April, with students registering in priority according to the number of credits earned.
New students must complete their initial registration no later than the fourth day of classes; continuing students complete registration no later than the 10th day of the semester.
Students may add and drop classes through the 10th day of the semester. Adding classes normally is not allowed after the 10th day. Students may withdraw from classes through the 10th week of the semester, with a W posted on the transcript. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for add/drop equivalents for Winter III and Summer terms.
Professional Programs
Policies and procedures vary by program. Contact the specific program office or the Registrar's Office for more information.
Course registration procedures are distributed each term by the Registrar's Office, indicating when continuing students may register for classes (see Academic Calendar). The University reserves the right to prevent students from registering if financial obligations or health requirements have not been met.
Students may add and drop semester-long classes through the 10th day (or equivalent) of the semester. The adding of classes not is normally allowed after the 10th day. Students may withdraw from classes through the 10th week (or equivalent) of the semester, with a "W" posted on the transcript.
Measles Vaccination Policy
The State of Oregon requires college students born after 1956 to provide dates of two doses of measles vaccine. Accepted students receive Health History and Immunization forms that should be completed and returned to the Student Health Center in the self-addressed, stamped envelopes provided with the forms. Failure to satisfy the requirement affects enrollment at Pacific University; students may not pre-register or register for classes until they have satisfied the requirement. The Health History and Immunization form can be downloaded from the Health Center website under Required Forms (www.pacificu.edu/healthcenter). Please direct questions to the Student Health Center; 503-352-2269.
Withdrawals
Dropping/Withdrawing From a Course
Students may drop a class through the first 10 class days of a semester-long class (the first three days of a three-week term) without having the class appear on the transcript. Students may withdraw through the tenth week of the semester (the second week of a three-week term) and receive a W on the transcript, with no grade penalty. Withdrawals after the 10th week normally are not permitted unless approved by the appropriate Committee, Dean or Program Director.
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the Registrar’s Office and the instructor when dropping or withdrawing from a class; otherwise, the student may receive a failing grade. However, in some circumstances, prior to the end of the withdrawal period instructors may notify the Registrar of students not attending classes and have them withdrawn. Likewise, instructors may chose to have a student dropped from a course that s/he has pre-registered for but not attended during the first two class periods or the first academic week, whichever is less (the first day of a three- week term).
Instructors also may withdraw students from classes for poor attendance, poor participation, misconduct, or for disruptive or endangering behavior that interferes with faculty members' obligations to set and to meet academic and behavioral standards in their classes. Due process will be followed, and students may appeal such decisions to the appropriate committee or administrator. Instructors will distribute syllabi that include clear statements of policy regarding attendance, participation and withdrawing students from class. Misconduct or disruption does not apply to the content of speech or written work protected by academic freedom.
Withdrawing From All Classes
Students wishing to withdraw from all classes must schedule an exit interview with the Dean of Students’ Office to discuss options and/or initiate the formal withdrawal process. Students who must withdraw for health emergencies or other emergency reasons may be granted an Administrative Withdrawal. A statement from a healthcare provider or other documentation may be required for an Administrative Withdrawal.
The Dean of Students, acting on behalf of the University, may withdraw a student from the University if the student has mental or physical health problems and/or engages in or threatens to engage in behavior that (a) poses a danger of causing physical harm to the student or to others or (b) directly and substantially impedes the activities of other members of the campus community. The procedure for these withdrawals is contained in the Student Handbook and is in accord with the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Re-enrollment is at the discretion of the Vice President of Student Life, in consultation with appropriate health professionals.
Exiting from the University
Students leaving the University (other than by graduating) must conduct an Exit Interview in the Office of the Dean of Students to complete necessary paperwork and insure that all administrative concerns (business, financial aid, housing, transcript release, etc.) are met.
Normal Load / Overloads
Full-time status is defined as carrying a minimum of::
Arts & Sciences: 12 credits/term
College of Education: 8 credits/term
All other graduate/professional programs: varies by program
College of Arts & SciencesClass Standing
To be full-time, students must enroll in at least 12 credits. Students may enroll in up to 18 credits with no additional tuition charges. Typical student course loads range from 14 to 16 credits. Registration for more than 18 credits requires the approval of the Associate Dean.
In Winter III, a normal load is one course. Overloads during Winter III are not possible.
College of Arts & Sciences
Freshman 0-29 semester hours completed Sophomore 30-59 semester hours completed Junior 60-89 semester hours completed Senior 90 + semester hours completed
Professional Programs
Progression is defined individually by each program.
