Policies and Forms

Academic Honesty and the Honor Code
Class Attendance
Adding or Dropping a Class
Academic Probation
Academic Suspension
Repeated Courses
Grading System
Transfer Credits
Withdrawing from the University
Academic Progress Towards the Degree
Student Records and the Privacy Act

Class Attendance

Regular attendance is required. Instructors normally announce specific attendance policies at the beginning of the term. The instructor determines in all instances the extent to which absences or tardiness affect each student's grade. Some departments and courses -- for example, first-year English Rhetoric -- have very strict attendance rules. Non-attendance will result in a grade of F. Instructors may drop students from their classes for excessive absences, until the calendar deadline to drop, but this is not automatic. Non-attendance will not automatically result in a student's being dropped from a class. Likewise, discontinuing class attendance does not constitute withdrawing from the University.

Adding or Dropping a Class

Official class schedules are set for the term at the end of the fifth day of classes. Students may add classes up until that date, with written authorization from their academic adviser. During the first five days (first two days of summer term), adds and drops are made without official transcript record. After that date, students may not change their schedules except to drop a class.

The deadline for dropping a class is the end of the tenth week of the term. Click here to see the official University calendar showing the deadline date for course drop for a specific term. Courses dropped before this date are graded "W". To drop a class, see your academic adviser. It is an Honor Violation subject to judicial hearing, cancellation of enrollment and other sanctions, to add or drop a course without advance written approval and signature of your academic adviser.

Before dropping a class, consider (and discuss with your adviser) the implications for scholarship requirements, timely fulfillment of pre-requisites for advanced courses you want to take later, and possible delay of graduation. Consider standard progress in credits toward graduation, and how you would plan to compensate for any shortage.

Academic Probation

Students who earn a GPA below 2.000 in any regular term, or whose cumulative SMU GPA falls below 2.000, will be placed on academic probation. The probation period is one regular term, excluding summer. Students on academic probation are prohibited from participating in study-abroad programs and are discouraged from participating in extracurricular or other campus activities which might interfere with their academic efforts. Students are reinstated to good academic standing when they achieve both a term and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 or higher.

Academic Suspension

First-year pre-major students who have not achieved a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 1.700 by the end of their second regular term at SMU will be suspended from the University. Transfer students transferring in fewer than 15 units will be subject to the same requirements on their SMU work. Once declared as a major, students are immediately subject to the probation/suspension rules of the school into which they have declared.

Second-year pre-majors who have not achieved a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 2.000 and successfully completed the GEC English Fundamentals and Math Fundamentals requirements by the end of their 4^th regular term at SMU will be suspended. Students transferring in 15 or more units will be subject to the same requirements on their SMU work at the end of two terms.

Upperclass students will be suspended if:

their cumulative SMU GPA falls below 1.800, or
they fail to clear academic probation after one term on probation, or
upon completion of 75 credits (including credit by exam, AP, or transfer) they are not eligible to declare a major.

The 1.800 GPA requirement will not apply to new transfer students until the end of their second regular term at SMU.

Students who are suspended are notified by letter from the Assistant Dean for Student Records. The notification is sent to the student's permanent address as indicated in the University Registrar's records.

Academic suspension is normally for a minimum of one term, not counting interterm or summer. Credits earned at another college during a term of suspension will not be applied toward an SMU degree.

Students who are suspended at the end of the spring term may petition the Office of the Dean for permission to attend the first summer session, if by so doing they could make up their deficiency. The grade deficiency must be made up in residence at SMU, by the end of the first summer term.

Repeated Courses

Students may repeat courses according to the specific rules of the school offering the course, as listed in the University catalog. The original grade remains on the transcript record and is still calculated in the grade-point average, but the additional credits will not accrue toward graduation if the original grade earned credit.

Courses in Dedman College: You can repeat only courses in which original grade was D or below.

Courses in Meadows School of the Arts, Cox School of Business, or School of Engineering: You can repeat courses in which original grade was C- or below. Such courses can be repeated only once. (Courses repeated from C- will not fall under the First-Year Repeat Policy, below).