Grading Policies
Grading Policies for the College of Arts & Sciences
Grades are recorded by letter, with the following point values:
A 4.0 Excellent A- 3.7 Excellent B+ 3.3 Good B 3.0 Good B- 2.7 Good C+ 2.3 Satisfactory C 2.0 Satisfactory C- 1.7 Substandard D+ 1.0 Substandard D 1.0 Substandard F 0.0 Failure P Pass L Actual grade will be turned in late N No Pass I Incomplete IA- Incomplete; contingent grade A- IB+ Incomplete; contingent grade B+ IB Incomplete; contingent grade B IB- Incomplete; contingent grade B- IC+ Incomplete; contingent grade C+ IC Incomplete; contingent grade C IC- Incomplete; contingent grade C- ID+ Incomplete; contingent grade D ID Incomplete; contingent grade D IF Incomplete; contingent grade F W Withdrawal AW Administrative Withdrawal X Continuing Course Incompletes: Pacific University records Incompletes with a contingent grade. The contingent grade is the grade the student will earn at the end of the term if no additional work is completed. Incompletes are not counted in the GPA.
Courses graded with a P earn no credit points and are not included in the grade point average.
Grading Policies for Professional Programs
Grading policies vary by program. Please refer to the individual program sections of this catalog for the detailed grading policies.
Auditing
As an auditor, a student enrolls in, pays for, and attends classes, but does not necessarily complete assignments or take examinations. No credit is received for audited courses. Students must declare the audit option before the end of the add-drop period. Once the audit option has been declared, it can not revert back to the graded option. See Business Office section for payment information.
Pass / No Pass Option
College of Arts & SciencesIncompletes
In addition to courses requiring P/N grading, students may take one course each semester on a Pass/No Pass basis; such courses may not be used to fulfill core, the major, the minor, or teaching endorsement requirements. Students must declare the Pass/No Pass option before the end of the tenth week of the course, by completing the appropriate form in the Registrar’s Office. Once the Pass/No Pass option has been declared, it may not revert back to the graded option.
The P grade is equivalent to a C or above.
Professional Programs
Some graduate and professional courses are offered on a Pass/No Pass basis only. Courses not listed as Pass/No Pass are not available with that option.
Education and Occupational Therapy: "P" grade is equivalent to, a "C" or above.
Physical Therapy, Professional Psychology, Physician Assistant Studies: "P" grade is equivalent to a "B" or above.
Optometry: "P" grade is equivalent to a "C" or above. Students may receive an "H" grade for "A" work that is demonstrated by exemplary achievements in patient care or an "HP" for "B" work that is consistently above proficiency standards in patient care courses.
Pharmacy: "P" grade is equivalent to 90% achievement rate or higher.
Instructors may issue a grade of Incomplete only when the major portion of a course has been completed satisfactorily but health or other emergency reasons prevent the student from finishing all requirements of the course. Incompletes given for Fall semester or Winter III term must be completed no later than the following April 15. Incompletes given for Spring semester or Summer session must be completed no later than the following November 15. The instructor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work, within those deadlines.
Incompletes are recorded with a contingent grade, which is the grade the student will earn at the end of the term if no additional work is completed. Grades are determined by including failing grades for missing assignment(s). If agreed-upon course work is not completed in the allotted period and an extension has not been granted, the contingent grade becomes permanent.
College of Arts & SciencesRepeated Courses
The instructor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work before the Incomplete grade is assigned. Normally, these deadlines apply:
1. Incompletes given for fall and or Winter III terms must be completed no later than the following April 15.
2. Incompletes given for spring semester or summer session must be completed no later than the following November 15.
Professional Programs
The instructor and the student should agree upon a timeline for the completion of all work; In general, it is expected that all course requirements be completed by the end of the following semester.
Courses may be counted only once towards graduation requirements.
College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education:
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If a course taken at Pacific University is repeated at Pacific University, only the higher grade is used in computing the Pacific GPA.
If a course taken at Pacific University is retaken at another institution, the Pacific grade still is counted in the GPA.
All other Graduate and Professional Programs:
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Both grades are counted in the grade-point average, although only one course can be used towards graduation requirements.
Grade Change
Once a grade has been submitted to the Registrar it is changed only in the case of recording errors. Faculty members submit Grade Change forms to the Dean or Program Director.
Grade Reports
Grades are available to students at the end of each grading period through Boxer Online.
College of Arts & SciencesTranscripts
Grade reports are not routinely mailed to students or parents; students wishing parents to received mailed grade reports may contact the Registrar’s Office to make arrangements.
Students may view their academic records through Boxer Online, or order printed transcripts through the Registrar’s Office. In accordance with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidelines, students must provide signed requests for transcripts.