Transfer Credits

SMU grants transfer credit for college work completed with a minimum grade of C- at accredited institutions in courses for which there is an SMU equivalent. Students are required to send all transcripts of all college work taken before or after matriculation to SMU. Transfer work may be applied toward most SMU degree requirements. There are special rules governing work done following matriculation; also special rules apply to transfer work for courses required for the GEC and for admission to particular majors. Be sure to check the University catalogue, since you are responsible for complying with all rules and policies that may apply to you. Also be sure to consult with your academic adviser.

Transfer work after matriculation

Following SMU matriculation, students must petition in advance to attend another college for credit to transfer back to SMU. A maximum of 15 credits can transfer toward the SMU degree after matriculation. Petitions require approval from:

the student's academic adviser, and
academic department chair and Dean of the school offering the equivalent SMU course, and
the student's Dean.

With the petition students are normally required to provide catalogue course descriptions, and sometimes syllabi or other further information, for departmental review. Departmental policies differ, and approval may be denied by the department.

Special notes: After matriculation, courses for the GEC Fundamentals (English, Math, and IT Fundamentals) must be taken in residence at SMU and may not be taken by transfer. Courses required for majors or for admission to majors normally will not be allowed by transfer after matriculation.

Withdrawal from the University

Discontinuing class attendance does not constitute withdrawal from the University. If you may need to withdraw, discuss it with your academic adviser. Click here for official information on withdrawing.

Academic Progress Towards the Degree

To graduate, a student must complete the General Education requirements, one major, and a minimum of 122 credits (120 academic, plus 2 Wellness). A few areas will require more than 122 total credits for graduation. Credit requirements for majors vary considerably, ranging upward from at least 30 credits. Some majors also require supporting coursework from related areas. SMU students often choose to complete multiple majors or minors, which requires careful and early planning with the academic adviser. Only one major (and no minor) is required for graduation.

The Privacy Act and Student Records

SMU observes the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Act precludes release to a third party of a student's academic records without the student's prior written consent. An exception to the rule may be made in the case of a request from a parent of a student who is a financial dependent as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify, a parent must submit to the Registrar a completed Declaration of Student Dependency. Click here for full FERPA information, for a copy of the Student Consent Form which students may sign and file with the Registrar, or for a copy of the parental form for Declaration of Student Dependency.