Unofficial transcripts are available to currently enrolled students only and are free, with a limit of two per request, and must be picked up in person. Requests may take two days to process.
Official transcript cost $3 each. Faxing service is available for an additional $3 per transcript. Requests may take up to one week to process. If transcripts must be processed within two business days, a rush fee of $12 is charged in addition to the normal processing fee(s).
Additional Grading Polices for the College of Arts & SciencesDean's List
The Dean's List honors students who achieve a minimum semester GPA of 3.70 with 12 or more graded credits. Grades of P/NP do not count as graded credits.
Transfer Credits
Upon the approval of the Registrar, courses taken elsewhere with a grade of C- or better may be transferred to a student’s academic record at Pacific. Transferred courses may be used to meet degree requirements and, in some circumstances, used to satisfy major or minor requirements. The GPA includes only grades earned at Pacific University.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress in the College of Arts & Sciences
It is expected that each student at Pacific University maintain satisfactory academic progress. Decisions on Academic Progress are made by the Standards and Advising Committee. See the Financial Aid section in this catalog or consult with the Financial Aid and Registrar’s Offices for more information on how financial aid and athletic eligibility depend on academic achievement.
Satisfactory academic progress is defined by:
• A cumulative GPA at Pacific University of at least 2.0
• A GPA of at least 2.0 in the previous semester
• 12 credits of coursework credited toward graduation in the previous semester, during which a student was enrolled as a full-time student
WarningSatisfactory Academic Progress in Professional Programs
Full-time students who do not meet each of these three standards for the first time typically are placed on Warning. Students on Warning must meet with their faculty advisors, and perhaps the Associate Dean, for help getting access to academic resources.
Suspension and Probation
Students who have been on Warning and who fail to meet one or more of the three standards in any subsequent semester (or who have a single, egregiously poor semester record) may be put on Probation or Suspended.
Academic Probation typically lasts one semester. Students on academic probation are not in good academic standing and are ineligible to participate in University-sponsored activities, such as intercollegiate athletics, forensics, club sports, student media and other activities as the Dean may direct.
A Suspension typically lasts one academic year. Students are not considered to be enrolled in Pacific University.
Readmission After Suspension
Students readmitted after Suspension are placed on Probation (see above) for the semester of their return. If a readmitted student subsequently does not meet the University's academic standards and becomes eligible for suspension, the student may be dismissed by the Standards and Advising Committee.
Policies with regard to satisfactory progress are described within the professional program sections of this catalog, student handbooks, and/or policy manuals.
Veterans' Educational Benefits
The Registrar is the certifying official for all veterans' benefits for students. Eligible students should fill out necessary application and certification documents prior to the start of classes.Other Policies & Procedures
Graduation with Honors
Students graduating in Arts & Sciences with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 to 3.6999 are designated Cum Laude; 3.70 to 3.909 are designated Magna Cum Laude; 3.91 to 4.00 are designated Summa Cum Laude.
Students receiving the Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Science in Vision Science or Master of Occupational Therapy degrees with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or above are designated With Distinction.
Attendance
Students are responsible for attending classes, participating, and completing assignments. Faculty members include their attendance policies on all syllabi, and may lower students' grades or may withdraw students from courses through the tenth week of the semester for poor attendance or participation. Students are encouraged to inform their instructors of unavoidable absence in advance. Assignment of make-up work is at the discretion of instructors.
Instructors may not drop pre-registered students from courses until after two class periods or the first academic week, whichever is less (first day of a three-week term).
Independent Study (Learning Contract)
Students may arrange to undertake advanced and independent study in subjects not covered by regular courses through Independent Study Contracts with professors.
One credit of Independent Study is equal to approximately 40 hours of contact and associated work.
College of Arts & SciencesInternational Baccalaureate Degree
An independent study form, available at the Registrar's Office, must be submitted to the Dean's Office, complete with all approval signatures.
Pacific University recognizes the International Baccalaureate program as providing college-level work. Students who complete the IB Diploma with a score of 30 or higher receive several benefits, including the IB Achievement Scholarship; sophomore standing; priority housing; and membership in the Dean's Reading Group. Pacific University will also award eight semester transfer credits for each higher examination passed with a score of 5 or higher and 4 credits for standard examinations passed with 5 or higher. Maximum of awarded credits is 32.
Additional Polices & Procedures for the College of Arts & Sciences
Oregon Independent Colleges Cross-RegistrationAdditional Polices & Procedures for Professional Programs
Pacific University participates in the OICA Cross-Registration program, in which students enrolled full-time at any OICA college may take a maximum of one undergraduate course per term at another OICA campus. No additional tuition is charged for the cross-registered course by either institution, with the exception of possible overload or special course fees. A students may not cross-register for a course that is offered on his/her own campus, unless scheduling conflicts prevent taking the course. Registration is permitted on a space-available basis. For more information contact the Registrar’s Office.