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	Policies & Forms Academic Honesty and the Honor Code Class Attendance Adding or Dropping a Class Academic Probation Academic Suspension Repeated Courses Grading System Transfer Credits Withdrawing from the University Academic Progress Towards the Degree Student Records and the Privacy Act Class Attendance Regular attendance is required. Instructors normally announce specific attendance policies at the beginning of the term. The instructor determines in all instances the extent to which absences or tardiness affect each student's grade. Some departments and courses -- for example, first-year English Rhetoric -- have very strict attendance rules. Non-attendance will result in a grade of F. Instructors may drop students from their classes for excessive absences, until the calendar deadline to drop, but this is not automatic. Non-attendance will not automatically result in a student's being dropped from a class. Likewise, discontinuing class attendance does not constitute withdrawing from the University. Adding or Dropping a Class Official class schedules are set for the term at the end of the fifth day of classes. Students may add classes up until that date, with written authorization from their academic adviser. During the first five days (first two days of summer term), adds and drops are made without official transcript record. After that date, students may not change their schedules except to drop a class. The deadline for dropping a class is the end of the tenth week of the term. Click here to see the official University calendar showing the deadline date for course drop for a specific term. Courses dropped before this date are graded "W". To drop a class, see your academic adviser. It is an Honor Violation subject to judicial hearing, cancellation of enrollment and other sanctions, to add or drop a course without advance written approval and signature of your academic adviser. Before dropping a class, consider (and discuss with your adviser) the implications for scholarship requirements, timely fulfillment of pre-requisites for advanced courses you want to take later, and possible delay of graduation. Consider standard progress in credits toward graduation, and how you would plan to compensate for any shortage. Academic Probation Students who earn a GPA below 2.000 in any regular term, or whose cumulative SMU GPA falls below 2.000, will be placed on academic probation. The probation period is one regular term, excluding summer. Students on academic probation are prohibited from participating in study-abroad programs and are discouraged from participating in extracurricular or other campus activities which might interfere with their academic efforts. Students are reinstated to good academic standing when they achieve both a term and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 or higher. Academic Suspension First-year pre-major students who have not achieved a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 1.700 by the end of their second regular term at SMU will be suspended from the University. Transfer students transferring in fewer than 15 units will be subject to the same requirements on their SMU work. Once declared as a major, students are immediately subject to the probation/suspension rules of the school into which they have declared. Second-year pre-majors who have not achieved a cumulative SMU GPA of at least 2.000 and successfully completed the GEC English Fundamentals and Math Fundamentals requirements by the end of their 4^th regular term at SMU will be suspended. Students transferring in 15 or more units will be subject to the same requirements on their SMU work at the end of two terms. Upperclass students will be suspended if: their cumulative SMU GPA falls below 1.800, or they fail to clear academic probation after one term on probation, or upon completion of 75 credits (including credit by exam, AP, or transfer) they are not eligible to declare a major. The 1.800 GPA requirement will not apply to new transfer students until the end of their second regular term at SMU. Students who are suspended are notified by letter from the Assistant Dean for Student Records. The notification is sent to the student's permanent address as indicated in the University Registrar's records. Academic suspension is normally for a minimum of one term, not counting interterm or summer. Credits earned at another college during a term of suspension will not be applied toward an SMU degree. Students who are suspended at the end of the spring term may petition the Office of the Dean for permission to attend the first summer session, if by so doing they could make up their deficiency. The grade deficiency must be made up in residence at SMU, by the end of the first summer term. Repeated Courses Students may repeat courses according to the specific rules of the school offering the course, as listed in the University catalog. The original grade remains on the transcript record and is still calculated in the grade-point average, but the additional credits will not accrue toward graduation if the original grade earned credit. Courses in Dedman College: You can repeat only courses in which original grade was D or below. Courses in Meadows School of the Arts, Cox School of Business, or School of Engineering: You can repeat courses in which original grade was C- or below. Such courses can be repeated only once. (Courses repeated from C- will not fall under the First-Year Repeat Policy, below). Transfer Credits SMU grants transfer credit for college work completed with a minimum grade of C- at accredited institutions in courses for which there is an SMU equivalent. Students are required to send all transcripts of all college work taken before or after matriculation to SMU. Transfer work may be applied toward most SMU degree requirements. There are special rules governing work done following matriculation; also special rules apply to transfer work for courses required for the GEC and for admission to particular majors. Be sure to check the University catalogue, since you are responsible for complying with all rules and policies that may apply to you. Also be sure to consult with your academic adviser. Transfer work after matriculation Following SMU matriculation, students must petition in advance to attend another college for credit to transfer back to SMU. A maximum of 15 credits can transfer toward the SMU degree after matriculation. Petitions require approval from: the student's academic adviser, and academic department chair and Dean of the school offering the equivalent SMU course, and the student's Dean. With the petition students are normally required to provide catalogue course descriptions, and sometimes syllabi or other further information, for departmental review. Departmental policies differ, and approval may be denied by the department. Special notes: After matriculation, courses for the GEC Fundamentals (English, Math, and IT Fundamentals) must be taken in residence at SMU and may not be taken by transfer. Courses required for majors or for admission to majors normally will not be allowed by transfer after matriculation. Withdrawal from the University Discontinuing class attendance does not constitute withdrawal from the University. If you may need to withdraw, discuss it with your academic adviser. Click here for official information on withdrawing. Academic Progress Towards the Degree To graduate, a student must complete the General Education requirements, one major, and a minimum of 122 credits (120 academic, plus 2 Wellness). A few areas will require more than 122 total credits for graduation. Credit requirements for majors vary considerably, ranging upward from at least 30 credits. Some majors also require supporting coursework from related areas. SMU students often choose to complete multiple majors or minors, which requires careful and early planning with the academic adviser. Only one major (and no minor) is required for graduation. The Privacy Act and Student Records SMU observes the regulations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Act precludes release to a third party of a student's academic records without the student's prior written consent. An exception to the rule may be made in the case of a request from a parent of a student who is a financial dependent as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify, a parent must submit to the Registrar a completed Declaration of Student Dependency. Click here for full FERPA information, for a copy of the Student Consent Form which students may sign and file with the Registrar, or for a copy of the parental form for Declaration of Student Dependency. back to top

Policies & Forms