Summer Sessions
Pacific University offers three intensive 4-week terms through the Summer Sessions program. Classes apply to undergraduate degree requirements and to graduate teacher education programs. Summer Sessions provide an affordable option for earning additional credits or accelerating degree completion. The Summer Sessions course list is available through Boxer Online mid-March.
Academic Advising
Advisors work closely with each student to develop a sequence of courses that meet individual needs. The Deans Office assigns faculty advisors to students upon admission. After a major has been declared (by the end of the sophomore year) an advisor in that major area(s) should be selected. Students may not register for classes until they have consulted with their advisors, and successful students generally have frequent contact with their faculty advisors. Any concerns with advising should be taken to the Associate Dean.
Students are responsible for their own academic progress. They are expected to monitor their academic records, through the Academic Program Evaluation form, Boxer Online and transcript, to identify questions/concerns and to ensure the records' accuracy. Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the academic programs and policies of Pacific University, for making academic decisions that are guided by the academic policies of Pacific University, for selecting advisors within their majors, for establishing meetings with their advisors, and for establishing a relationship with secondary advisors as needed.
Students expecting to apply to one of Pacific's graduate or professional programs must pass specific undergraduate prerequisite courses, and should consult the relevant sections of the Arts and Sciences and Graduate catalogs. Those students are urged to seek the help of the Pathways Office in the Career Development Center, which maintains information on prerequisite courses for graduate programs.
dmissions Office, which maintains information on prerequisite courses.
Advanced Placement
Pacific University awards four credits toward graduation for a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) test in any field. Credit is posted to the records of admitted students after deposits have been submitted and official AP scores have been received by the Registrar. Actual placement in Pacific courses depends on the student's preparation and is arranged through the appropriate department.
Internship Program
Students may enroll in Internships for academic credit. Internships earn one credit for each 40 hours of work, up to a maximum of 14 credits in any semester. A maximum of 17 credits of internship may be counted toward graduation. Contact the Career Development Center for more information.
Program Assessments
Students are expected to know their academic requirements and may gain access to their academic records at anytime via Boxer Online. In addition, prior to each registration period or upon request, the Registrar’s Office provides each student with a report, the Academic Program Evaluation form, which show progress towards fulfilling academic requirements.
ROTC
Pacific University students who receive ROTC funding and wish to take ROTC coursework may do so at Portland State University. Pacific accepts up to 14 semester credits of military science coursework from PSU, excluding MS 111, 112, 113.
Under a cooperative agreement with the University of Portland, Pacific University students may participate in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) offered on the University of Portland campus. AFROTC is available to men and women with at least 2 years of college remaining. Scholarships are available on a competitive basis for those who qualify. For more information, see the University of Portland web site or contact the Program Counselor at the University of Portland.
Program Assessments
Students are expected to know their academic requirements and may gain access to their academic records at anytime via Boxer Online. In addition, the Registrar’s Office can provide each student with a report, the Academic Program Evaluation form, which show progress towards fulfilling academic requirements, upon request.
Students' Rights Under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. They are:1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within
45 days of the day Pacific University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the Registrar's Office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the Registrar's Office, the student shall be advised of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate. Students may ask Pacific University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. Students should write the Registrar, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate.
If Pacific University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the student shall be notified of the decision and advised as to his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by Pacific University in an administrative, supervisory, academic research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom Pacific University has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks.
A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Pacific University may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school, upon request, in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Pacific University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Directory Information
At its discretion Pacific University may provide Directory Information in accordance with the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Directory Information is defined as that information which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.
Designated Directory Information at Pacific University includes the following: student name, permanent address, local address, temporary address, electronic mail address, telephone number, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, thesis title/topic, photograph, full-time/part-time status, most recent previous school attended, date and place of birth.
Students may withhold Directory Information by notifying the Registrar in writing; please note that such withholding requests are binding for all information to all parties other than for those exceptions allowed under the Act. Students should consider all aspects of a Directory Hold prior to filing such a request. Although the initial request must be filed during the first two weeks of the enrollment period, requests for non-disclosure will be honored by the University for no more than one academic year. Re-authorization to withhold Directory Information must be filed annually in the Registrar's Office within the first two weeks of the fall semester.
Policy Availability
Pacific University policy explains in detail procedures to be used by the institution for compliance with the provisions of FERPA. Copies of the policy are on the Registrar's Office web site or are available in the Office of the Registrar.
